Vaisampayana said, "After that great warrior Karna had been routed by
the _Gandharvas_, the whole of the Kuru army, O monarch, fled from the
field in the very sight of Dhritarashtra's son. And beholding all his
troops flying from the field of battle with their back to the foe, king
Duryodhana refused to fly. Seeing the mighty host of the _Gandharvas_
rushing towards him, that represser of foes poured down upon them a
thick shower of arrows. The _Gandharvas_, however, without regarding
that arrowy shower, and desirous also of slaying him, surrounded that
car of his. And by means of their arrows, they cut off into fragments
the yoke, the shaft, the fenders, the flagstaff, the three-fold bamboo
poles, and the principal turret of his car. And they also slew his
charioteer and horses, hacking them to pieces. And when Duryodhana,
deprived of his car, fell on the ground, the strong-armed Chitrasena
rushed towards him and seized him in such a way that it seemed his life
itself was taken. And after the Kuru king had been seized, the
_Gandharvas_, surrounding Dussasana, who was seated on his car, also
took him prisoner. And some _Gandharvas_ seized Vivinsati and
Chitrasena, and some Vinda and Anuvinda, while others seized all the
ladies of royal household. And the warriors of Duryodhana, who were
routed by the _Gandharvas_, joining those who had fled first, approached
the Pandavas (who were living in the vicinity). And after Duryodhana had
been made captive, the vehicles, the shops, the pavilions, the
carriages, and the draught animals, all were made over to the Pandavas
for protection. And those soldiers said, 'The mighty-armed son of
Dhritarashtra, possessed of great strength and handsome mien, is being
taken away captive by the _Gandharvas_! Ye sons of Pritha, follow them!
Dussasana, Durvishasa, Durmukha, and Durjaya, are all being led away as
captives in chains by the Gandharvas, as also all the ladies of the
royal household!'
"Crying thus, the followers of Duryodhana, afflicted with grief and
melancholy, approached Yudhishthira, desirous of effecting the release
of the king. Bhima then answered those old attendants of Duryodhana,
who, afflicted with grief and melancholy, were thus soliciting (the aid
of Yudhishthira), saying, 'What we should have done with great efforts,
arraying ourselves in line of battle, supported by horses and elephants
hath, indeed, been done by the _Gandharvas_! They that come hither for
other purposes, have been overtaken by consequences they had not
foreseen! Indeed, this is the result of the evil counsels of a king who
is fond of deceitful play! It hath been heard by us that the foe of a
person who is powerless, is overthrown by others. The Gandharvas have,
in an extraordinary way illustrated before our eyes the truth of this
saying! It seems that there is still fortunately some person in the
world who is desirous of doing us good who hath, indeed, taken upon his
own shoulders our pleasant load, although we are sitting idly! The
wretch had come hither to cast his eyes on us,--himself in prosperity
while ourselves are sunk in adversity and emaciated by ascetic
austerities and are exposed to wind, cold and heat. They that imitate
the behaviour of that sinful and wretched Kaurava, are now beholding his
disgrace! He that had instructed Duryodhana to do this, had certainly
acted sinfully. That the sons of Kunti are not wicked and sinful, I tell
it before you all!'
"And while Bhima, the son of Kunti, was speaking thus in a voice of
sarcasm, king Yudhishthira told him, 'This is not time for cruel
words!'"