Dhritarashtra Laments Arjuna's Invincibility

Janamejaya asked: “O brahmana! What did the immensely energetic Dhritarashtra say when he heard of the extraordinary deeds of the infinitely energetic Partha?” Vaishampayana said: Having heard from Dvaipayana, best of rishis, that Partha had gone to Shakra’s world, the king who was Ambika’s son spoke these words to Sanjaya. “O charioteer! O suta! By any chance, do you know of the deeds of the intelligent Partha? Tell me everything in detail. My son is mad and follows the dharma of the vulgar. He is evil in his soul and fixed on sin. That one of wicked intelligence will destroy the earth.” He spoke of the words of the great-souled one — Dvaipayana — whose words were always true, even in jest. “He has Dhananjaya as his warrior and will win the three worlds. When Arjuna shoots his barbed iron arrows, pointed at the tips and sharpened on stone, is there anyone who has conquered death and old age so as to withstand him?” All his evil-souled sons were under the sway of death. A fight with the invincible Pandava confronted them. He thought about this all the time. Yet he did not see a charioteer who could withstand Gandivadhanva in battle — not even if Drona or Karna advanced against him, or Bhishma himself. “There is no doubt a great calamity confronts the world. But I do not see our victory. Karna is contemptible and negligent. The preceptor is old and also his teacher. Partha is wrathful, driven by vengeance and powerful, steady in valour.” Since all these were incapable of being vanquished, a terrible battle would occur. All these warriors were skilled in the use of weapons and all of them would attain great fame. None of them would wish for the lordship of everything if that were to be obtained through defeat. “Therefore, there will be certain peace only when they have been killed, or when Phalguna is. But no one exists who can kill Arjuna, or even vanquish him. How will his wrath towards the evil ones be pacified?” He listed the deeds: Arjuna was the equal of the thirty gods and had gratified Agni in Khandava. He had conquered all the lords of the earth at the great rajasuya sacrifice. “O Sanjaya! O son! When a bolt of thunder strikes the peak of a mountain, it leaves some remnants. But the arrows shot by Kiriti leave no remnant. Like the arrows of the sun scorch everything that is mobile and immobile, the arrows shot by Partha’s arms will scorch my sons.” It seemed as if the armies of the Bharatas had already been scattered, frightened at the roar of Savyasachi’s chariot. Kiriti stood like an assassin in battle, unleashing showers of arrows. The creator had created him like the destroyer of everything. “But that which is bound to happen cannot be avoided.”