Those tigers among men gladdened the hearts of all who beheld
them. And the Pandavas, dear unto the hearts of the people, heard, as they
proceeded, various exclamations with the citizens, ever desirous of
obeying the wishes of those princes, loudly uttered. Some exclaimed, 'Here
returns that tiger among men, conversant with all the rules of morality
and who always protects us as if we were his nearest relatives.' And
elsewhere they said, 'It seems that king Pandu--the beloved of his people--
returneth today from the forest, doubtless to do what is agreeable to us.'
And there were some that said, 'What good is not done to us today when the
heroic sons of Kunti come back to our town? If we have ever given away in
charity, if we have ever poured libations of clarified butter on the fire,
if we have any ascetic merit, let the Pandavas, by virtue of all those
acts stay in town for a hundred years.'
"At last the Pandavas, on arriving at the place, worshipped the feet of
Dhritarashtra, as also those of the illustrious Bhishma. They also
worshipped the feet of everybody else that deserved that honour. And they
enquired after the welfare of every citizen (there present). At last, at
the command of Dhritarashtra they entered the chambers that had been
assigned to them.
"After they had rested there for some time, they were summoned (to the
court) by king Dhritarashtra and Bhishma, the son of Santanu. When they
came, king Dhritarashtra addressing Yudhishthira, said, 'Listen, O son of
Kunti, with thy brothers, to what I say.
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