great energy, those high-souled ones are always devoted to the good of the people.  Neither Kunti, nor thy (daughter-in-law) Panchali, nor Ulupi, nor the princess of the Sattwata race, will do the least wrong to these people.[28] The affection which thou hast shown towards us and which in Yudhishthira is seen to exist in a still larger measure is incapable of being forgotten by the people of the city and the provinces.  Those mighty car-warriors, viz., the son of Kunti, themselves devoted to the duties of the righteousness, will protect and cherish the people even if these happen to be unrighteous.  Do thou, therefore, O king, dispelling all anxiety of heart on account of Yudhishthira, set thyself to the accomplishment of all meritorious acts, O foremost of men.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Hearing these words, fraught with righteousness and merit, of that Brahmana and approving of them, every person in that assembly said, ‘Excellent, Excellent’ and accepted them as his own.  Dhritarashtra also, repeatedly applauding those words, slowly dismissed that assembly of his subjects.  Thus honoured by them and looked upon with auspicious glances, the old king, O chief of Bharata’s race, joined his hands and honoured them all in return.  He then entered his own mansion with Gandhari.  Listen now to what he did after that night had passed away."’

SECTION XI

“Vaisampayana said, ’After that night had passed away, Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, despatched Vidura to Yudhishthira’s mansion.  Endued with great energy and the foremost of all persons possessed of intelligence, Vidura, having arrived at Yudhishthira’s mansion, addressed that foremost of men, that king of unfading glory, in these words, ’King Dhritarashtra has undergone the preliminary rites for accomplishing his purpose of retiring into the woods.  He will set out for the woods, O king, on the coming day of full moon of the month of Kartika.  He now solicits from thee, O foremost one of Kuru’s race, some wealth.  He wishes to perform the Sraddha of the high-souled son of Ganga, as also of Drona and Somadatta and Valhika of great intelligence, and of all his sons as also of all well-wishers of his that have been slain, and, if thou permittest it, of that wicked-souled wight, viz., the ruler of the Sindhus.’[29] Hearing these words of Vidura, both Yudhishthira, and Pandit’s son Arjuna of curly hair, became very glad and applauded them highly.  Bhima, however, of great energy and unappeasable wrath, did not accept those words of Vidura in good spirits, recollecting the acts of Duryodhana.  The diadem-decked Phalguna, understanding the thoughts of Bhimasena, slightly bending his face downwards, addressed that foremost of men in these words, ’O Bhima, our royal father who is advancing in years, has resolved to retire into the woods.  He wishes to make gifts for advancing the happiness of his slain kinsmen and well-wishers