e, one should always
cast off these faults to a great distance. Thus, O king, I have narrated
to thee the feat achieved by Chyavana. Shall I go on? Or, will you say
anything in reply? Is there a Kshatriya that is higher than the Brahmana
Chyavana?'"'"

SECTION CLVII

"'Bhishma said, "Hearing these words of the god of wind, Arjuna remained
silent. At this, the god of wind once more addressed him, saying, 'When
the denizens of heaven, with Indra at their head, found themselves within
the mouth of the Asura Mada, at that time Chyavana took away from them
the earth. Deprived previously of heaven and now shorn of the earth also,
the gods became very cheerless. Indeed, those high-souled ones, afflicted
with grief, then threw themselves unreservedly upon the Grandsire's
protection.'

"'"'The gods said, "O thou that art adored by all creatures of the
universe, the earth has been taken away from us by Chyavana, while we have
been deprived of heaven by the Kapas, O puissant one!"

"'"'Brahman said, "Ye denizens of heaven, do you, with Indra at your head,
repair quickly and seek the protection of the Brahmanas. By gratifying
them you will succeed in regaining both the regions as before." Thus
instructed by the Grandsire, the deities repaired to the Brahmanas and
became suppliants for their protection. The Brahmanas replied, enquiring,
"Whom shall we subjugate?" Thus asked, the deities said unto them, "Do ye
subjugate the Kapas." The Brahmanas then said, "Bringing them down on the
earth first, we shall speedily subjugate them." After this, the Brahmanas
commenced a rite having for its object the destruction of the Kapas. As
soon as this was heard of by the Kapas, they immediately despatched a
messenger of theirs, named Dhanin, unto those Brahmanas. Dhanin, coming
to them as they sat on the earth, thus delivered to them the message of
the Kapas. "The Kapas are even like you all! (They are not inferior to any
of you). Hence, what will be the effect of these rites which you seem to
be bent upon achieving? All of them are well-conversant with the Vedas
and possessed of wisdom. All of them are mindful of sacrifices. All of
them have Truth for their vow, and for these reasons all of them are
regarded as equal to great Rishis. The goddess of Prosperity sports among
them, and they, in their turn, support her with reverence. They never
indulge in acts of fruitless congress with their wives, and they never
eat the flesh of such anima