Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/509

began to pray to their gods. Then they began to calculate whose turn it had been the day before to carry food to the Rakshasa. And ascertaining this they all came to that Brahmana and asked him (to satisfy their curiosity). Thus asked by them repeatedly, that bull amongst Brahmanas; desirous of concealing the Pandavas, said these words unto all the citizens:—'A certain high-souled Brahmana skilled in mantras beheld me weeping with my relatives after I had been ordered to supply the food of the Rakshasa. Asking me the cause and ascertaining the distress of the town, that first of Brahmanas gave me every assurance and with smiles said,—I shall carry the food for that wretched Rakshasa today. Do not fear for me.—Saying this he conveyed the food towards the forest of Vaka. This deed, so beneficial unto us all, hath very certainly been done by him."

"Then those Brahmanas and Kshatriyas (of the city) hearing this wondered much. And the Vaisyas and Sudras also became exceedingly glad. And they all established a festival in which the worship of Brahmanas was the principal ceremony (in remembrance of the Brahmana who had relieved them from their fears of Vaka)."

Thus ends the hundred and sixty-sixth Section in the Vaka-badha of the Adi Parva.

"After this the citizens returned to their respective homes. And the Pandavas continued to dwell at Ekchakra as before."

Janamejaya said, "O Brahmana, what did those tigers among men―the Pandavas—do after they had slain the Rakshasa Vaka?"

Vaisampayana said, "The Pandavas, O king, after slaying the Rakshasa Vaka, continued to dwell in the abode of that Brahmana, employed in the study of the Vedas. Within a few days there came a Brahmana of rigid vows into the abode of their host for taking up his quarters there. Their host—that bull amongst Brahmanas—ever hospitable unto all