Vaishampayana said Ordered by Dhritarashtra, those foremost of Kuru's race, viz., the Pandava brothers, accompanied by Keshava, then went to see Gandhari.

The innocent Gandhari, stricken with grief on üccount of the death of her hundred sons, thought that king Yudhishthira the just had killed all his enemies, and wished to curse him.

Knowing her evil intentions towards the Pandavas, the Vyasa made himself ready for counteracting them at the very beginning.

Having cleansed himself by the sacred and fresh water of the Ganges, the Great Rishi, capable going everywhere at will as quickly as the mind, came there.

Capable of seeing the heart of everyone with his spiritual vision and desirous of doing the same, the sage came there.

Endued with great ascetic merit and ever intent on saying what was for the good of creatures, the Rishi said to his daughter-in-law at the proper moment. Do not at this time imprecate a curse! Rather make a good use of this hour for showing your forgiveness.

Thou should not be angry with the Pandavas, O Gandhari! Set your heart on peace! Restrain the words that are about to drop from your lips! Listen to my advice.

Your son, seeking victory had requested you every day for the eighteen days of the battle, saying,-'O mother bless me who am fighting with my foes!' Solicited thus every day by your son desirous of victory, you always answered him saying,-'victory' is there where righteousness is.' I do not, O Gandhari, remember that your words, have ever been falsified! Those words, therefore, which you, requested by Duryodhana, said to him could not be false. You are always engaged in the well being of all creatures.

Having undoubtedly reached the other shore in that dreadful battle of Kshatriyas, the sons of Pandu have certainly gained the victory and greater a righteousness.

You formerly observed the virtue of forgiveness. Why would you not observe it now? Restrain unrighteousness, O you who are ever righteousness. There is victory where righteousness is.

Remembering your own righteousness and the words spoken by your self, check your wrath, O Gandhari! Do not act otherwise, O beautiful speeches lady!' hearing these words, Gandhari said,-'O holy one, I don not entertain any ill feelings towards the Pandavas, nor do I wish that they should die. Out of grief for the death of my sons, my heart is greatly shaken.

I know that I should protect the Pandavas with as much care as Kunti does, and that Dhritarashtra also should protect them as I should.

For the holly of Duryodhana and of Shakuni the son of Subala, and through the action of Karna and Dushasana, this extinction of the Kurus has taken place.

In this matter Vibhatsu of Pritha's son Vrikodara, or Nakula Or Sahadeva, Or Yudhishthira himself is not to blame in the least.

While engaged in battle. the Kauravas, puffed up with arrogance and pride have perished with many others who helped them. I am not grieved at this.

But there has been one act done by Bhima in the very presence of Vasudeva that excites my anger. Having challenged Duryodhana to a dreadful mace encounter, and having come to know that my son, while making diverse kinds of motion in the battle, was superior to him in skill, the great Vrikodara struck the latter below the navel,

It is this that excites my anger. Why should heroes, for the sake of their lives, forget their duties that have been determined by great persons conversant with every duty?'