e boon of immortality!' After the god of
wind had said these words, king Arjuna worshipped him duly and addressing
him answered in these words. Hear, O mighty armed monarch, what Arjuna
said.

"'"Arjuna said, 'O puissant god, always and by all means do I live for the
Brahmanas! Devoted to them, I worship them always! Through the grace of
Dattatreya I have obtained this might of mine! Through his grace have I
been able to accomplish great feats in the world and achieve high merit!
Oh, I have, with attention, heard of the achievements, O god of the wind,
of the Brahmanas with all their interesting details as recited by thee
truly.'

"'"The god of wind said, 'Do thou protect and cherish the Brahmanas, in the
exercise of those Kshatriya duties which are thine by birth. Do thou
protect them even as thou protectest thy own senses! There is danger to
thee from the race of Bhrigu! All that, however, will take place on a
distant day.'"'"

SECTION CLVIII

"'Yudhishthira said, "Thou always worshippest, O king, Brahmanas of
praiseworthy vows. Whatever, however is that fruit seeing which thou
worshippest them, O king? O thou of high vows, beholding what prosperity
attaching to the worship of the Brahmanas dost thou worship them? Tell me
all this, O thou of mighty arms!"

"'Bhishma said, "Here is Kesava endued with great intelligence. He will
tell thee everything. Of high vows and endued with prosperity, even he
will tell you what the prosperity is that attaches to the worship of
Brahmanas. My strength, ears, speech, mind, eyes, and that clear
understanding of mine (are all clouded today). I think, the time is not
distant when I shall have to cast off my body. The sun seems to me to go
very slowly.[611] Those high duties, O king, that are mentioned in the
Puranas as observed by Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras,
have all been recited by me. Do thou, O son of Pritha, learn from Krishna
what little remains to be learnt on that head. I know Krishna truly. I
know who he is and what his ancient might is. O chief of the Kauravas,
Kesava is of immeasurable soul. Whenever doubts arise, it is he who
upholds Righteousness then.[612] It is Krishna who created the earth, and
sky, and the heavens. Indeed, the earth has sprung from Krishna's body.
Of terrible prowess and existing from the beginning of time, it is
Krishna who became the mighty Boar and raised the submerged Earth. It is
He who created all the points of the co