O Gautama, listen to what I say.  Duryodhana, and Drona, and Sakuni, and Durmukha, and Jaya, and Duhsasana, and Vrishasena, and the ruler of the Madras, and thyself too and Somadatta and Drona’s son, and Vivinsati,—­all these heroes skilled in battle,—­are here, clad in mail.  What foe is there, endued with even the prowess of Sakra, that would vanquish these in battle?  All those I have named a-e heroes, skilled in weapons, endued with great might, solicitous of admission into heaven, conversant with morality, and skilled in battle.  They would stay the very gods in fight.  These will take their places on the field for slaying the Pandavas, clad in mail on behalf of Duryodhana desirous of victory.  I regard victory to be dependent on destiny, even in the case of the foremost of mighty men.  When the mighty-armed Bhishma himself lieth pierced with a hundred arrows, as also Vikarna, and Jayadratha, and Bhurisravas, and Jaya, and Jalasandha, and Sudakshina, and Sala; that foremost of car-warriors, and Bhagadatta of great energy, I say, when these and many others, incapable of being easily vanquished by the very gods, heroes all and mightier (than the Pandavas), lie on the field of battle, slain by the Pandavas, what dost thou think, O wretch among men, but that all this is the result of destiny?  As regards them also, viz., the foes of Duryodhana, whom thou adorest, O Brahmana, brave warriors of theirs, in hundreds and thousands, have been slain.  The armies of both the Kurus and the Pandavas are diminishing in numbers; I do not, in this, behold the prowess of the Pandavas!  With them, O lowest of men, whom thou always regardest to be so mighty, I shall strive, to the utmost extent of my might, to contend in battle, for Duryodhana’s good.  As regards victory, that depends on destiny.’”

SECTION CLVIII

“Sanjaya said, ’Seeding his uncle thus addressed in harsh and insulting words by the Suta’s son, Aswatthaman, uplifting his scimitar, furiously rushed towards the latter.  Filled with fury, Drona’s son rushed towards Karna, in the very sight of the Kuru king, like a lion at an infuriated elephant.

“And Aswatthaman said, ’O lowest of men, Kripa was speaking of the virtues truly possessed by Arjuna.  Of wicked understanding as thou art, thou rebukest, however, my brave uncle from malice.  Possessed with pride and insolence, thou braggest today of thy prowess, not regarding any of the world’s bowmen in battle![209] Where was thy prowess and where were thy weapons when vanquishing thee in battle the wielder of Gandiva slew Jayadratha in thy very sight?  Vainly, O wretch of a Suta, dost thou indulge in thy mind the hope of vanquishing him who formerly contended in battle with Mahadeva himself.  The very gods with the Asuras united together and with Indra at their head had failed to vanquish Arjuna, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, having Krishna only for his ally.  How then, O Suta, hopest thou, aided by these kings, to vanquish that foremost of heroes in the world, viz., the unvanquished Arjuna, in battle?  Behold, O Karna of wicked soul, (what I do to thee) today!  O lowest of men, O thou of wretched understanding, I shall presently sever thy head from thy trunk.’