Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/175

Rh Sauti said, "O Brahmana, hear all that the king asked his ministers, and all that they said about the death of Parikshita.

"Janamejaya asked, 'Know ye all that befell my father? How also the famous one, in time, meet with his death? Hearing from ye the incidents of my father's life in detail, I shall ordain something if it be for the benefit of the world: otherwise I shall do nothing.'

"And the ministers replied, 'Hear, O monarch, what thou askest,—an account of thy illustrious father's life, and how also that king of kings hath gone on his final journey. Thy father was virtuous, and high-souled, and the protector of his people. And hear how he of high soul conducted himself on earth. Like unto an impersonation of virtue and justice, the monarch, cognisant of virtue, virtuously protected the four orders, each engaged in the practice of their specified duties. Of incomparable prowess, and blessed with fortune, he protected the goddess Earth. He had none who hated him and he himself hated none. Like unto Prajapati (Brahma) he was equally disposed to all creatures. And, O monarch, Brahmanas and Kshetrias and Vaisyas and Sudras, all engaged contentedly in the practice of their respective duties, were impartially cherished by that king. Widows and orphans, the maimed and the poor, he maintained. Of handsome features, he was unto all creatures like another Shoma (Moon.) Cherishing his subjects and keeping them contented, blessed with good fortune, truth-telling, of severe prowess, he was the disciple, in the science of arms, of Sharadwat (Kripacharya.) And, O Janamejaya, thy father was dear unto Govinda! Of great fame, he was loved by all men. And he was born in the womb of Uttara when the Kuru race was almost extinct. And, therefore, the mighty son of Saubhadra (Abhimanyu) came to be called Parikshita (born in an extinct line.) Well-versed in the interpretation of treatises on the duties of kings, he was gifted with every virtue. Of passions under complete control, intelligent, possessing a retentive memory, the practiser of all virtues, the conqueror of the six passions, of powerful mind, excellent over all, and fully acquainted with the science of morality and political con-