“Bhishma said, ’The Highest Deity, endued with the six attributes of (puissance, etc.) is at the Root.  Staying there, the Supreme Soul, with his own energy, creates all these diverse existent things.[1385] Know that this Kesava who knows no deterioration is from His eighth portion.  Endued with the highest Intelligence, it is this Kesava who creates the three worlds with an eighth portion (of His energy).  Coming immediately after Him who lies at the Root, this Kesava who is eternal (compared with all other existent things), changes at the end of each Kalpa.  He, however, who lies at the Root and who is endued with supreme might and puissance, lies in the waters when universal destruction comes (in the form of the potential Seed of all things).  Kesava is that Creator of pure Soul who courseth through all the eternal worlds.[1386] Infinite and Eternal as He is, He fills all space (with emanations from Himself) and courseth through the universe (in the form of everything that constitutes the universe).  Freed as He is from limitations of every kind such as the possession of attributes would imply, he suffers himself to be invested with Avidya and awakened to Consciousness, Kesava of Supreme Soul creates all things.  In Him rests this wondrous universe in its entirety.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’O thou that art conversant with the highest object of knowledge, I think that Vritra saw beforehand the excellent end that awaited him.  It is for this, O grandsire, that he was happy and did not yield to grief (in view of his coming Death).  He who is White of hue, who has taken birth in a pure or stainless race, and who has attained to the rank of a Sadhya, doth not, O sinless one, come back (into the world for re-birth).  Such a person, O grandsire, is freed from both hell and the status of all intermediate creatures.  He, however, who has attained to either the Yellow or the Red hue, is seen sometimes to be overwhelmed by Tamas and fall among the order of Intermediate creatures.  As regards ourselves, we are exceedingly afflicted and attached to objects that are productive of sorrow or indifference or joy.  Alas, what will the end be to which we shall attain?  Will it be the Blue or the Dark which is the lowest of all hues?’

“Bhishma continued, ’Ye are Pandavas.  Ye have been born in a stainless race.  Ye are of rigid vows.  Having sported in joy in the regions of the gods, ye shall come back to the world of men.  Living happily as long as the creation lasts, all of you at the next new creation will be admitted among the gods, and enjoying all kinds of felicities ye will at last be numbered among the Siddhas.  Let no fear be yours.  Be you cheerful.’”

SECTION CCLXXXI