“Dhritarashtra said, ‘When the van of my army thus slaughtered by thediadem-decked (Arjuna) broke and fled, who were those heroes thatadvanced against Arjuna? (Did any of them actually fight with Arjuna, or)did all, abandoning their determination enter the Sakata array, gettingbehind the fearless Drona, resembling a solid wall?’
“Vaisampayana said, ‘When that spreader of the renown of Kuru’s race, thestrong-armed Arjuna, set out (for the forest), Brahmanas conversant withthe Vedas walked behind that illustrious hero to a certain distance.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast told me in full of those from whom foodmay be accepted and of those from whom it should not be taken. But I havegrave doubts on one point.
Vaishampayana said, “Having said these words, that foremost of allwielders of weapons, that delighter of all the Yadavas, mounted upon hisexcellent car equipped with every kind of powerful weapons.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Krishna, king Dhritarashtralost no time in addressing Vidura, who was conversant with all dictatesof virtue.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Slaying the force of Duhsasana, the mighty car-warrior,Savyasachin, desirous of getting at the ruler of the Sindhus, proceededagainst the division of Drona,
“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Having heard the words of Sudeva king Rituparna,soothing Vahuka with gentle words, said, ‘O Vahuka, thou art well-skilledin training and guiding horses.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then the son of the wielder of the thunderboltnarrated everything unto those Brahmanas (residing with him there), setout for the breast of Himavat. Arriving at the spot called Agastyavata,he next went to Vasishtha’s peak.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Who are those persons, O Bharata, from whom aBrahmana in this world may accept his food? From whom may a Kshatriya, aVaisya, and a Sudra take their food respectively?’
Vaishampayana said, “After the irresistible Bhimasena had set out, thatbull of Yadu’s race, possessed of eyes like lotus-petals, addressedKuru’s son Yudhishthira, saying,
