“Bhishma said, ’Hearing these words of their preceptor, Vyasa’s disciples endued with energy, became filled with joy and embraced one another.  Addressing one another, they said,—­That which has been said by our illustrious preceptor in view of our future good, will live in our remembrance and we shall certainly act according to it.—­Having said this unto one another with joyful hearts, the disciples of Vyasa, who were thorough masters of words, once more addressed their preceptor and said,—­If it pleases thee, O puissant one, we wish to descend from this mountain to the Earth, O great ascetic, for the purpose of subdividing the Vedas!—­Hearing these words of his disciples, the puissant son of Parasara replied unto them in these beneficial words that were fraught, besides, with righteousness and profit,—­You may repair to the Earth or to the regions of the celestials, as ye like.  You should always be heedful, for the Vedas are such that they are always liable to be misunderstood![1750]—­Permitted by their preceptor of truthful speech, the disciples left him after circumambulating him and bowing their heads unto him.  Descending upon the Earth they performed the Agnishtoma and other sacrifices; and they began to officiate at the sacrifices of Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaidyas.  Happily passing their days in the domestic mode of life, they were treated by the Brahmanas with great respect.  Possessed of great fame and prosperity, they were employed in teaching and officiating in sacrifices.  After his disciples had gone away, Vyasa remained in his asylum, with only his son in his company.  Passing his days in anxious thoughtfulness, the great Rishi, possessed of wisdom, kept silent, sitting in a retired corner of the asylum.  At that time Narada of great ascetic merit came to that spot for seeing Vyasa, and addressing him, said these words of melodious sound.

“’Narada said, O regenerate Rishi of Vasishtha’s race, why are Vedic sounds silent now?  Why art thou sitting silent and alone engaged in meditation like one taken up with an engrossing thought?  Alas, shorn of Vedic echoes, this mountain hath lost its beauty, even as the Moon shorn of splendour when assailed by Rahu or enveloped in dust.[1751] Though inhabited by the celestial Rishis, yet shorn of Vedic sounds, the mountain no longer looks beautiful now but resembles a hamlet of Nishadas.[1752] The Rishis, the deities, and the Gandharvas, too, no longer shine as before in consequence of being deprived of Vedic sound!—­Hearing these words of Narada, the Island-born Krishna answered, saying,—­O great Rishi, O thou art conversant with the declarations of the Vedas, all that thou hast said is agreeable to me and it truly behoves thee to say it unto me!  Thou omniscient, thou hast seen everything.  Thy curiosity also embraces all things within its sphere.  All that has ever occurred in the three worlds is well known to thee.  Do thou then, O regenerate Rishi, set thy commands on me.  O, tell me what I am to do!  Tell me, O regenerate Rishi, what should now be done by me.  Separated from my disciples, my mind has become very cheerless now.