3. Dhritarashtra expressing his distress
Sanjaya! I gave up the desire for victory when I heard that Arjuna had satisfied the god Tryambaka in battle and obtained Mahastra Pasupata. When I heard that the famous and truthful Dhananjaya entered the Devaloka and got the divyastras ie divine weapons from Sakshat Shakra, I doubted victory Sanjaya! Sanjaya! When I heard that Bhima and the other Parthas accompanied Vaisravana to those regions where men had never gone before, I was skeptical about victory. Sanjaya! When I heard that my son, who believed in Karna and did as he said, was freed by Arjuna during the Ghoshyatra while he was being held captive by the Gandharvas, I was in doubt about the victory. Suta Sanjaya! When I heard that Dharma Raja answered all the questions asked by Dharma who had come in Yaksha form and satisfied him, I was in doubt of victory.
When the noble men were residing in the country of Virata, I doubted victory, Sanjaya! When Dhananjaya single-handedly defeated us who were joined by elders. When Matsyaraja giving hospitality to Arjuna and gave him his daughter Uttara, I doubted victory when I heard that Arjuna had accepted her for his son, Sanjaya! When I heard that Yudhishthira, who had lost his kingdom and treasures in the dice game and had lost all his connections with his relatives, united the seven Akshauhini armies, I doubted victory Sanjaya! Sanjaya, when I heard from the sage Narada that Krishnarjunas are Naranarayanas who are found together in Brahmaloka, I had doubts about victory! Sanjaya, when I heard that the soul of Vikrami Madhava Vasudeva, who measured the entire world in one foot, wanted the welfare of the Pandavas always, I had doubts about victory!
When karna and duryodhana were thinking of arresting keshava, I doubted the victory Sanjaya as Keshava had shown his multiple forms to karna and duryodhana.Sanjaya I doubted victory when Vasudeva was returning from here, Kunti stood in front of his chariot and heard that Kesava consoled her. Sanjaya I doubted our victory when I heard that pandavas had the blessings of Vasudeva's ministry, Shantanava Bhishma, Bharadwaja and others! When karna said to Bheeshma “I will not fight as long as you are here in the battlefield!” Sanjaya! When I heard this that karna had left the army, I doubted victory.
Sanjaya, when I knew that Vasudeva, Arjuna and Aprameya Gandiva were united as one, I doubted victory! Sanjaya, when I heard that Krishna showed the universe in his body to Arjuna when the sad Arjuna fell down on the chariot and was mourning! Sanjaya, when I heard that Bhishma of had killed ten thousand charioteers but did not kill even a single important Pandava, I had doubted our victory! Sanjaya, when I heard that Arjuna had made Shikhandi stand in front of the chariot and overthrew the most valiant, victorious Bhishma, I doubted victory!
Sanjaya, when I heard that the old hero Bhishma, laid on Saratalpa suffering from wounds, I doubted victory! Sanjaya, when the sleeping Shantana asked for water to drink, Arjuna split the earth and gave water to Bhishma, I doubted victory! Sanjaya, when I heard that both Shukra and Surya wanted the victory of Kaunteyas and even the animals were always terrorizing us! I doubted victory. Sanjaya, I doubted victory when I heard that the warrior Drona displayed various weapons in battle but did not kill anyone who was the greatest of the Pandavas.
Sanjaya, when I heard that our greatest of the great conspirators, who were determined to kill Arjuna, died from Arjuna himself, I doubted victory! I doubted the victory Sanjaya when I heard that Vira Saubhadri alone penetrated the impenetrable array formed by Bharadwaja defended by arms! Sanjaya, when I heard that all the Maharathis, who were powerless to face Partha, surrounded and killed the boy Abhimanyu and became happy, I doubted the victory!
Sanjaya, when I heard that the enraged Arjuna had vowed to kill Saindhava while the foolish Dhartarashtras were cheering for killing Abhimanyu, I doubted the victory. Sanjaya, when I heard that Arjuna, who vowed to kill Saindhava, fulfilled his vow in the midst of his enemies, I doubted victory! When I heard that Madhava untied Dhananjaya's tired horses in the middle of the battlefield, watered them, tied them again and drove the chariot like before, Sanjaya, I doubted victory!
Sanjaya, when I heard that Arjuna stood in the chariot while the horses were drinking water and held back all the warriors from Gandiva, I doubted victory. Sanjaya, when I heard that Varshneya Yuyudhana scattered Drona's army of elephants everywhere and prevented them from reaching Krishnapartha! I doubted victory.
Sanjaya, when I heard that brave Karna captured Bhima with the tip of his bow and released him without killing him with mere words of mockery! I doubted victory. Sanjaya, when I heard that Drona, Kritavarma, Kripa, Karna, Drauni, and brave Madraraja all allowed Saindhava to be killed! I doubted victory. When I heard that the divine power received from Devaraja was used on the hideous demon Ghatotkacha as planned by Madhava, I doubted victory, Sanjaya! Sanjaya, when I heard that Sutaputra used that energy which was reserved for killing Savyasachi in the Karna-Ghatotkachara war, I doubted the victory! Sanjaya, when I heard that when Acharya Drona was sitting alone in a chariot was killed by Dhrishtadyumna who transgressed the Dharma! I doubted victory. Sanjaya, I doubted the victory when Madriputra Nakula disarranged Drauni's chariot of the army while the war was going on and showed himself a match even as a Pandava in the battle! Sanjaya, I doubted the victory when the divine Narayanastra left by Dronaputra failed to end the Pandavas life!
Sanjaya, when I heard that Karna, the bravest warrior was killed by Partha in the battle of those brothers who were mysterious to the gods, I doubted the victory! Sanjaya, when I heard that Yudhishthira defeated Dronaputra, Kripa, Duhshasana and the fierce Kritavarma in battle, I doubted victory! Sanjaya! When I heard that the valiant Madraraja, who was competing with Krishna in the war, was killed in battle by Dharmaraja, I doubted the victory. Sanjaya, I doubted the victory when I heard that the Saubala was killed by the Pandava Sahadeva in battle! When I heard that Duryodhana went to the lake in desperation after settling the water there, laid down alone and rested there, I doubted victory! Sanjaya, when I heard that the Pandavas accompanied by Vasudeva stood on the banks of the same lake and taunted my son in a nasty and obscene manner! I doubted victory.
Sanjaya, when I heard that my son was unjustly beaten as suggested by Vasudeva, who was showing various maneuvers around the battlefield! I doubed the victory. Sanjaya, I doubted victory when I heard that Dronaputra and others needlessly killed the sleeping Panchala and Draupadeya and incurred sin unnecessarily I doubted victory. Sanjaya! When I heard that Ashwathama who was chased by Bhimasena with rage killed a womb in a pregnant woman by leaving a paramastra through grass I doubted the victory. Sanjaya, Ashwatthama's head was calmed down by the weapon left by Arjuna called Svasti and when I heard that Ashwatthama gave away his mani ratna I doubted victory! When I heard that Dwaipayana, Kesava and Dronaputra cursed each other when Vairati's womb was destroyed by Dronaputra's great weapon, I doubted victory Sanjaya!
The Pandavas have succeeded in their difficult task of regaining the unrivalled kingdom. But Gandhari who lost her sons, grandsons, father and brothers should be mourned. It is very hard to hear that 18 Akshauhini Kshatriyas were killed in that battle and only 10 survived in the battle - three from our side and seven from the Pandavas’ side. Suta! My mind is wide open. I am feeling like I have become unconscious. It seems darkness has enveloped me”. Dhritarashtra, greatly distressed, fainted, lamenting thus, and awoke again and said to Sanjaya: “Sanjaya! I want to end this life now. There is no fruit in living anymore.” Saying this, Dhimanta Gavalgani spoke these meaningful words to Mahipati, who was lamenting humbly: “You have heard about the words of great Vaishampayana and the sage Narada about the mighty and courageous kings. The kings who were born in great dynasties, who were very talented, who were divinely wise, and who were brilliant like Shakra, conquered the earth, performed sacred yagnas by giving donations generously and achieved success in this world and later all of them passed away.
Among these kings were the great Vainya, the greatest of conquerors Srinjaya, Suhotra, Rantideva, Kakshivanta, Aushija, Bahlika, Damana, Shaibhya, Sharyati, Aparajita Nala, Amitraghna Vishwamitra, the great Ambarisha, Marutta, Manu, Ikshvaku, Gaya, Bharata, Dasharathi Rama, Shashabindu, Bhagiratha, Mahabhaga Kritavirya, Janamejaya, Yayati. All these had made the entire world as one yagna kunda or one yagna vessel and had performed the sacred yagnas and other auspicious deeds along with the gods. Apart from them, other strong noble, brave, kings have passed away in the past. These and many more, hundreds of thousands in number, wise mighty kings, have left abundant pleasures and died great like your sons. The poets of the world who have described about those qualities of the kings who have done divine deeds, great sacrifices, who were very truthful and pure, in their works, have also passed away a long time ago only.