Chapter 256

Janamejaya said, ‘After having delivered Duryodhana, what did the mightysons of Pandu do in that forest? It behoveth thee to tell me this.’

Vaisampayana said, “Once on a time, as Yudhishthira lay down at night inthe Dwaita woods, some deer, with accents choked in tears, presentedthemselves before him in his dreams. To them standing with joined hands,their bodies trembling all over that foremost of monarchs said, ‘Tell mewhat ye wish to say. Who are ye? And what do ye desire?’ Thus accosted byKunti’s son–the illustrious Pandava, those deer, the remnant of thosethat had been slaughtered, replied unto him, saying, ‘We are, O Bharata,those deer that are still alive after them that had been slaughtered. Weshall be exterminated totally. Therefore, do thou change thy residence. Omighty king, all thy brothers are heroes, conversant with weapons; theyhave thinned the ranks of the rangers of the forest. We few–theremnants,–O mighty-minded one, remain like seed. By thy favour, O kingof kings, let us increase.’ Seeing these deer, which remained like seedafter the rest had been destroyed trembling and afflicted with fear,Yudhishthira the just was greatly affected with grief. And the king,intent on the welfare of all creatures, said unto them, ‘So be it. Ishall act as ye have said.’ Awaking after such a vision, that excellentking, moved by pity towards the deer, thus spake unto his brothersassembled there, ‘Those deer that are alive after them that have beenslaughtered, accosted me at night, after I had awakened, saying, ‘Weremain like the cues of our lines. Blest be thou! Do thou have compassionon us.’ And they have spoken truly. We ought to feel pity for thedwellers of the forest. We have been feeding on them for a year togetherand eight months. Let us, therefore, again (repair) to the romanticKamyakas, that best of forests abounding in wild animals, situated at thehead of the desert, near lake Trinavindu. And there let us pleasantlypass the rest of our time.’ Then, O king, the Pandavas versed inmorality, swiftly departed (thence), accompanied by the Brahmanas and allthose that lived with them, and followed by Indrasena and otherretainers. And proceeding along the roads walked (by travellers),furnished with excellent corn and clear water, they at length beheld thesacred asylum of Kamyaka endued with ascetic merit. And as pious menenter the celestial regions, those foremost of the Bharata race, theKauravas, surrounded by those bulls among Brahmanas entered that forest.”