various kinds of food and enjoyable articles, given away unto them to the
extent of their desires, and with the heaps of jewels distributed amongst
them, began to say,--"King Harischandra is superior to all kings in energy
and renown."--And know, O monarch, O bull of the Bharata race, it was for
this reason that Harischandra shone more brightly than thousands of other
kings. The powerful Harischandra having concluded his great sacrifice,
became installed, O king, in the sovereignty of the earth and looked
resplendent on his throne. O bull of the Bharata race, all those monarchs
that perform the sacrifice of Rajasuya, (attaining to the region of Indra)
pass their time in felicity in Indra's company. And, O bull of the Bharata
race, those kings also that yield up their lives without turning their
backs on the field of battle attain to the mansion of Indra and live in
joy with him. Those again that yield up their bodies after severe ascetic
penances also attain to the same region and shine brightly there for ages.
O king of the Kuru race, O son of Kunti, thy father Pandu, beholding the
good fortune of Harischandra and wondering much thereat, hath told thee
something. Knowing that I was coming to the world of men, he bowed unto me
and said,--"Thou shouldst tell Yudhishthira, O Rishi, that he can subjugate
the whole Earth inasmuch as his brothers are all obedient to him. And
having done this let him commence the grand sacrifice called Rajasuya. He
is my son; if he performeth that sacrifice, I may, like Harischandra, soon
attain to the region of Indra, and there in his Sabha pass countless years
in continuous joy." I told him in reply,--"O King, I shall tell thy son all
this, if I go to the world of man." I have now told thee what he said, O
tiger among men. Accomplish then, O son of Pandu, the desires of thy
father. If thou performest that sacrifice, thou shall then be able to go,
along with thy deceased ancestors, into the same region that is inhabited
by the chief of the immortals. It hath been said,--O king, that the
performance of this great sacrifice is attended with many obstacles. A
class of Rakshasas called Brahma Rakshasas, employed in obstructing all