“Time said, ’Thou hast won a high reward which is, indeed, commensurate with this course of recitation that thou hast finished.  The time is come for thee to ascend to heaven..  I am Time and I have come to thee.’

“Mrityu said, ’O thou that art conversant with righteousness, know me for Mrityu herself in her proper form.  I have come to thee in person, urged by Time, for bearing thee hence, O Brahmana.’

“The Brahmana said, ’Welcome to Surya’s son, to Time possessed of high soul, to Mrityu, and to Dharma!  What shall I accomplish for you all.

“Bhishma continued, ’In that meeting, the Brahmana gave them water to wash their feet, and the usual articles of the Arghya.  Highly gratified, he then addressed them, saying, ’What shall I do for you all by exerting my own might?’ Just at that time, 01 monarch, (king) Ikshvaku, who had set out on a sojourn to holy waters and shrines, came to that spot where those deities had been assembled together.  ’The royal sage Ikshvaku bowed his head and worshipped them all.  That best of kings then enquired after the welfare of all of them.  The Brahmana gave the king a seat, as also water to wash his feet, and the usual Arghya.  Having next made the usual enquiries of courtesy, he said, ’Thou art welcome, O great monarch!  Tell me all this thy wishes!  Let thy noble self tell me what I shall have to accomplish for thee by putting forth my might.’

“The king said, ’I am a king.  Thou art a Brahmana in the observance of the six well-known duties. (1 cannot ask), I will give thee some wealth.  That is well-known.  Tell me how much I shall give thee.’

“The Brahmana said, ’There are two kinds of Brahmanas, O monarch!  Morality of righteousness also is of two kinds; addiction to work, and abstention from work.  As regards myself, I have abstained from acceptance of gifts.  Give presents unto them, O, king, that are addicted to the duty of work and acceptance.  I shall not, therefore, accept anything in gift.  On the other hand, I ask thee, what is for thy good?  What, indeed, shall I give thee?  Tell me, O foremost of kings, and I shall accomplish it with the aid of my penances.’

“The king said, ’I am a Kshatriya.  I do not know how to say the word ‘Give.’  The only thing, O best of regenerate persons, that we can say (by way of asking) is Give (us) battle.’

“The Brahmana said, ’Thou art content with the observance of the duties of thy order.  Similarly, I am content with the duties of mine, O king!  There is, therefore, little difference between us.  Do as thou pleasest!’

“The king said, ’Thou saidst these words first, viz., ’I shall give thee according to my might.’  I, therefore, solicit thee, O regenerate one.  Give me the fruits of this recitation (which thou hast gone through).’

“The Brahmana said, ’Thou wert boasting that thy utterances always solicit battle.  Why then dost thou not solicit battle with me?’