In the meantime, seeing that the twelfth day of the lighted fortnight in the month of Magha had come, and marking also that the constellation was favourable, high Yudhirshthira the just summoned all his brothers, viz., Bhima and Nakula and Sahadeva. Gifted with great energy, the king, o you of Kuru's race, that foremost of all persons knowing duties, said these words in proper time, Indeed, that foremost of all speakers, addressing Bhima, the first of all smiters, said,
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु द्वादशी माघमासिकीम्। इष्टं गृहीत्वा नक्षत्रं धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः॥ समानाय महातेजाः सर्वान् भ्रातृन् महीपतिः। भीमं च नकुलं चैव सहदेवं च कौरव॥ प्रोवाचेदं वचः काले तदा धर्मभृतां वरः। आमत्र्य वदतां श्रेष्ठो भीमं प्रहरतां वरम्॥