for the dwellers of the forest.  We have been feeding on them for a year together and eight months.  Let us, therefore, again (repair) to the romantic Kamyakas, that best of forests abounding in wild animals, situated at the head of the desert, near lake Trinavindu.  And there let us pleasantly pass the rest of our time.’  Then, O king, the Pandavas versed in morality, swiftly departed (thence), accompanied by the Brahmanas and all those that lived with them, and followed by Indrasena and other retainers.  And proceeding along the roads walked (by travellers), furnished with excellent corn and clear water, they at length beheld the sacred asylum of Kamyaka endued with ascetic merit.  And as pious men enter the celestial regions, those foremost of the Bharata race, the Kauravas, surrounded by those bulls among Brahmanas entered that forest.”

SECTION CCLVII

Vaisampayana continued, “Dwelling in the woods, O bull of the Bharata race, the high-souled Pandavas spent one and ten years in a miserable plight.  And although deserving of happiness, those foremost of men, brooding over their circumstances, passed their days miserably, living on fruits and roots.  And that royal sage, the mighty-armed Yudhishthira, reflecting that the extremity of misery that had befallen his brothers, was owing to his own fault, and remembering those sufferings that had arisen from his act of gambling, could not sleep peacefully.  And he felt as if his heart had been pierced with a lance.  And remembering the harsh words of the Suta’s son, the Pandava, repressing the venom of his wrath, passed his time in humble guise, sighing heavily.  And Arjuna and both the twins and the illustrious Draupadi, and the mighty Bhima—­he that was strongest of all men—­experienced the most poignant pain in casting their eyes on Yudhishthira.  And thinking that a short time only remained (of their exile), those bulls among men, influenced by rage and hope and by resorting to various exertions and endeavours, made their bodies assume almost different shapes.

“After a little while, that mighty ascetic, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, came there to see the Pandavas.  And seeing him approach, Kunti’s son, Yudhishthira, stepped forward, and duly received that high-souled one.  And having gratified Vyasa by bowing down unto him, Pandu’s son of subdued senses, after the Rishi had been seated, sat down before him, desirous of listening to him.  And beholding his grandsons lean and living in the forest on the produce of the wilderness, that mighty sage, moved by compassion, said these words, in accents choked in tears, ’O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, O thou best of virtuous persons, those men that do not perform ascetic austerities never attain great happiness in this world.  People experience happiness and misery by turns; for surely, O bull among men, no man ever enjoyeth unbroken happiness.  A wise man endued with high wisdom, knowing that life hath its ups and