"Vasudeva said, "Do not, O tiger among men, indulge in such grief that
emaciates thy body. They who have been slain in this battle will on no
account be got back. Those Kshatriyas, O king, that have fallen in this
great battle, are even, like objects that one acquires in one's dreams
and that vanish when one awakes. All of them were heroes and ornaments of
battle. They were vanquished while rushing with faces towards their foes.
No one amongst them was slain with wounds on the back or while flying
away. All of them, having contended with heroes in great battle and
having cast off their life-breaths then, have, sanctified by weapons,
proceeded to heaven. It behoveth thee not to grieve for them. Devoted to
the duties of Kshatriyas, possessed of courage, perfectly conversant with
the Vedas and their branches, all of them have attained to that blissful
end which is obtainable by heroes. It behoveth thee not to grieve for
them after hearing of those high-souled lords of the earth, of ancient
days, that departed from this world. In this connection is cited the old
discourse of Narada before Srinjaya when the latter was deeply afflicted
with grief on account of the death of his son. (Narada said),--Subject to
happiness and misery, myself, thyself and all creatures, O Srinjaya,
shall have to die. What cause then is there for sorrow. Listen to me as I
recite the great blessedness of (some) ancient king. Hear me with
concentrated attention. Thou shalt then, O king, cast off thy grief.
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