Dhananjaya today to have been rescued from within the jaws of Death.  I do not regard my sire, my mother, yourselves, my brothers, ay, my very life, so worthy of protection as Vibhatsu in battle.  If there be anything more precious than the sovereignty of the three worlds, I do not, O Satwata, desire (to enjoy) it without Pritha’s son, Dhananjaya (to share it with me).  Beholding Dhananjaya, therefore, like one returned from the dead, these transports of delight, O Yuyudhana, have been mine.  It was for this that I had despatched the Rakshasa unto Karna for battle.  None else was capable of withstanding, in the night, Karna in battle.’

“Sanjaya continued, ’Even thus did Devaki’s son who is ever devoted to Dhananjaya’s good and to what is agreeable to him, speak unto Satyaki on that occasion.’”

SECTION CLXXXIII

“Dhritarashtra said, ’I see, O sire, that this act of Karna and Duryodhana and Suvala’s son, Sakuni, and of thyself, in especial, hath been very much against the dictates of policy.  Indeed, when you knew that dart could always slay one person in battle, and that it was incapable of being either borne or baffled by the very gods with Vasava at their head, why then, O Sanjaya, was it not hurled by Karna at Devaki’s son, or Phalguna, while he was engaged with this in battle before?’

“Sanjaya said, ’Returning from battle every day, O monarch, all of us, O foremost one of Kuru’s race, used to debate in the night and say unto Karna.  Tomorrow morning, O Karna, this dart should be hurled at either Kesava or Arjuna.’  When, however, the morning came, O king, through destiny, both Karna and the other warriors forgot that resolution.  I think destiny to be supreme, since Karna, with that dart in his hands, did not slay in battle either Partha or Devaki’s son, Krishna.  Indeed, because his understanding was afflicted by destiny itself, it is for this that he did not, stupefied by the illusion of the gods, hurl that fatal dart of Vasava, though he had it in his hand, at Devaki’s son, Krishna for his destruction or at Partha endued with prowess like Indra’s, O lord!’

“Dhritarashtra said, ’Ye are destroyed by destiny, by your own understanding, and by Kesava.  Vasava’s dart is lost, having effected the slaughter of Ghatotkacha who was as insignificant as straw.  Karna, and my sons, as all the other kings, through his highly impolitic act, have already entered the abode of Yama.  Tell me now how the battle once more raged between the Kurus and the Pandavas after the fall of Hidimva’s son.  How did they that rushed against Drona, arrayed in order of battle and well-skilled in smiting, viz., the Srinjaya and the Panchalas, fight?  How, indeed, did the Pandus and Srinjaya withstand the smiting Drona, when the latter proceeding against them, penetrated into their host, excited with wrath at the slaughter of Bhurisravas and Jayadratha, reckless of his very life,