in the firmament.  Therefore, should no one act unrighteously, saying,—­I am mighty! Behold, O king, the mighty elephants, huge as mountain cliffs and furnished with tusks, transgress not, O exalted of men, the laws of the Creator!  Therefore, should none act unrighteously saying, Might is mine! And, O foremost of monarchs, behold all the creatures acting according to their species, as ordained by the Creator.  Therefore, should none act unrighteously, saying, Might is mine.  O son of Pritha, in truth, and virtue, and proper behaviour, and modesty, thou hast surpassed all creatures, and thy fame and energy are as bright as fire or the Sun!  Firm in thy promises, O illustrious one, having passed in the woods thy painful exile, thou wilt again, O king, snatch from the Kauravas thy blazing prosperity with the help of thy own energy!’”

Vaisampayana continued, “Having spoken these words unto Yudhishthira (seated) in the midst of the ascetics with friends, the great Rishi having also saluted Dhaumya and all the Pandavas set out in a northerly direction!”

SECTION XXVI

Vaisampayana said, “While the illustrious son of Pandu continued to dwell in the Dwaita woods, that great forest became filled with Brahmanas.  And the lake within that forest, ever resounding with Vedic recitations, became sacred like a second region of Brahma.  And the sounds of the Yajus, the Riks, the Samas, and other words uttered by the Brahmanas, were exceedingly delightful to hear.  And the Vedic recitations of the Brahmanas mingling with the twang of bows of the sons of Pritha, produced a union of the Brahmana and Kshatriya customs that was highly beautiful.  And one evening the Rishi Vaka of the Dalvya family addressed Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti seated in the midst of the Rishis, saying, ’Behold, O chief of the Kurus, O son of Pritha, the homa time is come of these Brahmanas devoted to ascetic austerities, the time when the (sacred) fires have all been lit up!  These all, of rigid vows, protected by thee, are performing the rites of religion in this sacred region!  The descendants of Bhrigu and Angiras, along with those of Vasishta and Kasyapa, the illustrious sons of Agastya, the offspring of Atri all of excellent vows, in fact, all the foremost Brahmanas of the whole, are now united with thee!  Listen, O son of the Kuru race born of Kunti, thyself with thy brothers, to the words I speak to thee!  As are aided by the wind consumeth the forest, so Brahma energy mingling with Kshatriya energy, and Kshatriya might mingling with Brahma power, might, when they gathered force, consume all enemies!  O child, he should never desire to be without Brahmanas who wisheth to subdue this and the other world for length of days!  Indeed, a king slayeth his enemies having obtained a Brahmana conversant, with religion and worldly affairs