he hath been highly pleased with this alliance with thee! So also, O king, Bhishma of great wisdom, the son of Santanu, with all the Kurus, enquired after the welfare in every respect. Drona also of great wisdom the son of Bharadwaja and thy dear friend, embracing thee mentally, enquired of thy happiness! And. O king of Panchalas, Diritarashtra and all the Kurus, in consequence of this alliance with thee, regard themselves supremely blest. O Yajnasena, the establishment of this alliance with thee hath made them happier than if they had acquired a new kingdom. Knowing all this, O monarch, permit the Pandavas to re-visit their ancestral kingdom. The Kurus are exceedingly eager to behold the sons of Pandu ! These bulls among men have been long absent (fron their kingdom). They as well as Pritha must be very eager to behold their city. And all the Kuru ladies and the citizens and our subjects are eagerly waiting to behold Krishna, the Panchala Princess. This, therefore is my opinion, O monarch, that thou shouldst. without delay, permit the Pandavas to go thither with thier wite! And after the illustrious Pandavas, O king, will bave received thy permission to go thither. I shall send information unto Dhritarashtra by quick messengers. Then, O king, will the Pandavas set out with Kunti and Krishna."
Thus ends the two hundred and eighth section in the Viduragamana Parva of the Adi Parva.
SECTION CCIX
(Viduragamana Parva continued)
Vaisampayana said, "Hearing these words of Vidura, Drupada said, - It is even so as thou, O Vidura of great wisdom, hast said i Venerable one. I too bave been exceedingly happy in consequence of this alliance ! It is highly proper that these illustrious prince should return to their ancestral kingdom. But it is not proper for me to say this myself. If the brave son of Kunti, viz., Yudhishthira, if Bhima and Arjuna, if these bull among men, viz., the twins, themselves desire to go and if Rama (Valadeva) and Krishna, both acquainted with every rule of morality. be of the same mind, then let the Pandavas go thither. For these tigers among men (Rama and Krishna) are ever engaged in doing what is agreeable and beneficial to the sons of Pandu."
"Hearing this, Yudhishthira said,-'We are now, O monarch, with all our younger brothers, dependent on thee! We shall cheerfully do what thou art pleased to command I'
