" said,--Hearing these words of , the ruler of Chedi endued with exceeding prowess, desirous of combating with addressed him and said,--O , I challenge thee you. Come, fight with me until I slay thee you today with all the Pandavas. For, O , the sons of also, who disregarding the claims of all these kings, have worshipped thee you who art no king, deserve to be slain by me along with thee you. Even this is my opinion, O , that they who from childishness have worshipped thee you, as if thou you deservest deserve it, although thou you art unworthy of worship, being only a slave and a wretch and no king, deserve to be slain by me.' Having said this, that tiger among kings stood there roaring in anger. And after had ceased, addressing all the kings in the presence of the Pandavas, spoke these words in a soft voice.--'Ye you kings, this wicked-minded one, who is the son of a daughter of the Satwata race, is a great enemy of us of the Satwata race; and though we never seek to injure him, he ever seeketh seeks our evil. This wretch of cruel deeds, ye you kings, hearing that we had gone to the city of Pragjyotisha, came and burnt Dwaraka, although he is the son of my father's sister. While king Bhoja was sporting on the Raivataka hill, this one fell upon the attendants of that king and slew and led away many of them in chains to his own city. Sinful in all his purpose, this wretch, in order to obstruct the sacrifice of my father, stole the sacrificial horse of the horse-sacrifice that had been let loose under the guard of armed men. Prompted by sinful motives, this one ravished the reluctant wife of the innocent Vabhru (Akrura) on her way from Dwaraka to the country of the Sauviras. This injurer of his maternal uncle, disguising himself in the attire of the king of Karusha, ravished also the innocent Bhadra, the princess of Visala, the intended bride of king Karusha. I have patiently borne all these sorrows for the sake of my father's sister. It is, however, very fortunate that all this hath has occurred today in the presence of all the kings. Behold ye you all today the hostility this one beareth bears towards me. And know ye you also all that he hath has done me at my back. For the excess of that pride in which he hath has indulged in the presence of all these monarchs, he deserveth deserves to be slain by me. I am ill able to pardon today the injuries that he hath has done me. Desirous of speedy death, this fool had desired . But the fool obtained her not, like a Sudra failing to obtain the audition of the Vedas."
continued,--"Hearing these words of , all the assembled monarchs began to reprove the ruler of Chedi. But the powerful , having heard these words, laughed aloud and spoke thus,--'O , art thou you not ashamed in saying in this assembly, especially before all these kings that (thy your wife) had been coveted by me? O slayer of Madhu, who else is there than thee you, who regarding himself a man would say in the midst of respectable men that his wife had been intended for some body else? O , pardon me if thou you pleasest please, or pardon me not. But angry or friendly, what canst can thou you do unto to me?'
"And while was speaking thus, the exalted slayer of Madhu thought in his mind of the discus that humbleth humbles the pride of the Asuras. And as soon as the discus came into his hands, skilled in speech the illustrious one loudly uttered these words,--'Listen ye you lords of earth, why this one had hitherto been pardoned by me. As asked by his mother, a hundred offences (of his) were to be pardoned by me. Even this was the boon she had asked, and even this I granted her. That number, ye you kings, hath has become full. I shall now slay him in your presence, ye you monarchs.' Having said this, the chief of the Yadus, that slayer of all foes, in anger, instantly cut off the head of the ruler of Chedi by means of his discus. And the mighty-armed one fell down like a cliff struck with thunder. And, O monarch, the assembled kings then beheld a fierce energy, like unto to the sun in the sky, issue out of the body of the , and O king, that energy then adored , possessed of eyes like lotus leaves and worshipped by all the worlds, and entered his body. And all the kings beholding the energy which entered that mighty-armed chief of men regarded it as wonderful. And when had slain the , the sky, though cloudless, poured showers of rain, and blasting thunders were hurled, and the earth itself began to tremble. There were some among the kings who spoke not a word during those unspeakable moments but merely sat gazing at . And some there were that rubbed in rage their palms with their forefingers. And there were others who deprived of reason by rage bit their lips with their teeth. And some amongst the kings applauded him of the Vrishni race in private. And some there were that became excited with anger; while others became mediators. The great Rishis with pleased hearts praised and went away. And all the high-souled Brahmanas and the mighty kings that were there, beholding 's prowess, became glad at heart and praised him.
" then commanded his brothers to perform without delay the funeral rites of king , the brave son of Damaghosha, with proper respect. The sons of obeyed the behest of their brother. And then, with all the kings, installed the son of king in the sovereignty of the Chedis.
"Then that sacrifice, O monarch, of the king of the Kurus possessed of great energy, blessed with every kind of prosperity, became exceedingly handsome and pleasing unto to all young men. And commenced auspiciously, and all impediments removed, and furnished with abundance of wealth and corn, as also with plenty of rice and every kind of food, it was properly watched by . And in due time completed the great sacrifice. And the mighty-armed , the exalted , with his bow called Saranga and his discus and mace, guarded that sacrifice till its completion. And all the Kshatriya monarchs, having approached the virtuous who had bathed after the conclusion of the sacrifice, said these words: 'By good fortune thou you hast have come out successful. O virtuous one, thou you hast have obtained the imperial dignity. O thou you of the Ajamida race, by thee you hath has been spread the fame of thy your whole race. And, O king of kings, by this act of thine yours, thou you hast have also acquired great religious merit. We have been worshipped by thee you to the full extent of our desires. We now tell thee you that we are desirous of returning to our own kingdoms. It behoveth behooves thee you to grant us permission.'
"Hearing these words of the monarchs, king the just, worshipping each as he deserved, commanded his brothers, saying, 'These monarchs had all come to us at their own pleasure. These chastisers of foes are now desirous of returning to their own kingdoms, bidding me farewell. Blest be ye you, follow ye you these excellent kings to the confines of our own dominions.' Hearing these words of their brother, the virtuous Pandava princes followed the kings, one after another as each deserved. The powerful followed without loss of time king : and followed the illustrious and mighty charioteer ; and the mighty followed and : and , that master of battle, followed the brave and his son; and , O king, followed with his son; and the sons of with the son of followed those mighty warriors--the kings of the mountainous countries. And other bulls among Kshatriyas followed other Kshatriyas. And the Brahmanas by thousands also went away, duly worshipped.
"After all the Kings and the Brahmanas had gone away, the powerful addressing said,--'O son of the Kuru race, with thy your leave, I also desire to go to Dwaraka. By great good fortune, thou you hast have accomplished the foremost of sacrifices--Rajasuya!' Thus addressed by , replied, 'Owing to thy your grace, O . I have accomplished the great sacrifice. And it is owing to thy your grace that the whole Kshatriya world having accepted my sway, had come hither here with valuable tribute. O hero, without thee you, my heart never feeleth feels any delight. How can I, therefore, O hero, give thee you, O sinless one, leave to go? But thou you must have to go to the city of Dwaraka.' The virtuous of worldwide fame, thus addressed by , cheerfully went with his cousin to and said,--'O aunt, thy your sons have now obtained the imperial dignity. They have obtained vast wealth and been also crowned with success. Be pleased with all this. Commanded by thee you, O aunt, I desire to go to Dwaraka.' After this, bade farewell to and . Coming out then of the inner apartments accompanied by , he performed his ablutions and went through the daily rites of worship, and then made the Brahmanas utter benedictions. Then the mighty armed Daruka came there with a car of excellent design and body resembling the clouds. And beholding that -bannered car arrived thither there, the high-souled one, with eyes like lotus leaves, walked round it respectfully and ascending on it set out for Dwaravati. And king the just, blessed with prosperity, accompanied by his brothers, followed on foot the mighty . Then with eyes like lotus leaves, stopping that best of cars for a moment, addressing the son of , said,--'O king of kings, cherishest cherish thou you thy your subjects with ceaseless vigilance and patience. And as the clouds are unto to all creatures, as the large tree of spreading bough is unto to birds, as he of a thousand eyes is unto to the immortals, be thou you the refuge and support of thy your relatives. And and having thus talked unto to each other took each other's leave and returned to their respective homes. And, O king, after the chief of the Satwata race had gone to Dwaravati, king alone, with king 's son, ,--these bulls among men,--continued to live in that celestial assembly house.