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462 Vaisampayana continued. Then Vasudeva said, 'I am of opinion that the Pandavas should go. But we should all abide by the opinion of king Drupada who is conversant with every rule of morality.'

"Drupada then spoke-'I certainly agree with what this foremost of men, viz., the heroic Dasaratha of strong arms, thinketh, having regard to the circumstances. For the illustrious sons of Pandu now are to me as they are, without doubt, to Vasudeva. Kunti's son Yudbishthira himself doth not seek the welfare of the Pandavas so earnestly as, Keshava, that tiger among men.'

Vaisampayana continued, -"Commanded by the illustrious Drupada, the Pandavas then, O king, and Krishna and Vidura, taking with them Krishna, the daughter of Drupada, and the renowned Kunti, journeyed towards the city called after the elephant, stopping at various places along the way for purposes of pleasure and enjoyment. King Dhrita. rasbtra, hearing that those heroes had neared the capital, sent out the Kauravas to receive them. They who were thus sent out were. O Bharata, Vikarna of the great bow, and Chitrasena, and Drona that foremost of warriors, and Kripa of Gautama's line. Surrounded by these, those mighty heroes, their splendour enhanced by that throng slowly entered the city of Hastinapura. The whole city became radiant, as it were, with the gay throng of sight-seers animated by curiosity. Those tigers among men gladdened the bearts of all who beheld them. And the Pandavas, dear unto the hearts of the people. 'heard, as they proceeded, various exclamations which the citizens, ever desirous of obeying the wishes of those princes, loudly uttered. Some exclaimed, - 'Here returns that tiger among men, conversant with all the rules of morality and who always protects us as if we were his nearest relatives! And elsewhere the same said, 'It seems that king Pandu-the beloved of his people-returneth to-day from the forest, doubtless to do what is agreeable to us!' And there were some that said, 'What good is not done to us to day when the heroic sons of Kunti come back to our town? If we have ever given away in charity, it we have ever poured libations of clarified butter on the fire, if we have any ascetic merit, let the Pandavas, by virtue of all those acts stay in our town for a hundred years !

"At last the Pandavas, on arriving at the place, worshipped the feet of Dhritarashtra, as also those of the illustrious Bhishma. They also worshipped the feet of everybody else that deserved that honour. And they enquired after the welfare of every citizen (there present). At last, at the command of Dhritarashtra they entered the chambers that had been assigned to them.

"After they had tested there for sometime, they were summoned (to