SECTION II

Vaisampayana said,--"Janardana deserving the worship of all, having lived
happily at Khandavaprastha for some time, and having been treated all the
while with respectful love and affection by the sons of Pritha, became
desirous one day of leaving Khandavaprastha to behold his father. That
possessor of large eyes, unto whom was due the obeisance of the universe,
then saluted both Yudhishthira and Pritha and made obeisance with his head
unto the feet of Kunti, his father's sister. Thus revered by Kesava,
Pritha smelt his head and embraced him. The illustrious Hrishikesa
approached his own sister Subhadra affectionately, with his eyes filled
with tears, and spoke unto her words of excellent import and truth, terse
proper, unanswerable and fraught with good. The sweet-speeched Subhadra
also, saluting him in return and worshipping him repeatedly with bent head,
told him all that she wished to be conveyed to her relatives on the
paternal side. And bidding her farewell and uttering benedictions on his
handsome sister, he of the Vrishni race, next saw Draupadi and Dhaumya.
That best of men duly made obeisance unto Dhaumya, and consoling Draupadi
obtained leave from her. Then the learned and mighty Krishna, accompanied
by Partha, went to his cousins. And surrounded by the five brothers,
Krishna shone like Sakra in the midst of the celestials. He whose banner
bore the figure of Garuda, desirous of performing the rites preparatory to
the commencement of a journey, purified himself by a bath and adorned his
person with ornaments. The bull of the Yadu race then worshipped the gods
and Brahmanas with floral wreaths, mantras, bows of the head, and
excellent perfumes. Having finished all these rites, that foremost of
steady and virtuous persons then thought of setting out. The chief of the
Yadu race then came out of the inner to the outer apartment, and issuing
thence he made unto Brahmanas, deserving of worship, offerings of vessel-