49. DHRITARASHTRA-SANJAYA INTERACTION

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > INDRALOKA GAMANA PARVA > CHAPTER 49 - DHRITARASHTA-SANJAYA INTERACTION

“Sanjaya said, ‘That which has been uttered by you, O king (Dhritarashtra), with respect to Duryodhana is all true. Nothing that you have said, O lord of the earth, is untrue. The Paandavaas of immeasurable energy have been filled with anger at the sight of Krishna (Draupadi) their wedded wife of pure fame – brought in the middle of the Sabha. Hearing also those cruel words of Duhshaasana and Karna, they have been so angered, O king, that they will not, I think, forgive (the Kurus) on my account. I have heard, O king, how Arjuna has pleased in battle by means of his bow the Devadeva Sthanu (Lord Shiva) of eleven forms. The Bhagawan, lord of all Devas – Kapardin Himself – desirous of testing Phaalguna, fought with him, having assumed the guise of a Kiraata. There it was that the Lokapaala, in order to give away their weapons to that bull of the Kuru race (Arjuna), showed themselves to him of undeteriorating prowess (Paraakrama in Sanskrit). What other man on earth, except Phaalguna (Arjuna), would strive to have a sight of these Devas in their own forms? O king, who is there that will weaken in battle Arjuna, who could not be weakened by Maheshwara Himself possessed of eight forms? Your sons, having dragged Draupadi, and thereby angered Paandavaas, have brought this frightful and horrifying calamity upon themselves. Seeing Duryodhana showing both his thighs to Draupadi, Bhima said with shivering lips, ‘Wretch (Paapi in Sanskrit)! those thighs of yours, I will smash with my fierce descending mace (Gada in Sanskrit), on the expiration of thirteen years.’ All Paandavaas are the foremost of hitters; all of them are of immeasurable energy; all of them are well-versed in every kind of weapons. For these, they are incapable of being defeated even by Devas. Angered at the insult offered to their wedded wife, Paarthaas, urged by anger, will, I think, slay all your sons in battle.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O charioteer (Sanjaya), what mischief has been done by Karna uttering those cruel words to Paandavaas! Was not the enmity sufficient that was provoked by bringing Krishna (Draupadi) into the sabha? How can my wicked sons live, whose eldest brother and Guru walks not in the path of righteousness? Seeing me void of eye-sight, and incapable of exerting myself actively, my wretched son, O charioteer, believes me to be a fool, and does not listen to my words. Also, those wretches that are his counsellors – Karna and Saubala and others – always satisfy to his evils, as he is incapable of understanding things rightly. The arrows that Arjuna of immeasurable prowess may lightly shoot, are capable of consuming all my sons, leave alone those arrows that he will shoot driven by anger. The arrows urged by the might of Arjuna’s arms and shot from his large bow, inspired with mantras capable of converting them into divine weapons can punish Devas themselves. He who has for his counsellor and protector and friend that punish of sinful men – the lord of the three worlds – Hari Himself – encounters nothing that he cannot conquer. This, O Sanjaya, is most marvellous in Arjuna that, as we have heard, he has been clasped by Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) in his arms. Also, in ancient times, that Phaalguna assisted by Damodara (Sri Krishna) did towards helping Agni in the forest fire of Khaandava, has been witnessed by all the world. When, therefore, Bhima, Paarthaa (Arjuna) and Vaasudeva of the Saatwata race become enraged, surely my sons along with their friends and Saubalas are all unequal to fight with them.’”