perform that sacrifice.  But, O Krishna, in respect of that matter, thy words shall be my guide.  Of counsellers some from friendship do not notice the difficulties; others from motives of self-interest say only what is agreeable.  Some again regard that which is beneficial to themselves as worthy of adoption.  Men are seen to counsel thus on matters awaiting decision.  But thou, O Krishna, art above such motives.  Thou hast conquered both desire and anger.  It behoveth thee to tell me what is most beneficial to the world.”

SECTION XIV

(Rajasuyarambha Parva)

“Krishna said,—­’O great king, thou art a worthy possessor of all the qualities essential for the performance of the Rajasuya sacrifice.  Thou knowest everything, O Bharata.  I shall, however, still tell thee something.  Those persons in the world that now go by the name of Kshatriyas are inferior (in everything) to those Kshatriyas that Rama, the son of Jamadagnya, exterminated.’  O lord of the earth, O bull of the Bharata race, thou knowest what form of rule these Kshatriyas, guided by the instructions traditionally handed down from generation to generation, have established amongst their own order, and how far they are competent to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice.  The numerous royal lines and other ordinary Kshatriyas all represent themselves to be the descendants of Aila and Ikshwaku.  The descendants of Aila, O king, as, indeed, the kings of Ikshwaku’s race, are, know O bull of the Bharata race, each divided into a hundred separate dynasties.  The descendants of Yayati and the Bhojas are great, both in extent (number) and accomplishments.  O king, these last are to-day scattered all over the earth.  And all the Kshatriyas worship the prosperity of those monarchs.  At present, however, O monarch, king Jarasandha, overcoming that prosperity enjoyed by their whole order, and overpowering them by his energy hath set himself over the heads of all these kings.  And Jarasandha, enjoying the sovereignty over the middle portion of the earth (Mathura), resolved to create a disunion amongst ourselves.  O monarch, the king who is the lord paramount of all kings, and in whom alone the dominion of the universe is centered, properly deserves to be called an emperor.  And, O monarch, king Sisupala endued with great energy, hath placed himself under his protection and hath become the generalissimo of his forces.  And, O great king, the mighty Vaka, the king of the Karushas, capable of fighting by putting forth his powers of illusion, waiteth, upon Jarasandha, as his disciple.  There are two others, Hansa and Dimvaka, of great energy and great soul, who have sought the shelter of the mighty Jarasandha.  There are others also viz., Dantavakra, Karusha, Karava, Meghavahana, that wait upon Jarasandha.  He also that beareth on his head that gem which is known as the most wonderful on earth, that king of the Yavanas, who hath chastised