“Sanjaya continued, ’Unto Kunti’s son, Yudhishthira, asking him thus, the illustrious Rishi, comforting him, said these words.’

“Vyasa said, As regards the matter in hand, O king, this ancient story of what Narada had in days of old said unto Akampana is cited.  King Akampana, O monarch, I know, while in this world was afflicted with very great and unbearable grief on account of the death of his son, I will now tell these the excellent story about the origin of Death.  Having listened to it, thou wilt be emancipated from sorrow and the touch of affection’s tie.  Listen to me, O sire, as I recite this ancient history.  This history is, indeed, excellent.  It enhanceth the period of life, killeth grief and conduceth to health.  It is sacred, destructive of large bodies of foes, and auspicious of all auspicious things.  Indeed, this history is even as the study of the Vedas.  O monarch, it should every morning be listened to by the foremost of kings who are desirous of longlived children and their own good.

“In days of old, O sire, there was a king named Akampana.  Once, on the field of battle, he was surrounded by his foes and nearly overpowered by them.  He had a son who was called Hari.  Equal to Narayana himself in might, that latter was exceedingly handsome, accomplished in weapons, gifted with great intelligence, possessed of might, resembled Sakra himself in battle.  Encompassed by countless foes on the field of battle, he sped thousands of shafts at those warriors and the elephants that surrounded him.  Having achieved the most difficult feats in battle, O Yudhishthira, that scorcher of foes was, at last, slain in the midst of the army.  Performing the obsequies of his son, king Akampana cleansed himself.[83] Grieving, however, for his son day and night, the king failed to regain happiness of mind.  Informed of his grief on account of the death of his son, the celestial Rishi Narada came to his presence.  The blessed king, beholding the celestial Rishi, told the latter everything that had happened unto him, viz., his defeat at the hands of his foes, and the slaughter of his son.  And the king said, ’My son was endued with great energy, and equalled Indra or Vishnu himself in splendour.  That mighty son of mine, having displayed his prowess on the field against countless foes was at last slain!  O illustrious one, who is this Death?  What is the measure of his energy, strength and prowess?  O foremost of intelligent persons, I desire to hear all this truly.’  Hearing these words of his, the boon giving lord, Narada., recited the following elaborate history, destructive of grief on account of a son’s death.’