490.  The second line of 114 in the Bengal text is vicious.  I adopt the Bombay reading, which is Kururajasya tarkitas.  Literally rendered the second line is “the destruction of the Kuru king was inferred.”

491.  By bravery on the field of battle, which, according to the Hindu scriptures, is always thus rewarded

The Mahabharata

of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

BOOK 7

DRONA PARVA

Translated into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text

by

Kisari Mohan Ganguli

[1883-1896]

Scanned at sacred-texts.com, 2004.  Proofed by John Bruno Hare, October 2004.

SECTION I

(Dronabhisheka Parva)

Om!  Having bowed down unto Narayan, and unto that most exalted of male beings, viz., Nara, and unto the goddess Saraswati also, must the word Jaya be uttered.

“Janamejaya said, ’Hearing that his sire Devavrata of unrivalled vigour and sturdiness, and might, energy and prowess, had been slain by Sikhandin, the prince of the Panchalas, what, indeed, O regenerate Rishi, did the powerful king Dhritarashtra with eyes bathed in tears do?  O illustrious one, his son (Duryodhana) wished for sovereignty after vanquishing those mighty bowmen, viz., the sons of Panda, through Bhishma and Drona and other great car-warriors.  Tell me, O thou that hast wealth of asceticism, all that he, of Kura’s race, did after that chief of all bowmen had been slain.’

“Vaisampayana said, ’Hearing that his sire had been slain, king Dhritarashtra of Kura’s race filled with anxiety and grief, obtained no peace of mind.  And while he, of Kura’s race, was thus continually brooding over that sorrow, Gavalgana’s son of pure soul once more came to him.  Then, O monarch, Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, addressed Sanjaya, who had that night come back from the camp to the city called after the elephant.  With a heart rendered exceedingly cheerless in consequence of his having heard of Bhishma’s fall, and desirous of the victory of his sons, he indulged in these lamentations in great distress.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ’After having wept for the high-souled Bhishma of terrible prowess, what, O son, did the Kauravas, urged by fate, next do?  Indeed, when that high-souled and invincible hero was slain, what did the Kauravas do, sunk as they were in an ocean of grief?  Indeed, that swelling and highly efficient host of the high-souled Pandavas, would, O Sanjaya, excite the keenest fears of even the three worlds.  Tell me, therefore, O Sanjaya, what the (assembled) kings did after Devavrata, that bull of Kura’s race, had fallen.’