action, and possessed of these and numberless other
accomplishments. The Rishi, having wandered over
the different worlds, came into that Sabha. And
the celestial Rishi of immeasurable splendour, endued
with great energy was accompanied, O monarch, by Parijata
and the intelligent Raivata and Saumya and Sumukha.
Possessing the speed of the mind, the Rishi came thither
and was filled with gladness upon beholding the Pandavas.
The Brahmana, on arriving there, paid homage unto
Yudhishthira by uttering blessings on him and wishing
him victory. Beholding the learned Rishi arrive,
the eldest of the Pandavas, conversant with all rules
of duty, quickly stood up with his younger brothers.
Bending low with humility, the monarch cheerfully
saluted the Rishi, and gave with due ceremonies a
befitting seat unto him. The king also gave him
kine and the usual offerings of the Arghya including
honey and the other ingredients. Conversant with
every duty the monarch also worshipped the Rishi with
gems and jewels with a whole heart. Receiving
that worship from Yudhishthira in proper form, the
Rishi became gratified. Thus worshipped by the
Pandavas and the great Rishis, Narada possessing a
complete mastery over the Vedas, said unto Yudhishthira
the following words bearing upon religion, wealth,
pleasures and salvation.
“Narada said—’Is the wealth
thou art earning being spent on proper objects?
Doth thy mind take pleasure in virtue? Art thou
enjoying the pleasures of life? Doth not thy
mind sink under their weight? O chief of men,
continuest thou in the noble conduct consistent with
religion and wealth practised by thy ancestors towards
the three classes of subjects, (viz., good, indifferent,
and bad)? Never injurest thou religion for the
sake of wealth, or both religion and wealth for the
sake of pleasure that easily seduces? O thou
foremost of victorious men ever devoted to the good
of all, conversant as thou art with the timeliness
of everything, followest thou religion, wealth, pleasure
and salvation dividing thy time judiciously?
O sinless one, with the six attributes of kings (viz.,
cleverness of speech, readiness in providing means,
intelligence in dealing with the foe, memory, and
acquaintance with morals and politics), dost thou
attend to the seven means (viz., sowing dissensions,
chastisement, conciliation, gifts, incantations, medicine
and magic)? Examinest thou also, after a survey
of thy own strength and weakness, the fourteen possessions
of thy foes? These are the country, forts, cars,
elephants, cavalry, foot-soldiers, the principal officials
of state, the zenana, food supply, computations of
the army and income, the religious treatises in force,
the accounts of state, the revenue, wine-shops and
other secret enemies. Attendest thou to the eight
occupations (of agriculture, trade, &c), having examined,
O thou foremost of victorious monarchs, thy own and
thy enemy’s means, and having made peace with
thy enemies? O bull of the Bharata race, thy
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