"'Yudhishthira said, "What, indeed, is good for a man that is sunk in dire
distress, when loss of friends or loss of kingdom, O monarch has
occurred? In this world, O bull of Bharata's race, thou art the foremost
of our instructors. I ask thee this. It behoveth thee to tell me what I
ask."

"'Bhishma said, "For one that has been deprived of sons and wives and
pleasures of every kind and wealth, and that has been plunged into dire
distress, fortitude is of the highest good, O king! The body is never
emaciated of one that is always possessed of fortitude. Grieflessness
bears happiness within it, and also health that is a superior possession.
In consequence again of this health of body, once may again acquire
prosperity. That wise man, O sire, who adheres to a course of righteous
conduct (while afflicted by distress) succeeds in acquiring prosperity,
patience, and perseverance in the accomplishment of all his objects. In
this connection is once more cited the old narrative of the discourse
between Vali and Vasava, O Yudhishthira! After the battle between the
gods and the Asuras, in which a large number of Daityas and Danavas fell,
had come to an end, Vali became king. He was deceived by Vishnu who once
more established his sway over all the worlds. He of a hundred
sacrifices was once more invested with the sovereignty of the deities.
After the rule of the deities had thus been re-established, and the four
orders of men had been re-established in the practice of their respective
courses of duty, the three worlds once more swelled with prosperity, and
the Self-born became glad at heart. At that time, accompanied by the
Rudras, the Vasus, the Adityas, the Aswins, the celestial Rishis, the
Gandharvas, the Siddhas, and other superior orders of beings, the
puissant Sakra, seated in splendour on his four-tusked prince of
elephants, called Airavata, made a progress through all the worlds. One
day, while thus engaged, the wielder of the thunderbolt beheld
Virochana's son Vali within a certain mountain cave on the sea-shore.
Seeing the prince of Danavas, he approached him. Beholding the chief of
the deities, viz., Indra, thus seated on the back of Airavata and
surrounded by the several orders of the celestials, the prince of the
Daityas showed no signs of sorrow or agitation. Indra also, seeing Vali
staying unmoved and fearless, addressed him from the back of his foremost
of elephants, saying, 'How is it, O Daitya, that thou art s