before us.' And the wicked Duryodhana was glad at heart to miss Bhima, and entered the city with his brothers in joy.
"The virtuous Yudhish-thira, unacquainted with vice and wickedness himself, regarded others as honest as himself. The eldest son of Prithā, filled with fraternal love, going unto his mother, said, after making obeisance to her, 'O mother, hath Bhima come? O good mother, I don't find him here? Where can he have gone? We long sought for him everywhere in the gardens and the beautiful woods; but found him nowhere. At length, we thought that the heroic Bhima had come before us all. O illustrious dame, we come hither in great anxiety. Arrived here, where hath he gone? Have you sent him anywhere? O tell me, I am full of doubts respecting the mighty Bhima! He had been asleep and hath not come. I conclude he is no more?'
"Hearing these words of the highly intelligent Yudish-thira, Kunti shrieked ni alarm, and said, 'Dear son, I have not seen Bhima. He did not come tome. O, return in haste and with your brothers seek for him!'
"Having said this, in affliction to her eldest son, she summoned Vidura, and said, 'O illustrious Khatta, Bhima-sena is missing! Where hath he gone! The other brothers have call come back from the gardens, only Bhima of mighty arms doth not come home! Duryodhana liketh him not. The Kaurava is crooked and malicious and low-minded and imprudent. He coveteth the throne openly. I am afraid lest he have in a fit of anger slain my darling! This afilicteth me sorely, indeed, burneth my heart!'
"Vidura replied, 'Blessed dame, say not so! Protect thy other sons with care! If the wicked Duryodhana be accused, he may slay thy remaining sons. The great Muni hath said that thy sons will all be long-lived. Therefore Bhima will surely return and gladden thy heart!'"
Vaisampayana continued, "The wise Vidura having said this unto Kunti returned to his abode, while Kunti, in great anxiety, continued to stay at home with her children.
"Meanwhile, Bhima-sena awaked from that slumber on the eighth day, and felt himself strong beyond measure in con-
