Chapter 69
“Vaisampayana said, ‘The helpless Uttara, desirous of getting back herchild, having indulged in these piteous lamentations, fell down inaffliction on the earth like a demented creature.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘The helpless Uttara, desirous of getting back herchild, having indulged in these piteous lamentations, fell down inaffliction on the earth like a demented creature.
“‘Narada said, When the vicissitudes of happiness and sorrow appear ordisappear, the transitions are incapable of being prevented by eitherwisdom or policy or exertion.
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Consider, O Duryodhana, O dear son, what I tellthee. Like an ignorant traveller thou thinkest, the wrong path to be theright one, since thou art desirous of robbing the energy of the five sonsof Pandu, who are even as the five elements of the universe in theirsubtle form upholding all mobile and immobile things.
Vaisampayana continued, “On that Rakshasa having been slain, that lord,the royal son of Kunti, returned to the hermitage of Narayana and beganto dwell there.
“Lomasa said, ‘When the god who had performed a hundred sacrifices(Indra) beheld the demon Mada of a frightful mien, coming towards himwith open mouth, his intention being to devour him, and looking like thegod of death himself, while his own arms remained paralysed, he throughfear repeatedly licked the corners of his mouth.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the Brahma-weapon was withdrawn by Krishna, atthat time, the laying-in room was illumined by thy father with hisenergy.
“Bhishma said, Having ascended the summit of the mountain, O Bharata, theson of Vyasa sat down upon a level spot free from blades of grass andretired from the haunts of other creatures.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having addressed Suyodhana thus, the highly blessedand wise Dhritarashtra again asked Sanjaya, saying, ‘Tell me, O Sanjaya,what thou hast not yet said, viz., what Arjuna told thee after theconclusion of Vasudeva’s speech, for great is my curiosity to hear it.’
“Vaisampayana said, ‘About this time, the learned Vidura had sent intothose woods a man of pure character and much trusted by him. This persongoing to where he had been directed, saw the Pandavas with their motherin the forest employed in a certain place in measuring the depth of ariver.
Vaisampayana continued, “Thus dwelling with the Brahmanas in that best ofmountains, in expectation of Arjuna’s return,