Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/244

210 one who possessed every virtue and who for his splendour could with difficulty be gazed at, then approached that forest resounding with the notes of maddened peacocks and like unto the gardens of the great Gandharva himself. And halting his army, consisting of flags, cavalry, infantry, and elephants, at the entrance of the forest, the monarch spoke as follows:—'I shall go to behold the mighty ascetic of Kasyapa's race, he who is without darkness. Stay ye here until my return!'

"And the king having entered that forest which was like unto Indra's garden, soon forgot his hunger and thirst. And he was pleased beyond measure. And the monarch, laying aside all signs of royalty, entered that excellent asylum with but his minister and his priest, desirous of beholding that Rishi who was an indestructible mass of ascetic merit. And the king saw that the aylumasylum [sic] was like unto the region of Brahma. There were bees sweetly humming here and winged warblers of various species pouring forth their melodies there. At particular places that tiger among men heard the chaunting of the Rig hymns by first-rate Brahmanas according to the just rules of intonation. Other places again were decked with rules of intonation. Other places again were decked with Brahmanas acquainted with the ordinances of sacrifices, of the Angas, and the hymns of the Yayurveda. Other places again were filled with the harmonious strains of Sama hymns sung by vow-observing Rishis. At other places the asylum was decked with Brahmanas learned in the Atharva Veda. At other places again Brahmanas learned in the Atharva Veda and those capable of chaunting the sacrificial hymns of the Sama were reciting the Sanhitas according to the just rules of voice. At other places again other Brahmanas well-acquainted with the science of {ortho-epy were reciting mantras of other kinds. In fact, that sacred retreat resounding with these holy notes was like unto a second region of Brahma himself. And there were many Brahmanas skilled in the art of making sacrificial platforms and in the rules of Krama in sacrifices, conversant with logic and the mental sciences, and possessing a complete knowledge of the Vedas. There were those also who were fully acquainted with the meanings of all kinds of