And eighty-eight thousands of
high-souled _Snatakas_ depended for their subsistence upon this king
practising excellent vows. This illustrious lord protected the aged and
the helpless, the maimed and the blind, as his sons, and he ruled over
his subjects virtuously. Steady in morality and self-control, capable of
restraining his anger, bountiful, devoted to the Brahmanas, and
truthful, this one is the son of Pandu. The prosperity and prowess of
this one afflict king Suyodhana with his followers including Karna and
Suvala's son. And, O lord of men, the virtues of this one are incapable
of being enumerated. This son of Pandu is devoted to morality and always
abstains from injury. Possessed of such attributes, doth not this bull
among kings, this son of Pandu, deserve, O monarch, to occupy a royal
seat?'"
SECTION LXXI
"Virata said, 'If this one, indeed, be the Kuru king Yudhishthira the son
of Kunti, which amongst these is his brother Arjuna, and which, the
mighty Bhima. Which of these is Nakula, and which Sahadeva and where is
the celebrated Draupadi? After their defeat at dice, the sons of Pritha
have not been heard of by any one.'
"Arjuna said, 'Even this one, O king, who is called Vallava and is thy
cook, is that Bhima of mighty arms and terrible prowess and furious
impetus. It was he who slew the furious _Rakshasas_ on the mountains of
_Gandhamadana_, and procured for Krishna celestial flowers of great
fragrance.
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