“Narada said, ’By good luck it is that thy grief hath been dispelled.  Solicit thou the boon that thou desirest.  Thou wilt obtain all thou mayst ask.  We never say what is not true.’

“Srinjaya said, ’I am happy with even this, viz., that thou, O holy one, art gratified with me.  He with whom thou, O holy one, art gratified, hath nothing unobtainable here.’

“Narada said, ’I will once more give thee thy son who was fruitlessly slain by the robbers, like an animal, slaughtered in sacrifice, taking him out of terrible hell.’

“Vyasa said, ’Then the son of Srinjaya, of wonderful splendour, appeared, that child resembling the son of Kuvera himself, bestowed by the gratified Rishi (on the bereaved father).  And king Srinjaya, once more meeting with his son, became highly delighted.  And he performed many meritorious sacrifices, giving away profuse sacrificial presents upon completion.  Srinjaya’s son had not fulfilled the purposes of his being.  He had performed no sacrifice and had no children.  Destitute of bravery, he had perished miserably and not in battle.  It was for this reason that he could be brought back into life.[123] As regards Abhimanyu, he was brave and heroic.  He hath fulfilled the purposes of life, for the brave son of Subhadra, having blasted his foes by thousands, hath left the world, falling in the field of battle.  Those inaccessible regions that are attainable by Brahmacharya, by knowledge, by acquaintance with the scriptures, by foremost of sacrifices, even, these have been obtained by thy son.  Men of knowledge always desire heaven by their righteous deeds.  They that are living in heaven never prefer this world to heaven.  Therefore, it is not easy for any desirable thing that might have been unattained by him to bring back into the world Arjuna’s son slain in battle and now residing in heaven.  Thy son has attained to that eternal goal which is attained by yogins with eyes shut in contemplation or by performers of great sacrifices, or people possessed of great ascetic merit.  After death, attaining a new body that hero is shining like a king in his own immortal rays.  Indeed, Abhimanyu has once more got his own body of lunar essence that is desirable by all regenerate persons.  He deserveth not thy grief.[124] Knowing this, be quiet, and slay thy foes.  Let fortitude be thine.  O sinless one, it is the living that stand in need of our grief, and not they that have attained to heaven.  His sins increase, O king, for whom, the living grieve.  Therefore, he that is wise, abandoning grief, should strive for (the) benefit (of the dead).  The living man should think of the joy, the glory, and the happiness (of the dead).  Knowing this, the wise never indulge in grief, for grief is painful.  Know this to be true.  Rise up!  Strive (to achieve thy purpose).  Do not grieve.  Thou hast heard of the origin of Death, and her unexampled penances, as also the impartiality of her behaviour towards all