Chapter 277
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Time, that is fraught, with terror unto allcreatures, is running his course. What is that source of good after whichone should strive? Tell me this, O grandsire!’
Chapter 278
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Of what behaviour must a man be, of what acts, ofwhat kind of knowledge, and to what must he be devoted, for attaining toBrahma’s place which transcends Prakriti and which is unchangeable?’
Chapter 279
“Yudhishthira said, ‘All men speak of ourselves as highly fortunate. Intruth, however, there is no person more wretched than ourselves.
Chapter 280
“Usanas said, ‘I bow to that divine and illustrious and puissant Beingwho holds this earth with the firmament in his arms. I shall speak tothee of the pre-eminent greatness of that Vishnu whose head, O best ofthe Danavas, is that Infinite place (called Emancipation).’
Chapter 281
“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.
Chapter 282
“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).
Chapter 283
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, thou art possessed of great wisdom andthoroughly conversant with every branch of learning. From this verynarrative of the slaughter of Vritra the wish has arisen in my mind ofasking thee a question.
Chapter 284
“Janamejaya said, ‘How O Brahmana, was the Horse-sacrifice of thePrajapati Daksha, the son of Prachetas, destroyed during the age ofVaivaswata Manu?
Chapter 285
“Yudhishthira said, ‘It behoveth thee, O sire, to tell me those names bywhich Daksha, that progenitor of creatures, adored the great deity. Osinless one, a reverent curiosity impels me to hear them.’
Chapter 286
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grandsire, what is Adhyatma with respectto man and whence it arises.’