Vaisampayana continued, “Having addressed the Kaurava thus, that foremost of male persons, of mighty arms, the slayer of Madhu, possessed of every grace, saluting the Pandavas, prepared for departure.  And the mighty-armed hero reverentially saluted Yudhishthira the just, and the king in return and Bhima also smelt the crown of his head.  And he was embraced by Arjuna, and the twins saluted him with reverence.  And he was duly honoured by Dhaumya, and worshipped with tears by Draupadi.  And causing Subhadra and Abhimanyu to ascend his golden car, Krishna mounted it himself, worshipped by the Pandavas.  And consoling Yudhishthira, Krishna set out for Dwaraka on his car resplendent as the sun and unto which were yoked the horses Saivya and Sugriva.  And after he of the Dasharha race had departed, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, also set out for his own city, taking with him the sons of Draupadi.  And the king of Chedi, Dhrishtaketu also, taking his sister with him set out for his beautiful city of Suktimati, after bidding farewell to the Pandavas.  And, O Bharata, the Kaikeyas also, with the permission of Kunti’s son possessed of immeasurable energy, having reverentially saluted all the Pandavas, went away.  But Brahmanas and the Vaisyas and the dwellers of Yudhishthira’s kingdom though repeatedly requested to go, did not leave the Pandavas.  O foremost of kings, O bull of the Bharata race, the multitude that surrounded those high-souled ones in the forest of Kamyaka looked extraordinary.  And Yudhishthira, honouring those high-minded Brahmanas, in due time ordered his men, saying ’Make ready the car.’”

SECTION XXIII

Vaisampayana continued, “After the chief of the Dasharhas had departed, the heroic Yudhishthira, and Bhima, and Arjuna, and the twins, each looking like unto Shiva, and Krishna, and their priest, ascending costly cars unto which were yoked excellent steeds, together went into the forest.  And at time of going they distributed Nishkas of gold and clothes and kine unto Brahmanas versed in Siksha and Akshara and mantras.  And twenty attendants followed them equipped with bows, and bowstrings, and blazing weapons, and shafts and arrows and engines of destruction.  And taking the princess’s clothes and the ornaments, and the nurses and the maid-servants, Indrasena speedily followed the princes on a car.  And then approaching the best of Kurus, the high-minded citizens walked round him.  And the principal Brahmanas of Kurujangala cheerfully saluted him.  And together with his brothers, Yudhishthira the just, on his part saluted them cheerfully.  And the illustrious king stopped there a little, beholding the concourse of the inhabitants of Kurujangala.  And the illustrious bull among the Kurus felt for them as a father feeleth for his sons, and they too felt for the Kuru chief even as sons feel for their father!  And that mighty concourse, approaching