Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/332

298 And so ends the ninety-ninth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.

 

( Sambhava Parva continued. )

Vaisampayana said, "The monarch Shantanu, the adored of the gods and of the royal sages, was known in all the worlds for his wisdom, virtues, and truthfulness of speech. The qualities of self-control, liberality, forgiveness, intelligence, modesty, patience, and superior energy dwelt continually in that bull among men, Shantanu, that great being. Endued with these accomplishments and skilled also in interpreting the Shastras, the monarch was at once the protector of the Bharata race and of all human beings. His neck was marked with (three) lines like a shell, his shoulders were broad and he resembled in prowess an infuriate elephant. It would seem that all the auspicious signs of royalty dwelt in his person considering that to be their fittest abode. And men seeing the behaviour of that monarch of great achievements came to ascertain for themselves that virtue is ever superior to pleasure and profit. These were the attributes that dwelt in that great being—that bull among men—Shantanu. And truly there never was a king like Shantanu. And all the kings of the earth, beholding him devoted to virtue, bestowed upon that foremost of virtuous men the title of King of kings. And all the kings of the earth during the time of that lord protector of the Bharata race, were without woes, and fears, and anxieties of any kind. And they all slept in peace rising from bed every morning after happy dreams. And owing to that monarch of splendid achievements resembling Indra himself in energy, all the kings of the earth became virtuous and devoted to liberality, religious acts, and sacrifices. And when the earth was ruled by Shantanu and other monarchs like him, the religious merits of every order increased very greatly. The Kshatrias served the Brahmanas, and the Vaisyas waited upon the Kshatrias, and the Sudras adoring the Brahmanas and the Kshatrias, waited upon the Vaisyas. And Shantanu