treatise on morality and religion.  Possessed of the excellence, this treatise is fraught with instructions for acquiring both Wealth and Religious merit, and is full of mysteries.  In consequence of the promulgation of this treatise of yours, ye will be progenitors of an extensive race.  King Uparichara also will become endued with greatness and prosperity.  Upon the death, however, of that king, this eternal treatise will disappear from the world.  I tell you all this.—­Having said these words unto all those Rishis, the invisible Narayana left them and proceeded to some place that was not known to them.  Then those sires of the world, those Rishis that bestowed their thoughts on the ends pursued by the world, duly promulgated that treatise which is the eternal origin of all duties and observances.  Subsequently, when Vrihaspati was born in Angiras’s race in the first or the Krita age, those seven Rishis charged him with the task of promulgating their treatise which was consistent with the Upanishads and the several branches of the Vedas.  They themselves who were upholders of the universe and the first promulgators of duties and religious observances, then proceeded to the place they chose, resolved to devote themselves to penances.’”

SECTION CCCXXXVII

“Bhishma said, ’Then upon the expiration of the great Kalpa, when the celestial Purohita Vrihaspati was born in the race of Angiras, all the deities became very happy.  The words, Vrihat, Brahma, and Mahat all bear the same sense.[1800] The celestial Purohita, O king came to be called Vrihaspati because he was endued with all these attributes.  King Uparichara, otherwise called Vasu, became a disciple of Vrihaspati and soon became the foremost of his disciples.  Admitted as such, he began to study at the feet of his preceptor that science which was composed by the seven Rishis who were (otherwise) known by the name of Chitrasikhandins.  With soul cleansed from all sorts of evil by sacrifices and other religious rites, he ruled the Earth like Indra ruling the Heaven.  The illustrious king performed a great Horse-sacrifice in which his preceptor Vrihaspati became the Hota.  The sons of Prajapati (Brahman) themselves, viz., Ekata, Dwita, and Trita, became the Sadasyas in that sacrifice.[1801] There were others also who became Sadasyas in that sacrifice, viz., Dhanusha, Raivya, Arvavasu, Parvavasu, the Rishi Medhatithi, the great Rishi Tandya, the blessed Rishi Santi, otherwise called Vedasiras, the foremost of Rishis, viz., Kapila, who was the father of Salihotra, the first Kalpa, Tittiri the elder brother of Vaisampayana, Kanwa, and Devahotra, in all forming sixteen.  In that great sacrifice, O monarch, all the requisite articles were collected.  No animals were slain in it.  The king had ordained it so.  He was full of compassion.  Of pure and liberal mind, he had cast off all desires, and was well-conversant with all rites.  The requisites