Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/361

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ADI PARVA
347

Vaisampayana continued,- "The Pandavas set out on the eighth day of the month of Phalguna when the star Rohini was ascendant, and arriving at Varanavata they beheld the town and the people."

Thus ends the hundred and forty-seventh section in the Jatugriha Parva of the Adi Parva.

SECTION CXLVIII

(Jatugriha Parva continued)

Vaisa mpayana said "Then all the citizens (of Varanavata) on hear ing that son of Pandu had come, were filled with joy at the tidings, not speedily came out of Varanavata, in vehicles of various kinds number ing by thousands, taking with them every auspicious article as directed by the Sastras, for receiving those foremost of men. And the people of Varanavata, approaching the sons of Kunti blessed them by uttering the Jaya and stood surrounding them. That tiger among men viz., the virtuous Yudhishthira, thus surrounded by them looked resplendent like him having the thunder-bolt in his hands (viz., Indra) in the midst of the celestials. And those sinless ones, welcomed by the citizens and welcoming the citizens in return, then entered the populous town of Varanavata decked with every ornament. Entering the town those heroes first went, O monarch, to the abodes of Brahmanas engaged in their proper duties. Those foremost of men then went to the abodes of the officials of the town, and thea of the Sutas and the Vaisyas and then to those of even the Sudras, O bull of Bharata's race, thus adored by the citizens, the Pandavas at last went with Purochana going before them, to the palace that had been built for them, Purochana then began to place before them food and drink and beds and carpets, all of the first and most agreeable order. The Pandavas, attired in costly robes, continued to live there, adored by Purochana and the people having their homes in Varanavata.

"After the Pandavas had thus lived for ten nights. Purochana spoke to them of the mansion (he had built) called 'The blessed home,' but in reality the cursed house. Then those tigers among men, attired in costly dress, entered that mansion at the instance of Purochana like Guhyakas entering the palace (of Siva) on the Kailasa mount. The foremost of all virtuous men, Yudhishthira, inspecting the house, said unto Bhima that it was really built of inflammable materials. Smelling the scent of fat mixed with clarified butter and preparations of lac, he said unto Bhima.O chastiser of foes, this house is truly built of inflammable