139.1   Citizens talk of Yudhistra as next king

Then the citizens, beholding the son of Pandu possessed of accomplishments, began to speak of them in all places of public resort. And assembled in courtyards and other places of gathering, they talked of the eldest son of Pandu Yudhishthira as possessed of the qualifications for ruling the kingdom. And they said, 'Dhritarashtra, though possessed of the eye of knowledge, having been born blind, had not obtained the kingdom before. How can he therefore become king now? Then Bhishma, the son of Santanu, of rigid vows and devoted to truth, having formerly relinquished the sovereignty would never accept it now. We shall, therefore, now install on the throne with proper ceremonies the eldest of the Pandavas endowed with youth, accomplished in battle, versed in the Vedas, and truthful and kind. Worshipping Bhishma, the son of Santanu and Dhritarashtra conversant with the rules of morality, he will certainly maintain the former and the latter with his children in every kind of enjoyment.