Thus having spoken, the human Keśava summoned mentally the deity of the wind, who came upon the instant, and said to him, "Go, Váyu, to Indra, and desire him to lay aside his pomp, and resign to Ugrasena his splendid hall Sudharman: tell him that Krishńa commands him to send the royal hall, the unrivalled gem of princely courts, for the assemblage of the race of Yadu." Accordingly Váyu went, and delivered the message to the husband of Śachí, who immediately gave up to him the hall Sudharman, and Váyu conveyed it to the Yádavas, the chiefs of whom thenceforth possessed this celestial court, emblazoned with jewels, and defended by the arm of Govinda. The two excellent Yadu youths, versed in all knowledge, and possessed of all wisdom, then submitted to instruction, as the disciples of teachers. Accordingly they repaired to Sándípani--who, though born in Káśí, resided at Avanti--to study the science of arms, and, becoming his pupils, were obedient and attentive to their master, exhibiting an example to all men of the observance of instituted rules. In the course of sixty-four days they had gone through the elements of military science, with the treatises on the use of arms, and directions for the mystic incantations, which secure the aid of supernatural weapons 2. Sándípani, astonished at such proficiency, and knowing that it exceeded human faculties, imagined that the sun and moon had become his scholars. When they had acquired all that he could teach, they said to him, "Now say what present shall be given to you, as the preceptor's fee." The prudent Sándípani, perceiving that they were endowed with more than mortal powers, requested them to give him his dead son, drowned in the sea of Prabhása 3. Taking up their arms, they marched against the ocean; but the all-comprehending sea said to them, "I have not killed the son of Sándípani; a demon

named Panchajana, who lives in the form of a conch shell, seized the boy: he is still under my waters. On hearing this, Krishńa plunged into the sea; and having slain the vile Panchajana, he took the conch shell, which was formed of his bones (and bore it as his horn), the sound of which fills the demon hosts with dismay, animates the vigour of the gods, and annihilates unrighteousness. The heroes also recovered the boy from the pains of death, and restored him in his former person to his father. Ráma and Janárddana then returned to Mathurá, which was well presided over by Ugrasena, and abounded in a happy population both of men and women 1.

Footnotes

560:1 The curse pronounced on the elder sons of Yayáti, on their refusing to take upon them their father's infirmities. See p. 414.

561:2 They read through the Dhanur-veda, which treats of military matters; with the Rahasyá, 'the mystical part;' and the Sangraha, 'collection' or 'compendium,' said to be here the Astra-prayoga, the employment of weapons: