sanjaya spoke:

74.1

There were spies in the Pandu camp, and they returned to Jayad·ratha and explained the reason for the rumbles he heard. Jayad·ratha rose up flushed with panic. His heart was in tumult. He felt as if a vast and fathomless sea of despair was opening under his feet. Thinking desperately about what to do he brought together the other kings and told that godlike company what he knew and confessed his fear of Abhimanyu’s father. There was shame in his voice when he spoke.

74.5

74.10

“The man born from Indra’s desire and Pandu’s wife is in dark spirits: he plots to send me off to Deaths kingdom. I fear for my life. My fellow chieftains, I ask either that with your blessing I may return home or if you think your weapons can match his that you use your might to protect me, and stop Partha from doing me the harm he so yearns to inflict. If death came to take me then Drona, Duryodhana and Kripa, Karna, the King of Madra and Bahlika and Duhshasana and all our other champions would together be able to fend him off. So perhaps the combined strength of you high majesties of the earth can thwart the Red Star Fighter when he comes for my head. But o kings I have heard the Pandavas’ strange celebrations and they have bedded in me a deep unease. My body shakes as if death were already close. The Pandavas cry with joy in their hour of despair, and they do so because Gandiva’s master has vowed to kill me. No god or gandhdrva, no demon, serpent or devil can stand against him. How then will mere kings? I ask you o bulls in this world of men: give me your leave to ________