SECTION LXXII

“Vaisampayana said, ’Thus addressed by Krishna, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, endued with great intelligence, saluted Vyasa and said these words:  ’Do thou cause me to be initiated when the proper hour, as thou truly knowest, comes for that rite.  This my sacrifice is entirely dependent on thee.’

“Vyasa said, ’Myself, O son of Kunti, and Paila and Yajnavalkya, shall without doubt, achieve every rite at the proper time.  The rite of initiating thee will be performed on the day of full moon belonging to the month of Chaitra.  Let all the necessaries of the sacrifice, O foremost of men, be got ready.  Let Sutas well-versed in the science of horses, and let Brahmanas also possessed of the same lore, select, after examination, a worthy horse in order that thy sacrifice maybe completed.  Loosening the animal according to the injunctions of the scriptures, let him wander over the whole Earth with her belt of seas, displaying thy blazing glory, O king!’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Thus addressed (by the Rishi), Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, that lord of Earth, answered,—­’So be it!’—­and then, O monarch, he accomplished all that that utterer of Brahma had directed.  All the articles necessary for the sacrifice, O king, were duly procured.  The royal son of Dharma, possessed of immeasurable soul, having procured all the necessaries, informed the Island-born Krishna of it.  Then Vyasa of great energy said unto the royal son of Dharma,—­’As regards ourselves, we are all prepared to initiate thee in view of the sacrifice.  Let the Sphya and the Kurcha and all the other articles that, O thou of Kuru’s race, may be needed for thy sacrifice, be made of gold.[189] Let the horse also be loosened today, for roaming on the Earth, agreeably to the ordinances of the scriptures.  Let the animal, duly protected, wander over the Earth.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’Let arrangements be made by thee, O regenerate one, about loosening this horse for enabling it to wander over the Earth at its will.  It behoveth thee, O ascetic, to say who will protect this steed while roaming over the Earth freely according to its will.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Thus addressed (by king Yudhishthira), O monarch, the Island-born Krishna said,—­’He who is born after Bhimasena, who is the foremost of all bowmen, who is called Jishnu, who is endued with great patience and capable of overcoming all resistance,—­he will protect the horse.  That destroyer of the Nivatakavachas is competent to conquer the whole Earth.  In him are all celestial weapons.  His body is like that of a celestial in its powers of endurance.  His bow and quivers are celestial.  Even he will follow this horse.—­He is well versed in both Religion and wealth.  He is a master of all the sciences.  O foremost of kings, he will agreeably to the scriptures, cause the steed to roam and graze at its will.  This mighty-armed prince, of dark