Thus was Yudhishthira lamenting in histent. Around him were sitting warriors, silent in sorrowful thought of the valour of theyouth- ful hero and his cruel death. It was always the custom with Vyasa to come and comfort the Pandavas, whenever they were in great sorrow.

He was their great teacher as well as grandsire. So he appeared now before Yudhishthira. The sage was received with all honour and Yudhishthira, having made him sit, said: "I have tried very hard to find peace of mind, but I am unable to find it."

"You are wise and a knower," said Vyasa, "and it is not meet that you should allow yourself to be lost in grief in this manner. Knowing the nature of death, it is not right that you should grieve like the unlearned."

Vyasa proceeded to console thebereaved Dharmaputra: "When Brahma createdliving beings, he was filled with anxiety. 'These lives will multiply and soon their numberwill be beyond the capacity of the earth to bear.