"Then Madri, clasping the body of her senseless lord, began to weep aloud. Then Kunti with her sons and the twins of Madri, hearing those cries of grief, came to the spot where the king lay in that state. Then, O king, Madri addressing Kunti in a piteous voice, said, 'Come hither alone, O Kunti, and let the children stay there!' Hearing these words, Kunti, bidding the children stay, ran with speed, exclaiming, 'Woe is me!' And beholding both Pandu and Madri lying prostrate on the ground, she wept in grief and affliction, saying, 'Of passions under complete control, this hero, O Madri, had all along been watched by me with care! How did he then, forgetting the Rishi's curse, approach thee with enkindled desire? O Madri, this foremost of men should have been protected by thee! Why didst thou then tempt him into solitude? Always melancholy at the thought of the Rishi's curse, how came he to be merry with thee in solitude? O princess of Valhika, more fortunate than myself, thou art really to be envied, for thou hast seen the face of our lord expand with gladness and joy!'
"Madri then replied, saying, 'Revered sister, with tears in my eyes, I resisted the king, but he could not control himself, as if bent on making the Rishi's curse true!'
"Kunti then said, 'I am the elder of his wedded wives: the chief religious merit must be mine. Therefore, O Madri, prevent me not from achieving that which must be achieved, I must follow our lord to the region of the dead! Rise up, O Madri, and yield me his body. Rear thou these children.' Madri replied, saying, 'I do clasp our lord yet, and have not allowed him to depart; therefore shall I follow him, My appetite hath not been appeased. Thou art my elder sister. O, let me have thy sanction! This foremost of the Bharata princes had approached me desiring to have intercourse. His appetite unsatiated, shall I not follow him to the region of Yama to gratify him? O revered one, if I survive thee, it is certain I shall not be able to rear thy children as if they were mine. Shall not sin touch me on that account? But thou, O Kunti, shalt be able to bring up my sons as if they were thine! The king in seeking me wishfully hath gone to the region of
