of Kshatriyas. And these omens forebode great havoc among ourselves. O
king, thy ranks seem to be confounded by these blazing meteors, and thy
animals look dispirited and seem to be weeping. Vultures and kites are
wheeling all around thy troops. Thou shalt have to repent upon beholding
thy army afflicted by Partha's arrows. Indeed, our ranks seem to have
been already vanquished, for none is eager to go to fight. All our
warriors are of pale face, and almost deprived of their senses. Sending
the kine ahead we should stand here, ready to strike, with all our
warriors arrayed in order of battle.'"

SECTION XLVII

Vaisampayana said, "King Duryodhana then, on the field of battle said
unto Bhishma, and unto Drona--that tiger among warriors, and unto
Kripa--that mighty car-warrior, these words, 'Both myself and Karna had
said this unto the preceptors.[54] I refer to the subject again, for I
am not satisfied with having said it once. Even this was the pledge of
the sons of Pandu that if defeated (at dice) they would reside to our
knowledge in countries and woods for twelve years, and one more year
unknown to us. That thirteenth year, instead of being over, is yet
running. Vibhatsu, therefore, who is still to live undiscovered hath
appeared before us. And if Vibhatsu hath come before the term of exile
is at end, the Pandavas shall have to pass another twelve years in the
woods. Whether it is due to forgetfulness (on their part) induced by
desire of dominion, or whether it is a mistake of ours, it behoveth
Bhishma to calculate the shortness or excess (of the promised period).
When an object of desire may or may not be attained, a doubt necessarily
attaches to one of the alternatives, and what is decided in one way
often ends differently.[55] Even moralists are puzzled in judging of
their own acts.[56] As regards ourselves, we have come hither to fight
with the Matsyas and to seize their kine stationed towards the north.
If, meanwhile, it is Arjuna that hath come, what fault can attach to us?
We have come hither to fight against the Matsyas on behalf of the
Trigartas; and as numerous were the acts represented unto us of the
oppressions committed by the Matsyas, it was for this that we promised
aid to the Trigartas who were overcome with fear. And it was agreed
between us that they should first seize, on the afternoon of the seventh
lunar day, the enormous wealth of kine that the Matsyas have, and that
we should, at sunrise of