Vyasa said Blessed be you, O Gandhari, you shall see your sons and brothers and friends and kinsmen along with your sires this night like men risen from sleep.

Kunti also shall see Karna, and she of Yadu's race shall see her son Abhimanyu. Draupadi shall see her five sons, her fathers and her brothers also.

Even before you had asked me, this was the thought in my mind. I entertained this purpose when I was urged to that effect by the king, by you, O Gandhari, and by Kunti:

You should not grieve for those foremost of men. They met with death on account of their devotion to the practices of Kshatriyas.

O faultless one, the work of the gods could not but be done. It was for accomplishing that object that those heroes came down on earth. They were all portions f the celestials.

Gandharvas, Apsaras, Pishachas, Guhyakas and Rakshasas, many pure persons, many individuals crowned with (of penances), celestial Rishis, deities ad Danavas, and heavenly Rishis of spotless character, met with death on the battle field of Kurukshetra.

It is heard that he who was the intelligent kings of the Gandharvas and named Dhritarashtra, took birth in the world of men as your lord Dhritarashtra,

success Know that Pandu of unfading glory and distinguished above all others, originated from the Maruts, Kshatta and Yudhishthira are both portions of the deity of Virtue.

Know that Duryodhana was Kali, and Shakuni was Dvapara. O you of good features, know that Dushasana and others were all Rakshasas.

Bhimasena of great power that chastiser of enemies, is from the Maruts. Know that this Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, is the ancient Rishi Nara.

Hrishikesha is Narayana, and the wins are the Ashvins. That foremost of heat-giving ones, viz., Surya, having divided his body in two parts continued with one portion to give heat to the worlds and with another to live as Karna. He who was born as the son of Arjuna, that gladdener of all, that heir of the properties of the Pandavas, who was killed by six carwarriors (fighting together) was Soma. He was of born Subhadra. Through Yoga power he had divided himself in two parts.

Dhrishtadyumna who originated with Draupadi from the sacrificial fire, was an auspicious portion of the deity of fire, Shikhandin was a Rakshasa.

Know that Drona was a portion of Brihaspati, and that Drona's son is born of a portion of Rudra. Know that Ganga's son Bhishma was one of the Vasus who became born as a men.

Thus, O you of great wisdom, the deities had taken birth as human beings, and after having accomplished their purposes have returned to the celestial region.

I shall today, dispel that sorrow which is in the hearts of you all, about the return of these to the other world.

Do you all go towards the Bhagirathi. You will then see all those who have been killed on the field of battle.

Vaishampayana said. All the persons there present having heard the words of Vyasa, raised a loud leonine shout and then went towards the Bhagirathi.

Dhritarashtra with all is ministers and the Pandavas, as also with all those foremost of Rishis and Gandharvas who had come there, started as directed.

Arrived at the banks of Ganga, that sea of men look up their abode as pleased them.

The endued with great intelligence, with the Pandavas, took up his abode in desirable spot, along with the ladies and the aged ones of his household.

They passed that day as if it were a whole year, waiting for the approach of the might when they would see the deceased princes.

The Sun then reached the sacred mountain in the west and all those persons, having bathed in the sacred river finished their evening rites.