of the world slain on the field of battle, such grief hath been ours that one cannot gladden us by giving the sovereignty of even the three worlds.  Alas, having slain, for the sake of the earth, such lords of earth as deserved not to be slain by us, we are bearing the weight of existence, deprived of friends and reft of the very objects of life.  Like a pack of dogs fighting one another for a piece of meat, a great disaster has overtaken us!  That piece of meat is no longer dear to us.  On the other hand, it shall be thrown aside.  They that have been slain should not have been slain for the sake of even the whole earth or mountains of gold, or all the horses and kine in this world.  Filled with envy and a hankering for all earthly objects, and influenced by wrath and pleasure, all of them, betaking themselves to the highway of Death, have repaired to the regions of Yama.  Practising asceticism and Brahmacharya and truth and renunciation, sires wish for sons endued with every kind of prosperity.  Similarly, by fasts and sacrifices and vows and sacred rites and auspicious ceremonies mothers conceive.  They then hold the foetus for ten months.  Passing their time in misery and in expectation of fruit, they always ask themselves in anxiety, ’Shall these come out of the womb safely?  Shall these live after birth?  Shall they grow in might and be objects of regard on earth?  Shall they be able to give us happiness in this and the other world?’ Alas, since their sons, youthful in years and resplendent with ear-rings, have been slain, therefore, those expectations of theirs rendered fruitless, have been abandoned by them.  Without having enjoyed the pleasure of this world, and without having paid off the debts they owed to their sires and the gods, they have repaired to Yama’s abode.  Alas, O mother, those kings have been slain just at that time when their parents expected to reap the fruits of their might and wealth.[5] They were always fitted with envy and a hankering after earthly objects, and were exceedingly subject to anger and joy.  For this, they could not be expected to enjoy at any time or any place the fruits of victory.[6] I think that they among the Panchalas and the Kurus that have fallen (in this battle) have been lost, otherwise he that has slain would, by that act of his, obtain all regions of bliss.[7] We are regarded as the cause of the destruction that has overtaken the world.  The fault, however, is really ascribable to the sons of Dhritarashtra.  Duryodhana’s heart was always set upon guile.  Always cherishing malice, he was addicted to deception.  Although we never offended him, yet he always behaved falsely towards us.  We have not gained our object, nor have they gained theirs.  We have not vanquished them, nor have they vanquished us.  The Dhartarashtras could not enjoy this earth, nor could they enjoy women and music.  They did not listen to the counsels of ministers and friends and men learned in the scriptures.  They could not, indeed, enjoy their costly gems and