When their mournful silence, anddowncast eyes, that dared not meet his,
had confirmed his worst fears, the bereaved father burst into heart-broken lamentation.
"Alas, has my dear boy indeed become Yama's guest? Yudhishthira,
Bhimasena, Dhrishtadyumna and great Satyaki have all of you allowed the son of Subhadra to
be slain by the enemy?
Alas! What comfort shall I give to Subhadra? What shall. I say to
Draupadi? And what solace can be given to Uttara and who shall give it?"
Vasudeva spoke to his stricken friend. "Beloved Arjuna," he
said, "do not give way thus to grief. Bom as kshatriyas we have to Eve and die by
weapons.
Death is ever the companion of those who have taken up the profession
of arms and go into battle, determined not to retreat. Warriors must be ever ready to die
young.
Abhimanyu, boy as he was, has attained the happy regions above which
grey- haired veterans yearn to reach in battle.
