my body.[384] The hope cherished by a sire that has but one son, of once more seeing that son after he has been lost or missed, is slenderer than even my body.  The hope that old women entertain of bringing forth sons, O king, and that is cherished by rich men, is slenderer than even my body.  The hope that springs up in the hearts of grown up maidens of marriage when they hear anybody only talk of it in their presence, is slenderer than even my body.’[385] Hearing these words, O monarch, king Viradyumna, and the ladies of his household, prostrated themselves before that bull among Brahmanas and touched his feet with their bent heads.’

“The king said, ’I beg thy grace, O holy one!  I wish to meet with my child.  What thou hast said, O best of Brahmanas, is very true.  There is no doubt of the truth of thy utterances.’

“Rishabha continued, ’The holy Tanu, that foremost of virtuous persons, smiling, caused, by means of his learning and his penances the king’s son to be brought to that spot.  Having caused the prince to be brought thither, the sage rebuked the king (his father).[386] That foremost of virtuous persons then displayed himself to be the god of righteousness.  Indeed, having displayed his own wonderful and celestial form, he entered an adjacent forest, with heart freed from wrath and the desire of revenge.  I saw all this, O king, and heard the words I have said.  Drive off thy hope, that is even slenderer (than any of those which the sage indicated).’

“Bhishma continued ’Thus addressed, O monarch, by the high-souled Rishabha, king Sumitra speedily cast off the hope that was in his heart and which was slenderer (than any of the kinds of hope indicated by the emaciated Rishi).  Do thou also, O son of Kunti, hearing these words of mine, be calm and collected like Himavat.  Overcome with distress,[387] thou hast questioned me and heard my answer.  Having heard it.  O monarch, it behoves thee to dispel these regrets of thine!’

SECTION CXXIX

“Yudhishthira said, ’Like one that drinks nectar I am never satiated with listening to thee as thou speakest.  As a person possessing a knowledge of self is never satiated with meditation, even so I am never satiated with hearing thee.  Do thou, therefore, O grandsire, discourse once more upon morality.  I am never satiated with drinking the nectar of thy discourse upon morality.’

“Bhishma said, ’In this connection is cited the old narrative of the discourse between Gotama and the illustrious Yama.  Gotama owned a wide retreat on the Paripatra hills.  Listen to me as to how many years he dwelt in that abode.  For sixty thousand years that sage underwent ascetic austerities in that asylum.  One day, the Regent of the world, Yama, O tiger among men, repaired to that great sage of cleansed soul while he was engaged in the severest austerities.  Yama beheld the great ascetic Gotama of rigid penances.  The regenerate sage understanding that it was Yama who had come, speedily saluted him and sat with joined hands in an attentive attitude (waiting for his commands).  The royal Dharma, beholding that bull among Brahmanas, duly saluted him (in return) and addressing him asked what he was to do for him.’