Mahābhārata

M. N. Dutt: Mahadeva said You, O goddess, know what is Supreme and what is not so. You know all duties, O you who love to live in the retreats of ascetics. You are gifted with every virtue, possessed of beautiful eyebrows, and hair ending in the fairest earls, O daughter of Himavat, the king of mountains.

M. N. Dutt: You are skilled in every work. You are gifted with self-control and look impartially towards all creatures. Divested of the senses of mineness, you are devoted to the practice of all the duties. O you of beautiful features, I wish to ask you (about something). I wish that, asked by me, you will describe to me that subject.

M. N. Dutt: Savitri is the chaste wife of Brahman. The caste Shachi is the wife of Indra. Dhumorna is the wife of Markandeya, and Riddhi of (king) Vaishravana.

M. N. Dutt: Varuna has Gouri for his consort, and the Sun God has Suvarchala. Rohini is the chaste wife of Shashin, and Svaha of Vibhavasu.

M. N. Dutt: Kashyapa has Aditi. All these consider their husbands as their gods. You have, O goddess, conversed and associated with all of them every day.

M. N. Dutt: It is, therefore, O you knowing every duty, that I wish to question you about the duties of women, you whose words are always consistent with righteousness. I wish to hear you describe that subject from the beginning.

M. N. Dutt: You practice all the duties of virtue with me. Your conduct is exactly like mine, and the vows you observe are the same that are observed by me. Your power and energy are equal to mine, and you have practised the austerest penances.

M. N. Dutt: The subject, when described by you will become highly meritorious. Indeed, that subject will then become authoritative in the world.

M. N. Dutt: Women, in especial, are the highest refuge of women. O you of beautiful hips, among human beings the course of conduct laid down by you will be followed from generation to generation.

M. N. Dutt: Half of my body is made up of half your body. You are always engaged in doing the work of the celestials, and it is you are the cause of have peopling the Earth.

M. N. Dutt: O auspicious lady, you know all the eternal duties of women. Do you, therefore, tell me in full what the duties are of your sex.

M. N. Dutt: Uma said O holy one, O lord of all created things o source of all that is past, present, and future, it is through your favour that the words I am uttering are originating in my inind.

M. N. Dutt: All these Rivers (that are of my sex), O god of gods, having the waters of all the Tirthas, are approaching your presence for enabling you to perform your ablutions in them.

M. N. Dutt: After consulting them I shall describe the subject in duc order. That person who, though capable, is still free from egotism, is rightly called a Purusha.

M. N. Dutt: As for women, O lord of all beings, she follows persons of her sex. By consulting these foremost of Rivers, they will be honoured by me.

M. N. Dutt: The sacred Sarasvati is the foremost river of all rivers. She goes towards the ocean and is truly the first of all rivers.

M. N. Dutt: Vipasha, also, is here, here, and Vitasta, Chandrabhaga, Iravati, Shatadru, the river Devika, Kaushiki, and Gomati, and this celestial River who has in her all the sacred Tirthas, viz., the goddess Ganga, who having originated from the celestial region has descended on the Earth and is considered as the foremost of all rivers! Having said this, the wife of that god of gods, that foremost of all pious persons, smilingly addressed all those Rivers of her sex.

M. N. Dutt: Indeed, the wife of the great god, devoted to the performance of all duties, questioned those individuals of her sex about the duties of women. Indeed, those foremost of rivers, having Ganga for their first all know the duties of women.

M. N. Dutt: Uma said The illustrious god has asked a question about the duties of women. I wish to answer Shankara after having consulted with you.

M. N. Dutt: I do not find any branch of knowledge on Earth or Heaven that is capable of being mastered by any individual without your hcip. You rivers that run towards the ocean, it is, therefore, that I seek your opinions.

M. N. Dutt: It was in this way that those foremost of Rivers, all of whom were auspicious and highly sacred, were accosted by Shiva's wife. Then the celestial River Ganga, who adored the daughter of the king of mountains in return, was selected for answering the question,

M. N. Dutt: Indeed, she of sweet smiles is held as swelling with various kinds of understanding and well conversant with the duties of women. The sacred goddess capable of removing all fear of sin, gifted with humility in consequence of her intelligence, well acquainted with all duties, and endued with an exceedingly comprehensive intelligence sweetly smiling, uttered these words :

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

M. N. Dutt: O goddess, you are always given to the due performance of all duties. You have favored me highly by thus questioning me. O sinless one, you are honoured by the entire universe. yet you ask me that am but a River.

M. N. Dutt: That person who, though himself competent yet asks another, or who pays a graceful tribute to another certainly deserves, I think, to be considered as righteoussouled. Indeed, such a person deserves to be called learned and wise.

M. N. Dutt: That person never falls into disgrace who asks such speakers as are gifted with knowledge and science and as are well conversant with premises and inferences.

M. N. Dutt: A proud man, even when gifted with intelligence, by speaking in the midst of an assembly otherwise, finds himself uttering only words of weak meaning.

M. N. Dutt: You are gifted with spiritual insight. You are the foremost of all the celestials. You have taken your rise accompanied by various kinds of excellent merit. You, O goddess are fully competent to describe the duties of women.

M. N. Dutt: In this way, the goddess Uma was adored by Ganga and honoured with the ascription of many high merits. The beautiful goddess, thus praised, then began to discourse upon all the duties of women in full.

M. N. Dutt: Uma said I shall, according to the ordinance, describe the subject of women's duties as far as they are known to me. Do you all listen with rapt attention.

M. N. Dutt: The duties of women begin when created by kinsmen in the rites of wedding. Indeed, woman becomes, in the presence of the nuptial fire, the companion of her husband in the performance of all righteous acts.

M. N. Dutt: Gifted with a good disposition, endued with sweet speech, sweet conduct, and sweet features, and always loO king at the face of her husband and deriving as much joy from it as she does from loO king at the face of her child, that chaste woman who regulates her deeds by observing the prescribed restraints, comes to be considered as truly righteous in her conduct. Listening to the duties of inarried life, and perforining all those sacred duties, that woman who considers virtue as the foremost of all objects of pursuit, who observes the same vows as those which are observed by her husband, who, adorned with chastity, looks upon her husband as a god, who waits upon and serves him as if he is a god, who surrenders her own will completely to that of her husband's, who is chcerful, who observes excellent vows, who is gifted with good features, and whose heart is completely devoted to her husband insomuch that she never thinks even of any other man, is considered as truly righteous in conduct. That wife who, even when addressed harshly and looked upon with angry eyes by her husband, appears cheerful to him, is said to be truly devoted to her husband. She who does not cast her eyes upon the Moon or the Sun or a tree that has a masculine name, who is worshipped by her husband and who is gifted with beautiful features, is considered as truly righteous. That woman who, treats her husband with the affection which one shows towards her child, even when he happens to be poor or diseased or weak or worn out with the toil of travelling, is considered as truly righteous in her conduct.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

M. N. Dutt: That woman who is gifted with self-control, who has given birth to children, who serves her husband with devotion, and whose whole heart is devoted to him, is considered as truly righteous in her conduct. That woman who waits upon and serves her husband with a cheerful heart, who is always cheerful of heart, and who is gifted with humility, is considered as truly righteous in her conduct. That woman who always supports his kinsmen and relatives by giving them food, and whose desire for gratifying her wishes or for articles of enjoyment, or for riches or for happiness, falls short of her devotion to her husband, is considered as truly righteous in her conduct.

M. N. Dutt: That woman who always takes a pleasure in rising early in the morning, who is devoted to the satisfaction of all household duties, who always keeps her house clean, who rubs her house daily with cowdung, who always attends to the domestic fire, who never neglects to make offerings of flowers and other articles to the celestials, who with her husband satisfies the deities and guests and all servants and dependants of the family with that share of food which is theirs by the ordinance, and who always takes, according to the ordinance, for herself, what food remains in the house after the needs of gods and guests and servants, have been satisfied, and who pleases all people who come in contact with her family and feeds them to their fill, succeeds in acquiring great merit.

M. N. Dutt: That woman who is gifted with accomplishments, who salutes the feet of her father-in-law and mother-in-law, and who is always devoted to his father and mother, is considered as possessed of ascetic merit.

M. N. Dutt: That woman who supports with food Brahmanas who are weak and helpless, who are distressed or blind or destitute, comes to be considered as entitled to share the merits of her husband.

M. N. Dutt: That woman who always observes, with a light heart, vows which are difficult of observance, whose heart is devoted to her husband, and who always seeks the behoof of her husband, is considered as entitled to share the merits of her husband.

M. N. Dutt: Devotion to her husband is woman's merit; it is her penance; it is her eternal Heaven. Merit, penances and Heaven become hers who considers her husband as her all in all, and who gifted with chastity, seeks to devote herself to her husband in all things.

M. N. Dutt: The husband is the god which women have. The husband is their friend. The husband is their great refuge. Women have no refuge that can compare with their husband, and no god that can compare with him.

M. N. Dutt: A woman considers husband's grace and Heaven as equal; or, if unequal the inequality is very trivial. O Maheshvara 1 do not wish Heaven itself if you are not satisfied with me.

M. N. Dutt: If the husband that is poor, or diseased or distressed, or fallen among enemies, or afflicted by a Brahmana's curse, were to command the wife to accomplish anything that is improper or unrighteous or that may bring on the destruction of life itself, the wife should, without any hesitation, accomplish it, guided by the code whose propriety is sanctioned by the Law of Distress.

M. N. Dutt: I have thus, O god, explained at your command, what the duties of women are. Indeed, that woman who acts thus, becomes entitled to a share of the merits acquired by her husband.

M. N. Dutt: Narada said Thus addressed, the great god highly spoke of the daughter of the king of mountains and then dismissed all persons who had assembled there, together with all his own attendants.

M. N. Dutt: The various tribes of ghostly beings, as also all the embodied Rivers, and the Gandharvas and Apsaras, all bowed their heads to Mahadeva and departed for returning to the places whence they had come. The various tribes of ghostly beings, as also all the embodied Rivers, and the Gandharvas and Apsaras, all bowed their heads to Mahadeva and departed for returning to the places whence they had come.

M. N. Dutt: The Rishis said (O holder of Pinaka, O tearer of the eyes of Bhaga, O you adored of the entire universe, we wish to hear the glory of Vasudeva.

M. N. Dutt: Maheshvara said Hari is superior to the Grandfather himself. He is the Eternal Purusha. Otherwise called Krishna, He is cndued with the splendour of gold and gifted with solar effulgence.

M. N. Dutt: Having ten arins, He is gifted with great energy, and is the Destroyer of the enemies of the celestials. He has a whirl on His breast, and curly locks of hair on His head. He is adored of all the celestials.

M. N. Dutt: Brahman has sprung from his abdomen. I have originated from his head. All the luminaries in the sky have originated from his hair. From the bristles on his body have originated all the gods and demons.

M. N. Dutt: From his body have originated the Rishis as also all the eternal worlds. He is the abode of the Grandfather and of all the gods.

M. N. Dutt: He is the Creator of this Earth, and He is the Lord of the three worlds. He is also the Destroyer of all creatures mobile and immobile.

M. N. Dutt: He is, indeed, the Foremost of all the celestials. He is their Master. He is the Chastiser of all enemies. He is gifted with Omniscience. He exists in everything. He is capable of going everywhere. He permeates everything.

M. N. Dutt: He is the Supreme Soul, He is the Worker of all the senses. He covers the universe. He is the Supreme Lord. There is nothing in the three worlds which is superior to Him.

M. N. Dutt: He is Eternal. He is the destroyer of Madhu, and is otherwise called Govinda. The Giver of honors, He will cause all the kings of Earth to be killed in battle, for securing the purposes of the celestials, taking birth in a human form. The celestials, abandoned by Him, are unable to do their work on Earth Without Hiin as their Icader they cannot do anything. He is the leader of all creatures and is worshipped by all the gods.

M. N. Dutt: Within the abdomen of this Master of the gods Who always docs celestial work, of this one who is at one with Brahman, and Who is always the refuge of the twicehorn Rishis, lives Brahman. Indeed, the latter lives happily in Hari's body which is his abode. I myself, that am called Sharva, also live happily in that happy abode of mine.

M. N. Dutt: All the celestials, too, live happily in His body. Gitted with great effulgence, He has cyes which resemble lotus petals The goddess (if prosperity lives within Him and He lives always in his company.

M. N. Dutt: The bow called Sharanga and the discus (called Sudarshana) are his weapons, as well as i sword. He has the emblem of the enemy of all the snakes his standard. He is distinguished by excellent conduct, by purity, by self-control, by prowess, by energy, by the most beautiful form, by tallness and well proportioned limbs, by patience, by sincerity, by riches, by mercy, by the beauty of form, and by power. He shines, having all celestial weapons of wonderful form and make.

M. N. Dutt: He has Yoga for his illusion. He has a thousand eyes. He is free from every stain or fault. He is highminded. He is gifted with on heroism. He is an object of pride with all his friends. He is dear to all his kinsmen and relatives and they are dear to him.

M. N. Dutt: He is gifted with forgiveness. He is free from prive or egotism. He is devoted to the Brahmanas and is their leader. He removes the fears of all persons stricken with fear. He increases the joys of all his friends.

M. N. Dutt: He is the refuge of all crcatures. He is ever engaged in protecting and cherishing the distressed. Having mastery over all the scriptures and every kind of affluence, He is adored by all beings.

M. N. Dutt: Knowing all duties, He is a great benefactor of even even enemies when they scek His protection. Conversant with policy and endued with policy. He is an utterer of Brahma and has all His senses under perfect restraint.

M. N. Dutt: For doing good to the celestials, Govinda will take birth in the family of ..ie great Manu. Indeed, gifted with great intelligence. He will take birth in the auspicious and righteous family of that Prajapati. Manu will have a soni mained Anga. After Anga will come Antardhaman.

M. N. Dutt: From Antardhaman will Havirdhaman, that lord of all creatures, free from every stain. Havirdhaman will beget an illustrious son named Prachinavarhi. come

M. N. Dutt: He will have ten sons having Prachetas for their first. Prachetas will have a son named Daksha who will be regarded as a Prajapati. Daksha will begeta daughter named Dakshayani.

M. N. Dutt: From Dakshayani will spring Aditya. and from Aditya will spring Manu. Manu will beget a daughter named Ila and a son named Sudyumna.

M. N. Dutt: Ila will have Budha for her Husband, and from Budha will spring Pururavas. From Pururavas will spring Ayu. From Ayu will spring Nahusha, and Nahusha will beget a son named Yayati.

M. N. Dutt: From Yayati will spring a powerful son named Yadu. Yadu will beget Kroshtri. Kroshtri will beget a powerful son named Vrijinivat.

M. N. Dutt: Vrijinivat will beget beget the invincible Ushadgu. Ushadgu will beget a son named Chitraratha.

M. N. Dutt: Chitraratha will have a younger son of the name of Shura. Indeed, in the family of these powerful men of energy known all over the world, gifted with excellent conduct and pure in son various accomplishments, given to the performance of sacrifices and pure behaviour, in the pure family honoured by the Brahmanas, Shura will take his birth. He will be a foremost Kshatriya, gifted with great energy, and possessed of great fame.

M. N. Dutt: Shura, that giver of honors, will beget a son, the perpetuator of his family, of the name of Vasudeva, otherwise called Anakadundhubhi.

M. N. Dutt: Vasudeva will have a of name Vasudeva. He will have four hands. He will be greatly liberal, and will honour the Brahmanas greatly. Identical with Brahman, he will love and like the Brahmanas, and the Brahmanas will love and like him.

M. N. Dutt: That scion of Yadu's race will liberate many kings confined in the prison of the king of the Magadhas (Jarasandha) after defeating him in his capital buried among mountains.

M. N. Dutt: Gifted with great energy, he will be rich with the jewels and gems of all rulers of the Earth. Indeed, in energy he will be peerless on Earth.

M. N. Dutt: Possessed of great prowess, he will be the king of all kings of the Earth. Foremost among all thc Surasenas, the powerful one, living at Dwaraka, will rule and protect the entire Earth after defeating all her kings conversant as he will be with the science of policy. Assembling together do you all worship Him, as you adore the Eternal Brahman, with speech, flowers, and excellent incense and perfumes. He who wishes to see me or the Grandfather Brahman should first see the illustrious Vasudeva of great power. If he is seen I am seen, as also the Grandfather Brahman, that foremost of all the celestials.

M. N. Dutt: I do not find any difference in this. Know this, O Rishis having asceticism for wealth. That person with whom the lotus-eyed Vasudeva becomes pleased, is liked by all the deities with Brahman amongst them. That man who will seek the protection of Keshava will succeed in acquiring great achievements and victory and Heaven. He will be an instructor in religion and duties, and will acquire great religious merit.

M. N. Dutt: All persons knowing religion and duties should, with great readiness, bow down to that Lords of all the gods. By adoring that powerful one, one will acquire great merit.

M. N. Dutt: Gifted with great energy, that god with the desire of benefiting all creatures, created millions of Rishis for the sake of virtue.

M. N. Dutt: Those millions of Rishis, thus created by that great Ordainer are now living on the mountains of Gandhamadana, headed by Sanatkumara and engaged in the performance of penances.

M. N. Dutt: Hence, you foremost of twice born ones, that foremost of all eloquent persons, viz., the righteous Vasudeva, should be worshipped by all. The illustrious Hari, the powerfu! Narayana, is, indeed, the foremost of all beings in Heaven.

M. N. Dutt: Adored, he adores, and honoured, he honors; to them who make offerings to him, he makes offerings in return. Worshipped, he worships in return.

M. N. Dutt: If seen always, he sees the seers always. If one seeks His refuge and protection, He seeks the seeker as His refuge in return. O foremost of all righteous ones, if adored and worshipped, He adores and worships in return.

M. N. Dutt: This is the practice of the faultless Vishnu. This is the vow that is practised by all righteous people, of that first of all deities, that powerful Lord of all creatures.

M. N. Dutt: He is always adored in the world. That Eternal Being is adored by even the celestials. Those persons who are devoted to Him with the steadiness of a vow become freed from calamity and fear proportionate to his devotion.

M. N. Dutt: The regenerate ones should always adore Him in thought, word, and deed. The son of Devaki should be seen by them with respect and in order to see Him with respect they should undertake the performance of penances.

M. N. Dutt: O foremost of ascetics, this is the path that I show to you. By seeing Him, you will have scon all the foremost of celestials.

M. N. Dutt: I, too, vow my head in respect to that Lord of the universe, that Grandfather of all the worlds, that powerful and huge boar.

M. N. Dutt: By seeing Him one sees ihe Trinity. Ourselves, viz., all the celestials, live in Him.

M. N. Dutt: He will have an elder brother who will be known over all the world by the name of Bala. having a plough for his weapon in form hie will look like a white hill. In fact, he will be gifted with strength capable of uplifting the entire Earth.

M. N. Dutt: Upon the car of that divine person a tall palmyra, three-headed and made of gold, will be his standard.

M. N. Dutt: The head of that mighty-armed hero, that Lord of all the worlds. will be covered with many huge snakes. All weapons of attack and defence will also come to hiin as soon as he will think of them.

M. N. Dutt: He is called Ananta (Infinite). That Illustrious One is at one with the immutabic Hari. Once on a time, the celestials thus spoke to the mighty Garuda, the son of Kashyapa:-Do you, O powerful one, sce if this one has any end. Though giſted with great cnergy and power, Garuda, however, could not find out the end of this Illustrious One who is at one with the Supreme Soul.

M. N. Dutt: pporting the entire Earth on His head, He lives in the nether regions. He roves through the universe as Shesha, filled with great joy.

M. N. Dutt: He is Vishnu, He is the illustrious Ananta. He is the supporter of the Earth. He who is Rama is Hrishikesha. He who is Achyuta is Ananta the bearer of the Earth.

M. N. Dutt: Both of those foremost of all creatures are celestial and gifted with divine prows. One of them is armed with the discus and the other with the plough. They deserve every honour and should be seen.

M. N. Dutt: I have, through my kindness for you, have thus described to you the nature of Vasudeva. This you ascetics having penances for wealth. is Virtue. I have described all this to you so that you may, with respect and care, adore Krishna, that Foremost One of Yadu's race.

M. N. Dutt: Narada said At the conclusion of Mahadeva's speech, loud roars were heard in the sky. Thunders bellowed, with flashes of lightning. The sky was covered with blue and thick clouds.

M. N. Dutt: The god of the clouds then poured pure water like to what he does in the season of rains. A thick darkness appeared. The cardinal points could no longer be made out.

M. N. Dutt: Then on that charming, sacred and eternal breast of that celestial, celestial, mountain, the assembled Rishis no longer saw the ghostly beings who associate with Mahadeva.

M. N. Dutt: Soon, however, the sky cleared. Some of the Rishis started for the sacred waters, Others returned whence they came.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing that wonderful and inconceivable spectacle, they become filled with surprise. They had heard the discourse, too, between Shankara and Uma with the same feelings.

M. N. Dutt: Tliat Foremost of all Beings, of whom the great Shankara spoke to us on that mountain, are You. You are at one with Eternal Brahma.

M. N. Dutt: Sometime before, Mahadeva burnt Himavat with his energy. You have shown us a similar wonderful spectacle. Indeed, we remember that by what we have seen today.

M. N. Dutt: O Mighty-armed Janardana, I have thus, O Powerful One, recited to You the glory of that God of gods, viz., Him that is called Kapardin or Girisha.

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Thus addressed by those hermits' Krishna, the delighter of Devaki, paid due honors to all those Rishis.

M. N. Dutt: Filled with joy, those Rishis once more addressed Krishna, saying, O Destroyer of Madhu, do you repeatedly show yourself to us at all times.

M. N. Dutt: 0 Powerful One, Heaven itself cannot rejoice us so much as a sight of Yourself. Everything that was said by the illustrious Bhava is true.

M. N. Dutt: O Crusher of enemies, we have told you all about that mystery. You are yourself acquainted with the truth of every subject. Since, however, asked by us; You were kind enough to ask us in return, we have, therefore, recited everything to You for only pleasing You. There is nothing in the three worlds that You do not know.

M. N. Dutt: You are fully acquainted with the birth and origin of all things, indeed, with everything that works as a cause. On account of the lightness of our character, we cannot keep close any mystery.

M. N. Dutt: Indeed, in Your presence, O Powerful One, we indulge in incoherencies from the lightness of our hearts. There is no wonderful thing which You do not know.

M. N. Dutt: You know whatever is on Earth, and whatever is in the celestial region. We take our leave of You, O Krishna, for returning to our respective quarters. May You increase in intelligence and prosperity.

M. N. Dutt: O Sire, You will soon get a son after you or even more distinguished than Yourself. He will be gifted with great energy and splendour. He will achieve great feats, and become possessed of power as great as Yours.

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said After this, the great Rishis bowed to that God of gods, that scion of Yadu's race, that Foremost of all Beings. They then went round Him and taking His leave, departed.

M. N. Dutt: As regards Narayana, who is gifted with prosperity and blazing effulgence, He returned to Dwaraka after having duly observed that vow of His.

M. N. Dutt: His wife Rukmini conceived, and on the expiration of the tenth month a son was born of her, gifted with heroism and honoured by all for his highly wonderful accomplishments.

M. N. Dutt: He is at one with that Kama (Desire) which exists in every creature and which pervades every condition. Indeed, he moves within the hearts of both gods and demons.

M. N. Dutt: This Krishna is that foremost of all persons. He gifted with the complexion of the clouds is that four-handed Vasudeva. Through affection He has taken up the cause of the Pandavas, and you also, you sons of Pandu, have attached yourselves to Him.

M. N. Dutt: Achievements, Prosperity, Intelligence, and the Path that leads to the celestial region, are all there where this One, viz., the Illustrious Vishnu of three steps, is.

M. N. Dutt: He is the thirty-three gods headed by Indra. There is no doubt in this. He is the one Ancient God. He is the Foremost of all gods. He is the refuge of all creatures.

M. N. Dutt: He is without beginning and without destruction. He is unmanifest. He is the great Destroyer of Madhu. Gifted with mighty energy, He has taken birth (among men) for doing the purposes of the gods.

M. N. Dutt: This Madhava is the expounder of the most difficult truths about Profit or Wealth, and He is also their achiever. O son of Pritha, the victory you have got over your enemies, your peerless achievements, the dominion you have acquired over the whole Earth, are all owing to having Narayana espoused your cause.

M. N. Dutt: The fact of your having got the inconceivable Narayana for your protector and refuge, enabled you to become an Adhvaryu (chief sacrificer) for pouring multitudes of kings as libations on the burning fire of battle. This Krishna was your great sacrificial ladle resembling the all-destroying fire which appears at the end of the cycle.

M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana, with his sons, brothers and kinsmen, was much to be pitied inasmuch as, moved by anger, he made war with Hari and the wielder of Gandiva.

M. N. Dutt: Many sons of Diti, many foremost of Danavas, of huge bodies and vast strength, have died in the fire of Krishna's discus like insects in a forest fire.

M. N. Dutt: How incapable then must human beings be of fighting against that Krishna, human beings who, O foremost of men, are shorn of strength and power.

M. N. Dutt: As regards Jaya, he is a powerful Yogin resembling the all-destroying cyclefire in energy. Capable of drawing the bow equally with both hands, he is always in the van of fight. With his energy, O king, he has killed all the soldiers of Suyodhana.

M. N. Dutt: Listen to me as I tell you what Mahadeva having the bovine bull for the emblem on his standard had recited to the ascetics on the breast of Himavat. His utterances form a Purana.

M. N. Dutt: The advancement or greatness, energy, strength, prowess, power, humility, and family that are in Arjuna can form only a third part of the attributes of Krishna.

M. N. Dutt: Who is there who can transcend Krishna in these attributes? Whether that is possible or not, listen. Peerless Excellence prevails where the illustrious Krishna is.

M. N. Dutt: As for ourselves we are persons of little understanding. Dependent upon the will of others, we are highly unfortunate. Knowingly we betook ourselves to the eternal path of death.

M. N. Dutt: You, however, are devoted to sincerity of conduct. Having formerly promised not to take your kingdom, you did not take it, desirous of keeping your promise.

M. N. Dutt: 0 king, you make too much of the destruction of your kinsmen and friends in battle. You should remember, however, O chastiser of enemies, that it is not fair to break a promise.

M. N. Dutt: All those who have fallen on the field of battlc have really been killed by Time. Indeed, all of us have been killed by Time. Time is indeed, all powerful.

M. N. Dutt: You are fully acquainted with the power of Time. Afflicted by time you should not grieve. Know that Krishna Himself otherwise called Hari, is that Time with bloodred eyes and with club in hand.

M. N. Dutt: For these reasons, O son of Kunti, you should not grieve for your (slain) kinsfolk. Be always free, O delighter of the Kurus, from grief.

M. N. Dutt: You have heard me sing the glory and greatness of Madhava. That is sufficient for making a good man understand Him.

M. N. Dutt: Having heard the words of Vyasa, as also of the highly intelligent Narada, I have described to you the adorableness of Krishna. I have myself added, from my own knowledge, something to that account.

M. N. Dutt: Indeed, I have described also on the Surpassing Power of Krishna as recited by Mahadeva, to that assembly of Rishis. I have also described to you the discourse too between Maheshvara and the daughter of Himavat, O Bharata.

M. N. Dutt: He who will remember that discourse when coming out from a foremost person, he who will listen to it, and he who will recite it, is sure to acquire what is highly beneficial.

M. N. Dutt: That man will find all his wishes fulfilled, Departing from this world he will ascend to the celestial region. There is no doubt in this.

M. N. Dutt: That man who wishes to obtain what is beneficial for himself, should devote himself to Janardana.

M. N. Dutt: O king of the Kurus, you should also remember those incidents of duty and virtue which were declared by Maheshvara.

M. N. Dutt: If you act according to those precepts, if you carry the rod of punishment rightly, if you protect your subjects properly, you may be sure of attaining to the celestial.

M. N. Dutt: You should, O king, protect your subjects always according to the dictates of virtue. The strong rod of punishment which the kings bear has been said to be the embodiment of his virtue or merit.

M. N. Dutt: Hearing this discourse, fraught with righteousness, between Shankara and Uma, that I have recited before this pious assemblage, one should adore with respect that god having the bull for the device on his banner.

M. N. Dutt: One who becomes even becomes even desirous of listening to that discourse, should adore Mahadeva with respect. Indeed, the person who wishes to obtain what is beneficial for him, should worship Mahadeva with a pure hcart.

M. N. Dutt: This is the behest of the sinless and highsouled Narada. He has commanded such adoration of the great god. O son of Pandu, do you obey that command of Narada.

M. N. Dutt: O powerful king, these are the wonderful incidents which took place on the sacred breast of Himavat about Vasudeva and Sthani, son of Kunti. Those events emanated from the very nature of those great deities.

M. N. Dutt: Accompanied by the holder of Gandiva, Vasudeva practised eternal penances in the hermitage of Badari for ten thousand years.

M. N. Dutt: Indeed, Vasudeva and Dhananjaya, having like lotus petals, practised severe austerities for three entire cycles. I have learnt this from Narada and Vyasa, O king.

M. N. Dutt: The lotus-eyed and mighty-armed Vasudeva, while yet a child performed the great feat of killing Kansa for the relief of his kinsmen. eyes like

M. N. Dutt: I dare not, O son of Kunti, enumerate the feats of this Ancient and Eternal Being, O Yudhishthira.

M. N. Dutt: O son, Forsooth, high and great benefits will be reaped by you who have that foremost of all persons, viz., Vasudeva, for your friend.

M. N. Dutt: I gricve for the wicked Duryodhana about even the next world to which he has gone. It was for him that the entire Earth has been depopulated with her horses and elephants.

M. N. Dutt: Indeed, through the fault of Duryodhana, of Karna, of Shakuni, and of Dushasana as the fourthi, that the Kurus have died.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said While that foremost of men, viz., the son of Ganga, spoke to him thus, the Kuru king (Yudhishthira) remained entirely silent in the midst of those great persons.

M. N. Dutt: All the kings with Dhritarashtra amongst thein become stricken with wonder upon hearing the words of the Kuru grandfather. In their minds they adored Krishna and then turned towards him with hands clasped in respect.

M. N. Dutt: The Rishis also headed by Narada, accepted and highly spoke of the words of Bhishma and approved of them joyfully.

M. N. Dutt: These were the wonderful subjects recited by Bhishma which Yudhishthira with all his brothers heard with joy.

M. N. Dutt: Sometime after, when king Yudhishthira saw that Bhishma who had given away profuse riches as presents to the Brahmanas in the sacrifices celebrated by him, had rested and become refreshed, the intelligent king once inore asked him as follows.