Yudhishthira said 'Wonderful it is, o you of immeasurable prowess, that you are rapt in meditation. O great refuge of the universe, is it all well with the three worlds?

When you have, O god, withdrawn yourself from the world, having, O foremost of men, adopted the fourth state (of perfect unconsciousness of the world) my mind has been filled with wonder.

The five vital airs which act within the body have been controlled by you. You have controlled your senses within your mind.

Both words and mind, O Govinda, have been concentered within your understanding. All your senses, have been withdrawn into your self.

The hair on your body stands erect. Your mind and understanding are both calm. You are as immobile now, O Madhava, as an wooden post or a stone?

O illustrious god, you are as calm as the flame of a lamp burning in a place where there is no wind. You are as immobile as a rock.

If I am fit to hear the cause, and if it is no secret, remove, O god, my doubt, for I beg this। favour from you.

You are the Creator and you are the Destroyer. You are destructible and you indestructible. You are without beginning and you are without end. You are the first and the foremost of beings.

O foremost of pious men, tell me the cause of this abstraction. I solicit your favour, and am your devoted worshipper, and am bending my head to you.

Thus accosted the illustrious younger brother of Vasava, reinstating his mind, understanding and the senses in their proper places, said these words similingly.

Vasudeva said 'That foremost men, viz., Bhishma, who is now lying on a bed of arrows, and who is now like a fire that is about to be extinguished, is thinking of me. It is therefore my mind also was concentrated on him.

My mind was fixed in him the twang of whose bow and the sound of whose palms Indra himself was unable to bear.

I was thinking of him who having defeated in a moment all the assembled kings, carried the three princesses of Kashi for the marriage of his brother Vichitravirya.

I was thinking of him who fought continually for twenty-three days with Rama himself of Bhrigu's race and whom Rama could not defeat.

Controlling all his senses and concentrating his mind by the aid of his understanding, he sought my refuge. It was for this that I had fixed my mind upon him.

I was thinking of him whom Ganga conceived and gave birth to, according to ordinary human laws and whom Vasishtha took as a pupil.

I was thinking of that powerful hero of great intelligence who is a master of all the celestial weapons as also of the four Vedas with all their auxiliaries.

I was thinking of him, O son of Pandu, who is the favourite disciple of Rama the son of Jamadagni, and who is the master of all the sciences.

I was thinking of that best of all persons conversant with morality and duty, of him, O foremost of Bharatas, who knows the Past, the Future, and the Present.

After the ascension to heaven of that foremost of kings for his own achievements the Earth, O son of Pritha, will took like a moonless night.

Therefore, O Yudhishthira, humbly approaching Ganga's son, viz., Bhishma, ask him about what you may wish to learn.

O king enquire of him about the four branches of knowledge, about sacrifices and the rites sanctioned for the four castes, about the four modes of life, and about the duties of kings.

When Bhishma, that foremost one of Kuru's race, will disappear from the world every kind of knowledge will go away with him. It is, therefore, that I urge you to do it.

Hearing these wholesome and pregnant words of Vasudeva, the righteous Yudhishthira, with voice suppressed with tears, answered Janardana saying—'What you have said, O Madhava, about the greatness of Bhishma, is perfectly true. I have not the least doubt about it.

I had heard of the piety and greatness, of the illustrious Bhishma from great Brahmanas talking about it.

You, O killer of foes, are the Creator of all the worlds, There, cannot, therefore, O delighter of the Yadavas, be the least doubt in what you say.

If you are pleased to show us favour, O Madhava, then we shall go to Bhishma with yourself at our head.

When the divine Sun shall have turned towards the north, Bhishma will leave (this world) for those blissful regions which he has acquired. That descendant of Kuru's race, therefore, O mighty-armed one, deserves to see you.

Bhishina will then see you who are the first of gods, and who destructible and indestructible. Indeed, O lord, you are the vast receptacle of Brahma.

Vaishampayana said Hearing these words of king Yudhishthira, the destroyer of Madhu addressed Satyaki who was sitting by him, saying,–'Let my car be yoked.

are At this Satyaki quickly left Keshava's company and going out, ordered Daruka, saying,-'Let Krishna's car be made ready.'

Hearing the words of Satyaki, Daruka immediately yoked Krishna's car. That best of cars, adorned with gold, decked with profuse emeralds, and moon-gems and sun-gems furnished with golden wheels, effulgent, fleet as the wind, set in the middle with various other kinds of jewels, beautiful as the morning sun, equipped with a beautiful standard bearing the emblem of Gar::da, and numberless other banners, was yoked with those best of horses quick coursing as thought, viz., Sugriva and Saivya and the other two, in trappings of gold. Having yoked it, О tiger among kings, Daruka with joined palms, informed Krishna of the fact