retreat.  The Kuru king Yudhishthira, that perpetuator of Kuru’s race, surrounded by a large number of Brahmanas, his praises sung by a large band of Sutas and Magadhas and bards, and with a white umbrella held over his head and encompassed around by a large number of cars, set out on his journey.  Vrikodara, the son of the Wind-god, proceeded on an elephant as gigantic as a hill, equipt with strung bow and machines and weapons of attack and defence.  The twin sons of Madri proceeded on two fleet steeds, well cased in mail, well protected, and equipt with banners.  Arjuna of mighty energy, with senses under control, proceeded on an excellent car endued with solar effulgence and unto which were equipt excellent steeds of white hue.  The ladies of the royal household, headed by Draupadi, proceeded in closed litters protected by the superintendents of women.  They scattered copious showers of wealth as they proceeded.  Teeming with cars and elephants and steeds, and echoing with the blare of trumpets and the music of Vinas, the Pandava host, O monarch, blazed with great beauty.  Those chiefs of Kuru’s race proceeded slowly, resting by delightful banks of rivers and lakes, O monarch.  Yuyutsu of mighty energy, and Dhaumya, the priest at the command of Yudhishthira, were engaged in protecting the city.  By slow marches, king Yudhishthira reached Kurukshetra, and then, crossing the Yamuna, that highly sacred river, he beheld from a distance the retreat, O thou of Kuru’s race, of the royal sage of great wisdom and of Dhritarashtra.  Then all the men became filled with joy and quickly entered the forest, filling it with loud sounds of glee, O chief of Bharata’s race."’

SECTION XXIV

“Vaisampayana said, ’The Pandavas alighted, at a distance, from their cars and proceeded on foot to the retreat of the king, bending themselves in humility.  All the combatants also, and all the denizens of the kingdom, and the spouses of the Kuru chiefs, followed them on foot.  The Pandavas then reached the sacred retreat of Dhritarashtra which abounded with herds of deer and which was adorned with plantain plants.  Many ascetics of rigid vows, filled with curiosity, came there for beholding the Pandavas who had arrived at the retreat.  The king, with tears in his eyes, asked them, saying,—­’Where has my eldest sire, the perpetuator of Kuru’s race, gone?’ They answered, O monarch, telling him that he had gone to the Yamuna for his ablutions, as also for fetching flowers and waters.  Proceeding quickly on foot along the path pointed out by them, the Pandavas beheld all of them from a distance.  Desirous of meeting with their sire they walked with a rapid pace.  Then Sahadeva ran with speed towards the spot where Pritha was.  Touching the feet of his mother, he began to weep aloud.  With tears gushing down her cheeks, she saw her darling child.  Raising her son up and embracing him with her arms, she informed Gandhari of Sahadeva’s arrival.