And the hundred sons of
Dhritarashtra, decked with various ornaments, also came out.
"The Kauravas, then, accompanied by their priest, saluted the Rishis by
lowering their heads, and took their seats before them. The citizens also
saluting the ascetics and bowing down unto them with touching the ground,
took their seats there. Then Bhishma, setting that vast concourse
perfectly still, duly worshipped, O king, those ascetics by offering them
water to wash their feet with and the customary Arghya. And having done
this, he spoke unto them about the sovereignty and the kingdom. Then the
oldest of the ascetics with matted locks on head and loins covered with
animal skin, stood up, and with the concurrence of the other Rishis, spoke
as follows, 'You all know that that possessor of the sovereignty of the
Kurus who was called king Pandu, had, after abandoning the pleasures of
the world, repaired hence to dwell on the mountain of a hundred peaks. He
adopted the Brahmacharya mode of life, but for some inscrutable purpose
the gods have in view, this his eldest son, Yudhishthira, was born there,
begotten by Dharma himself. Then that illustrious king obtained from Vayu
this other son--the foremost of all mighty men--called Bhima. This other
son, begotten upon Kunti by Indra, is Dhananjaya whose achievements will
humble all bowmen in the world. Look here again at these tigers among men,
mighty in the use of the bow, the twin children begotten upon Madri by the
twin Aswins.
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