' Madri
replied, saying, 'I do clasp our lord yet, and have not allowed him to
depart; therefore, I shall follow him. My appetite hath not been appeased.
Thou art my older sister, O let me have thy sanction. This foremost one of
the Bharata princes had approached me, desiring to have intercourse. His
appetite unsatiated, shall I not follow him in the region of Yama to
gratify him? O revered one, if I survive thee, it is certain I shall not
be able to rear thy children as if they were mine. Will not sin touch me
on that account? But, thou O Kunti, shall be able to bring my sons up as
if they were thine. The king, in seeking me wishfully, hath gone to the
region of spirits; therefore, my body should be burnt with his. O revered
sister, withhold not thy sanction to this which is agreeable to me. Thou
wilt certainly bring up the children carefully. That indeed, would be very
agreeable to me. I have no other direction to give!'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said this, the daughter of the king of
Madras, the wedded wife of Pandu, ascended the funeral pyre of her lord,
that bull among men.'"
SECTION CXXVI
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'The godlike Rishis, wise in counsels, beholding the
death of Pandu, consulted with one another, and said, 'The virtuous and
renowned king Pandu, abandoning both sovereignty and kingdom came hither
for practising ascetic austerities and resigned himself to the ascetics
dwelling on this mountain.
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