And after Partha (also) had touched water, meek and
submissive attendants brought the usual nightly sacrifice
to the Three-eyed (Mahadeva). Then Partha, with
a cheerful soul, having smeared Madhava with perfumes
and adorned with floral garlands, presented unto Mahadeva
the nightly offering.[131] Then Govinda, with a faint
smile, addressed Partha, saying, ’Blessed be
thou, O Partha, lay thyself down, I leave thee.’
Placing door-keepers then, and also sentinels well-armed,
blessed Kesava, followed by (his charioteer) Daruka,
repaired to his own tent. He then laid himself
down on his white bed, and thought of diverse measures
to be adopted. And the illustrious one (Kesava)
of eyes like lotus petals, began for Partha’s
sake, to think of various means that would dispel
(Partha’s) grief and anxiety and enhance his
prowess and splendour. Of soul wrapt in yoga,
that Supreme Lord of all, viz., Vishnu of wide-spread
fame, who always did what was agreeable to Jishnu,
desirous of benefiting (Arjuna), lapsed into yoga,
and meditation. There was none in the Pandava
camp who slept that night. Wakefulness possessed
every one, O monarch. And everybody (in the Pandava
camp) thought of this, viz.,—The high-souled
wielder of Gandiva, burning with grief for the death
of his son, hath suddenly vowed the slaughter of the
Sindhus. How, indeed, will that slayer of hostile
heroes, that son of Vasava, that mighty-armed warrior,
accomplish his vow? The high-souled son of Pandu
hath, indeed made a most difficult resolve. King
Jayadratha is endued with mighty energy. Oh,
let Arjuna succeed in fulfilling his vow. Difficult
is that vow which he, afflicted with grief on account
of his son, hath made. Duryodhana’s brothers
are all possessed of great prowess. His forces
also are countless. The son of Dhritarashtra hath
assigned all these to Jayadratha (as his protectors).
Oh, let Dhananjaya come back (to the camp), having
slain the ruler of the Sindhus in battle. Vanquishing
his foes, let Arjuna accomplish his vow. If he
fails to slay the ruler of the Sindhus tomorrow, he
will certainly enter into blazing fire. Dhananjaya,
the son of Pritha, will not falsify his oath.
If Arjuna dies, how will the son of Dharma succeed
in recovering his kingdom? Indeed, (Yudhishthira)
the son of Pandu hath reposed (all his hopes of) victory
of Arjuna. If we have achieved any (religious)
merit, if we have ever poured libations of clarified
butter into fire, let Savyasachin, aided by the fruits
thereof, vanquish all his foes.’ Thus talking,
O lord, with one another about the victory (of the
morrow), that long night, O king, of theirs, at last,
passed away. In the middle of the night, Janardana,
having awaked, remembered Partha’s vow, and addressing
(his charioteer) Daruka, said, ’Arjuna, in grief
for the death of his son, hath vowed. O Daruka,
that before tomorrow’s sun goes down he will
slay Jayadratha. Hearing of this, Duryodhana will
assuredly take counsel with his counsellors, about