“Gautama said, ’Next to these blaze in beauty those eternal regions, redolent with excellent perfumes, that are free from passions of every kind and that are destitute of sorrow.  These constitute the abode of the high-souled king Soma.  If thou repairest thither, even thither shall I proceed and force thee to yield up this elephant to me!’

“Dhritarashtra said, ’Those men that always make gifts without receiving any gift, who never accept any service from others, who own nothing which they cannot give to a deserving person, who are hospitable to all creatures, who are inclined to show grace to every one, who are endued with forgiving dispositions, who never speak ill of others, who protect all creatures by throwing over them the shroud of compassion, and who are always righteous in their behaviour,—­only those men, O great Rishi, proceed to such regions.  I shall proceed to a higher region.  Verily, Dhritarashtra shall not go there!’

“Gautama said, ’Next to these blaze in beauty other regions that are eternal, free from passion and darkness and sorrow, and that lie at the foot of the high-souled deity of the Sun.  If thou repairest thither, even thither shall I go and force thee to yield up this elephant to me!’

“Dhritarashtra said, ’Those men that are attentive to the study of the Vedas, that are devoted to the service of their preceptors, that are observant of penances and excellent vows, that are firm in truth, that never utter anything that smacks of disobedience or enmity to their preceptors, that are always alert, and ever ready in service of seniors and preceptors,—­they repair, O great Rishi, to such regions, they that are pure (of mind and body), that are endued with cleansed souls, that are of restrained speech, that are firm in truth, and that are well-versed in the Vedas.  I shall proceed to a higher region!  Verily, Dhritarashtra shall not go thither!’

“Gautama said, ’Next to those are the eternal regions that blaze in beauty, that are redolent with excellent perfumes, that are free from passion, and that are free from every sorrow.  They constitute the abode of the high-souled king Varuna.  If thou proceedest thither, even thither shall I go and force thee to yield up this elephant to me!’

“Dhritarashtra said, ’Those men who worship the deities by observing the vow called Chaturmasya, that perform a hundred and ten sacrifices, that pour libations every day on their sacred fire with devotion and faith for three years agreeably with the ordinances declared in the Vedas, that bear without flinching the burden of all duties, that walk steadily along the way trod by the righteous, that steadily sustain the course of conduct followed by the righteous-souled,—­only they repair to such regions.  I shall repair to a higher region.  Verily, Dhritarashtra shall not go thither!’

“Gautama said, ’Above them are the regions of Indra, free from passion and sorrow, that are difficult of access and coveted by all men.  Proceeding even to the abode of Indra himself of mighty energy, I shall, O king, force thee to yield up this elephant to me!’