and seventy) entities, therefore, are not eternal (like the Soul).  The theories contradicting the Revelation that have in the previous Vedas, O son, been placed before thee (about the origin of the Universe and its other incidents) are all defective in the eye of reason.  Carefully attending, however, in this world to all that I have said unto thee about the Supreme Brahma, do thou, after attaining to the puissance that the knowledge of Brahma offers, seek to win tranquillity of heart.’"[1108]

SECTION CCLVI

“Yudhishthira said, ’These lords of earth that lie on the earth’s surface amid their respective hosts, these princes endued with great might, are now reft of animation.  Every one of these mighty monarchs was possessed of strength equal to that of ten thousand elephants.  Alas! these have all been slain by men possessed of equal prowess and might.  I do not behold any one else (in the world) that could slay any of these men in battle.[1109] All of them were endued with great prowess, great energy, and great strength.  Possessed also of great wisdom, they are now lying on the bare ground, deprived of life.  With respect to all these men that are deprived of life, the word that is used is that they are dead.  Of terrible prowess, all these kings are said to be dead.  On this subject a doubt has arisen in my mind.  Whence is animation and whence is death?  Who is it that dies? (Is it the gross body, the subtile body, or the Soul, that dies)?  Whence is death?  For what reason also doth death takeaway (living creatures)?  O grandsire, tell me this, O thou that resemblest a celestial!’

“Bhishma said, ’In days of old, in the Krita age, O son, there was a king of the name of Anukampaka.  His cars and elephants and horses and men having been reduced in number, he was brought under the sway of his foes in battle.  His son named Hari, who resembled Narayana himself in strength, was in that battle slain by his foes along with all his followers and troops.  Afflicted with grief on account of the death of his son, and himself brought under the sway of foes, the king devoted himself thence to a life of tranquillity.  One day, while wandering without a purpose he met the sage Narada on the earth.  The monarch told Narada all that had happened, viz., the death of his son in battle and his own capture by his enemies.  Having heard his words, Narada, possessed of wealth of penances, then recited to him the following narrative for dispelling his grief on account of the death of his son.’

“Narada said, ’Listen now, O monarch, to the following narrative of rather lengthy details as these had occurred.  I myself heard it formerly, O king!  Endued with great energy, the Grandsire, at the time of the creation of the universe, created a large number of living beings.  These multiplied greatly, and none of them met with death.  There was no part of the universe that was not overcrowded