that too.  And the person male or female, that reciteth this hymn every day in the two twilights, if overtaken by danger, is delivered from it, and if bound, is freed from the bonds.  Brahma himself had communicated this hymn to the illustrious Sakra, and from Sakra was it obtained by Narada and from Narada, by Dhaumya.  And Yudhishthira, obtaining it from Dhaumya, attained all his wishes.  And it is by virtue of this hymn that one may always obtain victory in war, and acquire immense wealth also.  And it leadeth the reciter from all sins, to the solar region.”

Vaisampayana continued, “Having obtained the boon, the virtuous son of Kunti, rising from the water, took hold of Dhaumya’s feet and then embraced his brother’s.  And, O exalted one, wending then with Draupadi to the kitchen, and adored by her duly, the son of Pandu set himself to cook (their day’s) food.  And the clean food, however little, that was dressed, furnished with the four tastes, increased and became inexhaustible.  And with it Yudhishthira began to feed the regenerate ones.  And after the Brahmanas had been fed, and his younger brothers also, Yudhishthira himself ate of the food that remained, and which is called Vighasa.  And after Yudhishthira had eaten, the daughter of Prishata took what remained.  And after she had taken her meal, the day’s food became exhausted.

“And having thus obtained the boon from the maker of day, the son of Pandu, himself as resplendent as that celestial, began to entertain the Brahmanas agreeably to their wishes.  And obedient to their priest, the sons of Pritha, on auspicious lunar days and constellations and conjunctions, performed sacrifices according to the ordinance, the scriptures, and the Mantras.  After the sacrifices, the sons of Pandu, blessed by the auspicious rites performed by Dhaumya and accompanied by him, and surrounded also by the Brahmanas set out for the woods of Kamyaka.”

SECTION IV

Vaisampayana said,—­“After the Pandavas had gone to the forest, Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika, whose knowledge was his eye,[14] became exceedingly sorrowful.  And seated at his ease the king addressed these words to the virtuous Vidura of profound intelligence, ’Thy understanding is as clear as that of Bhargava.[15] Thou knowest also all the subtleties of morality, and thou lookest on all the Kauravas with an equal eye.  O, tell me what is proper for me and them.  O Vidura, things having thus taken their course, what should we do now?  How may I secure the goodwill of the citizens so that they may not destroy us to the roots?  O, tell us all, since thou art conversant with every excellent expedient.’

    [14] Dhritarashtra being blind is described as Pragnachakshu,
    i.e. having knowledge for his eye.  It may also mean.  “Of the
    prophetic eye.”

    [15] The great preceptor of the Asuras, viz., Sukra,
    possessing the highest intelligence as evidenced by his various
    works on all manner of subjects particularly, the Sukra-niti.