of Bhagadatta, attained to the region of Indra by the power alone of his penances.  There was another king, O monarch, of the name of Prishadhra who resembled the wielder of the thunder-bolt himself.  That king also, by his penances proceeded from the Earth to Heaven.  In this very forest, O king, that lord of Earth, Purukutsa, the soil of Mandhatri, attained to high success.  That foremost of rivers, viz., Narmada, became the consort of that king.  Having undergone penances in this very forest, that ruler of Earth proceeded to Heaven.  There was another king, highly righteous, of the name of Sasaloman.  He too underwent severe austerities in this forest and then ascended to Heaven.  Thou also, O monarch, having arrived at this forest, shalt, through the grace of the Island-born, attain to a goal that is very high and that is difficult of attainment.  Thou also, O foremost of kings, at the end of thy penances, become endued with great prosperity and, accompanied by Gandhari, attain to the goal reached by those high-souled ones.  Dwelling in the presence of the slayer of Vala, Pandu thinks of thee always.  He will, O monarch, certainly assist thee in the attainment of prosperity.  Through serving thee and Gandhari, this daughter-in-law of thine, possessed of great fame, will attain to residence with her husband in the other world.  She is the mother of Yudhishthira who is the eternal Dharma.  We behold all this, O king, with our spiritual vision.  Vidura will enter into the high-souled Yudhishthira.  Sanjaya also, through meditation, will ascend from this world into Heaven.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’That high-souled chief of Kuru’s race, possessed of learning, having, with his wife, heard these words of Narada, praised them and worshipped Narada with unprecedented honours.  The conclave of Brahmanas there present became filled with great joy, and desirous of gladdening king Dhritarashtra, O monarch, themselves worshipped Narada with profound regards.  Those foremost of regenerate persons also praised the words of Narada.  Then the royal sage Satayupa, addressing Narada, said, ’Thy holy self hath enhanced the devotion of the Kuru king, of all those people here, and of myself also, O thou of great splendour.  I have, however, the wish to ask thee something.  Listen to me as I say it.  It has reference to the king Dhritarashtra, O celestial Rishi, that art worshipped by all the worlds.  Thou art acquainted with the truth of every affair.  Endued with celestial sight, thou beholdest, O regenerate Rishi, what the diverse goals are of human beings.  Thou hast said what the goal has been of the kings mentioned by thee, viz., association with the chief of celestials.  Thou hast not, however, O great Rishi, declared what those regions are that will be acquired by this king.  O puissant one, I wish to hear from thee what region will be acquired by the royal Dhritarashtra.  It behoveth thee to tell me truly the kind of region that will be his and the time when he will attain to it.’  Thus addressed by him, Narada of celestial sight and endued with austere penances, said in the midst of the assembly these words highly agreeable to the minds of all.’