Chapter 45

“Vaisampayana said, ‘The king dismissed all his subjects, who, commandedby the monarch, returned to their respective homes. Comforting hisbrothers, Yudhishthira, blazing with beauty, then addressed his brothersBhima of terrible prowess and Arjuna and the twins, saying, ‘Your bodieshave, in the great battle, been mangled with diverse kinds of weapons bythe foe. Ye are greatly fatigued, grief and anger have scorched yourhearts. Through my fault, ye bulls of Bharata’s race, ye have sufferedthe miseries of an exile in the forests like vulgar men. In delight andin happy ease enjoy this victory (that ye have won). After restingyourselves and regaining the full use of your faculties, meet me again inthe morning.’ After this, the mighty-armed Vrikodara like Maghavatentering his own beautiful fane, entered the palace of Duryodhana, thatwas adorned with many excellent buildings and rooms, that adorned withgems of diverse kinds, that teemed with servants, male and female, andthat Yudhishthira assigned to him with the approval of Dhritarashtra. Themighty-armed Arjuna also, at the command of the king, obtained the palaceof Dussasana which was not inferior to Duryodhana’s and which consistedof many excellent structures and was adorned with a gate-way of gold, andwhich abounded in wealth and was full of attendants of both sexes. Thepalace of Durmarshana was even superior to that of Dussasana. Lookinglike the mansion of Kuvera himself, it was adorned with gold and everykind of gem. King Yudhishthira gladly gave it to Nakula who deserved itbest and who had been emaciated (with the miseries of a life) in thegreat forest. The foremost of palaces belonging to Durmukha wasexceedingly beautiful and adorned with gold. It abounded in beds andbeautiful women, with eyes like lotus-petals. The king gave it untoSahadeva who was ever employed in doing what was agreeable to him.Obtaining it, Sahadeva became delighted as the Lord of treasures uponobtaining Kailasa. Yuyutsu and Vidura and Sanjaya, O monarch, andSudharman and Dhaumya, proceeded to the abodes they had ownedbefore.[133] Like a tiger entering his cave in the hills, that tigeramong men, viz., Saurin, accompanied by Satyaki, entered the palace ofArjuna. Feasting on the viands and drinks (that had been kept ready forthem), the princes passed the night happily. Awaking in the morning withwell pleased hearts, they presented themselves before king Yudhishthira.'”