Excerpt from The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa: Translated Into English Prose The Pandavas also, O king, having gone through their morning rites, issued from their camp, resolved on battle. Then commenced a fierce battle, making the hair to stand on end, between the Kurus and the Pandavas, each desirous of vanquishing the other. During the commandership of Karna, the battle that took place between the Kuru and the Pandava troops was exceedingly fierce and lasted for two days. Then Vrisha (Karna) having made an immense slaughter of his enemies in battle, was at last slain in the sight of the Dhartarashtras, by Arjuna. Then Sanjaya, repairing to Hastinapura told Dhritarashtra all that had happened at Kurujangala." Janamejaya said,
"Having heard of the fall of Bhishma and that other mighty car-warrior, viz, Drona, the old king Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika had been afflicted with great grief. How, O foremost of Brahmanas, could he, plnnged into grief, support his life having heard of the death of Karna, that well-wisher of Duryodhana? How indeed, could that descendant of Kuru support his life when he, upon whom, that monarch had rested the hope of his sons victory had fallen? When the king did not lay down his life even after hearing of Karnas death, I think that it is very difficult for men to yield up life even under circumstances of great grief! O Brahman, when the king did not yield up his life after hearing of the fall of the venerable son of Santanu, of Valhika and Drona and Somadatta and Bhurisravas, as also other friends and his sons and grandsons, I think, O regenerate one, that the act of yielding up one's life is exceedingly difficult! Tell me all these in detail and as they actually happened! I am not satiated with hearing the high achievements of my ancestors!" Vaisampayana said, -
"Upon the fall of Karna, O monarch, the son of Gavalgana, with a cheerless heart, set out that night for Nagapura, on steeds that rivalled the wind in speed. Arrived at Hastinapura, with a heart filled with deep anxiety, he proceeded to Dhritarashtra's abode which no longer teemed with kinsmen and friends. Belolding the king deprived of all energy by grief, joining his hands he worshipped, with a bend of his head, the monarchs feet. Having duly worshipped king Dhritarashtra, he uttered an exclamation of woe and then began, I am Sanjaya, O lord of Earth! Art thou not happy? About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
