these have been frustrated by Drona’s son, what need have I, O Kesava, to bear, the burden of life?  The hope, O Krishna, was cherished by me that with my child on my lap, O Janarddana, I would salute thee with reverence.  Alas, O Kesava, that hope has been destroyed.  O foremost of all beings, at the death of this heir of Abhimanyu of restless eyes, all the hopes in my breast have been destroyed.  Abhimanyu of restless eyes, O slayer of Madhu, was exceedingly dear to thee.  Behold this child of his slain by the Brahma-weapon.  This child is very ungrateful and very heartless, like his sire, for, behold, disregarding the prosperity and affluence of the Pandavas, he has gone to Yama’s abode.  I had, before this, vowed, O Kesava, that if Abhimanyu fell on the field of battle, O hero, I would follow him without any loss of time.  I did not, however, keep my vow, cruel that I am and fond of life.  If I repair to him now, what, indeed, will Phalguna’s son say?’”

SECTION LXIX

“Vaisampayana said, ’The helpless Uttara, desirous of getting back her child, having indulged in these piteous lamentations, fell down in affliction on the earth like a demented creature.  Beholding the princess fallen on the earth deprived of her son and with her body uncovered, Kunti as also all the (other) Bharata ladies deeply afflicted, began to weep aloud.  Resounding with the voice of lamentation, the palace of the Pandavas, O king, was soon converted into a mansion of sorrow where nobody could remain.  Exceedingly afflicted by grief on account of her son, Virata’s daughter, O king, seemed to be struck down for some time by sorrow and cheerlessness.  Regaining consciousness, O chief of Bharata’s race, Uttara took up her child on her lap and said these words:  Thou art the child of one who was conversant with every duty.  Art thou not conscious then of the sin thou committest, since thou dost not salute this foremost one of the Vrishni’s race?  O son, repairing to thy sire tell him these words of mine, viz.,—­it is difficult for living creatures to die before their time comes, since though reft of thee, my husband, and now deprived of my child also, I am yet alive when I should die, unendued as I am with everything auspicious and everything possessed of value.—­O mighty-armed one, with the permission of king Yudhishthira the just I shall swallow some virulent poison or cast myself on the blazing fire.  O sire, difficult of destruction is my heart since, though I am deprived of husband and child, that heart of mine does not yet break into a thousand pieces.  Rise, O son and behold this thy afflicted great-grandmother.  She is deeply afflicted with grief, bathed in tears, exceedingly cheerless, and plunged in an ocean of sorrow.  Behold the reverend princess of Panchala, and the helpless princess of the Satwata race.  Behold myself, exceedingly afflicted with grief, and resembling a deer pierced by a hunter.  Rise, O child, and