Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, those heroic sovereigns who now returned to the charge, being headed by Vrikodara, were capable of crushing even the host of the celestials themselves.

Led by Destiny, man surely engages in any action and it is through the decrees of Destiny that his various acts are attended with various results.

That Yudhishthira, who wandered exiled in woods, for a long time, wearing matted locks and black deer-skin and who also had to wander incognito.

Even that very Yudhishthira is now leading this mighty host in battle! What else but evil. can befall my son through this adverse influence of Destiny?

Surely man is born subject to the decrees of Destiny; and so he is compelled by it to do what he does not at all desire.

Becoming addicted to the vice of gambling at dice, Yudhishthira reaped great affliction; but now through the agency of Destiny, he has again been united to his supporters.

*Today the Kekayas are rallying to me; the Kausikas, the Kosalas, the Chedis, the Vangas and others are all betaking to me.

All this extensive earth has taken my side, O sire and not that of the sons of Pritha.' 0 Suta, these were the words that were spoken to ine by the wicked Duryodhana before.

Drona, guarded amidst this host of his warriors, as slain by the son of Prisata in battle; what can it be but there decree of Fate?

Amidst that royal host how could Death approach that mighty-armed Drona who ever delighted in battle and who was accomplished in the use of all sorts of weapons?

I am plunged in distress and a swoon overwhelms me. Oh, I cannot live hearing both Bhishma and Drona slain.

O Suta, that which the prophetic Khatva said to me, seeing me, infatuated with the affection for my son, O sire, everything of that has now overtaken me and Duryodhana himself.

It would have been very cruel had I saved the rest of my progeny by abandoning Duryodhana, but then the rest could have lived.

The monarch, that abandoning righteousness, pursues interest, is debarred from the enjoyment of felicity and imbibes meanness.

O Sanjaya, today, when the hump of this kingdom has been crushed, I see that nothing will be left of it, as it has lost all energy (by the death of Drona).

When those two foremost of men, viz. Bhishma and Drona of forgiving nature who used to be our primary support, when they both have been killed, how can any thing remain of this kingdom?

Relate to me, in detail, as to how that battle raged: who were they that fought, who assaulted (the enemy) and what mean fellows fled, out of terror?

Tell me also what that foremost of carwarriors, namely, Dhananjaya, did? We are much afraid of him and of his brother, Vrikodara, who is our (implacable) enemy.

Tell me, O Sanjaya, of the terrible collusion that took place between the Pandava hosts and the remnant of my army, when the former returned to the charge?

What also, O sire, was the state of your mind when they returned to the attack. What heroes of our army with stood them on the field of battle?