all creatures, that Asura hath become incapable of being slain by the gods and Daityas and Rakshasas and Gandharvas.  Slay though him, O king, and blessed be thou and let not thy heart turn to any other course.  By slaying him thou wilt without doubt, achieve a great thing and thou wilt also obtain eternal and undying fame.  And O king, when at the end of every year that wicked Asura lying covered with sands, wakes up and begins to breathe, then the whole earth with her mountains, forests and woods begins to tremble.  And his breath raiseth up clouds of sands, and shroudeth the very sun, and for seven days continually the earth tremble all over, and sparks and flames of fire mixed with smoke spread far around and for all this, O king, I cannot rest in peace in my asylum.  Slay thou him, O king, for the good of the world.  Indeed, when that Asura is slain the triple world will be in peace and happiness.  That thou art competent, O king, to slay that Asura, I fully believe.  Thy energy will be enhanced by Vishnu with the addition of his own.  In days of old, O king, Vishnu gave this boon that the king who should slay this fierce and great Asura would be pervaded by the invincible energy of Vishnu himself.  Bearing that invincible Vaishnava energy in thyself, slay thou, O great king, that Daitya of fierce prowess.  Possessed as Dhundhu is of mighty energy, no one, O king, that is endued with small energy himself will be capable of consuming him, even if he were to strive for a hundred years.’”

SECTION CCII

“Markandeya said, ’Thus addressed by Utanka, that unvanquished royal sage, with joined hands, O thou foremost of the Kuru race, replied unto Utanka, saying, ’This visit of thine, O Brahmana, will not be in vain.  This my son, O holy one, known by the name of Kuvalaswa is endued with steadiness and activity.  In prowess also he is unequalled on earth.  Without doubt he will accomplish all this that is agreeable to thee, aided by all his brave sons endued with arms like unto iron maces.  Give me leave to retire, O Brahmana, for I have now given up my weapons.’  Thus addressed by the king, that Muni of immeasurable energy replied unto him, saying, ’So be it.”  And the royal sage Vrihadaswa then, having commended his son to obey the behest of the high-souled Utanka saying, ’Let it be done by thee,’ himself retired into an excellent forest.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’O holy one, O thou possessed of the wealth of asceticism, who was this Daitya of great energy?  Whose son and whose grandson was he?  I desire to know all this; O thou possessed of the wealth of asceticism I never heard of this mighty Daitya before.  I desire to know all this truly, O holy one, and with all particulars in detail, O thou of great wisdom and ascetic wealth!’