jaya the son of Kunti, desist to
fight from panic? Inflamed with wrath upon whomsoever he will fall, even
him he will overthrow like a tree under the weight of Garuda! Superior
to thee in prowess, in bowmanship equal unto the lord himself of the
celestials, and in battle equal unto Vasudeva himself, who is there that
would not praise Partha? Counteracting celestial weapons with celestial,
and human weapons with human, what man is a match for Arjuna? Those
acquainted with the scriptures declare that a disciple is no way
inferior to a son, and it is for this that the son of Pandu is a
favourite of Drona. Employ thou the means now which thou hadst adopted
in the match at dice,--the same means, viz., by which thou hadst
subjugated Indraprastha, and the same means by which thou hadst dragged
Krishna to the assembly! This thy wise uncle, fully conversant with the
duties of the _Kshatriya_ order--this deceitful gambler Sakuni, the
prince of Gandhara, let _him_ fight now! The _Gandiva_, however, doth
not cast dice such as the _Krita_ or the _Dwapara_, but it shooteth upon
foes blazing and keen-edged shafts by myriads. The fierce arrows shot
from the _Gandiva_, endued with great energy and furnished with
vulturine wings, car, pierce even mountains. The destroyer of all, named
Yama, and Vayu, and the horse-faced Agni, leave some remnant behind, but
Dhananjaya inflamed with wrath never doth so. As thou hadst, aided by
thy uncle, played at dice in the assembly so do fight in this battle
protected by Suvala's son. Let the preceptor, if he chooses fight; I
shall not, however, fight with Dhananjaya. We are to fight with the king
of the Matsyas, if indeed, he cometh in the track of the kine.'"

SECTION LI

"Bhishma said, 'Drona's son observeth well, and Kripa too observeth
rightly. As for Karna, it is only out of regard for the duties of the
Kshatriya order that he desireth to fight. No man of wisdom can blame
the preceptor. I, however, am of opinion that fight we must, considering
both the time and the place. Why should not that man be bewildered who
hath five adversaries effulgent as five suns, who are heroic combatants
and who have just emerged from adversity? Even those conversant with
morality are bewildered in respect of their own interests. It is for
this, O king, that I tell thee this, whether my words be acceptable to
you or not. What Karna said unto thee was only for raising our
(drooping) courage. As regards thyself, O pr