abode?  Those lords of earth who had desired the sovereignty of the earth, are now lying on the earth, abandoning all their earthly prosperity.  Truly, I am a coward.  Having caused such a slaughter of friends, I dare not think that I shall be sanctified by performing even a hundred horse-sacrifices.  I am covetous and sinful and a transgressor against righteousness.  Through my acts alone, these lords of earth, in their desire for victory, have gone to Yama’s abode.  Why, in presence of those kings, does not the earth yield me a hole (through which to sink), since I am so sinful in behaviour and such a fomenter of internecine dissensions![183] Alas, what will the grandsire with blood-red eyes, that invincible hero who hath conquered the other world, tell me in the midst of the kings when he meets me?[184] Behold that mighty bowman, Jalasandha, slain by Satyaki.  That great car-warrior, that hero, came proudly to battle for my sake, prepared to lay down his life.  Beholding the ruler of the Kamvojas slain, as also Alamvusha and many other allies of mine, what object can I have for preserving my life?  Those unretreating heroes who, fighting for my sake and struggling to the utmost of their powers to vanquish my foes, have laid down their lives.  I shall today, O scorcher of foes, exerting the utmost measure of my might, free myself from the debt that I owe them and gratify them with oblations of water by repairing to the Yamuna.  O foremost of all bearers of arms, I tell thee truly and swear by the good acts I have performed, by the prowess I possess and by my sons, that slaying all the Panchalas with the Pandavas, I shall obtain peace of mind, or slain by them in battle I shall repair to those regions whither those allies of mine have gone.  I shall certainly proceed thither whither those bulls among men, slain, while engaged in battle for my sake, by Arjuna have gone!  Our allies, seeing that they are not well-protected by us, no longer desire to stand by us.  O thou of mighty arms, they now regard the Pandavas to be preferable to ourselves.  Thyself, of sure aim, hast ordained our extermination in battle, for thou treatest Arjuna leniently, since he is thy disciple.  It is for this that all those have been slain who had endeavoured to secure victory to us.  It seems that only Karna now wishes us victory.  The man of weak understanding who without duly examining another, accepteth him for a friend and engageth him in concerns that require friends for their accomplishment, is certain to suffer injury even so hath this affair of mine been managed by my best friend![185] I am exceedingly covetous, sinful, crooked-hearted, and characterised by avarice!  Alas, king Jayadratha hath been slain, and Somadatta’s son also of great energy, and the Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, and the Vasatis!  I shall go thither today whither those bulls among men, slain, while engaged in battle for my sake, by Arjuna, have gone.  In the absence of those bulls among men, I have no need for life.  O preceptor of the sons of Pandu, let me have thy permission in this.