Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/476

be sanctified by the usual rites, and let all the beneficial and great acts (usual on such occasions) be performed. Let the friends and relatives of those that have been burnt to death repair thither. Let also whatever other beneficial acts that ought, under these circumstances, be performed by us for the Pandavas and Kunti be accomplished by wealth.'

"Having said this, Dhrita-rashtra the son of Amvika, surrounded by the relatives, offered oblations of water to the sons of Pandu. And all of them, afflicted with excessive sorrow, bewailed aloud, exclaiming, 'Oh Yudhish-thira! Oh prince of the Kuru race!—while others cried aloud, 'Oh Bhima!—Oh Falgoona!'—while some again, 'Oh the twins!—Oh Kunti!—Thus did they bewail the Pandavas and offer oblations of water unto them. The citizens also wept for the Pandavas, but Vidura did not weep much because he knew the truth.

"Meanwhile, the Pandavas endued with great strength, with their mother forming a company of six, going out of the town of Varanavata, arrived at the banks of the Ganges. They then speedily reached the opposite bank aided by the strength of the boatmen's arms, the rapidity of the river's current, and a favorable wind. Leaving the boat they proceeded in a southern direction finding their way in the darkness by the light of the stars. After much suffering they at last reached, O king, a dense forest. They were then tired and thirsty and sleep was closing their eyes every moment. Then Yudhish-thira, addressing Bhima endued with great energy, said, 'What can be more painful than this! We are now in the deep woods. We know not which side is which. Nor can we proceed much further. We do not know whether that wretch Purochana hath or hath not been burnt to death. How shall we escape from these dangers—unmarked by others? O Bharata, taking us on thyself, proceed thou as before! Thou alone amongst us art strong and swift as the wind!'

"Thus addressed by Yudhish-thira the just, the mighty Bhima-sena, taking up on his body Kunti and his brothers, began to proceed with great celerity."