# The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section LV

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 ​thy abstinence. Indeed, thou art either Varuna, or Yama the god of justice! Like Sakra himself with thunderbolt in hand, thou art, in this world, the protector of all creatures. In this earth there is no man so great as thou, and no monarch who is thy equal in sacrifice. Thou art like Khatwanga, Nabhaga, and Dilipa, in prowess like Yayati and Mandhta, in splendour equal to the measure of the sun's, a monarch like Subrata Vishma! Like Valmiki thou art of energy concealed! Like Vashishta hast thou controlled thy wrath! Like Indra is thy lordship! Thy splendour also shines like that of Narayana! Like Yama art thou conversant with the judgments of justice! Thou art like Krishna decked with every virtue! Thou art the home of the good fortune that belongeth to the Vasus! Thou art also the refuge of the sacrifices! In strength art thou equal to Damvodvava (Indra)! Like Rama (the son of Jamadagni) art thou conversant with the Shastras and arms! In energy art thou equal to Aurva and Trita. Thou inspirest terror by thy looks like Bhagiratha!"
Sauti said, "Astika, having thus adored them, gratified them all,—the king, the Sadasyas, the Ritwijas, and the sacrificial fire. And king Janamejaya, beholding the signs and indications manifested all round, addressed them as follows."
And thus ends the fifty-fifth Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.