of mighty energy in the very presence of the Kuru chiefs.  I am sure he will reap the fruit of that behaviour, for Vrikodara, provoked by a foe, knoweth no peace.  Indeed, once provoked, Bhima forgets it not for a long while, even until that grinder of foes exterminates the enemy and his allies.  The loss of kingdom did not grieve me; the defeat at dice did not grieve me.  That the illustrious and beautiful princess of Panchala was dragged into the assembly while clad in a single raiment and made to hear bitter words grieved me most.  What, O Krishna, could be a greater grief to me?  Alas, ever devoted to Kshatriya customs and endued with great beauty, the princess, while ill, underwent that cruel treatment, and though possessing powerful protectors was then as helpless as if she had none.  O slayer of Madhu, having thee and that foremost of all mighty persons, Rama, and that mighty car-warrior Pradyumna for me and my children’s protectors and having, O foremost of men, my sons the invincible Bhima and the unretreating Vijaya both alive, that I had still such grief to bear is certainly strange!’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Thus addressed by her, Sauri the friend of Partha, then comforted his paternal aunt, Pritha, afflicted with grief on account of her sons.  And Vasudeva said, ’What woman is there, O aunt, in the world who is like thee?  The daughter of king Surasena, thou art, by marriage, admitted into Ajamida’s race.  High-born and highly married, thou art like a lotus transplanted from one mighty lake into another.  Endued with every prosperity and great good fortune, thou wert adored by thy husband.  The wife of hero, thou hast again given birth to heroic sons.  Possessed of every virtue, and endued with great wisdom, it behoveth thee to bear with patience, both happiness and misery.  Overcoming sleep and langour, and wrath and joy, and hunger and thirst, and cold and heat, thy children are always in the enjoyment of that happiness, which, as heroes, should by theirs.  Endued with great exertion and great might, thy sons, without affecting the comforts derivable from the senses such as satisfy only the low and the mean, always pursue that happiness which as heroes they should.  Nor are they satisfied like little men having mean desires.  They that are wise enjoy or suffer the same of whatever enjoyable or sufferable, Indeed, ordinary persons, affecting comforts that satisfy the low and the mean, desire an equable state of dullness, without excitement of any kind.  They, however, that are superior, desire either the acutest of human suffering or the highest of all enjoyments that is given to man.  The wise always delight in extremes.  They find no pleasure betwixt; they regard the extreme to be happiness, while that which lies between is regarded by them as misery.  The Pandavas with Krishna saluteth thee through me.  Representing themselves to be well, they have enquired after thy welfare.  Thou wilt soon behold them become the lords of the whole world, with their foe slain, and themselves invested with prosperity.’