“Vaisampayana continued, ’Having said so (to Gandhari), Dhritarashtra sent for Yudhishthira.  The latter, at his uncle’s command, brought all the articles necessary.  Many Brahmanas residing in Kuru-jangala, and many Kshatriyas, many Vaisyas, and many Sudras also, came to Dhritarashtra’s mansion, with gratified hearts.  The old king, coming out of the inner apartments, beheld them all, as also his subjects assembled together.  Beholding all those assembled citizens and inhabitants of the provinces, and his well-wishers also thus gathered together, and the large number of Brahmanas arrived from diverge realms, king Dhritarashtra of great intelligence, O monarch, said these words,—­’Ye all and the Kurus have lived together for many long years, well-wishers of each other, and each employed in doing good to the other.  What I shall now say in view of the opportunity that has come, should be accomplished by you all even as disciples accomplish the biddings of their preceptors.  I have set my heart upon retiring into the woods, along with Gandhari as my companion.  Vyasa has approved of this, as also the son of Kunti.  Let me have your permission too.  Do not hesitate in this.  That goodwill, which has always existed between you and us, is not to be seen, I believe, in other realms between the rulers and the ruled.  I am worn out with this load of years on my head.  I am destitute of children.  Ye sinless ones, I am emaciated with fasts, along with Gandhari.  The kingdom having passed to Yudhishthira, I have enjoyed great happiness.  Ye foremost of men, I think that happiness has been greater than what I could expect from Duryodhana’s sovereignty.  What other refuge can I have, old as I am and destitute of children, save the woods?  Ye highly blessed ones, it behoves you to grant me the permission I seek.  Hearing these words of his, all these residents of Kurujangala, uttered loud lamentations, O best of the Bharatas, with voices choked with tears.  Desirous of telling those grief-stricken people something more, Dhritarashtra of great energy, once more addressed them and said as follows.’”

SECTION IX

“Dhritarashtra said, ’Santanu duly ruled this Earth.  Similarly, Vichitraviryya also, protected by Bhishma, ruled you.  Without doubt, all this is known to you.  It is also known to you how Pandu, my brother, was dear to me as also to you.  He also ruled you duly.  Ye sinless ones, I have also served you.  Whether those services have come up to the mark or fallen short of it, it behoveth you to forgive me, for I have attended to my duties without heedlessness.  Duryodhana also enjoyed this kingdom without a thorn in his side.  Foolish as he was and endued with wicked understanding, he did not, however, do any wrong to you.  Through the fault, however, of that prince of wicked understanding, and through his pride, as also through my own impolicy, a great carnage has taken place of persons of the