160 The Mahdbharata : A Criticism*
cheerless. His heart sank within him as he proceeded
further and found his brothers steeped In grief. "Where
is my son, the darling child of Subhadra ?" cried he. "I
do not see him. Did he die like a brave warrior ?'*
Yudhishthira told him what had happened and Arjuna
fell down insensible. When brought round he vowed :
" To-morrow will I kill Jayadratha. If I do not, may I
not go to the place where my forefathers have gone. I
will burn myself on a pyre if I do not kill him before
sunset to-morrow." Krishna in exultation filled his conch
and so too Arjuna. There was a terrible acclamation
which rose to the skies and which startled the Kauravas
in their sleep.
The next day the fight was stubborn. The Kauravas,
having placed Jayadratha in their rear, fought stoutly
and sternly and tried their utmost to prevent Arjuna
from approaching him. Bhima and Arjuna performed
wonders that day and Duryodhana every moment saw
how he was mistaken in refusing to listen to Krishna's
proposal for peace. When Jayadratha was at last killed1
he upbraided Drona for his pusillanimity, his evident
regard for Arjuna coming in the way of his fightirig
honestly. The old man was stung to the quick and
declared that he would not terminate the fight till either
he had conquered or was dead, and that to please Dur-
yodhana he would now. kill with his Astras or divine
missiles all indiscriminately. (It was a rule of war that
these Astras should only be used against those who knew
1 There is no mention in the Mahabharata as is described by later
poets that Jayadratha had kicked Arjuna's son and hence had in-
creased his wrath, nor is it stated that Arjuna finding the sun setting
kindled fire to die.