houldst entertain is
about the loss of righteousness. Do thou, therefore, go on practising
righteousness.'

"'"The worm said, 'Through thy grace, O holy one, I have attained from
happy to happier positions! Having obtained such prosperity as has its
roots in righteousness, I think, my demerits have been lost.'"

"'Bhishma said, "The worm having, at the command of the holy Rishi,
attained to the status of a Brahmana that is so difficult to attain,
caused the earth to be marked with a thousand sacrificial stakes. That
foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma then obtained a residence
in the region of Brahman himself. Indeed, O son of Pritha, the worm
attained to the highest status, viz., that of eternal Brahma, as the
result of his own acts done in obedience to the counsels of Vyasa. Those
bulls among Kshatriyas, also, who have cast off their life-breaths (on
the field of Kurukshetra) exerting their energy the while, have all
attained to a meritorious end. Therefore O king, do not mourn on their
account."'"

SECTION CXX

"'Yudhishthira said, "Which amongst these three is superior, viz.,
knowledge, penances, and gifts? I ask thee, O foremost of righteous
persons! Do tell me this, O grandsire!"

"'Bhishma said, "In this connection is cited the old narrative of the
conversation between Maitreya and the Island-born Krishna. Once on a
time, the Island-born Krishna, O king, while wandering over the world in
disguise, proceeded to Baranasi and waited upon Maitreya who belonged by
birth to a race of Munis[531]. Seeing Vyasa arrive, that foremost of
Rishis, viz., Maitreya, gave him a seat and after worshipping him with
due rites, fed him with excellent food. Having eaten that good food which
was very wholesome and which produced every kind of gratification, the
high-souled Krishna became exceedingly delighted and as he sat there, he
even laughed aloud. Seeing Krishna laugh, Maitreya addressed him, saying,
'Tell me, O righteous-souled one, what the reason is of thy laughter!
Thou art an ascetic, endued with capacity to control thy emotions. Great
joy, it seems, has come over thee! Saluting thee, and worshipping thee
with bent head, I ask thee this, viz., what the puissance is of my
penances and what the high blessedness is that is thine! The acts I do
are different from those which thou doest. Thou art already emancipated
though still owning life-breaths. I, however, am not yet freed. For all
that I think that there