SECTION CCLXVII

Vaisampayana said, “Meanwhile those foremost of bowmen on the face of the earth, having wandered separately and ranged in all directions, and having slain plenty of deer and buffaloes, at length met together.  And observing that great forest, which was crowded with hosts of deer and wild beasts, resounding with the shrill cries of birds, and hearing the shrieks and yells of the denizens of the wilderness.  Yudhishthira said unto his brothers.  ’These birds and wild beasts, flying towards that direction which is illuminated by the sun, are uttering dissonant cries and displaying an intense excitement.  All this only shows that this mighty forest hath been invaded by hostile intruders.  Without a moment’s delay let us give up the chase.  We have no more need of game.  My heart aches and seems to burn!  The soul in my body, over-powering the intellect, seems ready to fly out.  As a lake rid by Garuda of the mighty snake that dwells in it, as a pot drained of its contents by thirsty men, as a kingdom reft of king and prosperity, even so doth the forest of Kamyaka seem to me.’  Thus addressed, those heroic warriors drove towards their abode, on great cars of handsome make and drawn by steeds of the Saindharva breed exceedingly fleet and possessed of the speed of the hurricane.  And on their way back, they beheld a jackal yelling hideously on the wayside towards their left.  And king Yudhishthira, regarding it attentively, said unto Bhima and Dhananjaya, ’This jackal that belongs to a very inferior species of animals, speaking to our left, speaketh a language which plainly indicates that the sinful Kurus, disregarding us, have commenced to oppress us by resorting to violence.’  After the sons of Pandu had given up the chase and said these words, they entered the grove which contained their hermitage.  And there they found their beloved one’s maid, the girl Dhatreyika, sobbing and weeping.  And Indrasena then quickly alighting from the chariot and advancing with hasty steps towards her, questioned her, O king, in great distress of mind, saying, ’What makes thee weep thus, lying on the ground, and why is thy face so woe-begone and colourless?  I hope no cruel wretches have done any harm to the princess Draupadi possessed of incomparable beauty and large eyes and who is the second self of every one of those bulls of the Kuru race?  So anxious hath been Dharma’s son that if the princess hath entered the bowels of the earth or hath soared to heaven or dived into the bottom of the ocean, he and his brothers will go thither in pursuit of her.  Who could that fool be that would carry away that priceless jewel belonging to the mighty and ever-victorious sons of Pandu, those grinders of foes, and which is dear unto them as their own lives?  I don’t know who the person could be that would think of carrying away that princess who hath such powerful protectors and who is even like a walking embodiment of the hearts