Section LV.
(Astika Parva continued.)
Astika said, "Shoma and Varuna and Prajapati had performed sacrifices of old in Prayaga. But thy sacrifice, O thou foremost of the Bharata race, thou son of Parikshita, is not inferior to any of those. Let those dear to us be blessed! Sakra had performed an hundred sacrifices. But this sacrifice of thine, thou foremost of the Bharata race, thou son of Parikshita, is fully equal to ten thousand sacrifices of Sakra. Let those dear to us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of Yama, of Harimedha, of king Rantideva, is this sacrifice of thine, thou foremost of the Bharata race, thou son of Parikshita. Let those dear to us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of Maya, of king Shashavindu, of king Vaisravana, is this sacrifice of thine, thou foremost of the Bharata race, thou son of Parikshita. Let those dear to us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of Nriga, of Ajamida, of the son of Dasaratha, is this sacrifice of thine, thou foremost of the Bharata race, thou son of Parikshita. Let those dear to us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of Yudhish-thira the son of a god, and of king Ajamida, both heard even in the heavens, is this sacrifice of thine, thou foremost of the Bharata race, thou son of Parikshita. Let those dear unto us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of Krishna (Dwaipayana) the son of Satyavati, in which, besides, he himself was the chief-priest, is this sacrifice of thine, thou foremost of the Bharata race, thou son of Parikshita. Let those dear unto us be blessed! These (Ritwijas and Sadasyas) that sitting here make thy sacrifice like unto the sacrifice of the slayer of Vritra, are of splendour equal to that of the sun. There now remains nothing for them to know, and gifts made to them become inexhaustible (in merit.) There is none in the world equal to thy Ritwija. This has been settled by Dwaipayana himself. His disciples, becoming Ritwijas competent in their duties, travel over the earth.
In this world of men there is no other monarch equal to thee in the protection of subjects. I am ever well pleased with
