They may be lean-fleshed but they tire not, nor doth their
speed suffer on that account. In days of yore the thunderbolt was created
for the chief of the celestials in order that he might slay (the Asura)
Vritra with it. But hurled at Vritra's head it broke in a thousand pieces.
The celestials worship with reverence those fragments of the thunderbolt.
That which is known in the three worlds as glory is but a portion of the
thunderbolt. The hand of the Brahmana with which he poureth libations on
the sacrificial fire, the chariot upon which the Kshatriya fighteth, the
charity of the Vaisya, and the service of the Sudra rendered unto the
three other classes, are all fragments of the thunderbolt. It hath been
said that horses, forming as they do a portion of the Kshatriya's chariot,
are, on that account, unslayable. Again horses which form a portion of the
Kshatriya's chariot, are the offspring of Vadava. Those amongst them that
are born in the region of the Gandharvas can go everywhere and assume any
hue and speed at the will of their owners. These horses of mine that I
give thee will always gratify thy wishes.'
"On hearing these words of the Gandharva, Arjuna said, 'O Gandharva, if
from satisfaction for having obtained thy life at my hands in a situation
of danger, thou givest me thy science, and these horses, I would not
accept thy gift.' The Gandharva replied, saying, 'A meeting with an
illustrious person is ever a source of gratification; besides thou hast
given me my life.
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