and lakes were ever full, and the groves abounded with trees, and the houses and the abodes of Brahmanas were all full of wealth. And the whole kingdom was full of festivities. And, O king, virtuously ruled by Bhisma, the kingdom was adorned with hundreds of sacrificial stakes. Aud the wheel of virtue having been set in motion by Bhisma, the country became so delightful that the subjects of other kingdoms leaving their homes came to dwell there and increase its population. And the citizens and the people were filled with hope upon seeing the youthful acts of their illustrious princes. And, O king, in the houses of the Kuru chiefs as also of the principal citizens, 'Give' and 'Eat' were the words that were constantly heard. And Dhrita-rashtra and Pandu and Vidura of great intelligence were from their birth brought up by Bhisma as if they were his own children. And the children having passed through the usual rites of their order devoted themselves to vows and study. And they grew up into fine youths skilled in the Vedas and all athletic sports. And they became well skilled in exercises of the bow, in horsemanship, in encounters with the mace, sword, and shield, in the management of elephants in battle, and the science of morality. And well-read in history and the Puranas and various branches of learning, and acquainted with the truths of the Vedas and the Vedangas, the knowledge they acquired was versatile and deep. And Pandu possessed of great prowess excelled all men in the science of the bow, while Dhrita-rashtra excelled all in personal strength; while in the three worlds there was no one equal to Vidura in devotion to virtue and knowledge of the dictates of morality. And beholding the restoration of the extinct line of Shantanu, the saying became current in all countries, viz, that among mothers of heroes, the daughters of the king of Kashi were the first; that among countries Vidura Kuru-jangala was the first; that among virtuous men, was the first; and that among cities Hastinapore was the first. Pandu became king, for Dhrita-rashtra owing to his blindness, and Vidura his birth in a Sudra woman, obtained not the kingdom. One day Bhisma, the foremost of those acquainted with the duties of statesmanship and dictates of morality,
