helpless Gandhari to be done, were all accomplished with reverence, O monarch, by that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the Pandava king.  The old king became highly gratified with such conduct of Yudhishthira.  Indeed, he was grieved at the remembrance of his own wicked son.  Rising every day at early dawn, he purified himself and went through his recitations, and then blessed the Pandavas by wishing them victory in battle.  Making the usual gifts unto the Brahmanas and causing them to utter benedictions, and Pouring libations on the sacred fire, the old king prayed for long life to the Pandavas.  Indeed, the king had never derived that great happiness from his own sons which he always derived from the sons of Pandu.  King Yudhishthira at that time became as agreeable to the Brahmanas as to the Kshatriyas, and the diverse bands of Vaisyas and Sudras of his realm.  Whatever wrongs were done to him by the sons of Dhritarashtra, king Yudhishthira, forgot them all, and reverenced his uncle.  If any man did anything that was not agreeable to the son of Amvika, he became thereby an object of hatred to the intelligent son of Kunti.  Indeed, through fear of Yudhishthira, nobody could talk of the evil deeds of either Duryodhana or Dhritarashtra.  Both Gandhari and Vidura also wore well pleased with the capacity the king Ajatasatru showed for bearing wrongs.  They were, however, not so pleased, O slayer of foes, with Bhima.  Dharma’s son, Yudhishthira, was truly obedient to his uncle.  Bhima, however, at the sight of Dhritarashtra, became very cheerless.  That slayer of foes, seeing Dharma’s son reverencing the old king, reverenced him outwardly with a very unwilling heart."’

SECTION III

“Vaisampayana said, ’The people who lived in the Kuru kingdom failed to notice any variance in the cordiality that subsisted between king Yudhishthira and the father of Duryodhana.  When the Kuru king recollected his wicked son, he then could not but feel unfriendly, in his heart, towards Bhima.  Bhimasena also, O king, impelled by a heart that seemed to be wicked, was unable to put up with king Dhritarashtra.  Vrikodara secretly did many acts that were disagreeable to the old king.  Through deceitful servitors he caused the commands of his uncle to be disobeyed.  Recollecting the evil counsels of the old king and some acts of his, Bhima, one day, in the midst of his friends, slapped his armpits, in the hearing of Dhritarashtra and of Gandhari.  The wrathful Vrikodara, recollecting his foes Duryodhana and Karna and Dussasana, gave way to a transport of passion, and said these harsh words:  ’The sons of the blind king, capable of fighting with diverse kinds of weapons, have all been despatched by me to the other world with these arms of mine that resemble a pair of iron clubs.  Verily, these are those two arms of mine, looking like maces of iron, and invincible by foes, coming within whose clasp the sons of Dhritarashtra