Chapter 156
“Bhishma said, ‘Thus addressed, Arjuna remained silent. The god of windonce more addressed him, saying, ‘Hear me, O foremost one of theHaihayas, as I narrate to thee the achievement of the high-souled Atri.
“Bhishma said, ‘Thus addressed, Arjuna remained silent. The god of windonce more addressed him, saying, ‘Hear me, O foremost one of theHaihayas, as I narrate to thee the achievement of the high-souled Atri.
“Gandhari said, Behold the son of Somadatta, who was slain by Yuyudhana,pecked at and torn by a large number of birds! Burning with grief at thedeath of his son, Somadatta,
“Narada continued, ‘Here in the very centre of the world of the Nagas issituated the city known by the name of Patalam. Celebrated over all theuniverse, it is worshipped by the Daityas and the Danavas.
“Dhrishtadyumna said, ‘Duryodhana, Durvisaha, Durmukha andDushpradharshana, Vivinsati, Vikarna, Saha, and Duhsasana; Yuyutsu andVayuvega and Bhimavegarava; Ugrayudha, Valaki, Kanakayu, and Virochana,Sukundala, Chitrasena, Suvarcha, and Kanakadhwaja; Nandaka, and Vahusali, and Tuhunda, and Vikata; these, O sister, and many other mighty sons of Dhritarashtra–all heroes–accompanied by Karna, have come for thy hand.Innumerable other illustrious monarchs all bulls among Kshatriyas–havealso come for thee.
“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.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O best of regenerate ones, I desire again to hear ofthe achievements in detail of Agastya–that illustrious Rishi endued withgreat intelligence.'”
“Bhishma said, “Thus addressed, king Arjuna remained silent. The god ofwind once more spoke to him, ‘Listen now, O king, to the story of thegreatness of the Brahmana Agastya.
“Gandhari said, There lies Shalya, the maternal uncle himself of Nakula,slain in battle, O sire, by the pious and virtuous Yudhishthira!
“Narada continued, ‘Here is that spacious and celebrated city of cities,called Hiranyapura, belonging to the Daityas and Danavas, possessing ahundred diverse kinds of illusion.
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then those youthful princes adorned with ear-rings,vying with one another and each regarding himself accomplished in armsand gifted with might, stood up brandishing their weapons. Andintoxicated with pride of beauty, prowess, lineage, knowledge, wealth,and youth, they were like Himalayan elephants in the season of rut withcrowns split from excess of temporal juice.