and other ladies of the royal house-hold, all proceeded with the old monarch.  The wail they uttered on that occasion, O king, from grief, resembled the loud lamentations of a swarm of she-ospreys.  Then the wives of the citizens,—­Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras,—­also came out into the streets from every side.  At Dhritarashtra’s departure, O king, all the citizens of Hastinapore became as distressed as they had been, O monarch, when they had witnessed the departure of the Pandavas in former days after their defeat at the match at dice.  Ladies that had never seen the sun or the moon, came out into the streets on the occasion, in great grief, when king Dhritarashtra proceeded towards the great forest."’

SECTION XVI

“Vaisampayana said, ’Great was the uproar, at that time, O king, of both men and women standing on the terraces of mansions or on the Earth.  Possessed of great intelligence, the old king, with joined hands, and trembling with weakness, proceeded with difficulty along the principal street which was crowded with persons of both sexes.  He left the city called after the elephant by the principal gate and then repeatedly bade that crowd of people to return to their homes.  Vidura had set his heart on going to the forest along with the king.  The Suta Sanjaya also, the son of Gavalgani, the chief minister of Dhritarashtra, was of the same heart.  King Dhritarashtra however, caused Kripa and the mighty car-warrior Yuyutsu to refrain from following him.  He made them over into Yudhishthira’s hands.  After the citizens had ceased following the monarch, king Yudhishthira, with the ladies of his house-hold, prepared to stop, at the command of Dhritarashtra. seeing that his mother Kunti was desirous of retiring into the woods, the king said unto her, ’I shall follow the old monarch.  Do thou desist.’  It behoveth thee, O queen, to return to the city, accompanied by these thy daughters-in-law.  This monarch proceeds to the woods, firmly resolved to practise penances.  Though king Yudhishthira said these words unto her, with his eyes bathed in tears, Kunti, however, without answering him, continued to proceed, catching hold of Gandhari.

“Kunti said, ’O king, never show any disregard for Sahadeva.  He is very much attached to me, O monarch, and to thee also always.  Thou shouldst always bear in mind Karna who never retreated from battle.  Through my folly that hero has been slain in the field of battle.  Surely, my son, this heart of mine is made of steel, since it does not break into a hundred pieces at not seeing that child born of Surya.  When such has been the case, O chastiser of foes, what can I now do?  I am very much to blame for not having proclaimed the truth about the birth of Surya’s child.  O crusher of foes, I hope thou wilt, with all thy brothers, make excellent gifts for the sake of that son of Surya.  O mower of foes, thou shouldst always do what is agreeable to Draupadi.  Thou shouldst look after Bhimasena and Arjuna and Nakula and Sahadeva.  The burthens of the Kuru race have now fallen on thee, O king.  I shall live in the woods with Gandhari, besmearing my body with filth, engaged in the performance of penances, and devoted to the service of my father-in-law and mother-in-law.’[33]