and Savalaksha and Kanwa and Medhatithi and Krisa and Narada and Parvata and Sudhanwa and Ekata and Dwita.  There were also Nitambhu and Bhuvana and Dhaumya and Satananda and Akritavrana and Rama, the son of Jamadagni and Kacha.  All these high-souled and great Rishis came there for seeing Bhishma lying on his bed of arrows.  Yudhishthira with his brothers duly worshipped those high-souled Rishis who had come there, one after another in proper order.  Receiving that worship, those foremost of Rishis sat themselves down and began to converse with one another.  Their conversation related to Bhishma, and was highly sweet and agreeable to all the senses.  Hearing that talk of theirs having reference to himself, Bhishma became filled with delight and regarded himself to be already in heaven.  Those Rishis then, having obtained the leave of Bhishma and of the Pandava princes, made themselves invisible, vanishing in the very sight of all the beholders.  The Pandavas repeatedly bowed and offered their adorations to those highly blessed Rishis, even after they had made themselves invisible.  They then with cheerful souls waited upon the son of Ganga, even as Brahmanas versed in Mantras wait with reverence upon the rising Sun.  The Pandavas beheld that the points of the compass blazed forth with splendour in consequence of the energy of their penances, and became filled with wonder at the sight.  Thinking of the high blessedness and puissance of those Rishis, the Pandava princes began to converse on the subject with their grandsire Bhishma.”

“Vaisampayana continued, ’The conversation being over, the righteous Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu; touched Bhishma’s feet with his head and then resumed his questions relating to morality and righteousness.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’Which countries, which provinces, which retreats, which mountains, and which rivers, O grandsire, are the foremost in point of sanctity?’

“Bhishma said, “In this connection is cited the old narrative of a conversation between a Brahmana in the observance of the Sila and the Unccha vows, O Yudhishthira, and a Rishi crowned with ascetic success.  Once on a time, a foremost person, having roamed over this entire earth adorned with mountains, arrived at last in the house of a foremost person leading the domestic mode of life in accordance with the Sila vow.  The latter welcomed his guest with due rites.  Received with such hospitality, the happy Rishi passed the night happily in the house of his host.  The next morning the Brahmana in the observance of the Sila vow, having finished all his morning acts and rites and purified himself duly, very cheerfully approached his guest crowned with ascetic success.  Meeting with each other and seated at their ease, the two began to converse on agreeable subjects connected with the Vedas and the Upanishads.  Towards the conclusion of the discourse, the Brahmana in the observance of the Sila vow respectfully addressed the Rishi crowned with success.  Endued with intelligence, he put this very question which thou, O Yudhisthira, hast put to me.’