becometh free from all sins.  Those foremost of Rishis, Valmiki, and Kasyapa, and Atreya, and Kundajathara, and Viswamitra, and Gautama, and Asita, and Devala, and Markandeya, and Galava, and Bharadwaja, and Vasishtha, and the Muni Uddalaka, and Saunaka with his son, and Vyasa, that best of ascetics, and Durvasas, that foremost of Munis, and Javali of great austerities—­all these illustrious Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, are staying in expectation of thee.  With these, O mighty king, do thou meet by visiting these tirthas.  And, O illustrious monarch, a great Rishi of immeasurable energy, Lomasa by name, will come to thee.  Do thou follow him, and me, and by turns visit these tirthas, O thou virtuous one!  By this, thou wilt acquire great fame, like king Mahabhisha!  O tiger among kings, even as the virtuous Yayati and king Pururavas, dost thou blaze forth with thy own virtue.  Like king Bhagiratha and the illustrious Rama, dost thou shine among kings even as the Sun himself.  And thou art, O great king, celebrated (in the world) even as Muni or Ikshwaku, or the highly famous Puru or Vainya!  And as in days of yore the slayer of Vritra, after burning all his foes, ruled the three worlds, his mind freed from anxiety, so wilt thou rule thy subjects, after slaying all thy enemies.  And, O thou of eyes like lotus leaves, having conquered the earth according to the customs of thy order, thou wilt obtain renown by thy virtue, even like Kartaviryaryuna.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “O great king, having comforted the monarch thus, the illustrious Rishi Narada, bidding farewell to the king, disappeared there and then.  And the virtuous Yudhishthira, reflecting upon the subject, began to recite unto the ascetics the merit attaching to tirthas!”

SECTION LXXXVI

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Having ascertained the opinion of his brothers, and of the intelligent Narada, king Yudhishthira, addressing Dhaumya, who was like unto the Grandsire himself, said, ’I have for the acquisition of arms, sent away that tiger among men, Jishnu, whose prowess is incapable of being baffled, and who is possessed of long arms and immeasurable intelligence.  O thou of ascetic wealth, that hero is devoted to me, endued with ability, and well-skilled in weapons, and like unto the exalted Vasudeva himself.  I know them both, Krishna and Arjuna, those destroyers of enemies, O Brahmana, endued with prowess, even as the puissant Vyasa knoweth them.  I know Vasudeva and Dhananjaya to be none else than Vishnu himself, possessed of the six attributes.  And this is also what Narada knoweth, for he hath always spoken so unto me.  I also know them to be Rishis, Nara and Narayana.  Knowing him to possess the ability, I have sent him (on the mission).  Not inferior unto Indra and fully competent (for the task), I have sent that son of a god to see the lord of the celestials and obtain weapons from him.  Bhishma and Drona