Section XVIII

"Salya said,

"Then Indra, glorified by the bands of Gandharvas and celestial nymphs, mounted on Airavata, the king of elephants, characterised by auspicious marks. And the illustrious Agni, and the great saint Vrihaspati, and Yama, and Varuna, and Kuvera, the lord of riches, accompanied him. And the lord Sakra, the slayer of Vritra, then went to the three worlds surrounded by the gods together with the Gandharvas and the celestial nymphs. And the performer of a hundred sacrifices, the king of the deities, was thus united with his queen. And he began to protect the worlds with exceeding gladness. Then the illustrious divine saint Angiras arrived in the assembly of Indra and worshipped him duly by reciting the hymns of the Atharva. And the great lord Indra became satisfied and granted a boon to the Atharvangiras.

And Indra said,

'You will be known as a Rishi of the name Atharvangiras in the Atharva Veda, and you will also get a share in sacrifices.'

And having honoured Atharvangiras thus, the great lord Indra, the performer of a hundred sacrifices, parted with him, O great king. And he honoured all the deities and all the saints endued with wealth of asceticism. And, O king, Indra, well-pleased, governed the people virtuously. Thus was misery endured by Indra with his wife. And with the view of slaying his foes, even he had to pass a period in concealment. You should not take it to heart that you, O king of kings, hast suffered with Draupadi as also with your high-minded brothers in the great forest. O king of kings, O descendant of Bharata, O delighter of Kuru’s race, you will get back your kingdom in the same way as Indra got his, after having killed Vritra.

The vicious Nahusha, that enemy of Brahmanas, of evil mind, was overthrown by the curse of Agastya, and reduced to nothing for endless years. Similarly, O slayer of foes, your enemies, Karna and Duryodhana and others of vicious souls will quickly be destroyed. Then, O hero, you will enjoy the whole of this earth, as far as the sea, with your brothers and this Draupadi. This story of the victory of Indra, equal to the Veda in its sacred character, should be listened to by a king desirous of victory and when his forces have been arrayed in order of battle. Therefore, O best of victors, I am reciting it to you for your victory, O Yudhishthira. High-souled persons attain prosperity when they are glorified.

O Yudhishthira, the destruction of high-souled Kshatriyas is at hand by reason of the crimes of Duryodhana, and through the might also of Bhima and Arjuna. He who reads this story of Indra’s victory with a heart full of religious faith, is cleansed of his sins, attains a region of bliss, and obtaines joy both in this world and in the next. He has no fear of his foes; he never becomes a sonless man, never encounters any peril whatever, and enjoys long life. Everywhere victory declares for him, and he knows not what defeat is.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'O best of Bharata’s race, the king, that best of righteous men, thus encouraged by Salya, honoured him in proper form.

And Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, of powerful arms, having beard the words of Salya, spoke to the king of the Madras the following words,

'There is no doubt that you will act as the charioteer of Karna. You must damp the spirits of Karna then by recounting the praises of Arjuna.'

"Salya said,

'Let it be so. I shall do just as you tellest me. And I shall do for you anything else that I may be able to do.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Salya, the king of the Madras, bade farewell to the sons of Kunti. And that handsome man then went with his army to Duryodhana, O repressor of foes.'"