Chapter 123
“Vaisampayana said, ‘O Janamejaya, when Gandhari’s conception had been afull year old, it was then that Kunti summoned the eternal god of justiceto obtain offspring from him.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘O Janamejaya, when Gandhari’s conception had been afull year old, it was then that Kunti summoned the eternal god of justiceto obtain offspring from him.
“Vidura said, ‘The heart of a young man, when an aged and venerableperson cometh to his house (as a guest), soareth aloft. By advancingforward and saluting him, he getteth it back.
“Markandeya continued, ‘Do ye again hear from me the glory of theBrahmanas! It is said that a royal sage of the name of Vainya was onceengaged in performing the horse-sacrifice and that Atri desired to go tohim for alms.
“Brahmana said, ‘Among men, the royal Kshatriya is (endued with) themiddle quality. Among vehicles, the elephant (is so); and among denizensof the forest the lion; among all (sacrificial) animals, the sheep;
“Yudhishthira said, ‘It behoveth thee, O grandsire, to discourse to me onthat which is freed from duty and its reverse, which is freed from everydoubt, which transcends birth and death, as also virtue and sin, which isauspiciousness, which is eternal fearlessness, which is Eternal andIndestructible, and Immutable, which is always Pure, and which is everfree from the toil of exertion.’
“Vaisampayana said, ‘After the birth of Kunti’s sons and also of thehundred sons of Dhritarashtra the daughter of the king of the Madrasprivately addressed Pandu, saying, ‘O slayer of foes, I have no complainteven if thou beest unpropitious to me.
“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Man is not the disposer of either his prosperity oradversity. He is like a wooden doll moved by strings. Indeed, the Creatorhath made man subject to Destiny. Go on telling me, I am attentive towhat thou sayest.’
Vaisampayana continued,–“The sons of Pandu said to the high-souledMarkandeya, ‘We long to hear of the greatness of the Brahmanas Do thoutell us of it!’
“Brahmana said, ‘I shall now tell you truly about all that which has abeginning, middle, and end, and which is endued with name andcharacteristics, together with the means of apprehension.
“Yajnavalkya said, Listen to me, O foremost of men, as I tell thee whatthe duration of time is in respect to the Unmanifest (or the SupremePurusha).