Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/152

138 {{c|{{larger|SECTION LXIII}}

{Adivanasavatarana Parva continued)

Vaisampayana said, -- "There was a king of the name of Uparichara. That monarch was devoted to virtue. He was very much addicted also to hunting. That king of the Paurava race, called also Vasu, conquered the excellent and delightful kingdom of Chedi under instructions from Indra. Sometime after, the king gave up the use of arms and, dwelling in a secluded retreat, practised the most severe austerities. The gods with Indra at their head once approached the monarch during this period, believing that he sought the beadship of the gods by those severe austerities of his. The celestials, becoming objects of his sight, by soft speeches succeeded in winning him away from his ascetic austerities."

"The gods said, -'O lord of Earth, thou shouldst take care so that virtue may not sustain a diminntion on Earth 1 Protected by thee, virtue itself will in return protect the Universe!" And Indra said, 'O king, ptotect virtue on Earth attentively and rigidly 1 Being virtuous, thou shalt, for all time, behold (in after life) many sacred regions ! And though I am of Heaven, and thou art of Earth, yet att thou my friend and dear to me. And, O king of men, dwell thou in that region on Earth which is delightful, and abounderh in animals, is sacred, full of wealth and corn, is well-protected like Heaven, which is of agreeable climate, graced with every object of enjoyment, and blessed with fertility. And, O monarch of Chedi, this thy dominion is full of riches, of gems and precious stones, and containeth, besides, much mineral wealth. The cities and towns of this region are all devoted to virtue; the people are honest and contented ; they never lie even in jest. Sons never divide their wealth with their fathers and are ever mindful of the welfare of their parents. Lean cattle are never yoked to the plough or the cart or engaged in carrying merchandise ; on the other hand, they are well.fed and fattened, Ini Chedi, O reverencer of the gods and guests, the four orders are always engaged in their respective vocations. Let nothing be unknown to thee that happens in the three worlds. I shall give thee a crystal car such as the celestials alone are capable of carrying the car through mid-air. Thou alone, of all mortals on Earth. riding on that best of cars, shalt course through mid-air like a celestial endued with a physical frame. I shall also give thee a triumphal garland of unfading lotuses, with which on, in battle, thou shalt not be wounded by weapons. And, o king, this blessed and