अध्याय 25
1 [ग]
काम्बॊजं पश्य दुर्धर्षं काम्बॊजास्तरणॊचितम
शयानम ऋषभस्कन्धं हतं पांसुशु माधव
प्राचीन समय की घटना है| गजनी के बादशाह मुहम्मद गोरी ने भारत पर हमला किया था| उन दिनों देश में कोई केंद्रीय सत्ता मजबूत नहीं थी|
“Vaisampayana said, ‘And after all the kings had been seated and perfectsilence had ensued, Krishna possessing fine teeth and having a voice deepas that of the drum, began to speak.
“Arjuna asked, ‘What for, O Gandharva, did king Kalmashapada command hisqueen to go unto that foremost of all persons conversant with theVedas–the master Vasishtha? Why also did that illustrious and greatRishi Vasishtha himself who was acquainted with every rule of moralityknow a woman he should not have known?
“Narada said, ‘The heroic king Paurava also, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell aprey to death. That king gave away a thousand times thousand horses thatwere all white in hue.
1 भीष्म उवाच
ततस तृतीये दिवसे समे देशे वयवस्थितः
परेषयाम आस मे राजन पराप्तॊ ऽसमीति महाव्रतः
“The celestials said, ‘Through thy favour it is that all born beings ofthe four kinds increase. And they being created, propitiate the dwellersof heaven by offerings made to the gods and the names of departedforefathers.
1 [स]
महद भैरवम आसीन नः संनिवृत्तेषु पाण्डुषु
दृष्ट्वा दरॊणं छाद्यमानं तैर भास्करम इवाम्बुदैः
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Do thou tell us, O slayer of Madhu, what theprosperity is that attaches to the worship of the Brahmanas. Thou artwell-conversant with this topic. Verily, our grandsire knows thee.’