[7] This is a very difficult sloka.  Nilakantha adopts the reading Sanjayet.  The Bengal editions read Sanjapet.  If the latter be the correct reading, the meaning then would be,—­’Let none talk about what transpires in the presence of the king.  For those even that are poor, regard it as a grave fault.’  The sense evidently is that the occurrences in respect of a king which one witnesses should not be divulged.  Even they that are powerless regard such divulgence of what occurs in respect of them as an insult to them, and, therefore, inexcusable.

    [8] The Bengal editions read Rajna in the instrumental case. 
    Following a manuscript text of a Pandit of my acquaintance I
    read Rajnas in the genitive.

“Yudhishthira said, ’We have been well taught by thee.  Blessed be thou.  There is none that could say so to us, save our mother Kunti and Vidura of great wisdom.  It behoveth thee to do all that is necessary now for our departure, and for enabling us to come safely through this woe, as well as for our victory over the foe.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, Dhaumya, that best of Brahmanas, performed according to the ordinance the rites ordained in respect of departure.  And lighting up their fires, he offered, with mantras, oblations on them for the prosperity and success of the Pandavas, as for their reconquest of the whole world.  And walking round those fires and round the Brahmanas of ascetic wealth, the six set out, placing Yajnaseni in their front.  And when those heroes had departed, Dhaumya, that best of ascetics, taking their sacred fires, set out for the Panchalas.  And Indrasena, and others already mentioned, went to the Yadavas, and looking after the horses and the cars of the Pandavas passed their time happily and in privacy.”

SECTION V

Vaisampayana said, “Girding their waists with swords, and equipped with finger-protectors made of iguana skins and with various weapons, those heroes proceeded in the direction of the river Yamuna.  And those bowmen desirous of (speedily) recovering their kingdom, hitherto living in inaccessible hills and forest fastnesses, now terminated their forest-life and proceeded to the southern bank of that river.  And those mighty warriors endued with great strength and hitherto leading the lives of hunters by killing the deer of the forest, passed through Yakrilloma and Surasena, leaving behind, on their right, the country of the Panchalas, and on their left, that of the Dasarnas.  And those bowmen, looking wan and wearing beards and equipped with swords, entered Matsya’s dominions leaving the forest, giving themselves out as hunters.  And on arriving at that country, Krishna addressed Yudhishthira, saying, ’We see footpaths here, and various fields.  From this it appears that Virata’s metropolis is still at a distance.  Pass we here what part of the night is still left, for great is my fatigue.’