“Bhishma continued, ’The great Rishis, highly gratified at this, replied unto Purandara, saying, ‘So be it!’ They then ascended to heaven in company of Indra himself.  Even thus, those high-souled persons, though famishing with hunger and though tempted at such a time with the offer of diverse kinds of enjoyable articles, refrained from yielding to temptation.  As the result of such self-denial, they attained to heaven.  It seems, therefore, that one should, under all circumstances, cast off cupidity from oneself.  Even this, O king, is the highest duty.  Cupidity should be cast off.  The man who recites this account (of the deeds of the righteous Rishis) in assemblies of men, succeeds in acquiring wealth.  Such a man has never to attain to a distressful end.  The Pitris, the Rishis, and the deities become all pleased with him.  Hereafter, again, he becomes endued with fame and religious merit and wealth!’”

SECTION XCIV

“Bhishma said, “In this connection is cited the old history of the oaths (taken by many Rishis one after another) on the occasion of a sojourn to the sacred waters.  O best of the Bharatas, the act of theft had been done by Indra, and the oaths were taken by many royal and regenerate Rishis.  Once on a time, the Rishis, having assembled together, proceeded to the western Prabhasa.  They held a consultation there which resulted in a resolve on their part to visit all the sacred waters on earth.  There were Sakra and Angiras and Kavi of great learning and Agastya and Narada and Pravata; and Bhrigu and Vasishtha and Kasyapa and Gautama and Viswamitra and Jamadagni, O king!  There were also the Rishi Galava, and Ashtaka and Bharadwaja and Arundhati and the Valakhilyas; and Sivi and Dilipa and Nahusha and Amvarisha and the royal Yayati and Dhundhumara and Puru.  These foremost of men, placing the high-souled Satakratu, the slayer of Vritra, at their head, went to all the sacred waters one after another, and at last reached the highly sacred Kausiki on the day of the full moon in the month of Magha.  Having cleansed themselves of all sins by ablutions performed in all the sacred waters, they at last proceeded to the very sacred Brahmasara.  Bathing in that lake, those Rishis endued with energy like that of fire began to gather and eat the stalks of the lotus.  Amongst those Brahmanas, some had extracted the stalks of the lotus and some the stalks of the Nymphoea stellata.  Soon they found that the stalks extracted by Agastya (and deposited on the bank) had been taken away by somebody.  The foremost of Rishis, Agastya, addressing them all, said, ’Who has taken away the good stalks which I had extracted and deposited here?  I suspect some one amongst you must have done the act.  Let him who has taken them away give them back to me.  It behoves you not thus to misappropriate my stalks!  It is heard that Time assails the energy of Righteousness.  That Time has come upon us.  Hence, Righteousness