The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa | Page 9

and noble-minded Brahmanas who live upon alms, then, O
Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, having, in
combat, pleased the god of gods, Tryambaka (the three-eyed) in the
disguise of a hunter, obtained the great weapon Pasupata, then O
Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the just and
renowned Arjuna after having been to the celestial regions, had there
obtained celestial weapons from Indra himself then, O Sanjaya, I had
no hope of success. When I heard that afterwards Arjuna had
vanquished the Kalakeyas and the Paulomas proud with the boon they
had obtained and which had rendered them invulnerable even to the
celestials, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that
Arjuna, the chastiser of enemies, having gone to the regions of Indra
for the destruction of the Asuras, had returned thence successful, then,
O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Bhima and the

other sons of Pritha (Kunti) accompanied by Vaisravana had arrived at
that country which is inaccessible to man then, O Sanjaya, I had no
hope of success. When I heard that my sons, guided by the counsels of
Karna, while on their journey of Ghoshayatra, had been taken prisoners
by the Gandharvas and were set free by Arjuna, then, O Sanjaya, I had
no hope of success. When I heard that Dharma (the god of justice)
having come under the form of a Yaksha had proposed certain
questions to Yudhishthira then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success.
When I heard that my sons had failed to discover the Pandavas under
their disguise while residing with Draupadi in the dominions of Virata,
then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the
principal men of my side had all been vanquished by the noble Arjuna
with a single chariot while residing in the dominions of Virata, then, O
Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Vasudeva of the
race of Madhu, who covered this whole earth by one foot, was heartily
interested in the welfare of the Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I had no
hope of success. When I heard that the king of Matsya, had offered his
virtuous daughter Uttara to Arjuna and that Arjuna had accepted her for
his son, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that
Yudhishthira, beaten at dice, deprived of wealth, exiled and separated
from his connections, had assembled yet an army of seven Akshauhinis,
then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard Narada,
declare that Krishna and Arjuna were Nara and Narayana and he
(Narada) had seen them together in the regions of Brahma, then, O
Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Krishna, anxious
to bring about peace, for the welfare of mankind had repaired to the
Kurus, and went away without having been able to effect his purpose,
then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Karna and
Duryodhana resolved upon imprisoning Krishna displayed in himself
the whole universe, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. Then I
heard that at the time of his departure, Pritha (Kunti) standing, full of
sorrow, near his chariot received consolation from Krishna, then, O
Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Vasudeva and
Bhishma the son of Santanu were the counsellors of the Pandavas and
Drona the son of Bharadwaja pronounced blessings on them, then, O
Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When Karna said unto Bhishma--I
will not fight when thou art fighting--and, quitting the army, went away,

then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Vasudeva
and Arjuna and the bow Gandiva of immeasurable prowess, these three
of dreadful energy had come together, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope
of success. When I heard that upon Arjuna having been seized with
compunction on his chariot and ready to sink, Krishna showed him all
the worlds within his body, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success.
When I heard that Bhishma, the desolator of foes, killing ten thousand
charioteers every day in the field of battle, had not slain any amongst
the Pandavas then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard
that Bhishma, the righteous son of Ganga, had himself indicated the
means of his defeat in the field of battle and that the same were
accomplished by the Pandavas with joyfulness, then, O Sanjaya, I had
no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, having placed Sikhandin
before himself in his chariot, had wounded Bhishma of infinite courage
and invincible in