And holding Karna by the hand he expressed great satisfaction.  And Karna, too, joyfully addressed the king in the company of his brothers, saying, ’By a piece of singular good luck, thou hast fared well and attained the objects of thy desire.  And by good luck it is that thy enemies have been immersed in a sea of dangers that is difficult to cross.  The sons of Pandu are now exposed to the fire of Durvasa’s wrath.  Through their own fault they have fallen into an abyss of darkness.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “O king, expressing their satisfaction in this strain, Duryodhana and others, bent on evil machinations, returned merrily to their respective homes.”

SECTION CCLXI

(Draupadi-harana Parva)

Vaisampayana said, “One day, having previously ascertained that the Pandavas were all seated at their ease and that Krishna was reposing herself after her meal, the sage Durvasa, surrounded by ten thousand disciples repaired to that forest.  The illustrious and upright king Yudhishthira, seeing that guest arrived, advanced with his mothers to receive him.  And joining the palms of his hands and pointing to a proper and excellent seat, he accorded the Rishis a fit and respectful welcome.  And the king said unto him, ’Return quick, O adorable sir, after performing thy diurnal ablutions and observances.’  And that sinless Muni, not knowing how the king would be able to provide a feast for him and his disciples, proceeded with the latter to perform his ablutions.  And that host of the Muni, of subdued passions, went into the stream for performing their ablutions.  Meanwhile, O king, the excellent princess Draupadi, devoted to her husbands, was in great anxiety about the food (to be provided for the Munis).  And when after much anxious thought she came to the conclusion that means there were none for providing a feast, she inwardly prayed to Krishna, the slayer of Kansa.  And the princess said, ’Krishna, O Krishna, of mighty arms, O son of Devaki, whose power is inexhaustible, O Vasudeva, O lord of the Universe, who dispellest the difficulties of those that bow down to thee, thou art the soul, the creator and the destroyer of the Universe.  Thou, O lord, art inexhaustible and the saviour of the afflicted.  Thou art the preserver of the Universe and of all created beings.  Thou art the highest of the high, and the spring of the mental perceptions Akuli and Chiti![88] O Supreme and Infinite Being, O giver of all good, be thou the refuge of the helpless.  O Primordial Being, incapable of being conceived by the soul or the mental faculties or otherwise, thou art the ruler of all and the lord of Brahma.  I seek thy protection.  O god, thou art ever kindly disposed towards those that take refuge in thee.  Do thou cherish me with thy kindness.  O thou with a complexion dark as the leaves of the blue lotus, and with eyes red as the corolla of the lily, and attired in yellow robes with, besides, the