Who were they that, reckless of their lives on that occasion, met with death which stood face to face with them?  Who were those heroes that went in the last journey in Drona’s battle?  Did any of those Kshatriyas that were assigned for Drona’s protection, proving false, abandon that hero in battle?  Was he slain by the foe after such desertion and while alone?  Drona would never, from fear, show his back in battle, however great the danger.  How then was he slain by the foe?  Even in great distress, O Sanjaya, an illustrious person should do this, viz., put forth his prowess according to the measure of his might.  All this was in Drona; O child, I am losing my senses.  Let this discourse be suspended for a while.  After regaining my senses I will once more ask thee, O Sanjaya!’”

SECTION X

“Vaisampayana said, ’Having addressed the Suta’s son in this way, Dhritarashtra, afflicted with excessive grief of heart and hopeless of his son’s victory, fell down on the ground.  Beholding him deprived of his senses and fallen down, his attendants sprinkled him with perfumed and cold water, fanning him the while.  Seeing him fallen, the Bharata ladies O king, surrounded him on all sides and gently rubbed him with their hands.  And slowly raising the king from the ground, those royal ladies, their voices chocked with tears, seated him on his seat.  Seated, the King continued to be under the influence of that swoon.  And he remained perfectly motionless, while they fanned him standing around.  And a tremour then passed over the monarch’s body and he slowly regained his senses.  And once more he began to interrogate Gavalgana’s son of the Suta caste about the incidents, as they occured in the battle.’

“Dhritarashtra said, [That Ajatasatru] who, like the risen sun, dispelleth darkness by his own light; who rusheth against a foe as a swift and angry elephant with rent temples, incapable of being vanquished by hostile leaders of herds, rusheth against a rival proceeding with cheerful face towards a female of the species in rust, O, what warriors (of my army) resisted that Ajatasatru as he came, for keeping him away from Drona?[15] That hero, that foremost of persons, who hath slain many brave warriors (of my army) in battle, that mighty-armed and intelligent and courageous prince of unbaffled prowess, who, unassisted by any one, can consume the entire host of Duryodhana by means of his terrible glances alone, that slayer by his sight, that one bent on winning victory, that bowman, that hero of unfading glory, that self-restrained monarch who is revered by the whole world, O, who were those heroes (of my army) that surrounded that warrior?[16] That invincible prince, that bowman of unfading glory, that tiger among men, that son of Kunti, who advancing with great celerity came upon Drona, that mighty warrior who always achieves grand feats against the foe, that hero of gigantic fame and great courage, who in strength