He may be a commoner’s son but Yuyutsu is no fool. With more angry words he cast down his sword and walked away in shame and grief. O Krishna why did you not tell me that this had happened before, while we were still fighting? I would have burnt all their lawless kind from the earth.”

sanjaya spoke:

72.65

Another wave of despair crashed against Partha and tears filled his eyes as he thought of his son. He convulsed with grief. Krishna son of Vasu·deva put his hands on him and spoke.

72.70

“Do not do this. All warriors who are brave and strong walk the same path and those who live by war never stray from it. The brave and the strong take this path because it is ordained for them by men wise enough to know the dictates of this world and you are the best of their number. The brave and the strong can be certain to die in battle. But o bull of the Bharatas have no doubt: Abhimanyu dwells now in the land of the pure of heart, the place where every hero yearns to go and the reason why a warrior seeks to meet death on the field. O friend. Abhimanyu slew the bold and mighty sons of kings and came face to face with death as a hero should: in the dance of war.* O tiger in the forest of men do not mourn. This has been the way since days of old. Those who know the order of things do what is given them and warriors are given the mayhem of war. O best of all the Bharatas all of your brothers and kings and friends are with you in the pit of your grief. Brave friend you must hearten us all with some words of hope. You must understand that you should let your sorrow go.”