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380 the town and went away unobserved by any one. The kinsmen of Vaka, bebolding him slain by the might of Bhima, became frightened and fled in different directions.

Meanwhile Bhima, having slain the Rakshasa, returned to the Brahmana's abode and related to Yudhishthira all that had happened in detail. The next morning the inhabitants of the towns in coming out saw the Rakshasa lying dead on the ground, his body covered with blood. Beholding tbat terrible cannibal, huge as a mountain cliff, thus mangled and lying on the ground, the hair of the spectators stood erect. Returning to Ekachakra, they soon gave the intelligence. Then, O king, the citizens by thousands, accompanied by their wives, young and old, all began to come to the spot for beholding the Vaka and they were all amazed at seeing that superhuman feat. Instantly. O monarch, they began to pray to their gods. Then they began to calculate whose turn it had been the day before to carry food to the Rakshasa. And ascertaining this, they all came to that Brahmana and asked him to satisfy their curiosity). Thus asked by them repeatedly. that bull among Brahmanas, desirous of concealing the Pandavas, said these words unto all the citizens ;-'A certain high-souled Brabınana, skilled in mantras, beheld me weeping with my relatives after I had been ordered to supply the Rakshasa's food. Asking me the cause and ascertaining the distress of the town, that first of Brahmanas gave me every assurance and with smiles said, I shall carry the food for that wretched Rakshasa to-day. Do not fear for me 1--Saying this he conveyed the food towards the forest of Vaka. This deed, so beneficial unto us all, hath very certainly been done by him.'

"Then those Brahmanas and Kshatriyas (of the city), hearing this, wondered much. And the Vaisyas and the Sudras also became exceedingly glad, and they all established a festival in which the worship of Brahmanas was the principal ceremony (in rememberance of this Brahmana who bad relieved them from their fears of Vaka)."

Thus ends the hundred and sixty-sixth section in the Vaka-badha Parva of the Adi Parva.

"After this citizens returned to their respective homes, and the Padavas continued to dwell at Ekachakra as before."