and, indeed, all the Rishis,—­where dwelleth the slayer of Madhu, that primeval Deity and mighty Yogin!  Let no doubt enter thy heart that that spot is the foremost of all holy spots.  These, O lord of earth, are the tirthas and sacred spots on earth, that I have recited, O best of men!  These all are visited by the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Adityas, the Marutas, the Aswins and the illustrious Rishis resembling the celestials themselves.  By journeying, O son of Kunti, to those places, with the Brahmanas and ascetics that are with thee and with thy blessed brothers, thou wilt be freed from anxiety!’”

SECTION XCI

Vaisampayana continued, “O son of the Kuru race, while Dhaumya was speaking thus, there arrived at the spot the Rishi Lomasa of great energy.  And the king, who was the eldest of Pandu’s sons, with his followers and those Brahmanas sat round the highly righteous one, like celestials in heaven sitting round Sakra.  And having received him duly, Yudhishthira the just enquired after the reason of his arrival, and the object also of his wanderings.  Thus asked by Pandu’s son, the illustrious ascetic, well-pleased, replied in sweet words delighting the Pandayas, ’Travelling at will, O Kaunteya, over all the regions, I came to Sakra’s abode, and saw there the lord of the celestials.  There, I saw thy heroic brother capable of wielding the bow with his left hand, seated on the same seat with Sakra.  And beholding Partha on that seat I was greatly astonished, O tiger among men!  And the lord of the celestials then said unto me, “Go thou unto the sons of Pandu.”  At the request, therefore, of Indra as also of the high-souled son of Pritha have I come hither with speed, desiring to see thee with thy younger brothers.  O child, I will relate what will please thee highly, O son of Pandu!  Do thou listen to it, O king, with Krishna and the Rishis that are with thee.  O bull of the Bharata race, Partha hath obtained from Rudra that incomparable weapon for the acquisition of which thou hadst sent him to heaven.  That fierce weapon, known by the name of Brahma-sira which arose after Amrila, and which Rudra had obtained by means of ascetic austerities, hath been acquired by Arjuna together with the Mantras for hurling and withdrawing it, and the rites of expiation and revival.  And, O Yudhishthira, Arjuna of immeasurable prowess hath also acquired Vajras and Dandas and other celestial weapons from Yama and Kuvera and Varuna and Indra, O son of the Kuru race!  And he hath also thoroughly learnt music, both vocal and instrumental, and dancing and proper recitation of the Saman (Veda) from Vishwavasu’s son.  And having thus acquired weapons and mastered the Gandhama Veda, thy third brother Vibhatsu liveth happily (in heaven).  Listen to me, O Yudhishthira, for I shall now deliver to thee the message of that foremost of celestials.  He hath commanded me saying,