SECTION LXXXVII

“Yudhishthira said, ’I have heard, O Krishna, thy agreeable words.  They are such as deserve to be spoken by thee.  Gladsome and sweet as nectar are they, indeed, they fill my heart with great pleasure, O puissant one.  O Hrishikesa, I have heard that innumerable have been the battles which Vijaya has fought with the kings of the Earth.  For what reason is Partha always dissociated from ease and comfort?  Vijaya is exceedingly intelligent.  This, therefore, pains my heart very much.  I always, O Janarddana, think, when I am withdrawn from business, of Kunti’s son Jishnu.  The lot of that delighter of the Pandus is exceedingly miserable.  His body has every auspicious mark.  What, however, O Krishna, is that sign in his excellent body in consequence of which he has always to endure misery and discomfort?  That son of Kunti has to bear an exceedingly large share of unhappiness.  I do not see any censurable indication in his body.  It behoves thee to explain the cause to me it I deserve to hear it.  Thus addressed, Hrishikesa, that enhancer of the glory of the Bhoja princes, having reflected for a long time, answered as follows—­’I do not see any censurable feature in this prince, except that the cheek bones of this lion among men are a little too high.  It is in consequence of this that that foremost of men has always to be on the road.  I really do not see anything else in consequence of which he could be made so unhappy.’  Thus answered by Krishna of great intelligence, that foremost of men, viz., king Yudhishthira, said unto the chief of the Vrishnis that it was even so.  The princess Draupadi, however, looked angrily and askance at Krishna, (for she could not bear the ascription of any fault to Arjuna).  The slayer of Kesi, viz., Hrishikesa, approved of that indication of love (for his friend) which the princess of Panchala, who also was his friend, displayed.[204] Bhimasena and the other Kurus, including the sacrificial priests, who heard of the agreeable triumphs of Arjuna in course of his following the horse, became highly gratified.  While they were still engaged in discoursing on Arjuna, an envoy came from that high-souled hero bearing a message from him.  Repairing to the presence of the Kuru king, the intelligent envoy bowed his head in reverence and informed him of the arrival of that foremost of men, viz., Phalguna.  On receipt of this intelligence, tears of joy covered the king’s eyes.  Large gifts were made to the messenger for the very agreeable tidings he had brought.  On the second day from that date, a loud din was heard when that foremost of men, that chief of the Kurus, came.  The dust raised by the hoofs of that horse as it walked in close adjacence to Arjuna, looked as beautiful as that raised by the celestial steed Uchchaisravas.  And as Arjuna advanced he heard many gladdening words uttered by the citizens.  ’By good luck, O Partha, thou art out of danger.