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ह्रदप्रवेशपर्वन् (hradapravezaparvan)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Hradapraveśaparvan]
(“the section containing Duryodhana's entering the lake, ” the 81st of the minor parvans of Mhbhr.
cf. Hradapraveśana). § 612: The followers of Śakuni attacked the Pāṇḍavas
Arjuna and Bhīmasena came to the rescue of Sahadeva
Arjuna slew them
Duryodhana rallied the remnants of his chariots (many hundreds), etc., and urged them against the Pāṇḍavas and Dhṛshṭadyumna
they were exterminated in a moment by the Pāṇḍavas and the Sṛñjayas. Only Duryodhana remained alive. Requested by Dhṛtarāshṭra, Sañjaya recounted the numbers of the remnants of the Pāṇḍava army. Duryodhana abandoned his slain steeds and fled away on foot without a companion, towards a lake, taking up his mace, recalling the words of Vidura. The Pāṇḍavas (headed by Dhṛshṭadyumna) with Arjuna (with Gāṇḍīva) baffled the Kurus. In Duryodhana's army no great chariot-warrior was alive save Aśvatthāman, etc. (). Urged by Dhṛshṭadyumna, Sātyaki was about to slay Sañjaya
but Vyāsa came and caused him to be let off alive. He met with Duryodhana, whom he told the state of things, and who asked him to inform Dhṛtarāshṭra. Then Duryodhana, having charmed the waters, entered the lake. Sañjaya then met with Aśvatthāman, etc. (), and informed them
they fled away, at sight of the Pāṇḍavas, to the Kuru camp, taking Sañjaya up in the chariot of Kṛpa. The sun had set a little before. The outposts of the camp wept aloud. The old men proceeded towards the city with the princesses (description)
also the camp-guards fled towards the city, and so did also the cowherds, etc., from fear of Bhīmasena. Yuyutsu reflected (). With the permission of Yudhishṭhira he supervised the removal of the ladies. The sun was setting. Having entered Hāstinapura with the ladies, he informed Vidura ()
urged by Vidura, he passed that night in his own abode, while Vidura went to the cheerless mansion of Dhṛtarāshṭra (IX, 29). Requested by Dhṛtarāshṭra (), Sañjaya related: The Pāṇḍavas wandered over the field in search of Duryodhana
tired, they took rest in their camp with all their soldiers. Then Aśvatthāman, etc. () proceeded towards the lake and urged Duryodhana to fight with them against Yudhishṭhira. Duryodhana said that he would rest for that night and fight the next morning. Aśvatthāman swore to slay the Pāṇḍavas and all the Pāñcālas in this night. Certain hunters who used every day to procure a basketful of meat for Bhīmasena overheard the conversation between Duryodhana and Aśvatthāman, etc. (), and informed Bhīmasena. The Pāṇḍavas all (Arjuna, etc. () with Yudhishṭhira) started towards the lake (Dvaipāyana)
hearing the noise caused by them Aśvatthāman, etc. (), took leave from Duryodhana and went away, and stopped under a banyan (IX, 30). Kṛshṇa advised Yudhishṭhira to slay Duryodhana by putting forth his own powers of illusion (). Yudhishṭhira tauntingly addressed Duryodhana for having fled from battle ()
Duryodhana said that he had entered the lake not from fear, but in order to take rest. Yudhishṭhira asked Duryodhana to come out immediately and fight his foes. He answered that his kingdom might be taken by his foes, his own desire being to enter the woods and retire from the world ()
Yudhishṭhira taunted him for such an answer, refusing to take the kingdom in gift from one who was unable to retain it by might (IX, 31).