Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/493

of Ekachakra. And the master also comforted Kunti, saying, 'Live, O daughter! This son of thine, Yudhish-thira, ever devoted to truth, this illustrious bull among men, having by his justice conquered the whole world, shall rule over all the other monarchs of the earth! There is little doubt that having by means of Bhima's and Arjuna's prowess conquered the whole earth with her belt of seas, he will enjoy the sovereignty thereof. Thy sons as well as these of Madri—mighty charioteers all—will cheerfully sport as pleaseth them in their dominions. And these tigers among men will also perform various sacrifices such as the Raja-suya and the Horse-sacrifice in which the presents unto the Brahmanas are very large. And these thy sons will rule their ancestral kingdom, maintaining their friends and relatives in luxury and affluence and happiness.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "With these words Vyasa introduced them into the dwelling of a Brahmana. And the islandborn Rishi addressing the eldest of the Pandavas said, 'Wait ye here for me! I will come back to ye! By adapting yourself to the country and the occasion ye will succeed in becoming very happy!'

"Then, O king, the Pandavas with joined hands said unto the Rishi, 'So be it.' And the illustrious master—the Rishi Vyasa—then went away to the region whence he came."

Thus ends the hundred and fifty-eighth Section in the Hidimva-badha of the Adi Parva.

Janamejaya asked, "O thou first of Brahmanas, what did the Pandavas—those mighty charioteers—the sons of Kunti—do after arriving at Ekachakra?"

Vaisampayana said, "Those mighty charioteers—the sons of Kunti—arriving at Ekachakra lived for a short time in the abode of a Brahmana. Leading an eleemosynary life they beheld (in course of their wanderings) various delightful forests and earthly regions, and many rivers and lakes. And