“That foremost of speakers then, the son of Parasara, taking Yudhishthira to a corner, began to address him in words of deep import, saying, ’O best of the Bharatas, the time is come for thy prosperity, when, indeed Dhananjaya—­that son of Pritha—­will slay all thy foes in battle.  Uttered by me and like unto success personified, accept from me this knowledge called Pratismriti that I impart to thee, knowing thou art capable of receiving it.  Receiving it (from thee), Arjuna will be able to accomplish his desire.  And let Arjuna, O son of Pandu, go unto Mahendra and Rudra, and Varuna, and Kuvera, and Yama, for receiving weapons from them.  He is competent to behold the gods for his asceticism and prowess.  He is even a Rishi of great energy, the friend of Narayana; ancient, eternal a god himself, invincible, ever successful, and knowing no deterioration.  Of mighty arms, he will achieve mighty deeds, having obtained weapons from Indra, and Rudra, and the lokapalas, O son of Kunti, think also of going from this to some other forest that may, O king, be fit for thy abode.  To reside in one place for any length of time is scarcely pleasant.  In thy case, it might also be productive of anxiety to the ascetics.  And as thou maintainest numerous Brahmanas versed in the Vedas and the several branches thereof, continued residence here might exhaust the deer of this forest, and be destructive of the creepers and plants.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “Having addressed him thus, that illustrious and exalted ascetic Vyasa, of great wisdom, acquired with the mysteries of the world, then imparted unto the willing Yudhishthira the just, who had meanwhile purified himself, that foremost of sciences.  And bidding farewell unto the son of Kunti, Vyasa disappeared then and there.  The virtuous and intelligent Yudhishthira, however, having obtained that knowledge carefully retained it in his mind and always recited it on proper occasions.  Glad of the advice given him by Vyasa, the son of Kunti then, leaving the wood Dwaitavana went to the forest of Kamyaka on the banks of the Saraswati.  And, O king, numerous Brahmanas of ascetic merit and versed in the science of orthoepy and orthography, followed him like the Rishis following the chief of the celestials.  Arrived at Kamyaka, those illustrious bulls amongst the Bharata took up their residence there along with their friends and attendants.  And possessed of energy, those heroes, O king, lived there for some time, devoted to the exercise of the bow and hearing all the while the chanting of the Vedas.  And they went about those woods every day in search of deer, armed with pure arrows.  And they duly performed all the rites in honour of the Pitris, the celestials and the Brahmanas.”

SECTION XXXVII