THE ASCENT OF YUDISTHIRA 331
realised, moreover, that when the time for his use of them should again approach, they would return of their own accord into his hands. Meanwhile, it was for himself and his four brothers to set their faces resolutely, towards the attainment of the highest goal.
Yudisthira fully agreed with this thought of Arjuna. "You must see," he said to him, " that it is Time who fastens the fetters, and Time who loosens the bond," And his brothers, under- standing the allusion, could utter only the one word, " Time ! Time ! " The Pandavas and Drau- padi, being thus entirely at one in the decision that the empire was over for them, the question of the succession was quickly arranged. The en- treaties of citizens and subjects were overruled ; successors and a protector installed in different capitals ; and farewell was taken of the king- dom. Having thus done their duty as sovereigns, Yudisthira and his brothers, with Draupadi, turned to the performance of personal religious rites. Donning coverings of birch bark only, they fasted many days and received the blessings of the priests. Then each took the fire from his domestic altar, — that fire which had been lighted for him on his marriage, and kept alight, worshipped, and tended ever since by his wife and himself in person, — and threw it into consecrated water. This was the last act of their lives in the world,
