Bhishma Parva
Dhritarastra Prepares For The Great Tragedy
Vyasa observed the two boundless armies belonging to his descendants, deployed one to the west and the other to the east. Thanks to his powers of clairvoyance, he was able to scroll through the bloody pages of the future battle of Kurukshetra with clarity. It was at that point that he decided to go to Hastinapura to visit his son Dhritarastra.
“The war you have carefully prepared over these long years has become a reality now,” Vyasa told him. “I have seen the two armies deployed in combat position on the banks of the Ganges and I warn you that it will be only a few days from today that you will find yourself mourning the loss of the people you care about most.”
Dhritarastra didn’t answer. He knew well that what Vyasa said would turn out to be a bitter truth. But there was always a glimmer of hope inside him, fueled by the confidence that came from the immense strength of his army.
“If you want I can give you the ability to observe the events happening on the battlefield,” he added.
“My father,” Dhritarastra replied, “I don’t want to see the fratricidal massacre that will take place starting tomorrow. But I also don’t want to ignore the reality of the facts. I want to make sure I’m told everything with the least amount of detail.”
“So it shall be. I will grant Sanjaya the power to simultaneously observe what is happening in every corner of the boundless land of Kurukshetra. He will be able to perceive the feelings and capture the innermost thoughts of those who are preparing to die or survive. Also, when Sanjaya is on the field of battle, he will be invulnerable to the impact of any weapon.
“Terrible moments are coming, my son, and I foresee, without a shadow of a doubt, that victory can never be for your children.”
Having said that Vyasa left.
With a troubled soul and mind in turmoil, Dhritarastra asked Sanjaya to tell him about the numerous holy places and regions of Bharata-varsha, so as to forget, at least for a while, the terrible anxiety that oppressed him.
Sanjaya, who was a great scholar, then spoke to him of delicate and controversial philosophical problems. Problems such as the three subdivisions of living entities that populate the entire universe and the complex interactions of the five elements that make up the gross aspect of material creation. Also, he described fantastic places such as Sudarshana Island, Bharata-varsha and others, focusing on every detail and even specifying the lifespan of their inhabitants.
He went on talking for several hours, then, having finished the speech, he went to the battlefield.
He returned to Hastinapura ten days later and relayed the news to Dhritarastra.
“O king, the demoniac policy of your children is already bearing its first fruits. Along with countless other kings and soldiers, the great and invincible Bhishma, who provided for you in the early years of your life as if you were his son, the son of Ganga who possesses perfect knowledge of the principles that govern this world and the next, has fallen on the field mortally wounded, pierced by the hundreds of arrows shot from the bows of Arjuna and Shikhandi. He is now waiting for the auspicious moment called Uttarayana to abandon his mortal remains. “
Dhritarastra felt thunderstruck: he couldn’t find the words to describe his pain.
Then, recovering, he managed to say,
“How was this possible? Bhishma was invincible and invulnerable to virtually any weapon, and he could only die when he wished. How did they do it? He even managed to confuse Parashurama and even the Devas themselves would not have wanted to meet him on the battlefield. O Sanjaya, satisfy my curiosity, recount the events of these first ten days of battle.”
Sanjaya sat down next to him and started talking.
This is a section of the book “Maha-bharata, Vol. 2”.
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