scourse when emanating from a foremost person, he who will
listen to it, and he who will recite it (for other people's hearing), is
sure to win what is highly beneficial. That man will find all his wishes
fulfilled. Departing from this world he will ascend to Heaven. There is
no doubt in this. That man who, desirous of obtaining what is beneficial
for himself, should devote himself to Janardana. O king of the Kurus, it
behoves thee also to always bear in mind those incidents of duty and
righteousness which were declared by Maheswara. If thou conduct thyself
according to those precepts, if thou bear the rod of chastisement
rightly, if thou protect thy subjects properly, thou mayst be sure of
attaining to heaven. It behoves thee, O king, to protect thy subjects
always according to the dictates of righteousness. The stout rod of
chastisement which the king bears has been said to be the embodiment of
his righteousness or merit.[588] Hearing this discourse, fraught with
righteousness, between Sankara and Uma, that I have recited in the
presence of this righteous conclave, one should worship with reverence
that god having the bovine bull for the device on his banner. One that
becomes even desirous of listening to that discourse should worship
Mahadeva with reverence. Verily, the person that wishes to obtain what is
beneficial for him, should adore Mahadeva with a pure heart. Even this is
the command of the faultless and high-souled Narada. Even he has
commanded such worship of the great god, O son of Pandu, do thou obey
that command of Narada. O puissant king, even these are the wonderful
incidents that occurred on the sacred breast of the Himavat respecting
Vasudeva and Sthanu, O son of Kunti. Those occurrences flowed from the
very nature of those high-souled deities. Vasudeva, accompanied by the
wielder of Gandiva, practised eternal penances in the retreat of Vadari
for ten thousand years.[589] Verily, Vasudeva and Dhananjaya, both of
eyes like lotus-petals, underwent severe austerities for the duration of
three whole Yugas. I have learnt this from Narada and Vyasa, O king. The
lotus-eyed and mighty-armed Vasudeva, while yet a child (in human form)
achieved the great feat of slaying Kansa for the relief of his kinsmen. I
do not venture, O son of Kunti, to enumerate the feats of this Ancient
and Eternal Being, O Yudhishthira. Without doubt, O son, high and great
benefits will be reaped by thee who ownest that foremost of all pe