ies and all the Rishis, possessed of tranquil
souls, occupying their places on the altar, dedicate to him the first
share of their sacrificial offerings.[1923] I, that am Brahma, the
primeval master of all creatures, have started into birth from Him, and
thou hast taken thy birth from me. From me have flowed the universe with
all its mobile and immobile creatures, and all the Vedas, O son, with
their mysteries. Divided into four portions (viz., Aniruddha, Pradyumna,
Sankarshana, and Vasudeva), He sports as He pleases. That illustrious and
divine Lord is even such, awakened by His own knowledge. I have thus
answered thee, O son, according to thy questions, and according to the
way in which the matter is expounded in the Sankha system and the Yoga
philosophy."'"

SECTION CCCLIII

Sauti said, "After Vaisampayana had explained to king Janamejaya in this
way the glory of Narayana, he began to discourse on another topic by
reciting the question of Yudhishthira and the answer that Bhishma gave in
the presence of all the Pandavas and the Rishis as also of Krishna
himself. Indeed, Vaisampayana began by saying what follows.[1924]

"'Yudhishthira said, "Thou hast, O grandsire discoursed to us on the
duties appertaining to the religion of Emancipation. It behoveth thee now
to tell us what the foremost duties are of persons belonging to the
several modes of life!"[1925]

"'Bhishma said, "The duties ordained in respect of every mode of life are
capable, if well performed, of leading to heaven and the high fruit of
Truth. Duties which are as so many doors, to great sacrifices and gifts
and none of the practices inculcated by them are futile in respect of
consequence. One who adopts particular duties with steady and firm faith,
praises these duties adopted by him to the exclusion of the rest, O chief
of Bharata's race. This particular topic, however, on which thou wishest
me to discourse was in days of yore the subject of conversation between
the celestial Rishi Narada and the chief of the deities, viz., Indra. The
great Rishi Narada, O king, revered by all the world is a siddha i.e.,
his sadhana has met fulfilment. He wanders through all the worlds
unobstructed by anything, like the all-pervading wind itself. Once upon a
time he repaired to the abode of Indra. Duly honoured by the chief of the
deities, he sat close to his host. Beholding him seated at his ease and
free from fatigue, the lord of Sachi addressed him, saying,--'O