thira said, "Tell me, O grandsire, whether this Janardana
(Krishna) is that illustrious and puissant Lord of whom Sanatkumara spoke
unto Vritra in days of old."

"'Bhishma said, "The Highest Deity, endued with the six attributes of
(puissance, etc.) is at the Root. Staying there, the Supreme Soul, with
his own energy, creates all these diverse existent things.[1385] Know
that this Kesava who knows no deterioration is from His eighth portion.
Endued with the highest Intelligence, it is this Kesava who creates the
three worlds with an eighth portion (of His energy). Coming immediately
after Him who lies at the Root, this Kesava who is eternal (compared with
all other existent things), changes at the end of each Kalpa. He,
however, who lies at the Root and who is endued with supreme might and
puissance, lies in the waters when universal destruction comes (in the
form of the potential Seed of all things). Kesava is that Creator of pure
Soul who courseth through all the eternal worlds.[1386] Infinite and
Eternal as He is, He fills all space (with emanations from Himself) and
courseth through the universe (in the form of everything that constitutes
the universe). Freed as He is from limitations of every kind such as the
possession of attributes would imply, he suffers himself to be invested
with Avidya and awakened to Consciousness, Kesava of Supreme Soul creates
all things. In Him rests this wondrous universe in its entirety."

"'Yudhishthira said, "O thou that art conversant with the highest object
of knowledge, I think that Vritra saw beforehand the excellent end that
awaited him. It is for this, O grandsire, that he was happy and did not
yield to grief (in view of his coming Death). He who is White of hue, who
has taken birth in a pure or stainless race, and who has attained to the
rank of a Sadhya, doth not, O sinless one, come back (into the world for
re-birth). Such a person, O grandsire, is freed from both hell and the
status of all intermediate creatures. He, however, who has attained to
either the Yellow or the Red hue, is seen sometimes to be overwhelmed by
Tamas and fall among the order of Intermediate creatures. As regards
ourselves, we are exceedingly afflicted and attached to objects that are
productive of sorrow or indifference or joy. Alas, what will the end be
to which we shall attain? Will it be the Blue or the Dark which is the
lowest of all hues?"

"'Bhishma continued, "Ye are Pandavas. Ye have been born