not stay in battle.  The king, that bull among men, then went back to his tent.”  Partha answered Keshava, that bull of Yadu’s race, saying, “So be it!’ The latter then cheerfully caused the car of that foremost of car-warriors to turn back.  Having said these words unto Arjuna, Krishna addressed the soldiers, saying, “Blessed be ye, stand all of you carefully, facing the foe!” Unto Dhrishtadyumna and Yudhamanyu and the twin sons of Madri and Vrikodara and Yuyudhana, Govinda said, “Ye kings, until we come back having informed the king of Karna’s slaughter by Arjuna, stand ye here with care.”  Having received the permission of these heroes, he then set out for the quarters of the king.  With Partha in his company, Govinda beheld Yudhishthira, that tiger among kings, lying on an excellent bed of gold.  Both of them then, with great joy, touched the feet of the king.  Beholding their joy and the extraordinary wounds on their bodies, Yudhishthira regarded the son of Radha to be dead and rose quickly from his bed.  That chastiser of foes, the mighty-armed monarch, having risen from his bed, repeatedly embraced Vasudeva and Arjuna with affection.  That descendant of Kuru’s race then asked Vasudeva (the particulars of Karna’s death).  Then the sweet-speeched Vasudeva that descendant of the Yadu race, spoke to him of Karna’s death exactly as it had happened.  Smiling then, Krishna, otherwise called Acyuta, joined his palms and addressed king Yudhishthira whose foes had been killed saying, “By good luck, the wielder of Gandiva, and Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, and thyself, and the two sons of Madri, are all safe, having been freed from this battle that has been so destructive of heroes and that made the very hair of the body to stand on end.  Do thou those acts, O son of Pandu, which should next be done.  The Suta’s son Karna, possessed of great might and otherwise called Vaikartana, hath been slain.  By good luck, victory hath become thine, O king of kings.  By good luck, thou growest, O son of Pandu!  The Earth drinketh today the blood of that Suta’s son, that wretch among men, who had laughed at the dice-won Krishna.  That foe of thine, O bull of Kuru’s race, lieth today on the bare ground, pierced all over with arrows.  Behold that tiger among men, pierced and mangled with shafts.  O thou of mighty arms, rule now, with care, this earth that is divested of all thy foes, and enjoy with us, all kinds of enjoyable articles!’”

“Sanjaya continued, ’Having heard these words of the high-souled Keshava, Yudhishthira, with great joy, worshipped in return that hero of Dasharha’s race.  “Good luck, Good luck!” were the words, O monarch, that he said.  And he added, “It is not wonderful, O mighty-armed one, in thee, O son of Devaki, that Partha, having obtained thee for his charioteer, should achieve feats that are even super-human.”  Then that chief of Kuru’s race, that righteous son of Pritha, taking hold of Keshava’s right arm adorned with Angadas, and addressing both Keshava and Arjuna, said, “Narada