Astika said: -
1. O son of Parikshit, O best of the Bharata race, Soma, Varuna and Prajapati performed sacrifices at Prayaga in the days of yore, but your sacrifice, is in no way inferior to them. Blessing be upon those who are dear to us!
2. O son of Parikshit, O best of the Bharata race, Indra performed one hundred sacrifices, but your sacrifice, is fully equal to his sacrifice. Blessings be upon those who are dear to us!
3. O son of Parikshit, O best of the Bharata race, your this sacrifice is like the sacrifices of Yama, Harimedha, and king Rantideva. Blessings be upon those who are dear to us.
4. O son of Parikshit, O best of the Bharata race, your this sacrifice is like the sacrifices of Goya, king Sashavindu, and king Visravana. Blessings be upon those who are dear to us.
5. O son of Parikshit, O best of the Bharata race, your this sacrifice is like the sacrifices of Nriga, Ajameda, and (Rama) the son of Dasaratha. Blessings be upon those who are dear to us!
6. O son of Parikshit, O best of the Bharata race, your this sacrifice is like the sacrifice of king Yudhisthira, the son of a deity and a descendant of Ajameda race, famous even in heavens. Blessings upon those who are dear to us.
7. O son of Parikshit, O best of the Bharata race, your this sacrifice is like the sacrifice of Krishna Dwaipayana, the son of Satyavati, in which he himself acted as the chief priest. Blessings be upon those who are dear to us!
8. These (learned men), that are sitting here, are as effulgent as the sun and they make your this sacrifice like the sacrifice of the slayer of Vitra (Indra). There is nothing for them to know, and gifts made to them become inexhaustible.
9. There is not a Ritwija in alt the worlds equal to your Ritwija Dwaipayana. His disciples, becoming Ritwijas, competent in their duties, travel over the earth.
10. The noble bearer of libations. Vivavasu and Chitravanu (Fire), having gold for his vital seed and black smokes on its way, carries these your libations of ghee to the celestials.
11. There is no other king in this world equal to you in protecting his subjects. I am well pleased with your continual abstenence. You are either Varuna, Yama or Dharmaraja.
12. You are the protector of all creatures in this world, like Indra himself, thunderbolt in hand. There is no man in this world so great as you. There is no king who is your equal in sacrifices.
13. You are like Khalwanga, Nobhaga, and Deelip. You are like Jayati and Mandhata in prowess. You are equal to the sun in splendour. O royal sage of excellent vows, you are like Bhisma.
14. You are like Valmiki of power concealed. Like Vasishta you have controlled your anger. Your sovereignty is like that of Indra and your splendour like that of Narayana.
15. You are learned in the administration of justice like Yama, and you are adorned with all qualifications like Krishna. You are the home of the wealth that belongs to the Vasus, you are the main-spring of all sacrifices.
16. You are equal to Damvodvava in strength, you are learned both, in Sastras and arms like Parashurama. You are equal to Aurva and Trita in strength. You inspire terror with your looks like Vagiratha.
Souti said: -
17. Having thus adored them, Astika gratified and pleased them all, the king, the Sadashyas, the Ritwijas and the sacrificial fire. And king Janamejaya, seeing the signs and indications manifested on all sides, addressed them thus.
Thus ends fifty-fifth chapter, Astika, in the Adi Parva.