Section CLXX

"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing these words of the Brahmana, the sons of Kunti seemed to be, as it were, pierced with darts. Indeed, all those mighty heroes lost their peace of mind. Then the truthful Kunti, beholding all her sons listless and inattentive, addressed Yudhishthira and said,

'We have now lived many nights in the abode of this Brahmana. We have passed our time pleasantly in this town, living on the alms obtained from many honest and illustrious persons.

O oppressor of foes, as we have now seen often and often all the agreeable woods and gardens that are in this part of the country, seeing them again would no longer give any pleasure.

O heroic scion of Kuru’s race, alms also are not now obtainable here as easily as before. If you wishest it would be well for us now to go to Pancala; we have not seen that country, it will, no doubt, O hero, prove delightful to us.

O crusher of foes, it has been heard by us that alms are obtainable in the country of the Pancala, and that Yajnasena, the king thereof, is devoted to Brahmanas. I am of opinion that it is not good to live long in one place.

Therefore, O son, if you likest, it is good for us to go there.'

"Hearing these words, Yudhishthira said,

'It is our duty to obey your command, which, besides, must be for our good, I do not, however, know whether my younger brothers are willing to go.'"