The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,886 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,886 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3.
O monarch!  Then the friends of Duryodhana, deeply afflicted and made voiceless by their tears, set out for the city, taking the ladies of the royal household with them.  The camp-guards quickly fled towards the city, taking with them many white beds overlaid with costly coverlets.  Others, placing their wives on cars drawn by mules, proceeded towards the city.  Those ladies, O monarch, who, while in their houses could not be seen by the very sun, were now, as they proceeded towards the city, exposed to the gaze of the common people.  Those women, O chief of the Bharata’s race, who were very delicate, now proceeded with speed towards the city, having lost their near ones and kinsmen.  The very cow-herds and shepherds and common men, filled with panic and afflicted with the fear of Bhimasena, fled towards the city.  Even these were filled with a great fear of the Parthas.  Looking at one another, all of them fled towards the city.  During the progress of that general flight attended with such circumstances of fear, Yuyutsu, deprived of his senses by grief, thought upon what he should do in view of the emergency that had come.  “Duryodhana hath been vanquished in battle by the Pandavas of terrible prowess!  He had eleven Akshauhinis of troops under him!  All his brothers have been slain!  All the Kauravas, headed by Bhishma and Drona, have perished!  Through the influence of Destiny, only I have been saved!  All those that were in the Kuru camp have fled!  Alas, they are flying on all sides, deprived of energy and destitute of protectors!  Such a sight had never been seen before!  Afflicted with sorrow, with eyes anxious in fear, they are flying away on all sides like a herd of deer, looking at one another!  Those amongst the counsellors of Duryodhana that are yet alive have fled towards the city, taking with them the ladies of the royal household!  I think, O lord, that the time hath come when I also should enter the city with them, after taking the permission of Yudhishthira and Vasudeva!” For this purpose that mighty-armed prince presented himself before both those heroes.  King Yudhishthira, who is always compassionate, became highly pleased with him.  The mighty-armed Pandava embraced that child of a Vaisya mother and dismissed him affectionately.  Riding upon his own car, he urged his steeds to great speed.  He then supervised the removal of the ladies of the royal household to the city.  The sun was setting.  With those ladies, Yuyutsu entered the city of Hastinapura, with tearful eyes and with voice choked in grief.  He then saw Vidura of great wisdom, sitting with tearful eyes.  He had come away from Dhritarashtra, his heart having been afflicted with great sorrow.  Bowing down unto Vidura, he stood before him.  Devoted to truth, Vidura addressed him, saying, “By good luck, O son, thou livest amid this general destruction of the Kurus!  Why, however, hast thou come without king Duryodhana in thy company?  Tell me in detail the cause of this!”
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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.