nce more addressed me and uttering following words,
left the spot. Indeed, the Rishi Durvasa, blazing like a fire, said, "O
Kesava, let thy understanding be always disposed even thus towards the
Brahmana!" Verily after uttering these words, that Brahmana disappeared
there and then before my eyes. After his disappearance I took to the
observance of the vow of uttering certain Mantras silently without being
heard by anybody. Verily, from that day I resolved to accomplish whatever
behests I should receive from the Brahmanas. Having adopted this vow, O
son, along with thy mother, both of us, with hearts filled with joy
re-entered our palace. Entering our house I saw that everything which the
Rishi had broken or burnt had reappeared and become new. Beholding those
new articles, which had besides become more durable, I became filled with
wonder. Verily, O son of Rukmini, from that day forth I have always
worshipped the Brahmanas in my mind!' Even this, O chief of Bharata's
race, is what I said on that occasion regarding the greatness of those
Brahmanas who are the foremost of their order. Do thou also, O son of
Kunti, worship the highly blessed Brahmanas every day with gifts of
wealth and kine, O puissant one! It was in this way that I acquired the
prosperity I enjoy, the prosperity that is born of the grace of
Brahmanas. Whatever, again, Bhishma has said of me, O chief of the
Bharatas, is all true!"'"

SECTION CLX

"'Yudhishthira said, "It behoveth thee, O slayer of Madhu, to expound to
me that knowledge which thou hast acquired through the grace of Durvasa!
O foremost of all persons endued with intelligence, I desire to know
everything about the high blessedness and all the names of that
high-souled one truly and in detail!"[616]

"'Vasudeva said, "I shall recite to thee the good that I have acquired and
the fame that I have won through the grace of that high-souled one.
Verily, I shall discourse to thee on the topic, after having bowed unto
Kapardin. O king, listen to me as I recite to thee that Sata-rudriya
which I repeat with restrained senses, every morning after rising from
bed. The great lord of all creatures, viz., the Grandsire Brahman
himself, endued with wealth of penances, composed those Mantras, after
having observed especial penances for some time. O sire it is Sankara who
created all the creatures in the universe, mobile and immobile. There is
no being that is higher, O monarch, than Mahadeva. Verily, he