his son had been emancipated from all attachments, but that he himself was not freed therefrom.  At this he became filled with both joy and shame.  As Vyasa was seated there, the auspicious god Siva, armed with Pinaka, surrounded on all sides by many deities and Gandharvas and adored by all the great Rishis came thither.  Consoling the Island-born Rishi who was burning with grief on account of his son, Mahadeva said these words unto him.—­Thou hadst formerly solicited from me a son possessed of the energy of Fire, of Water, of Wind, and of Space; Procreated by thy penances, the son that was born unto thee was of that very kind.  Proceeding from my grace, he was pure and full of Brahma-energy.  He has attained to the highest end—­an end which none can win that has not completely subjugated his senses, nor can be won by even any of the deities.  Why then, O regenerate Rishi, dost thou grieve for that son?  As long as the hills will last, as long as the ocean will last, so long will the fame of thy son endure undiminished!  Through my grace, O great Rishi thou shalt behold in this world a shadowy form resembling thy son, moving by the side and never deserting thee for a single moment!—­Thus favoured by the illustrious Rudra himself, O Bharata, the Rishi beheld a shadow of his son by his side.  He returned from that place, filled with joy at this.  I have now told thee, O chief of Bharata’s race, everything regarding the birth and life of Suka about which thou hadst asked me.  The celestial Rishi Narada and the great Yogin Vyasa had repeatedly told all this to me in days of yore when the subject was suggested to him in course of conversation.  That person devoted to tranquillity hears this sacred history directly connected with the topic of Emancipation is certain to attain to the highest end."[1789]

SECTION CCCXXXV

“Yudhishthira said, ’If a man be a house-holder or a Brahmacharin, a forest-recluse or a mendicant, and if he desires to achieve success, what deity should he adore?  How can he certainly acquire heaven and attain that which is of the highest benefit (viz., Emancipation)?  According to what ordinances should he perform the homa in honour of the gods and the Pitris?  What is the region to which one goes when one becomes emancipated?  What is the essence of Emancipation?  What should one do so that one, having attained to heaven, would not have to fall down thence?  Who is the deity of the deities?  And who is the Pitri of the Pitris?  Who is he that is superior to him, who is the deity of the deities and the Pitri of the Pitris?  Tell me all this, O Grandsire!’