Sanjaya said Alas! I shall relate to you everything, as I saw with my own eyes, how Drona fell being slain by the Pandus and the Srinjayas.

The mighty car-warrior, the of Bharadvaja, having been installed as the commander of the army, said these words to your son, in the very midst of the soldiers. son

“O monarch, in as much as, today you have honoured me with the general-ship of this army, immediately after that foremost of the Kauravas, the son of the river (Ganga).

O Bharata, reap the adequate fruit of that act of yours. What desire of yours shall I fulfill now? Ask whatever boon you may like?"

Thereupon king Duryodhana, accompanied by Karna, Dushasana and others thus spoke to the invincible preceptor, the foremost of all victors.

If you would at all accord me a boon, then having captured that foremost of car-warriors, Yudhishthira alive, do you bring him to me.

Thereupon the preceptor of the Kurus hearing these words of your son, spoke the following words, thereby imparting great delight to the troops.

Fortunate is the king, the son of Kunti, whose capture only you desire. O invincible one, you do not ask for any other boon, such as his slaughter.

Why, O foremost of men, do you not desire his slaughter? For what reason do you not allude to his death? Surely ODuryodhana, you are not wanting in policy.

It is wonderful that the virtuous king Yudhishthira should have none deadly inimical to him. As you desire him to live, either you intend to preserve your own race.

Or, O foremost of the Bharatas, having defeated the Pandavas in battle, you desire to re-establish brotherly feelings (with them), by giving them back their kingdom.

Praised be that king the son of Kunti. The birth of that intelligent one was auspicious. The fact of his being Ajatasatru (having no enemy) is verified today, in as much as even you are affectionate towards him.

( Bharata, when your son had been thus addressed by Drona, the feeling that was then present in his heart, suddenly round vent.

Even beings like Brihaspati himself cannot suppress the outward manifestations of internal feelings. Therefore, O menarch, your son, transported with joy, spoke these words.

On the event of the death of the son of Kunti in battle, O preceptor, victory cannot be inine. If Yudhishthira were to be slain, Partha is sure to slay all of us.

Even the immortals cannot slay all of them in battle; so he that will survive the rest of them is sure to extirpate us all.

ever to.. his If Yudhishthira, truthful promises, be brought here alive, he being once more defeated at dice, the Pandavas obedient to him, will again repair to the woods.

In this way, it is obvious, that my victory will endure for a long time. It is for this that I do never desire the death of the virtuous king Yudhishthira.

Being apprised of his crooked intentions, Drona of keen intellect and conversant with the science of polity, accorded the boon to him after a little reflection, modifying it thus.

Drona said "If in battle, the heroic Arjuna does not protect king Yudhishthira, then you may already regard the foremost of the Pandavas, brought under your control.

Even the celestials with Indra at their head and united with the Asuras theinselves, cannot cope with Partha in battle; for this reason, O son, I do not venture to advance against him.

No doubt, he is my disciple and I am senior to him in the use of weapons. But he is youthful, blessed with a good fortune and assiduous in (the execution of) his intents.

Moreover, he has obtained weapons from Indra and Rudra; besides he has been, O king, incensed by you. It is for these reasons, that I venture not to perform what you ask me to do.

Withdraw Arjuna from the battle by what means so ever that can be done. On Partha being removed, the righteous Yudhishthira is as good as vanquished by you.

O foremost of men, victory depends on his capture and not on the death; and his capture can be brought about by this artifice.

I, having seized that king devoted to truth and righteousness, will, O monarch, no doubt, bring him under your control today.

Provided, he remains even for a moment before me in battle of course, if that foremost of men the son of Kunti Dhananjaya be removed from the field of battle.

But, Oking, before the eyes of Phalguna, Yudhishthira cannot be captured in battle, even by the celestials and the Asuras exerting jointly with Indra at their head.

Sanjaya said When under these circumscription's, Drona had promised the capture of king Yudhishthira, jour greatly-foolish sons regarded the latter as already scized.

Your son was perfectly aware of the partiality Drona cherished for the Pandavas; so to make Drona strictly redeem his promise, Duryodhana gave publicity to that counsel.

Thereafter, O grinder of your foes, Drona's promise regarding the seizure of amongst the eldest of the Pandavas, was proclaimed all his soldiers by Duryodhana himself.