Sanjaya Said "Hearing these auspicious, moral and profitable words of Kripa, Ashvatthaman, O king, became beside himself with sorrow and grief.

Burning with grief, as if with fire, he formed a wicked resolution and then addressed them both, saying, understanding is different in different men. Each man, however, is pleased with his own understanding,

Every man considers himself more intelligent than others. Every one respects and praises his own understanding.

Every one praises his own wisdom. Every one speaks ill of the wisdom of others, and well of his own, in all cases.

Men whose opinions agree with regard to any that is not achieved, become gratified with and praise one another.

Again the opinions of the same persons, overwhelmed with reverses bought on by the influence of time, become opposed to another.

On account of the diversity of human intellects, judgments necessarily differ.

As a skillful physician, having duly diagnosed a disease, prescribes a medicine by his intelligence for effecting a cure, so men, for the accomplishment of their works, use their intelligence, helped by their own wisdom. What they do is not approved by others.

A man, in youth, had one kind of understanding. In middle age, he has not the same, and in the period of decay, a different kind of understanding prevails in him.

When fallen into terrible misfortune or when enjoying great prosperity, the understanding of a person, chief of the Bhojas, undergoes changes. In one and the same person, want of wisdom, the understanding becomes different at different times. Understanding which at one time is good becomes quite the opposite at another time.

Having resolved, however, according to one's wisdom, he should try to carry out his resolution. Such resolution, therefore, should make him display his manliness.

All persons, O chief of the Bhojas, gladly undertake enterprises that lead to death, in the belief that those enterprises will be accomplished by them.

All men, relying on their own judgment and wisdom, try to accomplish various objects, knowing them to be beneficial.

The resolution that I have formed in my mind to-day for of great calamity and which will despell my grief, I will now disclose to both of you.

Having created his creatures, the Creator assigned to each his occupation. As regards the different castes he gave to each a portion of excellence.

To Brahmanas he assigned that foremost of all things, viz., the Veda. To the Kshatriya he gave superior energy. To the Vaishya he gave skill, and to the Shudra he gave the duty of serving the three other castes.

Hence a Brahmana without self-restraint is an object of censure. A Kshatriya who has no energy is mean. A Vaishya without skill is an object of blame, as also a Shudra who is void of humility.

I am born in a worshipful and high family of Brahmanas. Through ill-luck, however, I am loading the life of a Kshatriya.

If, conversant as I am with Kshatriya duties, I revert now to the order of a Brahmana and achieve a great object (by assuming selfrestraint under such injuries), that course would not be compatible.

I hold an excellent bow and excellent weapons in battle. If I do not avenge the death of my father, how shall I be able to speak in the assembly of men?

Following Kshatriya duties, therefore, without hesitation, I shall to-day walk in the steps of my great father and the king.

The Panchalas, elated with victory, will sleep in confidence to-night, having put off their armour and in great joy at the thought of the victory they have gained, and exhausted with toil and exertion.

While sleeping easily during the night within their own camp, I shall make a great and terrible assault upon their camp.

Like Indra killing the Danavas, I shall, attacking them while dead in sleep in their camp, kill them all, by my power.

Like a burning fire consuming a heap of dry grass, I shall kill all of them collected in one place with their leader Dhrishtadyumna. Having killed the Panchalas, I shall obtain peace of mind, O best of men.

While engaged in the act of destruction I shall move about in their midst like the holder of Pinaka, viz., the angry Rudra himself, among living creatures!

Having cut off and killed all the Panahalas to-day, I shall then, in joy, assail the sons of Pandu in battle!

Taking their lives one after another and causing the Earth to be covered with the bodies of all the Panchalas, I shall satisfy the debt I owe to my father!

I shall to-day made the Panchalas follow Duryodhana and Karna and Bhishma and the King of the Sindhus!

Displaying my power, I shall tonight grind the head, like that any animal, of Dhrishtadyumna the king of the Panchalas.

I shall to-night, O son of Gotama, strike with my sharp sword, in battle, the sleeping sons of the Panchalas and the Pandavas.

Having rooted out the Panchala army tonight while asleep, I shall, enjoy great happiness and consider myself to have done my duty!