“Bhishma continued, ’Learning what the opinion was that was entertained by the deities, Vasu, moved by partiality for them, said that sacrifices should be performed with animals.  At this answer, all the Rishis, endued with the splendour of the Sun, became very angry.  Addressing Vasu who was seated on his car and who had (wrongly) taken up the side of the deities, they said unto him,—­Since thou hast (wrongly) taken up the side of the deities, do thou fall down from heaven.  From this day, O monarch, thou shalt lose the power of journeying through the sky.  Through our course, thou shalt sink deep below the surface of the Earth.  After the Rishis had said these words, king Uparichara immediately fell down, O monarch, and went down a hole in Earth.  At the command, however, of Narayana, Vasu’s memory did not leave him.  To the good fortune of Vasu, the deities, pained at the course denounced on him by the Brahmanas, began to think anxiously as to how that course might be neutralised.  They said, This high-souled king hath been cursed for our sake.  We, denizens of heaven, should unite together for doing what is good to him in return for that which he has done to us.  Having quickly settled this in their minds with the aid of reflection, the deities proceeded to the spot where the king Uparichara was.  Arrived, at his presence, they addressed him, saying, Thou art devoted to the great God of the Brahmanas (viz., Narayana).  That great Lord of both the deities and the Asuras, gratified with thee, will rescue thee from the course that has been denounced upon thee.  It is proper, however, that the high-souled Brahmanas should be honoured.  Verily, O best of kings, their penances should fructify.[1813] Indeed, thou hast already fallen down from the sky on the Earth.  We desire, however, O best of kings, to show thee a favour in one respect.  As long as thou, O sinless one, shalt dwell in his hole, so long shalt thou receive (due sustenance, through our boon)!  Those streaks of clarified butter which Brahmans with concentrated minds pour in sacrifices in accompaniment with sacred mantras, and which are called by the name of Vasudhara, shall be thine, through our care for thee!  Indeed weakness or distress shall not touch thee.[1814] While dwelling, O king of kings, in the hole of the Earth, neither hunger nor thirst shall afflict thee for thou shalt drink those streaks of clarified butter called Vasudhara.  Thy energy also shall continue unabated.  In consequence also of this our boon that we grant thee, the God of gods, viz., Narayana will be gratified with thee, and He will bear thee hence to the region of Brahman!—­Having granted these boons unto the king, the denizens of heaven, as also all those Rishis possessed of wealth of penances, returned each to his respective place.  Then Vasu, O Bharata, began to adore the Creator of the universe and to recite in silence those sacred mantras that had come out of Narayana’s mouth in days of yore.[1815] Although dwelling in a pit of the Earth,