O king, with thy mother and thy counsellors and officers.’  Thus addressed by Partha, king Vabhruvahana of great intelligence, with tearful eyes, said these words to his sire, ’O thou that art conversant with every duty, I shall certainly repair, at thy command, to the great Horse-sacrifice, and take upon myself the task of distributing food among the regenerate ones.  For, however, showing thy grace towards me, thou enter thy own city with thy two wives.  Let no scruple, be thine as regards this, O thou that art fully acquainted with every duty.  O lord, having lived for one night in thy own mansion in happiness, thou mayst then follow the steed, O foremost of victorious warriors.  The ape-bannered son of Kunti, thus addressed by his son, answered the child of Chitrangada, saying ’Thou knowest, O mighty-armed one, what vow I am observing.  O thou of large eyes, till the termination of this my vow, I cannot enter thy city.  O foremost of men, this sacrificial horse wanders at will. (I have to follow it always.) Blessings on thee!  I must go away.  Place I have none wherein to rest for even a short while.’  The son of the chastiser of Paka then, duly worshipped by his son and obtaining the permission of his two wives, left the spot and proceeded on his way.’”

SECTION LXXXII

“Vaisampayana said, ’The (sacrificial) steed, having wandered over the whole Earth bounded by the ocean, then ceased and turned his face towards the city called after the elephant.  Following as he did that horse, the diadem-decked Arjuna also turned his face towards the Kuru capital.  Wandering at his will, the steed then came to the city of Rajagriha.  Beholding him arrived within his dominion, O monarch, the heroic son of Sahadeva, observant of Kshatriya duties, challenged him to battle.  Coming out of his city, Meghasandhi, mounted on his car and equipt with bow and arrows and leathern fence, rushed towards Dhananjaya who was on foot.  Possessed of great energy, Meghasandhi approaching Dhananjaya, O king, said these words from a spirit of childishness and without any skill.  ’This steed of thine, O Bharata, seems to move about, protected by women only.  I shall take away the horse.  Do thou strive to free him.  Although my sires did not teach thee in battle, I, however, shall do the duties of hospitality to you.  Do thou strike me, for I shall strike thee.’  Thus addressed, the son of Pandu, smiling the while, answered him, saying, ’To resist him who obstructs me is the vow cast on me by my eldest brother.  Without doubt, O king, this is known to thee.  Do thou strike me to the best of thy power.  I have no anger.’  Thus addressed, the ruler of Magadha first struck the son of Pandu, showering his arrows on him like the thousand-eyed Indra showering heavy downpour of rain.  Then, O chief of Bharata’s race, the heroic wielder of Gandiva, with shafts sped from his excellent bow, baffled all the arrows shot carefully