Sanjaya said Then Dhananjaya the son of Kunti, possessed of inconceivable prowess thinking of how to redeem his vow, recollected the mantras (obtained from Vyasa); and soon was he lost of sleep.

Then the highly puissant god having the Garuda as an emblem on his banner, appeared before the ape-bannered Arjuna merged in thought and burning with grief, in his dream.

The pious-souled Dhananjaya through the love and venevation he bore for Krishna, never failed under any circumstance, to rise up and advance a few steps for welcoming him.

Standing up therefore (in his dream), he welcomed Govinda and offered him a seat, He himself however then did not think of resuming his own seat.

Thus seated, Krishna of mighty energy, knowing what resolution Partha had formed, said these words to the son of Kunti, while the latter was standing before him.

O Son of Pritha, let not your heart give way to sorrow. Time is invincible. It is time that compels all creatures to take to the inevitable course.

Tell me, O foremost of men. the cause of this your sorrow? O foremost of the learned, sorrow should not be indulged in, inasmuch as it overthrows the ends of life.

What should be done should be done (without hesitation). Do your duty with all endeavours, O Dhananjaya, the grief that deprives one of the power of acting, is indeed his greatest enemy.

A man giving way to grief delights his enemies and saddens his friends and himself becomes reduced in (strength). Therefore you should not grieve.

Having been thus spoken to by the son of Vasudeva, the invincible and learned Vibhatsu said these words of (grave) signification to the former

I have taken a terrible oath in vowing to slaughter Jayadratha. Tomorrow shall I slay, O Keshava that wicked-souled slayer of my son.

Surely, O undeteriorating one, in order to frustrate that resolution of mine, the partisans of Dhritarashtra will place the ruler of the Sindhus in their furthest rear and have him protected by all their mighty car-warriors.

Alas! O Mahadeva, their invincible army of one and ten Akshauhini strong, consists of the remnants of their soldiers (slain during the last compaign).

Surrounded by all these troops, as also by all their mighty car-warriors, how could that wicked-souled ruler of the Sindhus, O Krishna, be seen (by us)?

Me seems, O Keshava, I shall not be able to fulfill my vow. And why should one like myself who could not redeem his promises, bear the burden of his life?

O hero, despondency stares me at the face, me whose only consolation now is in grief. I also tell you this that (during this period of the year) the sun runs his heavenly course swiftly.

Then Krishna that foremost of the twiceborn ones, having heard of the source of Partha's sorrow, touched water and sat there with his face turned towards the East.

Thereafter that highly puissant one of eyes like lotus-petals, said these words, for the welfare of Pandu's son who had resolved upon the slaughter of the Sindhu king.

"O Son of Pritha, there is a weapon excellent and eternal known by the name of Pasupata. By means of this weapon the god Mahesvare (in days gone by) slew all the Daityas in battle.

If today it be with your recollection, then tomorrow you will be able to slay Jayadratha. If it is unknown to you now, then do you worship in you mind the god having the bull for his emblein.

Meditating on that god in your mind. do you hold communion with him. You are his devotee and in this way, through his grace only, can you expect to obtain that valuable treasure (Pasupata weapon).”

Thereupon, having heard Krishna's words and having rinsed his mouth with water, Dhananjaya sat down on the ground; and with a singleness of heart, began to adore Siva (in his mind).

Thus rapt up in meditation, Arjuna saw himself and Keshava roving in the skies, just when the hour Brahma of auspicious indication set in.

Then it seemed that Parth held by his right arın by the lord Keshava and endued with the fleetness of the wind, reached the root of the sacred Himavat mountain teeming with gems, abounding in luminous objects and inhabited by Siddhas and Charanas. He was then accompanied by Keshava.

It seemed that he saw, as he went, many wonderful sight and objects; that one of righteous soul then saw on the Northern direction the white mountain.

He beheld in the pleasure-garden of Kubera, the delightful lake adorned with lotuses. He also beheld that most excellent of rivers namely Ganga of copious waters.

Then he saw the regions about the Mandara mountains, regions that abounded in trees bearing blossoms and fruits; that were covered with pebbles and transparent crystals, that were infested with lions and tigers; that abounded in many other animals, that contained many sacred hermitages; that were charming; that there frequented by beautiful birds and that ever rang with the melodious songs of the Kinnaras.

The mountain itself was graced with gold and silver peaks blazing with various herbs and Oshadhis; and it was beautiful with numerous Mandara trees decked with blossoms.

He then arrived at the black mountains that looked like a heap of collyrium and after that, at the Brahmatunga, at many rivers and at many countries.

He then reached the Sutunga and the Shatashringa hills and the woods known by the name of Sharyati. Then he went to the holy place called Ashvashiras and also to the one known by the name of Artharvana.

Then he arrived at that foremost of hills known as Vrisha-Dansha and also the hill called the great Mandara, both of which were thickly peopled by the Apsaras and beautified by the Kinnaras.

Then roaming on that hill in the company of Krishna, Pritha's son beheld a plot of earth abounding in soothing springs, teeming with gold and other minerals, burning with the effulgence of the sun or moon and possessing a large number towns and cities. He also beheld various seas and numerous rich mines of wealth.

Then wandering through the sky the firmament and the earth, he arrived at Vishnupada; there struck with admiration and like an arrow shot from the bow, he came down with Krishna.

Partha then beheld a mountain blazing as if with the effulgence of the planets, the stars, the moon, the sun and the fire.

Having reached that hill he beheld that high-souled Divinity having the bull for his emblem on the banner, seated on its peak and lost in contemplation.

He saw the god burning in his own energy like a thousand suns; holding the trident; with matted locks on his head; of milk-white complexion; and wearing barks and tiger skins.

He was the highly puissant god having his body rendered beautiful with a thousand eyes; and in company with Parvati and numerous other beings of great effulgence.

The dependents of the god were engaged in singing, in playing upon musical instruments, in dancing, in laughing, in frolicking about and stricking and clapping their palms. The place was also made fragrant with perfumes.

Arjuna then beheld that protector of all creatures, that undeteriorating wielder of the bow (Pinaka), eulogised with beautiful panegyrics by the sages and the reciters of the Vedas.

Beholding the god, the pious-souled son of Vasudeva, together with the son of Pritha, saluted him by touching the earth with his head; and he uttered then the eternal verses from the Vedas.

Then Krishna adored with his speech, his mind, his intellect and his acts that origin of the worlds; that creator of the universe; that unborn divinity; that lord paramount; that undeteriorating che; that primary source from which the mind has sprung; that receptacle of the space, the wind and the luminary bodies; that creator of the rain; that primordial essence of the earth; that one worthy of the reverence of the celestials, the Danavas, the Yakshas and the human beings; that one who is the highest Brahma realised by the Yogins; that protector of those versed in the Vedas; that creator and destroyer of the mobile and immobile creatures, that God whose anger is destruction; that supreme soul; that one who is equal to Shakra or the sun.

Then Krishna and Arjuna sought the protection of that Bhava who is uncreate the unmanifest cause and whom sages learned in the Vedas worship when they desire to obtain the subtle and spiritual existence.

Arjuna also worshipped that Deity over and over again, knowing him to be origin of all creatures and the cause of the Past, the Present and the Future.

Then beholding them two, viz., Nara and Narayana come to him, Sharva with a delightful heart said these words, as if smiling the whileस्वागतं वो नरश्रेष्ठावुत्तिष्ठेतां गतक्लमौ।

All hail, O you two foremost of men! Arise and let the fatigue of your journey be shaken off. Tell me soon that things your minds earn after, O you heroes!

What business of yours has brought you here? I will perform it. Ask for the boon that will benefit you? I will grant all your desire.

Hearing these words of the god, Vasudeva and Arjuna rose up with their palms folded;

and they both endued with great intelligence and of unblamable character, out of reverence, began to eulogise the high-souled Sharva with beautiful panegyrics.

Krishna and Arjuna said Salutation to Bhava, to Sharva and to Rudra the giver of all boons; to the lord of all animate beings; to him who is known as Kapardin; to the great Divinity.

To Bhima; to the three-eyed god who is identical with peace; to Isha and to him who annihilates all pride engendered by the possession of prosperity. Salutation to the slayer of Andhaka;

To the father of the Kumara (Kartikeya); unto him of blue neck and of great intelligence; unto the wielder of the Pinaka bow; unto the !.avisya; unto him who is ever attended with truth and prosperity.

To him who is red; who is tawny, who is the hunter in disguise; and who is unvanquished; unto his who possesses blue locks, who wields the trident, who is omniscient; unto him who is the Hotri and the Pitri; unto him of three-eyes, who is disease and whose vital seed is fire itself; unto him who is inconceivable, who is the lord of the goddess Ambika; who receives homage from all creatures; whose emblem is the bull; whose head is shaved and who wears matted locks and who is again a Brahmacharin, unto him who performs ascetic austerities in the waters, who is devote to the study of the Vedas and who is unvanquished. Unto him who is the soul of the universe, its creator and remains pervading it. Salutation unto him worthy of the homage of all creatures and the origin of all creatures; unto the Brahmachakra, the Sharva, the Shankara and Shiva.

Salutations be unto him who is the lord of speech and the master of the created beings; salutation unto the lord of the universe and of the great people.

Salutations unto him of thousand heads who possesses a thousand arms and who is Death himself. Salutations unto him of thousand eyes and legs, whose deeds are countless.

Salutations unto him of the complexion of gold, who is clad in a armour of gold; and unto him who is ever gracious upon his devotees. O lord let our desires be fulfilled.

Sanjaya said Thus having eulogised the great god, Arjuna and the son of Vasudeva began to propitiate the former for obtaining the weapon (Pasupata) from him.