MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global

"Speak Yudhishthir, soul of virtue thus the proud preceptor cried,
"Thou in truth hast never faltered and thy lips have never lied,
Speak of valiant Aswa-thaman, Drona's hope and pride and joy,
Hath he fallen in this battle, is he slain, my gallant boy,
Feeble are the hands of Drona and his prowess quenched and gone,
Fleecy are his ancient tresses and his earthly task is done!"
Said Yudhishthir thus in answer: "Tusker Aswa-thaman's dead,"
Drona heard but half the accents, feebly drooped his sinking head,
Then the prince of fair Panchala swiftly drove across the plain,
Marked his father's cruel slayer, marked his noble father slain!
Dhrista-dyumna bent his weapon and his shaft was pointed well,
And the priest and proud preceptor, peerless Drona lifeless fell,
And the fatal day was ended, Kurus fled in abject fear,
Arjun for his ancient teacher dropped a silent filial tear!
MAHABHARATA BOOK X
KARNA-BADHA
(Fall of Karna)
KARNA was chosen as the leader of the Kuru forces after the death of Drona, and held
his own for two days. The great contest between Karna and Arjun, long expected and
long deferred, came on at last. It is the crowning incident of the Indian Epic, as the
contest between Hector and Achilles is the crowning incident of the Iliad. With a truer
artistic skill than that of Homer, the Indian poet represents Karna as equal to Arjun in
strength and skill, and his defeat is only due to an accident.
After the death of Karna, Salya led the Kuru troops on the eighteenth and last day of the
war, and fell. A midnight slaughter in the Pandav camp, perpetrated by the vengeful son
of Drona, concludes the war. Duryodhan, left wounded by Bhima, heard of the slaughter
and died happy.
Books viii., ix., and x. of the original have been abridged in this Book.
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