Mahabharata Bibliomancy Reading
This oracle randomly points to a line from one of sacred books of Mahabharata. The surrounding lines are also provided for context.
Your passage is from BOOK 10 - SAUPTIKA-PARVA - 8.
Those two, in return, devoted as they were to his good, gave him the agreeable intelligence of how they also had slaughtered thousands of Pancalas and Srinjayas (at the gates).
Surrounding Context from
BOOK 10 - SAUPTIKA-PARVA - 8
"'When morning dawned, Ashvatthama desired to leave the camp.
He was then bathed in human blood and the hilt of his sword so firmly adhered in his grasp that his hand and sword, O king, became one!
Having walked in that path that is never trod (by good warriors), Ashvatthama, after that slaughter, looked like the blazing fire at the end of the yuga after it has consumed all creatures into ashes.
Having perpetrated that feat agreeably to his vow, and having trod in that untrodden way, Drona's son, O lord, forgot his grief for the slaughter of his sire.
The Pandava camp, in consequence of the sleep in which all within it were buried, was perfectly still when Drona's son had entered it in the night.
"'After the nocturnal slaughter, when all became once more quiet, Ashvatthama issued from it.
Having issued from the camp, the valiant Ashvatthama met his two companions and, filled with joy, told them of his feat, gladdening them, O king, by the intelligence.
Those two, in return, devoted as they were to his good, gave him the agreeable intelligence of how they also had slaughtered thousands of Pancalas and Srinjayas (at the gates).
Even thus did that night prove terribly destructive to the Somakas who had been heedless and buried in sleep.
The course of time, without doubt, is irresistible.
Those who had exterminated us were themselves exterminated now.'
"Dhritarashtra said, 'Why is it that that mighty car-warrior, the son of Drona, did not achieve such a feat before although he had resolutely exerted himself for bestowing victory upon Duryodhana?
For what reason did that great bowman do this after the slaughter of the wretched Duryodhana?
It behoveth thee to tell me this!'
"Sanjaya said, 'Through fear of the Parthas, O son of Kuru's race, Ashvatthama could not achieve such a feat then.