Vaisampayana said, “O descendant of Bharata, while Krishna, the descendant of the Vrishnis and the virtuous king, were thus talking, there appeared then the saint Markandeya, grown grey in the practise of penances.  And he had seen many thousand years of life, was of a pious soul, and devoted to great austerities.  Signs of old age he had none; and deathless he was, and endued with beauty and generous and many good qualities.  And he looked like one only twenty-five years old.  And when the aged saint, who had seen many thousand years of life, came, all the Brahmanas paid their respects to him and so did Krishna together with Pandu’s son.  And when that wisest saint, thus honoured, took his seat in a friendly way, Krishna addressed him, in accordance with the views of the Brahmanas and of Pandu’s sons, thus,—­

“’The sons of Pandu, and the Brahmanas assembled here, and the daughter of Drupada, and Satyabhama, likewise myself, are all anxious to hear your most excellent words, O Markandeya!  Propound to us the holy stories of events of bygone times, and the eternal rules of righteous conduct by which are guided kings and women and saints!’”

Vaisampayana continued, “When they had all taken their seats, Narada also, the divine saint, of purified soul, came on a visit to Pandu’s sons.  Him also, then, of great soul, all those foremost men of superior intellect, honoured in the prescribed form, by offering water to wash his feet, and the well-known oblation called the Arghya.  Then the godlike saint, Narada, learning that they were about to hear the speech of Markandeya, expressed his assent to the arrangement.  And he, the deathless, knowing what would be opportune, said smilingly, ’O saint of the Brahmana caste, speak what you were about to say unto the sons of Pandu!’ Thus addressed, Markandeya, devoted to great austerities, replied, ‘Wait a moment.  A great deal will be narrated.’  Thus addressed, the sons of Pandu, together with those twice-born ones, waited a moment, looking at that great saint, (bright) as the mid-day sun.”

Vaisampayana continued, “Pandu’s son, the king of the Kuru tribe, having observed that the great saint as willing to speak, questioned him with a view to suggesting topics to speak upon, saying, ’You who are ancient (in years), know the deeds of gods and demons, and illustrious saints, and of all the royal ones.  We consider you as worthy of being worshipped and honoured; and we have long yearned after your company.  And here is this son of Devaki, Krishna, who has come to us on a visit.  Verily, when I look at myself, fallen away from happiness, and when I contemplate the sons of Dhritarashtra, of evil life, flourishing in every way, the idea arises in me that it is man who does all acts, good or bad, and that it is he that enjoys the fruit the acts bring forth.  How then is god the agent?  And, O best of those that are proficient in the knowledge