The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Adi Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Adi Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
When I heard that the blind Kauravas were shouting for
joy after having slain Abhimanyu and that thereupon Arjuna in anger made
his celebrated speech referring to Saindhava, then, O Sanjaya, I had no
hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna had vowed the death of Saindhava
and fulfilled his vow in the presence of his enemies, then, O Sanjaya, I
had no hope of success. When I heard that upon the horses of Arjuna being
fatigued, Vasudeva releasing them made them drink water and bringing them
back and reharnessing them continued to guide them as before, then, O
Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that while his horses were
fatigued, Arjuna staying in his chariot checked all his assailants, then,
O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Yuyudhana of the
race of Vrishni, after having thrown into confusion the army of Drona
rendered unbearable in prowess owing to the presence of elephants, retired
to where Krishna and Arjuna were, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of
success. When I heard that Karna even though he had got Bhima within his
power allowed him to escape after only addressing him in contemptuous
terms and dragging him with the end of his bow, then, O Sanjaya, I had no
hope of success. When I heard that Drona, Kritavarma, Kripa, Karna, the
son of Drona, and the valiant king of Madra (Salya) suffered Saindhava to
be slain, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the
celestial Sakti given by Indra (to Karna) was by Madhava's machinations
caused to be hurled upon Rakshasa Ghatotkacha of frightful countenance,
then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that in the
encounter between Karna and Ghatotkacha, that Sakti was hurled against
Ghatotkacha by Karna, the same which was certainly to have slain Arjuna in
battle, then, O Sanjaya. I had no hope of success. When I heard that
Dhristadyumna, transgressing the laws of battle, slew Drona while alone in
his chariot and resolved on death, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of
success. When I heard that Nakula, the son of Madri, having in the
presence of the whole army engaged in single combat with the son of Drona
and showing himself equal to him drove his chariot in circles around, then,
O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When upon the death of Drona, his son
misused the weapon called Narayana but failed to achieve the destruction
of the Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard
that Bhimasena drank the blood of his brother Duhsasana in the field of
battle without anybody being able to prevent him, then, O Sanjaya, I had
no hope of success. When I heard that the infinitely brave Karna,
invincible in battle, was slain by Arjuna in that war of brothers
mysterious even to the gods, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success.
When I heard that Yudhishthira, the Just, overcame the heroic son of Drona,
Duhsasana, and the fierce Kritavarman, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of
success.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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