SECTION L

“Sanjaya said, ’While Kunti’s son, Yudhishthira, was indulging in such lamentations, the great Rishi Krishna Dwaipayana came to him.  Worshipping him duly, and causing him to be seated, Yudhishthira, afflicted with grief on account of the death of his brother’s son, said, ’Alas, while battling with many mighty bowmen, the son of Subhadra, surrounded by several great car-warriors of unrighteous propensities, hath been slain on the field.  The slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Subhadra, was a child in years and of childish understanding.[82] He fought in battle against desperate odds.  I asked him to open a passage for us in battle.  He penetrated within the hostile army, but we could not follow him, obstructed by the ruler of the Sindhus.  Alas, they that betake themselves to battle as a profession, always fight with antagonists equally circumstanced with themselves.  This battle, however, that the enemy fought with Abhimanyu, was an extremely unequal one.  It is that which grieves me greatly and draws tears from me.  Thinking of this, I fail to regain peace of mind.’

“Sanjaya continued, ’The illustrious Vyasa, addressing Yudhishthira who was indulging in such lamentations and who was thus unmanned by an accession of sorrow, said these words.’

“Vyasa said, ’O Yudhishthira, O thou of great wisdom, O thou that art master of all branches of knowledge, persons like thee never suffer themselves to be stupefied by calamities.  This brave youth, having slain numerous foes hath ascended to heaven.  Indeed, that best of persons, (though a child), acted, however, like one of matured years.  O Yudhishthira, this law is incapable of being transgressed.  O Bharata, Death takes all viz., Gods and Dhanavas and Gandharvas (without exception).’

“Yudhishthira said, ’Alas, these lords of earth, that lie on the bare earth, slain in the midst of their forces, bereft of consciousness, were possessed of great might.  Others (of their class) possessed strength equal to that of ten thousand elephants.  Others, again, were endued with the impetuosity and might of the very wind.  They have all perished in battle, slain by men of their own class.  I do not behold the person (save one of their own class) who could slay any of them in battle.  Endued with great prowess, they were possessed of great energy and great might.  Alas, they who used daily to come to battle with this hope firmly implanted in their hearts, viz., that they would conquer, alas even they, possessed of great wisdom, are lying on a field, struck (with weapons) and deprived of life.  The significance of the word Death hath today been made intelligible, for these lords of earth, of terrible prowess, have almost all been dead.  Those heroes are lying motionless; reft of vanity, having succumbed to foes.  Many princes, filled with wrath, have been victimised before the fire (of their enemies’ wrath).  A great doubt possesses me, viz., whence is Death?  Whose (offspring) is Death?  What is Death?  Why does Death take away creatures?  O grandsire, O thou that resemblest a god, tell me this.’