gratified Agni by making over to him the forest of Khandava, then, O
Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the five Pandavas
with their mother Kunti had escaped from the house of lac, and that Vidura
was engaged in the accomplishment of their designs, then, O Sanjaya, I had
no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, after having pierced the
mark in the arena had won Draupadi, and that the brave Panchalas had
joined the Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I
heard that Jarasandha, the foremost of the royal line of Magadha, and
blazing in the midst of the Kshatriyas, had been slain by Bhima with his
bare arms alone, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard
that in their general campaign the sons of Pandu had conquered the chiefs
of the land and performed the grand sacrifice of the Rajasuya, then, O
Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Draupadi, her voice
choked with tears and heart full of agony, in the season of impurity and
with but one raiment on, had been dragged into court and though she had
protectors, she had been treated as if she had none, then, O Sanjaya, I
had no hope of success. When I heard that the wicked wretch Duhsasana, was
striving to strip her of that single garment, had only drawn from her
person a large heap of cloth without being able to arrive at its end, then,
O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Yudhishthira,
beaten by Saubala at the game of dice and deprived of his kingdom as a
consequence thereof, had still been attended upon by his brothers of
incomparable prowess, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I
heard that the virtuous Pandavas weeping with affliction had followed
their elder brother to the wilderness and exerted themselves variously for
the mitigation of his discomforts, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of
success.

'When I heard that Yudhishthira had been followed into the wilderness by
Snatakas and noble-minded Brahmanas who live upon alms, then, O Sanjaya, I