“Vaisampayana continued, ’Having said this, the daughter of the king of Madras, the wedded wife of Pandu, ascended the funeral pyre of her lord, that bull among men.’”

SECTION CXXVI

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana said, ’The godlike Rishis, wise in counsels, beholding the death of Pandu, consulted with one another, and said, ’The virtuous and renowned king Pandu, abandoning both sovereignty, and kingdom came hither for practising ascetic austerities and resigned himself to the ascetics dwelling on this mountain.  He hath hence ascended to heaven, leaving his wife and infant sons as a trust in our hands.  Our duty now is to repair to his kingdom with these his offspring, and his wife.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Then those godlike Rishis of magnanimous hearts, and crowned with ascetic success, summoning one another, resolved to go to Hastinapura with Pandu’s children ahead, desiring to place them in the hands of Bhishma and Dhritarashtra.  The ascetics set out that very moment, taking with them those children and Kunti and the two dead bodies.  And though unused to toil all her life, the affectionate Kunti now regarded as very short the really long journey she had to perform.  Having arrived at Kurujangala within a short time, the illustrious Kunti presented herself at the principal gate.  The ascetics then charged the porters to inform the king of their arrival.  The men carried the message in a trice to the court.  And the citizens of Hastinapura, hearing of the arrival of thousands of Charanas and Munis, were filled with wonder.  And it was soon after sunrise that they began to come out in numbers with their wives and children to behold those ascetics.  Seated in all kinds of cars and conveyances by thousands, vast numbers of Kshatriyas with their wives, and Brahmanas with theirs came out.  And the concourse of Vaisyas and Sudras too was as large on the occasion.  The vast assemblage was very peaceful, for every heart then was inclined to piety.  And there also came out Bhishma, the son of Santanu, and Somadatta or Valhika and the royal sage (Dhritarashtra) endued with the vision of knowledge and Vidura himself and the venerable Satyavati and the illustrious princess of Kosala and Gandhari accompanied by the other ladies of the royal household.  And the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, decked with various ornaments, also came out.

“The Kauravas, then, accompanied by their priest, saluted the Rishis by lowering their heads, and took their seats before them.  The citizens also saluting the ascetics and bowing down unto them with touching the ground, took their seats there.  Then Bhishma, setting that vast concourse perfectly still, duly worshipped, O king, those ascetics by offering them water to wash their feet with and the customary Arghya.  And having done this, he spoke unto them about the sovereignty and the kingdom.  Then the oldest