Chapter 59

“Narada said, ‘Dilipa, the son of Havila, too, O Srinjaya, we hear, fella prey to death. Brahmanas, vested in knowledge of Truth, devoted to theperformance of sacrifices, blessed with children and children’s childrenand numbering myriads upon myriads, were present at his hundreds ofsacrifices. King Dilipa, having performed various sacrifices, gave awaythis earth, filled with treasures, unto the Brahmanas. At the sacrificesof Dilipa, the roads were all made of gold. The very gods, with Indra attheir head used to come to him regarding him as Dharma himself. The upperand lower rings of his sacrificial stake were made of gold. Eating hisRaga-khandavas, many persons, at his sacrifices, were seen to lie down onthe roads. While battling over the waters, the two wheels of Dilipa’s carnever sank in that liquid. This seemed exceedingly wonderful, and neveroccured to other kings, Even those that saw king Dilipa, that firmbowman, always truthful in speech and giving away profuse gifts at hissacrifices, succeeded in ascending to heaven. In the abode of Dilipa,called also Khattanga, these five sounds were always to be heard, viz.,the sound of Vedic recitations, the twang of bows, and Drink, Enjoy, andEat! When he died, O Srinjaya, who was superior to thee in respect of thefour cardinal virtues and who superior to thee, was much superior to thyson, thou shouldst not, saying, ‘Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya,’ grieve forthy son who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial gifts.'”[102]