panied by Vibhishana, the brother
of Ravana, and Sugriva, mounts the celestial car, which was once
wrested by Ravana from his brother Kuvera, and sets out to proceed to
Ayodhya.

On the way the travellers descry the Sumeru mountain, the Malaya
mountain, the Dandaka forest, the mountain Prasravana, the Godaveri
river, mount Malyavan, Kundinipura in the Maharashtra country, the
shrine of Bhimeswara, the city of Kanchi, Ujayin, the temple of
Mahakala, Mahishmati the capital of Chedi, the Jumna and Ganga rivers,
Varanasi, Mithila or Tirhut, and Champa near Bhagalpur.

They then proceed westward to Prayaga, and Antarvedi or Doab, when they
again follow an easterly course and arrive at Ayodhya.

Bharata, Satrughna, Vasishtha the priest and the people of Ayodhya await
the arrival of the party and receive them most cordially. Rama is now
crowned king.

VENI SAMVARANA OR VENI SANHARA

OR

"THE BINDING OF THE BRAID OF HAIR."

Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, is dragged by the _veni_ or braid of
hair into the public assembly by the hand of Duhsasana, one of the
Kaurava princes, a disgrace that weighs most heavily upon the Pandavas,
who contemplate most bitter revenge.

Krishna returns to the Pandava camp from a visit to the Kaurava princes,
as a mediator between the contending chiefs. Ferocious Bhima expresses,
to his brother Sahadeva, his refusal to have any share in the
negotiations instituted by Krishna and his determination to make no
peace with the enemy until the insult offered to Draupadi is avenged. He
announces his resolution, in case the dispute be amicably adjusted, to
disclaim all connection with his own brothers, and throw off obedience
to Judhishthira.

The price of peace is the demand of five villages or towns,
Indraprastha, Tilaprastha, Mansadam, Varanavatam, and another. Sahadeva
attempts to calm the fury of Bhima, but in vain; and Draupadi, with her
hair still dishevelled, and pining over her ignominious treatment, comes
to inflame his resentment. She complains also of a recent affront
offered by Bhanumati, the queen of Duryodhana, in an injurious comment
upon her former exposure, which serves to widen the breach.

Krishna's embassy is unsuccessful, and he effects his return only by
employing his divine powers against the enemy. All the chiefs are
summoned by the trumpet to prepare for battle.

Before day-break, Bhanumati repeats, to her friend and an attendant, a
dream in which she has