xpiration of
the term.'

"Thus addressed by Sakra, that slayer of hostile heroes, Phalguna,
experienced great delight and ceased to think of the curse. And
Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, sported in regions of heaven with the
Gandharva Chitrasena of great celebrity.

"The desires of the man that listeneth to this history of the son of
Pandu never run after lustful ends. The foremost of men, by listening to
this account of the awfully pure conduct of Phalguna, the son of the
lord of the celestials, become void of pride and arrogance and wrath and
other faults, and ascending to heaven, sport there in bliss."

SECTION XLVII

Vaisampayana said, "One day, the great _Rishi_ Lomasa in course of his
wanderings, went to the abode of Indra, desirous of beholding the lord
of the celestials. And the great Muni, having approached the chief of
the gods, bowed to him respectfully. And he beheld the son of Pandu
occupying half of the seat of Vasava. And worshipped by the great
Rishis, that foremost of Brahmanas sat on an excellent seat at the
desire of Sakra. And beholding Arjuna seated on Indra's seat, the Rishi
began to think as to how Arjuna who was a Kshatriya had attained to the
seat of Sakra himself. What acts of merit had been performed by him and
what regions had been conquered by him (by ascetic merit), that he had
obtained a seat that was worshipped by the gods themselves? And as the
Rishi was employed with these thoughts, Sakra, the slayer of Vritra,
came to know of them. And having known them, the lord of Sachi addressed
Lomasa with a smile and said, 'Listen, O _Brahmarshi_, about what is now
passing in thy mind. This one is no mortal though he hath taken his
birth among men. O great Rishi, the mighty-armed hero is even my son
born of Kunti. He hath come hither, in order to acquire weapons for some
purpose. Alas! dost thou not recognise him as an ancient Rishi of the
highest merit? Listen to me, O Brahmana, as I tell thee who is and why
he hath come to me. Those ancient and excellent Rishis who were known by
the names of Nara and Narayana are, know, O Brahmana, none else than
Hrishikesa and Dhananjaya. And those Rishis, celebrated throughout the
three worlds, and known by the names of Nara and Narayana have, for the
accomplishment of a certain purpose, been born on earth--for the
acquisition of virtue. That sacred asylum which even gods and
illustrious Rishis are not competent to behold, and which is known
throughout t