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Any ray of hope there might have been of a peaceful settlement when Krishna went to Hastinapura was extinguished when he returned and narrated what happened.
Kunti was overwhelmed with grief when she learnt that it was to be war to the death.
"How can I" reflected Kunti, "give my thoughts tongue
and say to my sons, ‘Bear the insults. Let us not ask for any territory and let us
avoid war’? How can my sons accept what is contrary to Kshatriya tradition?"
"At the same time," thought she, "what can be gained by
mutual killings in the war and what happiness attained after the destruction of the race?
How shall I dilemma?" Thus was ,he tormented by the prospect of
wholesale destruction on the one hand and the claims of Kshatriya honour on the other.
"How can my sons defeat the mighty three combined, Bhishma, Drona
and Karna? They are warriors who have never yet met defeat. When I think of them, my mind
trembles. I do not worry about the others.
These three are the only people in the Kaurava army capable of fighting
the Pandavas with any hope of slaying them. Of these, Dronacharya might refrain from
killing my children from either love or unwillingness to meet one's own disciples in
battle.
Author : Shri C. Raja Gopalachari
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