told me that ye two are the gods Nara and Narayana, those ancient and best of Rishis, that are ever employed in the preservation of righteousness.  Gifted with great intelligence, the master Krishna Dvaipayana, the highly blessed Vyasa, also hath repeatedly told me this celestial history.  Through thy influence, O Krishna, this Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, facing his foes, hath vanquished them, without ever turning back from any of them.  Victory, and not defeat, we are certain to have, since thou hast accepted the drivership of Partha in battle.”  Having said these words, king Yudhishthira the just, that tiger among men, mounting his car, adorned with gold and having steeds of ivory white and black tails and fleet as thought harnessed unto it, and surrounded by many Pandava troops, set out, conversing pleasantly with Krishna and Arjuna along the way, for beholding the field of battle on which thousands of incidents had taken place.  Conversing with those two heroes, viz., Madhava and Phalguna, the king beheld Karna, that bull among men, lying on the field of battle.  Indeed, king Yudhishthira beheld Karna pierced all over with arrows like a Kadamva flower with straight filaments all around its body.  Yudhishthira beheld Karna illuminated by thousands of golden lamps filled with perfumed oil.  Having beheld Karna with his son slain and mangled with shafts sped from Gandiva, king Yudhishthira repeatedly looked at him before he could believe his eyes.  He then applauded those tigers among men, Madhava and Phalguna, saying, “O Govinda, today I have become king of the earth, with my brothers, in consequence of thyself of great wisdom having become my protector and lord.  Hearing of the slaughter of that tiger among men, the proud son of Radha, the wicked-souled son of Dhritarashtra will be filled with despair, as regards both life and kingdom.  Through thy grace, O bull among men, we have acquired our objects.  By good luck, victory hath been thine, O Govinda!  By good luck, the enemy hath been slain.  By good luck, the wielder of Gandiva, the son of Pandu, hath been crowned with victory.  Thirteen years we have passed in wakefulness and great sorrow.  O thou of mighty arms, through thy grace, we will sleep happily this night.”  In this way, O ruler of men, king Yudhishthira the just, praised Janardana greatly as also Arjuna, O monarch!’

“Sanjaya continued, ’Beholding Karna with his son slain with Partha’s shafts, that perpetuator of Kuru’s race, Yudhishthira, regarded himself as reborn.  The kings (in the Pandava army), great car-warriors—­all filled with joy, approached Kunti’s son Yudhishthira and gladdened him greatly.  Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Vrikodara the son of Pandu, and Satyaki, O king, that foremost of car-warriors among the Vrishnis, and Dhrishtadyumna, and Shikhandi, and others among the Pandus, the Pancalas, and the Srinjayas, worshipped the son of Kunti at the slaughter of the Suta’s son.  Extolling king Yudhishthira,