Sanjaya said While Duryodhana, O king, was repeatedly crying aloud in this way, Vasudeva, worked up with wrath, said to Yudhishthira.

What indiscreet words have you given vent to, O king, saying that killing one amongst us be you the king of Kurus. If, indeed, O Yudhishthira, Duryodhana selects you for battle or Arjuna or Nakula or Sahadeva, (what will be the consequence?

With a view to kill Bhimasena, O king, Duryodhana has practiced with the mace upon a statue of iron.

How then, O best of Bharata's race will our object be accomplished? From pity, O best of kings, you have acted very indiscreetly.

I do not at this moment see any match for Duryodhana except Pritha's son Vrikodara. His practice again, with the mace, is not so great.

You have, therefore, once more given preference to a game of chance as that one formerly between yourself and Shakuni, O monarch.

Bhima is endued with might and prowess, King Duryodhana, however, is skillful. In a fight between might and skill, he, that is skillful, O king, always becomes successful.

Such an enemy, O king, you have, by your words placed in a comfortable and secure position. You have placed your oneself, however, in a difficult position. We have, for this, been placed in great peril.

Who is there that would relinquish sovereignty within grasp, after having defeated all his enemy and when he has only one foe to kill who even is sunk in difficulties?

I do not see such a man in the world today, be he a god, who is able to defeat the macearmed Duryodhana in battle.

Neither you, nor Bhima, nor Nakula nor Sahadeva, nor Phalguna is capable of defeating Duryodhana in fair fight. King Duryodhana is endued with great skill.

How then, O Bharata, can you address to such a foe words such as these viz.,., "Fight, selecting the mace as the weapon and if you can kill one amongst us, you shall then be the king."

If Duryodhana meets Vrikodara amongst us wishing to fight fairly with him, even then our victory will hang in the balance. Duryodhana is highly powerful and skillful.

How could you say to him-"Killing only one amongst us be you the king." Forsooth the children of Pandu and Kunti are not destined to enjoy kingdom. They have been born for passing their lives in continued exile in the forest or in mendicancy.

Bhimasena said O killer of Madhu, do not, O delighted of the Yadus, grieve. However difficult it may be, I shall terminate these hostilities.

Forsooth, I shall kill Suyodhana in battle. It appears, O Krishna, that the victory of righteous Yudhishthira is certain.

This mace of mine is heavier by one and a half times than Duryodhana's. Do no, O Madhava, grieve.

I dare fight him, selecting the mace as the weapon. Let all of you, O Janarddana, witness this encounter.

What do you say of Suyodhana, I would fight with the three worlds including the very celestials even if they be armed with every kind of weapon.

Sanjaya continued After Vrikodara had said these words, Vasudeva, filled with glee, applauded him highly and said to him-"Depending on you, O you of great arms, the righteous king Yudhishthira will, forsooth, get back his prosperity after the destruction of all his foes.

You have slain all the sons of Dhritarashtra in battle. At your hands many kings and princes and elephants have met with their death.

The Kalingas, the Magadhas, the Kauravas, the Westerners and the Gandharvas have all been killed in dreadful battles, O son of Pandu.

Killing Duryodhana then, O son of Kunti, bestow the earth with her oceans upon the righteous Yudhishthira like Vishnu conferring the sovereignty of the three worlds upon the lord of Shachi.

Getting you for a foe in battle, the wretched son of Dhritarashtra, will forsooth meet with his death. You will certainly fulfill your promise by breaking his bones.

You should however, O son of Pritha, always fight with care with the son of Dhritarashtra. He is endued with both skill and strength and always finds delight in battle.

Then Satyaki, O king, applauded the son of Pandu.

The Panchalas and the Pandavas, also, headed by the righteous king Yudhishthira, all praised Bhimasena.

Then Bhima, of terrible might, addressed Yudhishthira who was standing amid the Srinjayas like the burning Sun himself, saying-"I venture to fight with this man in battle. This wretch among men is not able to defeat me in fight.

Today I shall vomit that ire which has been ranking in my bosom against Suyodhana the son of Dhritarashtra like Arjuna throwing fire on the forest of Khandava.

I shall today pluck out the dart, O son of Pandu, that lay so long sticking to your heart. Be happy, O king, after I shall have struck down this wretch with my mace.

Today I shall recover, O sinless one, your garland of glory. Today Suyodhana shall renounce his life, his prosperity and his kingdom.

Today hearing of his son's death, king Dhritarashtra will remember all those wrongs that he did to us under Shakuni's advice."

Having said these words, that energetic prince, of Bharata's race, stood up for battle, like Shakra summoning Vritra to an encounter.

Unable to endure that call your highly energetic son, proceeded to the encounter, like one infuriate elephant proceeding to assail another.

The Pandavas saw your son, as he came armed with mace, as the summit of the mount Kailasa.

Verily beholding that powerful son of yours standing alone like a prince of elephants separated from the herd, the Pandavas were filled with joy.

Standing in battle like a very lion, Duryodhana had no fear, no pain, no anxiety.

Seeing him stand there with uplifted mace like the created mountain of Kailasa, Bhimasena, O monarch, addressed him, saying "Remember all those wrongs that king Dhritarashtra and yourself have inflicted on us. Remember what took place at Varanavata.

Remember how Draupadi, while in her season, was maltreated in the midst of the assembly and how king Yudhishthira was defeated at dice through Shakuni's advice.

See now, O wicked man, the dreadful consequence of those acts as also of the other wrongs that you inflicted on the innocent Parthas.

It is for you that, that illustrious chief of the Bharatas, the son of Ganga, the grandfather of us all, lies now on a bed of arrows.

Drona also has been killed. Karna has been killed. Shalya of great valour has been killed. Yonder Shakuni also, the root of these enunities, has been killed in battle.

Your heroic brothers and sons, with all your troops, have been killed. Other heroic kings also, who never retreated from battle, have been killed.

These and many other leading Kshatriyas, as also Pratikamin, that wretch who had seized the locks of Draupadi, have been killed.

You alone are still alive, O destroyer of your family, O wretch among men. I shall forsooth kill you today with my mace.

Today, O king, I shall, in battle, repress all your pride. I shall destroy also your hope of sovereignty, O king and pay off all your misdeeds to the sons of Pandu.

Duryodhana said What is the use of speaking too much? Fight now with me. Today O Vrikodara, I shall subdue you desire for battle.

Why do you not see me, O wretch, standing here for an encounter with the mace? Am I not armed with a formidable mace that looks like a summit of Himavat?

What enemy is there, O wretch, that would dare defeat me armed with this weapon? If it be a fair fight, Purandara himself, amongst the celestials, is not capable of doing it.

Do not, O son of Kunti, roar uselessly in this way like autumnal clouds shorn of water. Display all the strength you posses in battle now.

Hearing those words of his, the Pandavas with the Srinjayas, all filled with desire of victory, praised them highly.

Like men exciting an infuriate elephant with the clapping of hands, all of them then pleased king Duryodhana.

The elephants began to grunt and the horses to neigh repeatedly. The weapons of the Pandavas who were filled with the desire of victory shone there. The elephants began to grunt and the horses to neigh repeatedly. The weapons of the Pandavas who were filled with the desire of victory shone there.