Chapter 56
“Duryodhana said, ‘Having obtained, O Sanjaya, an army numbering sevenAkshauhinis, what is Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, with the other kingsin his company, doing in view of the war?’
“Duryodhana said, ‘Having obtained, O Sanjaya, an army numbering sevenAkshauhinis, what is Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, with the other kingsin his company, doing in view of the war?’
“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After the expiration, O king, of a year fromthis, Dhritarashtra, moved by kindness for the people, installedYudhishthira, the son of Pandu, as the heir-apparent of the kingdom onaccount of his firmness, fortitude, patience, benevolence, frankness andunswerving honesty (of heart).
Vaisampayana continued, “When Sakra had gone to his proper place,Vibhatsu together with his brothers and Krishna, paid homage unto the sonof Dharma.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘After the high-souled Vasudeva of great prowess hadfinished his narration of the great battle of the Bharatas before hissire, it was plain that that hero had passed over the slaughter ofAbhimanyu.
“Bhishma said, ‘Hearing these words of their preceptor, Vyasa’s disciplesendued with energy, became filled with joy and embraced one another.
“Bhishma said, ‘After Vyasa had left the spot, Narada, traversing throughthe sky, came to Suka employed in studying the scriptures.
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Whom hast thou, O Sanjaya, seen to have, fromaffection, arrived there, and who will, on behalf of the Pandavas, fightmy son’s forces?’
“Vaisampayana continued, ‘On hearing that the heroic sons of Pandu enduedwith excess of energy had become so mighty, king Dhritarashtra becamevery miserable with anxiety.
Vaisampayana said, “Then when the night had been spent, Dhananjaya,together with his brothers, paid homage unto Yudhishthira the just.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having heard these words of his son Vasudeva, thatdescendant of Sura, of righteous soul, casting off his grief, madeexcellent obsequial offerings (unto Abhimanyu).