03.090
Lomaśa said.
O Yudhiṣṭhira, also hear that which was spoken by Dhanañjaya. My brother Yudhiṣṭhira should be united with righteous prosperity. (03-90-1)
You truly know the highest principles of dharma, the austerities, O ascetic; and you also know the eternal duty of kings and of the prosperous. (03-90-2)
You know that supreme, purifying path regarding people. Therefore, by the merit of pilgrimage, may you unite the Pāṇḍava. (03-90-3)
Vijaya told me, "Just as one should visit holy places and a king should donate cows, so should everything be done wholeheartedly." (03-90-4)
He should proceed everywhere to the fords with your protection, and he must be guarded from demons both in forts and in difficult terrains. (03-90-5)
Just as Dadhīca protected Indra and Aṅgirā protected the Sun, so also, O best of the twice-born, protect the son of Kunti from the Rākṣasas. (03-90-6)
Indeed, many evil spirits, rākṣasas like mountains, could not approach or overcome the sons of Kunti when protected by you. (3-90-7)
Therefore, by the word of Indra and by the command of Arjuna, being protected from dangers, I will accompany you together with you. (03-90-8)
O delight of the Kurus, I have already seen two holy places before; now I shall see this third one, those very (places), together with you. (03-90-9)
O Yudhishthira, this pilgrimage, which removes fear, was undertaken by royal sages, by the doers of meritorious deeds, by Manu and others, O great king. (03-90-10)
O Kauravya, a man who is dishonest, undisciplined, ignorant, an evil-doer or of crooked mind does not become purified by bathing in holy waters. (03-90-11)
But you, always intent on dharma, a knower of dharma and firm in truth, having been freed from all sins, will indeed become so again. (03-90-12)
Just as King Bhagīratha and other kings such as Gaya, and as Yayāti, O son of Kunti, so also you, O Pāṇḍava. (03-90-13)
Yudhiṣṭhira said;
I do not see any answer to this statement anywhere out of mere exhilaration. Indeed, the king of the gods may recall who or what is truly greater than that. (03-90-14)
Who indeed is superior to him, whose association is with you, whose brother is Dhanañjaya, and whom even Indra remembers? (03-90-15)
And what the revered one told me about the pilgrimage to holy places, following Dhaumya's counsel, I had already made this decision earlier. (03-90-16)
O Brahman, whenever you think it is time to go on pilgrimage, then and there I will go; this is my firm and ultimate decision. (03-90-17)
Vaiśampāyana said.
When he had resolved to go, the sage Lomaśa said to the Pāṇḍava: "Be light, O great king; if you are light, you will travel freely." (03-90-18)
Yudhishthira said;
Let those who live on alms, the brāhmaṇas, the ascetics, as well as those citizens who follow, motivated by loyalty to the king, turn back. (03-90-19)
Let them indeed approach King Dhritarashtra; he will grant at the proper time the appropriate sustenance to each according to what is due. (03-90-20)
If the king of men does not provide proper livelihood, then, for our dear well-being, the son of Pāñcālī will grant it to you. (03-90-21)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, in great numbers, the citizens deeply concerned with the heavy responsibility, together with the brāhmaṇas and ascetics, set out towards Nāgapura. (03-90-22)
The king, Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Ambikā, lovingly received them all as prescribed and generously satisfied them with wealth. (03-90-23)
Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kunti, well pleased, stayed for three nights in Kāmyaka together with a few brāhmaṇas and with Lomaśa. (03-90-24)
