, art sporting
in joy in this great forest, accompanied by thy brothers and Krishna.
When thou art also, O monarch, mixing daily with blessed Brahmanas
versed in the Vedas and their branches, thou hast little cause for
sorrow. This history, besides, of the Naga Karkotaka, of Damayanti, of
Nala and of that royal sage Rituparna, is destructive of evil. And, O
thou of unfading glory, this history, destructive of the influence of
Kali, is capable, O king, of comforting persons like thee when they
listen to it. And reflecting upon the uncertainty (of success) of human
exertion, it behoveth thee not to joy or grieve at prosperity or
adversity. Having listened to this history, be comforted, O king, and
yield not to grief. It behoveth thee not, O great king, to pine under
calamity. Indeed, men of self-possession, reflecting upon the caprice of
destiny and the fruitlessness of exertion, never suffer themselves to be
depressed. They that will repeatedly recite this noble history of Nala,
and that will hear it recited, will never be touched by adversity. He
that listeneth to this old and excellent history hath all his purposes
crowned with success and, without doubt, obtaineth fame, besides sons
and grandsons and animals, a high position among men, and health, and
joy. And, O king, the fear also that thou entertainest, _viz_., (_Some
one skilled in dice will summon me_), I will for once dispel. O thou of
invincible prowess, I know the science of dice in its entirety. I am
gratified with thee; take this lore, O son of Kunti, I will tell unto
thee.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "King Yudhishthira then, with a glad heart, said
unto Vrihadaswa, 'O illustrious one, I desire to learn the science of
dice from thee.' The Rishi then gave his dice-lore unto the high-souled
son of Pandu, and having given it unto him, that great ascetic went to
the sacred waters of Hayasirsha for a bath.

"And after Vrihadaswa had gone away, Yudhishthira of firm vows heard
from Brahmanas and ascetics that came to him from various directions and
from places of pilgrimage and mountains and forests that Arjuna of high
intelligence and capable of drawing the bow with his left hand, was
still engaged in the austerest of ascetic penances, living upon air
alone. And he heard that the mighty-armed Partha was engaged in such
fierce asceticism that none else before him had ever been engaged in
such penances. And Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, engaged in ascetic
austerit