the earth with his thighs broken, from the messengers circulating the news, are cutting the very core of my heart.  The unrighteous and sinful Pancalas, who have broken down the barrier of virtue, are even such.  Why do you not censure them who have transgressed all considerations?  Having slain the Pancalas, those slayers of my sire, in the night when they are buried in sleep, I care not if I am born a worm or a winged insect in my next life.  That which I have resolved is hurrying me towards its accomplishment.  Hurried as I am by it, how can I have sleep and happiness?  That man is not yet born in the world, nor will be, who will succeed in baffling this resolution that I have formed for their destruction.”

Sanjaya continued, “Having said these words, O monarch, the valiant son of Drona yoked his steeds to his car at a corner and set out towards the direction of his enemies.  Then Bhoja and Sharadvata’s son, those high-souled persons, addressed him, saying, “Why dost thou yoke the steeds to thy car?  Upon what business art thou bent?  We are determined to accompany thee tomorrow, O bull among men!  We sympathise with thee in weal and woe.  It behoveth thee not to mistrust us.  Remembering the slaughter of his sire, Ashvatthama in rage told them truly about the feat that he had resolved to accomplish.  When my sire, having slain hundreds and thousands of warriors with keen shafts, had laid aside his weapons, he was then slain by Dhrishtadyumna.  I shall slay that slayer today in a similar condition that is, when he will have laid aside his armour.  The sinful son of the king of the Pancalas I shall today slay by a sinful act.  It is my resolve to slay like an animal that sinful prince of the Pancalas in such a way that he may not attain to regions earned by persons slain with weapons!  Put on your coats of mail without delay and take your bows and swords, and wait for me here, ye foremost of car-warrior and scorchers of foes.”

Having said these words, Ashvatthama got upon his car and set out towards the direction of the enemy.  Then Kripa, O king, and Kritavarma of the Satvata race, both followed him.  While the three proceeded against the enemy, they shone like three blazing fires in a sacrifice, fed with libations of clarified butter.  They proceeded, O lord, towards the camp of the Pancalas within which everybody was asleep.  Having approached the gate, Drona’s son, that mighty car-warrior, stopped.”

6

Dhritarashtra said, “Seeing Drona’s son stop at the gate of the encampment, what, O Sanjaya, did those two mighty car-warriors, Kripa and Kritavarma, do?  Tell me this!”