in fierce battle for many days with Rama himself of
Bhrigu’s line on the field sanctified by Kuru,
that son of Ganga, that hero, who, at Baranasi, for
the sake of brides, had, on a single car, challenged
to battle the assembled Kshatriyas of the world, he
who had burnt by the energy of his weapons that irresistible
and foremost of kings, viz., Ugrayudha, alas,
that hero has been caused by me to be slain in battle.
Knowing full well that Sikhandin the prince of Panchala
was his destroyer, that hero still refrained from slaying
the prince with his shafts. Alas, such a magnanimous
warrior was slain by Arjuna. O best of sages,
at that moment when I beheld the grandsire stretched
on the earth and covered with blood, a violent fever
afflicted my heart. He who had protected and
reared us when we were children, alas, he was caused
to be slain by my sinful self that am covetous of kingdom,
that am a slayer of reverend seniors, and a perfect
fool, for the sake of sovereignty that would last
but a few days. Our preceptor, the great archer
Drona, adored by all the kings, was approached by me
and addressed falsely in respect of his son.
The memory of that act of mine is burning all my limbs.
The preceptor said unto me, ’Tell me truly, O
king, whether my son liveth still. Expecting
truth from me, the Brahmana asked me of all others.
By silently uttering the word elephant, I behaved falsely
towards him. Sinful that I am exceedingly covetous
of kingdom, and a slayer of my reverend seniors, I
behaved even thus towards my preceptor in battle,
throwing off the garb of truth (which I was believed
to wear), for I said unto him that Aswatthaman had
been killed when, in fact, an elephant of that name
had been slain. To what regions shall I go (thereafter),
having perpetrated such infamous deeds? I caused
also my eldest brother Karna to be slain, that terrible
warrior who never retreated from battle. Who
is there more sinful than I? Through covetousness
I caused Abhimanyu of tender years, that hero who resembled
a lion born in the hills, to penetrate into the array
that was protected by Drona himself. I am like
one guilty of infanticide. Sinful as I am, I
have not since then, been able to look Arjuna or the
lotus-eyed Krishna in the face. I grieve also
few Draupadi who is bereft of her five sons like the
Earth bereft of her five mountains. I am a great
offender, a great sinner, and a destroyer of the earth!
Without rising from this seat that I now occupy, I
will weaken my body (by starvation) and meet with
death. Know me who am the slayer of my preceptor
as one that has sat down here in the observance of
the Praya vow. An exterminator of my race, I
must do so in order that I may not he reborn in any
of other orders of beings![78] I shall forgo all food
and drink, and without moving from this place, O great
ascetic, shall dry up my life-breaths that are so
dear. I pray you with humility, grant me permission
in this and go whithersoever you please. Let
every one grant me permission. I shall cast off
this body of mine.’