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?”