“Bhishma said, ‘The fowler, O king, happened to see that pair whileseated on their celestial car. Beholding the couple he became filled withsorrow (at the thought of his own misfortune) and began to reflect uponthe means of obtaining the same end.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O best of the Bharatas, when a person commits sinfrom want of judgment, how may he be cleansed from it? Tell me everythingabout it.’
“Bhishma said, ‘Thus addressed, Janamejaya replied unto the sage, saying,’Thou rebukest one that deserves to be rebuked.
“Saunaka said, ‘I shall for these reasons discourse to thee ofrighteousness, to thee whose heart has been exceedingly agitated.Possessed of knowledge and great strength, and with a contented heart,thou seekest righteousness of thy own will.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Hast thou, O grandsire, ever seen or heard of anymortal restored to life after having succumbed to death?’
“Yudhishthira said, “If a person, weak, worthless, and light-hearted, Ogrand sire, doth from folly provoke, by means of unbecoming and boastfulspeeches, a
“Narada said, ‘Without doubt, O Salmali, the terrible and irresistiblegod of the wind always protects thee from friendliness or amity.
“Bhishma continued, ‘Having said these words unto the Salmali. thatforemost of all persons conversant with Brahma, viz., Narada, representedunto the god of the wind all that the Salmali had said about him.’
“Bhishma said, ‘Having settled this in his mind, the Salmali. in sorrow,himself caused all his branches, principal and subsidiary, to be cut off.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘I desire, O bull of Bharata’s race, to hear indetail the source from which sin proceeds and the foundation upon whichit rests.’
