uspicion. I have now told ye everything
about the way in which the Vedas should be studied and taught. Ye should
act in this way towards your disciples, bearing these instructions in
your minds.'"'"

SECTION CCCXXIX

"'Bhishma said, "Hearing these words of their preceptor, Vyasa's disciples
endued with energy, became filled with joy and embraced one another.
Addressing one another, they said,--'That which has been said by our
illustrious preceptor in view of our future good, will live in our
remembrance and we shall certainly act according to it.'--Having said this
unto one another with joyful hearts, the disciples of Vyasa, who were
thorough masters of words, once more addressed their preceptor and
said,--'If it pleases thee, O puissant one, we wish to descend from this
mountain to the Earth, O great ascetic, for the purpose of subdividing
the Vedas!'--Hearing these words of his disciples, the puissant son of
Parasara replied unto them in these beneficial words that were fraught,
besides, with righteousness and profit,--You may repair to the Earth or
to the regions of the celestials, as ye like. You should always be
heedful, for the Vedas are such that they are always liable to be
misunderstood![1750]--Permitted by their preceptor of truthful speech,
the disciples left him after circumambulating him and bowing their heads
unto him. Descending upon the Earth they performed the Agnishtoma and
other sacrifices; and they began to officiate at the sacrifices of
Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas. Happily passing their days in the
domestic mode of life, they were treated by the Brahmanas with great
respect. Possessed of great fame and prosperity, they were employed in
teaching and officiating in sacrifices. After his disciples had gone
away, Vyasa remained in his asylum, with only his son in his company.
Passing his days in anxious thoughtfulness, the great Rishi, possessed of
wisdom, kept silent, sitting in a retired corner of the asylum. At that
time Narada of great ascetic merit came to that spot for seeing Vyasa,
and addressing him, said these words of melodious sound.

"'"Narada said, 'O regenerate Rishi of Vasishtha's race, why are Vedic
sounds silent now? Why art thou sitting silent and alone engaged in
meditation like one taken up with an engrossing thought? Alas, shorn of
Vedic echoes, this mountain hath lost its beauty, even as the Moon shorn
of splendour when assailed by Rahu or enveloped in dust.[1751] Th