Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/292

278 Vanaprastha scriptures, always searching for severer ones that they may contain,

Vaisampayana continued. "The Kuru king, having said this unto his wives, gave away to Brahmanas the big jewel in his daidem, his necklace of precious gold, bis bracelets, his large ear.rings, his valuable robes and all the ornaments of his wives. Then summoning his attendants, he commended them, saging.--"Return ye to Hastinapura and proclaim unto all that Pandu with his wives hath gone into the woods, foregoing wealth, desire, happinees, and even sexual appetite.' Then those followers and attendants, hearing these and other soft words of the king, set up a loud wail, uttering, Oh, we are undone !' Then with hot tears trickling down their cheeks they left the monarch and returned to Hastinapura with speed carrying that wealth with them (that was to be distributed in charity). Then Dhritarashtra, that first of men, hearing from them everything that had happened in the woods, wept for his brother. He brooded over his affliction continually, little relishing the comfort of beds and seats and dishes.

"Meanwhile, the Kuru prince Pandu, (after sending away his attendants) accompained by his two wives and eating fruits and roots went to the mountains of Nagasata. He next went to Chaitraratha, and then crossed the Kalakuta, and finally, crossing the Himavat, he arrived at Gandhamadana. Protected by Mahabhutas, Siddhas, and great Rishis, Pandu lived, O king, sometimes on level ground and sometimes on mountain slopes. He then journeyed on to the lake of Indradyumna, whence crossing the mountains of Hansakuta, he went to the Mountain of hundred peaks (sata-sringa) and there continued to practice ascetic austerities."

Thus ends the hundred and nineteenth section in the Sambhava Parva of the Adi Parva.

Vaisampayana said, "Pandu, possessed of great energy, then devoted himself to asceticism. Within a short time he became the favourite of the whole body of the Siddhas and Charanas residing there. And, O Bharata, devoted to the service of his spritual masters, free from vanity, with mind under complete control and the passions fully subdued the prince, becoming competent to enter heaven by his own energy, attained to great (ascetic) prowess. Some of the Rishis would call him brother, some friend, while others cherished him as their son. And,