Janamejaya said, “While the high-souled Pandavas were living in thosewoods, delighted with the pleasant conversation they held with the Munis,and engaged in distributing the food they obtained from the sun, withvarious kinds of venison to
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘When the troops were thus engaged and thusproceeded against one another in separate divisions, how did Partha andthe warriors of my army endued with great activity fight?
“Bhishma said, ‘The king, O Yudhishthira, should always be ready foraction. That king is not worth of praise who, like a woman, is destituteof exertion.
“Vyasa said, ‘Borne up and down in life’s ocean, he that is capable ofmeditation seizes the raft of Knowledge and for achieving hisEmancipation adheres to Knowledge itself (without extending his armshither and thither for catching any other support).'[919]
“Vyasa said, ‘Blessed be thou, O Gandhari, thou shalt behold thy sons andbrothers and friends and kinsmen along with thy sires this night like menrisen from sleep.
“Sauti said, ‘Then Vasuki spake unto the Rishi Jaratkaru these words, ‘Obest of Brahmanas, this maiden is of the same name with thee. She is mysister and hath ascetic merit. I will maintain thy wife; accept her. Othou of ascetic wealth, I shall protect her with all my ability. And, Oforemost of the great Munis, she hath been reared by me for thee.’ Andthe Rishi replied, ‘This is agreed between us that I shall not maintainher; and she shall not do aught that I do not like. If she do, I leaveher!’
“The messenger of the gods said, ‘O great sage, thou art of simpleunderstanding; since, having secured that celestial bliss which bringethgreat honour, thou art still deliberating like an unwise person.
“Sanjaya said, ‘Thou askest me about the feats of Arjuna in battle.Listen, O thou of mighty arms, to what Partha achieved in the fight.
“Vyasa said, ‘These, then, are the obligatory acts ordained forBrahmanas. One possessed of knowledge always attains to success by goingthrough (the prescribed) acts.
Sanjaya said,–“Approaching then thy son Chitrasena of great energy whohad thus been deprived of his car, thy son Vikarna caused him to mount onhis car.
