“Vaisampayana continued, ’Having obtained the boon, the virtuous son of Kunti, rising from the water, took hold of Dhaumya’s feet and then embraced his brother’s.  And, O exalted one, wending then with Draupadi to the kitchen, and adored by her duly, the son of Pandu set himself to cook (their day’s) food.  And the clean food, however little, that was dressed, furnished with the four tastes, increased and became inexhaustible.  And with it Yudhishthira began to feed the regenerate ones.  And after the Brahmanas had been fed, and his younger brothers also, Yudhishthira himself ate of the food that remained, and which is called Vighasa.  And after Yudhishthira had eaten, the daughter of Prishata took what remained.  And after she had taken her meal, the day’s food became exhausted.

’And having thus obtained the boon from the maker of day, the son of Pandu, himself as resplendent as that celestial, began to entertain the Brahmanas agreeably to their wishes.  And obedient to their priest, the sons of Pritha, on auspicious lunar days and constellations and conjunctions, performed sacrifices according to the ordinance, the scriptures, and the Mantras.  After the sacrifices, the sons of Pandu, blessed by the auspicious rites performed by Dhaumya and accompanied by him, and surrounded also by the Brahmanas set out for the woods of Kamyaka.’”

SECTION IV

“Vaisampayana said,—­“After the Pandavas had gone to the forest, Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika, whose knowledge was his eye,[14] became exceedingly sorrowful.  And seated at his ease the king addressed these words to the virtuous Vidura of profound intelligence, ’Thy understanding is as clear as that of Bhargava.[15] Thou knowest also all the subtleties or morality, and thou lookest on all the Kauravas with an equal eye.  O, tell me what is proper for me and them.  O Vidura, things having thus taken their course, what should we do now?  How may I secure the goodwill of the citizens so that they may not destroy us to the roots?  O, tell us all, since thou art conversant with every excellent expedient.’

“Vidura said, ’The three-fold purposes, O king (viz., profit, pleasure, and salvation), have their foundations in virtue, and the sages say that a kingdom also standeth on virtue as its basis.  Therefore, O monarch, according to the best of thy power, cherish thou virtuously thy own sons and those of Pandu.  That virtue had been beguiled by wicked souls with Suvala’s son at their head, when thy sons invited the righteous Yudhishthira and defeated him in the match at dice.  O king, of this deed of utter iniquity I behold this expiation whereby, O chief of the Kurus, thy son, freed from sin, may win back his position among good men.  Let the sons of Pandu, obtain that which was given unto them by thee.  For, verily, even this is the highest morality that a king should remain content with his own, and never covet another’s possessions.