Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/316

302 has be gone! The other brothers have all come back from the gardens, only Bhima of mighty arms does not come home! Duryodhana likes him not. The Kaurava is crooked and malicious and low-toinded and impudent. He coveteth the throne openly. I am afraid he may bave in a fit of anger slain my darling! This afflicts me sorely, indeed, burns my heart !

"Vidura replied, Blessed dame, say not so ! Protect thy other sons with care 1 If the wicked Duryodhana be accused, he may slay thy remaining sons. The great sage bath said that all thy sons will be longlived. Therefore, Bhima will surely return and gladden thy heart!'"

Vaisampayana continued.-"The wise Vidura, having said this unto Kunti, returned to his abode, while Kunti, in great anxiety, continued to stay at home with her children.

"Meanwhile, Bhimasena awaked from that slumber on the eighth day, and felt himself strong beyond measure in consequence of the nectat he had taken having been all digested. Seeing him awake, the Nagas began to console and cheer him, saying.-'O thou of mighty arms, the strength-giving liquor thou hast drunk will give thee the might of ten thousand elephants ! No one now will be able to vanquish thee in fight 1 O bull of Kuru's race, do thou bathe in this holy and auspicious water and return home. Thy brothers are disconsolate because of thee."

"Then Bhima purified himself with a bath in those waters, and decked in white robes and flowery garlands of the same hue, ace of the paramanna, (rice and sugar pudding ) offered to him by the Nagas. Then that oppressor of all foes, decked in celestial ornaments, received the adorations and blessings of the snakes, and saluting them in return, rose from the nether region. Bearing up the lotus-eyed Pandava from under the waters, the Nagas placed him in the self-same gardens wherein he had been sporting, and vanished in his very sight.

"The mighty Bhimasena, arrived on the surface of the Earth, ran with speed to his mother. And bowing down unto her and his eldest brother, and smelling the heads of his younger brothers, that oppressor of all foes was himself embraced by his mother and every one of those bulls among men. Affectionate unto one another, they all repeat. edly exclaimed, -'What is our joy to-day, 0, what joy !" !

"Then Bhima, endued with great strength and prowess, related to his brothers everything about the villany of Duryodhana, and the fucky and unlucky incidents that had befallen him in the world of the Serpents. Thereupon Yudhisabira, said, -.-. Do thou observe silence on this. Do not speak of this to any one. From this day, protect ye all