will slay the Pandavas.  All the heroic kings will then live under my sway.  He, who is their leader, the mighty Vasudeva, will not, he has told me, put on mail for them, O king.”  Even in this way, O Suta, did Duryodhana often use to speak to me.  Hearing what he said, I believed that the Pandavas would be slain in battle.  When, however, my sons stationed in the midst of those heroes and exerting themselves vigorously in battle have all been slain, what can it be but destiny?  When that lord of the world, the valiant Bhishma, having encountered Shikhandi, met with his death like a lion meeting with his at the hands of a jackal, what can it be but destiny?  When the Brahmana Drona, that master of all weapons offensive and defensive, has been slain by the Pandavas in battle, what can it be but destiny?  When Bhurishrava has been slain in battle, as also Somadatta and king Bahlika, what can it be but destiny?  When Bhagadatta, skilled in fight from the backs of elephants, has been slain, and when Jayadratha hath been slain, what can it be but destiny?  When Sudakshina has been slain, and Jalasandha of Puru’s race, as also Srutayush, and Ayutayush, what can it be but destiny?  When the mighty Pandya, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, has been slain in battle by the Pandavas, what can it be but destiny?  When Vrihadvala has been slain and the mighty king of the Magadhas, and the valiant Ugrayudha, that type of all bowmen; when the two princes of Avanti (Vinda and Anuvinda) have been slain, and the ruler also of the Trigartas, as also numerous Samsaptakas, what can it be but destiny?  When king Alambusa, and the Rakshasas Alayudha, and Rishyasringa’s son, have been slain, what can it be but destiny?  When the Narayanas have been slain, as also the Gopalas, those troops that were invincible in battle, and many thousands of Mlecchas, what can it be but destiny?  When Shakuni, the son of Subala, and the mighty Uluka, called the gamester’s son, that hero at the head of his forces, have been slain, what can it be but destiny?  When innumerable high-souled heroes, accomplished in all kinds of weapons offensive and defensive and endued with prowess equal to that of Shakra himself, have been slain, O Suta, when Kshatriyas hailing from diverse realms, O Sanjaya, have all been slain in battle, what can it be but destiny?  Endued with great might, my sons and grandsons have been slain, as also my friends and brethren, what can it be but destiny?  Without doubt, man takes his birth, subject to destiny.  That man who is possessed of good fortune meets with good.  I am bereft of good fortune, and, therefore, am deprived of my children, O Sanjaya.  Old as I am, how shall I now submit to the sway of enemies?  I do not think anything other than exile into the woods to be good for me, O lord.  Deprived of relatives and kinsmen as I am, I will go into the woods.  Nothing other than an exile into the woods can be better for me who am fallen into this plight and who am shorn of my wings, O Sanjaya.  When Duryodhana had been slain, when Shalya has been slain, when Duhshasana and Vivingsati and the mighty Vikarna have been slain, how shall I be able to bear the roars of that Bhimasena who hath alone slain a hundred sons of mine in battle?  He will frequently speak of the slaughter of Duryodhana in my hearing.  Burning with grief and sorrow, I shall not be able to bear his cruel words.’”