“Bhishma continued,—­Having said these words unto those gods and Rishis in days of yore, the illustrious Grandsire, dismissing them all, repaired to his own abode.  And the gods and the Gandharvas, and the Munis and the Apsaras also, having listened to those words spoken by Brahman, were filled with delight and repaired to heaven.  Even this was heard by me, O sire, from Rishis of cultured soul talking in their assembly, of Vasudeva, that ancient one.  And O thou that art well-versed in scriptures, I heard this from Rama, the son of Jamadagni, and Markandeya of great wisdom, and Vyasa and Narada also.  Having learnt all this and heard of the illustrious Vasudeva as the Eternal Lord, the Supreme God of all the worlds, and the great Master, from whom hath sprung Brahman himself, the Father of the Universe, why should not that Vasudeva be adored and worshipped by men?  Forbidden wert thou before, O sire, by sages of cultured souls, (who said unto thee)—­Never go to war with that Vasudeva armed with bow as also with the Pandavas,—­This, from folly, thou couldst not apprehend.  I regard thee therefore, as a wicked Rakshsa.  Thou art, besides, enveloped in darkness.  It is for this that thou hatest Govinda and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, for who else among men would hate the divine Nara and Narayana?  It is for this, O king, that I say unto thee that this one is Eternal and Unfading, pervading the whole Universe, Unchanging, the Ruler, Creator and Upholder of all, and the truly Existent.  He it is who upholdeth the three worlds.  He is the Supreme Lord of all mobile and immobile creatures, and He is the great Master, He is warrior, He is Victory, He is Victor, and He is the Lord of all nature.  O king, He is full of goodness and divested of all the qualities of Darkness and Passion.  There, where Krishna is, there righteousness is; and there is victory where righteousness is.  It is by the Yoga of his Supreme Excellence, and the Yoga of his Self, that the sons of Pandu, O king, are supported.  Victory, therefore, will surely be theirs.  He it is that always imparteth to the Pandavas and understanding endued with righteousness, and strength in battle; and He it is that always protecteth them from danger.  He is the Eternal God, pervading all beings, and ever blessed.  He, of whom thou hadst asked me, is known by the name of Vasudeva.  He it is whom Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras, having distinctive features of their own, humbly serve and worship with restrained hearts and performing their own duties.  He it is who, towards the close of the Dwapara Yuga and the beginning of the Kali Yuga, is sung of with Sankarshana, by believers with devotion.  It is that Vasudeva that createth, Yuga after Yuga, the worlds of the gods and the mortals, all cities girt by the sea, and the region of human habitation.—­”

SECTION LXVII

“Duryodhana said, ’In all the worlds Vasudeva is spoken of as the Supreme Being.  I desire, O Grandsire, to know his origin and glory.”