After the fall of heroic Bhagadatta, of the Kamboja chief Sadakshina, and of Duhshasana, the carnage did not still cease!  Beholding even diverse heroic and mighty kings, each owning extensive territories, slain in battle, the carnage, O Krishna, did not still cease!  Beholding even a full Akshauhini of troops slain by Bhimasena in battle, the carnage did not still cease, in consequence of either the folly or the covetousness of the Dhartarashtras!  What king born in a noble race, a race especially like that of Kuru, save of course the foolish Duryodhana, would thus fruitlessly wage such fierce hostilities?  Who is there, possessed of reason and wisdom and capable of discriminating good from evil, that would thus wage war, knowing his foes to be superior to him in merit, strength, and courage?  How could he listen to the counsels of another, when, indeed, he could not make up his mind to make peace with the Pandavas in obedience to the words uttered by thee?  What medicine can be acceptable to that person today who disregarded Bhishma the son of Santanu, and Drona, and Vidura, while they urged him to make peace?  How can he accept good counsels, who from folly, O Janardana, insolently disregarded his own aged sire as also his own well-meaning mother while speaking beneficial words unto him?  It is evident, O Janardana, that Duryodhana took his birth for exterminating his race!  His conduct and his policy, it is seen, point to that line, O lord!  He will not give us our kingdom yet!  This is my opinion, O Achyuta!  The high-souled Vidura, O sire, told me many a time that as long as life remained in Dhritarashtra’s son, he would never give us our share of the kingdom!  Vidura further told me, ’As long also as Dhritarashtra will live, O giver of honours, even that sinful wight will act sinfully towards you!  Ye will never succeed in vanquishing Duryodhana without battle!’ Even thus, O Madhava, did Vidura of true foresight often speak to me!  All the acts of that wicked-souled wight, I now find to be exactly as the high-souled Vidura had said!  That person of wicked understanding who, having listened to the beneficial and proper words of Jamadagni’s son, disregarded them, should certainly be held as standing in the face of destruction.  Many persons crowned with ascetic success said as soon as Duryodhana was born, that the entire Kshatriya order would be exterminated in consequence of that wretch.  Those words of the sages, O Janardana, are now being realised, since the Kshatriyas are undergoing almost entire extermination in consequence of Duryodhana’s acts!  I shall, O Madhava, slay all the warriors today!  After all the Kshatriyas will have been slain and the (Kaurava) camp made empty, Duryodhana will then desire battle with us for his own destruction.  That will end these hostilities!  Exercising my reason, O Madhava, and reflected in my own mind, O thou of Vrishni’s race, thinking of Vidura’s words, and taking into account the acts of the wicked-souled Duryodhana himself, I have come to this conclusion!  Penetrate the Bharata army, O hero, for I shall slay the wicked-souled Duryodhana and his army today with my keen shafts!  Slaying this weak army in the very sight of Dhritarashtra’s son, I shall today do what is for Yudhishthira’s good!"’