Formerly many kings, O son of Pritha who had forined themselves the souls of all creatures and who has known the truths of all things viz., Soul and Not Soul, had abstained from flesh either for the whole of the month of Kartika or for the whole of the light fortnight in that month.
मांसं तु कौमुदं पक्षं वर्जितं पार्थ राजभिः। सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्थैर्विदितार्थपरावरैः॥