king, neither the sons of Pandu, nor the chaste Krishna, are in that
city of Yadavas. O bull of the Bharata race, we have not been able to
discover either their track or their present abode. Salutations to thee,
they are gone for good. We are acquainted with the disposition of the
sons of Pandu and know something of the feats achieved by them. It
behoveth thee, therefore, O lord of men, to give us instructions, O
monarch, as to what we should next do in the search after the sons of
Pandu. O hero, listen also to these agreeable words of ours, promising
great good to thee. King Matsya's commander, Kichaka of wicked soul, by
whom the Trigartas, O monarch, were repeatedly vanquished and slain with
mighty force, now lieth low on the ground with all his brothers, slain,
O monarch, by invisible Gandharvas during the hours of darkness, O thou
of unfading glory. Having heard this delightful news about the
discomfiture of our enemies, we have been exceedingly gratified, O
Kauravya. Do thou now ordain what should next be done.'"

[20] _Krita-krita_--Nilakantha explains this to mean 'imagining
themselves to have achieved success in their mission' for having
learnt of Kichaka's death, they could readily guess the presence
of the Pandavas there. This is too far-fetched and does not at
all agree with the spirit of their report to Duryodhana below.
And then the same word occurs in the very last line of the
Section. I take it that in both places the word has been used in
the same sense.


SECTION XXVI

(_Go-harana Parva_)