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474 years, passing his days as a Brahmacharin. After the virtuous Pandavas had established that rule amongst themselves, the great Muni Narada, gratified with them, went to the place be wished. Thus, Janamejaya, did the Pandavas urged by Narada, established a rule amongst themselves in regard to their common wife. And it was for this, O Bharata, that no dispute ever arose between them."

Thus ends the two hundred and fourteenth section in the Rajya-labha Parva of the Adi Parva.

Vaisampayana said. The Pandavas, having established such a rule, continued to reside there. By the prowess of their arms they brought many kings under their sway, And Krishna became obedient unto all the five sons of Pritha those lions among men, of immeasurable energy. Like the river Saraswati decked with elephants, which again take pleasure in that stream, Draupadi took great delight in her five heroic husbands and they too took delight in her. And in consequence of the illustrious Pandavas being exceedingly virtuous in their practice, the whole race of Kurus, free from sin, and happy, grew in prosperity.

"After some time, O king, it so happened that certain robbers lifted the cattle of a Brahmana, and while they were carrying away the booty, the Brahmana, deprived of his senses by anger, repaired to Khandavaprastha, and began to reprove the Pandavas in accents of woe. The Brahmana said, 'Ye Pandavas, from this, your dominion, my kine are even now being taken away by force by despicable and wicked wretches ! Pursue ye the thieves ! Alas, the sacrificial butter of a peaceful Brahmana is being taken away by crows! Alas, the wretched jackal invadeth the empty cave of a lion ! A king that taketh the sixth part of the produce of the land without protecting the subject, hath been called by the wise to be the most sinful person in the whole world! The wealth of a Brahmana is being taken away by robbers! Virtue itself is sustaining a diminution ! Take me up by the hand, ye Pandavas for I am plunged in grief!"

Vaisampayana continued, "Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, heard those accents of the Brahmana weeping in bitter grief. As soon as he heard those accents, he loudly assured the Brahmana, saying.--'No fear!' -But it is so happened that the chamber where the illustrious Pandavas had their weapons was then occupied by Yudhishthira the just with