And thou wilt behold Siva, tall and white as the Kailasa cliff and seated on his bull, gazing unceasingly towards the direction (south) presided over by the king of the Pitris.  Even this will be the dream thou wilt dream today, O king of kings.  Do not grieve for dreaming such a dream.  None can rise superior to the influence of Time.  Blest be thou!  I will now proceed towards the Kailasa mountain.  Rule thou the earth with vigilance and steadiness, patiently bearing every privation!’”

Vaisampayana continued,—­“Having said this, the illustrious and island-born Vyasa of dark hue, accompanied by his disciples ever following the dictates of the Vedas, proceeded towards Kailasa.  And after the grand-father had thus gone away, the king afflicted with anxiety and grief, began to think continuously upon what the Rishi hath said.  And he said to himself, ’Indeed what the Rishi hath said must come to pass.  We will succeed in warding off the fates by exertion alone?’ Then Yudhishthira endued with great energy addressing all his brothers, said, ’Ye tigers among men, ye have heard what the island-born Rishi hath told me.  Having heard the words of the Rishi, I have arrived at this firm resolution viz., that I should die, as I am ordained to be the cause of the destruction of all Kshatriyas.  Ye my dear ones, if Time hath intended so what need is there for me to live?’ Hearing these words of the king, Arjuna replied, ’O king, yield not thyself to this terrible depression that is destructive of reason.  Mustering fortitude, O great king, do what would be beneficial.’  Yudhishthira then, firm in truth, thinking all the while of Dwaipayana’s words answered his brothers thus,—­’Blest be ye.  Listen to my vow from this day.  For thirteen years, what ever purpose have I to live for, I shall not speak a hard word to my brothers or to any of the kings of the earth.  Living under the command of my relatives, I shall practise virtue, exemplifying my vow.  If I live in this way, making no distinction between my own children and others, there will be no disagreement (between me and others).  It is disagreement that is the cause of war in the world.  Keeping war at a distance, and ever doing what is agreeable to others, evil reputation will not be mine in the world, ye bulls among men.  Hearing these words of their eldest brother, the Pandavas, always engaged in doing what was agreeable to him, approved of them.  And Yudhishthira the just, having pledged so, along with his brothers in the midst of that assembly, gratified his priests as also the gods with due ceremonies.  And, O bull of the Bharata race, after all the monarchs had gone away, Yudhishthira along with his brothers, having performed the usual auspicious rites, accompanied by his ministers entered his own palace.  And, O ruler of men, king Duryodhana and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, continued to dwell in that delightful assembly house.

SECTION XLVI