Chapter 71
“Yudhishthira said,–‘O king, thou art our master. Command us as to whatwe shall do. O Bharata, we desire to remain always in obedience to thee.
“Yudhishthira said,–‘O king, thou art our master. Command us as to whatwe shall do. O Bharata, we desire to remain always in obedience to thee.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Placing Karna at their van, thy warriors, difficult ofdefeat in fight, returned and fought (with the foe) a battle thatresembled that between the gods and the Asuras.
“Narada said, ‘Hearing of the fame of Karna’s might, the ruler of theMagadhas, king Jarasandha, challenged him to a single combat.
“Bharadwaja said, ‘Tell me, O best of Brahmanas, how the puissant Brahmanresiding within Meru, created these diverse kinds of objects.’
“The Holy One said, ‘Listen, O son of Pritha, how, without doubt, thoumayst know me fully, fixing thy mind on me, practising devotion, andtaking refuge in me.
Vaisampayana continued,–“Commanded by the Lord of justice to thus spendin disguise the thirteenth year of non-discovery, the high-souled
Janamejaya said,–“How did the sons of Dhritarashtra feel, when they cameto know that the Pandavas had, with Dhritarashtra’s leave, leftHastinapore with all their wealth and jewels?”
Vaisampayana said,–‘O monarch, it was then that the virtuous Gandhari,afflicted with grief on account of her affection for her sons, addressedking Dhritarashtra and said, “When Duryodhana was born, Vidura of greatintelligence had said,
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘I have heard from thee, O Sanjaya, of many poignantand unbearable griefs as also of the losses sustained by my sons.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having said these words, the celestial Rishi Naradabecame silent. The royal sage Yudhishthira, filled with grief, becameplunged in meditation.