SECTION XLIII

"Vaisampayana said, 'After this king Yudhishthira of magnanimous soul

caused the Sraddha rites to be performed of every one of his kinsmen

slain in battle. King Dhritarashtra also of great fame, gave away, for

the good of his sons in the other world, excellent food, and kine, and

much wealth, and many beautiful and costly gems (unto the Brahmanas).

Yudhishthira accompanied by Draupadi, gave much wealth for the sake of

Drona and the high-souled Karna, of Dhrishtadyumna and Abhimanyu, of the

Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, the son of Hidimva, and of Virata, and his other

well-wishers that had served him loyally, and of Drupada and the five

sons of Draupadi. For the sake of each of these, the king gratified

thousands of Brahmanas with gifts of wealth and gems, and kine and

clothes. The king performed the Sraddha rite for the good in the next

world, of every one of those kings also who had fallen in the battle

without leaving kinsmen or friends behind. And the king also, for the

good of the souls of all his friends, caused houses to be founded for the

distribution of food, and places for the distribution of water, and tanks

to be excavated in their names. Thus paying off the debt he owed to them

and avoiding the chance of censure in the world,[126] the king became

happy and continued to protect his subjects religiously. He showed due

honour, as before, unto Dhritarashtra, and Gandhari, and Vidura, and unto

all the superior Kauravas and unto all the officers. Full of kindness,

the Kuru king honoured and protected all those ladies also who had, in

consequence of the battle, been deprived of their heroic husbands and

sons. The puissant king, with great compassion, extended his favours to

the destitute and the blind and the helpless by giving them food, clothes

and shelter. Freed from foes and having conquered the whole Earth, king

Yudhishthira began to enjoy great happiness.'"

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 Books 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 · 第 42 / 367 章