The blessed Vishnu—the slayer of Madhu—he,
indeed who is known on earth as Kapila, and whose
glance alone, O exalted one, destroyed the illustrious
sons of Sagara, when they approached him with loud
sounds in the bowels of the earth,—that
illustrious and invincible Hari is capable, O Brahmana
of doing us a great service. Either he or Partha
or both may do us that great service, without doubt.
Verily as the illustrious Hari had slain the Nagas
in the great lake, he, by sight alone, is capable of
slaying those Asuras called the Nivatakavachas, along
with their followers. But the slayer of Madhu
should not be urged when the task is insignificant.
A mighty mass of energy that he is, it swelleth to
increasing proportions, it may consume the whole universe.
This Arjuna also is competent to encounter them all,
and the hero having slain them in battle, will go
back to the world of men. Go thou at my request
to earth. Thou wilt behold the brave Yudhishthira
living in the woods of Kamyaka. And for me tell
thou the virtuous Yudhishthira of unbaffled prowess
in battle, that he should not be anxious on account
of Phalguna, for that hero will return to earth a
thorough master of weapons, for without sanctified
prowess of arms, and without skill in weapons, he
would not be able to encounter Bhishma and Drona and
others in battle. Thou wilt also represent unto
Yudhishthira that the illustrious and mighty-armed
Gudakesa, having obtained weapons, hath also mastered
the science of celestial dancing and music both instrumental
and vocal. And thou wilt also tell him, O king
of men, O slayer of foes, thyself also, accompanied
by all thy brothers, should see the various sacred
shrines. For having bathed in different sacred
waters, thou wilt be cleansed from thy sins, and the
fever of thy heart will abate. And then thou wilt
be able to enjoy thy kingdom, happy in the thought
that thy sins have been washed off. And, O foremost
of Brahmanas, endued with ascetic power, it behoveth
thee also to protect Yudhishthira during his wandering
over the earth. Fierce Rakshasas ever live in
mountain fastnesses and rugged steppes. Protect
thou the king from those cannibals.’
“After Mahendra had spoken thus unto Lomasa,
Vibhatsu also reverently addressed that Rishi, saying,
’Protect thou ever the son of Pandu. O
best of men, let the king, O great Rishi, protected
by thee, visit the various places of pilgrimage and
give away unto Brahmanas in charity.’”
Vaisampayana continued, “The mighty ascetic
Lomasa, having answered both saying, ‘So be
it,’ set out for the earth, desirous of arriving
at Kamvaka. And having arrived at those woods,
he beheld the slayer of foes and son of Kunti, king
Yudhishthira the just, surrounded by ascetics and
his younger brothers.”
SECTION XLVIII
Janamejaya said, “These feats of Pritha’s
son endued with immeasurable energy, were certainly
marvellous. O Brahmana, what did Dhritarashtra
of great wisdom say, when he heard of them?”