He hath hence ascended to heaven, leaving his
wife and infant sons as a trust in our hands. Our duty now is to repair to
his kingdom with these his offspring, and his wife.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then those godlike Rishis of magnanimous hearts,
and crowned with ascetic success, summoning one another, resolved to go to
Hastinapura with Pandu's children ahead, desiring to place them in the
hands of Bhishma and Dhritarashtra. The ascetics set out that very moment,
taking with them those children and Kunti and the two dead bodies. And
though unused to toil all her life, the affectionate Kunti now regarded as
very short the really long journey she had to perform. Having arrived at
Kurujangala within a short time, the illustrious Kunti presented herself
at the principal gate. The ascetics then charged the porters to inform the
king of their arrival. The men carried the message in a trice to the court.
And the citizens of Hastinapura, hearing of the arrival of thousands of
Charanas and Munis, were filled with wonder. And it was soon after sunrise
that they began to come out in numbers with their wives and children to
behold those ascetics. Seated in all kinds of cars and conveyances by
thousands, vast numbers of Kshatriyas with their wives, and Brahmanas with
theirs came out. And the concourse of Vaisyas and Sudras too was as large
on the occasion. The vast assemblage was very peaceful, for every heart
then was inclined to piety. And there also came out Bhishma, the son of
Santanu, and Somadatta or Valhika and the royal sage (Dhritarashtra)
endued with the vision of knowledge and Vidura himself and the venerable
Satyavati and the illustrious princess of Kosala and Gandhari accompanied
by the other ladies of the royal household.
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