duties, even so is the protection of king Yudhishthira the just another of my most imperative obligations.  O thou of mighty arms, be thou today the king’s protector.  Thou wilt protect him even as I myself protect him.  I do not behold the person in the world who would be able to vanquish thee.  Thou art, in battle, equal to Vasudeva himself.  The chief of the celestials himself is unable to vanquish thee.  Reposing this burden on thee, or on that mighty car-warrior Pradyumna, I can, O bull among men, without anxiety slay the ruler of the Sindhus.  O thou of the Satwata race, no anxiety need be entertained on my account.  With thy whole heart must thou protect the king.  There where the mighty-armed Vasudeva stayeth, and where I myself stay, without doubt, the slightest danger to him or me can never befall.’  Thus addressed by Partha, Satyaki, that slayer of hostile heroes, replied saying, ‘So be it.’  And then the latter proceeded to the spot where king Yudhishthira was.’

SECTION LXXXV

(Jayadratha-Vadha Parva)

“Dhritarashtra said, ’After Abhimanyu’s slaughter when the next day came, what did the Pandavas, afflicted with grief and sorrow do?  Who amongst my warriors fought with them?  Knowing, as they did, the achievements of Savyasachin, O tell me, how the Kauravas, could, having perpetrated such a wrong, remain fearlessly.  How could they in battle venture even to gaze at that tiger among men (viz., Arjuna), as he advanced like the all-destroying Death himself in fury, burning with grief on account of the slaughter of his son?  Beholding that warrior having the prince of apes on his banner, that hero grieved on account of his son’s death shaking his gigantic bow in battle, what did my warrior do?  What, O Sanjaya, hath befallen unto Duryodhana?  A great sorrow hath overtaken us today.  I do not any longer hear the sounds of joy.  Those charming sounds, highly agreeable to the ear, that were formerly heard in the abode of the Sindhu king, alas those sounds are no longer heard today.  Alas, in the camp of my sons, the sounds of countless bards and panegyrists singing their praises, and of dances are no longer heard.  Formerly, such sounds used to strike my ears incessantly.  Alas, as they are plunged into grief I do not any longer hear those sounds uttered (in their camp).  Formerly, O Sanjaya, while sitting in the abode of Somadatta who was devoted to truth, I used to hear such delightful sounds.  Alas, how destitute of (religious) merit I am, for I observe the abode of my sons today to be echoing with sounds of grief and lamentations and destitute of every noise betokening life and energy.  In the houses of Vivinsati, Durmukha, Chitrasena, Vikarna, and other sons of mine, I do not hear the sounds I used to hear formerly.  That great bowman, viz., the son of Drona, who was the refuge of my sons, upon him Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, and a large number of disciples used to wait, who took pleasure