After saluting and bowing to Bhishma and other elders and bidding adieu to Dhritarashtra and other best of the Kurus, receiving their permission and performing all auspicious rites, the king (Pandu) set out on his great campaign blessed by all around and accompanied by a great army of elephants, horses and cars. That celestial like king was desirous of conquering the whole earth.
स भीष्मप्रमुखान् वृद्धानभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च। धृतराष्ट्रं च कौरव्यं तथान्यान् कुरुसत्तमान्। आमन्त्र्य प्रययौ राजा तैश्चैवाप्यनुमोदितः॥ मङ्गलाचारयुक्ताभिराशीभिरभिनन्दितः। गजवाजिरथौघेन बलेन महतागमत्॥ स राजा देवगर्भाभो विजिगीषुर्वसुंधराम्। हृष्टपुष्टबलैः प्रायात् पाण्डुः शत्रूननेकशः॥