वैशम्पायन उवाच क्रोशमात्रं ततो गत्वा ददृशुस्तान् महारथान्। शारद्वतं कृपं द्रौणिं कृतवर्माणमेव च॥
Vaishampayana said “Within two miles after his departure Dhritarashtra, met with those three great carwarriors, viz., Sharadvat's son Kripa, Drona's son (Ashvatthaman), and Kritavarman.
ते तु दृष्ट्वैव राजानं प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमीश्वरम्। अश्रुकण्ठा विनिःश्वस्य रुदन्तमिदमब्रुवन्॥ पुत्रस्तव महाराज कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम्। गतः सानुचरो राजशक्रलोकं महीपते॥
As soon as the latter saw the blind king, possessed of great power, the three heroes sighed in grief and with voices choked in tears weepingly said,-'Your royal son, O king, having performed the most difficult feats, has, with all his followers, gone to the region of Indra.
दुर्योधनबलान्मुक्ता वयमेव त्रयो रथाः। सर्वमन्यत् परिक्षीणं सैन्यं ते भरतर्षभ॥
We are the only three car-warriors of Duryodhana's army that are yet alive. All the others, O foremost of Bharata's race, have died.'
इत्येवमुक्तवा राजानं कृपः शारद्वतस्ततः। गान्धारी पुत्रशोकार्तमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ अभीता युद्ध्यमानास्ते जन्तः शत्रुगणान् बहून्। वीरकर्माणि कुर्वाणाः पुत्रास्ते निधनं गताः॥
Having said these words to the king, Sharadvat's son Kripa, addressing the griefstricken Gandhari, said to her,-'Your sons have fallen, performing heroic and wonderful deeds, in the battle-field.
ध्रुवं सम्प्राप्य लोकांस्ते निर्मलाशस्त्रनिर्जितान्। भास्वरं देहमास्थाय विहरन्त्यमरा इव॥
Forsooth having, obtained those bright worlds that are attainable only by the use of weapons, they are playing there like celestials, having assumed shinning forms.
न हि कश्चिद्वि शूराणां युद्ध्यमानः पराङ्मुखः। शस्त्रेण निधनं प्राप्तो न च कश्चित् कृताञ्जलिः॥
Amongst those heroes there was no one that fled from battle-field. Every one of them has fallen at the end of weapons. None of them joined his hands, and prayed for mercy.
एवं तां क्षत्रियस्याहुः पुराणाः परमां गतिम्। शस्त्रेण निधनं संख्ये तत्र शोचितुमर्हसि॥
Death in battle by weapons has been described by the ancients as the best that a Kshatriya can obtain. You should not, therefore, grieve for any of them.
न चापि शत्रवस्तेषामृद्ध्यन्ते राज्ञि पाण्डवाः। शृणु यत् कृतमस्माभिरश्वत्थामपुरोगमैः॥
Their enemies, O queen viz., the Pandavas, too, have not been more fortunate. Hear, what we, headed by Ashvatthaman, have done to them.
अधर्मेण हतं श्रुत्वा भीमसेनेन ते सुतम्। सुप्तं शिविरमासाद्य पाण्डूनां कदनं कृतम्॥ ते
Learning that your son had been killed unrighteously by Bhima, we massacred the Pandavas when asleep after entering these camp.
पञ्चाला निहताः सर्वे धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः। द्रुपदस्यात्मजाश्चैव द्रौपदेयाश्च पातिताः॥
All the Panchalas have been killed. Indeed, all the sons of Drupada, as also all the son of Draupadi, have been massacred.
तथा विशसनं कृत्वा पुत्रशत्रुगणस्य ते। प्राद्रवाम रणे स्थातुं न हि शक्यामहे त्रयः॥
Having caused this massacre of the sons of our foes, we are flying away because we three cannot fight with them.
ते हि शूरा महेष्वासाः क्षिप्रमेष्यन्ति पाण्डवाः। अमर्षवशमापन्ना वैरं प्रतिजिहीर्षवः॥
Our enemies, the Pandavas, are all heroes and great bowmen. They will soon attack us, filled with rage, for taking vengeance on us.
हतानात्मजाञ्श्रुत्वाप्रमत्ताः पुरुषर्षभाः। निरीक्षन्तः पदं शूराः क्षिप्रमेव यशस्विनि॥
Informed of the massacre of their sons, those foremost infuriate with rage, those heroes,-Oillustrious lady, will soon pursue us.
तेषां तु कदनं कदनं कृत्वा संस्थातुं नोत्सहामहे। अनुजानीहि नो राज्ञि मा च शोके मनः कृथाः॥
Having caused this massacre we dare not stay. Grant us permission, O queen. You should not grievc.
राजंस्त्वमनुजानीहि धैर्यमातिष्ठ चोत्तमम्। दिष्टान्तं पश्य चापि त्वं क्षात्रं धर्मं च केवलम्॥
Grant us your permission also, O king! Summon fortitude, and observe the duties of a Kshatriya in their highest form.'
इत्येवमुक्त्वा राजानं कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम्। कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च द्रोणपुत्रश्च भारत॥ अवेक्षमाणा राजानं धृतराष्ट्रं मनीषिणम्। गङ्गामनु महाराज तूर्णमश्वानचोदयन्॥
Having said so to the king, and going round him, Kripa and Kritavarat man and Drona's son, O Bharata, without being able to take of men, son away their eyes from the wise king Dhritarashtra, urged their horses towards the banks of the Ganges.
अपक्रम्य तु ते राजन् सर्व एव महारथाः। आमन्त्र्यान्योन्यमुद्विग्नास्त्रिधा ते प्रययुस्तदा॥
Leaving thàt place, O king those great carwarriors, with hearts stricken with anxiety, took one another's leave and separated from one another.
जगाम हास्तिनपुरं कृपः शारद्वतस्तदा। स्वमेव राष्ट्रं हार्दिक्यो द्रौणिर्व्यासाश्रमं ययौ॥
Sharadvat's Kripa went to Hastinapura; Hridika's son went to his own kingdom; while the son of Drona started for the hermitage of Vyasa.
एवं ते प्रययुर्वीरा वीक्षमाणाः परस्परम्। भयार्ताः पाण्डुपुत्राणामागस्कृत्वा महात्मनाम्॥
Thus those heroes, who had offended the great sons of Pandu, respectively proceeded to the places they selected, on one another.
समेत्य वीरा राजानं तदा त्वनुदिते रवौ। विप्रजग्मुर्महात्माो यथेच्छकमरिदमाः॥
Having met the king thus, those heroes, went away before the sunrise, O king, to the places they selected.
समासाद्याथ वै द्रौणिं पाण्डुपुत्रा महारथाः। व्यजयंस्ते रणे राजन् विक्रम्य तदनन्तरम्॥
It was after this, O king, that the sons of Pandu, those great car-warriors, met the son of Drona, and displaying their prowess, defeated him, O king."