“Markandeya continued, ‘The virtuous fowler, having introduced his (both)parents to that Brahmana as his highest gurus, again spoke to him asfollows, ‘Mark thou the power of this virtue of mine, by which my innerspiritual vision is extended.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘How great was the love of virtue possessed by Vritraof immeasurable energy, whose knowledge was incomparable and whosedevotion to Vishnu was so great.
“Vasudeva said, “O scion of Bharata’s race, salvation is not attained byforegoing the external things (like kingdom, etc), it is only attained bygiving up things which pander to the flesh (body).
“Janamejaya said, ‘O adorable one, I desire to hear the histories ofthose kings who were descended from Puru. O tell me of each as he waspossessed of prowess and achievements. I have, indeed, heard that inPuru’s line there was not a single one who was wanting in good behaviourand prowess, or who was without sons.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O foremost of monarchs, I wish to know how it wasthat great and unparalleled misery had to be endured by the illustriousIndra together with his queen.’
“Markandeya said, ‘When, O Yudhishthira, all this mystery of salvationwas explained to that Brahmana, he was highly pleased and he saidaddressing the fowler,
“Bhishma said, ‘Listen, O king, to me as I tell thee the symptoms thatappeared on the body of Vritra when he was overtaken by that fever (bornof the energy of Mahadeva).
“Vaisampayana said, “With such speeches as these, was the royal saintYudhishthira, bereft of his friends, consoled by those sages of greatascetic merits.
“Janamejaya said, ‘O Brahmana, I have now heard from thee this greathistory of my ancestors. I had also heard from thee about the greatmonarchs that were born in this line.
“Indra said, This whole indestructible universe, O gods, hath beenpervaded by Vritra. There is nothing that can be equal to the task ofopposing him. I was capable of yore, but now I am incapable.
