similar words, uttered in piteous voices by persons in pain, the king heard in that region, wafted to his ears from every side.36 Hearing those words of beings in woe, Yudhishthira of compassionate heart exclaimed aloud,—'Alas, how painful!' and the king stood still.37 The speeches of those woe-begone and afflicted persons seemed to the son of Pāndu to be uttered in voices that he had heard before although he could not recognise them on that occasion.38 Unable to recognise the voices, Dharma's son, Yudhishthira, enquired, saying,—'Who are you? Why also do you stay here?'39 Thus addressed, they answered him from all sides, saying,—'I am Karna!'—'I am Bhimasena!'—'I am Arjuna!'40—'I am Nakula!'—'I am Sahdeva!'—'I am Dhrishtadyumna!'—'I am Draupadi!'—'We are the sons of Draupadi!'—Even thus, O king, did those voices speak.41 Hearing those exclamations, O king, uttered in voices of pain suitable to that place, the royal Yudhishthira asked himself—'What perverse destiny is this?42 What are those sinful acts which were committed by those high-souled beings viz., Karna and the sons of Draupadi, and the slender-waisted princes of Panchāla,43 so that their residence has been assigned in this region of fœtid smell and great woe? I am not aware of any transgression that can be attributed to these persons of righteous deeds!44 What is that act by doing which Dhritarāshtra's son, king Suyodhana, with all his sinful followers, has become invested with such prosperity?45 Endued with prosperity like that of the great Indra himself, he is highly adored. What is that act through the consequence of which these (high-souled ones) have fallen into Hell?46 All of them were conversant with every duty, were heroes, were devoted to truth and the Vedas; were observant of Kshatriya practices; were righteous in their acts; were performers of sacrifices; and givers of large presents unto Brāhmanas!47 Am I asleep or awake? Am I conscious or unconscious? Or, is all this a mental delusion due to disorders of the brain?'48 Overwhelmed by sorrow and grief, and with his senses agitated by anxiety, king Yudhishthira indulged in such reflections for a long time.49 The royal son of Dharma then gave way to great wrath. Indeed, Yudhish-
