“Meanwhile, Drona said, ’From the rattle of the car, and from the manner in which the clouds have enveloped the sky and the earth itself trembles, this warrior can be none else than Savyasachin.  Our weapons do not shine, our steeds are dispirited, and our fires, though fed with fuel, do not blare up.  All this is ominous.  All our animals are setting up a frightful howl, gazing towards the sun.  The crows are perching on our banners.  All this is ominous.  Yon vultures and kites on our right portend a great danger.  That jackal also, running through our ranks, waileth dismally.  Lo, it hath escaped unstruck.  All this portends a heavy calamity.  The bristles also of ye all are on their ends.  Surely, this forebodes a great destruction of Kshatriyas in battle.  Things endued with light are all pale; beasts and birds look fierce; and there are to be witnessed many terrific portents indicative of the destruction of Kshatriyas.  And these omens forebode great havoc among ourselves.  O king, thy ranks seem to be confounded by these blazing meteors, and thy animals look dispirited and seem to be weeping.  Vultures and kites are wheeling all around thy troops.  Thou shalt have to repent upon beholding thy army afflicted by Partha’s arrows.  Indeed, our ranks seem to have been already vanquished, for none is eager to go to fight.  All our warriors are of pale face, and almost deprived of their senses.  Sending the kine ahead we should stand here, ready to strike, with all our warriors arrayed in order of battle.”

SECTION XLVII

“Vaisampayana said, ’King Duryodhana then, on the field of battle said unto Bhishma, and unto Drona—­that tiger among warriors, and unto Kripa—­that mighty car-warrior, these words, ’Both myself and Kama had said this unto the preceptors[54] I refer to the subject again, for I am not satisfied with having said it once.  Even this was the pledge of the sons of Pandu that if defeated (at dice) they would reside to our knowledge in countries and woods for twelve years, and one more year unknown to us.  That thirteenth year, instead of being over, is yet running.  Vibhatsu, therefore, who is still to live undiscovered hath appeared before us.  And if Vibhatsu hath come before the term of exile is at end, the Pandavas shall have to pass another twelve years in the woods.  Whether it is due to forgetfulness (on their part) induced by desire of dominion, or whether it is a mistake of ours, it behoveth Bhishma to calculate the shortness or excess (of the promised period).  When an object of desire may or may not be attained, a doubt necessarily attaches to one of the alternatives, and what is decided in one way often ends differently. [55] Even moralists are puzzled in judging of their own acts. [56] As regards ourselves, we have come hither to fight with the Matsyas and to seize their kine stationed towards the north.  If, meanwhile, it is Arjuna that hath come, what fault can attach to us?  We have come