where his uncle was.  He saw king Dhritarashtra, that lord of Earth, at his ease, with Gandhari beside him, after having finished his morning rites.  The righteous-souled monarch saw also his mother, Kunti, seated not much remote from that place, like a disciple with bent head, endued with humility.  He saluted the old king, proclaiming his name.  ‘Sit down’ were the words the old king said.  Receiving Dhritarashtra’s permission, Yudhishthira sat himself down on a mat of Kusa grass.  Then the other sons of Pandu with Bhima among them, O thou of Bharata’s race, saluted the king and touched his feet and sat themselves down, receiving his permission.  The old Kuru king, surrounded by them, looked exceedingly beautiful.  Indeed, he blazed with a Vedic splendour like Vrihaspati in the midst of the celestials.  After they had sat themselves down, many great Rishis, viz., Satayupa and others, who were denizens of Kurukshetra, came there.  The illustrious and learned Vyasa, possessed of great energy, and reverenced by even the celestial Rishis, showed himself, at the head of his numerous disciples, unto Yudhishthira.  The Kuru king Dhritarashtra, Kunti’s son Yudhishthira of great energy, and Bhimasena and others, stood up and advancing a few steps, saluted those guests.  Approaching near, Vyasa, surrounded by Satayupa and others, addressed king Dhritarashtra, saying,—­’Be thou seated.’  The illustrious Vyasa then took an excellent seat made of Kusa grass placed upon a black deer-skin and covered with a piece of silken cloth.  They had reserved that seat for him.  After Vyasa had been seated, all those foremost of regenerate persons, endued with abundant energy, sat themselves down, having received the permission of the Island-born sage.”

SECTION XXVIII

“Vaisampayana said, ’After the high-souled Pandavas had all been seated, Satyavati’s son Vyasa said,—­O Dhritarashtra of mighty arms, hast thou been able to achieve penances?  Is thy mind, O king, pleased with thy residence in the woods?  Has the grief that was thine, born of the slaughter of thy sons in battle, disappeared from thy heart?  Are all thy perceptions, O sinless one, now clear?  Dost thou practise the ordinances of forest life after having made thy heart firm?  Does my daughter-in-law, Gandhari, allow herself to be overwhelmed by grief?  She is possessed of great wisdom.  Endued with intelligence, that queen understands both Religion and Wealth.  She is well conversant with the truths that relate to both prosperity and adversity.  Does she still grieve?  Does Kunti, O king, who in consequence of her devotion to the service of her seniors, left her children, attend to thy wants and serve thee with all humility?  Have the high-minded and high-souled king, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma and Bhima and Arjuna and the twins been sufficiently comforted?  Dost thou feet delight at seeing them?  Has thy mind become freed from every stain?  Has