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392 O king, it is for this knowledge that we are superior to men. And capable as we are seeing everything by spiritual sight, it is for this that we are equal to the gods. O best of men, I intend to give thee and each of thy brothers a hundred steeds born in the country of the Gandharvas. Of celestial colour and endued with the speed of the mind, those horses are employed in bearing the celestials and the Gandharvas. They may be lean-fleshed but they tire not, nor doth their speed suffer on that account. In days of yore the thunder-bolt was created for the chief of the celestials in order that he might slay (the Asura) Vitra with it. But hurled at Vitra's head it broke into a thousand pieces. The celestials worship with reverence those fragments of the thunder-bolt. That which is known in the three worlds as glory is but a portion of the thunder-bolt. The hand of the Brahmana with which be poureth libations on the sacrificial fire. the chariot upon which the Kshatriya fighteth, the charity of the Vaisya, and the service of the Sudra rendereth unto the three other classes, are all fragments of the thunder-bolt. It hath been said that horses, forming as they do a portion of the Kshatriya's chariot, are, on that account, unslayable. Again, horses which from a portion of the Kshatriya's chariot, are the offspring of Vadava. Those amongst them that are born in the region of the Gandharvas can go every-where and assume any hue and speed at the will of their owners. These horses of mine that I give thee will always gratify thy wishes !'

"On hearing these words of the Gandharvas, Arjuna said-'o Gandhar. va, if from satisfaction for having obtained thy life at my hands in a situation of danger, thou givest me thy science, and these horses, I would not accept thy gift.' The Gandharva replied, saying.-'A meeting with an illustrious persons is ever a source of gratification : besides thou hast given me my life. Gratified with thee, I will give thee my science. That the obligation, however, may not all be on one side, I will take from thee, O Vibhatsu, O bull in Bharata's race, thy excellent and eternal weapon of fire !

"Arjuna said, 'I would accept thy horses in exchange for my weapon! Let our friendship last for ever! O friend, tell us for what we human beings have to stand in fear of the Gandharvas 1 Chastisers of foes that we are virtuous and conversant with the Vedas, tell us, o Gandharva, why in travelling in the night-time we have been censured by thee!"

The Gandharva said, - 'Ye are without wives (though ye have completed the period of study)! Ye are without a particular Asrama (mode of life)! Lastly, ye are out without a Brahmana walking before; there