occurs the holy and highly pathetic story of Nala illustrating the
patience of Damayanti and the character of Nala. Then the acquirement by
Yudhishthira of the mysteries of dice from the same great sage; then the
arrival of the Rishi Lomasa from the heavens to where the Pandavas were,
and the receipt by these high-souled dwellers in the woods of the
intelligence brought by the Rishi of their brother Arjuna staving in the
heavens; then the pilgrimage of the Pandavas to various sacred spots in
accordance with the message of Arjuna, and their attainment of great merit
and virtue consequent on such pilgrimage; then the pilgrimage of the great
sage Narada to the shrine Putasta; also the pilgrimage of the high-souled
Pandavas. Here is the deprivation of Karna of his ear-rings by Indra. Here
also is recited the sacrificial magnificence of Gaya; then the story of
Agastya in which the Rishi ate up the Asura Vatapi, and his connubial
connection with Lopamudra from the desire of offspring. Then the story of
Rishyasringa who adopted Brahmacharya mode of life from his very boyhood;
then the history of Rama of great prowess, the son of Jamadagni, in which
has been narrated the death of Kartavirya and the Haihayas; then the
meeting between the Pandavas and the Vrishnis in the sacred spot called
Prabhasa; then the story of Su-kanya in which Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu,
made the twins, Aswinis, drink, at the sacrifice of king Saryati, the Soma
juice (from which they had been excluded by the other gods), and in which
besides is shown how Chyavana himself acquired perpetual youth (as a boon
from the grateful Aswinis). Then hath been described the history of king
Mandhata; then the history of prince Jantu; and how king Somaka by
offering up his only son (Jantu) in sacrifice obtained a hundred others;
then the excellent history of the hawk and the pigeon; then the
examination of king Sivi by Indra, Agni, and Dharma; then the story of
Ashtavakra, in which occurs the disputation, at the sacrifice of Janaka,
between that Rishi and the first of logicians, Vandi, the son of Varuna;
the defeat of Vandi by the great Ashtavakra, and the release by the Rishi