Having saluted Narayana and Nara the best of mal beings, as also Sarasvati the Goddess of learning, let us cry success.

Janamejaya said Having heard of that fighting with iron bolts between the heroes of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races, and having been informed also Krishna's departure from this world, what did the Pandavas do?

Vaishampayana said, Having heard the particulars of the great destruction of the Vrishnis, the Kaurava king was determined on leaving the world. He addressed Arjuna saying—'O you of great intelligence, it is time which cooks every creature (in is cauldron), I thing that what has taken place is due to the cords of Time (with which he binds us all). You should also see it.'

Thus addressed by his brother, the son of Kunti only repeated the word, “Time, Time!' and fully endorsed the view of his eldest brother endured with great intelligence.

Knowing the resolution of Arjuna, Bhimasena and the twins fully endorsed the words which Arjuna had said.

Determined upon retiring from the world for acquiring merit, they brought Yuyutsu before them. Yudhishthira made over the kingdom to the son of his uncle by his Vaishya wife.

Installing Parikshit also on their throne, as king, the eldest brother of the Pandavas, filled with sorrow, addressed Subhadra, saying, 'This son of your son will be the king of the Kurus. The survivor of the Yadus, viz., Vajra, has been made a king.

Parikshit will rule in Hastinapur, while the Yadava prince, Vajra, will rule in Shakraprastha. You should protect him, Never set you heart on sin,

Having said these words, king Yudhishthira, the just, alone with his brothers, promptly offered oblations of water to Vasudevas of great intelligence, as also his old maternal uncle, and Rama add others. He then duly performed the Shraddhas of all those kinsmen.

The king, in honour of Hari, and naming him repeatedly, fed the Dvaipayana Vyasa, and Narada, and Markandeya having penances for wealth, and Yajnavalkya of Bharadvaja race, with many delicious food.

In honour of Krishna, he also gave away many jewels and gems, and presses and clothes, and villages and horses and cars, and female salves by hundreds and thousands to foremost of Brahmanas. Calling the citizens, Kripa was installed as the preceptor and Parikshit was made over to him as his disciple, O chief of Bharata's race! Then Yudhishthira once more summoned all his subjects.

The royal sage informed them of his desire. The citizens and the villagers hearing it kings' words became stricken with anxiety and disapproved of them. “This should never be done'—said they to the king.

The king, knowing the changes brought about by time, did not listen to their advice. were Possessed of righteous soul, he persuaded the people to submit his views.

He them made up his mind he leave the world. His brothers also formed the same resolution. Then Dharma's son Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, renouncing his ornaments, wore barks of trees Bhima and Arjuna and the twines, and the illustrious Draupadi similarly clad them salves in barks of trees, O sing. Having caused the preliminary rites of religion, O chief of Bharata's race which to bless them in the accomplishment of their design, those foremost of men renounced their sacred fires to the water. Seeing the preaches in that guise the ladies wept aloud.

They seemed to look as they had looked formerly when with Draupadi forming the sixth in number they had left the capital after their defect at dice. All the brothers, however, were infinitely delighted at the prospect of their retirement.

Ascertaining the desire of Yudhishthira and seeing the destruction of the Vrishnis, no other course of action could satisfy them then. The five brothers, with Draupadi forming the sixth, and a dog forming the seventh, started on their Journey. Thus did king Yudhishthira depart, himself heading a party of seven, from the city of Hastinapur. The citizens and they royal ladies followed them for some distance.

None of them, however, could venture to address the king for persuading him so give up his intention. The citizens then returned.

Kripa and, others stood around Yuyutsu as their centre, Ulupi the daughter of the Naga chief, O you of Kuru's race, entered the waters of Ganga.

The princess Chitrangada started for the capital of Manipur. The other ladies who were the grandmothers of Parikshit gathered around him.

Meanwhile the great Pandavas, O you of Kuru's race, and the illustrious Draupadi, having observed the preminary fast, started with their faces towards he est.

Seeing themselves on Yoga those great ones, resolved to observe the religion of Renunciation, passed through various countries and teached various rivers and seas.

Yudhishthira proceeded first Behind him was Bhima;. next walked Arjuna; after him were the twins in the order of their birth; behind them all, O foremost one of Bharata's race, went Draupadi, that first of women, endued with great beauty, of dark Complexion, and having eyes like lotus petals.

While the Pandavas started for the forest a dog followed them, Proceeding on, those heroes reached the sea of red waters.

Dhananjaya had not thrown off is celestial bow Gandiva nor his couple of inexhaustible quivers, actuated, O king by the cupidity for valuable things.

The Pandavas there saw the God of Fire standing before them like hill. Closing their way, the god stood there in his embodied form.

The deity of seven flames then addressed the Pandavas, saving—'O heroic sons of Pandu, known me as the God of Fire.

O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, O Bhimasena who are a scorcher of enemies, O Arjuna, and O twines of great courage, listen to what I say!

Oforemost ones of Kuru's race, I am the God of Fire. The forest of Khandava was burnt by me, through the power of Arjuna and of Narayana himself.

Let your brother Phalguna proceed to the forest after casting off Gandiva, that great weapon. He has no longer any necessity for it.

That precious discus, which was with the great Krishna, has disappeared (from the world).. When the time again comes, it will return into and his hands.

This foremost of hows viz., Gandiva, was procured by me from Varuna for the us of Partha. let it be made over to Varuna himself.

At this, all the brothers requested Dhananjaya to do what the god said. He then threw into the waters (of the sea) both the bow and the couple of inexhaustible quivers.

After this, O chief of Bharata's race the God of Fire disappeared then and these the heroic sons of Pandu next went out with their faces turned towards the South.

Then, by the northern coast of the salt sea, those princes of Bharata's race, went to the south west.

Turning next towards the west, they saw the city of Dwraka covered by the ocean.

Turning next to the north, those foremost ones went on observant of Yoga, they were desirous of going round the whole earth.