And keeping Krishna with her, those foremost
of men all went the round of eleemosynary visits. Some time after when
they returned, Krishna taking from them what they had obtained as alms,
devoted a portion thereof to the gods, and gave another portion away (in
gift) to Brahmanas. And of what remained after this, she gave a portion to
that venerable lady, and distributed the rest amongst those five foremost
of men. And she took a little for herself and ate it last of all. Then, O
monarch, they all laid themselves down for sleep, Krishna lying along the
line of their feet as their nether pillow. And the bed on which they lay
was made of kusa grass upon which was spread their deer-skins. And before
going to sleep they talked on diverse subjects in voices deep as of black
clouds. The talk of those heroes indicated them to be neither Vaisyas nor
Sudras, nor Brahmanas. Without doubt, O monarch, they are bulls amongst
Kshatriyas, their discourse having been on military subjects. It seems, O
father, that our hope hath been fructified, for we have heard that the
sons of Kunti all escaped from the conflagration of the house of lac. From
the way in which the mark was shot down by that youth, and the strength
with which the bow was strung by him, and the manner in which I have heard
them talk with one another proves conclusively, O monarch, that they are
the sons of Pritha wandering in disguise.'
"Hearing these words of his son, king Drupada became exceedingly glad, and
he sent unto them his priest directing him to ascertain who they were and
whether they were the sons of the illustrious Pandu.
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