orant of
duties, and haughty, and of the sense of a child, and unforbearing. Do
thou, therefore, check him. Repairing again to the hermitage of the
pious sage Arshtishena, do thou reside there during the dark fortnight,
without fear or anxiety. O lord of men, deputed by me, all the
Gandharvas residing at Alaka, as also those dwelling in this mountain,
will, O mighty-armed one, protect thee, and these best of the Brahmanas.
And, O king, O chief among virtuous men, knowing that Vrikodara hath
come hither out of rashness, do thou check him. Henceforth, O monarch,
beings living in the forest will meet you, wait upon you and always
protect you all. And, ye foremost of men, my servants will always
procure for you various meats and drinks of delicious flavour. And, O
son, Yudhishthira, even as by reason of your being the progeny of
spiritual intercourse, Jishnu is entitled to the protection of Mahendra,
and Vrikodara, of the Wind-god, and thou, of Dharma, and the twins
possessed of strength, of the Aswins,--so ye all are entitled to my
protection. That one next by birth to Bhimasena, Phalguna, versed in the
science of profit and all mortal regulations, is well in heaven. And, O
child, those perfections that are recognised in the world as leading to
heaven, are established in Dhananjaya even from his very birth. And
self-restraint, and charity, and strength, and intelligence, and
modesty, and fortitude, and excellent energy--even all these are
established in that majestic one of magnificent soul. And, O Pandava,
Jishnu never committed any shameful act through poverty of spirit. And
in the world, none ever say that Partha hath uttered an untruth. And, O
Bharata, honoured by the gods, _pitris_, and the Gandharvas, that
enhancer of the glory of the Kurus is learning the science of weapons in
Sakra's abode. And, O Partha, in heaven he that with justice had brought
under his subjection all the rulers of the earth, even that exceedingly
powerful and highly energetic monarch, the grandsire of thy father,
Santanu himself, is well-pleased with the behaviour of that wielder of
the Gandiva--the foremost of his race. And, O king, abiding in Indra's
regions, he who on the banks of the Yamuna had worshipped the gods, the
_pitris_, and the Brahmanas, by celebrating seven grand horse
sacrifices, that great grandsire of thine, the emperor Santanu of severe
austerities, who hath attained heaven, hath enquired of thy welfare.'"

Vaisampayana said