THE Pandavas performed the til-and-water ceremonies for the peace of the souls of the dead warriors and camped on the bank of the Ganga for a month.

One day,Narada appeared beforeYudhish- thira. "Son, through Krishna's grace, the valour of Arjuna and the power of your dharma, you were victorious and you are sovereign Lord of the Land. Are you happy?" he asked.

Yudhishthira replied: "Bhagavan, it is true the kingdom has come into my posses- sion. But my kinsmen are all gone. We have lost sons that were dear. This victory appears to me but a great defeat.

O Narada, we took our own brother for an enemy and killed him, even Karna who stood rooted like a rock in his honour and at whose valour the world wondered.