Vaisampayana continued, “After this, all of them went to king Yudhishthira the just.  And going unto the king, they represented unto him everything about Duryodhana’s conduct.  And Ajatasatru, hearing everything that the Gandharvas had said, liberated all the Kauravas and applauded the Gandharvas.  And the king said, ’Fortunate it is for us that though gifted with great strength, ye did not yet slay the wicked son of Dhritarashtra along with all counsellors and relatives.  This, O sir, hath been an act of great kindness done to me by the Gandharvas.  The honour also of my family is saved by liberating this wicked wight.  I am glad at seeing you all.  Command me what I am to do for you.  And having obtained all you wish, return ye soon whence ye came!’

“Thus addressed by the intelligent son of Pandu, the Gandharvas became well-pleased and went away with the Apsaras.  And the lord of the celestials then, coming to that spot, revived those Gandharvas that had been slain in the encounter with the Kurus, by sprinkling the celestial Amrita over them.  And the Pandavas also, having liberated their relatives along with the ladies of the royal household, and having achieved that difficult feat (the defeat of the Gandharvas host) became well-pleased.  And those illustrious and mighty warriors worshipped by the Kurus along with their sons and wives, blazed forth in splendour like flaming fires in the sacrificial compound.  And Yudhishthira then addressing the liberated Duryodhana in the midst of his brothers, from affection, told him these words:  ’O child, never again do such a rash act.  O Bharata, a rash wight never cometh by happiness.  O son of the Kuru race, pleased be thou with all thy brothers.  Go back to thy capital as pleaseth thee, without yielding thyself to despondency or cheerlessness!”

Vaisampayana continued, “Thus dismissed by the son of Pandu, king Duryodhana then saluted king Yudhishthira the just and overwhelmed with shame, and his heart rent in twain, mechanically set out for his capital, like one destitute of life.  And after the Kaurava prince had departed, the brave Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, along with his brothers, was worshipped by the Brahmanas, and surrounded by those Brahmanas endued with the wealth of asceticism, like Sakra himself by the celestials, he began to pass his days happily in the woods of Dwaita.”

SECTION CCXLV

Janamejaya said, “After his defeat and capture by the foe and his subsequent liberation by the illustrious sons of Pandu by force of arms, it seemeth to me that the entry into Hastinapura of the proud, wicked, boastful, vicious, insolent, and wretched Duryodhana, engaged in insulting the sons of Pandu and bragging of his own superiority, must have been exceedingly difficult.  Describe to me in detail, O Vaisampayana, the entry into the capital, of that prince overwhelmed with shame and unmanned by grief!”