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diff --git a/old/11894.txt b/old/11894.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..deaf1a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11894.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14114 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. +3 Pt. 1, by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1 + +Author: Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa + +Release Date: April 3, 2004 [EBook #11894] +Last Updated: March 10, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAHABHARATA BK.3 PT. 1 *** + + + + +Produced by John B. Hare, Juliet Sutherland, David King, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + +The Mahabharata of + +Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa + +BOOK 3 + +VANA PARVA + +Translated into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text + +by + +Kisari Mohan Ganguli + +[1883-1896] + + + + + + +THE MAHABHARATA + + +VANA PARVA + +PART 1 + + +SECTION I + +(Aranyaka Parva) + +Om! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara the foremost of male beings, +and the goddess Saraswati also, must the word _Jaya_ be uttered. + +Janamejaya said, "O thou foremost of regenerate ones, deceitfully +defeated at dice by the sons of Dhritarashtra and their counsellors, +incensed by those wicked ones that thus brought about a fierce +animosity, and addressed in language that was so cruel, what did the +Kuru princes, my ancestors--the sons of Pritha--(then) do? How also did +the sons of Pritha, equal unto Sakra in prowess, deprived of affluence +and suddenly overwhelmed with misery, pass their days in the forest? Who +followed the steps of those princes plunged in excess of affliction? And +how did those high souled ones bear themselves and derive their +sustenance, and where did they put up? And, O illustrious ascetic and +foremost of Brahmanas, how did those twelve years (of exile) of those +warriors who were slayers of foes, pass away in the forest? And +undeserving of pain, how did that princess, the best of her sex, devoted +to her husbands, eminently virtuous, and always speaking the truth, +endure that painful exile in the forest? O thou of ascetic wealth tell +me all this in detail, for, O Brahmana, I desire to hear thee narrate +the history of those heroes possessed of abundant prowess and lustre. +Truly my curiosity is great." + +Vaisampayana said, "Thus defeated at dice and incensed by the wicked +sons of Dhritarashtra and their counsellors, the sons of Pritha set out +from Hastinapura. And issuing through _Vardhamana_ gate of the city, the +Pandavas bearing their weapons and accompanied by Draupadi set out in a +northerly direction. Indrasena and others, with servants numbering +altogether fourteen, with their wives, followed them on swift cars. And +the citizens learning of their departure became overwhelmed with sorrow, +and began to censure Bhishma and Vidura and Drona and Gautama. And +having met together they thus addressed one another fearlessly. + +"'Alas, our families, we ourselves, and our homes are all gone, when the +wicked Duryodhana, backed by the son of Suvala, by Karna and Dussasana, +aspireth to this kingdom. And, Oh, our families, our (ancestral) usages, +our virtue and prosperity, are all doomed where this sinful wretch +supported by wretches as sinful aspireth to the kingdom! And, Oh, how +can happiness be there where these are not! Duryodhana beareth malice +towards all superiors, hath taken leave of good conduct, and quarreleth +with those that are near to him in blood. Covetous and vain and mean, he +is cruel by nature. The whole earth is doomed when Duryodhana becometh +its ruler. Thither, therefore, let us proceed whither the merciful and +high-minded sons of Pandu with passions under control and victorious +over foes, and possessed of modesty and renown, and devoted to pious +practices, repair!'" + +Vaisampayana said, "And saying this, the citizens went after the +Pandavas, and having met them, they all, with joined hands, thus +addressed the sons of Kunti and Madri. + +"'Blest be ye! Where will ye go, leaving us in grief? We will follow you +whithersoever ye will go! Surely have we been distressed upon learning +that ye have been deceitfully vanquished by relentless enemies! It +behoveth you not to forsake us that are your loving subjects and devoted +friends always seeking your welfare and employed in doing what is +agreeable to you! We desire not to be overwhelmed in certain destruction +living in the dominions of the Kuru king. Ye bulls among men, listen as +we indicate the merits and demerits springing respectively from +association with what is good and bad! As cloth, water, the ground, and +sesame seeds are perfumed by association with flowers, even so are +qualities ever the product of association. Verily association with fools +produceth an illusion that entangleth the mind, as daily communion with +the good and the wise leadeth to the practice of virtue. Therefore, they +that desire emancipation should associate with those that are wise and +old and honest and pure in conduct and possessed of ascetic merit. They +should be waited upon whose triple possessions, _viz_., knowledge (of +the _Vedas_), origin and acts, are all pure, and association with them +is even superior to (the study of the) scriptures. Devoid of the +religious acts as we are, we shall yet reap religious merit by +association with the righteous, as we should come by sin by waiting upon +the sinful. The very sight and touch of the dishonest, and converse and +association with them, cause diminution of virtue, and men (that are +doomed to these), never attain purity of mind. Association with the base +impaireth the understanding, as, indeed, with the indifferent maketh it +indifferent, while communion with the good ever exalteth it. All those +attributes which are spoken of in the world as the sources of religious +merit, of worldly prosperity and sensual pleasures, which are regarded +by the people, extolled in the _Vedas_, and approved by the +well-behaved, exist in you, separately and jointly! Therefore, desirous +of our own welfare, we wish to live amongst you who possess those +attributes!' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'Blessed are we since the people with the Brahmanas +at their head, moved by affection and compassion credit us with merits +we have not. I, however, with my brothers, would ask all of you to do +one thing. Ye should not, through affection and pity for us, act +otherwise! Our grandfather Bhishma, the king (Dhritarashtra), Vidura, my +mother and most of my well-wishers, are all in the city of Hastinapura. +Therefore, if ye are minded to seek our welfare, cherish ye them with +care, uniting together as they are overwhelmed with sorrow and +afflictions. Grieved at our departure, ye have come far! Go ye back, and +let your hearts be directed with tenderness towards the relatives I +entrust to you as pledges! This, of all others, is the one act upon +which my heart is set, and by doing this ye would give me great +satisfaction and pay me your best regards!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Thus exhorted by Yudhishthira the just, the +people in a body set up a loud wail exclaiming,--_Alas, O king!_ And +afflicted and overwhelmed with sorrow on remembering the virtues of +Pritha's son, they unwillingly retraced their steps asking leave of the +Pandavas. + +"The citizens having ceased to follow, the Pandavas ascended their cars, +and setting out reached (the site of) the mighty banian tree called +_Pramana_ on the banks of the Ganges. And reaching the site of the +banian tree about the close of the day, the heroic sons of Pandu +purified themselves by touching the sacred water, and passed the night +there. And afflicted with woe they spent that night taking water alone +as their sole sustenance. Certain Brahmanas belonging to both classes, +_viz_., those that maintained the sacrificial fire and those that +maintained it not, who had, with their disciples and relatives, out of +affection followed the Pandavas thither also passed the night with them. +And surrounded by those utterers of _Brahma_, the king shone resplendent +in their midst. And that evening, at once beautiful and terrible, those +Brahmanas having lighted their (sacred) fires, began to chant the +_Vedas_ and hold mutual converse. And those foremost of Brahmanas, with +swan-sweet voices spent the night, comforting that best of Kurus--the +king." + + +SECTION II + +Vaisampayana said, "When that night passed away and day broke in, those +Brahmanas who supported themselves by mendicancy, stood before the +Pandavas of exalted deeds, who were about to enter the forest. Then king +Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, addressed them, saying, 'Robbed of our +prosperity and kingdom, robbed of everything, we are about to enter the +deep woods in sorrow, depending for our food on fruits and roots, and +the produce of the chase. The forest too is full of dangers, and abounds +with reptiles and beasts of prey. It appeareth to me that ye will +certainly have to suffer much privation and misery there. The sufferings +of the Brahmanas might overpower even the gods. That they would +overwhelm me is too certain. Therefore, O Brahmana, go ye back +whithersoever ye list!' + +"The Brahmanas replied, 'O king, our path is even that on which ye are +for setting out! It behoveth thee not, therefore, to forsake us who are +thy devoted admirers practising the true religion! The very gods have +compassion upon their worshippers,--specially upon Brahmanas of +regulated lives!' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'Ye regenerate ones, I too am devoted to the +Brahmanas! But this destitution that hath overtaken me overwhelmed me +with confusion! These my brothers that are to procure fruits and roots +and the deer (of the forest) are stupefied with grief arising from their +afflictions and on account of the distress of Draupadi and the loss of +our kingdom! Alas, as they are distressed, I cannot employ them in +painful tasks!' + +"The Brahmanas said, 'Let no anxiety, O king, in respect of our +maintenance, find a place in thy heart! Ourselves providing our own +food, we shall follow thee, and by meditation and saying our prayers we +shall compass thy welfare while by pleasant converse we shall entertain +thee and be cheered ourselves.' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'Without doubt, it must be as ye say, for I am ever +pleased with the company of the regenerate ones! But my fallen condition +maketh me behold in myself an object of reproach! How shall I behold you +all, that do not deserve to bear trouble, out of love for me painfully +subsisting upon food procured by your own toil? Oh, fie upon the wicked +sons of Dhritarashtra!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, the weeping king sat himself down +upon the ground. Then a learned Brahmana, Saunaka by name versed in +self-knowledge and skilled in the _Sankhya_ system of yoga, addressed +the king, saying, 'Causes of grief by thousands, and causes of fear by +hundreds, day after day, overwhelm the ignorant but not the wise. +Surely, sensible men like thee never suffer themselves to be deluded by +acts that are opposed to true knowledge, fraught with every kind of +evil, and destructive of salvation. O king, in thee dwelleth that +understanding furnished with the eight attributes which is said to be +capable of providing against all evils and which resulteth from a study +of the _Sruti (Vedas)_ and scriptures! And men like unto thee are never +stupefied, on the accession of poverty or an affliction overtaking their +friends, through bodily or mental uneasiness! Listen, I shall tell the +_slokas_ which were chanted of old by the illustrious Janaka touching +the subject of controlling the self! This world is afflicted with both +bodily and mental suffering. Listen now to the means of allaying it as I +indicate them both briefly and in detail. Disease, contact with painful +things, toil and want of objects desired.--these are the four causes +that induce bodily suffering. And as regards disease, it may be allayed +by the application of medicine, while mental ailments are cured by +seeking to forget them by _yoga_-meditation. For this reason, sensible +physicians first seek to allay the mental sufferings of their patients +by agreeable converse and the offer of desirable objects. And as a hot +iron bar thrust into a jar maketh the water therein hot, even so doth +mental grief bring on bodily agony. And as water quencheth fire, so doth +true knowledge allay mental disquietude. And the mind attaining ease, +the body findeth ease also. It seemeth that affection is the root of all +mental sorrow. It is affection that maketh every creature miserable and +bringeth on every kind of woe. Verily affection is the root of all +misery and of all fear, of joy and grief of every kind of pain. From +affection spring all purposes, and it is from affection that spring the +love of worldly goods! Both of these (latter) are sources of evil, +though the first (our purposes) is worse than the second. And as (a +small portion of) fire thrust into the hollow of a tree consumeth the +tree itself to its roots, even so affection, ever so little, destroyeth +both virtue and profit. He cannot be regarded to have renounced the +world who hath merely withdrawn from worldly possessions. He, however, +who though in actual contact with the world regardeth its faults, may be +said to have truly renounced the world. Freed from every evil passion, +soul dependent on nothing with such a one hath truly renounced the +world. Therefore, should no one seek to place his affections on either +friends or the wealth he hath earned. And so should affection for one's +own person be extinguished by knowledge. Like the lotus-leaf that is +never drenched by water, the souls of men capable of distinguishing +between the ephemeral and the everlasting, of men devoted to the pursuit +of the eternal, conversant with the scriptures and purified by +knowledge, can never be moved by affection. The man that is influenced +by affection is tortured by desire; and from the desire that springeth +up in his heart his thirst for worldly possessions increaseth. Verily, +this thirst is sinful and is regarded as the source of all anxieties. It +is this terrible thirst, fraught with sin that leaneth unto unrighteous +acts. Those find happiness that can renounce this thirst, which can +never be renounced by the wicked, which decayeth not with the decay of +the body, and which is truly a fatal disease! It hath neither beginning +nor end. Dwelling within the heart, it destroyeth creatures, like a fire +of incorporeal origin. And as a faggot of wood is consumed by the fire +that is fed by itself, even so doth a person of impure soul find +destruction from the covetousness born of his heart. And as creatures +endued with life have ever a dread of death, so men of wealth are in +constant apprehension of the king and the thief, of water and fire and +even of their relatives. And as a morsel of meat, if in air, may be +devoured by birds; if on ground by beasts of prey; and if in water by +the fishes; even so is the man of wealth exposed to dangers wherever he +may be. To many the wealth they own is their bane, and he that beholding +happiness in wealth becometh wedded to it, and knoweth not true +happiness. And hence accession of wealth is viewed as that which +increaseth covetousness and folly. Wealth alone is the root of +niggardliness and boastfulness, pride and fear and anxiety! These are +the miseries of men that the wise see in riches! Men undergo infinite +miseries in the acquisition and retention of wealth. Its expenditure +also is fraught with grief. Nay, sometimes, life itself is lost for the +sake of wealth! The abandonment of wealth produces misery, and even they +that are cherished by one's wealth become enemies for the sake of that +wealth! When, therefore, the possession of wealth is fraught with such +misery, one should not mind its loss. It is the ignorant alone who are +discontented. The wise, however, are always content. The thirst of +wealth can never be assuaged. Contentment is the highest happiness; +therefore, it is, that the wise regard contentment as the highest object +of pursuit. The wise knowing the instability of youth and beauty, of +life and treasure-hoards, of prosperity and the company of the loved +ones, never covet them. Therefore, one should refrain from the +acquisition of wealth, bearing the pain incident to it. None that is +rich is free from trouble, and it is for this that the virtuous applaud +them that are free from the desire of wealth. And as regards those that +pursue wealth for purposes of virtue, it is better for them to refrain +altogether from such pursuit, for, surely, it is better not to touch +mire at all than to wash it off after having been besmeared with it. +And, O Yudhishthira, it behoveth thee not to covet anything! And if thou +wouldst have virtue, emancipate thyself from desire of worldly +possessions!' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O Brahmana, this my desire of wealth is not for +enjoying it when obtained. It is only for the support of the Brahmanas +that I desire it and not because I am actuated by avarice! For what +purpose, O Brahmana, doth one like us lead a domestic life, if he cannot +cherish and support those that follow him? All creatures are seen to +divide the food (they procure) amongst those that depend on them.[1] So +should a person leading a domestic life give a share of his food to +_Yatis_ and _Brahmacharins_ that have renounced cooking for themselves. +The houses of the good men can never be in want of grass (for seat), +space (for rest), water (to wash and assuage thirst), and fourthly, +sweet words. To the weary a bed,--to one fatigued with standing, a +seat,--to the thirsty, water,--and to the hungry, food should ever be +given. To a guest are due pleasant looks and a cheerful heart and sweet +words. The host, rising up, should advance towards the guest, offer him +a seat, and duly worship him. Even this is eternal morality. They that +perform not the _Agnihotra_,[2] do not wait upon bulls, nor cherish +their kinsmen and guests and friends and sons and wives and servants, +are consumed with sin for such neglect. None should cook his food for +himself alone and none should slay an animal without dedicating it to +the gods, the _pitris_, and guests. Nor should one eat of that food +which hath not been duly dedicated to the gods and _pitris_. By +scattering food on the earth, morning and evening, for (the behoof of) +dogs and _Chandalas_ and birds, should a person perform the _Viswedeva_ +sacrifice.[3] He that eateth the _Vighasa_, is regarded as eating +ambrosia. What remaineth in a sacrifice after dedication to the gods and +the _pitris_ is regarded as ambrosia; and what remaineth after feeding +the guest is called _Vighasa_ and is equivalent to ambrosia itself. +Feeding a guest is equivalent to a sacrifice, and the pleasant looks the +host casteth upon the guest, the attention he devoteth to him, the sweet +words in which he addresseth him, the respect he payeth by following +him, and the food and drink with which he treateth him, are the five +_Dakshinas_[4] in that sacrifice. He who giveth without stint food to a +fatigued wayfarer never seen before, obtaineth merit that is great, and +he who leading a domestic life, followeth such practices, acquireth +religious merit that is said to be very great. O Brahmana, what is thy +opinion on this?' + + [1] This seems to be the obvious. There is a different reading + however. For _Drie-cyate_--seen, some texts have + _Sasyate_--applauded. Nilakantha imagines that the meaning is + "As distribution (of food) amongst the various classes of beings + like the gods, the _Pitris_, &c., is applauded &c., &c." + + [2] A form of sacrifice which consists in pouring oblations of + clarified butter with prayers into a blazing fire. It is + obligatory on Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, except those that accept + certain vows of great austerity. + + [3] The Viswedeva sacrifice is the offer of food to all + creatures of the earth (by scattering a portion). + + [4] A gift. It may be of various kinds. The fees paid to + Brahmanas assisting at sacrifices and religious rites, such as + offering oblations to the dead, are _Dakshinas_, as also gifts + to Brahmanas on other occasions particularly when they are fed, + it being to this day the custom never to feed a Brahmana without + paying him a pecuniary fee. There can be no sacrifice, no + religious rite, without _Dakshina_. + +"Saunaka said, 'Alas, this world is full of contradictions! That which +shameth the good, gratifieth the wicked! Alas, moved by ignorance and +passion and slaves of their own senses, even fools perform many acts of +(apparent merit) to gratify in after-life their appetites! With eyes +open are these men led astray by their seducing senses, even as a +charioteer, who hath lost his senses, by restive and wicked steeds! When +any of the six senses findeth its particular object, the desire +springeth up in the heart to enjoy that particular object. And thus when +one's heart proceedeth to enjoy the objects of any particular sense a +wish is entertained which in its turn giveth birth to a resolve. And +finally, like unto an insect falling into a flame from love of light, +the man falleth into the fire of temptation, pierced by the shafts of +the object of enjoyment discharged by the desire constituting the seed +of the resolve! And thenceforth blinded by sensual pleasure which he +seeketh without stint, and steeped in dark ignorance and folly which he +mistaketh for a state of happiness, he knoweth not himself! And like +unto a wheel that is incessantly rolling, every creature, from ignorance +and deed and desire, falleth into various states in this world, +wandering from one birth to another, and rangeth the entire circle of +existences from a _Brahma_ to the point of a blade of grass, now in +water, now on land, and now against in the air! + +"'This then is the career of those that are without knowledge. Listen +now to the course of the wise they that are intent on profitable virtue, +and are desirous of emancipation! The _Vedas_ enjoin act but _renounce_ +(interest in) action. Therefore, shouldst thou act, renouncing +_Abhimana_,[5] performance of sacrifices, study (of the _Vedas_), gifts, +penance, truth (in both speech and act), forgiveness, subduing the +senses, and renunciation of desire,--these have been declared to be the +eight (cardinal) duties constituting the true path. Of these, the four +first pave the way to the world of the _pitris_. And these should be +practised without _Abhimana_. The four last are always observed by the +pious, to attain the heaven of the gods. And the pure in spirit should +ever follow these eight paths. Those who wish to subdue the world for +purpose of salvation, should ever act fully renouncing motives, +effectually subduing their senses, rigidly observing particular vows, +devotedly serving their preceptors, austerely regulating their fare, +diligently studying the _Vedas_, renouncing action as mean and +restraining their hearts. By renouncing desire and aversion the gods +have attained prosperity. It is by virtue of their wealth of yoga[6] +that the _Rudras_, and the _Sadhyas_, and the _Adityas_ and the _Vasus_, +and the twin _Aswins_, rule the creatures. Therefore, O son of Kunti, +like unto them, do thou, O Bharata, entirely refraining from action with +motive, strive to attain success in _yoga_ and by ascetic austerities. +Thou hast already achieved such success so far as thy debts to thy +ancestors, both male and female concerned, and that success also which +is derived from action (sacrifices). Do thou, for serving the regenerate +ones endeavour to attain success in penances. Those that are crowned +with ascetic success, can, by virtue of that success, do whatever they +list; do thou, therefore, practising asceticism realise all thy +wishes.'" + + [5] Reference to self, i.e. without the motive of bettering + one's own self, or without any motive at all. (This contains the + germ of the doctrine preached more elaborately in the _Bhagavad + gita_.) + + [6] This _Yoga_ consists, in their case, of a combination of + attributes by negation of the contrary ones, i.e. by + renunciation of motives in all they do. + + +SECTION III + +Vaisampayana said, "Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, thus addressed by +Saunaka, approached his priest and in the midst of his brothers said, +'The Brahmanas versed in the _Vedas_ are following me who am departing +for the forest. Afflicted with many calamities I am unable to support +them. I cannot abandon them, nor have I the power to offer them +sustenance: Tell me, O holy one, what should be done by me in such a +pass.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "After reflecting for a moment seeking to find out +the (proper) course by his _yoga_ powers, Dhaumya, that foremost of all +virtuous men, addressed Yudhishthira, in these words, 'In days of old, +all living beings that had been created were sorely afflicted with +hunger. And like a father (unto all of them), _Savita_ (the sun) took +compassion upon them. And going first into the northern declension, the +sun drew up water by his rays, and coming back to the southern +declension, stayed over the earth, with his heat centered in himself. +And while the sun so stayed over the earth, the lord of the vegetable +world (the moon), converting the effects of the solar heat (vapours) +into clouds and pouring them down in the shape of water, caused plants +to spring up. Thus it is the sun himself, who, drenched by the lunar +influence, is transformed, upon the sprouting of seeds, into holy +vegetable furnished with the six tastes. And it is these which +constitute the food of all creatures upon the earth. Thus the food that +supporteth the lives of creatures is instinct with solar energy, and the +sun is, therefore, the father of all creatures. Do thou, hence, O +Yudhishthira, take refuge even in him. All illustrious monarchs of pure +descent and deeds are known to have delivered their people by practising +high asceticism. The great Karttavirya, and Vainya and Nahusha, had all, +by virtue of ascetic meditation preceded by vows, delivered their people +from heavy afflictions. Therefore, O virtuous one, as thou art purified +by the acts do thou likewise, entering upon a file of austerities. O +Bharata, virtuously support the regenerate ones.'" + +Janamejaya said, "How did that bull among the Kurus, king Yudhishthira, +for the sake of the Brahmanas adore the sun of wonderful appearance?" + +Vaisampayana said, "Listen attentively, O king, purifying thyself and +withdrawing thy mind from every other thing. And, O king of kings, +appoint thou a time. I will tell thee everything in detail, And, O +illustrious one, listen to the one hundred and eight names (of the sun) +as they were disclosed of old by Dhaumya to the high-souled son of +Pritha. Dhaumya said, 'Surya, Aryaman, Bhaga, Twastri, Pusha, Arka, +Savitri, Ravi, Gabhastimat, Aja, Kala, Mrityu, Dhatri, Prabhakara, +Prithibi, Apa, Teja, Kha, Vayu, the sole stay, Soma, Vrihaspati, Sukra, +Budha, Angaraka, Indra, Vivaswat, Diptanshu, Suchi, Sauri, Sanaichara, +Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Skanda, Vaisravana, Yama, Vaidyutagni, +Jatharagni, Aindhna, Tejasampati, Dharmadhwaja, Veda-karttri, Vedanga, +Vedavahana, Krita, Treta, Dwapara, Kali, full of every impurity, Kala, +Kastha, Muhurtta, Kshapa, Yama, and Kshana; Samvatsara-kara, Aswattha, +Kalachakra, Bibhavasu, Purusha, Saswata, Yogin, Vyaktavyakta, Sanatana, +Kaladhyaksha, Prajadhyaksha, Viswakarma, Tamounda, Varuna, Sagara, Ansu, +Jimuta, Jivana, Arihan, Bhutasraya, Bhutapati, Srastri, Samvartaka, +Vanhi, Sarvadi, Alolupa, Ananta, Kapila, Bhanu, Kamada, Sarvatomukha, +Jaya, Visata, Varada, Manas, Suparna, Bhutadi, Sighraga, Prandharana, +Dhanwantari, Dhumaketu, Adideva, Aditisuta, Dwadasatman, Aravindaksha, +Pitri, Matri, Pitamaha, Swarga-dwara, Prajadwara, Mokshadwara, +Tripistapa, Dehakarti, Prasantatman, Viswatman, Viswatomukha, +Characharatman, Sukhsmatman, the merciful Maitreya. These are the +hundred and eight names of Surya of immeasurable energy, as told by the +self-create (Brahma). For the acquisition of prosperity, I bow down to +thee, O Bhaskara, blazing like unto gold or fire, who is worshipped of +the gods and the _Pitris_ and the Yakshas, and who is adored by Asuras, +Nisacharas, and Siddhas. He that with fixed attention reciteth this hymn +at sunrise, obtaineth wife and offspring and riches and the memory of +his former existence, and by reciting this hymn a person attaineth +patience and memory. Let a man concentrating his mind, recite this hymn. +By doing so, he shall be proof against grief and forest-fire and ocean +and every object of desire shall be his.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Having heard from Dhaumya these words suitable +to the occasion, Yudhishthira the just, with heart concentrated within +itself and purifying it duly, became engaged in austere meditation, +moved by the desire of supporting the Brahmanas. And worshipping the +maker of day with offerings of flowers and other articles, the king +performed his ablutions. And standing in the stream, he turned his face +towards the god of day. And touching the water of the Ganges the +virtuous Yudhishthira with senses under complete control and depending +upon air alone for his sustenance, stood there with rapt soul engaged in +_pranayama_.[7] And having purified himself and restrained his speech, +he began to sing the hymn of praise (to the sun). + +"Yudhishthira said, 'Thou art, O sun, the eye of the universe. Thou art +the soul of all corporeal existences. Thou art the origin of all things. +Thou art the embodiment of the acts of all religious men. Thou art the +refuge of those versed in the _Sankhya_ philosophy (the mysteries of the +soul), and thou art the support of the _Yogins_. Thou art a door +unfastened with bolts. Thou art the refuge of those wishing for +emancipation. Thou sustainest and discoverest the world, and sanctifiest +and supportest it from pure compassion. Brahmanas versed in the _Vedas_ +appearing before thee, adore thee in due time, reciting the hymns from +the respective branches (of the _Vedas_) they refer. Thou art the adored +of the _Rishis_. The _Siddhas_, and the _Charanas_ and the _Gandharvas_ +and the _Yakshas_, and the _Guhyakas_, and the _Nagas_, desirous of +obtaining boons follow thy car coursing through the skies. The +thirty-three gods[8] with Upendra (Vishnu) and Mahendra, and the order +of Vaimanikas[9] have attained success by worshipping thee. By offering +thee garlands of the celestial _Mandaras_[10] the best of the +_Vidyadharas_ have obtained all their desires. The _Guhyas_ and the +seven orders of the _Pitris_--both divine and human--have attained +superiority by adoring thee alone. The _Vasus_, the _Manilas_, and the +_Rudras_, the _Sadhyas_, the _Marichipas_, the _Valikhilyas_, and the +_Siddhas_, have attained pre-eminence by bowing down unto thee. There is +nothing that I know in the entire seven worlds, including that of Brahma +which is beyond thee. There are other beings both great and endued with +energy; but none of them hath thy lustre and energy. All light is in +thee, indeed, thou art the lord of all light. In thee are the (five) +elements and all intelligence, and knowledge and asceticism and the +ascetic properties.[11] The discus by which the wielder of the +_Saranga_[12] humbleth the pride of Asuras and which is furnished with a +beautiful nave, was forged by Viswakarman with thy energy. In summer +thou drawest, by thy rays, moisture from all corporeal existences and +plants and liquid substances, and pourest it down in the rainy season. +Thy rays warm and scorch, and becoming as clouds roar and flash with +lightning and pour down showers when the season cometh. Neither fire nor +shelter, nor woolen cloths give greater comfort to one suffering from +chilling blasts than thy rays. Thou illuminest by thy rays the whole +Earth with her thirteen islands. Thou alone are engaged in the welfare +of the three worlds. If thou dost not rise, the universe becometh blind +and the learned cannot employ themselves in the attainment of virtue, +wealth and profit. It is through thy grace that the (three) orders of +Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas are able to perform their various +duties and sacrifices.[13] Those versed in chronology say that thou art +the beginning and thou the end of a day of Brahma, which consisteth of a +full thousand _Yugas_. Thou art the lord of Manus and of the sons of the +Manus, of the universe and of man, of the _Manwantaras_, and their +lords. When the time of universal dissolution cometh, the fire +_Samvartaka_ born of thy wrath consumeth the three worlds and existeth +alone. And clouds of various hues begotten of thy rays, accompanied by +the elephant Airavata and the thunderbolt, bring about the appointed +deluges. And dividing thyself into twelve parts and becoming as many +suns, thou drinkest up the ocean once more with thy rays. Thou art +called Indra, thou art Vishnu, thou art Brahma, thou art Prajapati. Thou +art fire and thou art the subtle mind. And thou art lord and the eternal +_Brahma_. Thou art _Hansa_, thou art _Savitri_, thou art _Bhanu_, +_Ansumalin_, and _Vrishakapi_. Thou art _Vivaswan, Mihira, Pusha, Mitra_, +and _Dharma_. Thou art thousand-rayed, thou art _Aditya_, and _Tapana_, +and the lord of rays. Thou art _Martanda_, and _Arka_, and _Ravi_, and +_Surya_ and _Saranya_ and maker of day, and _Divakara_ and +_Suptasaspti_, and _Dhumakeshin_ and _Virochana_. Thou art spoken of as +swift of speed and the destroyer of darkness, and the possessor of +yellow steeds. He that reverentially adoreth thee on the sixth or the +seventh lunar day with humility and tranquillity of mind, obtaineth the +grace of Lakshmi. They that with undivided attention adore and worship +thee, are delivered from all dangers, agonies, and afflictions. And they +that hold that thou art everywhere (being the soul of all things) living +long, freed from sin and enjoying an immunity from all diseases. O lord +of all food, it behoveth thee to grant food in abundance unto me who am +desirous of food even for entertaining all my guests with reverence. I +bow also to all those followers of thine that have taken refuge at thy +feet--_Mathara_ and _Aruna_ and _Danda_ and others, including _Asani_ +and _Kshuva_ and the others. And I bow also to the celestial mothers of +all creatures, _viz_., Kshuva and _Maitri_ and the others of the class. +O, let them deliver me their supplicant.'" + + [7] A form of _Yoga_ that is said to consist in the mingling of + some of the air supposed to exist in every animal body. These + airs are five: _Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana_, and _Vyana_. + + [8] The 8 _Vasus_, the 11 _Rudras_, the 12 _Adityas_, + _Prajapati_, and _Vashatkara_. + + [9] An order of celestials. + + [10] Celestial flowers of much fragrance. + + [11] The ascetic properties are _Anima_, _Laghima_, etc. + + [12] The bow of Vishnu, as that of Siva is called _Pinaka_. + + [13] The words of the text are _Adhana_, _Pashubandha_, _Ishti + Mantra_, _Yajana_ and _Tapa-kriya_. + +Vaisampayana said, "Thus, O great king, was the sun that purifier of the +world, adored (by Yudhishthira). And pleased with the hymn, the maker of +day, self-luminous, and blazing like fire showed himself to the son of +Pandu. And Vivaswan said, 'Thou shall obtain all that thou desirest. I +shall provide thee with food for five and seven years together. And, O +king, accept this copper-vessel which I give unto thee. And, O thou of +excellent vows, as long as Panchali will hold this vessel, without +partaking of its contents fruits and roots and meat and vegetables +cooked in thy kitchen, these four kinds of food shall from this day be +inexhaustible. And, on the fourteenth year from this, thou shall regain +thy kingdom.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, the god vanished away. He +that, with the desire of obtaining a boon, reciteth this hymn +concentrating his mind with ascetic abstraction, obtaineth it from the +sun, however difficult of acquisition it may be that he asketh for. And +the person, male or female, that reciteth or heareth this hymn day after +day, if he or she desireth for a son, obtaineth one, and if riches, +obtaineth them, and if learning acquireth that too. And the person male +or female, that reciteth this hymn every day in the two twilights, if +overtaken by danger, is delivered from it, and if bound, is freed from +the bonds. Brahma himself had communicated this hymn to the illustrious +Sakra, and from Sakra was it obtained by Narada and from Narada, by +Dhaumya. And Yudhishthira, obtaining it from Dhaumya, attained all his +wishes. And it is by virtue of this hymn that one may always obtain +victory in war, and acquire immense wealth also. And it leadeth the +reciter from all sins, to the solar region." + +Vaisampayana continued, "Having obtained the boon, the virtuous son of +Kunti, rising from the water, took hold of Dhaumya's feet and then +embraced his brother's. And, O exalted one, wending then with Draupadi +to the kitchen, and adored by her duly, the son of Pandu set himself to +cook (their day's) food. And the clean food, however little, that was +dressed, furnished with the four tastes, increased and became +inexhaustible. And with it Yudhishthira began to feed the regenerate +ones. And after the Brahmanas had been fed, and his younger brothers +also, Yudhishthira himself ate of the food that remained, and which is +called _Vighasa_. And after Yudhishthira had eaten, the daughter of +Prishata took what remained. And after she had taken her meal, the day's +food became exhausted. + +"And having thus obtained the boon from the maker of day, the son of +Pandu, himself as resplendent as that celestial, began to entertain the +Brahmanas agreeably to their wishes. And obedient to their priest, the +sons of Pritha, on auspicious lunar days and constellations and +conjunctions, performed sacrifices according to the ordinance, the +scriptures, and the _Mantras_. After the sacrifices, the sons of Pandu, +blessed by the auspicious rites performed by Dhaumya and accompanied by +him, and surrounded also by the Brahmanas set out for the woods of +_Kamyaka_." + + +SECTION IV + +Vaisampayana said,--"After the Pandavas had gone to the forest, +Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika, whose knowledge was his eye,[14] became +exceedingly sorrowful. And seated at his ease the king addressed these +words to the virtuous Vidura of profound intelligence, 'Thy +understanding is as clear as that of Bhargava.[15] Thou knowest also all +the subtleties of morality, and thou lookest on all the Kauravas with an +equal eye. O, tell me what is proper for me and them. O Vidura, things +having thus taken their course, what should we do now? How may I secure +the goodwill of the citizens so that they may not destroy us to the +roots? O, tell us all, since thou art conversant with every excellent +expedient.' + + [14] Dhritarashtra being blind is described as _Pragnachakshu, + i.e._ having knowledge for his eye. It may also mean. "Of the + prophetic eye." + + [15] The great preceptor of the Asuras, _viz., Sukra_, + possessing the highest intelligence as evidenced by his various + works on all manner of subjects particularly, the _Sukra-niti_. + +"Vidura said, 'The three-fold purposes, O king (_viz_., profit, +pleasure, and salvation), have their foundations in virtue, and the +sages say that a kingdom also standeth on virtue as its basis. +Therefore, O monarch, according to the best of thy power, cherish thou +virtuously thy own sons and those of Pandu. That virtue had been +beguiled by wicked souls with Suvala's son at their head, when thy sons +invited the righteous Yudhishthira and defeated him in the match at +dice. O king, of this deed of utter iniquity I behold this expiation +whereby, O chief of the Kurus, thy son, freed from sin, may win back his +position among good men. Let the sons of Pandu, obtain that which was +given unto them by thee. For, verily, even this is the highest morality +that a king should remain content with his own, and never covet +another's possessions. Thy good name then would not suffer nor would +family dissensions ensue, nor unrighteousness be thine. This then is thy +prime duty now,--to gratify the Pandavas and disgrace Sakuni. If thou +wishest to restore to thy sons the good fortune they have lost, then, O +king, do thou speedily adopt this line of conduct. If thou dost not act +so, the Kurus will surely meet with destruction, for neither Bhimasena +nor Arjuna, if angry, will leave any of their foes unslain. What is +there in the world which is unattainable to those who cannot among their +warriors _Savyasachin_ skilled in arms; who have the Gandiva, the most +powerful of all weapons in the world, for their bow; and who have +amongst them the mighty Bhima also as a warrior? Formerly, as soon as +thy son was born, I told thee,--_Forsake thou this inauspicious child of +thine. Herein lieth the good of thy race._--But thou didst not then act +accordingly. Nor also, O king, have I pointed out to thee the way of thy +welfare. If thou doest as I have counselled, thou shalt not have to +repent afterwards. If thy son consent to reign in peace jointly with the +sons of Pandu, passing thy days in joy thou shalt not have to repent. +Should it be otherwise, abandon thou thy child for thy own happiness. +Putting Duryodhana aside, do thou install the son of Pandu in the +sovereignty, and let, O king, Ajatasatru, free from passion, rule the +earth virtuously. All the kings of the earth, then, like Vaisyas, will, +without delay, pay homage unto us. And, O king, let Duryodhana and +Sakuni and Karna with alacrity wait upon the Pandavas. And let +Dussasana, in open court, ask forgiveness of Bhimasena and of the +daughter of Drupada also. And do thou pacify Yudhishthira by placing him +on the throne with every mark of respect. Asked by thee, what else can I +counsel thee to do? By doing this, O monarch, thou wouldst do what was +proper.' + +"Dhritarashtra said, 'These words, O Vidura, then thou hast spoken in +this assembly, with reference to the Pandavas and myself, are for their +good but not for ours. My mind doth not approve them. How hast thou +settled all this in thy mind now? When thou hast spoken all this on +behalf of the Pandavas, I perceive that thou art not friendly to me. How +can I abandon my son for the sake of the sons of Pandu? Doubtless they +are my sons, but Duryodhana is sprung from my body. Who then, speaking +with impartiality, will ever counsel me to renounce my own body for the +sake of others? O Vidura, all that thou sayest is crooked, although I +hold thee in high esteem. Stay or go as thou likest. However much may +she be humoured, an unchaste will forsaketh her husband.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "O king, saying this Dhritarashtra rose suddenly and +went into the inner apartments. And Vidura, saying 'This race is doomed' +went away to where the sons of Pritha were." + + +SECTION V + +Vaisampayana said, "Desirous of living in the forest, those bulls of the +Bharata race, the Pandavas, with their followers, setting out from the +banks of the Ganges went to the field of Kurukshetra. And performing +their ablutions in the Saraswati, the Drisadwati and the Yamuna, they +went from one forest to another, travelling in an westernly direction. +And at length they saw before them the woods, Kamyaka, the favourite +haunt of _Munis_, situated by a level and wild plain on the banks of the +Saraswati. And in those woods, O Bharata, abounding in birds and deer, +those heroes began to dwell, entertained and comforted by the Munis. And +Vidura always longing to see the Pandavas, went in a single car to the +Kamyaka woods abounding in every good thing. And arriving at Kamyaka on +a car drawn by swift steeds, he saw Yudhishthira the just, sitting with +Draupadi at a retired spot, surrounded by his brothers and the +Brahmanas. And seeing Vidura approach from a distance with swift steps, +the virtuous king addressed brother Bhimasena, saying, 'With what +message doth Kshatta come to us? Doth he come hither, despatched by +Sakuni, to invite us again to a game of dice? Doth the little-minded +Sakuni intend to win again our weapons at dice? O Bhimasena, challenged +by any one addressing me,--Come, I am unable to stay. And if our +possession of the _Gandiva_ becomes doubtful, will not the acquisition +of our kingdom also be so.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "O king, the Pandavas then rose up and welcomed +Vidura. And received by them, that descendant of the Ajamida line +(Vidura) sat in their midst and made the usual enquiries. And after +Vidura had rested awhile, those bulls among men asked him the reason of +his coming. And Vidura began to relate unto them in detail everything +connected with the bearing of Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika. + +"Vidura said, 'O Ajatasatru, Dhritarashtra called me, his dependant, +before him and honouring me duly said, "Things have fared thus. Now, do +thou tell me what is good for the Pandavas as well as for me." I pointed +out what was beneficial to both the Kauravas and Dhritarashtra. But what +I said was not relished by him, nor could I hit upon any other course. +What I advised was, O Pandavas, highly beneficial, but the son of Amvika +heeded me not. Even as medicine recommendeth itself not to one that is +ill, so my words failed to please the king. And, O thou without a foe, +as all unchaste wile in the family of a man of pure descent cannot be +brought back to the path of virtue, so I failed to bring Dhritarashtra +back. Indeed, as a young damsel doth not like a husband of three score, +even so Dhritarashtra did not like my words. Surely, destruction will +overtake the Kuru race, surely Dhritarashtra will never acquire good +fortune. For, as water dropped on a lotus-leaf doth not remain there, my +counsels will fail to produce any effect to Dhritarashtra. The incensed +Dhritarashira told me, O Bharata, go thou thither where thou likest. +Never more shall I seek thy aid in ruling the earth or my capital,--O +best of monarchs, forsaken by king Dhritarashtra, I come to thee for +tendering good counsel. What I had said in the open court, I will now +repeat unto thee. Listen, and bear my words in mind,--that wise man who +bearing all the gross wrong heaped upon him by his enemies, patiently +bideth his time, and multiplieth his resources even as men by degrees +turn a small fire into a large one, ruleth alone this entire earth. He +that (in prosperity) enjoyeth his substance with his adherents findeth +in them sharers of his adversity,--this is the best means of securing +adherents, and it is said that he that hath adherents, winneth the +sovereignty of the world! And, O Pandava, dividing thy prosperity with +thy adherents, behave truthfully towards them, and converse with them +agreeably! Share also your food with them! And never boast thyself in +their presence! This behaviour increaseth the prosperity of kings!' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'Having recourse to such high intelligence, +undisturbed by passion, I will do as thou counsellest! And whatever else +thou mayst counsel in respect of time and place, I will carefully follow +entirely.'" + + +SECTION VI + +Vaisampayana said, "O king, after Vidura had gone to the abode of the +Pandavas, Dhritarashtra, O Bharata, of profound wisdom, repented of his +action. And thinking of the great intelligence of Vidura in matters +connected with both war and peace, and also of the aggrandisement of the +Pandavas in the future, Dhritarashtra, pained at the recollection of +Vidura, having approached the door of the hall of state fell down +senseless in the presence of the monarchs (in waiting). And regaining +consciousness, the king rose from the ground and thus addressed Sanjaya +standing by, 'My brother and friend is even like the god of justice +himself! Recollecting him today, my heart burneth in grief! Go, bring +unto me without delay my brother well-versed in morality!' Saying this, +the monarch wept bitterly. And burning in repentance, and overwhelmed +with sorrow at the recollection of Vidura, the king, from brotherly +affection, again addressed Sanjaya saying, 'O Sanjaya, go thou and +ascertain whether my brother, expelled by my wretched self through +anger, liveth still! That wise brother of mine of immeasurable +intelligence hath never been guilty of even the slightest transgression, +but, on the other hand, he it is who hath come by grievous wrong at my +hands! Seek him, O wise one, and bring him hither; else, O Sanjaya, I +will lay down my life!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of the king, Sanjaya +expressed his approbation, and saying 'So be it,' went in the direction +of the Kamyaka woods. And arriving without loss of time at the forest +where the sons of Pandu dwelt, he beheld Yudhishthira clad in deer-skin, +seated with Vidura, in the midst of Brahmanas by thousands and guarded +by his brothers, even like Purandara in the midst of the celestials! And +approaching Yudhishthira, Sanjaya worshipped him duly and was received +with due respect by Bhima and Arjuna and the twins. And Yudhishthira +made the usual enquiries about his welfare and when he had been seated +at his ease, he disclosed the reason of his visit, in these words, 'King +Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, hath, O Kshatta! remembered thee! +Returning unto him without loss of time, do thou revive the king! And, O +thou best of men, with the permission of these Kuru princes--these +foremost of men--it behoveth thee, at the command of that lion among +kings, to return unto him!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Sanjaya, the intelligent +Vidura, ever attached to his relatives, with the permission of +Yudhishthira returned to the city named after the elephant. And after he +had approached the king, Dhritarashtra of great energy, the son of +Amvika, addressed him, saying, 'From my good luck alone, O Vidura, thou, +O sinless one, of conversant with morality, hast come here remembering +me! And, O thou bull of the Bharata race, in thy absence I was beholding +myself, sleepless through the day and the night, as one that hath been +lost on earth!' And the king then took Vidura on his lap and smelt his +head, and said, 'Forgive me, O sinless one, the words in which thou wert +addressed by me!' And Vidura said, 'O king, I have forgiven thee. Thou +art my superior, worthy of the highest reverence! Here am I, having come +back, eagerly wishing to behold thee! All virtuous men, O tiger among +men, are (instinctively) partial towards those that are distressed! +This, O king, is scarcely the result of deliberation! (My partiality to +the Pandavas proceedeth from this cause)! O Bharata, thy sons are as +dear to me as the sons of Pandu, but as the latter are now in distress, +my heart yearneth after them!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "And addressing each other thus in apologetic +speeches, the two illustrious brothers, Vidura and Dhritarashtra, felt +themselves greatly happy!" + + +SECTION VII + +Vaisampayana said, "Hearing that Vidura had returned, and that the king +had consoled him, the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra began to burn in +grief. His understanding clouded by ignorance, he summoned the son of +Suvala, and Karna and Dussasana, and addressed them saying, 'The learned +Vidura, the minister of the wise Dhritarashtra, hath returned! The +friend of the sons of Pandu, he is ever engaged in doing what is +beneficial to them. So long as this Vidura doth not succeed in inducing +the king to bring them back, do ye all think of what may benefit me! If +ever I behold the sons of Pritha return to the city, I shall again be +emaciated by renouncing food and drink, even though there be no obstacle +in my path! And I shall either take poison or hang myself, either enter +the pyre or kill myself with my own weapons. But I shall never be able +to behold the sons of Pandu in prosperity!' + +"Sakuni said, 'O king, O lord of the earth, what folly hath taken +possession of thee! The Pandavas have gone to the forest, having given a +particular pledge, so that what thou apprehendest can never take place! +O bull of the Bharata race, the Pandavas ever abide by the truth. They +will never, therefore, accept the words of thy father! If however, +accepting the commands of the king, they come back to the capital, +violating their vow, even this would be our conduct, viz., assuming, an +aspect of neutrality, and in apparent obedience to the will of the +monarch, we will closely watch the Pandavas, keeping our counsels!' + +"Dussasana said, 'O uncle of great intelligence, it is even as thou +sayest! The words of wisdom thou utterest always recommend themselves to +me!' Karna said, 'O Duryodhana, all of us seek to accomplish thy will +and, O king, I see that unanimity at present prevaileth among us! The +sons of Pandu, with passions under complete control, will never return +without passing away the promised period. If, however, they do return +from failing sense, do thou defeat them again at dice.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana with +cheerless heart, averted his face from his counsellors. Marking all +this, Karna expanding his beautiful eyes, and vehemently gesticulating +in anger, haughtily addressed Duryodhana and Dussasana and Suvala's son +saying, 'Ye princes, know ye my opinion! We are all servants of the king +(Duryodhana) waiting upon him with joined palms! We should, therefore, +do what is agreeable to him! But we are not always able to seek his +welfare with promptness and activity (owing to our dependence on +Dhritarashtra)! But let us now, encased in mail and armed with our +weapons, mount our cars and go in a body to slay the Pandavas now living +in the forest! After the Pandavas have been quieted and after they have +gone on the unknown journey, both ourselves and the sons of +Dhritarashtra will find peace! As long as they are in distress, as long +as they are in sorrow, as long as they are destitute of help, so long +are we a match for them! This is my mind!' + +"Hearing those words of the charioteer's son, they repeatedly applauded +him, and at last exclaimed, 'Very well!' And saying this each of them +mounted his car, and sanguine of success, they rushed in a body to slay +the sons of Pandu. And knowing by his spiritual vision that they had +gone out, the master Krishna-Dwaipayana of pure soul came upon them, and +commanded them to desist. And sending them away, the holy one, +worshipped by all the worlds, quickly appeared before the king whose +intelligence served the purposes of eye-sight, and who was then seated +(at his ease). And the holy one addressed the monarch thus." + + +SECTION VIII + +"Vyasa said, 'O wise Dhritarashtra, hear what I say! I will tell thee +that which is for the great good of all the Kauravas! O thou of mighty +arms, it hath not pleased me that the Pandavas have gone to the forest +dishonestly defeated (at dice) by Duryodhana and others! O Bharata, on +the expiration of the thirteenth year, recollecting all their woes, they +may shower death-dealing weapons, even like virulent poison, upon the +Kauravas! Why doth thy sinful son of wicked heart, ever inflamed with +ire, seek to slay the sons of Pandu for the sake of their kingdom? Let +the fool be restrained; let thy son remain quiet! In attempting to slay +the Pandavas in exile, he will only lose his own life. Thou art as +honest as the wise Vidura, or Bhishma, or ourselves, or Kripa, or Drona. +O thou of great wisdom, dissension with one's own kin are forbidden, +sinful and reprehensible! Therefore, O king, it behoveth thee to desist +from such acts! And, O Bharata, Duryodhana looketh with such jealousy +towards the Pandavas that great harm would be the consequence, if thou +didst not interfere. Or let this wicked son of thine, O monarch, alone +and unaccompanied, himself go to the forest and live with the sons of +Pandu. For then, if the Pandavas, from association, feel an attachment +for Duryodhana, then, O king of men, good fortune may be thine. (This, +however, may not be)! For it hath been heard that one's congenital +nature leaveth him not till death. But what do Bhishma and Drona and +Vidura think? What also dost thou think? That which is beneficial should +be done while there is time, else thy purposes will be unrealised.'" + + +SECTION IX + +"Dhritarashtra said, 'O holy one, I did not like this business of +gambling, but, O Muni, I think, I was made to consent to it drawn by +fate! Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Vidura, nor Gandhari liked this +game at dice. No doubt, it was begot of folly. And, O thou who +delightest in the observance of vows, O illustrious one, knowing +everything yet influenced by paternal affection, I am unable to cast off +my senseless son, Duryodhana!' + +"Vyasa said, 'O king, O son of Vichitravirya, what thou sayest is true! +We know it well that a son is the best of all things and that there is +nothing that is so good as a son. Instructed by the tears of Suravi, +Indra came to know that the son surpasseth in worth other valuable +possessions. O monarch, I will, in this connection, relate to thee that +excellent and best of stories, the conversation between Indra and +Suravi. In days of yore, Suravi, the mother of cows was once weeping in +the celestial regions. O child, Indra took compassion upon her, and +asked her, saying, "O auspicious one! why dost thou weep? Is everything +well with the celestials? Hath any misfortune, ever so little, befallen +the world of men or serpents?" Suravi replied, "No evil hath befallen +thee that I perceive. But I am aggrieved on account of my son, and it is +therefore, O Kausika, that I weep! See, O chief of the celestials, +yonder cruel husbandman is belabouring my weak son with the wooden +stick, and oppressing him with the (weight of the) plough, in +consequence of which my child agitated with agony is falling upon the +ground and is at the point of death. At sight of this, O lord of the +celestials, I am filled with compassion, and my mind is agitated! The +one that is the stronger of the pair is bearing his burthen of greater +weight (with ease), but, O Vasava, the other is lean, and weak and is a +mass of veins and arteries! He beareth his burthen with difficulty! And +it is for him that I grieve. See, O Vasava, sore inflicted with the +whip, and harassed exceedingly, he is unable to bear his burthen. And it +is for him that, moved by grief, I weep in heaviness of heart and these +tears of compassion trickle down my eyes!" + +"'Sakra said, "O fair one, when thousands of thy son are (daily) +oppressed, why dost thou grieve for one under infliction?" Suravi +replied. "Although I have a thousand offspring, yet my affections flow +equally towards all! But, O Sakra, I feel greater compassion for one +that is weak and innocent!" + +"Vyasa continued, 'Then Indra having heard these words of Suravi, was +much surprised, and O thou of the Kuru race, he became convinced that a +son is dearer than one's life! And the illustrious chastiser of Paka +thereupon suddenly poured there a thick shower and caused obstruction to +the husbandman's work. And as Suravi said, thy affections, O king, +equally flow towards all thy sons. Let them be greater towards those +that are weak! And as my son Pandu is to me, so art thou, O son, and so +also Vidura of profound wisdom! It is out of affection that I tell you +all this! O Bharata, thou art possessed of a hundred and one sons, but +Pandu hath only five. And they are in a bad plight and passing _their_ +days in sorrow. _How may they save their lives, how may they thrive_ +such thoughts regarding the distressed sons of Pritha continually +agitate my soul! O king of the earth, if thou desirest all the Kauravas +to live, let thy son Duryodhana make peace with the Pandavas!'" + + +SECTION X + +"Dhritarashtra said, 'O Muni of profound wisdom, it is even as thou +sayest! I know it well as do all these kings! Indeed, what thou +considerest to be beneficial for the Kurus was pointed out to me, O +Muni, by Vidura and Bhishma and Drona. And, if I deserve thy favour, and +if thou hast kindness for the Kurus, do thou exhort my wicked son +Duryodhana!' + +"Vyasa said, 'O king, after having seen the Pandava brothers, here +cometh the holy Rishi Maitreya, with the desire of seeing us. That +mighty Rishi, O king, will admonish thy son for the welfare of this +race. And, O Kauravya, what he adviseth must be followed undoubtingly, +for if what he recommendeth is not done, the sage will curse thy son in +anger.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, Vyasa departed, and Maitreya made +his appearance. And the king with his son respectfully received that +way-worn chief of Munis, with offerings of the Arghya and other rites. +And king Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, in words of respect thus +addressed the sage, 'O holy one, hath journey from the _Kuru-jangala_ +been a pleasant one? Are those heroes, the five Pandavas living happily? +Do those bulls of the Kuru race intend to stay out their time? Will the +brotherly affection of the Kauravas ever be impaired?' + +"Maitreya said, 'Setting out on a pilgrimage to the different shrines, I +arrived at _Kuru-jangala_, and there I unexpectedly saw Yudhishthira the +just in the woods of Kamyaka. And, O exalted one, many Munis had come +there to behold the high-souled Yudhishthira, dwelling in an ascetic +asylum, clad in deer-skin and wearing matted locks. It was there, O king +of kings, that I heard of the grave error committed by thy sons and the +calamity and terrible danger arisen from dice that had overtaken them. +Therefore, it is that I have come to thee, for the good of the Kauravas, +since, O exalted one, my affection is great for thee and I am delighted +with thee! O king, it is not fit that thy sons should on any account +quarrel with one another, thyself and Bhishma living. Thou art, O king, +the stake at which bulls are tied (in treading corn), and thou art +competent to punish and reward! Why dost thou overlook then this great +evil that is about to overtake all? And, O descendant of the Kurus, for +those wrongs that have been perpetrated in thy court, which are even +like the acts of wretched outcasts, thou art not well-thought amongst +the ascetics!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Then turning to the wrathful prince Duryodhana, +the illustrious Rishi Maitreya addressed him in these soft words, 'O +mighty-armed Duryodhana, O best of all eloquent men, O illustrious one, +give heed unto the words I utter for thy good! O king, seek not to +quarrel with the Pandavas! And, O bull among men, compass thou thy own +good as also of the Pandavas, of the Kurus and of the world! All those +tigers among men are heroes of high prowess in war, gifted with the +strength of ten thousand elephants, with bodies hard as the thunderbolt, +holding fast by their promises, and proud of their manliness! They have +slain the enemies of the celestials--those Rakshasas capable of assuming +any form at will, such as were headed by Hidimva and Kirmira! When those +high-souled ones went from hence that Rakshasa of fierce soul obstructed +their nocturnal path even like an immoveable hill. And even as a tiger +slayeth a little deer, Bhima, that foremost of all endued with strength, +and ever delighted in fight, slew that monster. Consider also, O king, +how while out on his campaign of conquest, Bhima slew in battle that +mighty warrior, Jarasandha, possessing the strength of ten thousand +elephants. Related to Vasudeva and having the sons of king Drupada as +their brothers-in-law, who that is subject to decrepitude and death +would undertake to cope with them in battle? O bull of the Bharata race, +let there be peace between thee and Pandavas! Follow thou my counsels +and surrender not thyself to anger!' + +"O king, thus admonished by Maitreya, Duryodhana began to slap his thigh +resembling the trunk of the elephant, and smilingly began to scratch the +ground with his foot. And the wicked wretch spake not a word, but hung +down his head. And, O monarch, beholding Duryodhana thus offer him a +slight by scratching the earth silently, Maitreya became angry. And, as +if commissioned by fate, Maitreya, the best of Munis, overwhelmed by +wrath, set his mind upon cursing Duryodhana! And then, with eyes red in +anger, Maitreya, touching water, cursed the evil-minded son of +Dhritarashtra, saying, 'Since, slighting me thou declinest to act +according to my words, thou shalt speedily reap the fruit of this thy +insolence! In the great war which shall spring out of the wrongs +perpetrated by thee, the mighty Bhima shall smash that thigh of thine +with a stroke of his mace!' + +"When the Muni had spoken so, king Dhritarashtra began to pacify the +sage, in order that what he had said might not happen. But Maitreya +said, 'O king, if thy son concludeth peace with the Pandavas, this curse +of mine, O child, will not take effect, otherwise it must be as I have +said!'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Desirous of ascertaining the might of Bhima, that +foremost of kings, the father of Duryodhana, then asked Maitreya, +saying, 'How was Kirmira slain by Bhima?' + +"Maitreya said, 'I shall not speak again unto thee, O king, for my words +are not regarded by thy son. After I have gone away, Vidura will relate +everything unto thee!' And saying this, Maitreya went away to the place +whence he had come. And Duryodhana also went out perturbed at the +tidings of Kirmira's death (at the hand of Bhima)." + + +SECTION XI + +(Kirmirabadha Parva) + +"Dhritarashtra said, 'O Kshatta, I am desirous to hear of the +destruction of Kirmira! Do thou tell me how the encounter took place +between the Rakshasa and Bhimasena!' + +"Vidura said, 'Listen to the story of that feat of Bhimasena of +superhuman achievements! I have often heard of it in course of my +conversation with the Pandavas (while I was with them). O foremost of +kings, defeated at dice the Pandavas departed from hence and travelling +for three days and nights they at length reached those woods that go by +the name of Kamyaka. O king, just after the dreadful hour of midnight +when all nature is asleep, when man-eating Rakshasas of terrible deeds +begin to wander, the ascetics and the cowherds and other rangers of the +forest used to shun the woods of Kamyaka and fly to a distance from fear +of cannibals. And, O Bharata, as the Pandavas were at this hour entering +those woods a fearful Rakshasa of flaming eyes appeared before them with +a lighted brand, obstructing their path. And with outstretched arms and +terrible face, he stood obstructing the way on which those perpetuators +of the Kuru race were proceeding. With eight teeth standing out, with +eyes of coppery hue, and with the hair of his head blazing and standing +erect, the fiend looked like a mass of clouds reflecting the rays of the +sun or mingled with lightning flashes and graced with flocks of cranes +underneath on their wings. And uttering frightful yells and roaring like +a mass of clouds charged with rain, the fiend began to spread the +illusion proper to his species. Hearing that terrible roar, birds along +with other creatures that live on land or in water, began to drop down +in all directions, uttering cries of fear. And in consequence of the +deer and the leopards and the buffaloes and the bears flying about in +all directions, it seemed as if the forest itself was in motion. And +swayed by the wind raised by the sighs of the Rakshasa, creepers growing +at a great distance seemed to embrace the trees with their arms of +coppery leaves. And at that moment, a violent wind began to blow, and +the sky became darkened with the dust that covered it. And as grief is +the greatest enemy of the object of the five senses, even so appeared +before the Pandavas that unknown foe of theirs. And beholding the +Pandavas from a distance clad in black deer-skins, the Rakshasa +obstructed their passage through the forest even like the _Mainaka_ +mountain. And at the sight of him never seen before the lotus-eyed +Krishna, agitated with fear, closed her eyes. And she whose braids had +been dishevelled by the hand of Dussasana, stationed in the midst of the +five Pandavas, looked like a stream chafing amid five hills. And seeing +her overwhelmed with fear the five Pandavas supported her as the five +senses influenced by desire adhere to the pleasures relating to their +objects. And Dhaumya of great (ascetic) energy, in the presence of the +sons of Pandu, destroyed the fearful illusion that had been spread by +the Rakshasa, by applying various _mantras_, calculated to destroy the +Rakshasa. And beholding his illusion dispelled, the mighty Rakshasa of +crooked ways, capable of assuming any form at will, expanded his eyes in +wrath and seemed like death himself. Then king Yudhishthira, endued with +great wisdom, addressed him saying, 'Who art thou, and whose (son)? Tell +us what we should do for thee.' The Rakshasa thus addressed, answered +Yudhishthira the just, saying, 'I am the brother of Vaka, the celebrated +Kirmira. I live at ease in these deserted woods of Kamyaka, daily +procuring my food by vanquishing men in fight. Who are ye that have come +near me in the shape of my food? Defeating ye all in fight, I will eat +ye with pleasure.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "O Bharata, hearing these words of the wretch, +Yudhishthira announced his own name and lineage, saying, 'I am king +Yudhishthira the just, the son of Pandu, of whom thou mayst have heard. +Deprived of my kingdom, I have with my brothers Bhimasena and Arjuna and +the others, in course of my wanderings, come into this terrible forest +which is thy dominion, desirous of passing my period of exile here!' + +"Vidura continued, 'Kirmira said unto Yudhishthira, "By good luck it is +that fate hath accomplished today my long-accomplished desire! With +weapons upraised have I been continually ranging the entire earth with +the object of slaying Bhima. But Bhima I had found not. By good luck it +is that slayer of my brother, whom I had been seeking so long, hath come +before me! It was he who in the disguise of a Brahmana slew my dear +brother Vaka in the _Vetrakiya_ forest by virtue of his science. He hath +truly no strength of arms! It is also this one of wicked soul who +formerly slew my dear friend Hidimva, living in this forest and ravished +his sister! And that fool hath now come into this deep forest of mine, +when the night is half spent, even at the time when we wander about! +Today I will wreak my long-cherished vengeance upon him, and I will +today gratify (the manes of) Vaka with his blood in plenty! By slaying +this enemy of the Rakshasas, I shall today be freed from the debt I owe +to my friend and my brother, and thereby attain supreme happiness! If +Bhimasena was let free formerly by Vaka, today, I will devour him in thy +sight, O Yudhishthira! And even as Agastya ate up and digested the +mighty Asura (Vatapi) I will eat up and digest this Bhima!"' + +"Vidura continued, 'Thus addressed by the Rakshasa, the virtuous +Yudhishthira, steadfast in his pledges, said, "It can never be so,"--and +in anger rebuked the Rakshasa. The mighty-armed Bhima then tore up in +haste a tree of the length of ten _Vyasas_ and stripped it of its +leaves. And in the space of a moment the ever-victorious Arjuna stringed +his bow _Gandiva_ possessing the force of the thunderbolt. And, O +Bharata, making Jishnu desist, Bhima approached that Rakshasa still +roaring like the clouds and said unto him, "_Stay! Stay!_" And thus +addressing the cannibal, and tightening the cloth around his waist, and +rubbing his palms, and biting his nether lip with his teeth, and armed +with the tree, the powerful Bhima rushed towards the foe. And like unto +Maghavat hurling his thunderbolt, Bhima made that tree, resembling the +mace of Yama himself descend with force on the head of the cannibal. The +Rakshasa, however, was seen to remain unmoved at that blow, and wavered +not in the conflict. On the other hand, he hurled his lighted brand, +flaming like lightning, at Bhima. But that foremost of warriors turned +it off with his left foot in such a way that it went back towards the +Rakshasa. Then the fierce Kirmira on his part, all on a sudden uprooting +a tree darted to the encounter like unto the mace-bearing Yama himself. +And that fight, so destructive of the trees, looked like the encounter +in days of yore between the brothers Vali and Sugriva for the possession +of the same woman. And the trees struck at the heads of the combatants, +were broken into splinters, like lotus-stalks thrown on the temples of +infuriate elephants. And in that great forest, innumerable trees, +crushed like unto reeds, lay scattered as rags. That encounter with +trees between that foremost of Rakshasas and that best of men, O thou +bull of the Bharata race, lasted but for a moment. Then taking up a +crag, the angry Rakshasa hurled it at Bhima standing before him, but the +latter wavered not. Then like unto Rahu going to devour the sun +dispersing his rays with extended arms, the Rakshasa with out-stretched +arms darted towards Bhima, who had remained firm under the blow +inflicted with the crag. And tugging at and grappling with each other in +diverse ways they appeared like two infuriate bulls struggling with each +other. Or like unto two mighty tigers armed with teeth and claws, the +encounter between them waxed fierce and hard. And remembering their +(late) disgrace at the hands of Duryodhana, and proud of the strength of +his arms, and conscious also of Krishna looking at him, Vrikodara began +to swell in vigour. And fired with anger, Bhima seized the Rakshasa with +his arms, as one elephant in rut seizeth another. And the powerful +Rakshasa also in his turn seized his adversary, but Bhimasena that +foremost of all men endued with strength, threw the cannibal down with +violence. The sounds that in consequence of those mighty combatants +pressing each other's hands, were frightful and resembled the sounds of +splintering bamboos. And hurling the Rakshasa down, seized him by the +waist, and began to whirl him about, even as fierce hurricane shaketh a +tree. And thus seized by the mighty Bhima, the fatigued Rakshasa, became +faint, and trembling all over, he still pressed the (Pandava) with all +his strength. And finding him fatigued, Vrikodara, twined his own arms +round the foe, even as one bindeth a beast with cord. And the monster +thereupon began to roar frightfully, as a trumpet out of order. And the +mighty Vrikodara for a long while whirled the Rakshasa till the latter +appeared to be insensible, and began to move convulsively. And finding +the Rakshasa exhausted, the son of Pandu without loss of time took him +up in his arms, and slew him like a beast. And placing his knee on the +waist of that wretch of Rakshasa, _Vrikodara_ began to press the neck of +the foe with his hands. Then Bhima, dragging along the earth the bruised +body of the Rakshasa with the eye-lids about to close, said, "O sinful +wretch, thou wilt no more have to wipe away the tears of Hidimva or +Vaka, for thou too art about to go to the mansions of Yama!" And saying +this, that foremost of men, his heart filled with wrath, beholding the +Rakshasa destitute of clothing and ornaments, and insensible, and +undergoing convulsions, left him dead. And after that Rakshasa of hue +like the clouds had been slain, the son of that best of kings (Pandu) +praised Bhima for his many qualities, and placing Krishna in their +front, set out for the Dwaita woods.' + +"Vidura said, 'It was thus, O lord of men, that Kirmira was slain in +combat by Bhima, in obedience, O Kaurava, to the commands of +Yudhishthira the just! And having rid the forest of its pest, the +victorious Yudhishthira the just, began to live in that dwelling of +theirs, with Draupadi. And those bulls of the Bharata race comforting +Draupadi began to cheerfully extol Bhima with glad hearts. And after the +Rakshasa had been slain, borne down by the might of Bhima's arms, those +heroes entered into the peaceful forest freed from its annoyance. +Passing through the great forest I saw lying the body of the wicked and +fearless Rakshasa slain by Bhima's might. And, O Bharata, there I heard +of this achievement of Bhima from those Brahmanas who have assembled +round the Pandavas.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing the account of the slaughter in combat +of Kirmira, that foremost of Rakshasas, the king sighed in sorrow and +became absorbed in thought." + + +SECTION XII + +(Arjunabhigamana Parva) + +Vaisampayana said, "Hearing that the Pandavas had been banished, the +Bhojas, the Vrishnis, and the Andhakas went to those heroes residing in +affliction in the great forest. And the consanguinous relatives of +Panchala, and Dhrishtaketu the king of Chedi, and those celebrated and +powerful brothers the Kaikeyas, their hearts fired with wrath, went to +the forest to see the sons of Pritha. And reproaching the sons of +Dhritarashtra, they said, 'What should we do?' And those bulls of the +Kshatriya race, with Vasudeva at their head, sat themselves down round +Yudhishthira the just. And respectfully saluting that foremost of the +Kurus, Kesava mournfully said, 'The earth shall drink the blood of +Duryodhana and Karna, of Dussasana and the wicked Sakuni! Slaying these +in battle and defeating their followers along with their royal allies, +will we all install Yudhishthira the just on the throne! The wicked +deserve to be slain! Verily, this is eternal morality.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "And when on account of the wrongs of Pritha's +sons, Janardana had thus got into a passion, and seemed bent upon +consuming all created things, Arjuna exerted himself to pacify him. And +beholding Kesava angry, Phalguna began to recite the feats achieved in +his former lives by that soul of all things, himself immeasurable, the +eternal one, of infinite energy, the lord of _Prajapati_ himself, the +supreme ruler of the worlds, Vishnu of profound wisdom!' + +"Arjuna said, 'In days of old, thou, O Krishna, hadst wandered on the +Gandhamadana mountains for ten thousand years as a _Muni_ having his +home where evening fell! Living upon water alone, thou hadst, in days of +old, O Krishna, also dwelt for full eleven thousand years by the lake of +Pushkara! And, O slayer of Madhu, with arms upraised and standing on one +leg, thou hadst passed a hundred years on the high hills of Vadari,[16] +living all the while upon air! And leaving aside thy upper garment, with +body emaciated and looking like a bundle of veins, thou hadst lived on +the banks of the Saraswati, employed in thy sacrifice extending for +twelve years! And, O Krishna of mighty energy, in observance of thy vow +thou hadst stood on one leg for the length of a thousand years of the +celestials, on the plains of _Prabhasa_ which it behoveth the virtuous +to visit! Vyasa hath told me that thou art the cause of the creation and +its course! And, O Kesava, the lord of _Kshetra_,[17] thou art the mover +of all minds, and the beginning and end of all things! All asceticism +resteth in thee, and thou too art the embodiment of all sacrifices, and +the eternal one! Slaying the Asura Naraka, offspring of the Earth-first +begotten, thou hadst obtained his ear-rings, and performed, O Krishna, +the first horse-sacrifice (offering up that Asura as the sacrificial +horse)! And, O bull of all the worlds, having performed that feat, thou +hast become victorious over all! Thou hadst slain all the _Daityas_ and +_Danavas_ mustered in battle, and giving the lord of _Sachi_ (Indra) the +sovereignty of the universe, thou hast, O Kesava of mighty arms, taken +thy birth among men! O slayer of all foes, having floated on the +primordial waters, thou subsequently becamest _Hari_,[18] and _Brahma_ +and _Surya_ and _Dharma_, and _Dhatri_ and _Yama_ and _Anala_ and +_Vasu_, and _Vaisravana_, and _Rudra_, and _Kala_ and the firmament, the +earth, and the ten directions! Thyself increate, thou art the lord of +the mobile and the immobile universe, the Creator of all, O thou +foremost of all existences! And, O slayer of Madhu, O thou of abundant +energy, in the forest of Chitraratha thou didst, O Krishna, gratify with +thy sacrifice the chief of all the gods, the highest of the high! O +Janardana, at each sacrifice thou didst offer, according to shares, gold +by hundreds and thousands. And, O son of the Yadava race, becoming the +son of Aditi, O exalted one of the supreme attributes, thou hast been +known as the younger brother of Indra! And, O thou chastiser of foes, +even while a child thou didst, O Krishna, in consequence of thy energy, +fill by three steps only the heaven, the firmament, and the earth! And, +O thou soul of all covering the heaven and the firmament (while thou +wert thus transformed), thou didst dwell in the body of the sun and +afflict him with thy own splendour! And, O exalted one, in thy +incarnations on those thousand occasions, thou hadst slain, O Krishna, +sinful Asuras by hundreds! By destroying the _Mauravas_ and the +_Pashas_, and slaying Nisunda and Naraka, thou hast again rendered safe +the road to Pragjyotisha! Thou hast slain Ahvriti at Jaruthi, and Kratha +and Sisupala with his adherents, and Jarasandha and Saivya and +Satadhanwan! And on thy car roaring like unto clouds and effulgent like +the sun, thou didst obtain for thy queen the daughter of Bhoja, +defeating Rukmi in battle! Thou didst in fury slay Indradyumna and the +_Yavana_ called Kaseruman! And slaying Salwa the lord of Saubha, thou +didst destroy that city of Saubha itself! These have all been slain in +battle; listen to me as I speak of others (also slain by thee)! At +Iravati thou hast slain king Bhoja equal unto Karttavirya in battle, and +both Gopati and Talaketu also have been slain by thee! And, O Janardana, +thou hast also appropriated unto thyself the sacred city of Dwarka, +abounding in wealth and agreeable unto the _Rishi_ themselves, and thou +wilt submerge it at the end within the ocean! O slayer of Madhu, how can +crookedness be in thee, devoid as thou art, O thou of the Dasarha race, +of anger and envy and untruth and cruelty? O thou who knowest no +deterioration, all the _Rishis_, coming unto thee seated in thy glory on +the sacrificial ground, seek protection of thee! And, O slayer of Madhu, +thou stayest at the end of the _Yuga_, contracting all things and +withdrawing this universe into thy own self, thou repressor of all foes! +O thou of the Vrishni race, at the beginning of the Yuga, there sprang +from thy lotus-like navel, Brahma himself, and lord of all mobile and +immobile things, and whose is this entire universe! When the dreadful +Danavas Madhu and Kaitava were bent on slaying Brahma, beholding their +impious endeavour thou wert angry, and from thy forehead, O Hari, sprang +Sambhu, the holder of the trident. Thus these two foremost of the +deities have sprung from thy body in order to do thy work! Even Narada +it was who hath told me this! O Narayana, thou didst, in the forest of +Chaitraratha, celebrate with plentiful gifts a grand sacrifice +consisting of a multitude of rites! O God, O thou of eyes like lotus +leaves, the deeds thou hast performed while still a boy, having recourse +to thy might and aided by Baladeva, have never been done by others, nor +are they capable of being achieved by others in the future! Thou didst +even dwell in Kailasa, accompanied by Brahmanas!'" + + [16] Also called _Vadarika_, a hermitage on the Himalaya near + the sources of the Ganges. + + [17] Nilakantha explains _kshetra_ as including _Mahabhuta_, + consciousness, intellect, the unmanifest (primordial elements), + the ten senses, the five objects of the senses, viz., earth, + water, &c., desire, aversion, pleasure, pain, the combinations + of elements, and _chaitanya_. + + [18] _Hari_ here means the developed seed that is to expand into + the vast whole of the universe. + +Vaisampayana continued, "Having addressed Krishna thus, the illustrious +Pandava, who was the soul of Krishna, became dumb, when Janardana (in +reply addressed that son of Pritha) saying, 'Thou art mine and I am +thine, while all that is mine is thine also! He that hateth thee hateth +me as well, and he that followeth thee followeth me! O thou +irrepressible one, thou art _Nara_ and I am _Narayana_ or Hari! We are +the _Rishis_ Nara and Narayana born in the world of men for a special +purpose. O Partha, thou art from me and I am from thee! O bull of the +Bharata race, no one can understand the difference that is between us!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "When the illustrious Kesava had said so in the +midst of that assembly of brave kings, all excited with anger, Panchali +surrounded by Dhrishtadyumna and her other heroic brothers, approached +him of eyes like lotus leaves seated with his cousins, and, desirous of +protection, addressed in angry accents that refuge of all, saying, +'Asita and Devala have said that in the matter of the creation of all +things, thou hast been indicated (by the sages) as the only _Prajapati_ +and the Creator of all the worlds! And, O irrepressible one, Jamadagnya +sayeth that thou art _Vishnu_, and, O slayer of Madhu, that thou art +(embodiment of) _Sacrifice, Sacrificer_ and he for whom the sacrifice is +performed! And, O best of male beings, the _Rishis_ indicate thee as +Forgiveness and Truth! Kasyapa hath said that thou art Sacrifice sprung +from Truth! O exalted one, Narada calleth thee the god of the Sadhyas, +and of the Sivas, as alone the Creator and the Lord of all things. And, +O tiger among men, thou repeatedly sportest with the gods including +Brahma and Sankara and Sakra even as children sporting with their toys! +And, O exalted one, the firmament is covered by thy head, and the earth +by thy feet; these worlds are as thy womb and thou art the Eternal one! +With _Rishis_ sanctified by Vedic lore and asceticism, and whose souls +have been purified by penance, and who are contented with soul-vision, +thou art the best of all objects! And, O chief of all male beings, thou +art the refuge of all royal sages devoted to virtuous acts, never +turning their backs on the field of the battle, and possessed of every +accomplishment! Thou art the Lord of all, thou art Omnipresent, thou art +the Soul of all things, and thou art the active power pervading +everything! The rulers of the several worlds, those worlds themselves, +the stellar conjunctions, the ten points of the horizon, the firmament, +the moon, and the sun, are all established in thee! And, O mighty-armed +one, the morality of (earthly) creatures, the immortality of the +universe, are established in thee! Thou art the Supreme lord of all +creatures, celestial or human! Therefore it is, O slayer of Madhu, that +impelled by the affection thou bearest me that I will relate to thee my +griefs! O Krishna, how could one like me, the wife of Pritha's sons, the +sister of Dhrishtadyumna, and the friend of thee, be dragged to the +assembly! Alas, during my season, stained with blood, with but a single +cloth on, trembling all over, and weeping, I was dragged to the court of +the Kurus! Beholding me, stained with blood in the presence of those +kings in the assembly, the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra laughed at me! O +slayer of Madhu, while the sons of Pandu and the Panchalas and the +Vrishnis lived, they dared express the desire of using me as their +slave! O Krishna, I am according to the ordinance, the daughter in-law +of both Dhritarashtra and Bhishma! Yet, O slayer of Madhu, they wished +to make of me a slave by force! I blame the Pandavas who are mighty and +foremost in battle, for they saw (without stirring) their own wedded +wife known over all the world, treated with such cruelty! Oh, fie on the +might of Bhimasena, fie on the _Gandiva_ of Arjuna, for they, O +Janardana, both suffered me to be thus disgraced by little men! This +eternal course of morality is ever followed by the virtuous--_viz_, that +the husband, however weak, protecteth his wedded wife! By protecting the +wife one protecteth his offspring and by protecting the offspring one +protecteth his own self! One's own self is begotten on one's wife, and +therefore it is that the wife is called _Jaya_. A wife also should +protect her lord, remembering that he is to take his birth in her womb! +The Pandavas never forsake the person that soliciteth their protection, +and yet they abandoned me who solicited it! By my five husbands five +sons of exceeding energy have been born of me: Prativindhya by +Yudhishthira, Sutasoma by Vrikodara, Srutakirti by Arjuna, Satanika by +Nakula and Srutakarman by the youngest, all of them of energy that +cannot be baffled. For their sake, O Janardana, it was necessary to +protect me! Even as (thy son) Pradyumna, they are, O Krishna, mighty +warriors all! They are foremost of bowmen, and invincible in battle by +any foe! Why do they bear the wrongs inflicted (on me) by the sons of +Dhritarashtra of such contemptible strength? Deprived of their kingdom +by deception, the Pandavas were made bondsmen and I myself was dragged +to the assembly while in my season, and having only a single cloth on! +Fie on that _Gandiva_ which none else can string save Arjuna and Bhima +and thyself, O slayer of Madhu! Fie on the strength of Bhima, and fie on +the prowess of Arjuna, since, O Krishna, Duryodhana (after what he had +done) hath drawn breath even for a moment! He it is, O slayer of Madhu, +who formerly drove the guileless Pandavas with their mother from the +kingdom, while they were children still engaged in study and the +observance of their vows. It is that sinful wretch, who, horrible to +relate, mixed in Bhima's food fresh and virulent poison in full dose. +But, O Janardana, Bhima digested that poison with the food, without +sustaining any injury, for, O best of men and mighty-armed one, Bhima's +days had not been ended! O Krishna, it is Duryodhana who at the house +standing by the banyan called _Pramana_ bound Bhima sleeping +unsuspectingly, and casting him into the Ganges returned to the city. +But the powerful Bhimasena the son of Kunti, possessed of mighty arms, +on waking from sleep, tore his bonds and rose from the water. It is +Duryodhana, who caused venomous black cobras to bite all over the body +of Bhimasena, but that slayer of foes died not. Awaking, the son of +Kunti smashed all the serpents and with his left hand killed (the agent, +_viz_.) the favourite charioteer of Duryodhana. Again, while the +children were asleep at Varanavata with their mother, it is he who set +fire to the house intending to burn them to death. Who is there capable +of doing such an act? It was then that the illustrious Kunti, overtaken +by this calamity, and surrounded by the flames, began to cry out in +terror, speaking to the children, "Alas, I am undone! How shall we +escape from this fire today! Alas, I shall meet with destruction with my +little children!" Then Bhima, possessed of mighty arms, and prowess like +unto the force of the wind, comforted his illustrious mother as also his +brothers, saying, "Like that king of birds, Garuda, the son of Vinata, I +will spring up into the air. We have no fear from this fire." And then +taking his mother on his left flank, and the king in his right, and the +twins on each shoulder, and Vibhatsu on his back, the mighty Vrikodara, +thus taking all of them, at one leap cleared the fire and delivered his +mother and brother from the conflagration. Setting out that night with +their renowned mother, they came near the forest of Hidimva. And while +fatigued and distressed, they were sleeping fast with her, a Rakshasa +woman called Hidimva approached them. Beholding the Pandavas with their +mother asleep on the ground, influenced by desire she sought to have +Bhimasena for her lord. The weak one then took up Bhima's feet on her +lap to press them with her soft hands. The mighty Bhima of immeasurable +energy, of prowess that could not be baffled, then woke from sleep, and +asked her, saying, "O thou of faultless features, what dost thou wish +here?" Thus asked by him, the Rakshasa lady of faultless features, +capable, besides, of assuming any form at will, replied unto the +high-souled Bhima, saying, "Do ye speedily fly from this place! My +brother gifted with strength will come to slay ye! Therefore speed and +tarry not!" But Bhima haughtily said, "I do not fear him! If he cometh +here, I will slay him!" Hearing their converse, that vilest of cannibals +came to the spot. Of frightful form and dreadful to behold, uttering +loud cries as he came, the Rakshasa said, "O Hidimva, with whom dost +thou converse? Bring him unto me, I will eat him up. It behoveth thee to +tarry not." But moved by compassion, the Rakshasa lady of faultless +features and pure heart said nothing out of pity. Then the man-eating +monster, uttering dreadful cries, rushed at Bhima with great force. And +approaching him furiously, the mighty cannibal, possessed with rage, +caught hold of Bhima's hand with his own and clenching fast his other +hand and making it hard as the thunder-bolt of Indra, suddenly struck +Bhima a blow that descended with the force of lightning. His hand having +been seized by the Rakshasa, Vrikodara, without being able to brook it, +flew into a rage. Then a dreadful combat took place between Bhimasena +and Hidimva, both skilled in all weapons and which was like unto the +encounter of Vasava with Vritra. And, O sinless one, after sporting with +the Rakshasa for a long while the powerful Bhima of mighty energy slew +the cannibal when the latter had become weak with exertion. Then having +slain Hidimva, and taking (his sister) Hidimva at their head, of whom +was (subsequently) born Ghatotkacha, Bhima and his brothers went away. +Then all those repressers of their foes, accompanied by their mother and +surrounded by many Brahmanas proceeded towards Ekachakra. In the matter +of this their journey, Vyasa ever engaged in their welfare had become +their counsellor. Then arriving at Ekachakra, the Pandavas of rigid vows +there also slew a mighty cannibal, Vaka by name, terrible as Hidimva +himself. And having slain that fierce cannibal, Bhima that foremost of +smiters, went with all his brothers to the capital of Drupada. And, O +Krishna, as thou hadst acquired Rukmim, the daughter of Bhishmaka, even +so Savyasachin, while residing there, obtained me! O slayer of Madhu, +Arjuna won me in the _Swayamvara_, having performed a feat difficult of +achievement by others and having fought also with the assembled kings! + +"'Thus, O Krishna, afflicted with numerous griefs, and in great +distress, am I living, with Dhaumya at our head, but deprived of the +company of the adorable Kunti! Why do these that are gifted with +strength and possessed of the prowess of the lion, sit indifferently, +beholding me thus afflicted by enemies so despicable? Suffering such +wrongs at the hands of wicked and evil-doing foes of small strength, am +I to burn in grief so long? Born I was in a great race, coming into the +world in an extraordinary way! I am also the beloved wife of the +Pandavas, and the daughter-in-law of the illustrious Pandu! The foremost +of women and devoted to my husbands, even I, O Krishna, was seized by +hair, O slayer of Madhu, in the sight of the Pandavas, each of whom is +like an Indra himself!' + +"Saying this the mild-speeched Krishna hid her face with her soft hands +like the buds of lotus, and began to weep. And the tears of Panchali +begot of grief washed her deep, plump and graceful breasts crowned with +auspicious marks. And wiping her eyes and sighing frequently she said +these words angrily and in a choked voice, 'Husbands, or sons, or +friends, or brothers, or father, have I none! Nor have I thee, O thou +slayer of Madhu, for ye all, beholding me treated so cruelly by inferior +foes, sit still unmoved! My grief at Karna's ridicule is incapable of +being assuaged! On these grounds I deserve to be ever protected by thee, +O Kesava, _viz_., our relationship, thy respect (for me), our +friendship, and thy lordship (over me).'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "In that assembly of heroes Vasudeva then spake +unto the weeping Draupadi as follows, 'O fair lady, the wives of those +with whom thou art angry, shall weep even like thee, beholding their +husbands dead on the ground, weltering in blood and their bodies covered +with the arrows of Vivatsu! Weep not, lady, for I will exert to the +utmost of my powers for the sons of Pandu! I promise thou shalt (once +more) be the queen of kings! The heavens might fall, or the Himavat +might split, the earth might be rent, or the waters of the ocean might +dry up, but my words shall never be futile!' Hearing those words of +Achyuta in reply, Draupadi looked obliquely at her third husband +(Arjuna). And, O mighty king, Arjuna said unto Draupadi, 'O thou of +beautiful coppery eyes, grieve not! O illustrious one, it shall be even +as the slayer of Madhu hath said! It can never be otherwise, O beautiful +one!' + +"Dhrishtadyumna said, 'I will slay Drona, Sikhandin will slay the +grandfather. And Bhimasena will slay Duryodhana, and Dhananjaya will +slay Karna. And, O sister, assisted by Rama and Krishna, we are +invincible in battle by even the slayer himself of Vritra--what are the +sons of Dhritarashtra?'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "After these words had been spoken, all the +heroes there turned their faces towards Vasudeva, who then in their +midst began to speak as follows." + + +SECTION XIII + +"Vasudeva said, 'O lord of earth, if I had been present at Dwaraka, +then, O king, this evil would not have befallen thee! And, O +irrepressible one, coming unto the gambling-match, even if uninvited by +the son of Amvika (Dhritarashtra), or Duryodhana, or by the other +Kauravas, I would have prevented the game from taking place, by showing +its many evils, summoning to my aid Bhishma and Drona and Kripa, and +Vahlika! O exalted one, for thy sake I would have told the son of +Vichitravirya--_O foremost of monarchs, let thy sons have nothing to do +with dice!_--I would have shown the many evils (of dice) through which +thou hast fallen into such distress and the son of Virasena was formerly +deprived of his kingdom! O king, unthought-of evils, befall a man from +dice! I would have described how a man once engaged in the game +continueth to play (from desire of victory). Women, dice, hunting and +drinking to which people become addicted in consequence of temptation, +have been regarded as the four evils that deprive a man of prosperity. +And those versed in the _Sastras_ are of opinion that evils attend upon +all these. They also that are addicted to dice know all its evils. O +thou of mighty arms, appearing before the son of Amvika, I would have +pointed out that through dice men in a day lose their possessions, and +fall into distress, and are deprived of their untasted wealth, and +exchange harsh words! O perpetuator of the Kuru race, I would have +pointed out these and other attendant evils! If he had accepted my words +thus addressed, the welfare of the Kurus as also virtue itself would +both have been secured! And, O foremost of kings, if he had rejected my +gentle counsels offered as medicine, then, O best of the Bharata race, I +would have compelled him by force! And, if those who wait at his court, +professing to be his friends but in reality his foes, had supported him, +then I would have slain them all, along with those gamblers, there +present! O Kauravya, it is owing to my absence from the _Anartta_ +country at that time that thou hast fallen into such distress begot of +dice! O thou best of Kurus, O son of Pandu, on arriving at Dwarka I +learnt from Yuyudhana all about thy calamity! And, O foremost of kings, +directly I heard it with a heart sore agitated by grief, have I speedily +come here wishing to see thee, O king! Alas! O bull of the Bharata race, +ye have all fallen into dire distress! I see thee with thy brothers +plunged in misfortune!'" + + +SECTION XIV + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O Krishna, why wert thou absent (from the Anartta +country)? And, O descendant of the Vrishni race, while thou wert away, +where didst thou dwell? And what didst thou do while out of thy +kingdom?' + +"Krishna said, 'O bull of the Bharata race, I had gone for the purpose +of destroying the (ranging) city Salwa. And, O foremost of the +Kauravas, listen to the reasons I had for so doing! The heroic son of +Damaghosha, the well-known king Sisupala of mighty arms and great +energy, was slain by me, O best of Bharatas, at thy _Rajasuya_ +sacrifice, because that wicked one could not from anger bear to see the +first worship offered to me! Hearing that he had been slain, Salwa, +burning with fierce anger, came to Dwaraka, while, O Bharata, it was +empty, myself being away, residing with you here. And having arrived +there on a car made of precious metals and hence called the _Souva_, he +had an encounter with the youthful princes of the Vrishni race--those +bulls of that line--and fought with them mercilessly. And slaughtering +many youthful Vrishnis of heroic valour, the wicked one devastated all +the gardens of the city. And, O thou of mighty arms, he said, "Where is +that wretch of the Vrishni race, Vasudeva, the evil-souled son of +Vasudeva? I will humble in battle the pride of that person so eager for +fight! Tell me truly, _O Anarttas_! I will go there where he is. And +after killing that slayer of Kansa and Kesi, will I return! By my weapon +I swear that I will not return without slaying him!" And exclaiming +repeatedly--_Where is he? Where is he?_ the lord of Saubha rusheth to +this place and that, desirous of encountering me in battle. And Salwa +also said, "Impelled by wrath for the destruction of Sisupala I shall +today send to the mansion of Yama that treacherous miscreant of mean +mind." And, O king, he further said, "That Janardana shall I slay, who, +wretch that he is, hath killed my brother who was but a boy of tender +years, and who was slain not on the field of battle, unprepared as he +was!" Having, O great king, wailed thus, and having, O son of the Kuru +race, abused me thus, he rose into the sky on his car of precious metals +capable of going anywhere at will! On returning (to my kingdom) I heard +what, O Kaurava, the evil-minded and wicked king of Maticka had said +regarding myself! And, O descendant of the Kuru race, I was agitated +with wrath, and, O king, having reflected upon everything, I set my +heart upon slaying him! And, learning, O Kauravya, of his oppression of +the _Anarttas_, of his abuse of myself, and of his excessive arrogance, +I resolved upon the destruction of that wretch! And, O lord of earth, I +accordingly set out (from my city), for slaying the (lord of) the +Saubha. And searching him here and there, I found him in an island in +the midst of the ocean! Then, O king, blowing my conch called the +_Panchajanya_ obtained from the sea, and challenging Salwa to combat, I +stood for the fight! At that instant, I had an encounter with numerous +Danavas, all of whom, however, I subdued and prostrated on the ground. O +mighty-armed one, it was owing to this affair that I could not then come +(unto thee)! As soon as I heard of the unfair game of dice at +Hastinapura, I have come here desirous of seeing ye who have been +plunged in distress.'" + + +SECTION XV + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O illustrious Vasudeva of mighty arms, tell thou in +detail of the death of the lord of Saubha. My curiosity hath not been +appeased by thy narration.' + +"Vasudeva said, 'O mighty-armed king, hearing that the son of +Srutaslavas (Sisupala) had been slain by me, Salwa, O best of the +Bharata race, came to the city of Dwaravati! And, O son of Pandu, the +wicked king, stationing his forces in array, besieged that city around +and above. And stationing himself in the upper regions, the king began +his fight with the city. And that encounter commenced with a thick +shower of weapons from all sides. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the +city at that time was well-fortified on all sides, according to the +science (of fortification), with pennons, and arches, and combatants, +and walls and turrets, and engines, and miners, and streets barricaded +with spiked wood-works and towers and edifices with gate-ways +well-filled with provisions, and engines for hurling burning brands and +fires, and vessels of deer-skins (for carrying water), and trumpets, +tabors, and drums, lances and forks, and _Sataghnis_, and plough-shares, +rockets, balls of stone and battle-axes and other weapons and shield +embossed with iron, and engines for hurling balls and bullets and hot +liquids! And the city was also well-defended by numerous cars, and, O +tiger among Kurus, by Gada and Shamva and Uddhava and others, and by +warriors of prowess tried in battle, all well-born and capable of +encountering any foe! And these all placing themselves on commanding +posts, aided by cavalry and standard-bearers, began to defend the town. +And Ugrasena and Uddhava and others, to prevent carelessness, proclaimed +throughout the city that nobody should drink. And all the Vrishnis and +the Andhakas, well-knowing that they would be slain by Salwa if they +behaved carelessly, remained sober and watchful. And the police soon +drove out of the city all mimes and dancers and singers of the Anartta +country. And all the bridges over rivers were destroyed, and boats +forbidden to ply, and the trenches (around the city) were spiked with +poles at the bottom. And the land around the city for full two miles was +rendered uneven, and holes and pits were dug thereon, and combustibles +were secreted below the surface. Our fort, O sinless one, is naturally +strong and always well-defended and filled with all kinds of weapons! +And in consequence of the preparations made, our city was more prepared +than ever to meet the foe. And, O chief of the Bharatas, in consequence +of all this, the city looked like that of Indra himself. And, O king, at +the time of Salwa's approach, nobody could either enter or leave the +town of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas without presenting the sign that +had been agreed upon. And all the streets of the town and the open +spaces were filled with numerous elephants and horses! And, O thou of +mighty arms, the combatants were all specially gratified with allowances +and wages, and rations, and weapons, and dresses! And amongst the +combatants there was none who was not paid in gold, and none who was not +paid at all, and none who was not somehow obliged, and none who was not +of tried valour! And, O thou of eyes like lotus-leaves, it was thus +Dwaraka, abounding in well-ordered arrangements, was defended by Ahuka +(Ugrasena)!'" + + +SECTION XVI + +"Vasudeva continued, 'O king of kings, Salwa, the lord of Saubha, came +towards our city with an immense force consisting of infantry, cavalry +and elephants! And the army headed by king Salwa, consisting of four +kinds of forces, occupied a level ground commanding a copious +water-supply. And forsaking cemeteries and temples dedicated to the +gods, and sacred trees, and grounds covered by ant-hills, that host +occupied every other place. And the roads (leading to the city) were +blocked up by the divisions of the army, and the secret entrances also +were all blocked up by the enemy's camp. And, O Kauravya, like unto the +lord of birds (Garuda), the ruler of Saubha rushed towards Dwaraka, +bringing with him, O bull among men, his host equipped with all kinds of +arms, skilled in all weapons, consisting of a dense display of cars and +elephants and cavalry abounding in banners, and well-paid and well-fed +foot-soldiers possessed of great strength and bearing every mark of +heroism and furnished with wonderful chariots and bows. And beholding +the army of Salwa, the youthful princes of the Vrishni race resolved to +encounter it sallying out of the city. And, O king, Charudeshna, Samva, +and the mighty warrior Pradyumna, O descendant of the Kuru race, sallied +out, ascending on their chariots, and clad in mail, and decked with +ornaments, with colours flying, resolved to encounter the mighty and +countless host of Salwa! And Samva taking up his bows eagerly attacked +on the field of battle Kshemavriddhi, the commander of Salwa's forces +and his chief counsellor also! And, O thou foremost of Bharatas, the son +of Jambavati then began to shower arrows in a continuous stream even as +Indra showereth down rain! And, O mighty king, then Kshemavriddhi, the +commander of Salwa's forces, bore that shower of arrows, immovable as +the Himavat! And, O foremost of kings, Kshemavriddhi on his part, +discharged at Samva a mightier volley of shafts, aided by his powers of +illusion! And dispersing by counter illusion that discharge inspired by +illusion, Samva showered on his (adversary's) car a thousand arrows! +Then pierced by the shafts of Samva and overwhelmed there with those of +Kshemavriddhi, the commander of the hostile host, left the field by the +help of his fleet steed! And when the wicked general of Salwa had left +the field, a mighty Daitya called Vegavat rushed at my son! And, O best +of monarchs, thus attacked, the heroic Samva, the perpetuator of the +Vrishni race, bore that onset of Vegavat, keeping his ground. And, O son +of Kunti, the heroic Samva, of prowess incapable of being baffled, +whirling a quickly-going mace, hurled it speedily at Vegavat! And, O +king, struck with that mace, Vegavat fell down on the ground, like a +weather-beaten and faded lord of the forest of decayed roots! And on +that heroic Asura of mighty energy, being slain with the mace, my son +entered within that mighty host and began to fight with all. And, O +great king, a well-known Danava named Vivindhya, a mighty warrior +wielding a large and powerful bow, encountered Charudeshna! And, O +monarch, the encounter between Charudeshna and Vivindhya was as fierce +as that in days of yore between Vritra and Vasava! And enraged with each +other the combatants pierced each other with their arrows, uttering loud +roars like unto two powerful lions! Then the son of Rukmini fixed on his +bow-string a mighty weapon possessing the splendour of fire or the sun, +and capable of destroying all foes, having first vivified it with +incantations! Then, O monarch, that mighty warrior my son, fired with +wrath, challenged Vivindhya and discharged the weapon at him. And the +Danava struck with that weapon, fell down on the ground a lifeless +corpse! And beholding Vivindhya slain, and the whole host waver, Salwa +advanced again on his beautiful car capable of going everywhere. And, O +king of mighty arms, beholding Salwa on that beautiful car of his, the +combatants of Dwaraka wavered with fear! But, O thou of the Kuru race, +Pradyumna sallied out, and, O great king, bidding the Anarttas be of good +cheer, said, "Waver ye not, and staying behold me fight! Even I shall, +by force, repel that car with Salwa on it! Ye Yadavas, this day, I +shall, with my weapons like unto serpents discharged from my bow with my +hand, destroy this host of the lord of Saubha! Be of good cheer, ye all! +Fear not! The lord of Saubha will be slain today! Attacked by me, the +wretch will meet with destruction together with his car!" O son of +Pandu, upon Pradyumna speaking thus with cheerful heart, the Yadava +host, O hero, remained on the field, and began to fight cheerfully!'" + + +SECTION XVII + +"Vasudeva continued, 'O bull of the Bharata race, having spoken thus +unto the Yadavas, the son of Rukmini (Pradyumna) ascended his golden +car. And the car he rode was drawn by excellent steeds in mail. And over +it stood a standard bearing the figure of a _Makara_ with gaping mouth +and fierce as Yama. And with his steeds, more flying than running on the +ground, he rushed against the foe. And the hero equipped with quiver and +sword, with fingers cased in leather, twanged his bow possessed of the +splendour of the lightning, with great strength, and transferring it +from hand to hand, as if in contempt of the enemy, spread confusion +among the Danavas and other warriors of the city of Saubha. And as hot +in contempt of the foe, and continuously slew the Danavas in battle, no +one could mark the slightest interval between his successive shafts. And +the colour of his face changed not, and his limbs trembled not. And +people only heard his loud leonine roars indicative of wonderful valour. +And the aquatic monster with mouth wide open, that devourer of all +fishes, placed on golden flag-staff of that best of cars, struck terror +into the hearts of Salwa's warriors. And, O king, Pradyumna, the mower +of foes rushed with speed against Salwa himself so desirous of an +encounter! And, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, braved by the heroic +Pradyumna in that mighty battle, the angry Salwa could ill bear the +challenge! And that conqueror of hostile cities, Salwa, maddened by +anger, descended from his beautiful car of unchecked speed, resolved to +encounter Pradyumna. And the people beheld the fight between Salwa and +the foremost of Vrishni heroes, which was even like unto the encounter +between Vasava with Vali. And, O hero, mounting on his beautiful car +decked with gold and furnished with flags and flag-staffs and quivers, +the illustrious and mighty Salwa began to discharge his arrows at +Pradyumna! Pradyumna also by the energy of his arms, overwhelmed Salwa +in the combat by a thick shower of arrows. The king of Saubha, however, +thus attacked in battle by Pradyumna, endured him not, but discharged at +my son arrows that were like blazing fire. But the mighty Pradyumna +parried off that arrowy shower. Beholding this, Salwa rained on my son +other weapons of blazing splendour. Then, O foremost of monarchs, +pierced by the shafts of Salwa, the son of Rukmini discharged without +loss of time an arrow that was capable of entering the vitals of a foe +in fight. And that winged shaft shot by my son, piercing Salwa's mail, +entered his heart--whereupon he fell down, in a swoon. And beholding the +heroic king Salwa fallen down deprived of sense, the foremost of the +Danavas fled away rending the ground beneath their feet. And, O lord of +the earth, the army of Salwa sent up exclamations of _Oh!_ and _Alas!_ +seeing their king, the lord of Saubha, drop down bereft of sense! And O +son of the Kuru race, regaining his senses, the mighty Salwa rose and +all of a sudden discharged his arrows on Pradyumna. Then the heroic and +mighty armed Pradyumna, sorely pierced by his adversary about his +throat, was enfeebled on his car. And, O mighty king, wounding the son +of Rukmini, Salwa sent up a shout like unto the roar of a lion, and +filling the entire earth with it! And, O Bharata, when my son became +senseless, Salwa, without losing a moment, again discharged at him other +shafts difficult to bear. And pierced with numberless arrows and +deprived of his senses, Pradyumna, O chief of the Kuru race, became +motionless on the field of battle!'" + + +SECTION XVIII + +"Vasudeva continued, 'O king, afflicted with the arrows of Salwa, when +Pradyumna became senseless the Vrishnis who had come to the fight were +all disheartened and filled with grief! And the combatants of the +Vrishni and Andhaka races burst into exclamations of _Oh!_ and _Alas!_ +while great joy was felt by the enemy and beholding him thus deprived of +sense, his trained charioteer, the son of Daruka, soon carried him off +the field by the help of his steeds. The car had not gone far when that +best of warriors regained his senses, and taking up his bow addressed +his charioteer, saying, "O son of the Suta tribe, what hast thou done? +Why dost thou go leaving the field of battle? This is not the custom of +the Vrishni heroes in battle! O son of a Suta, hast thou been bewildered +at the sight of a Salwa in that fierce encounter? Or hast thou been +disheartened, beholding the fight? O! tell me truly thy mind!" The +charioteer answered, "O son of Janardana, I have not been confounded, +nor hath fear taken possession of me. On the other hand, O son of +Kesava, the task, I ween, of vanquishing Salwa is difficult for thee! +Therefore, O hero, I am slowly retiring from the field. This wretch is +stronger than thou art! It behoveth a charioteer to protect the warrior +on the car, however, when he is deprived of his senses! O thou gifted +with length of days, thou shouldst always be protected by me, even as it +behoveth thee to protect me! Thinking that the warrior on the car should +always be protected (by his charioteer), I am carrying thee away! +Further, O thou of mighty arms, thou art alone, while the Danavas are +many. Thinking, O son of Rukmini, that thou art not equal to them in the +encounter, I am going away!"' + +"Vasudeva continued, 'When the charioteer had spoken thus, he, O +Kauravya, who hath the _makara_ for his mark replied unto him, saying, +"Turn the car! O son of Daruka, never do so again; never, O Suta, turn +thou from the fight, while I am alive! He is no son of the Vrishni race +who forsaketh the field or slayeth the foe fallen at his feet and crying +_I am thine!_ or killeth a woman, a boy, or an old man, or a warrior in +distress, deprived of his car or with his weapons broken! Thou art born +in the race of charioteers and trained to thy craft! And, O son of +Daruka, thou art acquainted with the customs of the Vrishnis in battle! +Versed as thou art with all the customs of the Vrishnis in battle, do +thou, O Suta, never again fly from the field as thou hast done! What +will the irrepressible Madhava, the elder brother of Gada, say to me +when he heareth that I have left the field of battle in bewilderment or +that I have been struck on the back--a run-away from the combat! What +will the elder brother of Kesava, the mighty-armed Baladeva, clad in +blue and inebriate with wine, say, when he returneth? What also, O Suta, +will that lion among men, the grand-son of Sini (Satyaki), that great +warrior, say on hearing that I have forsaken the fight? And, O +charioteer, what will the ever-victorious Shamva, the irrepressible +Charudeshna, and Gada, and Sarana, and Akrura also of mighty arms, say +unto me! What also will the wives of the Vrishni heroes when they meet +together, say of me who had hitherto been considered as brave and +well-conducted, respectable and possessed of manly pride? They will even +say _This Pradyumna is a coward who cometh here, leaving the battle! Fie +on him!_ They will never say, _Well done!_ Ridicule, with exclamation of +_Fie_, is to me or a person like me, O Suta, more than death! Therefore, +do thou never again leave the field of battle! Reposing the charge on +me, Hari the slayer of Madhu, hath gone to the sacrifice of the Bharata +lion (Yudhishthira)! Therefore, I cannot bear to be quiet now! O Suta, +when the brave Kritavarman was sallying out to encounter Salwa, I +prevented him, saying _I will resist Salwa. Do thou stay!_ For honouring +me the son of Hridika desisted! Having left the field of battle, what +shall I say unto that mighty warrior when I meet him? When that +irrepressible one of mighty arms--the holder of the conch, the discus, +and the mace--returneth, what shall I say unto him of eyes like lotus +leaves? Satyaki, and Valadeva, and others of the Vrishni and Andhaka +races always boast of me! What shall I say unto them? O Suta, having +left the field of battle and with wounds of arrows on my back while +being carried away by thee, I shall, by no means, be able to live! +Therefore, O son of Daruka, turn that car speedily, and never do so +again even in times of greatest danger! I do not, O Suta, think life +worth much, having fled from the field like a coward, and my back +pierced, with the arrows (of the enemy)! Hast thou ever seen me, O son +of Suta, fly in fear from the field of battle like a coward? O son of +Daruka, it behoved thee not to forsake the battle, while my desire of +fight was not yet gratified! Do thou, therefore, go back to the +field."'" + + +SECTION XIX + +"Vasudeva continued, 'Thus addressed, the son of Suta race replied in +haste unto Pradyumna, that foremost of all endued with strength, in +these sweet words, "O son of Rukmini, I fear not to guide the horses on +the field of battle, and I am acquainted also with the customs of the +Vrishnis in war! It is not otherwise in the least! But, O thou blest +with length of days, those that guide the car are taught that the +warrior on the car is, by all means, to be protected by his charioteer! +Thou wert also much afflicted! Thou wert much wounded by the arrows shot +by Salwa. Thou wert also deprived of thy senses, O hero! Therefore is it +that I retired from the field. But, O chief of the Satwatas, now that +thou hast regained thy senses without much ado, do thou, O son of +Kesava, witness my skill in guiding the horses! I have been begotten by +Daruka, and I have been duly trained! I will now penetrate into the +celebrated array of Salwa without fear!"' + +"Vasudeva continued, 'Saying this, O hero, the charioteer, pulling the +reins, began to lead the horses with speed towards the field of battle. +And, O king, struck with the whip and pulled by the reins those +excellent steeds seemed to be flying in the air, performing various +beautiful motions, now circular, now similar, now dissimilar, now to the +right, now to the left. And, O king, those steeds understanding as it +were the intention of Daruka's son endued with such lightness of hand, +burned with energy, and seemed to go without touching the ground with +their feet! That bull among men wheeled round Salwa's host so easily +that they who witnessed it wondered exceedingly. And the lord of Saubha, +unable to bear that manoeuvre of Pradyumna, instantly sent three shafts +at the charioteer of his antagonist! The charioteer, however, without +taking any note of the force of those arrows, continued to go along the +right. Then the lord of Saubha, O hero, again discharged at my son by +Rukmini, a shower of various kinds of weapons! But that slayer of +hostile heroes, the son of Rukmini, showing with a smile his lightness +of hand, cut all those weapons off as they reached him. Finding his +arrows cut by Pradyumna, the lord of Saubha, having recourse to the +dreadful illusion natural to _Asuras_ began to pour a thick shower of +arrows. But cutting into pieces those powerful Daitya weapons shot at +him in mid-career by means of his _Brahma_ weapon, Pradyumna discharged +winged shafts of other kings. And these delighting in blood, warding off +the shafts of Daitya, pierced his head, bosom and face. And at those +wounds Salwa fell down senseless. And on the mean-minded Salwa falling +down, afflicted with Pradyumna's arrows, the son of Rukmini aimed +another arrow at him, capable of destroying every foe. And beholding +that arrow worshipped by all the Dasarhas, and flaming like fire and +fatal as a venomous snake, fixed on the bow-string, the firmament was +filled with exclamations of _Oh!_ and _Alas!_ Then all the celestials +with Indra and the lord of treasures (Kubera) at their head sent Narada +and the god of wind endued with the speed of the mind. And these two +approaching the son of Rukmini delivered unto him the message of the +celestial, saying, O hero, king Salwa is not to be slain by thee! Do +thou draw back the arrow. He is unslayable by thee in fight! There +breatheth not a person who cannot be killed by that arrow! O thou of +mighty arms, the Creator hath ordained his death at the hands of +Krishna, the son of Devaki! Let this be not falsified!--Thereupon with a +glad heart, Pradyumna withdrew that best of arrows from his excellent +bow and deposited it back in his quiver. And then, O foremost of kings, +the mighty Salwa, afflicted with the arrows of Pradyumna, rose +disheartened, and speedily went away. Then O king, the wicked Salwa, +thus afflicted by the Vrishnis, mounted on his car of precious metals, +and leaving Dwaraka scudded through the skies!'" + + +SECTION XX + +"Vasudeva said, 'When Salwa had left the city of the Anarttas, I +returned to it, O king, on the completion of thy great _Rajasuya_ +sacrifice! On my arrival I found Dwaraka shorn of its splendour, and, O +great monarch, there were not sounds of Vedic recitation or sacrificial +offering. And the excellent damsels were all destitute of ornaments, and +the gardens were devoid of beauty. And alarmed by the aspect, I asked +the son of Hridika saying, "Why is it that the men and women of the city +of the Vrishnis are so woe-begone, O tiger among men?" O thou best of +kings thus asked the son of Hridika (Kritavarman) relate to me in detail +the invasion of the city by Salwa, and his subsequent departure from it. +And, O thou foremost of Bharatas, hearing all, even then I made up my +mind to slay Salwa. And encouraging the citizens, O best of Bharatas, I +cheerfully addressed king Ahuka, and Anakdundhuvi, and the chief heroes +of the Vrishni race, saying, "Do ye, O bulls among the Yadavas, stay in +the city, taking every care, and know that I go to slay Salwa! I return +not to the city of Dwaravati without slaying him. I will again come to +ye having compassed the destruction of Salwa together with his car of +precious metals. Do ye strike up the sharp and middle and flat notes of +the Dundhuvi so dreadful to foes!" And O thou bull of the Bharata race, +thus adequately encouraged by me, those heroes cheerfully said unto me, +"Go and slay the enemies!" And thus receiving the benedictions of those +warriors with glad hearts, and causing the Brahmanas to utter auspicious +words and bowing down to the best of the regenerate ones, and to Siva +also, I set out on my car unto which were yoked the horses _Saivya_, and +_Sugriva_, filling all sides with the clatter (of my wheels) and blowing +that best of conchs, the _Panchajanya_! And, O king, O tiger among men, +accompanied by my redoubted and victorious army consisting of the four +kinds of the forces so persevering in battle, I set out. And leaving +many countries, and mountains, crowned with trees, and pieces of water, +and streams, I at last arrived at the country of Matrikavarta. It is +there, O thou tiger among men, that I heard that Salwa was coursing on +his car of precious metals near the ocean, and I followed in his +pursuit. And, O thou slayer of thy foes, having reached the main, Salwa +on his car of costly metals was in the midst of the deep heaving with +billows! And on seeing me from a distance, O Yudhishthira, that one of +wicked soul himself challenged me repeatedly to the fight. And many +arrows capable of piercing to the quick, discharged from my bow reached +not his car. And at this I was wroth! And, O king, that essentially +sinful wretch of a Daitya's son of irrepressible energy, on his part +began to shoot thousand upon thousands of arrows in torrents! And, O +Bharata, he rained shafts upon my soldiers and upon my charioteer and +upon my steeds! But without thinking of the shafts, we continued the +conflict. Then the warriors following Salwa poured on me straight arrows +by thousands. And the Asuras covered my horses and my car and Daruka +with arrows capable of piercing the very vitals. And, O hero, I could +not at that time see either my horses, or my car, or my charioteer +Daruka! And I with my army was covered with weapons. And, O son of +Kunti, superhumanly skilled in weapons, I also let fly from my bow +arrows by tens of thousands, inspiring them with _mantras_! But as that +car of costly metals was in the sky, full two miles off, it could not, O +Bharata, be seen by my troops. They could therefore only remaining on +the field of battle look on like spectators in a place of amusement, +cheering me on by shouts loud as the roar of the lion, and also by the +sound of their clapping. And the tinted arrows shot by the fore-part of +hand penetrated into the bodies of the Danavas like biting insects. And +then arose cries in the car of precious metals from those that were +dying of wounds by those sharp arrows and falling into the waters of the +mighty ocean. And the Danavas deprived of their arms, necks, and wearing +the form of _Kavandhas_,--fell, sending up tremendous roars. And as they +fell they were devoured by animals living in the waters of the ocean. +And then I powerfully blew the _Panchajanya_ obtained from the waters +and graceful as the lotus-stalk and white as milk or the _Kunda_ flower +or the moon or silver. And seeing his soldiers fall, Salwa the possessor +of the car of precious metals, began to fight with the help of illusion. +And then he began to ceaselessly hurl at me maces, and ploughshares, and +winged darts and lances, and javelins, and battle-axes, and swords and +arrows blazing like javelins and thunderbolts, and nooses, and broad +swords, and bullets from barrels, and shafts, and axes, and rockets. And +permitting them to come towards me, I soon destroyed them all by +counter-illusion. And on this illusion being rendered ineffectual, he +began the contest with mountain peaks. And, O Bharata, then there was +darkness and light alternately, and the day was now fair, and now +gloomy, and now hot, and now cold. And there was a perfect shower of +coals, and ashes, and weapons. And creating such illusion the enemy +fought with me. And ascertaining it I destroyed his illusion by +counter-illusion. And in the due time I showered arrows all round. And +then, O mighty king, the dome of heaven blazed as with a hundred suns, +and, O son of Kunti, with one hundred moons, and thousands and ten +thousands of stars! And then none could ascertain whether it was day or +night, or distinguish the points of the horizon. And, becoming +bewildered, I fixed on my bowstring the weapon called _Pragnastra_. And, +O son of Kunti, the weapon went like unto flakes of pure cotton blown +away by the winds! And a great fight took place, calculated to make the +down on one's body stand on end. And O best of monarchs, having regained +light, I again fought with the enemy!'" + + +SECTION XXI + +"Vasudeva said, 'O thou tiger among men, my great enemy king Salwa, thus +encountered by me in battle, again ascended the sky. And O mighty +monarch, inspired with the desire of victory, that wicked one hurled at +me _Sataghnis_, and mighty maces, and flaming lances, and stout clubs, +and as the weapons came along the sky, I speedily resisted them with my +swift arrows, and cut them in two or three pieces before they came at +me. And there was a great noise in the welkins. And Salwa covered +Daruka, and my steeds, and my car also with hundreds of straight shafts. +Then, O hero, Daruka, evidently about to faint, said unto me, "Afflicted +with the shafts of Salwa I stay in the field, because it is my duty to +do so. But I am incapable of doing so (any longer). My body hath become +weak!" Hearing these piteous words of my charioteer, I looked at him, +and found the driver wounded with arrows. Nor was there a spot on his +breasts or the crown of his head, or body or his arms which was not, O +thou foremost of sons of Pandu, covered with shafts! And blood flowed +profusely from his wounds inflicted by arrows, and he looked like unto a +mountain of red chalk after a heavy shower. And, O thou of mighty arms, +seeing the charioteer with the reins in his hands thus pierced and +enfeebled by the shafts of Salwa in the field of battle, I cheered him +up! + +"'And, O Bharata, about this time, a certain person, having his home in +Dwaraka quickly coming to my car, addressed me like a friend, delivering +to me, O hero, a message from Ahuka! He seemed to be one of Ahuka's +followers. And sadly and in a voice choked in sorrow, know, O +Yudhishthira, he said words--"O warrior, Ahuka, the lord of Dwaraka, +hath said these words unto thee! O Kesava, hear what thy father's friend +sayeth: _O son of the Vrishni race, O thou irrepressible one, in thy +absence today Salwa, coming to Dwaraka, hath by main force killed +Vasudeva! Therefore, no need of battle any more. Cease, O Janardana! Do +thou defend Dwaraka! This is thy principal duty!_"--Hearing these words +of his, my heart became heavy, and I could not ascertain what I should +do and what I should not. And, O hero, hearing of that great misfortune, +I mentally censured Satyaki, and _Baladeva_, and also that mighty +Pradyumna. Having reposed on them the duty of protecting Dwaraka and +Vasudeva, I had gone, O son of the Kuru race, to effect the destruction +of Salwa's city. And in a sorrowful heart, I asked myself,--Doth that +destroyer of foes, the mighty-armed _Baladeva_, live, and Satyaki, and +the son of Rukmini and Charudeshna possessed of prowess, and Shamva and +others? For, O thou tiger among men, these living, even the bearer +himself of the thunderbolt could by no means destroy Suta's son +(Vasudeva)! And, thought I, _It is plain that Vasudeva is dead and +equally plain that the others with Baladeva at their head have been +deprived of life_--This was my certain conclusion. And, O mighty king, +thinking of the destruction of those all, I was overwhelmed with grief! +And it was in this state of mind that I encountered Salwa afresh. And +now I saw, O great monarch, Vasudeva himself falling from the car of +precious metals! And, O warrior I swooned away, and, O king of men, my +sire seemed like unto Yayati after the loss of his merit, falling +towards the earth from heaven! And like unto a luminary whose merit hath +been lost saw my father falling, his head-gear foul and flowing loosely, +and his hair and dress disordered. And then the bow _Sharanga_ dropped +from my hand, and, O son of Kunti I swooned away! I sat down on the side +of the car. And, O thou descendant of the Bharata race, seeing me +deprived of consciousness on the car, and as if dead, my entire host +exclaimed _Oh_! and _Alas_! And my prone father with out-stretched arms +and lower limbs, appeared like a dropping bird. And him thus falling, O +thou of mighty arms, O hero, the hostile warriors bearing in their hands +lances and axes struck grievously! And (beholding this) my heart +trembled! and soon regaining my consciousness, O warrior, I could not +see in that mighty contest either the car of costly metals, or the enemy +Salwa, or my old father! Then I concluded in my mind that it was +certainly illusion. And recovering my senses, I again began to discharge +arrows by hundreds.'" + + +SECTION XXII + +"Vasudeva continued, 'Then O thou foremost of the Bharata race, taking +up my beautiful bow, I began to cut off with my arrows the heads of the +enemies of the celestials, from off that car of costly metals! And I +began to discharge from the _Sharanga_ many well-looking arrows of the +forms of snakes, capable of going at a great height and possessing +intense energy. And, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, I could not then +see the car of costly metals, for it had vanished, through illusion! I +was then filled with wonder! That host of Danavas then, O Bharata, of +frightful visages and hair, set up a loud howl while I was waiting for +it, in that fierce battle. I then, with the object of destroying them, +fixed on my bow-string the weapon capable of piercing the foes if but +his sound was inaudible. Upon this, their shouts ceased. But those +Danavas that had sent up that shout were all slain by those shafts of +mine blazing as the Sun himself, and capable of striking at the +perception of sound alone. And after the shout had ceased at one place, +O mighty king, another yell proceeded from another quarter. Thitherto +also I sent my shafts. In this way, O Bharata, the Asuras began to send +up yells in all the ten quarters above and across. These were all slain +by me, _viz_., those that were in the skies and that were invisible, +with arrows of diverse forms, and celestial weapons inspired with +_mantras_. Then, O hero, that car of precious metals capable of going +anywhere at will, bewildering my eyes, reappeared at Pragjyotisha! And +then the destroying Danavas of fierce forms suddenly drowned me with a +mighty shower of rocks. And, O thou foremost of monarchs, torrents of +rocks falling upon me covered me up, and I began to grow like an +ant-hill (with its summits and peaks)! And covered along with my horses +and charioteer and flagstaffs, with crags on all sides, I disappeared +from sight altogether. Then those foremost of heroes of the Vrishni race +who were of my army were struck with panic, and all on a sudden began to +fly in all directions. And beholding me in that plight, O king, the +heaven, the firmament, and the earth were filled with exclamation of +_Oh!_ and _Alas!_ And then, O monarch, my friends filled with sorrow and +grief began to weep and wail with heavy hearts! And delight filled the +hearts of the enemies. And O thou who never waverest, I heard of this +after I had defeated the foe! And then wielding the thunderbolt, that +favourite (weapon) of Indra, capable of riving stones, I destroyed that +entire mass of crags! But my steeds, afflicted with the weight of the +stones and almost on the point of death began to tremble. And beholding +me, all my friends rejoiced again even as men rejoice on seeing the sun +rise in the sky, dispersing the clouds. And seeing my horses almost in +their last gasp for breath, afflicted with that load of stones, my +charioteer said unto me in words suitable to the occasion, "O thou of +the Vrishni race, behold Salwa the owner of the car of precious metals +sitting (yonder). Do not disregard him! Do thou exert thyself! Do thou +abandon thy mildness and consideration for Salwa. Slay Salwa, O thou of +mighty arms! O Kesava, do not let him live! O hero, O thou destroyer of +those that are not thy friends (enemies), an enemy should be slain with +every exertion! Even a weak enemy who is under the feet of a man endued +with strength, should not be disregarded by the latter: what (shall I +say) of one that dareth us to the fight? Therefore, O thou tiger among +men, putting forth every exertion, slay him, O lord, O thou foremost of +the Vrishni race! Do thou not delay again! This one is not capable of +being vanquished by milder measures. And he cannot in my opinion be thy +friend who is fighting thee and who devastated Dwaraka!" O Kaunteya, +hearing such words of my charioteer, and knowing that what he said was +true, I directed my attention to the fight (afresh), with the view of +slaying Salwa and destroying the car of costly metals! And, O hero, +saying unto Daruka, "_Stay a moment_" I fixed on my bow-string my +favourite weapon of fire, blazing and of celestial origin, of +irresistible force, and incapable of being baffled, bursting with +energy, capable of penetrating into everything, and of great splendour! +And saying, "_Destroy the car of precious metals together with all those +enemies that are in it_" I launched with the might of my arms and in +wrath with _mantras_, the great powerful discus _Sudarsana_ which +reduceth to ashes in battle Yakshas and Rakshasas and Danavas and kings +born in impure tribes, sharp-edged like the razor, and without stain, +like unto Yama the destroyer, and incomparable, and which killeth +enemies. And rising into the sky, it seemed like a second sun of +exceeding effulgence at the end of the _Yuga_. And approaching the town +of Saubha whose splendour had disappeared, the discus went right through +it, even as a saw divideth a tall tree. And cut in twain by the energy +of the Sudarsana it fell like the city of Tripura shaken by the shafts +of Maheswara. And after the town of Saubha had fallen, the discus came +back into my hands. And taking it up I once more hurled it with force +saying, "_Go thou unto Salwa_." The discus then cleft Salwa in twain who +in that fierce conflict was at the point of hurling a heavy mace. And +with its energy it set the foe ablaze. And after that brave warrior was +slain, the disheartened Danava women fled in all directions, exclaiming +_Oh!_ and _Alas!_ And taking my chariot in front of the town of Saubha I +cheerfully blew my conch and gladdened the hearts of my friends. And +beholding their town, high as the peak of the Meru, with its palaces and +gate-ways utterly destroyed, and all ablaze, the Danavas fled in fear. +And having thus destroyed the town of Saubha and slain Salwa, I returned +to the Anarttas and delighted my friends. And, O king, it is for this +reason that I could not come to the city named after the elephant +(Hastinapura), O destroyer of hostile heroes! O warrior, if I had come, +Suyodhana would not have been alive or the match at dice would not have +taken place. What can I do now? It is difficult to confine the waters +after the dam is broken!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Having addressed the Kaurava thus, that +foremost of male persons, of mighty arms, the slayer of Madhu, possessed +of every grace, saluting the Pandavas, prepared for departure. And the +mighty-armed hero reverentially saluted Yudhishthira the just, and the +king in return and Bhima also smelt the crown of his head. And he was +embraced by Arjuna, and the twins saluted him with reverence. And he was +duly honoured by Dhaumya, and worshipped with tears by Draupadi. And +causing Subhadra and Abhimanyu to ascend his golden car, Krishna mounted +it himself, worshipped by the Pandavas. And consoling Yudhishthira, +Krishna set out for Dwaraka on his car resplendent as the sun and unto +which were yoked the horses _Saivya_ and _Sugriva_. And after he of the +Dasharha race had departed, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, also set +out for his own city, taking with him the sons of Draupadi. And the king +of Chedi, Dhrishtaketu also, taking his sister with him set out for his +beautiful city of Suktimati, after bidding farewell to the Pandavas. +And, O Bharata, the Kaikeyas also, with the permission of Kunti's son +possessed of immeasurable energy, having reverentially saluted all the +Pandavas, went away. But Brahmanas and the Vaisyas and the dwellers of +Yudhishthira's kingdom though repeatedly requested to go, did not leave +the Pandavas. O foremost of kings, O bull of the Bharata race, the +multitude that surrounded those high-souled ones in the forest of +Kamyaka looked extraordinary. And Yudhishthira, honouring those +high-minded Brahmanas, in due time ordered his men, saying '_Make ready +the car_.'" + + +SECTION XXIII + +Vaisampayana continued, "After the chief of the Dasharhas had departed, +the heroic Yudhishthira, and Bhima, and Arjuna, and the twins, each +looking like unto Shiva, and Krishna, and their priest, ascending costly +cars unto which were yoked excellent steeds, together went into the +forest. And at time of going they distributed _Nishkas_ of gold and +clothes and kine unto Brahmanas versed in _Siksha_ and _Akshara_ and +_mantras_. And twenty attendants followed them equipped with bows, and +bowstrings, and blazing weapons, and shafts and arrows and engines of +destruction. And taking the princess's clothes and the ornaments, and +the nurses and the maid-servants, Indrasena speedily followed the +princes on a car. And then approaching the best of Kurus, the +high-minded citizens walked round him. And the principal Brahmanas of +Kurujangala cheerfully saluted him. And together with his brothers, +Yudhishthira the just, on his part saluted them cheerfully. And the +illustrious king stopped there a little, beholding the concourse of the +inhabitants of Kurujangala. And the illustrious bull among the Kurus +felt for them as a father feeleth for his sons, and they too felt for +the Kuru chief even as sons feel for their father! And that mighty +concourse, approaching the Kuru hero, stood around him. And, O king, +affected, with bashfulness, and with tears in their eyes, they all +exclaimed, 'Alas, O lord! O Dharma!' And they said, 'Thou art the chief +of the Kurus, and the king of us, thy subjects! Where dost thou go, O +just monarch, leaving all these citizens and the inhabitants of the +country, like a father leaving his sons? Fie on the cruel-hearted son of +Dhritarashtra! Fie on the evil-minded son of Suvala! Fie on Karna! For, +O foremost of monarchs, those wretches ever wish unto thee who art firm +in virtue! Having thyself established the unrivalled city of +Indraprastha of the splendour of Kailasa itself, where dost thou go, +leaving it, O illustrious and just king, O achiever of extraordinary +deeds! O illustrious one, leaving that peerless palace built by Maya, +which possesseth the splendour of the palace of the celestials +themselves, and is like unto a celestial illusion, ever guarded by the +gods, where dost thou go, O son of Dharma?' And Vibhatsu knowing the +ways of virtue, pleasure, and profit said unto them in a loud voice, +'Living in the forest, the king intendeth to take away the good name of +his enemies! O ye with the regenerate ones at your head, versed in +virtue and profit, do you approaching the ascetics separately and +inclining them to grace, represent unto them what may be for our supreme +good!' Upon hearing these words of Arjuna, the Brahmanas and the other +orders, O king, saluting him cheerfully walked round the foremost of +virtuous men! And bidding farewell unto the son of Pritha, and +Vrikodara, and Dhananjaya and Yajnaseni, and the twins, and commanded by +Yudhishthira, they returned to their respective abodes in the kingdom +with heavy hearts." + + +SECTION XXIV + +Vaisampayana said, "After they had departed, Yudhishthira the virtuous +son of Kunti, unwavering in his promises, addressed all his brothers, +saying, 'We shall have to dwell in the solitary forest for these twelve +years. Search ye, therefore, in this mighty forest for some spot +abounding in birds and deer and flowers and fruits, beautiful to behold, +and auspicious, and inhabited by virtuous persons and where we may dwell +pleasantly for all these years!' Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, +Dhananjaya replied unto the son of Dharma, after reverencing the +illustrious king as if he were his spiritual preceptor. And Arjuna said, +'Thou hast respectfully waited upon all the great and old _Rishis_. +There is nothing unknown to thee in the world of men. And O bull of the +Bharata race, thou hast always waited with reverence upon Brahmanas +including Dwaipayana and others, and Narada of great ascetic merit, who +with senses under control, ever goeth to the gates of all the world from +the world of the gods unto that of Brahma, including that of the +Gandharvas and Apsaras! And thou knowest, without doubt, the opinions of +the Brahmanas, and, O king, their prowess also! And O monarch, thou +knowest what is calculated to do us good! And O great king, we will live +wherever thou likest! Here is this lake, full of sacred water, called +_Dwaitavana_, abounding with flowers, and delightful to look at, and +inhabited by many species of birds. If, O king, it pleaseth thee, here +should we like to dwell these twelve years! Thinkest thou otherwise?' +Yudhishthira replied, 'O Partha, what thou hast said recommendeth itself +to me! Let us go that sacred and celebrated and large lake called +_Dwaitavana_!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Then the virtuous son of Pandu, accompanied by +numerous Brahmanas, all went to the sacred lake called _Dwaitavana_. And +Yudhishthira was surrounded by numerous Brahmanas some of whom +sacrificed with fire and some without it and some of whom, devoted to +the study of the Vedas, lived upon alms or were of the class called +_Vanaprasthas_. And the king was also surrounded by hundreds of +_Mahatmas_ crowned with ascetic success and of rigid vows. And those +bulls of the Bharata race, the sons of Pandu setting out with those +numerous Brahmanas, entered the sacred and delightful woods of _Dwaita_. +And the king saw that mighty forest covered on the close of summer with +_Salas_, and palms, and mangoes, and _Madhukas_, and _Nipas_ and +_Kadamvas_ and _Sarjjas_ and _Arjunas_, and _Karnikars_, many of them +covered with flowers. And flocks of peacocks and _Datyuhas_ and +_Chakoras_ and _Varhins_ and _Kokilas_, seated on the tops of the +tallest trees of that forest were pouring forth their mellifluous notes. +And the king also saw in that forest mighty herds of gigantic elephants +huge as the hills, with temporal juice trickling down in the season of +rut, accompanied by herds of she-elephants. And approaching the +beautiful Bhogavati (Saraswati), the king saw many ascetics crowned with +success in the habitations in that forest, and virtuous men of +sanctified souls clad in barks of trees and bearing matted locks on +their heads. And descending from their cars, the king that foremost of +virtuous men with his brothers and followers entered that forest like +Indra of immeasurable energy entering heaven. And crowds of _Charanas_ +and _Siddhas_, desirous of beholding the monarch devoted to truth, came +towards him. And the dwellers of that forest stood surrounding that lion +among kings possessed of great intelligence. And saluting all the +_Siddhas_, and saluted by them in return as a king or a god should be, +that foremost of virtuous men entered the forest with joined hands +accompanied by all those foremost of regenerate ones. And the +illustrious and virtuous king, saluted in return by those virtuous +ascetics that had approached him, sat down in their midst at the foot of +a mighty tree decked with flowers, like his father (Pandu) in days +before. And those chiefs of the Bharata race _viz_., Bhima and +Dhananjaya and the twins and Krishna and their followers, all fatigued, +leaving their vehicles, sat themselves down around that best of kings. +And that mighty tree bent down with the weight of creepers, with those +five illustrious bowmen who had come there for rest sitting under it, +looked like a mountain with (five) huge elephants resting on its side." + + +SECTION XXV + +Vaisampayana said, "Having fallen into distress, those princes thus +obtained at last a pleasant habitation in that forest. And there in +those woods abounding with _Sala_ trees and washed by the Saraswati, +they who were like so many Indras, began to sport themselves. And the +illustrious king, that bull of the Kuru race, set himself to please all +the _Yatis_ and _Munis_ and the principal Brahmanas in that forest, by +offerings of excellent fruits and roots. And their priest, Dhaumya +endued with great energy, like unto a father to those princes, began to +perform the sacrificial rites of _Ishti_ and _Paitreya_ for the Pandavas +residing in that great forest. And there came, as a guest, unto the +abode of the accomplished Pandavas living in the wood after loss of +their kingdom, the old Rishi Markandeya, possessed of intense and +abundant energy. And that bull of the Kuru race, the high-souled +Yudhishthira, possessed of unrivalled strength and prowess, paid his +homage unto that great _Muni_, reverenced by celestials and Rishis of +men, and possessed of the splendour of blazing fire. And that +illustrious and all-knowing _Muni_, of unrivalled energy, beholding +Draupadi and Yudhishthira and Bhima and Arjuna, in the midst of the +ascetics, smiled, recollecting Rama in his mind. And Yudhishthira the +just, apparently grieved at this, asked him, saying, 'All these ascetics +are sorry for seeing me here. Why is it that thou alone smilest, as if +in glee, in the presence of these?' Markandeya replied, 'O child, I too +am sorry and do not smile in glee! Nor doth pride born of joy possess my +heart! Beholding to-day thy calamity, I recollect Rama, the son of +Dasaratha, devoted to truth! Even that Rama, accompanied by Lakshman, +dwelt in the woods at the command of his father. O son of Pritha, I +beheld him in days of old ranging with his bow on the top of the +_Rishyamuka_ hills! The illustrious Rama was like unto Indra, the lord +of Yama himself, and the slayer of Namuchi! Yet that sinless one had to +dwell in the forest at the command of his father, accepting it as his +duty. The illustrious Rama was equal unto Sakra in prowess, and +invincible in battle. And yet he had to range the forest renouncing all +pleasures! Therefore should no one act unrighteously, saying,--_I am +mighty!_ Kings Nabhaga and Bhagiratha and others, having subjugated by +truth this world bounded by the seas, (finally) obtained, O child, all +the region hereafter. Therefore, should no one act unrighteously, +saying,--_I am mighty!_ And, O exalted of men, the virtuous and truthful +king of Kasi and Karusha was called a mad dog for having renounced his +territories and riches! Therefore, should no one act unrighteously, +saying,--_I am mighty!_ O best of men, O son of Pritha, the seven +righteous Rishis, for having observed the ordinance prescribed by the +Creator himself in the Vedas, blaze in the firmament. Therefore, should +no one act unrighteously, saying,--_I am mighty!_ Behold, O king, the +mighty elephants, huge as mountain cliffs and furnished with tusks, +transgress not, O exalted of men, the laws of the Creator! Therefore, +should none act unrighteously saying, _Might is mine!_ And, O foremost +of monarchs, behold all the creatures acting according to their species, +as ordained by the Creator. Therefore, should none act unrighteously, +saying, _Might is mine_. O son of Pritha, in truth, and virtue, and +proper behaviour, and modesty, thou hast surpassed all creatures, and +thy fame and energy are as bright as fire or the Sun! Firm in thy +promises, O illustrious one, having passed in the woods thy painful +exile, thou wilt again, O king, snatch from the Kauravas thy blazing +prosperity with the help of thy own energy!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Having spoken these words unto Yudhishthira +(seated) in the midst of the ascetics with friends, the great Rishi +having also saluted Dhaumya and all the Pandavas set out in a northerly +direction!" + + +SECTION XXVI + +Vaisampayana said, "While the illustrious son of Pandu continued to +dwell in the _Dwaita_ woods, that great forest became filled with +Brahmanas. And the lake within that forest, ever resounding with Vedic +recitations, became sacred like a second region of Brahma. And the +sounds of the _Yajus_, the _Riks_, the _Samas_, and other words uttered +by the Brahmanas, were exceedingly delightful to hear. And the Vedic +recitations of the Brahmanas mingling with the twang of bows of the sons +of Pritha, produced a union of the Brahmana and Kshatriya customs that +was highly beautiful. And one evening the Rishi Vaka of the _Dalvya_ +family addressed Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti seated in the midst of +the Rishis, saying, 'Behold, O chief of the Kurus, O son of Pritha, the +_homa_ time is come of these Brahmanas devoted to ascetic austerities, +the time when the (sacred) fires have all been lit up! These all, of +rigid vows, protected by thee, are performing the rites of religion in +this sacred region! The descendants of Bhrigu and Angiras, along with +those of Vasistha and Kasyapa, the illustrious sons of Agastya, the +offspring of Atri all of excellent vows, in fact, all the foremost +Brahmanas of the whole, are now united with thee! Listen, O son of the +Kuru race born of Kunti, thyself with thy brothers, to the words I speak +to thee! As fire aided by the wind consumeth the forest, so _Brahma_ +energy mingling with _Kshatriya_ energy, and _Kshatriya_ might mingling +with Brahma power, might, when they gathered force, consume all enemies! +O child, he should never desire to be without Brahmanas who wisheth to +subdue this and the other world for length of days! Indeed, a king +slayeth his enemies having obtained a Brahmana conversant with religion +and worldly affairs and freed from passion and folly. King Vali +cherishing his subjects practised those duties that lead to salvation, +and knew not of any other means in this world than Brahmanas. It was for +this that all the desires of Virochana's son, the Asura (Vali), were +ever gratified, and his wealth was ever inexhaustible. Having obtained +the whole earth through the aid of the Brahmanas, he met with +destruction when he began to practise wrong on them! This earth with her +wealth never adoreth long as her lord a Kshatriya living without a +Brahmana! The earth, however, girt by the sea, boweth unto him who is +ruled by a Brahmana and taught his duties by him! Like an elephant in +battle without his driver, a Kshatriya destitute of Brahmanas decreaseth +in strength! The Brahmana's sight is without compare, and the +Kshatriya's might also is unparalleled. When these combine, the whole +earth itself cheerfully yieldeth to such a combination. As fire becoming +mightier with the wind consumeth straw and wood, so kings with Brahmanas +consume all foes! An intelligent Kshatriya, in order to gain what he +hath not, and increase what he hath, should take counsel of Brahmanas! +Therefore, O son of Kunti, for obtaining what thou hast not and +increasing what thou hast, and spending what thou hast on proper objects +and persons, keep thou with thee a Brahmana of reputation, of a +knowledge of the Vedas, of wisdom and experience! O Yudhishthira, thou +hast ever highly regarded the Brahmanas. It is for this that thy fame is +great and blazeth in the three worlds!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Then all those Brahmanas who were with +Yudhishthira worshipped Vaka of the Dalvya race, and having heard him +praise Yudhishthira became highly pleased. And Dwaipayana and Narada and +Jamadagnya and Prithusravas; and Indradyumna and Bhalaki and Kritachetas +and Sahasrapat; and Karnasravas and Munja and Lavanaswa and Kasyapa; and +Harita and Sthulakarana and Agnivesya and Saunaka; and Kritavak and +Suvakana, Vrihadaswa and Vibhavasu; and Urdharetas and Vrishamitra and +Suhotra and Hotravahana; these and many other Brahmanas of rigid vows +then adored Yudhishthira like Rishis adoring Purandara in heaven!" + + +SECTION XXVII + +Vaisampayana said, "Exiled to the woods the sons of Pritha with Krishna +seated in the evening, conversed with one another afflicted with sorrow +and grief. And the handsome and well informed Krishna dear unto her +lords and devoted to them, thus spake unto Yudhishthira, 'The sinful, +cruel, and wicked-minded son of Dhritarashtra certainly feeleth no +sorrow for us, when, O king, that evil-hearted wretch having sent thee +with myself into the woods dressed in deer-skin feeleth no regret! The +heart of that wretch of evil deeds must surely be made of steel when he +could at that time address thee, his virtuous eldest brother, in words +so harsh! Having brought thee who deservest to enjoy every happiness and +never such woe, into such distress, alas, that wicked-minded and sinful +wretch joyeth with his friends! O Bharata, when dressed in deer-skin +thou hast set out for the woods, only four persons, O monarch, _viz_., +Duryodhana, Karna, the evil-minded Sakuni, and Dussasana that bad and +fierce brother of Duryodhana, did not shed tears! With the exception of +these, O thou best of the Kurus, all other Kurus filled with sorrow shed +tears from their eyes! Beholding this thy bed and recollecting what thou +hadst before, I grieve, O king, for thee who deservest not woe and hast +been brought up in every luxury! Remembering that seat of ivory in thy +court, decked with jewels and beholding this seat of _kusa_ grass, grief +consumeth me, O king! I saw thee, O king, surrounded in thy court by +kings! What peace can my heart know in not beholding thee such now? I +beheld thy body, effulgent as the sun, decked with sandal paste! Alas, +grief depriveth me of my senses in beholding thee now besmeared with mud +and dirt! I saw thee before, O king, dressed in silken clothes of pure +white! But I now behold thee dressed in rags! Formerly, O king, pure +food of every kind was carried from thy house on plates of gold for +Brahmanas by thousands! And, O king, food also of the best kind was +formerly given by thee unto ascetics both houseless and living in +domesticity! Formerly, living in thy mansion thou hadst ever filled with +food of every kind plates by thousands, and worshipped the Brahmanas +gratifying every wish of theirs! What peace, O king, can my heart know +in not beholding all this now? And, O great king, these thy brothers, +endued with youth and decked with ear-rings, were formerly fed by cook +with food of the sweet flavour and dressed with skill! Alas, O king, I +now behold them all, so undeserving of woe, living in the woods and upon +what the wood may yield! My heart, O King knoweth no peace! Thinking of +this Bhimasena living in sorrow in the woods, doth not thy anger blaze +up, even though it is time? Why doth not thy anger, O king, blaze up +upon beholding the illustrious Bhimasena who ever performeth everything +unaided, so fallen into distress, though deserving of every happiness? +Why, O king, doth not thy anger blaze up on beholding that Bhima living +in the woods who was formerly surrounded with numerous vehicles and +dressed in costly apparel? This exalted personage is ready to slay all +the Kurus in battle. He beareth, however, all this sorrow, only because +he waiteth for the fufilment of thy promise! This Arjuna, O king, though +possessed of two hands, is equal, for the lightness of his hand in +discharging shafts, to (Kaitavirya) Arjuna of a thousand arms! He is +even (to foes), like unto Yama himself at the end of the _Yuga_! It was +by the prowess of his weapons that all the kings of the earth were made +to wait upon the Brahmanas at thy sacrifice! Beholding that Arjuna that +tiger among men worshipped by both the celestials and the Danavas so +anxious, why, O king, dost thou not feel indignant? I grieve, O Bharata, +that thy wrath doth not blaze up at sight of that son of Pritha in +exile, that prince who deserveth not such distress and who hath been +brought up in every luxury! Why doth not thy wrath blaze up at sight of +that Arjuna in exile, who, on a single car, hath vanquished celestials +and men and serpents? Why, O king, doth not thy wrath blaze up at sight +of that Arjuna in exile who, honoured with offerings of cars and +vehicles of various forms and horses and elephants, forcibly took from +the kings of the earth their treasures, who is the chastiser of all +foes, and who at one impetus can throw full five hundred arrows? Why, O +king, doth not thy wrath blaze up at sight of Nakula, in exile, who so +fair and able-bodied and young, is the foremost of all swordsmen? Why, O +king, dost thou pardon the foe, O Yudhishthira, at sight of Madri's son, +the handsome and brave Sahadeva in exile? Why doth not thy anger blaze +up, O king, it sight of both Nakula and Sahadeva overwhelmed with grief, +though so undeserving of distress? Why also, O king, dost thou pardon +the foe at sight of myself in exile who, born in the race of Drupada +and, therefore, the sister of Dhrishtadyumna, am the daughter-in-law of +the illustrious Pandu and the devoted wife of heroes? Truly, O thou best +of the Bharatas, thou hast no anger, else why is it that thy mind is not +moved at sight of thy brothers and myself (in such distress)? It is said +that there is no Kshatriya in the world who is bereft of anger. I now +behold in thee, however, a refutation of the proverb! That Kshatriya, O +son of Pritha, who discovereth not his energy when the opportunity +cometh, is ever disregarded by all creatures! Therefore, O king, thou +shouldst not extend thy forgiveness to the foe. Indeed, with thy energy, +without doubt, thou mayst slay them all! So also, O king, that Kshatriya +who is not appeased when the time for forgiveness cometh, becometh +unpopular with every creature and meeteth with destruction both in this +and the other world!'" + + +SECTION XXVIII + +"Draupadi continued, 'On this subject, the ancient story of the +conversation between Prahlada and Vali, the son of Virochana, is quoted +as an example. One day Vali asked his grand-father Prahlada, the chief +of the Asuras and the Danavas, possessed of great wisdom and well-versed +in the mysteries of the science of duty, saying, "O sire, is forgiveness +meritorious or might and energy such? I am puzzled as regards this; O +sire, enlighten me who ask thee this! O thou conversant with all duties, +tell me truly which of these is meritorious? I will strictly obey +whatever thy command may be!" Thus asked (by Vali), his wise +grandfather, conversant with every conclusion, replied upon the whole +subject unto his grand-son who had sought at his hands the resolution of +his doubts. And Prahlada said, "Know, O child, these two truths with +certainty, viz., that might is not always meritorious and forgiveness +also is not always meritorious! He that forgiveth always suffereth many +evils. Servants and strangers and enemies always disregard him. No +creature ever bendeth down unto him. Therefore it is, O child, that the +learned applaud not a constant habit of forgiveness! The servants of an +ever-forgiving person always disregard him, and contract numerous +faults. These mean-minded men also seek to deprive him of his wealth. +Vile-souled servants also appropriate to themselves his vehicles and +clothes and ornaments and apparel and beds and seats and food and drink +and other articles of use. They do not also at the command of their +master, give unto others the things they are directed to give. Nor do +they even worship their master with that respect which is their master's +due. Disregard in this world is worse than death. O child, sons and +servants and attendants and even strangers speak harsh words unto the +man who always forgiveth. Persons, disregarding the man of an +ever-forgiving temper, even desire his wife, and his wife also, becometh +ready to act as she willeth. And servants also that are ever fond of +pleasure, if they do not receive even slight punishments from their +master, contract all sorts of vices, and the wicked ever injure such a +master. These and many other demerits attach to those that are +ever-forgiving! + +"'"Listen now, O son of Virochana, to the demerits of those that are +never forgiving! The man of wrath who, surrounded by darkness, always +inflicteth, by help of his own energy, various kinds of punishment on +persons whether they deserve them or not, is necessarily separated from +his friends in consequence of that energy of his. Such a man is hated by +both relatives and strangers. Such a man, because he insulteth others, +suffereth loss of wealth and reapeth disregard and sorrow and hatred and +confusion and enemies. The man of wrath, in consequence of his ire, +inflicteth punishments on men and obtaineth (in return) harsh words. He +is divested of his prosperity soon and even of life, not to say, of +friends and relatives. He that putteth forth his might both upon his +benefactor and his foe, is an object of alarm to the world, like a snake +that hath taken shelter in a house, to the inmates thereof. What +prosperity can he have who is an object of alarm to the world? People +always do him an injury when they find a hole. Therefore, should men +never exhibit might in excess nor forgiveness on all occasions. One +should put forth his might and show his forgiveness on proper occasions. +He that becometh forgiving at the proper time and harsh and mighty also +at the proper time, obtaineth happiness both in this world and the +other. + +"'"I shall now indicate the occasions in detail of forgiveness, as laid +down by the learned, and which should ever be observed by all. Hearken +unto me as I speak! He that hath done thee a service, even if he is +guilty of a grave wrong unto thee, recollecting his former service, +shouldst thou forgive that offender. Those also that have become +offenders from ignorance and folly should be forgiven for learning and +wisdom are not always easily attainable by man. They that having +offended thee knowingly, plead ignorance should be punished, even if +their offences be trivial. Such crooked men should never be pardoned. +The first offence of every creature should be forgiven. The second +offence, however, should be punished, even if it be trivial. If, +however, a person committeth an offence unwillingly, it hath been said +that examining his plea well by a judicious enquiry, he should be +pardoned. Humility may vanquish might, humility may vanquish weakness. +There is nothing that humility may not accomplish. Therefore, humility +is truly fiercer (than it seemeth)! One should act with reference to +place and time, taking note of his own might or weakness. Nothing can +succeed that hath been undertaken without reference to place and time. +Therefore, do thou ever wait for place and time! Sometimes offenders +should be forgiven from fear of the people. These have been declared to +be times of forgiveness. And it hath been said that on occasions besides +these, might should be put forth against transgressors."' + +"Draupadi continued, 'I, therefore, regard, O king, that the time hath +come for thee to put forth thy might! Unto those Kurus the covetous sons +of Dhritarashtra who injure us always, the present is not the time for +forgiveness! It behoveth thee to put forth thy might. The humble and +forgiving person is disregarded; while those that are fierce persecute +others. He, indeed, is a king who hath recourse to both, each according +to its time!'" + + +SECTION XXIX + +"Yudhishthira said, 'Anger is the slayer of men and is again their +prosperor. Know this, O thou possessed of great wisdom, that anger is +the root of all prosperity and all adversity. O thou beautiful one, he +that suppresseth his anger earneth prosperity. That man, again, who +always giveth way to anger, reapeth adversity from his fierce anger. It +is seen in this world that anger is the cause of destruction of every +creature. How then can one like me indulge his anger which is so +destructive of the world? The angry man commiteth sin. The angry man +killeth even his preceptors. The angry man insulteth even his superiors +in harsh words. The man that is angry faileth to distinguish between +what should be said and what should not. There is no act that an angry +man may not do, no word that an angry man may not utter. From anger a +man may slay one that deserveth not to be slain, and may worship one +that deserveth to be slain. The angry man may even send his own soul to +the regions of Yama. Beholding all these faults, the wise control their +anger, desirous of obtaining high prosperity both in this and the other +world. It is for this that they of tranquil souls have banished wrath. +How can one like us indulge in it then? O daughter of Drupada, +reflecting upon all this, my anger is not excited. One that acteth not +against a man whose wrath hath been up, rescueth himself as also others +from great fear. In fact, he may be regarded to be the physician of the +two (_viz_., himself and angry man). If a weak man, persecuted by +others, foolishly becometh angry towards men that are mightier than he, +he then becometh himself the cause of his own destruction. And in +respect of one who thus deliberately throweth away his life, there are +no regions hereafter to gain. Therefore, O daughter of Drupada, it hath +been said that a weak man should always suppress his wrath. And the wise +man also who though persecuted, suffereth not his wrath to be roused, +joyeth in the other world--having passed his persecutor over in +indifference. It is for this reason hath it been said that a wise man, +whether strong or weak, should ever forgive his persecutor even when the +latter is in the straits. It is for this, O Krishna, that the virtuous +applaud them that have conquered their wrath. Indeed, it is the opinion +of the virtuous that the honest and forgiving man is ever victorious. +Truth is more beneficial than untruth; and gentleness than cruel +behaviour. How can one like me, therefore, even for the purpose of +slaying Duryodhana, exhibit anger which hath so many faults and which +the virtuous banish from their souls? They that are regarded by the +learned of foresight, as possessed of (true) force of character, are +certainly those who are wrathful in outward show only. Men of learning +and of true insight call him to be possessed of force of character who +by his wisdom can suppress his risen wrath. O thou of fair hips, the +angry man seeth not things in their true light. The man that is angry +seeth not his way, nor respecteth persons. The angry man killeth even +those that deserve not to be killed. The man of wrath slayeth even his +preceptors. Therefore, the man possessing force of character should ever +banish wrath to a distance. The man that is overwhelmed with wrath +acquireth not with ease generosity, dignity, courage, skill, and other +attributes belonging to real force of character. A man by forsaking +anger can exhibit proper energy, whereas, O wise one, it is highly +difficult for the angry man to exhibit his energy at the proper time! +The ignorant always regard anger as equivalent to energy. Wrath, however +hath been given to man for the destruction of the world. The man, +therefore, who wisheth to behave properly, must ever forsake anger. Even +one who hath abandoned the excellent virtues of his own order, it is +certain, indulgeth in wrath (if behaveth properly). If fools, of mind +without light, transgress in every respect, how, O faultless one, can +one like me transgress (like them)? If amongst men there were not +persons equal unto the earth in forgiveness, there would be no peace +among men but continued strife caused by wrath. If the injured return +their injuries, if one chastised by his superior were to chastise his +superior in return, the consequence would be the destruction of every +creature, and sin also would prevail in the world. If the man who hath +ill speeches from another, returneth those speeches afterwards; if the +injured man returneth his injuries; if the chastised person chastiseth +in return; if fathers slay sons, and sons fathers and if husbands slay +wives, and wives husbands; then, O Krishna, how can birth take place in +a world where anger prevaileth so! For, O thou of handsome face, know +that the birth of creatures is due to peace! If the kings also, O +Draupadi, giveth way to wrath, his subjects soon meet with destruction. +Wrath, therefore, hath for its consequence the destruction and the +distress of the people. And because it is seen that there are in the +world men who are forgiving like the Earth, it is therefore that +creatures derive their life and prosperity. O beautiful one, one should +forgive under every injury. It hath been said that the continuation of +species is due to man being forgiving. He, indeed, is a wise and +excellent person who hath conquered his wrath and who showeth +forgiveness even when insulted, oppressed, and angered by a strong +person. The man of power who controleth his wrath, hath (for his +enjoyment) numerous everlasting regions; while he that is angry, is +called foolish, and meeteth with destruction both in this and the other +world. O Krishna, the illustrious and forgiving Kasyapa hath, in this +respect, sung the following verses in honour of men that are ever +forgiving, "Forgiveness is virtue, forgiveness is sacrifice, forgiveness +is the Vedas, forgiveness is the _Shruti_. He that knoweth this is +capable of forgiving everything. Forgiveness is _Brahma_; forgiveness is +truth; forgiveness is stored ascetic merit; forgiveness protecteth the +ascetic merit of the future; forgiveness is asceticism; forgiveness is +holiness; and by forgiveness is it that the universe is held together. +Persons that are forgiving attain to the regions obtainable by those +that have performed meritorious sacrifices, or those that are +well-conversant with the Vedas, or those that have high ascetic merit. +Those that perform Vedic sacrifices as also those that perform the +meritorious rites of religion obtain other regions. Men of forgiveness, +however, obtain those much-adored regions that are in the world of +Brahma. Forgiveness is the might of the mighty; forgiveness is +sacrifice; forgiveness is quiet of mind. How, O Krishna, can one like us +abandon forgiveness, which is such, and in which are established +_Brahma_, and truth, and wisdom and the worlds? The man of wisdom should +ever forgive, for when he is capable of forgiving everything, he +attaineth to _Brahma_. The world belongeth to those that are forgiving; +the other world is also theirs. The forgiving acquire honours here, and +a state of blessedness hereafter. Those men that ever conquer their +wrath by forgiveness, obtain the higher regions. Therefore hath it been +said that forgiveness is the highest virtue." Those are the verses sung +by Kasyapa in respect of those that are everforgiving. Having listened, +O Draupadi, to these verses in respect of forgiveness, content thyself! +Give not way to thy wrath! Our grandsire, the son of Santanu, will +worship peace; Krishna, the son of Devaki, will worship peace; the +preceptor (Drona) and Vidura called _Kshatri_ will both speak of peace; +Kripa and Sanjaya also will preach peace. And Somadatta and Yuyutshu and +Drona's son and our grandsire Vyasa, every one of them speaketh always +of peace. Ever urged by these towards peace, the king (Dhritarashtra) +will, I think, return us our kingdom. If however, he yieldeth to +temptation, he will meet with destruction. O lady, a crisis hath come in +the history of Bharatas for plunging them into calamity! This hath been +my certain conclusion from some time before! Suyodhana deserveth not the +kingdom. Therefore hath he been unable to acquire forgiveness. I, +however, deserve the sovereignty and therefore is it that forgiveness +hath taken possession of me. Forgiveness and gentleness are the +qualities of the self-possessed. They represent eternal virtue. I shall, +therefore, truly adopt those qualities.'" + + +SECTION XXX + +"Draupadi said, 'I bow down unto _Dhatri_ and _Vidhatri_ who have thus +clouded thy sense! Regarding the burden (thou art to bear) thou thinkest +differently from the ways of thy fathers and grand-fathers! Influenced +by acts men are placed in different situations of life. Acts, therefore, +produce consequences that are inevitable; emancipation is desired from +mere folly. It seemeth that man can never attain prosperity in this +world by virtue, gentleness, forgiveness, straight-forwardness and fear +of censure! If this were not so, O Bharata, this insufferable calamity +would never have overtaken thee who art so undeserving of it, and these +thy brothers of great energy! Neither in those days of prosperity nor in +these days of thy adversity, thou, O Bharata, hath ever known anything +so dear to thee as virtue, which thou hast even regarded as dearer to +thee than life! That thy kingdom is for virtue alone, that thy life also +is for virtue alone, is known to Brahmanas and thy superiors and even +the celestials! I think thou canst abandon Bhimasena and Arjuna and +these twin sons of Madri along with myself but thou canst not abandon +virtue! I have heard that the king protecteth virtue; and virtue, +protected by him, protecteth him (in return)! I see, however, that +virtue protecteth thee not! Like the shadow pursuing a man, thy heart, O +tiger among men, with singleness of purpose, ever seeketh virtue. Thou +hast never disregarded thy equals, and inferiors and superiors. +Obtaining even the entire world, thy pride never increased! O son of +Pritha, thou ever worshippest Brahmanas, and gods, and the _Pitris_, +with _Swadhas_, and other forms of worship! O son of Pritha, thou hast +ever gratified the Brahmanas by fulfilling every wish of theirs! _Yatis_ +and _Sannyasins_ and mendicants of domestic lives have always been fed +in thy house from off plates of gold where I have distributed (food) +amongst them. Unto the _Vanaprasthas_ thou always givest gold and food. +There is nothing in thy house thou mayest not give unto the Brahmanas! +In the _Viswadeva_ sacrifice, that is, for thy peace, performed in thy +house, the things consecrated are first offered unto guests and all +creatures while thou livest thyself with what remaineth (after +distribution)! _Ishtis Pashubandhas_, sacrifices for obtaining fruition +of desire, the religious rites of (ordinary) domesticity, _Paka_ +sacrifices, and sacrifices of other kinds, are ever performed in thy +house. Even in this great forest, so solitary and haunted by robbers, +living in exile, divested of thy kingdom, thy virtue hath sustained no +diminution! The _Aswamedha_, the _Rajasuya_, the _Pundarika_, and +_Gosava_, these grand sacrifices requiring large gifts have all been +performed by thee! O monarch, impelled by a perverse sense during that +dire hour of a losing match at dice, thou didst yet stake and lose thy +kingdom, thy wealth, thy weapons, thy brothers, and myself! Simple, +gentle, liberal, modest, truthful, how, O king could thy mind be +attracted to the vice of gambling? I am almost deprived of my sense, O +king, and my heart is overwhelmed with grief, beholding this thy +distress, and this thy calamity! An old history is cited as an +illustration for the truth that men are subjects to the will of God and +never to their own wishes! The Supreme Lord and Ordainer of all +ordaineth everything in respect of the weal and woe, the happiness and +misery, of all creatures, even prior to their births guided by the acts +of each, which are even like a seed (destined to sprout forth into the +tree of life). O hero amongst men, as a wooden doll is made to move its +limbs by the wirepuller, so are creatures made to work by the Lord of +all. O Bharata, like space that covereth every object, God, pervading +every creature, ordaineth its weal or woe. Like a bird tied with a +string, every creature is dependent on God. Every one is subject to God +and none else. No one can be his own ordainer. Like a pearl on its +string, or a bull held fast by the cord passing through its nose, or a +tree fallen from the bank into the middle of the stream, every creature +followeth the command of the Creator, because imbued with His Spirit and +because established in Him. And man himself, dependent on the Universal +Soul, cannot pass a moment independently. Enveloped in darkness, +creatures are not masters of their own weal or woe. They go to heaven or +hell urged by God Himself. Like light straws dependent on strong winds, +all creatures, O Bharatas, are dependent on God! And God himself, +pervading all creatures and engaged in acts right and wrong, moveth in +the universe, though none can say _This is God!_ This body with its +physical attributes is only the means by which God--the Supreme Lord of +all maketh (every creature) to reap fruits that are good or bad. Behold +the power of illusion that hath been spread by God, who confounding with +his illusion, maketh creatures slay their fellows! Truth-knowing _Munis_ +behold those differently. They appear to them in a different light, even +like the rays of the Sun (which to ordinary eyes are only a pencil of +light, while to eyes more penetrating seem fraught with the germs of +food and drink). Ordinary men behold the things of the earth otherwise. +It is God who maketh them all, adopting different processes in their +creation and destruction. And, O Yudhishthira, the Self-create Grandsire, +Almighty God, spreading illusion, slayeth his creatures by the +instrumentality of his creatures, as one may break a piece of inert and +senseless wood with wood, or stone with stone, or iron with iron. And +the Supreme Lord, according to his pleasure, sporteth with His +creatures, creating and destroying them, like a child with his toy (of +soft earth). O king, it doth seem to me that God behaveth towards his +creatures like a father or mother unto them. Like a vicious person, He +seemeth to bear himself towards them in anger! Beholding superior and +well-behaved and modest persons persecuted, while the sinful are happy, +I am sorely troubled. Beholding this thy distress and the prosperity of +Suyodhana, I do not speak highly of the Great Ordainer who suffereth +such inequality! O sir, what fruits doth the Great Ordainer reap by +granting prosperity to Dhritarashtra's son who transgresseth the +ordinances, who is crooked and covetous, and who injureth virtue and +religion! If the act done pursueth the doer and none else, then +certainly it is God himself who is stained with the sin of every act. If +however, the sin of an act done doth not attach to the doer, then +(individual) might (and not God) is the true cause of acts, and I grieve +for those that have no might!'" + + +SECTION XXXI + +"Yudhishthira said, 'Thy speech, O Yajnaseni, is delightful, smooth and +full of excellent phrases. We have listened to it (carefully). Thou +speakest, however, the language of atheism. O princess, I never act, +solicitous of the fruits of my actions. I give away, because it is my +duty to give; I sacrifice because it is my duty to sacrifice! O Krishna, +I accomplish to the best of my power whatever a person living in +domesticity should do, regardless of the fact whether those acts have +fruits or not. O thou of fair hips, I act virtuously, not from the +desire of reaping the fruits of virtue, but of not transgressing the +ordinances of the Veda, and beholding also the conduct of the good and +wise! My heart, O Krishna, is naturally attracted towards virtue. The +man who wisheth to reap the fruits of virtue is a trader in virtue. His +nature is mean and he should never be counted amongst the virtuous. Nor +doth he ever obtain the fruits of his virtues! Nor doth he of sinful +heart, who having accomplished a virtuous act doubteth in his mind, +obtain the fruits of his act, in consequence of that scepticism of his! +I speak unto thee, under the authority of the Vedas, which constitute +the highest proof in such matters, that never shouldst thou doubt +virtue! The man that doubteth virtue is destined to take his birth in +the brute species. The man of weak understanding who doubteth religion, +virtue or the words of the Rishis, is precluded from regions of +immortality and bliss, like Sudras from the Vedas! O intelligent one, if +a child born of a good race studieth the Vedas and beareth himself +virtuously, royal sages of virtuous behaviour regard him as an aged sage +(not withstanding his years)! The sinful wretch, however, who doubteth +religion and transgresseth the scriptures, is regarded as lower even +than Sudras and robbers! Thou hast seen with thy own eyes the great +ascetic Markandeya of immeasurable soul come to us! It is by virtue +alone that he hath acquired immortality in the flesh. Vyasa, and +Vasistha and Maitreya, and Narada and Lomasa, and Suka, and other Rishis +have all, by virtue alone, become of pure soul! Thou beholdest them with +thy own eyes as furnished with prowess of celestial asceticism, +competent to curse or bless (with effect), and superior to the very +gods! O sinless one, these all, equal to the celestials themselves, +behold with their eyes what is written in the Vedas, and describe virtue +as the foremost duty! It behoveth thee not, therefore, O amiable Queen, +to either doubt or censure God or act, with a foolish heart. The fool +that doubteth religion and disregardeth virtue, proud of the proof +derived from his own reasoning, regardeth not other proofs and holdeth +the Rishis, who are capable of knowing the future as present as mad men. +The fool regardeth only the external world capable of gratifying his +senses, and is blind to everything else. He that doubteth religion hath +no expiation for his offence. That miserable wretch is full of anxiety +and acquireth not regions of bliss hereafter. A rejector of proofs, a +slanderer of the interpretation of the Vedic scriptures, a transgressor +urged by lust and covetousness, that fool goeth to hell. O amiable one, +he on the other hand, who ever cherisheth religion with faith, obtaineth +eternal bliss in the other world. The fool who cherisheth not religion, +transgressing the proofs offered by the Rishis, never obtaineth +prosperity in any life, for such transgression of the scriptures. It is +certain, O handsome one, that with respect to him who regardeth not the +words of the Rishis or the conduct of the virtuous as proof, neither +this nor the other world existeth. Doubt not, O Krishna, the ancient +religion that is practised by the good and framed by Rishis of universal +knowledge and capable of seeing all things! O daughter of Drupada, +religion is the only raft for those desirous of going to heaven, like a +ship to merchants desirous of crossing the ocean. O thou faultless one, +if the virtues that are practised by the virtuous had no fruits, this +universe then would be enveloped in infamous darkness. No one then would +pursue salvation, no one would seek to acquire knowledge nor even +wealth, but men would live like beasts. If asceticism, the austerities +of celibate life, sacrifices, study of the Vedas, charity, +honesty,--these all were fruitless, men would not have practised virtue +generation after generation. If acts were all fruitless, a dire +confusion would ensue. For what then do Rishis and gods and Gandharvas +and Rakshasas who are all independent of human conditions, cherish +virtue with such affection? Knowing it for certain that God is the giver +of fruits in respect of virtue, they practise virtue in this world. +This, O Krishna, is the eternal (source of) prosperity. When the fruits +of both knowledge and asceticism are seen, virtue and vice cannot be +fruitless. Call to thy mind, O Krishna, the circumstances of thy own +birth as thou that heard of them, and recall also the manner in which +Dhrishtadyumna of great prowess was born! These, O thou of sweet smiles, +are the best proofs (of the fruits of virtue)! They that have their +minds under control, reap the fruits of their acts and are content with +little. Ignorant fools are not content with even that much they get +(here), because they have no happiness born of virtue to acquire to in +the world hereafter. The fruitlessness of virtuous acts ordained in the +Vedas, as also of all transgressions, the origin and destruction of acts +are, O beautiful one, mysterious even to the gods. These are not known +to any body and everybody. Ordinary men are ignorant in respect of +these. The gods keep up the mystery, for the illusion covering the +conduct of the gods is unintelligible. Those regenerate ones that have +destroyed all aspirations, that have built all their hopes on vows and +asceticism, that have burnt all their sins and have acquired minds where +quest and peace and holiness dwell, understand all these. Therefore, +though you mayst not see the fruits of virtue, thou shouldst not yet +doubt religion or gods. Thou must perform sacrifices with a will, and +practise charity without insolence. Acts in this world have their +fruits, and virtue also is eternal. Brahma himself told this unto his +(spiritual) sons, as testified to by Kasyapa. Let thy doubt, therefore, +O Krishna, be dispelled like mist. Reflecting upon all this, let thy +scepticism give way to faith. Slander not God, who is the lord of all +creatures. Learn how to know him. Bow down unto him. Let not thy mind be +such. And, O Krishna, never disregard that Supreme Being through whose +grace mortal man, by piety, acquireth immortality!'" + + +SECTION XXXII + +"Draupadi said, 'I do not ever disregard or slander religion, O son of +Pritha! Why should I disregard God, the lord of all creatures? Afflicted +with woe, know me, O Bharata, to be only raving. I will once more indulge +in lamentations; listen to me with attention. O persecutor of all +enemies, every conscious creature should certainly act in this world. It +is only the immobile, and not other creatures, that may live without +acting. The calf, immediately after its birth, sucketh the mothers's +teat. Persons feel pain in consequence of incantations performed with +their statues. It seemeth, therefore, O Yudhishthira, that creatures +derive the character of their lives from their acts of former lives. +Amongst mobile creatures man differeth in this respect that he aspireth, +O bull of the Bharata race, to affect his course of life in this and the +other world by means of his acts. Impelled by the inspiration of a +former life, all creatures visibly (reap) in this world the fruits of +their acts. Indeed, all creatures live according to the inspiration of a +former life, even the Creator and the Ordainer of the universe, like a +crane that liveth on the water (untaught by any one.) If a creature +acteth not, its course of life is impossible. In the case of a creature, +therefore, there must be action and not inaction. Thou also shouldest +act, and not incur censure by abandoning action. Cover thyself up, as +with an armour, with action. There may or may not be even one in a +thousand who truly knoweth the utility of acts or work. One must act for +protecting as also increasing his wealth; for if without seeking to +earn, one continueth to only spend, his wealth, even if it were a hoard +huge as Himavat, would soon be exhausted. All the creatures in the world +would have been exterminated, if there were no action. If also acts bore +no fruits, creatures would never have multiplied. It is even seen that +creatures sometimes perform acts that have no fruits, for without acts +the course of life itself would be impossible. Those persons in the +world who believe in destiny, and those again who believe in chance, are +both the worst among men. Those only that believe in the efficacy of +acts are laudable. He that lieth at ease, without activity, believing in +destiny alone, is soon destroyed like an unburnt earthen pot in water. +So also he that believeth in chance, i.e. sitteth inactive though +capable of activity liveth not long, for his life is one of weakness and +helplessness. If any person accidentally acquireth any wealth, it is +said he deriveth it from chance, for no one's effort hath brought about +the result. And, O son of Pritha, whatever of good fortune a person +obtaineth in consequence of religious rites, that is called +providential. The fruit, however that a person obtaineth by acting +himself, and which is the direct result of those acts of his, is +regarded as proof of personal ability. And, O best of men, know that the +wealth one obtaineth spontaneously and without cause is said to be a +spontaneous acquisition. Whatever is thus obtained by chance, by +providential dispensation, spontaneously, of as the result of one's acts +is, however, the consequence of the acts of a former life. And God, the +Ordainer of the universe, judging according to the acts of former lives, +distributeth among men their portions in this world. Whatever acts, good +or bad, a person performeth, know that they are the result of God's +arrangements agreeably to the acts of a former life. This body is only +the instruments in the hands of God, for doing the acts that are done. +Itself, inert, it doth as God urgeth it to do. O son of Kunti, it is the +Supreme Lord of all who maketh all creatures do what they do. The +creatures themselves are inert. O hero, man, having first settled some +purpose in his mind, accomplisheth it, himself working with the aid of +his intelligence. We, therefore, say that man is himself the cause (of +what he doeth). O bull among men, it is impossible to number the acts of +men, for mansions and towns are the result of man's acts. Intelligent +men know, by help of their intellect, that oil may be had from sesame, +curds from milk, and that food may be cooked by means of igniting fuel. +They know also the means for accomplishing all these. And knowing them, +they afterwards set themselves, with proper appliances, to accomplish +them. And creatures support their lives by the results achieved in these +directions by their own acts. If a work is executed by a skilled +workman, it is executed well. From differences (in characteristics), +another work may be said to be that of an unskilful hand. If a person +were not, in the matter of his acts, himself the cause thereof, then +sacrifices would not bear any fruits in his case nor would any body be a +disciple or a master. It is because a person is himself the cause of his +work that he is applauded when he achieved success. So the doer is +censured if he faileth. If a man were not himself the cause of his acts, +how would all this be justified? Some say that everything is the result +of providential dispensation; others again, that this is not so, but +that everything which is supposed to be the result of destiny or chance +is the result of the good or the bad acts of former lives. It is seen, +possessions are obtained from chance, as also from destiny. Something +being from destiny and something from chance, something is obtained by +exertion. In the acquisition of his objects, there is no fourth cause in +the case of man. Thus say those that are acquainted with truth and +skilled in knowledge. If, however, God himself were not the giver of +good and bad fruits, then amongst creatures there would not be any that +was miserable. If the effect of former acts be a myth, then all purposes +for which man would work should be successful. They, therefore, that +regard the three alone (mentioned above) as the doors of all success and +failure in the world, (without regarding the acts of former life), are +dull and inert like the body itself. For all this, however, a person +should act. This is the conclusion of Manu himself. The person that doth +not act, certainly succumbeth, O Yudhishthira. The man of action in this +world generally meeteth with success. The idle, however, never achieveth +success. If success becometh impossible, then should one seek to remove +the difficulties that bar his way to success. And, O king, if a person +worketh (hard), his debt (to the gods) is cancelled (whether he +achieveth success or not). The person that is idle and lieth at his +length, is overcome by adversity; while he that is active and skillful +is sure to reap success and enjoy prosperity. Intelligent persons +engaged in acts with confidence in themselves regard all who are +diffident as doubting and unsuccessful. The confident and faithful, +however, are regarded by them as successful. And this moment misery hath +overtaken us. If, however, thou betakest to action, that misery will +certainly be removed. If thou meetest failure, then that will furnish a +proof unto thee and Vrikodara and Vivatsu and the twins (that ye are +unable to snatch the kingdom from the foe). The acts of others, it is +seen, are crowned with success. It is probable that ours also will be +successful. How can one know beforehand what the consequence will be? +Having exerted thyself thou wilt know what the fruit of thy exertion +will be. The tiller tilleth with the plough the soil and soweth the +seeds thereon. He then sitteth silent, for the clouds (after that) are +the cause that would help the seeds to grow into plants. If however, the +clouds favour him not, the tiller is absolved from all blame. He sayeth +unto himself, "What others do, I have done. If, notwithstanding this, I +meet with failure, no blame can attach to me." Thinking so, he +containeth himself and never indulgeth in self-reproach. O Bharata, no +one should despair saying, "Oh, I am acting, yet success is not mine!" +For there are two other causes, besides exertion, towards success. +Whether there be success or failure, there should be no despair, for +success in acts dependeth upon the union of many circumstances. If one +important element is wanting, success doth not become commensurate, or +doth not come at all. If however, no exertion is made, there can be no +success. Nor is there anything to applaud in the absence of all +exertion. The intelligent, aided by their intelligence, and according to +their full might bring place, time, means, auspicious rites, for the +acquisition of prosperity. With carefulness and vigilance should one set +himself to work, his chief guide being his prowess. In the union of +qualities necessary for success in work, prowess seemeth to be the +chief. When the man of intelligence seeth his enemy superior to him in +many qualities, he should seek the accomplishment of his purposes by +means of the arts of conciliation and proper appliances. He should also +wish evil unto his foe and his banishment. Without speaking of mortal +man, if his foe were even the ocean or the hills, he should be guided by +such motives. A person by his activity in searching for the holes of his +enemies, dischargeth his debt to himself as also to his friends. No man +should ever disparage himself for the man that disparageth himself never +earneth high prosperity. O Bharata, success in this world is attainable +on such conditions! In fact, success in the world is said to depend on +acting according to time and circumstances. My father formerly kept a +learned Brahmana with him. O bull of the Bharata race, he said all this +unto my father. Indeed, these instructions as to duty, uttered by +Vrihaspati himself, were first taught to my brothers. It was from them +that I heard these afterwards while in my father's house. And, O +Yudhishthira, while at intervals of business, I went out (of the inner +apartments) and sat on the lap of my father, that learned Brahmana used +to recite unto me these truths, sweetly consoling me therewith!'" + + +SECTION XXXIII + +Vaisampayana said, "Hearing these words of Yajnaseni, Bhimasena, sighing +in wrath, approached the king and addressed him, saying, 'Walk, O +monarch, in the customary path trodden by good men (before thee) in +respect of kingdoms. What do we gain by living in the asylum of +ascetics, thus deprived of virtue, pleasure, and profit? It is not by +virtue, nor by honesty, nor by might, but by unfair dice, that our +kingdom hath been snatched by Duryodhana. Like a weak offal-eating +jackal snatching the prey from mighty lions, he hath snatched away our +kingdom. Why, O monarch, in obedience to the trite merit of sticking to +a promise, dost thou suffer such distress, abandoning that wealth which +is the source of both virtue and enjoyments? It was for thy +carelessness, O king, that our kingdom protected by the wielder of the +_Gandiva_ and therefore, incapable of being wrested by Indra himself, +was snatched from us in our very sight. It was for thee, O monarch, +that, ourselves living, our prosperity was snatched away from us like a +fruit from one unable to use his arms, or like kine from one incapable +of using his legs. Thou art faithful in the acquisition of virtue. It +was to please thee, O Bharata, that we have suffered ourselves to be +overwhelmed with such dire calamity. O bull of the Bharata race, it was +because we were subject to thy control that we are thus tearing the +hearts of our friends and gratifying our foes. That we did not, in +obedience to thee, even then slay the sons of Dhritarashtra, is an act +of folly on our part that grieveth me sorely. This thy abode, O king, in +the woods, like that of any wild animal, is what a man of weakness alone +would submit to. Surely, no man of might would ever lead such a life. +This thy course of life is approved neither by Krishna, nor Vibhatsu, +nor by Abhimanyu, nor by the Srinjayas, nor by myself, nor by the sons +of Madri. Afflicted with the vows, thy cry is _Religion! Religion_! Hast +thou from despair been deprived of thy manliness? Cowards alone, unable +to win back their prosperity, cherish despair, which is fruitless and +destructive of one's purposes. Thou hast ability and eyes. Thou seest +that manliness dwelleth in us. It is because thou hast adopted a life of +peace that thou feelest not this distress. These Dhritarashtras regard +us who are forgiving, as really incompetent. This, O king, grieveth me +more than death in battle. If we all die in fair fight without turning +our backs on the foe, even that would be better than this exile, for +then we should obtain regions of bliss in the other world. Or, if, O +bull of the Bharata race, having slain them all, we acquire the entire +earth, that would be prosperity worth the trial. We who ever adhere to +the customs of our order, who ever desire grand achievements, who wish +to avenge our wrongs, have this for our bounden duty. Our kingdom +wrested from us, if we engage in battle, our deeds when known to the +world will procure for us fame and not slander. And that virtue, O king, +which tortureth one's own self and friends, is really no virtue. It is +rather vice, producing calamities. Virtue is sometimes also the weakness +of men. And though such a man might ever be engaged in the practice of +virtue, yet both virtue and profit forsake him, like pleasure and pain +forsaking a person that is dead. He that practiseth virtue for virtue's +sake always suffereth. He can scarcely be called a wise man, for he +knoweth not the purposes of virtue like a blind man incapable of +perceiving the solar light. He that regardeth his wealth to exist for +himself alone, scarcely understandeth the purposes of wealth. He is +really like a servant that tendeth kine in a forest. He again that +pursueth wealth too much without pursuing virtue and enjoyments, +deserveth to be censured and slain by all men. He also that ever +pursueth enjoyments without pursuing virtue and wealth, loseth his +friends and virtue and wealth also. Destitute of virtue and wealth such +a man, indulging in pleasure at will, at the expiration of his period of +indulgence, meeteth with certain death, like a fish when the water in +which it liveth hath been dried up. It is for these reasons that they +that are wise are ever careful of both virtue and wealth, for a union of +virtue and wealth is the essential requisite of pleasure, as fuel is the +essential requisite of fire. Pleasure hath always virtue for its root, +and virtue also is united with pleasure. Know, O monarch, that both are +dependent on each other like the ocean and the clouds, the ocean causing +the clouds and the clouds filling the ocean. The joy that one feeleth in +consequence of contact with objects of touch or of possession of wealth, +is what is called pleasure. It existeth in the mind, having no corporeal +existence that one can see. He that wisheth (to obtain) wealth, seeketh +for a large share of virtue to crown his wish with success. He that +wisheth for pleasure, seeketh wealth, (so that his wish may be +realised). Pleasure however, yieldeth nothing in its turn. One pleasure +cannot lead to another, being its own fruit, as ashes may be had from +wood, but nothing from those ashes in their turn. And, O king, as a +fowler killeth the birds we see, so doth sin slay the creatures of the +world. He, therefore, who misled by pleasure or covetousness, beholdeth +not the nature of virtue, deserveth to be slain by all, and becometh +wretched both here and hereafter. It is evident, O king, that thou +knowest that pleasure may be derived from the possession of various +objects of enjoyment. Thou also well knowest their ordinary states, as +well as the great changes they undergo. At their loss or disappearance +occasioned by decrepitude or death, ariseth what is called distress. +That distress, O king, hath now overtaken us. The joy that ariseth from +the five senses, the intellect and the heart, being directed to the +objects proper to each, is called pleasure. That pleasure, O king, is, +as I think, one of the best fruits of our actions. + +"'Thus, O monarch, one should regard virtue, wealth and pleasure one +after another. One should not devote one self to virtue alone, nor +regard wealth as the highest object of one's wishes, nor pleasure, but +should ever pursue all three. The scriptures ordain that one should seek +virtue in the morning, wealth at noon, and pleasure in the evening. The +scriptures also ordain that one should seek pleasure in the first +portion of life, wealth in the second, and virtue in the last. And, O +thou foremost of speakers, they that are wise and fully conversant with +proper division of time, pursue all three, virtue, wealth, and pleasure, +dividing their time duly. O son of the Kuru race, whether independence +of these (three), or their possession is the better for those that +desire happiness, should be settled by thee after careful thought. And +thou shouldst then, O king, unhesitatingly act either for acquiring +them, or abandoning them all. For he who liveth wavering between the two +doubtingly, leadeth a wretched life. It is well known that thy behaviour +is ever regulated by virtue. Knowing this thy friends counsel thee to +act. Gift, sacrifice, respect for the wise, study of the Vedas, and +honesty, these, O king, constitute the highest virtue and are +efficacious both here and hereafter. These virtues, however, cannot be +attained by one that hath no wealth, even if, O tiger among men, he may +have infinite other accomplishments. The whole universe, O king, +dependeth upon virtue. There is nothing higher than virtue. And virtue, +O king, is attainable by one that hath plenty of wealth. Wealth cannot +be earned by leading a mendicant life, nor by a life of feebleness. +Wealth, however, can be earned by intelligence directed by virtue. In +thy case, O king, begging, which is successful with Brahmanas, hath been +forbidden. Therefore, O bull amongst men, strive for the acquisition of +wealth by exerting thy might and energy. Neither mendicancy, nor the +life of a Sudra is what is proper for thee. Might and energy constitute +the virtue of the Kshatriya in especial. Adopt thou, therefore, the +virtue of thy order and slay the enemies. Destroy the might of +Dhritarashtra's sons, O son of Pritha, with my and Arjuna's aid. They +that are learned and wise say that sovereignty is virtue. Acquire +sovereignty, therefore, for it behoveth thee not to live in a state of +inferiority. Awake, O king, and understand the eternal virtues (of the +order). By birth thou belongest to an order whose deeds are cruel and +are a source of pain to man. Cherish thy subjects and reap the fruit +thereof. That can never be a reproach. Even this, O king, is the virtue +ordained by God himself for the order to which thou belongest! If thou +fallest away therefrom, thou wilt make thyself ridiculous. Deviation +from the virtues of one's own order is never applauded. Therefore, O +thou of the Kuru race, making thy heart what it ought to be, agreeably +to the order to which thou belongest, and casting away this course of +feebleness, summon thy energy and bear thy weight like one that beareth +it manfully. No king, O monarch, could ever acquire the sovereignty of +the earth or prosperity or affluence by means of virtue alone. Like a +fowler earning his food in the shape of swarms of little easily-tempted +game, by offering them some attractive food, doth one that is +intelligent acquire a kingdom, by offering bribes unto low and covetous +enemies. Behold, O bull among kings, the Asuras, though elder brothers +in possession of power and affluence, were all vanquished by the gods +through stratagem. Thus, O king, everything belongeth to those that are +mighty. And, O mighty-armed one, slay thy foes, having recourse to +stratagem. There is none equal unto Arjuna in wielding the bow in +battle. Nor is there anybody that may be equal unto me in wielding the +mace. Strong men, O monarch, engage in battle depending on their might, +and not on the force of numbers nor on information of the enemy's plans +procured through spies. Therefore, O son of Pandu exert thy might. Might +is the root of wealth. Whatever else is said to be its root is really +not such. As the shade of the tree in winter goeth for nothing, so +without might everything else becometh fruitless. Wealth should be spent +by one who wisheth to increase his wealth, after the manner, O son of +Kunti, of scattering seeds on the ground. Let there be no doubt then in +thy mind. Where, however, wealth that is more or even equal is not to be +gained, there should be no expenditure of wealth. For investment of +wealth are like the ass, scratching, pleasurable at first but painful +afterwards. Thus, O king of men, the person who throweth away like seeds +a little of his virtue in order to gain a larger measure of virtue, is +regarded as wise. Beyond doubt, it is as I say. They that are wise +alienate the friends of the foe that owneth such, and having weakened +him by causing those friends to abandon him thus, they then reduce him +to subjection. Even they that are strong, engage in battle depending on +their courage. One cannot by even continued efforts (uninspired by +courage) or by the arts of conciliation, always conquer a kingdom. +Sometimes, O king, men that are weak, uniting in large numbers, slay +even a powerful foe, like bees killing the despoiler of the honey by +force of numbers alone. (As regards thyself), O king, like the sun that +sustaineth as well as slayeth creatures by his rays, adopt thou the ways +of the sun. To protect one's kingdom and cherish the people duly, as +done by our ancestors, O king, is, it hath been heard by us, a kind of +asceticism mentioned even in the Vedas. By asceticism, O king, a +Kshatriya cannot acquire such regions of blessedness as he can by fair +fight whether ending in victory or defeat. Beholding, O king, this thy +distress, the world hath come to the conclusion that light may forsake +the Sun and grace the Moon. And, O king, good men separately as well as +assembling together, converse with one another, applauding thee and +blaming the other. There is this, moreover, O monarch, _viz_., that both +the Kurus and the Brahmanas, assembling together, gladly speak of thy +firm adherence to truth, in that thou hast never, from ignorance, from +meanness, from covetousness, or from fear, uttered an untruth. Whatever +sin, O monarch, a king committeth in acquiring dominion, he consumeth it +all afterwards by means of sacrifices distinguished by large gifts. Like +the Moon emerging from the clouds, the king is purified from all sins by +bestowing villages on Brahmanas and kine by thousands. Almost all the +citizens as well as the inhabitants of the country, young or old, O son +of the Kuru race, praise thee, O Yudhishthira! This also, O Bharata, the +people are saying amongst themselves, _viz_., that as milk in a bag of +dog's hide, as the Vedas in a Sudra, as truth in a robber, as strength +in a woman, so is sovereignty in Duryodhana. Even women and children are +repeating this, as if it were a lesson they seek to commit to memory. O +represser of foes, thou hast fallen into this state along with +ourselves. Alas, we also are lost with thee for this calamity of thine. +Therefore, ascending in thy car furnished with every implement, and +making the superior Brahmanas utter benedictions on thee, march thou +with speed, even this very day, upon Hastinapura, in order that thou +mayst be able to give unto Brahmanas the spoils of victory. Surrounded +by thy brothers, who are firm wielders of the bow, and by heroes skilled +in weapons and like unto snakes of virulent poison, set thou out even +like the slayer Vritra surrounded by the Marutas. And, O son of Kunti, +as thou art powerful, grind thou with thy might thy weak enemies, like +Indra grinding the Asuras; and snatch thou from Dhritarashtra's son the +prosperity he enjoyeth. There is no mortal that can bear the touch of +the shafts furnished with the feathers of the vulture and resembling +snakes of virulent poison, that would be shot from the _Gandiva_. And, O +Bharata, there is not a warrior, nor an elephant, nor a horse, that is +able to bear the impetus of my mace when I am angry in battle. Why, O +son of Kunti, should we not wrest our kingdom from the foe, fighting +with the aid of the Srinjayas and Kaikeyas, and the bull of the Vrishni +race? Why, O king, should we not succeed in wresting the (sovereignty of +the) earth that is now in the hands of the foe, if, aided by a large +force, we do but strive?'" + + +SECTION XXXIV + +Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Bhimasena, the high-souled king +Ajatasatru firmly devoted to truth, mustering his patience, after a few +moments said these words, 'No doubt, O Bharata, all this is true. I +cannot reproach thee for thy torturing me thus by piercing me with thy +arrowy words. From my folly alone hath this calamity come against you. I +sought to cast the dice desiring to snatch from Dhritarashtra's son his +kingdom with the sovereignty. It was therefore that, that cunning +gambler--Suvala's son--played against me on behalf of Suyodhana. Sakuni, +a native of the hilly country, is exceedingly artful. Casting the dice +in the presence of the assembly, unacquainted as I am with artifices of +any kind, he vanquished me artfully. It is, therefore, O Bhimasena, that +we have been overwhelmed with this calamity. Beholding the dice +favourable to the wishes of Sakuni in odds and evens, I could have +controlled my mind. Anger, however, driveth off a person's patience. O +child, the mind cannot be kept under control when it is influenced by +hauteur, vanity, or pride. I do not reproach thee, O Bhimasena, for the +words thou usest. I only regard that what hath befallen us was +pre-ordained. When king Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, coveting +our kingdom, plunged us into misery and even slavery, then, O Bhima, it +was Draupadi that rescued us. When summoned again to the assembly for +playing once more, thou knowest as well as Arjuna what Dhritarashtra's +son told me, in the presence of all the Bharatas, regarding the stake +for which we were to play. His words were, O prince Ajatsatru, (if +vanquished), thou shalt have with all thy brothers, to dwell, to the +knowledge of all men, for twelve years in the forest of thy choice, +passing the thirteenth year in secrecy. If during the latter period, the +spies of the Bharatas, hearing of thee, succeed in discovering thee, +thou shalt have again to live in the forest for the same period, passing +once more the last year in secrecy. Reflecting upon this, pledge thyself +to it. As regards myself, I promise truly in this assembly of the Kurus, +that if thou canst pass this time confounding my spies and undiscovered +by them, then, O Bharata, this kingdom of the five rivers is once more +thine. We also, O Bharata, if vanquished by thee, shall, all of us, +abandoning all our wealth, pass the same period, according to the same +rules. Thus addressed by the prince, I replied unto him in the midst of +all the Kurus, "_So be it_!" The wretched game then commenced. We were +vanquished and have been exiled. It is for this that we are wandering +miserably over different woody regions abounding with discomfort. +Suyodhana, however, still dissatisfied, gave himself up to anger, and +urged the Kurus as also all those under his sway to express their joy at +our calamity. Having entered into such an agreement in the presence of +all good men, who dareth break it for the sake of a kingdom on earth? +For a respectable person, I think, even death itself is lighter than the +acquisition of sovereignty by an act of transgression. At the time of +the play, thou hadst desired to burn my hands. Thou wert prevented by +Arjuna, and accordingly didst only squeeze thy own hands. If thou +couldst do what thou hadst desired, could this calamity befall us? +Conscious of thy prowess, why didst thou not, O Bhima, say so before we +entered into such an agreement? Overwhelmed with the consequence of our +pledge, and the time itself having passed, what is the use of thy +addressing me these harsh words? O Bhima, this is my great grief that we +could not do anything even beholding Draupadi persecuted in that way. My +heart burneth as if I have drunk some poisonous liquid. Having, however, +given that pledge in the midst of the Kuru heroes, I am unable to +violate it now. Wait, O Bhima, for the return of our better days, like +the scatterer of seeds waiting for the harvest. When one that hath been +first injured, succeedeth in revenging himself upon his foe at a time +when the latter's enmity hath borne fruit and flowers, he is regarded +to have accomplished a great thing by his prowess. Such a brave person +earneth undying fame. Such a man obtaineth great prosperity. His enemies +bow down unto him, and his friends gather round him, like the celestials +clustering round Indra for protection. But know, O Bhima, my promise can +never be untrue. I regard virtue as superior to life itself and a +blessed state of celestial existence. Kingdom, sons, fame, wealth,--all +these do not come up to even a sixteenth part of truth.'" + + +SECTION XXXV + +"Bhima said, 'O king, unsubstantial as thou art like froth, unstable +like a fruit (falling when ripe), dependent on time, and mortal, having +entered into an agreement in respect of time, which is infinite and +immeasurable, quick like a shaft or flowing like a stream, and carrying +everything before it like death itself, how canst regard it as available +by thee? How can he, O son of Kunti, wait whose life is shortened every +moment, even like a quantity of collyrium that is lessened each time a +grain is taken up by the needle? He only whose life is unlimited or who +knoweth with certitude what the period of his life is, and who knoweth +the future as if it were before his eyes, can indeed wait for the +arrival of (an expected) time. If we wait, O king, for thirteen years, +that period, shortening our lives, will bring us nearer to death. Death +is sure to overtake every creature having a corporeal existence. +Therefore, we should strive for the possession of our kingdom before we +die. He that faileth to achieve fame, by failing to chastise his foes, +is like an unclean thing. He is a useless burden on the earth like an +incapacitated bull and perisheth ingloriously. The man who, destitute of +strength, and courage, chastiseth not his foes, liveth in vain, I regard +such a one as low-born. Thy hand can rain gold; thy fame spreadeth over +the whole earth; slaying thy foes, therefore, in battle, enjoy thou the +wealth acquired by the might of thy arms. O repressor of all foes, O +king, if a man slaying his injurer, goeth the very day into hell, that +hell becometh heaven to him. O king, the pain one feeleth in having to +suppress one's wrath is more burning than fire itself. Even now I burn +with it and cannot sleep in the day or the night. This son of Pritha, +called Vibhatsu, is foremost in drawing the bow-string. He certainly +burneth with grief, though he liveth here like a lion in his den. This +one that desireth to slay without aid all wielders of the bow on earth, +represseth the wrath that riseth in his breast, like a mighty elephant. +Nakula, Sahadeva, and old Kunti--that mother of heroes, are all dumb, +desiring to please thee. And all our friends along with the Srinjayas +equally desire to please thee. I alone, and Prativindhya's mother speak +unto thee burning with grief. Whatever I speak unto thee is agreeable to +all of them, for all of them plunged in distress, eagerly wish for +battle. Then, O monarch, what more wretched a calamity can overtake us +that our kingdom should be wrested from us by weak and contemptible foes +and enjoyed by them? O king, from the weakness of thy disposition thou +feelest shame in violating thy pledge. But, O slayer of foes, no one +applaudeth thee for thus suffering such pain in consequence of the +kindliness of thy disposition. Thy intellect, O king, seeth not the +truth, like that of a foolish and ignorant person of high birth who hath +committed the words of the Vedas to memory without understanding their +sense. Thou art kind like a Brahmana. How hast thou been born in the +Kshatriya order? They that are born in the Kshatriya order are generally +of crooked hearts. Thou hast heard (recited) the duties of kings, as +promulgated by Manu, fraught with crookedness and unfairness and +precepts opposed to tranquillity and virtue. Why dost thou then, O king, +forgive the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra? Thou hast intelligence, +prowess, learning and high birth. Why dost thou then, O tiger among men, +act in respect of thy duties, like a huge snake that is destitute of +motion? O son of Kunti, he that desireth to conceal us, only wisheth to +conceal the mountains of Himavat by means of a handful of grass. O son +of Pritha, known as thou art over whole earth, thou wilt not be able to +live unknown, like the sun that can never course through the sky unknown +to men. Like a large tree in a well-watered region with spreading +branches and flowers and leaves, or like Indra's elephant, how will +Jishnu live unknown? How also will these children, the brothers, Nakula +and Sahadeva, equal unto a couple of young lions, both live in secret? +How, O son of Pritha, will Krishna--the daughter of Drupada--a princess +and mother of heroes, of virtuous deeds and known over all the world, +live unknown? Me also, everybody knoweth from my boyhood. I do not see +how I can live unknown. As well mighty mountains of Meru be sought to be +concealed. Then, again, many kings had been expelled by us from their +kingdom. These kings and princes will all follow the bad son of +Dhritarashtra, for robbed and exiled by us, they have not still become +friendly. Desiring to do good unto Dhritarashtra, they will certainly +seek to injure us. They will certainly set against us numerous spies in +disguise. If these discover us and report their discovery, a great +danger will overtake us. We have already lived in the woods full +thirteen months. Regard them, O king, for their length as thirteen +years. The wise have said that a month is a substitute for a year, like +the pot-herb that is regarded as a substitute for the _Soma_. Or, (if +thou breakest thy pledge), O king, thou mayst free thyself from this sin +by offering good savoury food to a quiet bull carrying sacred burdens. +Therefore, O king resolve thou to slay thy enemies. There is no virtue +higher than fighting, for every Kshatriya!'" + + +SECTION XXXVI + +Vaisampayana said, "Hearing those words of Bhima, Yudhishthira, the son +of Kunti--tiger among men and slayer of all foes--began to sigh heavily, +and reflect in silence. And he thought within himself, 'I have heard +recited the duties of kings, also all truths about the duties of the +different orders. He is said to observe those duties truly who keepeth +them before his eyes, so as to regulate his conduct both in the present +and the future. Knowing as I do the true course of virtue, which, +however is so very difficult of being known, how can I forcibly grind +virtue down like grinding the mountains of Meru?' Having reflected so +for a moment, and settled what he should do, he replied unto Bhima as +follows without allowing him another word: + +"'O thou of mighty arms, it is even so as thou hast said. But, O thou +foremost of speakers, listen now to another word I say. Whatever sinful +deeds, O Bhima, one seeketh to achieve, depending on his courage alone, +become always a source of pain. But, O thou of mighty arms, whatever is +begun with deliberation, with well-directed prowess, with all +appliances, and much previous thought, is seen to succeed. The gods +themselves favour such designs. Hear from me something about what, proud +of thy might, O Bhima, and led away by thy restlessness, thou thinkest +should be immediately begun. Bhurisravas, Sala, the mighty Jarasandha, +Bhishma, Drona, Karna, the mighty son of Drona, Dhritarashtra's +sons--Duryodhana and others--so difficult of being vanquished, are all +accomplished in arms and ever ready for battle with us. Those kings and +chiefs of the earth also who have been injured by us, have all adopted +the side of the Kauravas, and are bound by ties of affection to them. O +Bharata, they are engaged in seeking the good of Duryodhana and not of +us. With full treasures and aided by large forces, they will certainly +strive their best in battle. All the officers also of the Kuru army +together with their sons and relatives, have been honoured by Duryodhana +with wealth and luxuries. Those heroes are also much regarded by +Duryodhana. This is my certain conclusion that they will sacrifice their +lives for Duryodhana in battle. Although the behaviour of Bhishma, +Drona, and the illustrious Kripa, is the same towards us as towards +them, yet, O thou of mighty arms, this is my certain conclusion that in +order to pay off the royal favours they enjoy, they will throw their +very lives, than which there is nothing dearer, in battle. All of them +are masters of celestial weapons, and devoted to the practice of virtue. +I think they are incapable of being vanquished even by gods led by +Vasava himself. There is again amongst them that mighty +warrior--Karna--impetuous, and ever wrathful, master of all weapons, and +invincible, and encased in impenetrable mail. Without first vanquishing +in battle all those foremost of men, unaided as thou art, how canst thou +slay Duryodhana? O Vrikodara, I cannot sleep thinking of the lightness +of hand of that _Suta's_ son, who, I regard, is the foremost of all +wielders of the bow!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Yudhishthira, the +impetuous Bhima became alarmed, and forbore from speaking anything. And +while the sons of Pandu were thus conversing with each other, there came +to that spot the great ascetic Vyasa, the son of Satyavati. And as he +came, the sons of Pandu worshipped him duly. Then that foremost of all +speakers, addressing Yudhishthira, said, 'O, Yudhishthira, O thou of +mighty arms, knowing by spiritual insight what is passing in thy heart, +I have come to thee, O thou bull among men! The fear that is in thy +heart, arising from Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa, and Karna, and +Drona's son, and prince Duryodhana, and Dussasana, I will dispel, O +slayer of all foes, by means of an act enjoined by the ordinance. +Hearing it from me, accomplish it thou with patience, and having +accomplished it, O king, quell this fever of thine soon.' + +"That foremost of speakers then, the son of Parasara, taking +Yudhishthira to a corner, began to address him in words of deep import, +saying, 'O best of the Bharatas, the time is come for thy prosperity, +when, indeed Dhananjaya--that son of Pritha--will slay all thy foes in +battle. Uttered by me and like unto success personified, accept from me +this knowledge called _Pratismriti_ that I impart to thee, knowing thou +art capable of receiving it. Receiving it (from thee), Arjuna will be +able to accomplish his desire. And let Arjuna, O son of Pandu, go unto +Mahendra and Rudra, and Varuna, and Kuvera, and Yama, for receiving +weapons from them. He is competent to behold the gods for his asceticism +and prowess. He is even a Rishi of great energy, the friend of Narayana; +ancient, eternal a god himself, invincible, ever successful, and knowing +no deterioration. Of mighty arms, he will achieve mighty deeds, having +obtained weapons from Indra, and Rudra, and the lokapalas. O son of +Kunti, think also of going from this to some other forest that may, O +king, be fit for thy abode. To reside in one place for any length of +time is scarcely pleasant. In thy case, it might also be productive of +anxiety to the ascetics. And as thou maintainest numerous Brahmanas +versed in the Vedas and the several branches thereof, continued +residence here might exhaust the deer of this forest, and be destructive +of the creepers and plants.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Having addressed him thus, that illustrious and +exalted ascetic Vyasa, of great wisdom, acquainted with the mysteries of +the world, then imparted unto the willing Yudhishthira the just, who had +meanwhile purified himself, that foremost of sciences. And bidding +farewell unto the son of Kunti, Vyasa disappeared then and there. The +virtuous and intelligent Yudhishthira, however, having obtained that +knowledge carefully retained it in his mind and always recited it on +proper occasions. Glad of the advice given him by Vyasa, the son of +Kunti then, leaving the wood _Dwaitavana_ went to the forest of +_Kamyaka_ on the banks of the Saraswati. And, O king, numerous Brahmanas +of ascetic merit and versed in the science of orthoepy and orthography, +followed him like the Rishis following the chief of the celestials. +Arrived at _Kamyaka_, those illustrious bulls amongst the Bharata took +up their residence there along with their friends and attendants. And +possessed of energy, those heroes, O king, lived there for some time, +devoted to the exercise of the bow and hearing all the while the +chanting of the Vedas. And they went about those woods every day in +search of deer, armed with pure arrows. And they duly performed all the +rites in honour of the _Pitris_, the celestials and the Brahmanas." + + +SECTION XXXVII + +Vaisampayana said, "After some time, Yudhishthira the just, remembering +the command of the _Muni_ (Vyasa) and calling unto himself that bull +among men--Arjuna--possessed of great wisdom, addressed him in private. +Taking hold of Arjuna's hands, with a smiling face and in gentle +accents, that chastiser of foes--the virtuous Yudhishthira--apparently +after reflecting for a moment, spake these words in private unto +Dhananjaya, 'O Bharata, the whole science of arms dwelleth in Bhishma, +and Drona, and Kripa, and Karna, and Drona's son. They fully know all +sorts of _Brahma_ and celestial and human and _Vayavya_ weapons, +together with the modes of using and warding them off. All of them are +conciliated and honoured and gratified by Dhritarashtra's son who +behaveth unto them as one should behave unto his preceptor. Towards all +his warriors Dhritarashtra's son behaveth with great affection; and all +the chiefs honoured and gratified by him, seek his good in return. Thus +honoured by him, they will not fail to put forth their might. The whole +earth, besides, is now under Duryodhana's sway, with all the villages +and towns, O son of Pritha, and all the seas and woods and mines! Thou +alone art our sole refuge. On thee resteth a great burden. I shall, +therefore, O chastiser of all foes, tell thee what thou art to do now. I +have obtained a science from Krishna Dwaipayana. Used by thee, that +science will expose the whole universe to thee. O child, attentively +receive thou that science from me, and in due time (by its aid) attain +thou the grace of the celestials. And, O bull of the Bharata race, +devote thyself to fierce asceticism. Armed with the bow and sword, and +cased in mail, betake thyself to austerities and good vows, and go thou +northwards, O child, without giving way to anybody. O Dhananjaya, all +celestial weapons are with Indra. The celestials, from fear of Vritra, +imparted at the time all their might to Sakra. Gathered together in one +place, thou wilt obtain all weapons. Go thou unto Sakra, he will give +thee all his weapons. Taking the bow set thou out this very day in order +to behold Purandara.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, the exalted Yudhishthira the +just, imparted that science unto Arjuna. And the elder brother having +communicated with due rites the Knowledge unto his heroic brother, with +speech and body and mind under perfect control, commanded him to depart. +And at the command of Yudhishthira, the strong-armed Arjuna, taking up +the _Gandiva_ as also his inexhaustible quivers, and accoutred in mail +and gauntlets and finger-protectors made of the skin of the guana, and +having poured oblations into the fire and made the Brahmanas to utter +benedictions after gifts, set out (from _Kamyaka_) with the objects of +beholding Indra. And armed with the bow, the hero, at the time of +setting out heaved a sigh and cast a look upwards for achieving the +death of Dhritarashtra's sons. And beholding Kunti's son thus armed and +about to set out, the Brahmanas and _Siddhas_ and invisible spirits +addressed him, saying, 'O son of Kunti, obtain thou soon what thou +wishest.' And the Brahmanas, also uttering benedictions said, 'Achieve +thou the object thou hast in view. Let victory be truly thine.' And +beholding the heroic Arjuna, of thighs stout as the trunks of the +_Sala_, about to set out taking away with him the hearts of all, Krishna +addressed him saying, 'O thou strong-armed one, let all that Kunti had +desired at thy birth, and let all that thou desirest, be accomplished, O +Dhananjaya! Let no one amongst us be ever again born in the order of +Kshatriyas. I always bow down unto the Brahmanas whose mode of living is +mendicancy. This is my great grief that the wretch Duryodhana beholding +me in the assembly of princes mockingly called me a _cow_! Besides this +he told me in the midst of that assembly many other hard things. But the +grief I experience at parting with thee is far greater than any I felt +at those insults. Certainly, in thy absence, thy brothers will while +away their waking hours in repeatedly talking of thy heroic deeds! If, +however, O son of Pritha, thou stayest away for any length of time, we +shall derive no pleasure from our enjoyments or from wealth. Nay, life +itself will be distasteful to us. O son of Pritha, our weal, and woe, +life and death, our kingdom and prosperity, are all dependent on thee. O +Bharata, I bless thee, let success be thine. O sinless one, thy +(present) task thou wilt be able to achieve even against powerful +enemies. O thou of great strength, go thou to win success with speed. +Let dangers be not thine. I bow to _Dhatri_ and _Vidhatri_! I bless +thee. Let prosperity be thine. And, O Dhananjaya, let _Hri, Sree, Kirti, +Dhriti, Pushti, Uma, Lakshmi, Saraswati_, all protect thee on thy way, +for thou ever worshippest thy elder brother and ever obeyest his +commands. And, O bull of the Bharata race, I bow to the Vasus, the +Rudras and Adityas, the Manilas, the Viswadevas, and the Sadhyas, for +procuring thy welfare. And, O Bharata, be thou safe from all spirits of +mischief belonging to the sky, the earth, and the heaven, and from such +other spirits generally.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Krishna, the daughter of Yajnasena, having +uttered these benedictions, ceased. The strong-armed son of Pandu then, +having walked round his brothers and round Dhaumya also, and taking up +his handsome bow, set out. And all creatures began to leave the way that +Arjuna of great energy and prowess, urged by the desire of beholding +Indra, took. And that slayer of foes passed over many mountains +inhabited by ascetics, and then reached the sacred Himavat, the resort +of the celestials. And the high-souled one reached the sacred mountain +in one day, for like the winds he was gifted with the speed of the mind, +in consequence of his ascetic austerities. And having crossed the +Himavat, as also the Gandhamadana, he passed over many uneven and +dangerous spots, walking night and day without fatigue. And having +reached _Indrakila_, Dhananjaya stopped for a moment. And then he heard +a voice in the skies, saying, 'Stop!' And hearing that voice, the son of +Pandu cast his glances all around. And Arjuna, capable of using his left +hand with skill equal to that of his right hand, then beheld before him +an ascetic under the shade of a tree, blazing with _Brahma_ brilliancy, +of a tawny colour, with matted locks, and thin. And the mighty ascetic, +beholding Arjuna stop at that place, addressed him, saying, 'Who art +thou, O child, arrived hither with bow and arrows, and cased in mail and +accoutred in scabbard and gauntlet, and (evidently) wedded to the +customs of the Kshatriya? There is no need of weapons here. This is the +abode of peaceful Brahmanas devoted to ascetic austerities without anger +or joy. There is no use for the bow here, for there is no dispute in +this place of any kind. Therefore throw away, O child, this bow of +thine. Thou hast obtained a pure state of life by coming here. O hero, +there is no man who is like thee in energy and prowess.' That Brahmana +thus addressed Arjuna, with a smiling face, repeatedly. But he succeeded +not in moving Arjuna, firmly devoted to his purpose. The regenerate one, +glad at heart, smilingly addressed Arjuna once more, saying, 'O slayer +of foes, blest be thou! I am Sakra: ask thou the boon thou desirest.' +Thus addressed, that perpetuator of the Kuru race, the heroic Dhananjaya +bending his head and joining his hands, replied unto him of a thousand +eyes, saying, 'Even this is the object of my wishes; grant me this boon, +O illustrious one. I desire to learn from thee all the weapons.' The +chief of the celestials then, smiling, replied unto him cheerfully, +saying, 'O Dhananjaya, when thou hast reached this region, what need is +there of weapons? Thou hast already obtained a pure state of life. Ask +thou for the regions of bliss that thou desirest.' Thus addressed, +Dhananjaya replied unto him of a thousand eyes, saying, 'I desire not +regions of bliss, nor objects of enjoyment, nor the state of a +celestial; what is this talk about happiness? O chief of the celestials, +I do not desire the prosperity of all the gods. Having left my brothers +behind me in the forest, and without avenging myself on the foe, shall I +incur the opprobrium for all ages of all the world?' Thus addressed, the +slayer of Vritra, worshipped of the worlds, consoling him with gentle +words, spake unto the son of Pandu, saying, 'When thou art able to +behold the three-eyed trident-bearing Siva, the lord of all creatures, +it is then, O child, that I will give thee all the celestial weapons. +Therefore, strive thou to obtain the sight of the highest of the gods; +for it is only after thou hast seen him, O son of Kunti, that thou wilt +obtain all thy wishes.' Having spoken thus unto Phalguna, Sakra +disappeared then and there, and Arjuna, devoting himself to asceticism, +remained at that spot.'" + + +SECTION XXXVIII + +(Kairata Parva) + +Janamejaya said, "O illustrious one, I desire to hear in detail the +history of the acquisition of weapons by Arjuna of spotless deeds. O +tell me how that tiger among men, Dhananjaya, of mighty arms and +possessed of great energy, entered that solitary forest without fear. +And, O thou foremost of those acquainted with the Veda, what also did +Arjuna do while dwelling there? How also were the illustrious Sthanu and +the chief of the celestials gratified by him? O thou best of regenerate +ones, I desire to hear all this under thy favour. Thou art omniscient; +thou knowest all about the gods and all about men. O Brahmana, the +battle that took place of old between Arjuna--that foremost of smiters +never defeated in battle--and Bhava was highly extraordinary and without +parallel. It maketh one's hair stand on end to hear of it. Even the +hearts of those lions among men--the brave sons of Pritha--trembled in +consequence of wonder and joy and a sense of their own inferiority. O +tell me in full what else Arjuna did, I do not see even the most trivial +thing to Jishnu that is censurable. Therefore, recite to me in full the +history of that hero." + +Vaisampayana said, "O tiger among Kurus, I shall recite to thee that +narration, excellent and extensive and unrivalled, in connection with +the illustrious hero. O sinless one, hear in detail the particulars +about Arjuna's meeting with the three-eyed god of gods, and his contact +with the illustrious god's person! + +"At Yudhishthira's command, Dhananjaya of immeasurable prowess set out +(from Kamyaka) to obtain a sight of Sakra, the chief of the celestials +and of Sankara, the god of gods. And the strong-armed Arjuna of great +might set out armed with his celestial bow and a sword with golden hilt, +for the success of the object he had in view, northwards, towards the +summit of the Himavat. And, O king, that first of all warriors in the +three worlds, the son of Indra, with a calm mind, and firmly adhering to +his purpose, then devoted himself, without the loss of any time, to +ascetic austerities. And he entered, all alone, that terrible forest +abounding with thorny plants and trees and flowers and fruits of various +kinds, and inhabited by winged creatures of various species, and +swarming with animals of diverse kinds, and resorted to by _Siddhas_ and +_Charanas_. And when the son of Kunti entered that forest destitute of +human beings, sounds of conchs and drums began to be heard in the +heavens. And a thick shower of flowers fell upon the earth, and the +clouds spreading over the firmament caused a thick shade. Passing over +those difficult and woody regions at the foot of the great mountains, +Arjuna soon reached the breast of the Himavat; and staying there for +sometime began to shine in his brilliancy. And he beheld there numerous +trees with expanding verdure, resounding with the melodious notes of +winged warblers. And he saw there rivers with currents of the _lapis +lazuli_, broken by the fierce eddies here and there, and echoing with +the notes of swans and ducks and cranes. And the banks of those rivers +resounded with the mellifluous strains of the male _Kokilas_ and the +notes of peacocks and cranes. And the mighty warrior, beholding those +rivers of sacred and pure and delicious water and their charming banks, +became highly delighted. And the delighted Arjuna of fierce energy and +high soul then devoted himself to rigid austerities in that delightful +and woody region. Clad in rags made of grass and furnished with a black +deerskin and a stick, he commenced to eat withered leaves fallen upon +the ground. And he passed the first month, by eating fruits at the +interval of three nights; and the second by eating at the interval of +the six nights; and the third by eating at the interval of a fortnight. +When the fourth month came, that best of the Bharatas--the strong-armed +son of Pandu--began to subsist on air alone. With arms upraised and +leaning upon nothing and standing on the tips of his toes, he continued +his austerities. And the illustrious hero's locks, in consequence of +frequent bathing took the hue of lightning or the lotus. Then all the +great Rishis went together unto the god of the _Pinaka_ for representing +unto him about the fierce asceticism of Pritha's son. And bowing unto +that god of gods, they informed him of Arjuna's austerities saying, +'This son of Pritha possessed of great energy is engaged in the most +difficult of ascetic austerities on the breast of the Himavat. Heated +with his asceticism, the earth is smoking all round, O god of gods. We +do not know what his object is for which he is engaged in these +austerities. He, however, is causing us pain. It behoveth thee to +prevent him!' Hearing these words of those _munis_ with souls under +perfect control, the lord of all creatures--the husband of Uma said, 'It +behoveth you not to indulge in any grief on account of Phalguna! Return +ye all cheerfully and with alacrity to the places whence ye have come. I +know the desire that is in Arjuna's heart. His wish is not for heaven, +nor for prosperity, nor for long life. And I will accomplish, even this +day, all that is desired by him.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "The truth-speaking Rishis, having heard these +words of Mahadeva, became delighted, and returned to their respective +abodes." + + +SECTION XXXIX + +Vaisampayana said, "After all those illustrious ascetics had gone away, +that wielder of the _Pinaka_ and cleanser of all sins--the illustrious +Hara--assuming the form of a _Kirata_ resplendent as a golden tree, and +with a huge and stalwart form like a second _Meru_, and taking up a +handsome bow and a number of arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison, +and looking like an embodiment of fire, came quickly down on the breast +of Himavat. And the handsome god of gods was accompanied by Uma in the +guise of a Kirata woman, and also by a swarm of merry spirits of various +forms and attire, and by thousands of women in the form and attire of +Kiratas. And, O king, that region suddenly blazed up in beauty, in +consequence of the arrival of the god of gods in such company. And soon +enough a solemn stillness pervaded the place. The sounds of springs, and +water-courses, and of birds suddenly ceased. And as the god of gods +approached Pritha's son of blameless deeds, he beheld a wonderful sight, +even that of a Danava named Muka, seeking, in the form of a boar, to +slay Arjuna. Phalguna, at the sight of the enemy seeking to slay him, +took up the _Gandiva_ and a number of arrows resembling snakes of +virulent poison. And stringing his bow and filling the air with its +twang, he addressed the boar and said, 'I have come here but done thee +no injury. As thou seekest to slay me, I shall certainly send thee to +the abode of Yama.' And beholding that firm wielder of the +bow--Phalguna--about to slay the boar, Sankara in the guise of a +_Kirata_ suddenly bade him stop saying, 'The boar like the mountain of +_Indrakila_ in hue hath been aimed at by me first'; Phalguna, however, +disregarding these words, struck the boar. The _Kirata_ also blazing +splendour, let fly an arrow like flaming fire and resembling the +thunderbolt at the same object. And the arrows thus shot by both fell at +the same instant of time upon the wide body of Muka, hard as adamant. +And the two shafts fell upon the boar with a loud sound, even like that +of Indra's thunderbolt and the thunder of the clouds falling together +upon the breast of a mountain. And Muka, thus struck by two shafts which +produced numerous arrows resembling snakes of blazing mouths, yielded up +his life, assuming once more his terrible Rakshasa form. Jishnu--that +slayer of foes--then beheld before him that person, of form blazing as +god, and attired in the dress of a _Kirata_ and accompanied by many +women. And beholding him, the son of Kunti with a joyous heart addressed +him smilingly and said, 'Who art thou that thus wanderest in these +solitary woods, surrounded by women? thou of the splendour of gold, art +thou not afraid of this terrible forest? Why, again, didst thou shoot +the boar that was first aimed at by me? This _Rakshasa_ that came +hither, listlessly or with the object of slaying me, had been first +aimed at by me. Thou shalt not, therefore, escape from me with life. Thy +behaviour towards me is not consistent with the customs of the chase. +Therefore, O mountaineer, I will take thy life.' Thus addressed by the +son of Pandu, the _Kirata_, smiling, replied unto him capable of +wielding the bow with his left hand, in soft words, saying, 'O hero, +thou needst not be anxious on my account. This forest land is proper +abode for us who always dwell in the woods. Respecting thyself, however, +I may inquire, why thou hast selected thy abode here amid such +difficulties. We, O ascetic, have our habitation in these woods +abounding in animals of all kinds. Why dost thou, so delicate and +brought up in luxury and possessed of the splendour of fire, dwell alone +in such a solitary region?' Arjuna said, 'Depending on the _Gandiva_ and +arrows blazing like fire, I live in this great forest, like a second +_Pavaki_. Thou hast seen how this monster--this terrible +_Rakshasa_--that came hither in the form of an animal, hath been slain +by me.' The _Kirata_ replied, 'This _Rakshasa_, first struck with the +shot from my bow, was killed and sent to the regions of Yama by me. He +was first aimed at by me. And it is with my shot that he has been +deprived of life. Proud of thy strength, it behoveth thee not to impute +thy own fault to others. Thou art thyself in fault, O wretch, and, +therefore, shalt not escape from me with life. Stay thou: I will shoot +at thee shafts like thunderbolts. Strive thou also and shoot, to the +best of thy power, thy arrows at me.' Hearing these words of the +_Kirata_, Arjuna became angry, and attacked him with arrows. The +_Kirata_, however, with a glad heart received all those shafts upon +himself, repeatedly saying, 'Wretch, wretch, shoot thou best arrows +capable of piercing into the very vitals.' Thus addressed, Arjuna began +to shower his arrows on him. Both of them then became angry and, +engaging in fierce conflict, began to shoot at each other showers of +arrows, each resembling a snake of virulent poison. And Arjuna rained a +perfect shower of arrows on the _Kirata_. Sankara, however, bore that +downpour on him with a cheerful heart. But the wielder of the _Pinaka_, +having borne that shower of arrows for a moment, stood unwounded, +immovable like a hill. Dhananjaya, beholding his arrowy shower become +futile, wondered exceedingly, repeatedly saying, 'Excellent! Excellent! +Alas, this mountaineer of delicate limbs, dwelling on the heights of the +Himavat, beareth, without wavering, the shafts shot from the _Gandiva_! +Who is he? Is he Rudra himself, or some other god, or a Yaksha, or an +Asura? The gods sometimes do descend on the heights of the Himavat. +Except the god who wieldeth the _Pinaka_, there is none rise that can +bear the impetuosity of the thousands of arrows shot by me from the +_Gandiva_. Whether he is a god or a Yaksha, in fact, anybody except +Rudra, I shall soon send him, with my shafts, to the regions of Yama.' +Thus thinking, Arjuna, with a cheerful heart, began, O king, to shoot +arrows by hundreds, resembling in splendour the rays of the sun. That +downpour of shafts, however, the illustrious Creator of the worlds--the +wielder of the trident--bore with a glad heart, like a mountain bearing +a shower of rocks. Soon, however, the arrows of Phalguna were exhausted. +And noticing this fact, Arjuna became greatly alarmed. And the son of +Pandu then began to think of the illustrious god Agni who had before, +during the burning of the _Khandava_, given him a couple of +inexhaustible quivers. And he began to think, 'Alas, my arrows are all +exhausted. What shall I shoot now from my bow? Who is this person that +swalloweth my arrows? Slaying him with the end of my bow, as elephants +are killed with lances, I shall send him to the domains of the +mace-bearing Yama.' The illustrious Arjuna then, taking up his bow and +dragging the _Kirata_ with his bow-string, struck him some fierce blows +that descended like thunderbolts. When, however, that slayer of hostile +heroes--the son of Kunti--commenced the conflict with the end of the +bow, the mountaineer snatched from his hands that celestial bow. And +beholding his bow snatched from him, Arjuna took up his sword, and +wishing to end the conflict, rushed at his foe. And then the Kuru +prince, with the whole might of his arms, struck that sharp weapon upon +the head of the _Kirata_, a weapon that was incapable of being resisted +even by solid rocks. But that first of swords, at touch of the +_Kirata's_ crown, broke into pieces. Phalguna then commenced the +conflict with trees and stones. The illustrious god in the form of the +huge-bodied _Kirata_, however, bore that shower of trees and rocks with +patience. The mighty son of Pritha then, his mouth smoking with wrath, +struck the invincible god in the form of a Kirata, with his clenched +fists, blows that descended like thunderbolts. The god in the _Kirata_ +form returned Phalguna's blows with fierce blows resembling the +thunderbolts of Indra. And in consequence of that conflict of blows +between the son of Pandu and the _Kirata_, there arose in that place +loud and frightful sounds. That terrible conflict of blows, resembling +the conflict of yore between Vritra and Vasava, lasted but for a moment. +The mighty Jishnu clasping the _Kirata_ began to press him with his +breast, but the _Kirata_, possessed of great strength pressed the +insensible son of Pandu with force. And in consequence of the pressure +of their arms and of their breasts, their bodies began to emit smoke +like charcoal in fire. The great god then, smiting the already smitten +son of Pandu, and attacking him in anger with his full might, deprived +him of his senses. Then, O Bharata, Phalguna, thus pressed by the god of +the gods, with limbs, besides, bruised and mangled, became incapable of +motion and was almost reduced to a ball of flesh. And struck by the +illustrious god, he became breathless and, falling down on earth without +power of moving, looked like one that was dead. Soon, however, he +regained consciousness, and, rising from his prostrate position, with +body covered with blood, became filled with grief. Mentally prostrating +himself before the gracious god of gods, and making a clay image of that +deity, he worshipped it, with offerings of floral garlands. Beholding, +however, the garland that he had offered to the clay image of Bhava, +decking the crown of the _Kirata_, that best of Pandu's sons became +filled with joy and regained his ease. And he prostrated himself +thereupon at the feet of Bhava, and the god also was pleased with him. +And Hara, beholding the wonder of Arjuna and seeing that his body had +been emaciated with ascetic austerities, spake unto him in a voice deep +as the roaring of the clouds, saying, 'O Phalguna, I have been pleased +with thee for thy act is without a parallel. There is no Kshatriya who +is equal to thee in courage, and patience. And, O sinless one, thy +strength and prowess are almost equal to mine. O mighty-armed one, I +have been pleased with thee. Behold me, O bull of the Bharata race! O +large-eyed one! I will grant thee eyes (to see me in my true form). Thou +wert a Rishi before. Thou wilt vanquish all thy foes, even the dwellers +of heaven; I will as I have been pleased with thee, grant thee an +irresistible weapon. Soon shall thou be able to wield that weapon of +mine.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Phalguna then beheld him--Mahadeva--that god of +blazing splendour--that wielder of the Pinaka--that one who had his +abode on the mountains (of Kailasa)--accompanied by Uma. Bending down on +his knee and bowing with his head, that conqueror of hostile cities--the +son of Pritha--worshipped Hara and inclined him to grace. And Arjuna +said, 'O _Kapardin_, O chief of all gods, O destroyer of the eyes of +Bhaga, O god of gods, O Mahadeva, O thou of blue throat, O thou of +matted locks, I know thee as the Cause of all causes. O thou of three +eyes, O lord of all! Thou art the refuge of all the gods! This universe +hath sprung from thee. Thou art incapable of being vanquished by the +three worlds of the celestials, the Asuras, and men. Thou art Siva in +the form of Vishnu, and Vishnu in the form of Siva. Thou destroyedest of +old the great sacrifice of Daksha. O Hari, O Rudra, I bow to thee. Thou +hast an eye on thy forehead. O Sarva, O thou that rainest objects of +desire, O bearer of the trident, O wielder of the Pinaka, O Surya, O +thou of pure body, O Creator of all, I bow to thee. O lord of all +created things, I worship thee to obtain thy grace. Thou art the lord of +the _Ganas_, the source of universal blessing, the Cause of the causes +of the universe. Thou art beyond the foremost of male beings, thou art +the highest, thou art the subtlest, O Hara! O illustrious Sankara, it +behoveth thee to pardon my fault. It was even to obtain a sight of +thyself that I came to this great mountain, which is dear to thee and +which is the excellent abode of ascetics. Thou art worshipped of all +worlds. O lord, I worship thee to obtain thy grace. Let not this +rashness of mine be regarded as a fault--this combat in which I was +engaged with thee from ignorance. O Sankara, I seek thy protection. +Pardon me all I have done.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Endued with great might, the god whose sign was +the bull, taking into his the handsome hands of Arjuna, smilingly +replied unto him, saying, 'I have pardoned thee.' And the illustrious +Hara, cheerfully clasping Arjuna with his arms, once more consoling +Arjuna said as follows." + + +SECTION XL + +"Mahadeva said, 'Thou wert in thy former life Nara, the friend of +Narayana. In Vadari wert thou engaged in fierce ascetic austerities for +several thousands of years. In thee as well as in Vishnu--that first of +male beings--dwelleth great might. Ye both, by your might, hold the +universe; O lord, taking up that fierce bow whose twang resembled the +deep roar of the clouds, thou, as well as Krishna, chastisedest the +Danavas during the coronation of Indra. Even this _Gandiva_ is that bow, +O son of Pritha, fit for thy hands. O foremost of male beings, I +snatched it from thee, helped by my powers of illusion. This couple of +quivers, fit for thee, will again be inexhaustible, O son of Pritha! +And, O son of the Kuru race, thy body will be free from pain and +disease. Thy prowess is incapable of being baffled. I have been pleased +with thee. And, O first of male beings, ask thou of me the boon that +thou desirest. O chastiser of all foes, O giver of proper respect, (to +those deserving it) not even in heaven is there any male being who is +equal to thee, nor any Kshatriya who is thy superior.' + +"Arjuna said, 'O illustrious god having the bull for thy sign, if thou +wilt grant me my desire, I ask of thee, O lord that fierce celestial +weapon wielded by thee and called _Brahmasira_--that weapon of terrific +prowess which destroyeth, at the end of the _Yuga_ the entire +universe--that weapon by the help of which, O god of gods, I may under +thy grace, obtain victory in the terrible conflict which shall take +place between myself (on one side), and Karna and Bhishma and Kripa and +Drona (on the other)--that weapon by which I may consume in battle +Danavas and Rakshasas and evil spirits and Pisachas and Gandharvas and +Nagas--that weapon which when hurled with _Mantras_ produceth darts by +thousands and fierce-looking maces and arrows like snakes of virulent +poison, and by means of which I may fight with Bhishma and Drona and +Kripa and Karna of ever abusive tongue, O illustrious destroyer of the +eyes of Bhaga, even this is my foremost desire, _viz_., that I may be +able to fight with them and obtain success.' + +"Bhava replied, 'O powerful one, I will give to thee that favourite +weapon of mine called the _Pasuputa_. O son of Pandu, thou art capable +of holding, hurling, and withdrawing it. Neither the chief himself of +the gods, nor Yama, nor the king of the Yakshas, nor Varuna, nor Vayu, +knoweth it. How could men know anything of it? But, O son of Pritha, +this weapon should not be hurled without adequate cause; for if hurled +at any foe of little might it may destroy the whole universe. In the +three worlds with all their mobile and immobile creatures, there is none +who is incapable of being slain by this weapon. And it may be hurled by +the mind, by the eye, by words, and by the bow.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words, the son of Pritha purified +himself. And approaching the lord of the universe with rapt attention, +he said, 'Instruct me!' Mahadeva then imparted unto that best of Pandu's +son the knowledge of that weapon looking like the embodiment of Yama, +together with all the mysteries about hurling and withdrawing it. And +that weapon thence began to wait upon Arjuna as it did upon Sankara, the +lord of Uma. And Arjuna also gladly accepted it. And at the moment the +whole earth, with its mountains and woods and trees and seas and forests +and villages and towns and mines, trembled. And the sounds of conchs and +drums and trumpets by thousands began to be heard. And at that moment +hurricanes and whirlwinds began to blow. And the gods and the Danavas +beheld that terrible weapon in its embodied form stay by the side of +Arjuna of immeasurable energy. And whatever of evil there had been in +the body of Phalguna of immeasurable energy was all dispelled by the +touch of the three-eyed deity. And the three eyed god then commanded +Arjuna, saying, 'Go thou into heaven.' Arjuna then, O king, worshipping +the god with bent head, gazed at him, with joined hands. Then the lord +of all the dwellers of heaven, the deity of blazing splendour having his +abode on mountain-breasts, the husband of Uma, the god of passions under +complete control, the source of all blessings, Bhava gave unto Arjuna, +that foremost of men, the great bow called _Gandiva_, destructive of +Danavas and Pisachas. And the god of gods, then leaving that blessed +mountain with snowy plateaus and vales and caves, favourite resort of +sky-ranging great Rishis, went up, accompanied by Uma into the skies, in +the sight of that foremost of men." + + +SECTION XLI + +Vaisampayana said, "The wielder of the Pinaka, having the bull for his +sign, thus disappeared in the very sight of the gazing son of Pandu, +like the sun setting in the sight of the world. Arjuna, that slayer of +hostile heroes, wondered much at this, saying, 'O, I have seen the great +god of gods. Fortunate, indeed I am, and much favoured, for I have both +beheld and touched with my hand the three-eyed Hara the wielder of the +Pinaka, in his boon-giving form. I shall win success. I am already +great. My enemies have already been vanquished by me. My purposes have +been already achieved.' And while the son of Pritha, endued with +immeasurable energy, was thinking thus, there came to that place Varuna +the god of waters, handsome and of the splendour of the _lapis lazuli_ +accompanied by all kinds of aquatic creatures, and filling all the +points of the horizon with a blazing effulgence. And accompanied by +Rivers both male and female, and Nagas, and Daityas and Sadhyas and +inferior deities, Varuna, the controller and lord of all aquatic +creatures, arrived at that spot. There came also the lord Kuvera of body +resembling pure gold, seated on his car of great splendour, and +accompanied by numerous Yakshas. And the lord of treasures, possessed of +great beauty, came there to see Arjuna, illuminating the firmament with +his effulgence. And there came also Yama himself, of great beauty, the +powerful destroyer of all the worlds, accompanied by those lords of the +creation--the Pitris--both embodied and disembodied. And the god of +justice, of inconceivable soul, the son of Surya, the destroyer of all +creatures, with the mace in hand, came there on his car, illuminating +the three worlds with regions of the Guhyakas, the Gandharvas and the +Nagas, like a second Surya as he riseth at the end of the Yuga. Having +arrived there, they beheld, from the effulgent and variegated summits of +the great mountain, Arjuna engaged in ascetic austerities. And there +came in a moment the illustrious Sakra also, accompanied by his queen, +seated on the back of (the celestial elephant) Airavata, and surrounded +also by all the deities. And in consequence of the white umbrella being +held over his head, he looked like the moon amid fleecy clouds. And +eulogised by Gandharvas, and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, +the chief of the celestials alighted on a particular summit of the +mountain, like a second sun. Then Yama possessed of great intelligence, +and fully conversant with virtue, who had occupied a summit on the +south, in a voice deep as that of the clouds, said these auspicious +words, 'Arjuna, behold us, the protectors of the worlds, arrive here! We +will grant thee (spiritual) vision, for thou deservest to behold us. +Thou wert in thy former life a Rishi of immeasurable soul, known as Nara +of great might. At the command, O child, of Brahma, thou hast been born +among men! O sinless one, by thee shall be vanquished in battle the +highly virtuous grandsire of the Kurus--Bhishma of great energy--who is +born of the Vasus. Thou shalt also defeat all the Kshatriyas of fiery +energy commanded by the son of Bharadwaja in battle. Thou shalt also +defeat those Danavas of fierce prowess that have been born amongst men, +and those Danavas also that are called Nivatakavachas. And, O son of the +Kuru race, O Dhananjaya, thou shalt also slay Karna of fierce prowess, +who is even a portion of my father Surya, of energy celebrated +throughout the worlds. And, O son of Kunti, smiter of all foes, thou +shalt also slay all the portions of celestials and Danavas and the +Rakshasas that have been incarnate on earth. And slain by thee, these +shall attain to the regions earned by them according to their acts. And, +O Phalguna, the fame of thy achievements will last for ever in the +world: thou hast gratified Mahadeva himself in conflict. Thou shalt, +with Vishnu himself, lighten the burden of the earth. O accept this +weapon of mine--the mace I wield incapable of being baffled by any body. +With this weapon thou wilt achieve great deeds.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "O Janamejaya, the son of Pritha then received +from Yama that weapon duly, along with the _Mantras_ and rite, and the +mysteries of hurling and withdrawing it. Then Varuna, the lord of all +aquatic creatures, blue as the clouds, from a summit he had occupied on +the west, uttered these words, 'O son of Pritha, thou art the foremost +of Kshatriyas, and engaged in Kshatriya practices. O thou of large +coppery eyes, behold me! I am Varuna, the lord of waters. Hurled by me, +my nooses are incapable of being resisted. O son of Kunti, accept of me +these Varuna weapons along with the mysteries of hurling and withdrawing +them. With these, O hero, in the battle that ensued of your on account +of Taraka (the wife of Vrihaspati), thousands of mighty Daityas were +seized and tied. Accept them of me. Even if Yama himself be thy foe, +with these in thy hands, he will not be able to escape from thee. When +thou wilt armed with these, range over the field of battle, the land, +beyond doubt, will be destitute of Kshatriyas.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "After both Varuna and Yama had given away their +celestial weapons, the lord of treasures having his home on the heights +of Kailasa, then spake, 'O son of Pandu, O thou of great might and +wisdom, I too have been pleased with thee. And this meeting with thee +giveth me as much pleasure as a meeting with Krishna. O wielder of the +bow with the left hand, O thou of mighty arms, thou wert a god before, +eternal (as other gods). In ancient _Kalpas_, thou hadst every day gone +through ascetic austerities along with us. O best of men, I grant thee +celestial vision. O thou of mighty arms, thou wilt defeat even +invincible Daityas and Danavas. Accept of me also without loss of time, +an excellent weapon. With this thou wilt be able to consume the ranks of +Dhritarashtra. Take then this favourite weapon of mine called +_Antarddhana_. Endued with energy and prowess and splendour, it is +capable of sending the foe to sleep. When the illustrious Sankara slew +Tripura, even this was the weapon which he shot and by which many mighty +Asuras were consumed. O thou of invincible prowess I take it up for +giving it to thee. Endued with the dignity of the Meru, thou art +competent to hold this weapon.' + +"After these words had been spoken, the Kuru prince Arjuna endued with +great strength, duly received from Kuvera that celestial weapon. Then +the chief of the celestials addressing Pritha's son of ceaseless deeds +in sweet words, said, in a voice deep as that the clouds or the +kettle-drum, 'O thou mighty-armed son of Kunti, thou art an ancient god. +Thou hast already achieved the highest success, and acquired the stature +of a god. But, O represser of foes, thou hast yet to accomplish the +purposes of the gods. Thou must ascend to heaven. Therefore prepare thou +O hero of great splendour! My own car with Matali as charioteer, will +soon descend on the earth. Taking thee, O Kaurava, to heaven, I will +grant thee there all my celestial weapons.' + +"Beholding those protectors of the worlds assembled together on the +heights of Himavat, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, wondered much. Endued +with great energy, he then duly worshipped the assembled _Lokapalas_, +with words, water, and fruits. The celestials then returning that +worship, went away. And the gods capable of going everywhere at will, +and endued with the speed of the mind, returned to the places whence +they had come. + +"That bull among men--Arjuna--having obtained weapons thus, was filled +with pleasure. And he regarded himself as one whose desires had been +fulfilled and who was crowned with success." + + +SECTION XLII + +(Indralokagamana Parva) + +Vaisampayana said, "After the _Lokapalas_ had gone away, Arjuna--that +slayer of all foes--began to think, O monarch, of the car of Indra! And +as Gudakesa gifted with great intelligence was thinking of it, the car +endued with great effulgence and guided by Matali, came dividing the +clouds and illuminating the firmament and filling the entire welkin with +its rattle deep as the roar of mighty masses of clouds. Swords, and +missiles of terrible forms and maces of frightful description, and +winged darts of celestial splendour and lightnings of the brightest +effulgence, and thunderbolts, and propellors furnished with wheels and +worked with atmosphere expansion and producing sounds loud as the roar +of great masses of clouds, were on that car. And there were also on that +car fierce and huge-bodied _Nagas_ with fiery mouths, and heaps of +stones white as the fleecy clouds. And the car was drawn by ten +thousands of horses of golden hue, endued with the speed of the wind. +And furnished with prowess of illusion, the car was drawn with such +speed that the eye could hardly mark its progress. And Arjuna saw on +that car the flag-staff called _Vaijayanta_, of blazing effulgence, +resembling in hue the emerald or the dark-blue lotus, and decked with +golden ornaments and straight as the bamboo. And beholding a charioteer +decked in gold seated on that car, the mighty-armed son of Pritha +regarded it as belonging to the celestials. And while Arjuna was +occupied with his thoughts regarding the car, the charioteer Matali, +bending himself after descending from the car, addressed him, saying, 'O +lucky son of Sakra! Sakra himself wisheth to see thee. Ascend thou +without loss of time this car that hath been sent by Indra. The chief of +the immortals, thy father--that god of a hundred sacrifices--hath +commanded me, saying, _Bring the son of Kunti hither. Let the gods +behold him._ And Sankara himself, surrounded by the celestials and +Rishis and Gandharvas and Apsaras, waiteth to behold thee. At the +command of the chastiser of Paka, therefore, ascend thou with me from +this to the region of the celestials. Thou wilt return after obtaining +weapons.' + +"Arjuna replied, 'O Matali, mount thou without loss of time this +excellent car, a car that cannot be attained even by hundreds of +_Rajasuya_ and horse sacrifices. Even kings of great prosperity who have +performed great sacrifices distinguished by large gifts (to Brahmanas), +even gods and Danavas are not competent to ride this car. He that hath +not ascetic merit is not competent to even see or touch this car, far +less to ride on it. O blessed one, after thou hast ascended it, and +after the horses have become still, I will ascend it, like a virtuous +man stepping into the high-road of honesty.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Matali, the charioteer of Sakra, hearing these +words of Arjuna, soon mounted the car and controlled the horses. Arjuna +then, with a cheerful heart, purified himself by a bath in the Ganges. +And the son of Kunti then duly repeated (inaudibly) his customary +prayers. He then, duly and according to the ordinance, gratified the +_Pitris_ with oblations of water. And, lastly, he commenced to invoke +the Mandara--that king of mountains--saying, 'O mountain, thou art ever +the refuge of holy, heaven-seeking _Munis_ of virtuous conduct and +behaviour. It is through thy grace, O mountain, that Brahmanas and +Kshatriyas and Vaisyas attain heaven, and their anxieties gone, sport +with the celestials. O king of mountains, O mountain, thou art the +asylum of _Munis_, and thou holdest on thy breast numerous sacred +shrines. Happily have I dwelt on thy heights. I leave thee now, bidding +thee farewell. Oft have I seen thy tablelands and bowers, thy springs +and brooks, and the sacred shrines on thy breast. I have also eaten the +savoury fruits growing on thee, and have slated my thirst with draughts +of perfumed water oozing from thy body. I have also drunk the water of +thy springs, sweet as _amrita_ itself. O mountain, as a child sleepeth +happily on the lap of his father, so have I, O king of mountains, O +excellent one, sported on thy breast, echoing with the notes of Apsaras +and the chanting of the Vedas. O mountain, every day have I lived +happily on thy tablelands.' Thus having bidden farewell to the mountain, +that slayer of hostile heroes--Arjuna--blazing like the Sun himself, +ascended the celestial car. And the Kuru prince gifted with great +intelligence, with a glad heart, coursed through the firmament on that +celestial car effulgent as the sun and of extra-ordinary achievements. +And after he had become invisible to the mortals of the earth, he beheld +thousands of cars of extra-ordinary beauty. And in that region there was +no sun or moon or fire to give light, but it blazed in light of its own, +generated by virtue of ascetic merit. And those brilliant regions that +are seen from the earth in the form of stars, like lamps (in the +sky)--so small in consequence of their distance, though very large--were +beheld by the son of Pandu, stationed in their respective places, full +of beauty and effulgence and blazing with splendour all their own. And +there he beheld royal sages crowned with ascetic success, and heroes who +had yielded up their lives in battle, and those that had acquired heaven +by their ascetic austerities, by hundreds upon hundreds. And there were +also Gandharvas, of bodies blazing like the sun, by thousands upon +thousands, as also Guhyakas and Rishis and numerous tribes of Apsaras. +And beholding those self-effulgent regions, Phalguna became filled with +wonder, and made enquiries of Matali. And Matali also gladly replied +unto him, saying, 'These, O son of Pritha, are virtuous persons +stationed in their respective places. It is these whom thou hast seen, O +exalted one, as stars, from the earth.' Then Arjuna saw standing at the +gates (Indra's region) the handsome and ever victorious +elephant--Airavata--furnished with four tusks, and resembling the +mountain of Kailasa with its summits. And coursing along that path of +the _Siddhas_, that foremost of the Kurus and the son of Pandu, sat in +beauty like Mandhata--that best of kings. Endued with eyes like lotus +leaves, he passed through the region set apart for virtuous kings. And +the celebrated Arjuna having thus passed through successive regions of +heaven at last beheld _Amaravati_, the city of Indra." + + +SECTION XLIII + +Vaisampayana said, "And the city of Indra which Arjuna saw was +delightful and was the resort of _Siddhas_ and _Charanas_. And it was +adorned with the flowers of every season, and with sacred trees of all +kinds. And he beheld also celestial gardens called _Nandana_--the +favourite resort of Apsaras. And fanned by the fragrant breezes charged +with the scent of sweet-scented flowers, the trees with their load of +celestial blossoms seemed to welcome him amongst them. And the region +was such that none could behold it who had not gone through ascetic +austerities, or who had not poured libations on fire. It was a region +for the virtuous alone, and not for those who had turned their back on +the field of battle. And none were competent to see it who had not +performed sacrifices or observed rigid vows, or who were without a +knowledge of the Vedas, or who had not bathed in sacred waters, or who +were not distinguished for sacrifices and gifts. And none were competent +to see it who were disturbers of sacrifices, or who were low, or who +drank intoxicating liquors, or who were violators of their preceptors' +bed, or who were eaters of (unsanctified) meat, or who were wicked. And +having beheld those celestial gardens resounding with celestial music, +the strong-armed son of Pandu entered the favourite city of Indra. And +he beheld there celestial cars by thousands, capable of going everywhere +at will, stationed in proper places. And he saw tens of thousands of +such cars moving in every direction. And fanned by pleasant breezes +charged with the perfumes of flowers, the son of Pandu was praised by +Apsaras and Gandharvas. And the celestials then, accompanied by the +Gandharvas and Siddhas and great Rishis, cheerfully reverenced Pritha's +son of white steeds. Benedictions were poured upon him, accompanied by +the sounds of celestial music. The strong-armed son of Pritha then heard +around him the music of conchs and drums. And praised all around, the +son of Pritha then went, at the command of Indra, to that large and +extensive starry way called by the name of _Suravithi_. There he met +with the _Sadhyas_, the _Viswas_, the _Marutas_, the twin _Aswins_, the +_Adityas_, the _Vasus_, the _Rudras_, the _Brahmarshis_ of the great +splendour, and numerous royal sages with Dilipa at their head, and +Tumvura and Narada, and that couple of Gandharvas known by the names of +Haha and Huhu. And the Kuru prince--that chastiser of foes--having met +and duly saluted them, last of all beheld the chief of the +celestials--the god of a hundred sacrifices. Then the strong-armed son +of Pritha, alighting from the car approached the lord himself of the +gods--his father--that chastiser of Paka. And a beautiful white umbrella +furnished with a golden staff was held over the chief of the celestials. +And he was fanned with a _Chamara_ perfumed with celestial scents. And +he was eulogised by many Gandharvas headed by _Viswavasu_ and others, by +bards and singers, and by foremost Brahmanas chanting _Rik_ and _Yajus_ +hymns. And the mighty son of Kunti, approaching Indra, saluted him by +bending his head to the ground. And Indra thereupon embraced him with +his round and plump arms. And taking his hand, Sakra made him sit by him +on a portion of his own seat, that sacred seat which was worshipped by +gods and Rishis. And the lord of the celestials--that slayer of hostile +heroes--smelt the head of Arjuna bending in humility, and even took him +upon his lap. Seated on Sakra's seat at the command of that god of a +thousand eyes, Pritha's son of immeasurable energy began to blaze in +splendour like a second Indra. And moved by affection, the slayer of +Vritra, consoling Arjuna, touched his beautiful face with his own +perfumed hands. And the wielder of the thunderbolt, patting and rubbing +gently again and again with his own hands which bore the marks of the +thunderbolt the handsome and huge arms of Arjuna which resembled a +couple of golden columns and which were hard in consequence of drawing +the bowstring, the god of a thousand eyes eying his son of curly locks +smilingly and with eyes expanded with delight, seemed scarcely to be +gratified. The more he gazed, the more he liked to gaze on. And seated +on one seat, the father and son enhanced the beauty of the assembly, +like the sun and moon beautifying the firmament together on the +fourteenth day of the dark fortnight. And a band of Gandharvas headed by +Tumvuru skilled in music sacred and profane, sang many verses in +melodious notes. And Ghritachi and Menaka and Rambha and Purvachitti and +Swayamprabha and Urvasi and Misrakesi and Dandagami and Varuthini and +Gopali and Sahajanya and Kumbhayoni and Prajagara and Chitrasena and +Chitralekha and Saha and Madhuraswana, these and others by thousands, +possessed of eyes like lotus leaves, who were employed in enticing the +hearts of persons practising rigid austerities, danced there. And +possessing slim waists and fair large hips, they began to perform +various evolutions, shaking their deep bosoms, and casting their glances +around, and exhibiting other attractive attitude capable of stealing the +hearts and resolutions and minds of the spectators." + + +SECTION XLIV + +Vaisampayana said, "The gods and the Gandharvas then, understanding the +wishes of Indra, procured an excellent _Arghya_ and reverenced the son +of Pritha in a hurry. And giving water to wash both his feet and face, +they caused the prince to enter the palace of Indra. And thus +worshipped, Jishnu continued to live in the abode of his father. And the +son of Pandu continued all the while to acquire celestial weapons, +together with the means of withdrawing them. And he received from the +hands of Sakra his favourite weapon of irresistible force, _viz_., the +thunder-bolt and those other weapons also, of tremendous roar, _viz_., +the lightnings of heaven, whose flashes are inferable from the +appearance of clouds and (the dancing of) peacocks. And the son of +Pandu, after he had obtained those weapons, recollected his brothers. +And at the command of Indra, however, he lived for full five years in +heaven, surrounded by every comfort and luxury. + +"After some time, when Arjuna had obtained all the weapons, Indra +addressed him in due time, saying, 'O son of Kunti, learn thou music and +dancing from Chitrasena. Learn the instrumental music that is current +among the celestials and which existeth not in the world of men, for, O +son of Kunti, it will be to thy benefit.' And Parandana gave Chitrasena +as a friend unto Arjuna. And the son of Pritha lived happily in peace +with Chitrasena. And Chitrasena instructed Arjuna all the while in +music; vocal and instrumental and in dancing. But the active Arjuna +obtained no peace of mind, remembering the unfair play at dice of +Sakuni, the son of Suvala, and thinking with rage of Dussasana and his +death. When however, his friendship with Chitrasena had ripened fully, +he at times learned the unrivalled dance and music practised among the +Gandharvas. And at last having learnt various kinds of dance and diverse +species of music, both vocal and instrumental, that slayer of hostile +heroes obtained no peace of mind remembering his brothers and mother +Kunti." + + +SECTION XLV + +Vaisampayana said, "One day, knowing that Arjuna's glances were cast +upon Urvasi, Vasava, calling Chitrasena to himself, addressed him in +private saying, 'O king of Gandharvas, I am pleased; go thou as my +messenger to that foremost of Apsaras, Urvasi, and let her wait upon +that tiger among men, Phalguna. Tell her, saying these words of mine, +'As through my instrumentality Arjuna hath learnt all the weapons and +other arts, worshipped by all, so shouldst thou make him conversant with +the arts of acquitting one's self in female company.' Thus addressed by +Indra, the chief of the Gandharvas in obedience to that command of +Vasava, soon went to Urvasi that foremost of Apsaras. And as he saw her, +she recognised him and delighted him by the welcome she offered and the +salutation she gave. And seated at ease he then smilingly addressed +Urvasi, who also was seated at ease, saying, 'Let it be known, O thou of +fair hips, that I come hither despatched by the one sole lord of heaven +who asketh of thee a favour. He who is known amongst gods and men for +his many inborn virtues, for his grace, behaviour, beauty of person, +vows and self-control; who is noted for might and prowess, and respected +by the virtuous, and ready-witted; who is endued with genius and +splendid energy, is of a forgiving temper and without malice of any +kind; who hath studied the four Vedas with their branches, and the +_Upanishads_, and the Puranas also; who is endued with devotion to his +preceptors and with intellect possessed of the eight attributes, who by +his abstinence, ability, origin and age, is alone capable of protecting +the celestial regions like Mahavat himself; who is never boastful; who +showeth proper respect to all; who beholdeth the minutest things as +clearly as if those were gross and large; who is sweet-speeched; who +showereth diverse kinds of food and drink on his friends and dependents; +who is truthful, worshipped of all, eloquent, handsome, and without +pride; who is kind to those devoted to him, and universally pleasing and +dear to all; who is firm in promise; who is equal to even Mahendra and +Varuna in respect of every desirable attribute, _viz_., Arjuna, is known +to thee. O Urvasi, know thou that hero is to be made to taste the joys +of heaven. Commanded by Indra, let him today obtain thy feet. Do this, O +amiable one, for Dhananjaya is inclined to thee.' + +"Thus addressed, Urvasi of faultless features assumed a smiling face, +and receiving the words of the Gandharva with high respect, answered +with a glad heart, saying, 'Hearing of the virtues that should adorn +men, as unfolded by thee, I would bestow my favours upon any one who +happened to possess them. Why should I not then, choose Arjuna for a +lover? At the command of Indra, and for my friendship for thee, and +moved also by the numerous virtues of Phalguna, I am already under the +influence of the god of love. Go thou, therefore, to the place thou +desirest. I shall gladly go to Arjuna.'" + + +SECTION XLVI + +Vaisampayana said, "Having thus sent away the Gandharva successful in +his mission, Urvasi of luminous smiles, moved by the desire of +possessing Phalguna, took a bath. And having performed her ablutions, +she decked herself in charming ornaments and splendid garlands of +celestial odour. And inflamed by the god of love, and her heart pierced +through and through by the shafts shot by Manmatha keeping in view the +beauty of Arjuna, and her imagination wholly taken up by the thoughts of +Arjuna, she mentally sported with him on a wide and excellent bed laid +over with celestial sheets. And when the twilight had deepened and the +moon was up, that Apsara of high hips set out for the mansions of +Arjuna. And in that mood and with her crisp, soft and long braids decked +with bunches of flowers, she looked extremely beautiful. With her beauty +and grace, and the charm of the motions of her eye-brows and of her soft +accents, and her own moon-like face, she seemed to tread, challenging +the moon himself. And as she proceeded, her deep, finely tapering +bosoms, decked with a chain of gold and adorned with celestial unguents +and smeared with fragrant sandal paste, began to tremble. And in +consequence of the weight of her bosoms, she was forced to slightly +stoop forward at every step, bending her waist exceedingly beautiful +with three folds. And her loins of faultless shape, the elegant abode of +the god of love, furnished with fair and high and round hips and wide at +their lower part as a hill, and decked with chains of gold, and capable +of shaking the saintship of anchorites, being decked with thin attire, +appeared highly graceful. And her feet with fair suppressed ankles, and +possessing flat soles and straight toes of the colour of burnished +copper and high and curved like tortoise back and marked by the wearing +of ornaments furnished with rows of little bells, looked exceedingly +handsome. And exhilarated with a little liquor which she had taken, and +excited by desire, and moving in diverse attitudes and expressing a +sensation of delight, she looked more handsome than usual. And though +heaven abounded with many wonderful objects, yet when Urvasi proceeded +in this manner, the _Siddhas_ and _Charanas_ and _Gandharvas_ regarded +her to be the handsomest object they had cast their eyes upon. And the +upper half of her body clad in an attire of fine texture and cloudy +hues, she looked resplendent like a digit of the moon in the firmament +shrouded by fleecy clouds. And endued with the speed of the winds or the +mind, she of luminous smiles soon reached the mansion of Phalguna, the +son of Pandu. And, O best of men, Urvasi of beautiful eyes, having +arrived at the gate of Arjuna's abode, sent word through the keeper in +attendance. And (on receiving permission), she soon entered that +brilliant and charming palace. But, O monarch, upon beholding her at +night in his mansion, Arjuna, with a fearstricken heart, stepped up to +receive her with respect and as soon as he saw her, the son of Pritha, +from modesty, closed his eyes. And saluting her, he offered the Apsara +such worship as is offered unto a superior. And Arjuna said, 'O thou +foremost of the Apsaras, I reverence thee by bending my head down. O +lady, let me know thy commands. I wait upon thee as thy servant.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Phalguna, Urvasi became +deprived of her senses. And she soon represented unto Arjuna all that +had passed between her and the Gandharva, Chitrasena. And she said, 'O +best of men, I shall tell thee all that hath passed between me and +Chitrasena, and why I have come hither. On account of thy coming here, O +Arjuna, Mahendra had convened a large and charming assembly, in which +celestial festivities were held. Unto that assembly came, O best of men, +the Rudras and the Adityas and the Aswins and the Vasus. And there came +also numbers of great Rishis and royal sages and Siddhas and Charanas +and Yakshas and great Nagas. And, O thou of expansive eyes, the members +of the assembly resplendent as fire or the sun or the moon, having taken +their seats according to rank, honour, and prowess, O son of Sakra, the +Gandharvas began to strike the _Vinas_ and sing charming songs of +celestial melody. And, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, the principal +Apsaras also commenced to dance. Then, O son of Pritha, thou hadst +looked on me only with a steadfast gaze. When that assembly of the +celestials broke, commanded by thy father, the gods went away to their +respective places. And the principal Apsaras also went away to their +abodes, and others also, O slayer of foes, commanded by thy father and +obtaining his leave. It was then that Chitrasena sent to me by Sakra, +and arriving at my abode, O thou of eyes like lotus leaves, he addressed +me, saying, "O thou of the fairest complexion, I have been sent unto +thee by the chief of the celestials. Do thou something that would be +agreeable to Mahendra and myself and to thyself also. O thou of fair +hips, seek thou to please Arjuna, who is brave in battle even like Sakra +himself, and who is always possessed of magnanimity." Even these, O son +of Pritha, were his words. Thus, O sinless one, commanded by him and thy +father also, I come to thee in order to wait upon thee, O slayer of +foes. My heart hath been attracted by thy virtues, and am already under +the influence of the god of love. And, O hero, even this is my wish, and +I have cherished it for ever!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "While in heaven, hearing her speak in this +strain, Arjuna was overcome with bashfulness. And shutting his ears with +his hands, he said, 'O blessed lady, fie on my sense of hearing, when +thou speakest thus to me. For, O thou of beautiful face, thou art +certainly equal in my estimation unto the wife of a superior. Even as +Kunti of high fortune or Sachi the queen of Indra, art thou to me, O +auspicious one, of this there is no doubt! That I had gazed particularly +at thee, O blessed one, is true. There was a reason for it. I shall +truly tell it to thee, O thou of luminous smiles! In the assembly I +gazed at thee with eyes expanded in delight, thinking, _Even this +blooming lady is the mother of the Kaurava race._ O blessed Apsara, it +behoveth thee not to entertain other feelings towards me, for thou art +superior to my superiors, being the parent of my race.' + +"Hearing these words of Arjuna, Urvasi answered, saying, 'O son of the +chief of the celestials, we Apsaras are free and unconfined in our +choice. It behoveth thee not, therefore, to esteem me as thy superior. +The sons and grandsons of Puru's race, that have come hither in +consequence of ascetic merit do all sport with us, without incurring any +sin. Relent, therefore, O hero, it behoveth thee not to send me away. I +am burning with desire. I am devoted to thee. Accept me, O thou giver of +proper respect.' + +"Arjuna replied, 'O beautiful lady of features perfectly faultless, +listen. I truly tell thee. Let the four directions and the transverse +directions, let also the gods listen. O sinless one, as Kunti, or Madri, +or Sachi, is to me, so art thou, the parent of my race, an object of +reverence to me. Return, O thou of the fairest complexion: I bend my +head unto thee, and prostrate myself at thy feet. Thou deservest my +worship as my own mother; and it behoveth thee to protect me as a son.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Partha, Urvasi was deprived +of her senses by wrath. Trembling with rage, and contracting her brows, +she cursed Arjuna, saying, 'Since thou disregardest a woman come to thy +mansion at the command of thy father and of her own motion--a woman, +besides, who is pierced by the shafts of _Kama_, therefore, O Partha, +thou shalt have to pass thy time among females unregarded, and as a +dancer, and destitute of manhood and scorned as a eunuch.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Having cursed Arjuna thus, Urvasi's lips still +quivered in anger, herself breathing heavily all the while. And she soon +returned to her own abode. And that slayer of foes, Arjuna also sought +Chitrasena without loss of time. And having found him, he told him all +that had passed between him and Urvasi in the night. And he told +Chitrasena everything as it had happened, repeatedly referring to the +curse pronounced upon him. And Chitrasena also represented everything +unto Sakra. And Harivahana, calling his son unto himself in private, and +consoling him in sweet words, smilingly said, 'O thou best of beings, +having obtained thee, O child, Pritha hath to-day become a truly blessed +mother. O mighty-armed one, thou hast now vanquished even Rishis by the +patience and self-control. But, O giver of proper respect, the curse +that Urvasi hath denounced on thee will be to thy benefit, O child, and +stand thee in good stead. O sinless one, ye will have on earth to pass +the thirteenth year (of your exile), unknown to all. It is then that +thou shalt suffer the curse of Urvasi. And having passed one year as a +dancer without manhood, thou shalt regain thy power on the expiration of +the term.' + +"Thus addressed by Sakra, that slayer of hostile heroes, Phalguna, +experienced great delight and ceased to think of the curse. And +Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, sported in regions of heaven with the +Gandharva Chitrasena of great celebrity. + +"The desires of the man that listeneth to this history of the son of +Pandu never run after lustful ends. The foremost of men, by listening to +this account of the awfully pure conduct of Phalguna, the son of the +lord of the celestials, become void of pride and arrogance and wrath and +other faults, and ascending to heaven, sport there in bliss." + + +SECTION XLVII + +Vaisampayana said, "One day, the great _Rishi_ Lomasa in course of his +wanderings, went to the abode of Indra, desirous of beholding the lord +of the celestials. And the great Muni, having approached the chief of +the gods, bowed to him respectfully. And he beheld the son of Pandu +occupying half of the seat of Vasava. And worshipped by the great +Rishis, that foremost of Brahmanas sat on an excellent seat at the +desire of Sakra. And beholding Arjuna seated on Indra's seat, the Rishi +began to think as to how Arjuna who was a Kshatriya had attained to the +seat of Sakra himself. What acts of merit had been performed by him and +what regions had been conquered by him (by ascetic merit), that he had +obtained a seat that was worshipped by the gods themselves? And as the +Rishi was employed with these thoughts, Sakra, the slayer of Vritra, +came to know of them. And having known them, the lord of Sachi addressed +Lomasa with a smile and said, 'Listen, O _Brahmarshi_, about what is now +passing in thy mind. This one is no mortal though he hath taken his +birth among men. O great Rishi, the mighty-armed hero is even my son +born of Kunti. He hath come hither, in order to acquire weapons for some +purpose. Alas! dost thou not recognise him as an ancient Rishi of the +highest merit? Listen to me, O Brahmana, as I tell thee who is and why +he hath come to me. Those ancient and excellent Rishis who were known by +the names of Nara and Narayana are, know, O Brahmana, none else than +Hrishikesa and Dhananjaya. And those Rishis, celebrated throughout the +three worlds, and known by the names of Nara and Narayana have, for the +accomplishment of a certain purpose, been born on earth--for the +acquisition of virtue. That sacred asylum which even gods and +illustrious Rishis are not competent to behold, and which is known +throughout the world by the name of Vadari, and situate by the source of +the Ganga, which is worshipped by the Siddhas and the Charanas, was the +abode, O Brahmana, of Vishnu and Jishnu. Those Rishis of blazing +splendour have, O _Brahmarshi_, at my desire, been born on earth, and +endued with mighty energy, will lighten the burden thereof. Besides +this, there are certain Asuras known as Nivatakavachas, who, proud of +the boon they have acquired, are employed in doing us injuries. Boastful +of their strength, they are even now planning the destruction of the +gods, for, having received a boon, they no longer regard the gods. Those +fierce and mighty Danavas live in the nether regions. Even all the +celestials together are incapable of fighting with them. The blessed +Vishnu--the slayer of Madhu--he, indeed who is known on earth as Kapila, +and whose glance alone, O exalted one, destroyed the illustrious sons of +Sagara, when they approached him with loud sounds in the bowels of the +earth,--that illustrious and invincible Hari is capable, O Brahmana of +doing us a great service. Either he or Partha or both may do us that +great service, without doubt. Verily as the illustrious Hari had slain +the Nagas in the great lake, he, by sight alone, is capable of slaying +those Asuras called the Nivatakavachas, along with their followers. But +the slayer of Madhu should not be urged when the task is insignificant. +A mighty mass of energy that he is, it swelleth to increasing +proportions, it may consume the whole universe. This Arjuna also is +competent to encounter them all, and the hero having slain them in +battle, will go back to the world of men. Go thou at my request to +earth. Thou wilt behold the brave Yudhishthira living in the woods of +Kamyaka. And for me tell thou the virtuous Yudhishthira of unbaffled +prowess in battle, that he should not be anxious on account of Phalguna, +for that hero will return to earth a thorough master of weapons, for +without sanctified prowess of arms, and without skill in weapons, he +would not be able to encounter Bhishma and Drona and others in battle. +Thou wilt also represent unto Yudhishthira that the illustrious and +mighty-armed Gudakesa, having obtained weapons, hath also mastered the +science of celestial dancing and music both instrumental and vocal. And +thou wilt also tell him, O king of men, O slayer of foes, thyself also, +accompanied by all thy brothers, should see the various sacred shrines. +For having bathed in different sacred waters, thou wilt be cleansed from +thy sins, and the fever of thy heart will abate. And then thou wilt be +able to enjoy thy kingdom, happy in the thought that thy sins have been +washed off. And, O foremost of Brahmanas, endued with ascetic power, it +behoveth thee also to protect Yudhishthira during his wandering over the +earth. Fierce Rakshasas ever live in mountain fastnesses and rugged +steppes. Protect thou the king from those cannibals.' + +"After Mahendra had spoken thus unto Lomasa, Vibhatsu also reverently +addressed that Rishi, saying, 'Protect thou ever the son of Pandu. O +best of men, let the king, O great Rishi, protected by thee, visit the +various places of pilgrimage and give away unto Brahmanas in charity.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "The mighty ascetic Lomasa, having answered both +saying, 'So be it,' set out for the earth, desirous of arriving at +Kamvaka. And having arrived at those woods, he beheld the slayer of foes +and son of Kunti, king Yudhishthira the just, surrounded by ascetics and +his younger brothers." + + +SECTION XLVIII + +Janamejaya said, "These feats of Pritha's son endued with immeasurable +energy, were certainly marvellous. O Brahmana, what did Dhritarashtra of +great wisdom say, when he heard of them?" + +Vaisampayana said, "Amvika's son, king Dhritarashtra, having heard of +Arjuna's arrival and stay at Indra's abode, from Dwaipayana, that +foremost of Rishis, spake unto Sanjaya, saying, 'O charioteer, dost thou +know in detail the acts of the intelligent Arjuna, of which I have heard +from beginning to end? O charioteer, my wretched and sinful son is even +now engaged in a policy of the most vulgar kind. Of wicked soul, he will +certainly depopulate the earth. The illustrious person whose words even +in jest are true, and who hath Dhananjaya to fight for him, is sure to +win the three worlds. Who that is even beyond the influence of Death and +Decay will be able to stay before Arjuna, when he will scatter his +barbed and sharp-pointed arrows whetted on stone? My wretched sons, who +have to fight with the invincible Pandavas are indeed, all doomed. +Reflecting day and night, I see not the warrior amongst us that is able +to stay in battle before the wielder of the _Gandiva_. If Drona, or +Karna, or even Bhishma advance against him in battle, a great calamity +is likely to befall the earth. But even in that case, I see not the way +to our success. Karna is kind and forgetful. The preceptor Drona is old, +and the teacher (of Arjuna). Arjuna, however, is wrathful, and strong, +and proud, and of firm and steady prowess. As all these warriors are +invincible, a terrible fight will take place between them. All of them +are heroes skilled in weapons and of great reputation. They would not +wish for the sovereignty of the world, if it was to be purchased by +defeat. Indeed, peace will be restored only on the death of these or of +Phalguna. The slayer of Arjuna, however, existeth not, nor doth one that +can vanquish him. Oh, how shall that wrath of his which hath myself for +its object be pacified. Equal unto the chief of the celestials, that +hero gratified Agni at _Khandava_ and vanquished all the monarchs of the +earth on the occasion of the great _Rajasuya_. O Sanjaya, the +thunder-bolt falling on the mountain top, leaveth a portion unconsumed; +but the shafts, O child, that are shot by Kiriti leave not a rack +behind. As the rays of the sun heat this mobile and immobile universe, +so will the shafts shot by Arjuna's hands scorch my sons. It seemeth to +me that the _Chamus_ of the Bharatas, terrified at the clatter of +Arjuna's chariot-wheels, are already broken through in all directions. +Vidhatri hath created Arjuna as an all-consuming Destroyer. He stayeth +in battle as a foe, vomitting and scattering swarms of arrows. Who is +there that will defeat him?'" + + +SECTION XLIX + +"Sanjaya said, 'That which hath been uttered by thee, O king, with +respect to Duryodhana is all true. Nothing that thou hast said, O lord +of the earth, is untrue. The Pandavas of immeasurable energy have been +filled with rage at the sight of Krishna their wedded wife of pure +fame brought in the midst of the assembly. Hearing also those cruel +words of Dussasana and Karna, they have been so incensed, O king, that +they will not, I ween, forgive (the Kurus) on thy account. I have heard, +O king, how Arjuna hath gratified in battle by means of his bow the god +of gods--Sthanu of eleven forms. The illustrious lord of all the +gods--Kapardin himself--desirous of testing Phalguna, fought with him, +having assumed the guise of a _Kirata_. And there it was that the +_Lokapala_, in order to give away their weapons unto that bull of the +Kuru race, showed themselves unto him of undeteriorating prowess. What +other man on earth, except Phalguna, would strive to have a sight of +these gods in their own forms? And, O king, who is there that will +weaken in battle Arjuna, who could not be weakened by Maheswara himself +possessed of eight forms? Thy sons, having dragged Draupadi, and thereby +incensed the sons of Pandu, have brought this frightful and horrifying +calamity upon themselves. Beholding Duryodhana showing both his thighs +unto Draupadi, Bhima said with quivering lips, _wretch! those thighs of +thine will I smash with my fierce descending mace, on the expiration of +thirteen years_. All the sons of Pandu are the foremost of smiters; all +of them are of immeasurable energy; all of them are well-versed in every +kind of weapons. For these, they are incapable of being vanquished even +by the gods. Incensed at the insult offered to their wedded wife, +Pritha's sons, urged by wrath, will, I ween, slay all thy sons in +battle.' + +"Dhritarashtra said, 'O charioteer, what mischief hath been done by +Karna uttering those cruel words, to the sons of Pandu! Was not the +enmity sufficient that was provoked by bringing Krishna into the +assembly? How can my wicked sons live, whose eldest brother and +preceptor walketh not in the path of righteousness? Seeing me void of +eye-sight, and incapable of exerting myself actively, my wretched son, O +charioteer, believeth me to be a fool, and listeneth not to my words. +Those wretches also that are his counsellors, _viz_., Karna and Suvala, +and others, always pander to his vices, as he is incapable of +understanding things rightly. The shafts that Arjuna of immeasurable +prowess may lightly shoot, are capable of consuming all my sons, leave +alone those shafts that he will shoot, impelled by anger. The arrows +urged by the might of Arjuna's arms and shot from his large bow, and +inspired with _mantras_ capable of converting them into celestial +weapons can chastise the celestials themselves. He who hath for his +counsellor and protector and friend that smiter of sinful men--the lord +of the three worlds--Hari himself--encountereth nothing that he cannot +conquer. This, O Sanjaya, is most marvellous in Arjuna that, as we have +heard, he hath been clasped by Mahadeva in his arms. That also which +Phalguna, assisted by Damodara did of old towards helping Agni in the +conflagration of _Khandava_, hath been witnessed by all the world. When, +therefore, Bhima and Partha and Vasudeva of the Satwata race become +enraged, surely my sons along with their friends and the Suvalas are all +unequal to fight with them.'" + + +SECTION L + +Janamejaya said, "Having sent the heroic sons of Pandu into exile, these +lamentations, O _Muni_, of Dhritarashtra were perfectly futile. Why did +the king permit his foolish son Duryodhana to thus incense those mighty +warriors, the sons of Pandu? Tell us now, O Brahmana, what was the food +of the sons of Pandu, while they lived in the woods? Was it of the +wilderness, or was it the produce of cultivation?" + +Vaisampayana said, "Those bulls among men, collecting the produce of the +wilderness and killing the deer with pure arrows, first dedicated a +portion of the food to the Brahmanas, and themselves ate the rest. For, +O king, while those heroes wielding large bows lived in the woods, they +were followed by Brahmanas of both classes, _viz_., those worshipping +with fire and those worshipping without it. And there were ten thousand +illustrious _Snataka_ Brahmanas, all conversant with the means of +salvation, whom Yudhishthira supported in the woods. And killing with +arrows _Rurus_ and the black deer and other kinds of clean animals of +the wilderness, he gave them unto those Brahmanas. And no one that lived +with Yudhishthira looked pale or ill, or was lean or weak, or was +melancholy or terrified. And the chief of the Kurus--the virtuous king +Yudhishthira--maintained his brothers as if they were his sons, and his +relatives as if they were his uterine brothers. And Draupadi of pure +fame fed her husbands and the Brahmanas, as if she was their mother; and +last of all took her food herself. And the king himself wending towards +the east, and Bhima, towards the south, and the twins, towards the west +and the north, daily killed with bow in hand the deer of the forest, for +the sake of meat. And it was that the Pandavas lived for five years in +the woods of _Kamyaka_, in anxiety at the absence of Arjuna, and engaged +all the while in study and prayers and sacrifices." + + +SECTION LI + +Vaisampayana said, "That bull among men--Dhritarashtra--the son of +Amvika, having heard of this wonderful way of life--so above that of +men--of the sons of Pandu, was filled with anxiety and grief. And +overwhelmed with melancholy and sighing heavily and hot, that monarch, +addressing his charioteer Sanjaya, said, 'O charioteer, a moment's peace +I have not, either during the day or the night, thinking of the terrible +misbehaviour of my sons arising out of their past gambling, and thinking +also of the heroism, the patience, the high intelligence, the unbearable +prowess, and the extraordinary love unto one another of the sons of +Pandu. Amongst the Pandavas, the illustrious Nakula and Sahadeva, of +celestial origin and equal unto the chief himself of the celestials in +splendour, are invincible in battle. They are firm in the wielding of +weapons, capable of shooting at a long distance, resolute in battle, of +remarkable lightness of hand, of wrath that is not easily quelled, +possessed of great steadiness, and endued with activity. Possessed of +the prowess of lions and unbearable as the Aswins themselves, when they +will come to the field of battle with Bhima and Arjuna in front, I see, +O Sanjaya, that my soldiers will all be slain without a remnant. Those +mighty warriors of celestial origin, unrivalled in battle by anybody, +filled with rage at the remembrance of that insult to Draupadi, will +show no forgiveness. The mighty warriors of the Vrishnis also, and the +Panchalas of great energy, and the sons of Pritha themselves, led by +Vasudeva of unbaffled prowess, will blast my legions. O charioteer, all +the warriors on my side assembled together, are not competent to bear +the impetus of the Vrishnis alone when commanded by Rama and Krishna. +And amongst them will move that great warrior Bhima of terrible prowess, +armed with his iron mace held on high and capable of slaying every hero. +And high above the din will be heard the twang of the _Gandiva_ loud as +the thunder of heaven. The impetus of Bhima's mace and the loud twang of +the Gandiva are incapable of being stood against by any of the kings on +my side. It is then, O Sanjaya, that obedient as I have been to the +voice of Duryodhana, I shall have to call back the rejected counsels of +my friends--counsels that I should have attended to in time.' + +"Sanjaya said, 'This hath been thy great fault, O king, _viz_., that +though capable, thou didst not, from affection prevent thy son from +doing what he hath done. The slayer of Madhu, that hero of unfading +glory, hearing that the Pandavas had been defeated at dice, soon went to +the woods of _Kamyaka_ and consoled them there. And Draupadi's sons also +headed by Dhrishtadyumna, and Virata, and Dhrishtaketu, and those mighty +warriors, the Kekayas, all went there. All that was said by these +warriors at the sight of Pandu's son defeated at dice, was learnt by me +through our spies. I have also told thee all, O king. When the slayer of +Madhu met the Pandavas, they requested him to become the charioteer of +Phalguna in battle. Hari himself, thus requested, answered them, saying, +_so be it_. And even Krishna himself beholding the sons of Pritha +dressed in deer skins, became filled with rage, and addressing +Yudhishthira, said, "That prosperity which the sons of Pritha had +acquired at Indraprastha, and which, unobtainable by other kings, was +beheld by me at the _Rajasuya_ sacrifice, at which, besides, I saw all +kings, even those of the Vangas and Angas and Paundras and Odras and +Cholas and Dravidas and Andhakas, and the chiefs of many islands and +countries on the sea-board as also of frontier states, including the +rulers of the Sinhalas, the barbarous _mlecchas_, the natives of Lanka, +and all the kings of the West by hundreds, and all the chiefs of the +sea-coast, and the kings of the Pahlavas and the Daradas and the various +tribes of the Kiratas and Yavanas and Sakras and the Harahunas and +Chinas and Tukharas and the Sindhavas and the Jagudas and the Ramathas +and the Mundas and the inhabitants of the kingdom of women and the +Tanganas and the Kekayas and the Malavas and the inhabitants of Kasmira, +afraid of the prowess of your weapons, present in obedience to your +invitation, performing various offices,--that prosperity, O king, so +unstable and waiting at present on the foe, I shall restore to thee, +depriving thy foe of his very life. I shall, O chief of the Kurus, +assisted by Rama and Bhima and Arjuna and the twins and Akrura and Gada +and Shamva and Pradyumna and Ahuka and the heroic Dhrishtadyumna and the +son of Sisupala, slay in battle in course of a day Duryodhana and Karna +and Dussasana and Suvala's son and all others who may fight against us. +And thou shalt, O Bharata, living at Hastinapura along with thy +brothers, and snatching from Dhritarashtra's party the prosperity they +are enjoying, rule this earth." Even these, O king, were Krishna's words +unto Yudhishthira, who, on the conclusion of Krishna's speech, addressed +him in that meeting of heroes and in the hearing of all those brave +warriors headed by Dhrishtadyumna, saying, "O Janardana, I accept these +words of thine as truth. O thou of mighty arms, do thou, however, slay +my enemies along with all their followers on the expiry of thirteen +years. O Kesava, promise this truly unto me. I promised in the presence +of the king to live in the forest as I am now living." Consenting to +these words of king Yudhishthira the just, his counsellors headed by +Dhrishtadyumna soon pacified the incensed Kesava with sweet words and +expressions suitable to the occasion. And they also said unto Draupadi +of pure deeds in the hearing of Vasudeva himself, these words, "O lady, +in consequence of thy anger, Duryodhana shall lay down his life. We +promise it, O thou of the fairest complexion. Therefore, grieve no more. +O Krishna, those that mocked thee, beholding thee won at dice, shall +reap the fruit of their act. Beasts of prey and birds shall eat their +flesh, and mock them thus. Jackals and vultures will drink their blood. +And, O Krishna, thou shalt behold the bodies of those wretches that +dragged thee by the hair prostrate on the earth, dragged and eaten by +carnivorous animals. They also that gave thee pain and disregarded thee +shall lie on the earth destitute of their heads, and the earth herself +shall drink their blood." These and other speeches of various kinds were +uttered there, O king, by those bulls of the Bharata race. All of them +are endued with energy and bravery, and marked with the marks of battle. +On the expiration of the thirteenth year, those mighty warriors, chosen +by Yudhishthira and headed by Vasudeva, will come (to the field of +battle). Rama and Krishna and Dhananjaya and Pradyumna and Shamva and +Yuyudhana and Bhima and the sons of Madri and the Kekaya princes and the +Panchala princes, accompanied by the king of Matsya, these all, +illustrious and celebrated and invincible heroes, with their followers +and troops, will come. Who is there that, desiring to live, will +encounter these in battle, resembling angry lions of erect manes?' + +"Dhritarashtra said, 'What Vidura told me at the time of the game at +dice, "If thou seekest, O king, to vanquish the Pandavas (at dice), then +certainly a terrible blood-shed ending in the destruction of all the +Kurus will be the result," I think it is about to be realised. As Vidura +told me of old, without doubt a terrible battle will take place, as soon +as the pledged period of the Pandavas expireth.'" + + +SECTION LII + +(Nalopakhyana Parva) + +Janamejaya said, "When the high-souled Partha went to Indra's region for +obtaining weapons, what did Yudhishthira and the other sons of Pandu +do?" + +Vaisampayana said, "When the high-souled Partha went to Indra's region +for obtaining weapons, those bulls of the Bharata race continued to +dwell with Krishna in (the woods of) _Kamyaka_. One day, those foremost +of the Bharatas, afflicted with grief, were seated with Krishna on a +clean and solitary sward. Grieving for Dhananjaya, overwhelmed with +sorrow, their voices were choked with weeping. Tortured by Dhananjaya's +absence, grief afflicted them equally. And filled with sorrow at their +separation from Arjuna and at the loss of their kingdom, the +mighty-armed Bhima among them addressed Yudhishthira, saying, 'That Bull +of the Bharata race, Arjuna, O great king, on whom depend the lives of +Pandu's sons, and on whose death the Panchalas as also ourselves with +our sons and Satyaki and Vasudeva are sure to die, hath gone away at thy +behest. What can be sadder than this that the virtuous Vibhatsu hath +gone away at thy command, thinking of his many griefs? Depending upon +the might of that illustrious hero's arms, regard our foes as already +vanquished in battle, and the whole earth itself as already acquired by +us. It was for the sake of that mighty warrior that I refrained from +sending to the other world all the Dhartarashtras along with the +Suvalas, in the midst of the assembly. Gifted with might of arms, and +supported by Vasudeva, we have to suppress the wrath that hath been +roused in us, because thou art the root of that wrath. Indeed, with +Krishna's help, slaying our foes headed by Karna, we are able to rule +the entire earth (thus) conquered by our own arms. Endued with +manliness, we are yet overwhelmed with calamities, in consequence of thy +gambling vice, while the foolish followers of Dhritarashtra are growing +stronger with the tributes (gathered from dependent kings). O mighty +monarch, it behoveth thee to keep in view the duties of the Kshatriya. O +great king, it is not the duty of a Kshatriya to live in the woods. The +wise are of the opinion that to rule is the foremost duty of a +Kshatriya. O king, thou art conversant with Kshatriya morality. Do not, +therefore, deviate from the path of duty. Turning away from the woods, +let us, summoning Partha and Janardana, slay, O king, the sons of +Dhritarashtra, even before the twelve years are complete. O illustrious +monarch, O king of kings, even if these Dhartarashtras be surrounded by +soldiers in array of battle, I shall send them to the other world by +dint of might alone. I shall slay all the sons of Dhritarashtra along +with the Sauvalas, indeed, Duryodhana, Karna, and any one else that will +fight with me. And after I shall have slain all our foes, thou mayst +come back unto the woods. By acting thus, O king, no fault will be +thine. (Or if any sin be thine), O represser of foes, O mighty monarch, +washing it off, O sire, by various sacrifices, we may ascend to a +superior heaven. Such a consummation may come to pass, if our king +proveth not unwise or procrastinating. Thou art, however, virtuous. +Verily the deceitful should be destroyed by deceit. To slay the +deceitful by deceit, is not regarded as sinful. O Bharata, it is also +said by those versed in morality that one day and night is, O great +prince, equal unto a full year. The Veda text also, exalted one, is +often heard, signifying that a year is equivalent to a day when passed +in the observance of certain difficult vows. O thou of unfading glory, +if the Vedas are an authority with thee, regard thou the period of a day +and something more as the equivalent of thirteen years. O represser of +foes, this is the time to slay Duryodhana with his adherents. Else, O +king, he will beforehand bring the whole earth obedient to his will. O +foremost of monarchs, all this is the result of thy addiction to +gambling. We are on the verge of destruction already, in consequence of +thy promise of living one year undiscovered. I do not find the country +where, if we live, the wicked-minded Suyodhana may not be able to trace +us by his spies. And finding us out, that wretch will again deceitfully +send us into such exile in the woods. Or if that sinful one beholdeth us +emerge, after the expiry of the pledged period of non-discovery, he will +again invite thee, O great king, to dice, and the play will once more +begin. Summoned once more, thou wilt again efface thyself at dice. Thou +art not skilled at dice, and when summoned at play, thou wilt be +deprived of thy senses. Therefore, O mighty monarch thou wilt have to +lead a life in the woods again. If, O mighty king, it behoveth thee not +to make us wretched for life, observe thou fully the ordinance of the +Vedas, (which inculcateth that) verily the deceitful ought to be slain +by deceit. If I but have thy command I would go (to Hastinapura) and, +even as fire falling upon a heap of grass consumeth it, would slay +Duryodhana, putting forth my utmost might. It behoveth thee, therefore, +to grant me the permission.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Bhima, king Yudhishthira the +just, smelt the crown of that son of Pandu, and pacifying him said, 'O +mighty-armed one, without doubt, thou wilt, assisted by the wielder of +the _Gandiva_, slay Suyodhana at the expiry of the thirteenth year. But, +O son of Pritha, as for thy assertion, _O Lord, the time is complete_, I +cannot dare tell an untruth, for untruth is not in me. O son of Kunti, +without the help of fraud, wilt thou kill the wicked and irrepressible +Duryodhana, with his allies.' + +"While Yudhishthira the just, was speaking unto Bhima thus, there came +the great and illustrious Rishi Vrihadaswa before them. And beholding +that virtuous ascetic before him, the righteous king worshipped him +according to the ordinance, with the offering of _Madhuparka_. And when +the ascetic was seated and refreshed, the mighty-armed Yudhishthira sat +by him, and looking up at the former, addressed him thus in exceedingly +piteous accents: + +"'O holy one, summoned by cunning gamblers skilled at dice, I have been +deprived of wealth and kingdom through gambling. I am not an adept at +dice, and am unacquainted with deceit. Sinful men, by unfair means, +vanquished me at play. They even brought into the public assembly my +wife dearer unto me than life itself. And defeating me a second time, +they have sent me to distressful exile in this great forest, clad in +deer skins. At present I am leading a distressful life in the woods in +grief of heart. Those harsh and cruel speeches they addressed me on the +occasion of that gambling match, and the words of my afflicted friends +relating to the match at dice and other subjects, are all stored up in +my remembrance. Recollecting them I pass the whole night in (sleepless) +anxiety. Deprived also (of the company) of the illustrious wielder of +the Gandiva, on whom depend the lives of us all, I am almost deprived of +life. Oh, when shall I see the sweet-speeched and large-hearted Vibhatsu +so full of kindness and activity, return to us, having obtained all +weapons? Is there a king on this earth who is more unfortunate than +myself? Hast thou ever seen or heard of any such before? To my thinking, +there is no man more wretched than I am.' + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'O great king, O son of Pandu, thou sayest, "There is +no person more miserable than I am." O sinless monarch, if thou wilt +listen, I will relate unto thee the history of a king more wretched than +thyself.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "And thereupon the king said unto the ascetic, +'O illustrious one, tell me, I desire to hear the history of the king +who had fallen into such a condition.' + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'O king, O thou that never fallest off, listen +attentively with thy brothers, I will narrate the history of a prince +more miserable than thyself. There was a celebrated king among the +Nishadhas, named Virasena. He had a son named Nala, versed in (the +knowledge of) virtue and wealth. It hath been heard by us that, that +king was deceitfully defeated by Pushkara, and afflicted with calamity, +he dwelt in the woods with his spouse. And, O king, while he was living +in the forest, he had neither slaves nor cars, neither brother nor +friends with him. But thou art surrounded by thy heroic brothers like +unto the celestials, and also by foremost regenerate ones like unto +Brahma himself. Therefore, it behoveth thee not to grieve.' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'I am anxious to hear in detail, O thou foremost of +eloquent men, the history of the illustrious Nala. It behoveth thee +therefore to relate it unto me.'" + + +SECTION LIII + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'There was a king named Nala, the son of Virasena. And +he was strong, and handsome, and well-versed in (the knowledge of) +horses, and possessed of every desirable accomplishment. And he was at +the head of all the kings, even like the lord of the celestials. And +exalted over all, he resembled the sun in glory. And he was the king of +the Nishadhas, intent on the welfare of the Brahmanas, versed in the +Vedas, and possessed of heroism. And he was truth-telling, fond of dice, +and the master of a mighty army. And he was the beloved of men and +women, and of great soul and subdued passions. And he was the protector +(of all), and the foremost of bowmen, and like unto Manu himself. And +like him, there was among the Vidarbhas (a king named) Bhima, of +terrible prowess, heroic and well-disposed towards his subjects and +possessed of every virtue. (But withal) he was childless. And with a +fixed mind, he tried his utmost for obtaining issue. And, O Bharata +there came unto him (once) a Brahmarshi named Damana. And, O king of +kings, desirous of having offspring, Bhima, versed in morality, with his +queen gratified that illustrious Rishi by a respectful reception. And +Damana, well-pleased, granted unto the king and his consort a boon in +the form of a jewel of a daughter, and three sons possessed of lofty +souls and great fame. (And they were called respectively) Damayanti, and +Dama and Dama, and illustrious Damana. And the three sons were possessed +of every accomplishment and terrible mien and fierce prowess. And the +slender-waisted Damayanti, in beauty and brightness, in good name and +grace and luck, became celebrated all over the world. And on her +attaining to age, hundreds of hand-maids, and female slaves, decked in +ornaments, waited upon her like _Sachi_ herself. And Bhima's daughter of +faultless features, decked in every ornament, shone in the midst of her +hand-maids, like the luminous lightning of the clouds. And the +large-eyed damsel was possessed of great beauty like that of Sree +herself. And neither among celestials, nor among Yakshas, nor among men +was anybody possessed of such beauty, seen or heard of before. And the +beautiful maiden filled with gladness the hearts of even the gods. And +that tiger among men, Nala also had not his peer in the (three) worlds: +for in beauty he was like _Kandarpa_ himself in his embodied form. And +moved by admiration, the heralds again and again celebrated the praises +of Nala before Damayanti and those of Damayanti before the ruler of the +Nishadhas. And repeatedly hearing of each other's virtues they conceived +an attachment towards each other not begot of sight, and that +attachment, O son of Kunti began to grow in strength. And then Nala was +unable to control the love that was in his bosom. And he began to pass +much of his time in solitude in the gardens adjoining the inner +apartment (of his palace). And there he saw a number of swans furnished +with golden wings, wandering in those woods. And from among them he +caught one with his hands. And thereupon the sky-ranging one said unto +Nala. "Deserve I not to be slain by thee, O king. I will do something +that is agreeable to thee, O king of the Nishadhas. I will speak of thee +before Damayanti in such a way that she will not ever desire to have any +other person (for her lord)." Thus addressed, the king liberated that +swan. And those swans then rose on their wings and went to the country +of the Vidarbhas. And on arriving at the city of the Vidarbhas the birds +alighted before Damayanti, who beheld them all. And Damayanti in the +midst of her maids, beholding those birds of extraordinary appearance +was filled with delight, and strove without loss of time to catch those +coursers of the skies. And the swans at this, before that bevy of +beauties, fled in all directions. And those maidens there pursued the +birds, each (running) after one. And the swan after which Damayanti ran, +having led her to a secluded spot, addressed her in human speech, +saying, O Damayanti, there is a king amongst the Nishadhas named Nala. +He is equal unto the Aswins in beauty, not having his peer among men. +Indeed, in comeliness, he is like _Kandarpa_ himself in his embodied +form. O fair-complexioned one, O thou of slender waist, if thou becomest +his wife, thy existence and this thy beauty may be of purpose. We have, +indeed, beheld celestials and Gandharvas, and Nagas, and Rakshasas, and +men, but never saw we before any one like Nala. Thou also art a jewel +among thy sex, as Nala is the prince among men. The union of the best +with the best is happy." Thus addressed by the swan, Damayanti, O +monarch, replied unto him there, saying, "Do thou speak thus unto Nala +also." Saying _So be it_, to the daughter of Vidarbha, the oviparous +one, O king, returned to the country of the Nishadhas, and related +everything unto Nala.'" + + +SECTION LIV + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'O Bharata, hearing those words of the swan, Damayanti +thenceforth lost all peace of mind on account of Nala. And heaving +frequent sighs she was filled with anxiety, and became melancholy and +pale-faced and lean. And with her heart possessed by the god of love, +she soon lost colour, and with her upturned gaze and modes of +abstraction, looked like one demented. And she lost all inclination for +beds and seats and object of enjoyment. And she ceased to lie down by +day or night, always weeping with exclamation of _Oh!_ and _Alas!_ And +beholding her uneasy and fallen into that condition, her hand-maids +represented, O king, the matter of her illness unto the ruler of +Vidarbha by indirect hints. And king Bhima, hearing of this from the +handmaids of Damayanti, regarded the affair of his daughter to be +serious. And he asked himself, "Why is it that my daughter seemeth to be +so ill now?" And the king, reflecting by himself that his daughter had +attained to puberty, concluded that Damayanti's _Swayamvara_ should take +place. And the monarch, O exalted one, (invited) all the rulers of the +earth, saying, _Ye heroes, know that Damayanti's Swayamvara is at hand_. +And all the kings, hearing of Damayanti's _Swayamvara_, came unto Bhima, +agreeable to his message, filling the earth with the clatter of their +cars, the roar of their elephants, and the neighing of their horses, and +accompanied with their fine-looking battalions decked in ornaments and +graceful garlands. And the mighty-armed Bhima paid due reverence unto +those illustrious monarchs. And duly honoured by him they took up their +quarters there. + +"'And at the juncture, those foremost of celestial Rishis possessed of +great splendour, of great wisdom and great vows--namely, Narada and +Parvata--having arrived in course of their wandering at the regions of +Indra entered the mansion of the lord of the immortals, receiving proper +worship. And Maghavat having worshipped them reverentially, inquired +after their undisturbed peace and welfare as regards all respects. And +Narada said, "O lord, O divine one, peace attendeth us in every respect. +And, O Maghavat, peace attendeth also O exalted one, the kings of the +whole world."' + +"Vrihadaswa continued. 'Hearing the words of Narada the slaver of Vala +and Vritra said, "Those righteous rulers of the earth who fight +renouncing all desire of life, and who meet death when their time is +come by means of weapons, without flying from the field,--theirs is this +region, everlasting unto them and granting all desires, even as it is to +me. Where be those Kshatriya heroes? I do not see those kings approach +(now). Where are my favourite guests?" Thus addressed by Sakra, Narada +replied, "Listen, O Mahaval, why seest not thou the kings (now)? The +ruler of the Vidarbhas hath a daughter--the celebrated Damayanti. In +beauty she transcendeth all the women of the earth. Her _Swayamvara_, O +Sakra, will take place shortly. Thither are going all the kings and +Princes from all directions. And all the lords of the earth desire to +have that pearl of the earth,--desire to have her eagerly, O slaver of +Vala and Vritra." And while they were talking thus, those foremost of +the immortals, the _Lokapalas_ with Agni among them, appeared before the +lord of the celestials. And all of them heard the words of Narada +fraught with grave import. And as soon as they heard them, they +exclaimed in rapture, _We also will go there_. And, O mighty monarch, +accompanied by their attendants and mounted on their (respective) +vehicles, they set out for the country of Vidarbhas, whither (had gone) +all the kings. And, O son of Kunti, the high-souled king Nala also +hearing of that concourse of kings, set out with a cheerful heart, full +of Damayanti's love. And (it came to pass) that the gods saw Nala on the +way treading on the earth. And his form owing to its beauty was like +that of the god of love himself. And beholding him resplendent as the +sun, the _Lokapalas_ were filled with astonishment at his wealth of +beauty, and abandoned their intention. And, O king, leaving their cars +in the sky the dwellers of heaven alighted from the welkin and spake +unto the ruler of the Nishadhas, saying, "O foremost of monarchs ruling +the Nishadhas, O Nala, thou art devoted to truth. Do thou help us. O +best of men, be thou our messenger."'" + + +SECTION LV + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'O Bharata, Nala pledged his word to the +celestials saying, "_I will do it_." And then approaching these, he +asked with folded hands, "Who are ye? And who also is he that desireth +me to be his messenger? And what, further, shall I have to do for you? O +tell me truly!"--When the king of the Nishadhas spoke thus, Maghavat +replied, saying, "Know us as the immortals come hither for Damayanti's +sake. I am Indra, this one is Agni, this the lord of waters, and this, O +king, is even Yama the destroyer of the bodies of men. Do thou inform +Damayanti of our arrival, saying, 'The guardians of the world, +(consisting of) the great Indra and the others, are coming to the +assembly, desirous of beholding (the Swayamvara). The gods, Sakra and +Agni and Varuna and Yama, desire to obtain thee. Do thou, therefore, +choose one of them for thy lord.'" Thus addressed by Sakra, Nala said +with joined hands, "I have come here with the self same object. It +behoveth thee not to send me (on this errand). How can a person who is +himself under the influence of love bring himself to speak thus unto a +lady on behalf of others? Therefore, spare me, ye gods." The gods, +however, said, "O ruler of the Nishadhas, having promised first, saying, +_I will!_ why wilt thou not act accordingly now? O ruler of the +Nishadhas, tell us this without delay."' + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Thus addressed by those celestials, the ruler of +Nishadhas spake again, saying, "Those mansions are well-guarded. How can +I hope to enter them?" Indra replied, "Thou shalt be able to enter." +And, saying, _So be it_, Nala thereupon went to the palace of Damayanti. +And having arrived there, he beheld the daughter of the king of Vidarbha +surrounded by her hand-maids, blazing in beauty and excelling in +symmetry of form, of limbs exceedingly delicate, of slender waist and +fair eyes. And she seemed to rebuke the light of the moon by her own +splendour. And as he gazed on that lady of sweet smiles, Nala's love +increased, but desirous of keeping his truth, he suppressed his passion. +And at the sight of Naishadha, overpowered by his effulgence, those +first of women sprang up from their seats in amazement. And filled with +wonder (at his sight), they praised Nala in gladness of heart. And +without saying anything, they mentally paid him homage, "Oh, what +comeliness! Oh, what gentleness belongeth to this high-souled one! Who +is he? Is he some god or Yaksha or Gandharva?" And those foremost of +women, confounded by Nala's splendour and bashfulness would not accost +him at all in speech. And Damayanti although herself struck with +amazement, smilingly addressed the warlike Nala who also gently smiled +at her, saying, "What art thou, O thou of faultless features, that hast +come here awakening my love? O sinless one, O hero of celestial form, I +am anxious to know who thou art that hast come hither. And why hast thou +come hither? And how is it that thou hast not been discovered by any +one, considering that my apartments are well-guarded and the king's +mandates are stern." Thus addressed by the daughter of the king of the +Vidarbhas, Nala replied, "O beauteous lady, know that my name is Nala. I +come here as the messenger of the gods. The celestials, Sakra, Agni, +Varuna and Yama, desire to have thee. O beautiful lady, do thou choose +one of them for thy lord. It is through their power that I have entered +here unperceived, and it is for this reason that none saw me on my way +or obstructed my entrance. O gentle one, I have been sent by the +foremost of the celestials even for this object. Hearing this, O +fortunate one, do what thou pleasest."'" + + +SECTION LVI + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'Damayanti, having bowed down unto the gods, thus +addressed Nala with a smile, "O king, love me with proper regard, and +command me what I shall do for thee. Myself and what else of wealth is +mine are thine. Grant me, O exalted one, thy love in full trust. O king, +the language of the swans is burning me. It is for thy sake, O hero, +that I have caused the kings to meet. O giver of proper honour, if thou +forsake me who adore thee, for thy sake will I resort to poison, or +fire, or water or the rope." Thus addressed by the daughter of the king +of the Vidarbhas, Nala answered her saying, "With the _Lokapalas_ +present, choosest thou a man? Do thou turn thy heart to those +high-souled lords, the creators of the worlds, unto the dust of whose +feet I am not equal. Displeasing the gods, a mortal cometh by death. +Save me, O thou of faultless limbs! Choose thou the all-excelling +celestials. By accepting the gods, do thou enjoy spotless robes, and +celestial garlands of variegated hues, and excellent ornaments. What +woman would not choose as her lord Hutasana--the chief of the +celestials, who encompassing the earth swalloweth it? What woman would +not choose him as her lord the dread of whose mace induceth all +creatures to tread the path of virtue? And what woman would not choose +as her lord the virtuous and high-souled Mahendra, the lord of the +celestials, the chastiser of Daityas and Danavas? Or, if thou couldst +choose in thy heart Varuna amongst the _Lokapalas_, do so +unhesitatingly. O accept this friendly advice." Thus addressed by +Naishadha, Damayanti, with eyes bathed in tears of grief spake thus unto +Nala, "O lord of the earth, bowing to all the gods, I choose thee for my +lord. Truly do I tell thee this." The king, who had come as the +messenger of the gods, replied unto the trembling Damayanti standing +with folded hands, "O amiable one, do as thou pleasest. Having given my +pledge, O blessed one, unto the gods in especial, how can I, having come +on other's mission, dare seek my own interest? If seeking my own +interest consists with virtue, I will seek it, and do thou also, O +beauteous one, act accordingly." Then Damayanti of luminous smiles +slowly spake unto king Nala, in words choked with tears, "O lord of men +I see a blameless way, by which no sin whatever will attach unto thee. O +king, do thou, O foremost of men, come to the _Swayamvara_ in company +with all the gods headed by Indra. There, O Monarch, in the presence of +the _Lokapalas_ I will, O tiger among men, choose thee--at which no +blame will be thine." Thus addressed, O monarch, by the daughter of +Vidarbha, king Nala returned to where the gods were staying together. +And beholding him approach those great gods, the _Lokapalas_, eagerly +asked him about all that had happened saying, "Hast thou, O king, seen +Damayanti of sweet smiles? What hath she said unto us all? O sinless +monarch, tell us everything." Nala answered, "Commanded by you I entered +Damayanti's palace furnished with lofty portals guarded by veteran +warders bearing wands. And as I entered, no one perceived me, by virtue +of your power, except the princess. And I saw her hand-maids, and they +also saw me. And, O exalted celestials, seeing me, they were filled with +wonder. And as I spake unto her of you, the fair-faced maiden, her will +fixed on me, O ye best of the gods, chose me (for her spouse). And the +maiden said, 'Let the gods, O tiger among men, come with thee to the +_Swayamvara_, I will in their presence, choose thee. At this, O thou of +mighty arms, no blame will attach to thee.' This is all, ye gods, that +took place, as I have said. Finally, everything rests with you, ye +foremost of celestials."'" + + +SECTION LVII + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Then at the sacred hour of the holy lunar day of +the auspicious season, king Bhima summoned the kings to the +_Swayamvara_. And hearing of it, all the lords of earth smit with love +speedily came thither, desirous of (possessing) Damayanti. And the +monarchs entered the amphitheatre decorated with golden pillars and a +lofty portal arch, like mighty lions entering the mountain wilds. And +those lords of earth decked with fragrant garlands and polished +ear-rings hung with jewels seated themselves on their several seats. And +that sacred assembly of Kings, graced by those tigers among men, +resembled the _Bhogavati_ swarming with the Nagas, or a mountain cavern +with tigers. And their arms were robust, and resembling iron maces, and +well-shaped, and graceful, and looking like five-headed snakes. And +graced with beautiful locks and fine noses and eyes and brows, the +countenance of the kings shone like stars in the firmament. And (when +the time came), Damayanti of beauteous face, stealing the eyes and +hearts of the princes by her dazzling light, entered the hall. And the +glances of those illustrious kings were rivetted to those parts of her +person where they had chanced to fall first, without moving at all. And +when, O Bharata, the names of the monarchs were proclaimed, the daughter +of Bhima saw five persons all alike in appearance. And beholding them +seated there, without difference of any kind in form, doubt filled her +mind, and she could not ascertain which of them was king Nala. And at +whomsoever (among them) she looked, she regarded him to be the king of +the Nishadhas. And filled with anxiety, the beautious one thought within +herself, "Oh, how shall I distinguish the celestials, and how discern +the royal Nala?" And thinking thus, the daughter of Vidarbha became +filled with grief. And, O Bharata, recollecting the marks belonging to +the celestials, of which she had heard, she thought, "Those attributes +of the celestials, of which I have heard from the aged, do not pertain +to any of these deities present here upon the earth." And revolving the +matter long in her mind, and reflecting upon it repeatedly, she decided +upon seeking the protection of the gods themselves. And bowing down unto +them with mind and speech, with folded hands, she addressed them +trembling, "Since I heard the speech of the swans, I chose the king of +the Nishadhas as my lord. For the sake of truth, O, let the gods reveal +him to me. And as in thought or word I have never swerved from him, O, +let the gods, for the sake of that truth, reveal him to me. And as the +gods themselves have destined the ruler of the Nishadhas to be my lord, +O, let them, for the sake of that truth, reveal him to me. And as it is +for paying homage unto Nala that I have adopted this vow, for the sake +of that truth, O, let the gods reveal him unto me. O, let the exalted +guardians of the worlds assume their own proper forms, so that I may +know the righteous king." Hearing these piteous words of Damayanti, and +ascertaining her fixed resolve, and fervent love for the king of +Nishadhas, the purity of her heart and her inclination and regard and +affection for Nala, the gods did as they had been adjured, and assumed +their respective attributes as best they could. And thereupon she beheld +the celestials unmoistened with perspiration, with winkless eyes, and +unfading garlands, unstained with dust, and staying without touching the +ground. And Naishadha stood revealed to his shadow, his fading garlands, +himself stained with dust and sweat, resting on the ground with winking +eyes. And, O Bharata, discerning the gods and the virtuous Nala the +daughter of Bhima chose Naishadha according to her truth. And the +large-eyed damsel then bashfully caught the hem of his garment and +placed round his neck a floral wreath of exceeding grace. And when that +fair-complexioned maiden had thus chosen Nala for her husband, the kings +suddenly broke out into exclamations of _Oh!_ and _Alas!_ And, O +Bharata, the gods and the great Rishis in wonder cried _Excellent! +Excellent!_, applauding the king the while. And, O Kauravya, the royal +son of Virasena, with heart filled with gladness, comforted the +beauteous Damayanti, saying, "Since thou, O blessed one, hast chosen a +mortal in the presence of the celestials, know me for a husband even +obedient to thy command. And, O thou of sweet smiles, truly do I tell +thee this that as long as life continueth in this body of mine, I will +remain thine and thine alone." Damayanti also, with folded hands paid +homage unto Nala in words of like import. And the happy pair beholding +Agni and the other gods mentally sought their protection. And after the +daughter of Bhima had chosen Naishadha as her husband, the _Lokapalas_ +of exceeding effulgence with pleased hearts, bestowed on Nala eight +boons. And Sakra, the lord of Sachi, bestowed on Nala the boon that he +should be able to behold his godship in sacrifices and that he should +attain to blessed regions thereafter, and Hutasana bestowed on him the +boon of his own presence whenever Naishadha wished, and regions also +bright as himself. And Yama granted him subtle taste in food as well as +pre-eminence in virtue. And the lord of waters granted Nala his own +presence whenever he desired, and also garlands of celestial fragrance. +And thus each of them bestowed upon him a couple of boons. And having +bestowed these the gods went to heaven. And the kings also, having +witnessed with wonder Damayanti's selection of Nala, returned delighted +whence they had come. And on the departure of those mighty monarchs, the +high-souled Bhima, well pleased, celebrated the wedding of Nala and +Damayanti. And having stayed there for a time according to his desire, +Naishadha, the best of men, returned to his own city with the permission +of Bhima. And having attained that pearl of a woman, the virtuous king, +O monarch, began to pass his days in joy, like the slayer of Vala and +Vritra in the company of Sachi. And resembling the sun in glory, the +king, full of gladness, began to rule his subjects righteously, and give +them great satisfaction. And like unto Yayati, the son of Nahusha, that +intelligent monarch celebrated the horse sacrifice and many other +sacrifices with abundant gifts to Brahmanas. And like unto a very god, +Nala sported with Damayanti in romantic woods and groves. And the +high-minded king begat upon Damayanti a son named Indrasena, and a +daughter named Indrasena. And celebrating sacrifice, and sporting (with +Damayanti) thus, the king ruled the earth abounding in wealth.'" + + +SECTION LVIII + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'When the blazing guardians of the worlds were +returning after the daughter of Bhima had chosen Naishadha, on their way +they met Dwapara with Kali approaching towards them. And seeing Kali, +Sakra the slayer of Vala and Vritra, said, "O Kali, say whither thou art +going with Dwapara." And thereupon Kali replied unto Sakra, "Going to +Damayanti's _Swayamvara_, will I obtain her (for my wife), as my heart +is fixed upon that damsel." Hearing this, Indra said with a smile, "That +_Swayamvara_ is already ended. In our sight she hath chosen Nala for her +husband." Thus answered by Sakra, Kali, that vilest of the celestials, +filled with wrath, addressing all those gods spake, "Since in the +presence of the celestials she hath chosen a mortal for her lord, it is +meet that she should undergo a heavy doom." Upon hearing these words of +Kali, the celestials answered, "It is with our sanction that Damayanti +hath chosen Nala. What damsel is there that would not choose king Nala +endued with every virtue? Well-versed in all duties, always conducting +himself with rectitude, he hath studied the four Vedas together with the +Puranas that are regarded as the fifth. Leading a life of harmlessness +unto all creatures, he is truth-telling and firm in his vows, and in his +house the gods are ever gratified by sacrifices held according to the +ordinance. In that tiger among men--that king resembling a _Lokapala_ +in truth, and forbearance, and knowledge, and asceticism, and purity and +self-control, and perfect tranquillity of soul. O Kali, the fool that +wisheth to curse Nala bearing such a character, curseth himself, and +destroyeth himself by his own act. And, O Kali, he that seeketh to curse +Nala crowned with such virtues, sinketh into the wide bottomless pit of +hell rife with torments." Having said this to Kali and Dwapara, the gods +went to heaven. And when the gods had gone away, Kali said unto Dwapara, +"I am ill able, O Dwapara, to suppress my anger. I shall possess Nala, +deprive him of his kingdom, and he shall no more sport with Bhima's +daughter. Entering the dice, it behoveth thee to help me."'" + + +SECTION LIX + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'Having made this compact with Dwapara, Kali came to +the place where the king of the Nishadhas was. And always watching for a +hole, he continued to dwell in the country of the Nishadhas for a long +time. And it was in the twelfth year that Kali saw a hole. For one day +after answering the call of nature, Naishadha touching water said his +twilight prayers, without having previously washed his feet. And it was +through this (omission) that Kali entered his person. And having +possessed Nala, he appeared before Pushkara, and addressed him, saying, +"Come and play at dice with Nala. Through my assistance thou wilt surely +win at the play. And defeating king Nala and acquiring his kingdom, do +thou rule the Nishadhas." Thus exhorted by Kali, Pushkara went to Nala. +And Dwapara also approached Pushkara, becoming the principal die called +_Vrisha_. And appearing before the warlike Nala, that slayer of hostile +heroes, Pushkara, repeatedly said, "Let us play together with dice." +Thus challenged in the presence of Damayanti, the lofty-minded king +could not long decline it. And he accordingly fixed the time for the +play. And possessed by Kali, Nala began to lose, in the game, his stakes +in gold, and silver, and cars with the teams thereof, and robes. And +maddened at dice, no one amongst his friends could succeed in dissuading +that represser of foes from the play that went on. And thereupon, O +Bharata, the citizens in a body, with the chief councillors, came +thither to behold the distressed monarch and make him desist. And the +charioteer coming to Damayanti spake to her of this, saying, "O lady, +the citizens and officers of the state wait at the gate. Do thou inform +the king of the Nishadhas that the citizens have come here, unable to +bear the calamity that hath befallen their king conversant with virtue +and wealth." Thereupon Bhima's daughter, overwhelmed with grief and +almost deprived of reason by it, spake unto Nala in choked accents, "O +king, the citizens with the councillors of state, urged by loyalty, stay +at the gate desirous of beholding thee. It behoveth thee to grant them +an interview." But the king, possessed by Kali, uttered not a word in +reply unto his queen of graceful glances, uttering thus her +lamentations. And at this, those councillors of state as also the +citizens, afflicted with grief and shame, returned to their homes, +saying, "_He liveth not_." And, O Yudhishthira, it was thus that Nala +and Pushkara gambled together for many months, the virtuous Nala being +always worsted.'" + + +SECTION LX + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'Bhima's daughter, the cool-headed Damayanti, seeing +the righteous king maddened and deprived of his senses at dice, was +filled, O king, with alarm and grief. And she thought the affair to be a +serious one with the king. And apprehensive of the calamity that +threatened Nala, yet seeking his welfare and at last understanding that +her lord had lost everything, she said unto her nurse and maid-servant +Vrihatsena of high fame, intent upon her good, dexterous in all duties, +faithful and sweet-speeched, these words, "O Vrihatsena, go thou and +summon the councillors in the name of Nala, and tell them also what of +wealth and other things hath been lost and what remaineth." The +councillors then, hearing of Nala's summons, said, "This is fortunate +for us" and approached the king. And when the subjects in a body had +(thus) come a second time, the daughter of Bhima informed Nala of it. +But the king regarded her not. Finding her husband disregarding her +words, Damayanti, filled with shame, returned to her apartments. And +hearing that the dice were uniformly unfavourable to the virtuous Nala, +and that he had lost everything, she again spake unto her nurse, saying, +"O Vrihatsena, go thou again in Nala's name to bring hither, O blessed +one, the charioteer, Varshneya. The matter at hand is very serious." And +Vrihatsena, hearing those words of Damayanti caused Varshneya to be +summoned by trusty servants. And the blameless daughter of Bhima, +acquainted with conduct suitable to time and place, addressing soft +words said according to the occasion, "Thou knowest how the king hath +always behaved towards thee. He is now in difficulty, and it behoveth +thee to assist him. The more the king loseth to Pushkara, the greater +becometh his ardour for the play. And as the dice fall obedient to +Pushkara, it is seen that they are adverse to Nala in the matter of the +play. And absorbed in the play, he heedeth not the words of his friends +and relatives, nor even those of mine. I do not think, however, that in +this the high-souled Naishadha is to blame, in as much as the king +regarded not my words, being absorbed in play. O Charioteer, I seek thy +protection. Do my behest. My mind misgiveth me. The king may come to +grief. Yoking Nala's favourite horses endued with the fleetness of the +mind, do thou take these twins (my son and daughter) on the car and hie +thou to Kundina. Leaving the children there with my kindred as also the +car and the horses, either stay thou there, or go to any other place as +it listeth thee." Varshneya, the charioteer of Nala, then reported in +detail these words of Damayanti unto the chief officers of the king. And +having settled (the matter) in consultation with them, and obtaining +their assent, O mighty monarch, the charioteer started for Vidarbha, +taking the children on that car. And leaving there the boy Indrasena and +the girl Indrasena, as also that best of cars and those steeds, the +charioteer, with a sad heart grieving for Nala, bade farewell unto +Bhima. And wandering for some time, he arrived at the city of Ayodhya. +And there he appeared with a sorrowful heart before king Rituparna, and +entered the service of that monarch as charioteer.'" + + +SECTION LXI + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'After Varshneya had gone away, Pushkara won from the +righteous Nala that latter's kingdom and what else of wealth he had. And +unto Nala, O king, who had lost his kingdom, Pushkara laughingly said, +"Let the play go on. But what stake hast thou now? Damayanti only +remaineth; all else of thine hath been won by me. Well, if thou likest, +that Damayanti be our stake now." Hearing these words of Pushkara the +virtuous king felt as if his heart would burst in rage, but he spake not +a word. And gazing at Pushkara in anguish, king Nala of great fame took +all the ornaments off every part of his body. And attired in a single +piece of cloth, his body uncovered, renouncing all his wealth, and +enhancing the grief of friends, the king set out. And Damayanti, clad in +one piece of cloth, followed him behind as he was leaving the city. And +coming to the outskirts of the city, Nala stayed there for three nights +with his wife. But Pushkara, O king, proclaimed through the city that +_he that should show any attention to Nala, would be doomed to death_. +And on account of these words of Pushkara and knowing his malice towards +Nala, the citizens, O Yudhishthira, no longer showed him hospitable +regards. And unregarded though deserving of hospitable regards, Nala +passed three nights in the outskirts of the city, living on water alone. +And afflicted with hunger, the king went away in search of fruit and +roots, Damayanti following him behind. And in agony of famine, after +many days, Nala saw some birds with plumage of golden hue. And thereupon +the mighty lord of the Nishadhas thought within himself, "These will be +my banquet today and also my wealth." And then he covered them with the +cloth he had on--when bearing up that garment of his, the birds rose up +to the sky. And beholding Nala nude and melancholy, and standing with +face turned towards the ground, those rangers of the sky addressed him, +saying, "O thou of small sense, we are even those dice. We had come +hither wishing to take away thy cloth, for it pleased us not that thou +shouldst depart even with thy cloth on." And finding himself deprived of +his attire, and knowing also that the dice were departing (with it), the +virtuous Nala, O king, thus spake unto Damayanti, "O faultless one, they +through whose anger I have been despoiled of my kingdom, they through +whose influence distressed and afflicted with hunger, I am unable to +procure sustenance, they for whom the Nishadhas offered me not any +hospitality, they, O timid one, are carrying off my cloth, assuming the +form of birds. Fallen into this dire disaster, I am afflicted with grief +and deprived of my senses, I am thy lord, do thou, therefore, listen to +the words I speak for thy good. These many roads lead to the southern +country, passing by (the city of) Avanti and the Rikshavat mountains. +This is that mighty mountain called Vindhya; yon, the river Payasvini +running sea-wards, and yonder are the asylums of the ascetics, furnished +with various fruit and roots. This road leadeth to the country of the +Vidarbhas--and that, to the country of the Kosalas. Beyond these roads +to the south is the southern country." Addressing Bhima's daughter, O +Bharata, the distressed king Nala spake those words unto Damayanti over +and over again. Thereupon afflicted with grief, in a voice choked with +tears, Damayanti spake unto Naishadha these piteous words, "O king, +thinking of thy purpose, my heart trembleth, and all my limbs become +faint. How can I go, leaving thee in the lone woods despoiled of thy +kingdom and deprived of thy wealth, thyself without a garment on, and +worn with hunger and toil? When in the deep woods, fatigued and +afflicted with hunger, thou thinkest of thy former bliss, I will, O +great monarch, soothe thy weariness. In every sorrow there is no physic +equal unto the wife, say the physicians. It is the truth, O Nala, that I +speak unto thee." Hearing those words of his queen, Nala replied, "O +slender-waisted Damayanti, it is even as thou hast said. To a man in +distress, there is no friend or medicine that is equal unto a wife. But +I do not seek to renounce thee, wherefore, O timid one, dost thou dread +this? O faultless one, I can forsake myself but thee I cannot forsake." +Damayanti then said, "If thou dost not, O mighty king, intend to forsake +me, why then dost thou point out to me the way to the country of the +Vidarbhas? I know, O king, that thou wouldst not desert me. But, O lord +of the earth, considering that thy mind is distracted, thou mayst desert +me. O best of men, thou repeatedly pointest out to me the way and it is +by this, O god-like one, that thou enhancest my grief. If it is thy +intention that I should go to my relatives, then if it pleaseth thee, +both of us will wend to the country of the Vidarbhas. O giver of +honours, there the king of the Vidarbhas will receive thee with respect. +And honoured by him, O king, thou shall live happily in our home."'" + + +SECTION LXII + +"'Nala said, "Surely, thy father's kingdom is as my own. But thither I +will not, by any means, repair in this extremity. Once I appeared there +in glory, increasing thy joy. How can I go there now in misery, +augmenting thy grief?"' + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Saying this again and again unto Damayanti, king +Nala, wrapped in half a garment, comforted his blessed wife. And both +attired in one cloth and wearied with hunger and thirst, in course of +their wanderings, at last they came to a sheltered shed for travellers. +And arrived at this place, the king of the Nishadhas sat down on the +bare earth with the princess of Vidarbha. And wearing the same piece of +cloth (with Damayanti), and dirty, and haggard, and stained with dust, +he fell asleep with Damayanti on the ground in weariness. And suddenly +plunged in distress, the innocent and delicate Damayanti with every mark +of good fortune, fell into a profound slumber. And, O monarch, while she +slept, Nala, with heart and mind distraught, could not slumber calmly as +before. And reflecting on the loss of his kingdom, the desertion of his +friends, and his distress in the woods, he thought with himself, "What +availeth my acting thus? And what if I act not thus? Is death the better +for me now? Or should I desert my wife? She is truly devoted to me and +suffereth this distress for my sake. Separated from me, she may +perchance wander to her relatives. Devoted as she is to me, if she +stayeth with me, distress will surely be hers; while it is doubtful, if +I desert her. On the other hand, it is not unlikely that she may even +have happiness some time." Reflecting upon this repeatedly, and thinking +of it again and again, he concluded, O monarch, that the desertion of +Damayanti was the best course for him. And he also thought, "Of high +fame and auspicious fortune, and devoted to me, her husband, she is +incapable of being injured by any one on the way on account of her +energy." Thus his mind that was influenced by the wicked Kali, dwelling +upon Damayanti, was made up for deserting her. And then thinking of his +own want of clothing, and of her being clad in a single garment, he +intended to cut off for himself one half of Damayanti's attire. And he +thought, "How shall I divide this garment, so that my beloved one may +not perceive?" And thinking of this, the royal Nala began to walk up and +down that shed. And, O Bharata, pacing thus to and fro, he found a +handsome sword lying near the shed, unsheathed. And that repressor of +foes, having with that sword cut off one half of the cloth, and throwing +the instrument away, left the daughter of Vidharbha insensible in her +sleep and went away. But his heart failing him, the king of the +Nishadhas returned to the shed, and seeing Damayanti (again), burst into +tears. And he said, "Alas! that beloved one of mine whom neither the god +of wind nor the sun had seen before, even she sleepeth to-day on the +bare earth, like one forlorn. Clad in this severed piece of cloth, and +lying like one distracted, how will the beauteous one of luminous smiles +behave when she awaketh? How will the beautiful daughter of Bhima, +devoted to her lord, all alone and separated from me, wander through +these deep woods inhabited by beasts and serpents? O blessed one, may +the Adityas and the Vasus, and the twin Aswins together with the Marutas +protect thee, thy virtue being thy best guard." And addressing thus his +dear wife peerless on earth in beauty, Nala strove to go, reft of reason +by Kali. Departing and still departing, king Nala returned again and +again to that shed, dragged away by Kali but drawn back by love. And it +seemed as though the heart of the wretched king was rent in twain, and +like a swing, he kept going out from cabin and coming back into it. At +length after lamenting long and piteously, Nala stupefied and bereft of +sense by Kali went away, forsaking that sleeping wife of his. Reft of +reason through Kali's touch, and thinking of his conduct, the king +departed in sorrow, leaving his wife alone in that solitary forest.'" + + +SECTION LXIII + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'O king, after Nala had gone away, the beauteous +Damayanti, now refreshed, timorously awoke in that lonely forest. And O +mighty monarch, not finding her lord Naishadha, afflicted with grief and +pain, she shrieked aloud in fright, saying, "O lord? O mighty monarch! O +husband, dost thou desert me? Oh, I am lost and undone, frightened in +this desolate place. O illustrious prince, thou art truthful in speech, +and conversant with morality. How hast thou then, having pledged thy +word, deserted me asleep in the woods? Oh, why hast thou deserted thy +accomplished wife, ever devoted to thee, particularly one that hath not +wronged thee, though wronged thou hast been by others? O king of men, it +behoveth thee to act faithfull, according to those words thou hadst +spoken unto me before in the presence of the guardians of the worlds. O +bull among men, that thy wife liveth even a moment after thy desertion +of her, is only because mortals are decreed to die at the appointed +time. O bull among men, enough of this joke! O irrepressible one, I am +terribly frightened. O lord, show thyself. I see thee! I see thee, o +king! Thou art seen, O Naishadha. Hiding thyself behind those shrubs, +why dost thou not reply unto me? It is cruel of thee, O great king, that +seeing me in this plight and so lamenting, thou dost not, O king, +approach and comfort me. I grieve not for myself, nor for anything else. +I only grieve to think how thou wilt pass thy days alone, O king. In the +evening oppressed with hunger and thirst and fatigue, underneath the +trees, how wilt it take with thee when thou seest me not?" And then +Damayanti, afflicted with anguish and burning with grief, began to rush +hither and thither, weeping in woe. And now the helpless princess sprang +up, and now she sank down in stupor; and now she shrank in terror, and +now she wept and wailed aloud. And Bhima's daughter devoted to her +husband, burning in anguish and sighing ever more, and faint and weeping +exclaimed, "That being through whose imprecation the afflicted Naishadha +suffereth this woe, shall bear grief that is greater than ours. May that +wicked being who hath brought Nala of sinless heart this, lead a more +miserable life bearing greater ills." Thus lamenting, the crowned +consort of the illustrious (king) began to seek her lord in those woods, +inhabited by beasts of prey. And the daughter of Bhima, wailing +bitterly, wandered hither and thither like a maniac, exclaiming, _"Alas! +Alas! Oh king!"_ And as she was wailing loudly like a female osprey, and +grieving and indulging in piteous lamentations unceasingly, she came +near a gigantic serpent. And that huge and hungry serpent thereupon +suddenly seized Bhima's daughter, who had come near and was moving about +within its range. And folded within serpent's coils and filled with +grief, she still wept, not for herself but for Naishadha. And she said +"O lord, why dost thou not rush towards me, now that I am seized, +without anybody to protect me, by this serpent in these desert wilds? +And, O Naishadha, how will it fare with thee when thou rememberest me? O +lord, why hast thou gone away, deserting me today in the forest? Free +from thy curse, when thou wilt have regained thy mind and senses and +wealth, how will it be with thee when thou thinkest of me? O Naishadha, +O sinless one, who will soothe thee when thou art weary, and hungry, and +fainting, O tiger among kings?" And while she was wailing thus, a +certain huntsman ranging the deep woods, hearing her lamentations, +swiftly came to the spot. And beholding the large-eyed one in the coils +of the serpent, he pushed towards it and cut off its head with his sharp +weapon. And having struck the reptile dead, the huntsman set Damayanti +free. And having sprinkled her body with water and fed and comforted +her, O Bharata, he addressed her saying, "O thou with eyes like those of +a young gazelle, who art thou? And why also hast thou come into the +woods? And, O beauteous one, how hast thou fallen into this extreme +misery?" And thus accosted, O monarch, by that man, Damayanti, O +Bharata, related unto him all that had happened. And beholding that +beautiful woman clad in half a garment, with deep bosom and round hips, +and limbs delicate and faultless, and face resembling the full moon, and +eyes graced with curved eye-lashes, and speech sweet as honey, the +hunter became inflamed with desire. And afflicted by the god of love, +the huntsman began to soothe her in winning voice and soft words. And as +soon as the chaste and beauteous Damayanti, beholding him understood his +intentions, she was filled with fierce wrath and seemed to blaze up in +anger. But the wicked-minded wretch, burning with desire became wroth, +attempted to employ force upon her, who was unconquerable as a flame of +blazing fire. And Damayanti already distressed upon being deprived of +husband and kingdom, in that hour of grief beyond utterance, cursed him +in anger, saying, "I have never even thought of any other person than +Naishadha, therefore let this mean-minded wretch subsisting on chase, +fall down lifeless." And as soon as she said this, the hunter fell down +lifeless upon the ground, like a tree consumed by fire.'" + + +SECTION LXIV + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Having destroyed that hunter Damayanti of eyes +like lotus leaves, went onwards through that fearful and solitary forest +ringing with the chirp of crickets. And it abounded with lions, and +leopards, and _Rurus_ and tigers, and buffaloes, and bears and deer. And +it swarmed with birds of various species, and was infested by thieves +and _mlechchha_ tribes. And it contained _Salas_, and bamboos and +_Dhavas_, and _Aswatthas_, and _Tindukas_ and _Ingudas_, and _Kinsukas_, +and _Arjunas_, and _Nimvas_, and _Tinisas_ and _Salmalas_, and _Jamvus_, +and mango trees, and _Lodhras_, and the catechu, and the cane, and +_Padmakas_, and _Amalahas_, and _Plakshas_, and _Kadamvas_, and +_Udumvaras_ and _Vadaras_, and _Vilwas_, and banians, and _Piyalas_, and +palms, and date-trees, and _Haritakas_ and _Vibhitakas_. And the +princess of Vidarbha saw many mountains containing ores of various +kinds, and groves resounding with the notes of winged choirs, and many +glens of wondrous sight, and many rivers and lakes and tanks and various +kinds of birds and beasts. And she saw numberless snakes and goblins and +_Rakshasas_ of grim visage, and pools and tanks and hillocks, and brooks +and fountains of wonderful appearance. And the princess of Vidarbha saw +there herds of buffaloes, and boars, and bears as well as serpents of +the wilderness. And safe in virtue and glory and good fortune and +patience, Damayanti wandered through those woods alone, in search of +Nala. And the royal daughter of Bhima, distressed only at her separation +from her lord, was not terrified at aught in that fearful forest. And, O +king, seating herself down upon a stone and filled with grief, and every +limb of hers trembling with sorrow on account of her husband, she began +to lament thus: "O king of the Nishadhas, O thou of broad chest and +mighty arms, whither hast thou gone, O king, leaving me in this lone +forest? O hero, having performed the _Aswamedha_ and other sacrifices, +with gifts in profusion (unto the Brahmanas), why hast thou, O tiger +among men, played false with me alone? O best of men, O thou of great +splendour, it behoveth thee, O auspicious one, to remember what thou +didst declare before me, O bull among kings! And, O monarch, it behoveth +thee also to call to mind what the sky-ranging swans spake in thy +presence and in mine. O tiger among men, the four Vedas in all their +extent, with the Angas and the Upangas, well-studied, on one side, and +one single truth on the other, (are equal). Therefore, O slayer of foes, +it behoveth thee, O lord of men, to make good what thou didst formerly +declare before me. Alas, O hero! warrior! O Nala! O sinless one being +thine, I am about to perish in this dreadful forest. Oh! wherefore dost +thou not answer me? This terrible lord of the forest, of grim visage and +gaping jaws, and famishing with hunger, filleth me with fright. Doth it +not behove thee to deliver me? Thou wert wont to say always, _Save thee +there existeth not one dear unto me_. O blessed one, O king, do thou now +make good thy words so spoken before. And, O king, why dost thou not +return an answer to thy beloved wife bewailing and bereft of sense, +although thou lovest her, being loved in return? O king of the earth, O +respected one, O represser of foes, O thou of large eyes, why dost thou +not regard me, emaciated, and distressed and pale, and discoloured, and +clad in a half piece of cloth, and alone, and weeping, and lamenting +like one forlorn, and like unto a solitary doe separated from the herd? +O illustrious sovereign, it is, I, Damayanti, devoted to thee, who, +alone in this great forest, address thee. Wherefore, then, dost thou not +reply unto me? Oh, I do not behold thee today on this mountain, O chief +of men, O thou of noble birth and character with every limb possessed of +grace! In this terrible forest, haunted by lions and tigers, O king of +the Nishadhas, O foremost of men, O enhancer of my sorrows, (Wishing to +know) whether thou art lying down, or sitting, or standing, or gone, +whom shall I ask, distressed and woe-stricken on thy account, saying, +_Hast thou seen in this woods the royal Nala?_ Of whom shall I in this +forest enquire after the departed Nala, handsome and of high soul, and +the destroyer of hostile arrays? From whom shall I today hear the sweet +words, _viz_., _That royal Nala, of eyes like lotus-leaves, whom thou +seekest, is even here?_ Yonder cometh the forest-king, that tiger of +graceful mien, furnished with four teeth and prominent cheeks. Even him +will I accost fearlessly: Thou art the lord of all animals, and of this +forest the king. Know me for Damayanti, the daughter of the king of the +Vidarbhas, and the wife of Nala, destroyer of foes, and the king of the +Nishadhas. Distressed and woe-stricken, I am seeking my husband alone in +these woods. Do thou, O king of beasts, comfort me (with news of Nala) +if thou hast seen him. Or, O lord of the forest, if thou cannot speak of +Nala, do thou, then, O best of beasts, devour me, and free me from this +misery. Alas! hearing my plaintive appeal in the wilderness, this king +of mountains, this high and sacred hill, crested with innumerable +heaven-kissing and many-hued and beauteous peaks, and abounding in +various ores, and decked with gems of diverse kings, and rising like a +banner over this broad forest, and ranged by lions and tigers and +elephants and boars and bears and stags, and echoing all around with +(the notes of) winged creatures of various species, and adorned with +_kinsukas_ and _Asokas_ and _Vakulas_ and _Punnagas_, with blossoming +_Karnikaras_, and _Dhavas_ and _Plakshas_, and with streams haunted by +waterfowls of every kind, and abounding in crested summits, O sacred +one! O best of mountains! O thou of wondrous sight! O celebrated hill! O +refuge (of the distressed)! O highly auspicious one! I bow to thee, O +pillar of the earth! Approaching, I bow to thee. Know me for a king's +daughter, and a king's daughter-in-law, and king's consort, Damayanti by +name that lord of earth who ruleth the Vidarbhas, that mighty +warrior-king Bhima by name, who protecteth the four orders, is my sire. +That best of kings celebrated the _Rajasuya_ and _Aswamedha_ sacrifices, +with profuse gifts to the Brahmanas. Possessed of beautiful and large +eyes, distinguished for devotion to the Vedas, of unblemished character, +truth-telling, devoid of guile, gentle, endued with prowess, lord of +immense wealth, versed in morality, and pure, he having vanquished all +his foes, effectually protecteth the inhabitants of Vidarbha. Know me, O +holy one, for his daughter, thus come to thee. That best of men--the +celebrated ruler of the Nishadha--known by the name of Virasena of high +fame, was my father-in-law. The son of that king, heroic and handsome +and possessed of energy incapable of being baffled, who ruleth well the +kingdom which hath descended to him from his father, is named Nala. +Know, O mountain, that of that slayer of foes, called also _Punyastoka_, +possessed of the complexion of gold, and devoted to the Brahmanas, and +versed in the Vedas, and gifted with eloquence,--of that righteous and +_Soma_-quaffing and fire-adoring king, who celebrateth sacrifices and is +liberal and warlike and who adequately chastiseth (criminals), I am the +innocent spouse--the chief of his queens--standing before thee. +Despoiled of prosperity and deprived of (the company of my) husband +without a protector, and afflicted with calamity, hither have I come, O +best of mountains, seeking my husband. Hast thou, O foremost of +mountains, with thy hundreds of peaks towering (into the sky) seen king +Nala in this frightful forest? Hast thou seen my husband, that ruler of +the Nishadhas, the illustrious Nala, with the tread of a mighty +elephant, endued with intelligence, long-armed, and of fiery energy, +possessed of prowess and patience and courage and high fame? Seeing me +bewailing alone, overwhelmed with sorrow, wherefore, O best of +mountains, dost thou not today soothe me with thy voice, as thy own +daughter in distress? O hero, O warrior of prowess, O thou versed in +every duty, O thou adhering to truth--O lord of the earth, if thou art +in this forest, then, O king, reveal thyself unto me. Oh, when shall I +again hear the voice of Nala, gentle and deep as that of the clouds, +that voice, sweet as _Amrita_, of the illustrious king, calling me +_Vidharva's daughter_, with accents distinct, and holy, and musical as +the chanting of the Vedas and rich, and soothing all my sorrows. O king, +I am frightened. Do thou, O virtuous one, comfort me." + +"'Having addressed that foremost of mountain thus, Damayanti then went +in a northerly direction. And having proceeded three days and nights, +that best of women came to an incomparable penance grove of ascetics, +resembling in beauty a celestial grove. And the charming asylum she +beheld was inhabited and adorned by ascetics like Vasishtha and Bhrigu +and Atri, self-denying and strict in diet, with minds under control, +endued with holiness, some living on water, some on air, and some on +(fallen) leaves, with passions in check, eminently blessed, seeking the +way to heaven, clad in barks of trees and deer-skins, and with senses +subdued. And beholding that hermitage inhabited by ascetics, and +abounding in herds of deer and monkeys, Damayanti was cheered. And that +best of women, the innocent and blessed Damayanti, with graceful +eye-brows, and long tresses, with lovely hips and deep bosom, and face +graced with fine teeth and with fine black and large eyes, in her +brightness and glory entered that asylum. And saluting those ascetics +grown old in practising austerities, she stood in an attitude of +humility. And the ascetics living in that forest, said, _Welcome!_ And +those men of ascetic wealth, paying her due homage, said, "Sit ye down, +and tell us what we may do for thee." That best of women replied unto +them, saying, "Ye sinless and eminently blessed ascetics, is it well +with your austerities, and sacrificial fire, and religious observances, +and the duties of your own order? And is it well with the beasts and +birds of this asylum?" And they answered, "O beauteous and illustrious +lady, prosperity attendeth us in every respect. But, O thou of faultless +limbs, tell us who thou art, and what thou seekest. Beholding thy +beauteous form and thy bright splendour, we have been amazed. Cheer up +and mourn not. Tell us, O blameless and blessed one, art thou the +presiding deity of this forest, or of this mountain, or of this river?" +Damayanti replied unto those ascetics, saying, "O Brahmanas, I am not +the goddess of this forest, or of this mountain, or of this stream. O +Rishis of ascetic wealth, know that I am a human being. I will relate my +history in detail. Do ye listen to me. There is a king--the mighty ruler +of the Vidarbhas--Bhima by name. O foremost of regenerate ones, know me +to be his daughter. The wise ruler of the Nishadhas, Nala by name, of +great celebrity, heroic, and ever victorious in battle, and learned, is +my husband. Engaged in the worship of the gods, devoted to the +twice-born ones, the guardian of the line of the Nishadhas, of mighty +energy, possessed of great strength, truthful, conversant with all +duties, wise, unwavering in promise, the crusher of foes, devout, +serving the gods, graceful, the conqueror of hostile towns, that +foremost of kings, Nala by name, equal in splendour unto the lord of +celestials, the slayer of foes, possessed of large eyes, and a hue +resembling the full moon, is my husband. The celebrator of great +sacrifices, versed in the Vedas and their branches, the destroyer of +enemies in battle, and like unto the sun and the moon in splendour, is +he. That king devoted to faith and religion was summoned to dice by +certain deceitful persons of mean mind and uncultured soul and of +crooked ways, and skilful in gambling, and was deprived of wealth and +kingdom. Know that I am the wife of that bull among kings, known to all +by the name of Damayanti, anxious to find out my (missing) lord. In +sadness of heart am I wandering among woods, and mountains, and lakes, +and rivers, and tanks and forests, in search of that husband of +mine--Nala, skilled in battle, high-souled, and well-versed in the use +of weapons. O hath king Nala, the lord of the Nishadhas, come to this +delightful asylum of your holy selves? It is for him, O Brahmanas, that +I have come to this dreary forest full of terrors and haunted by tigers +and other beasts. If I do not see king Nala within a few days and +nights, I shall seek my good by renouncing this body. Of what use is my +life without that bull among men? How shall I live afflicted with grief +on account of my husband?" + +"'Unto Bhima's daughter, Damayanti, lamenting forlorn in that forest, +the truth-telling ascetics replied, saying, "O blessed and beauteous +one, we see by ascetic power that the future will bring happiness to +thee, and that thou wilt soon behold Naishadha. O daughter of Bhima, +thou wilt behold Nala, the lord of the Nishadhas, the slayer of foes, +and the foremost of the virtuous freed from distress. And O blessed +lady, thou wilt behold the king--thy lord--freed from all sins and +decked with all kinds of gems, and ruling the selfsame city, and +chastising his enemies, and striking terror into the hearts of foes, and +gladdening the hearts of friends, and crowned with every blessing." + +"'Having spoken unto that princess--the beloved queen of Nala--the +ascetics with their sacred fires and asylum vanished from sight. And +beholding that mighty wonder, the daughter-in-law of king Virasena, +Damayanti of faultless limbs, was struck with amazement. And she asked +herself, "Was it a dream that I saw? What an occurrence hath taken +place! Where are all those ascetics? And where is that asylum? Where, +further, is that delightful river of sacred waters--the resort of +diverse kinds of fowls? And where, again, are those charming trees +decked with fruits and flowers?" And after thinking so for some time, +Bhima's daughter, Damayanti of sweet smiles melancholy and afflicted +with grief on account of her lord, lost the colour of her face (again). +And going to another part of the wood, she saw an _Asoka_ tree. And +approaching that first of trees in the forest, so charming with blossoms +and its load of foliage, and resounding with the notes of birds, +Damayanti, with tears in her eyes and accents choked in grief, began to +lament, saying, "Oh, this graceful tree in the heart of the forest, +decked in flowers, looketh beautiful, like a charming king of hills. O +beauteous _Asoka_, do thou speedily free me from grief. Hast thou seen +king Nala, the slayer of foes and the beloved husband of +Damayanti,--freed from fear and grief and obstacles? Hast thou seen my +beloved husband, the ruler of the Nishadhas, clad in half a piece of +cloth, with delicate skin, that hero afflicted with woe and who hath +come into this wilderness? O _Asoka_ tree, do thou free me from grief! O +_Asoka_, vindicate thy name, for _Asoka_ meaneth _destroyer of grief_." +And going round that tree thrice, with an afflicted heart, that best of +women, Bhima's daughter, entered a more terrible part of the forest. And +wandering in quest of her lord, Bhima's daughter beheld many trees and +streams and delightful mountains, and many beasts and birds, and caves, +and precipices, and many rivers of wonderful appearance. And as she +proceeded she came upon a broad way where she saw with wonder a body of +merchants, with their horses and elephants, landing on the banks of a +river, full of clear and cool water, and lovely and charming to behold, +and broad, and covered with bushes of canes, and echoing with the cries +of cranes and ospreys and _Chakravakas_, and abounding in tortoises and +alligators and fishes, and studded with innumerable islets. And as soon +as she saw that caravan, the beauteous and celebrated wife of Nala, +wild like a maniac, oppressed with grief, clad in half a garment, lean +and pale and smutted, and with hair covered with dust, drew near and +entered into its midst. And beholding her, some fled in fear, and some +became extremely anxious, and some cried aloud, and some laughed at her, +and some hated her. And some, O Bharata, felt pity for, and even +addressed, her, saying, "O blessed one, who art thou, and whose? What +seekest thou in woods? Seeing thee here we have been terrified. Art thou +human? Tell us truly, O blessed one if thou art the goddess of this wood +or of this mountain or of the points of the heaven. We seek thy +protection. Art thou a female _Yaksha_, or a female _Rakshasa_, or a +celestial damsel? O thou of faultless features, do thou bless us wholly +and protect us. And, O blessed one, do thou so act that this caravan may +soon go hence in prosperity and that the welfare of all of us may be +secured." Thus addressed by that caravan, the princess Damayanti, +devoted to her husband and oppressed by the calamity that had befallen +her, answered, saying, "O leader of the caravan, ye merchants, ye +youths, old men, and children, and ye that compose this caravan, know me +for a human being. I am the daughter of a king, and the daughter in-law +of a king, and the consort also of a king, eager for the sight of my +lord. The ruler of the Vidarbhas is my father, and my husband is the +lord of the Nishadhas, named Nala. Even now I am seeking that +unvanquished and blessed one. If ye have chanced to see my beloved one, +king Nala, that tiger among men, that destroyer of hostile hosts, O tell +me quick." Thereupon the leader of that great caravan, named Suchi, +replied unto Damayanti of faultless limbs, saying, "O blessed one, +listen to my words. O thou of sweet smiles, I am a merchant and the +leader of this caravan. O illustrious lady, I have not seen any man of +the name of Nala. In this extensive forest uninhabited by men, there are +only elephants and leopards and buffaloes, and tigers and bears and +other animals. Except thee, I have not met with any man or woman here, +so help us now Manibhadra, the king of Yakshas!" Thus addressed by them +she asked those merchants as well as the leader of the host saying, "It +behoveth you to tell me whither this caravan is bound." The leader of +the band said, "O daughter of a great king, for the purpose of profit +this caravan is bound direct for the city of Suvahu, the truth-telling +ruler of the Chedis."'" + + +SECTION LXV + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'Having heard the words of the leader of that caravan, +Damayanti of faultless limbs proceeded with that caravan itself anxious +to behold her lord. And after having proceeded for many days the +merchants saw a large lake fragrant with lotuses in the midst of that +dense and terrible forest. And it was beautiful all over, and +exceedingly delightful, (with banks) abounding in grass and fuel and +fruits and flowers. And it was inhabited by various kinds of fowls and +birds, and full of water that was pure and sweet. And it was cool and +capable of captivating the heart. And the caravan, worn out with toil, +resolved to halt there. And with the permission of their leader, they +spread themselves around those beautiful woods. And that mighty caravan +finding it was evening halted at that place. And (it came to pass that) +at the hour of midnight when everything was hushed and still and the +tired caravan had fallen asleep, a herd of elephants in going towards a +mountain stream to drink of its water befouled by their temporal juice, +saw that caravan as also the numerous elephants belonging to it. And +seeing their domesticated fellows the wild elephants infuriated and with +the temporal juice trickling down rushed impetuously on the former, with +the intention of killing them. And the force of the rush of those +elephants was hard to bear, like the impetuosity of peaks lessened from +mountain summits rolling towards the plain. The rushing elephants found +the forest paths to be all blocked up, for the goodly caravan was +sleeping obstructing the paths around that lake of lotuses. And the +elephants all of a sudden, began to crush the men lying insensible on +the ground. And uttering cries of "_Oh!_" and "_Alas!_" the merchants, +blinded by sleep, fled, in order to escape that danger, to copses and +woods for refuge. And some were slain by the tusks, and some by the +trunks, and some by the legs of those elephants. And innumerable camels +and horses were killed, and crowds of men on foot, running in fright, +killed one another. And uttering loud cries some fell down on the +ground, and some in fear climbed on trees, and some dropped down on +uneven ground. And, O king, thus accidentally attacked by that large herd +of elephants, that goodly caravan suffered a great loss. And there arose +a tremendous uproar calculated to frighten the three worlds, "Lo! a +great fire hath broken out. Rescue us. Do ye speedily fly away. Why do +ye fly? Take the heaps of jewels scattered around. All this wealth is a +trifle. I do not speak falsely, I tell you again, (exclaimed some one) +think on my words, O ye distracted one!" With such exclamation they ran +about in fright. And Damayanti awoke in fear and anxiety, while that +terrible slaughter was raging there. And beholding slaughter capable of +awaking the fear of all the worlds, and which was so unforeseen, the +damsel of eyes like lotus leaves rose up, wild with fright, and almost +out of breath. And those of the caravan that had escaped unhurt, met +together, and asked one another, "Of what deed of ours is this the +consequence? Surely, we have failed to worship the illustrious +Manibhadras, and likewise the exalted and graceful Vaisravana, the king +of the Yaksha. Perhaps, we have not worshipped the deities that cause +calamities, or perhaps, we have not paid them the first homage. Or, +perhaps, this evil is the certain consequence of the birds (we saw). Our +stars are not unpropitious. From what other cause, then hath this +disaster come?" Others, distressed and bereft of wealth and relatives, +said, "That maniac-like woman who came amongst this mighty caravan in +guise that was strange and scarcely human, alas, it is by her that this +dreadful illusion had been pre-arranged. Of a certainty, she is a +terrible Rakshasa or a Yaksha or a Pisacha woman. All this evil is her +work, what need of doubts? If we again see that wicked destroyer of +merchants, that giver of innumerable woes, we shall certainly slay that +injurer of ours, with stones, and dust, and grass, and wood, and cuffs." +And hearing these dreadful words of the merchants, Damayanti, in terror +and shame and anxiety, fled into the woods apprehensive of evil. And +reproaching herself she said, "Alas! fierce and great is the wrath of +God on me. Peace followeth not in my track. Of what misdeed is this the +consequence? I do not remember that I did ever so little a wrong to any +one in thought, word, or deed. Of what deed, then, is this the +consequence? Certainly, it is on account of the great sins I had +committed in a former life that such calamity hath befallen me, _viz_., +the loss of my husband's kingdom, his defeat at the hands of his own +kinsmen, this separation from my lord and my son and daughter, this my +unprotected state, and my presence in this forest abounding in +innumerable beasts of prey!" + +"'The next day, O king, the remnant of that caravan left the place +bewailing the destruction that had overtaken them and lamenting for +their dead brothers and fathers and sons and friends. And the princess +of Vidarbha began to lament, saying, "Alas! What misdeed have I +perpetrated! The crowd of men that I obtained in this lone forest, hath +been destroyed by a herd of elephants, surely as a consequence of my ill +luck. Without doubt, I shall have to suffer misery for a long time. I +have heard from old men that no person dieth ere his time; it is for +this that my miserable self hath not been trodden to death by that herd +of elephants. Nothing that befalleth men is due to anything else than +Destiny, for even in my childhood I did not commit any such sin in +thought, word, or deed, whence might come this calamity. Methinks, I +suffer this severance from my husband through the potency of those +celestial _Lokapalas_, who had come to the Swayamvara but whom I +disregarded for the sake of Nala." Bewailing thus, O tiger among kings, +that excellent lady, Damayanti, devoted to her husband, went, oppressed +with grief and (pale) as the autumnal moon, with those Brahmanas versed +in the Vedas that had survived the slaughter of the caravan. And +departing speedily, towards evening, the damsel came to the mighty city +of the truth-telling Suvahu, the king of the Chedis. And she entered +that excellent city clad in half a garment. And the citizens saw her as +she went, overcome with fear, and lean, melancholy, her hair dishevelled +and soiled with dust, and maniac-like. And beholding her enter the city +of the king of the Chedis, the boys of the city, from curiosity, began +to follow her. And surrounded by them, she came before the palace of the +king. And from the terrace the queen-mother saw her surrounded by the +crowd. And she said to her nurse, "Go and bring that woman before me. +She is forlorn and is being vexed by the crowd. She hath fallen into +distress and standeth in need of succour. I find her beauty to be such +that it illumineth my house. The fair one, though looking like a maniac, +seemeth a very _Sree_ with her large eyes." Thus commanded, the nurse +went out and dispersing the crowd brought Damayanti to that graceful +terrace. And struck with wonder, O king, she asked Damayanti, saying, +"Afflicted though thou art with such distress, thou ownest a beautiful +form. Thou shinest like lightning in the midst of the clouds. Tell me +who thou art, and whose, O thou possessed of celestial splendour, +surely, thy beauty is not human, bereft though thou art of ornaments. +And although thou art helpless, yet thou art unmoved under the outrage +of these men." Hearing these words of the nurse, the daughter of Bhima +said, "Know that I am a female belonging to the human species and +devoted to my husband. I am a serving woman of good lineage. I live +wherever I like, subsisting on fruit and roots, and whom a companion, +and stay where evening overtaketh me. My husband is the owner of +countless virtues and was ever devoted to me. And I also, on my part, +was deeply attached to him, following him like his shadow. It chanced +that once he became desperately engaged at dice. Defeated at dice, he +came alone into the forest. I accompanied my husband into the woods, +comforting the hero clad in a single piece of cloth and maniac-like and +overwhelmed with calamity. Once on a time for some cause, that hero, +afflicted with hunger and thirst and grief, was forced to abandon that +sole piece of covering in the forest. Destitute of garment and +maniac-like and deprived of his senses as he was, I followed him, myself +in a single garment. Following him, I did not sleep for nights together. +Thus passed many days, until at last while I was sleeping, he cut off +half of my cloth, and forsook me who had done him no wrong. I am seeking +my husband but unable to find him who is of hue like the filaments of +the lotus, without being able to cast my eyes on that delight of my +heart, that dear lord who owneth my heart and resembleth the celestials +in mien, day and night do I burn in grief." + +"'Unto Bhima's daughter thus lamenting with tearful eyes, and afflicted +and speaking in accents choked in grief, the queen-mother herself said, +"O blessed damsel, do thou stay with me. I am well pleased with thee. O +fair lady, my men shall search for thy husband. Or, perhaps he may come +here of his own accord in course of his wanderings. And, O beautiful +lady, residing here thou wilt regain thy (lost) lord." Hearing these +words of the queen mother, Damayanti replied, "O mother of heroes, I may +stay with thee on certain conditions. I shall not eat the leavings on +any dish, nor shall I wash anybody's feet, nor shall I have to speak +with other men. And if anybody shall seek me (as a wife or mistress) he +should be liable to punishment at thy hands. And, further, should he +solicit me over and over again, that wicked one should be punished with +death. This is the vow I have made. I intend to have an interview with +those Brahmanas that will set out to search for my husband. If thou +canst do all this, I shall certainly live with thee. If it is otherwise, +I cannot find it in my heart to reside with thee." The queen-mother +answered her with a glad heart, saying, "I will do all this. Thou hast +done well in adopting such a vow!"' + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'O king, having spoken so unto the daughter of +Bhima, the queen-mother, O Bharata, said to her daughter named Sunanda, +"O Sunanda, accept this lady like a goddess as thy _Sairindhri_! Let her +be thy companion, as she is of the same age with thee. Do thou, with +heart free from care, always sport with her in joy." And Sunanda +cheerfully accepted Damayanti and led her to her own apartment +accompanied by her associates. And treated with respect, Damayanti was +satisfied, and she continued to reside there without anxiety of any +kind, for all her wishes were duly gratified.'" + + +SECTION LXVI + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'O monarch, having deserted Damayanti, king Nala saw a +mighty conflagration that was raging in that dense forest. And in the +midst of that conflagration, he heard the voice of some creature, +repeatedly crying aloud, "O righteous Nala, come hither." And answering, +"Fear not," he entered into the midst of the fire and beheld a mighty +_Naga_ lying in coils. And the Naga with joined hands, and trembling, +spake unto Nala, saying, "O king, I am a snake, Karkotaka by name. I had +deceived the great Rishi Narada of high ascetic merit, and by him have I +been cursed in wrath, O king of men, even in words such as these: 'Stay +thou here like an immobile thing, until one Nala taketh thee hence. And, +indeed, on the spot to which he will carry thee, there shalt thou be +freed from my curse.' It is for that curse of his that I am unable to +stir one step. I will instruct thee in respect of thy welfare. It +behoveth thee to deliver me. I will be thy friend. There is no snake +equal to me. I will be light in thy hands. Taking me up, do thou +speedily go hence." Having said this, that prince of snakes became as +small as the thumb. And taking him up, Nala went to a spot free from +fire. Having reached an open spot where there was no fire, Nala intended +to drop the serpent, upon which Karkotaka again addressed him, saying, +"O king of the Nishadhas, proceed thou yet, counting a few steps of +thine; meanwhile, O mighty-armed one, I will do thee great good." And as +Nala began to count his steps, the snake bit him at the tenth step. And, +lo! As he was bit, his form speedily underwent a change. And beholding +his change of form, Nala was amazed. And the king saw the snake also +assume his own form. And the snake Karkotaka, comforting Nala, spake +unto him, "I have deprived thee of thy beauty, so that people may not +recognise thee. And, O Nala, he by whom thou hast been deceived and cast +into distress, shall dwell in thee tortured by my venom. And, O monarch, +as long as he doth not leave thee, he will have to dwell in pain in thy +body with thine every limb filled with my venom. And, O ruler of men I +have saved from the hands of him who from anger and hate deceived thee, +perfectly innocent though thou art and undeserving of wrong. And, O +tiger among men, through my grace, thou shalt have (no longer) any fear +from animals with fangs, from enemies, and from Brahmanas also versed in +the Vedas, O king! Nor shalt thou, O monarch, feel pain on account of my +poison. And, O foremost of kings, thou shalt be ever victorious in +battle. This very day, O prince, O lord of Nishadhas, go to the +delightful city of Ayodhya, and present thyself before Rituparna skilled +in gambling, saying, '_I am a charioteer, Vahuka by name_.' And that +king will give thee his skill in dice for thy knowledge of horses. +Sprung from the line of Ikswaku, and possessed of prosperity, he will be +thy friend. When thou wilt be an adept at dice, thou shalt then have +prosperity. Thou wilt also meet with thy wife and thy children, and +regain thy kingdom. I tell thee this truly. Therefore, let not thy mind +be occupied by sorrow. And, O lord of men, when thou shouldst desire to +behold thy proper form, thou shouldst remember me, and wear this +garment. Upon wearing this, thou shalt get back thy own form." And +saying this, that Naga then gave unto Nala two pieces of celestial +cloth. And, O son of the Kuru race, having thus instructed Nala, and +presented him with the attire, the king of snakes, O monarch, made +himself invisible there and then!'" + + +SECTION LXVII + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'After the snake had vanished, Nala, the ruler of the +Nishadhas, proceeded, and on the tenth day entered the city of +Rituparna. And he approached the king, saying, "My name is Vahuka. There +is no one in this world equal to me in managing steeds. My counsel also +should be sought in matters of difficulty and in all affairs of skill. I +also surpass others in the art of cooking. In all those arts that exist +in this world, and also in every thing difficult of accomplishment, I +will strive to attain success, O Rituparna, do thou maintain me." And +Rituparna replied, "O Vahuka, stay with me! May good happen to thee. +Thou wilt even perform all this. I have always particularly desired to +be driven fast. Do thou concert such measures that my steeds may become +fleet. I appoint thee the superintendent of my stables. Thy pay shall be +ten thousand (coins). Both Varshneya and Jivala shall always be under +thy direction. Thou wilt live pleasantly in their company. Therefore, O +Vahuka, stay thou with me."' + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Thus addressed by the king, Nala began to dwell +in the city of Rituparna, treated with respect and with Varshneya and +Jivala as his companions. And residing there, the king (Nala), +remembering the princess of Vidarbha, recited every evening the +following _sloka_: "_Where lieth that helpless one afflicted with hunger +and thirst and worn with toil, thinking of that wretch? And upon whom +also doth she now wait?_" And once as the king was reciting this in the +night, Jivala asked him saying, "O Vahuka, whom dost thou lament thus +daily? I am curious to hear it. O thou blest with length of days, whose +spouse is she whom thus lamentest?" Thus questioned, king Nala answered +him, saying, "A certain person devoid of sense had a wife well-known to +many. That wretch was false in his promises. For some reason that wicked +person was separated from her. Separated from her, that wretch wandered +about oppressed with woe, and burning with grief he resteth not by day +or night. And at night, remembering her, he singeth this _sloka_. Having +wandered over the entire world, he hath at last found a refuge, and +undeserving of the distress that hath befallen him, passeth his days, +thus remembering his wife. When calamity had overtaken this man, his +wife followed him into the woods. Deserted by that man of little virtue, +her life itself is in danger. Alone, without knowledge of ways, ill able +to bear distress, and fainting with hunger and thirst, the girl can +hardly protect her life. And, O friend, she hath been deserted by that +man of small fortune and having little sense, with the wide and terrible +forest, ever abounding in beasts of prey." + +"'Thus remembering Damayanti, the king of the Nishadhas continued to +live unknown in the abode of that monarch!'" + + +SECTION LXVIII + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'After Nala, despoiled of his kingdom, had, with his +wife, become a bondsman, Bhima with the desire of seeing Nala sent out +Brahmanas to search for him. And giving them profuse wealth, Bhima +enjoined on them, saying, "Do ye search for Nala, and also for my +daughter Damayanti. He who achieveth this task, _viz_., ascertaining +where the ruler of the Nishadhas is, bringeth him and my daughter +hither, will obtain from me a thousand kine, and fields, and a village +resembling a town. Even if failing to bring Damayanti and Nala here, he +that succeeds learning their whereabouts, will get from me the wealth +represented by a thousand kine." Thus addressed, the Brahmanas +cheerfully went out in all directions seeking Nala and his wife in +cities and provinces. But Nala or his spouse they found not anywhere. +Until at length searching in the beautiful city of the Chedis, a +Brahmana named Sudeva, during the time of the king's prayers, saw the +princess of Vidarbha in the palace of the king, seated with Sunanda. And +her incomparable beauty was slightly perceptible, like the brightness of +a fire enveloped in curls of smoke. And beholding that lady of large +eyes, soiled and emaciated he decided her to be Damayanti, coming to +that conclusion from various reasons. And Sudeva said, "As I saw her +before, this damsel is even so at present. O, I am blest, by casting my +eyes on this fair one, like _Sree_ herself delighting the worlds! +Resembling the full moon, of unchanging youth, of well-rounded breasts, +illumining all sides by her splendour, possessed of large eyes like +beautiful lotuses, like unto Kama's Rati herself the delight of all the +worlds like the rays of the full moon, O, she looketh like a lotus-stalk +transplanted by adverse fortune from the Vidarbha lake and covered with +mire in the process. And oppressed with grief on account of her husband, +and melancholy, she looketh like the night of the full moon when Rahu +hath swallowed that luminary, or like a stream whose current hath dried +up. Her plight is very much like that of a ravaged lake with the leaves +of its lotuses crushed by the trunks of elephants, and with its birds +and fowls affrighted by the invasion. Indeed, this girl, of a delicate +frame and of lovely limbs, and deserving to dwell in a mansion decked +with gems, is (now) like an uprooted lotus-stalk scorched by the sun. +Endued with beauty and generosity of nature, and destitute of ornaments, +though deserving of them, she looketh like the moon 'new bent in heaven' +but covered with black clouds. Destitute of comforts and luxuries, +separated from loved ones and friends, she liveth in distress, supported +by the hope of beholding her lord. Verily, the husband is the best +ornament of a woman, however destitute of ornaments. Without her husband +beside her, this lady, though beautiful, shineth not. It is a hard feat +achieved by Nala in that he liveth without succumbing to grief, though +separated from such a wife. Beholding this damsel possessed of black +hair and of eyes like lotus-leaves, in woe though deserving of bliss, +even my heart is pained. Alas! when shall this girl graced with +auspicious marks and devoted to her husband, crossing this ocean of woe, +regain the company of her lord, like Rohini regaining the Moon's? +Surely, the king of the Nishadhas will experience in regaining her the +delight that a king deprived of his kingdom experienceth in regaining +his kingdom. Equal to her in nature and age and extraction, Nala +deserveth the daughter of Vidarbha, and this damsel of black eyes also +deserveth him. It behoveth me to comfort the queen of that hero of +immeasurable prowess and endued with energy and might, (since) she is so +eager to meet her husband. I will console this afflicted girl of face +like the full moon, and suffering distress that she had never before +endured, and ever meditating on her lord."' + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Having thus reflected on these various +circumstances and signs, the Brahmana, Sudeva, approached Damayanti, and +addressed her, saying, "O princess of Vidarbha, I am Sudeva, the dear +friend of thy brother. I have come here, seeking thee, at the desire of +king Bhima. Thy father is well, and also thy mother, and thy brothers. +And thy son and daughter, blessed with length of days, are living in +peace. Thy relatives, though alive, are almost dead on thy account, and +hundreds of Brahmanas are ranging the world in search of thee."' + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'O Yudhishthira, Damayanti recognising Sudeva, +asked him respecting all her relatives and kinsmen one after another. +And, O monarch, oppressed with grief, the princess of Vidarbha began to +weep bitterly, at the unexpected sight of Sudeva, that foremost of +Brahmanas and the friend of her brother. And, O Bharata, beholding +Damayanti weeping, and conversing in private with Sudeva, Sunanda was +distressed, and going to her mother informed her, saying, "_Sairindhri_ +is weeping bitterly in the presence of a Brahmana. If thou likest, +satisfy thyself." And thereupon the mother of the king of the Chedis, +issuing from the inner apartments of the palace, came to the place where +the girl (Damayanti) was with that Brahmana. Then calling Sudeva, O +king, the queen-mother asked him, "Whose wife is this fair one, and +whose daughter? How hath this lady of beautiful eyes been deprived of +the company of her relatives and of her husband as well? And how also +hast thou come to know this lady fallen into such a plight? I wish to +hear all this in detail from thee. Do truly relate unto me who am asking +thee about this damsel of celestial beauty." Then, O king, thus +addressed by the queen-mother, Sudeva, that best of Brahmanas, sat at +his ease, and began to relate the true history of Damayanti.'" + + +SECTION LXIX + +"'Sudeva said, "There is a virtuous and illustrious ruler of the +Vidarbhas, Bhima by name. This blessed lady is his daughter, and widely +known by the name of Damayanti. And there is a king ruling the +Nishadhas, named Nala, the son of Virasena. This blessed lady is the +wife of that wise and righteous monarch. Defeated at dice by his +brother, and despoiled of his kingdom, that king, accompanied by +Damayanti, went away without the knowledge of any one. We have been +wandering over the whole earth in search of Damayanti. And that girl is +at last found in the house of thy son. No woman existeth that is her +rival in beauty. Between the eye-brows of this ever-youthful damsel, +there is an excellent mole from birth, resembling a lotus. Noticed by us +(before) it seems to have disappeared, covered, (as her forehead is) +with (a coat of) dust even like the moon hid in clouds. Placed there by +the Creator himself as an indication of prosperity and wealth, that mole +is visible faintly, like the cloud-covered lunar crescent of the first +day of the lighted fortnight. And covered as her body is with dust, her +beauty hath not disappeared. Though careless of her person, it is still +manifest, and shineth like gold. And this girl--goddess-like--capable of +being identified by this form of hers and that mole, hath been +discovered by me as one discovereth a fire that is covered, by its +heat!" + +"'O king, hearing these words of Sudeva, Sunanda washed the dust that +covered the mole between Damayanti's eye-brows. And thereupon it became +visible like the moon in the sky, just emerged from the clouds. And +seeing that mole, O Bharata, Sunanda and the queen-mother began to weep, +and embracing Damayanti stood silent for a while. And the queen-mother, +shedding tears as she spoke, said in gentle accents, "By this thy mole, +I find that thou art the daughter of my sister. O beauteous girl, thy +mother and I are both daughters of the high-souled Sudaman, the ruler of +the Dasarnas. She was bestowed upon king Bhima, and I on Viravahu. I +witnessed thy birth at our father's palace in the country of the +Dasarnas. O beautiful one, my house is to thee even as thy father's. And +this wealth, O Damayanti, is thine as much as mine." At this, O king, +Damayanti bowing down to her mother's sister with a glad heart, spake +unto her these words, "Unrecognised, I have still lived happily with +thee, every want of mine satisfied and myself cared for by thee. And +happy as my stay hath been, it would, without doubt, be happier still. +But, mother, I have long been an exile. It behoveth thee, therefore, to +grant me permission (to depart). My son and daughter, sent to my +father's palace, are living there. Deprived of their father, and of +their mother also, how are they passing their days stricken with sorrow. +If thou wishest to do what is agreeable to me, do thou without loss of +time, order a vehicle, for I wish to go to the Vidarbhas." At this, O +king, the sister to (Damayanti's) mother, with a glad heart, said, "_So +be it._" And the queen-mother with her son's permission, O chief of the +Bharatas, sent Damayanti in handsome litter carried by men, protected by +a large escort and provided with food and drink and garments of the +first quality. And soon enough she reached the country of the Vidarbhas. +And all her relatives, rejoicing (in her arrival) received her with +respect. And seeing her relatives, her children, both her parents, and +all her maids, to be well, the illustrious Damayanti, O king, worshipped +the gods and Brahmanas according to the superior method. And the king +rejoiced at beholding his daughter, and gave unto Sudeva a thousand kine +and much wealth and a village. And, O king, having spent that night at +her father's mansion and recovered from fatigue, Damayanti addressed her +mother, saying, "O mother, if thou wishest me to live, I tell thee +truly, do thou endeavour to bring Nala, that hero among men." Thus +addressed by Damayanti, the venerable queen became filled with sorrow. +And bathed in tears, she was unable to give any answer. And beholding +her in that plight, all the inmates of the inner apartments broke out +into exclamation of "_Oh!_" and "_Alas!_" and began to cry bitterly. And +then the queen addressed the mighty monarch Bhima, saying, "Thy daughter +Damayanti mourneth on account of her husband. Nay, banishing away all +bashfulness, she hath herself, O king, declared her mind to me. Let thy +men strive to find out (Nala) the righteous." Thus informed by her the +king sent the Brahmanas under him in all directions, saying, "Exert ye +to discover Nala." And those Brahmanas, commanded by the ruler of the +Vidarbhas (to seek Nala) appeared before Damayanti and told her of the +journey they were about to undertake. And Bhima's daughter spake unto +them saying, "Do ye cry in every realm and in every assembly, 'O beloved +gambler, where hast thou gone cutting off half of my garment, and +deserting the dear and devoted wife asleep in the forest? And that girl, +as commanded by thee stayeth expecting thee, clad in half a piece of +cloth and burning with grief! O king, O hero, relent towards, and +answer, her who incessantly weepeth for that grief.' This and more ye +will say, so that he may be inclined to pity me. Assisted by the wind, +fire consumeth the forest. (Further, ye will say that) 'the wife is +always to be protected and maintained by the husband. Why then, good as +thou art and acquainted with every duty, hast thou neglected both thy +duties? Possessed of fame and wisdom, and lineage, and kindness, why +hast thou be unkind? I fear, this is owing to the loss of my good luck! +Therefore, O tiger among men, have pity on me. O bull among men! I have +heard it from thee that kindness is the highest virtue.' Speaking so, if +anybody answereth you, that person should by all means, be known, and ye +should learn who he is, and where he dwelleth. And ye foremost of +regenerate ones, do ye bring me the words of him who hearing this your +speech will chance to answer. Ye should also act with such care that no +one may know the words ye utter to be at my command, nor that ye will +come back to me. And ye should also learn whether that answers is +wealthy, or poor, or destitute of power, in fact all about him." + +"'Thus instructed by Damayanti, O king, the Brahmanas set out in all +directions in search of Nala overtaken with such disaster. And the +Brahmanas, O king, searched for him in cities and kingdoms and villages, +and retreats of ascetics, and places inhabited by cow-herds. And, O +monarch, wherever they went they recited the speeches that Damayanti had +directed them to do.'" + + +SECTION LXX + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'After a long time had passed away, a Brahmana named +Parnada returned to the city (of the Vidarbhas), and said unto the +daughter of Bhima, "O Damayanti, seeking Nala, the king of Nishaidhas, I +came to the city of Ayodhya, and appeared before the son of Bhangasura. +And, O best of women, I repeated those words of thine in the presence of +the blessed Rituparna. But hearing them neither that ruler of men, nor +his courtiers, answered anything, although I uttered them repeatedly. +Then, after I had been dismissed by the monarch, I was accosted by a +person in the service of Rituparna, named Vahuka. And Vahuka is the +charioteer of that king, of unsightly appearance and possessed of short +arms. And he is skillful in driving with speed, and well acquainted with +the culinary art. And sighing frequently, and weeping again and again, +he inquired about my welfare and afterwards said these words, 'Chaste +women, although fallen into distress, yet protect themselves and thus +certainly secure heaven. Although they may be deserted by their lords, +they do not yet become angry on that account, for women that are chaste +lead their lives, encased in the armour of virtuous behaviour. It +behoveth her not to be angry, since he that deserted her was overwhelmed +with calamity, and deprived of every bliss. A beautious and virtuous +woman should not be angry with one that was deprived by birds of his +garment while striving to procure sustenance and who is being consumed +with grief. Whether treated well or ill, such a wife should never +indulge in ire, beholding her husband in that plight, despoiled of +kingdom and destitute of prosperity, oppressed with hunger and +overwhelmed with calamity.' Hearing these words of his, I have speedily +come here. Thou hast now heard all. Do what thou thinkest proper, and +inform the king of it." + +"'O king, having heard these words of Parnada, Damayanti with tearful +eyes came to her mother, and spake unto her in private, "O mother, king +Bhima should not, by any means, be made acquainted with my purpose. In +thy presence will I employ that best of Brahmanas, Sudeva! If thou +desirest my welfare, act in such a way that king Bhima may not know my +purpose. Let Sudeva without delay go hence to the city of Ayodhya, for +the purpose of bringing Nala, O mother, having performed the same +auspicious rites by virtue of which he had speedily brought me into the +midst of friends." With these words, after Parnada had recovered from +fatigue, the princess of Vidarbha worshipped him with profuse wealth and +also said, "When Nala will come here, O Brahmana, I will bestow on thee +wealth in abundance again. Thou hast done me the immense service which +none else, indeed, can do me, for, (owing to that service of thine), O +thou best of the regenerate ones, I shall speedily regain my (lost) +lord." And thus addressed by Damayanti, that high-minded Brahmana +comforted her, uttering benedictory words of auspicious import, and then +went home, regarding his mission to have been successful. And after he +had gone away, Damayanti oppressed with grief and distress, calling +Sudeva, addressed him, O Yudhishthira, in the presence of her mother, +saying, "O Sudeva, go thou to the city of Ayodhya, straight as a bird, +and tell king Rituparna living there, these words: 'Bhima's daughter, +Damayanti will hold another _Swayamvara_. All the kings and princes are +going thither. Calculating the time, I find that the ceremony will take +place tomorrow. O represser of foes, if it is possible for thee, go +thither without delay. Tomorrow, after the sun hath risen, she will +choose a second husband, as she doth not know whether the heroic Nala +liveth or not.'" And addressed by her, O monarch thus, Sudeva set out. +And he said unto Rituparna, all that he had been directed to say.'" + + +SECTION LXXI + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Having heard the words of Sudeva king Rituparna, +soothing Vahuka with gentle words, said, "O Vahuka, thou art +well-skilled in training and guiding horses. If it pleases thee, I +intend to go to Damayanti's _Swayamvara_ in course of a single day." +Thus addressed, O son of Kunti, by that king, Nala felt his heart to be +bursting in grief. And the high-souled king seemed to burn in sorrow. +And he thought within himself, "Perhaps Damayanti in doing this is +blinded by sorrow. Or, perhaps, she hath conceived this magnificent +scheme for my sake. Alas, cruel is the deed that the innocent princess +of Vidarbha intends to do, having been deceived by my sinful and low +self of little sense. It is seen in the world that the nature of woman +is inconstant. My offence also hath been great; perhaps she is acting +so, because she hath no longer any love for me owing to my separation +from her. Indeed, that girl of slender waist, afflicted with grief on my +account and with despair, will not certainly do anything of the kind, +when especially, she is the mother of offspring (by me). However whether +this is true or false, I shall ascertain with certitude by going +thither. I will, therefore, accomplish Rituparna's and my own purpose +also." Having resolved thus in his mind, Vahuka, with his heart in +sorrow, spake unto king Rituparna, with joined hands, saying, "O +monarch, I bow to thy behest, and, O tiger among men, I will go to the +city of the Vidarbhas in a single day, O king!" Then, O monarch, at the +command of the royal son of Bhangasura, Vahuka went to the stables and +began to examine the horses. And repeatedly urged by Rituparna to make +haste, Vahuka after much scrutiny and careful deliberation, selected +some steeds that were lean-fleshed, yet strong and capable of a long +journey and endued with energy and strength of high breed and docility, +free from inauspicious marks, with wide nostrils and swelling cheeks, +free from faults as regards the ten hairy curls, born in (the country +of) Sindhu, and fleet as the winds. And seeing those horses, the king +said somewhat angrily, "What is this, that thou wishest to do? Thou +shouldst not jest with us. How can these horses of mine, weak in +strength and breath, carry us? And how shall we be able to go this long +way by help of these?" Vahuka replied, "Each of these horses bears one +curl on his forehead, two on his temples, four on his sides, four on his +chest, and one on his back. Without doubt, these steeds will be able to +go to the country of the Vidarbhas. If, O king, thou thinkest of +choosing others, point them out and I shall yoke them for thee." +Rituparna rejoined, "O Vahuka, thou art versed in the science of horses +and art also skillful (in guiding them). Do thou speedily yoke those +that thou thinkest to be able." Thereupon the skillful Nala yoked upon +the car four excellent steeds of good breed that were, besides, docile +and fleet. And after the steeds had been yoked, the king without loss of +time mounted upon the car, when those best of horses fell down upon the +ground on their knees. Then, O king, that foremost of men, the blessed +king Nala began to soothe horses endued with energy and strength. And +raising them up with the reins and making the charioteer Varshneya sit +on the car, he prepared to set out with great speed. And those best of +steeds, duly urged by Vahuka, rose to the sky, confounding the occupant +of the vehicle. And beholding those steeds gifted with the speed of the +wind thus drawing the car, the blessed king of Ayodhaya was exceedingly +amazed. And noticing the rattle of the car and also the management of +the steeds, Varshneya reflected upon Vahuka's skill in guiding horses. +And he thought, "Is he Matali, the charioteer of the king of the +celestials? I find the same magnificent indications in the heroic +Vahuka. Or, hath Salihotra versed in the science of horses taken this +human shape so beautiful? Or, is it king Nala the reducer of hostile +towns that hath come here? Or, it may be that this Vahuka knoweth the +science that Nala knoweth, for I perceive that the knowledge of Vahuka +is equal to that of Nala. Further, Vahuka and Nala are of the same age. +This one, again, may not be Nala of high prowess, but somebody of equal +knowledge. Illustrious persons, however, walk this earth in disguise in +consequence of misfortune, or agreeably to the ordinance of the +scriptures. That this person is of unsightly appearance need not change +my opinion; for Nala, I think, may even be despoiled of his personal +features. In respect of age this one equals Nala. There is difference, +however, in personal appearance. Vahuka, again is endued with every +accomplishment. I think, therefore, he is Nala." Having thus reasoned +long in his mind, O mighty monarch, Varshneya, the (former) charioteer +of the righteous Nala, became absorbed in thought. And that foremost of +kings Rituparna, also, beholding the skill of Vahuka in equestrian +science experienced great delight, along with his charioteer Varshneya. +And thinking of Vahuka's application and ardour and the manner of his +holding the reins, the king felt exceedingly glad.'" + + +SECTION LXXII + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'Like a bird coursing through the sky, Nala soon +crossed rivers and mountains, and woods and lakes. And while the car was +coursing thus, that conqueror of hostile cities, the royal son of +Bhangasura, saw his upper garment drop down on the ground. And at soon +as his garment had dropped down the high-minded monarch, without loss of +time, told Nala, "I intend to recover it. O thou of profound +intelligence, retain these steeds endued with exceeding swiftness until +Varshneya bringeth back my garment." Thereupon Nala replied unto him, +"The sheet is dropped down far away. We have travelled one _yojana_ +thence. Therefore, it is incapable of being recovered." After Nala had +addressed him thus, O king, the royal son of Bhangasura came upon a +_Vibhitaka_ tree with fruits in a forest. And seeing that tree, the king +hastily said to Vahuka, "O charioteer, do thou also behold my high +proficiency in calculation. All men do not know everything. There is no +one that is versed in every science of art. Knowledge in its entirety is +not found in any one person. O Vahuka, the leaves and fruits of this +tree that are lying on the ground respectively exceed those that are on +it by one hundred and one. The two branches of the tree have fifty +millions of leaves, and two thousand and ninety five fruits. Do thou +examine these two branches and all their boughs." Thereupon staying the +car Vahuka addressed the king, saying, "O crusher of foes, thou takest +credit to thyself in a matter which is beyond my perception. But, O +monarch, I will ascertain it by the direct evidence of my senses, by +cutting down the _Vibhitaka_. O king, when I actually count, it will no +longer be matter of speculation. Therefore, in thy presence, O monarch, +I will hew down this _Vibhitaka_. I do not know whether it be not (as +thou hast said). In thy presence, O ruler of men, I will count the +fruits and leaves. Let Varshneya hold the reins of the horses for a +while." Unto the charioteer the king replied, "There is no time to +lose." But Vahuka answered with humility, "Stay thou a short space, or, +if thou art in a hurry, go then, making Varshneya thy charioteer. The +road lies direct and even." And at this, O son of the Kuru race, +soothing Vahuka, Rituparna said, "O Vahuka, thou art the only +charioteer, there is none other in this world. And, O thou versed in +horse lore, it is through thy help that I expect to go to the Vidarbhas. +I place myself in thy hands. It behoveth thee not to cause any obstacle. +And, O Vahuka, whatever thy wish. I will grant it if taking me to the +country of the Vidarbhas to-day, thou makest me see the sun rise." At +this, Vahuka answered him, saying, "After having counted (the leaves and +fruits of the) _Vibhitaka_, I shall proceed to Vidarbha, do thou agree +to my words." Then the king reluctantly told him, "Count. And on +counting the leaves and fruits of a portion of this branch, thou wilt be +satisfied of the truth of my assertion." And thereupon Vahuka speedily +alighted from the car, and felled that tree. And struck with amazement +upon finding the fruits, after calculation, to be what the king had +said, he addressed the king, saying, "O monarch, this thy power is +wonderful. I desire, O prince, to know the art by which thou hast +ascertained all this." And at this the king, intent upon proceeding +speedily, said unto Vahuka, "Know that I am proficient at dice besides +being versed in numbers." And Vahuka said unto him, "Impart unto me this +knowledge and, O bull among men, take from me my knowledge of horses." +And king Rituparna, having regard to the importance of the act that +depended upon Vahuka's good-will, and tempted also by the horse-lore +(that his charioteer possessed), said, "So be it. As solicited by thee, +receive this science of dice from me, and, O Vahuka, let my equine +science remain with thee in trust." And saying this, Rituparna imparted +unto Nala the science (he desired). And Nala upon becoming acquainted +with the science of dice, Kali came out of his body, incessantly +vomiting from his mouth the virulent poison of Karkotaka. And when Kali, +afflicted (by Damayanti's curse) came out (of Nala's body), the fire of +that curse also left Kali. Indeed, long had been the time for which the +king had been afflicted by Kali, as if he were of unregenerate soul. And +Nala the ruler of the Nishadhas, in wrath, was bent upon cursing Kali, +when the latter, frightened, and trembling, said with joined hands, +"Control thy wrath, O king! I will render thee illustrious. Indrasena's +mother had formerly cursed me in anger when she had been deserted by +thee. Ever since that time undergoing sore affliction I resided in thee, +O mighty monarch, O unconquered one, miserably and burning night and +day with the venom of the prince of snakes. I seek thy protection. If +thou dost not curse me who am affrighted and seek thy protection, then +those men that will attentively recite thy history, shall be even free +from fear on my account." And thus addressed by Kali, king Nala +controlled his wrath. And thereupon the frightened Kali speedily entered +into the _Vibhitaka_ tree. And while the Kali was conversing with +Naishadha, he was invisible to others. And delivered from his +afflictions, and having counted the fruits of that tree, the king, +filled with great joy and of high energy, mounted on the car and +proceeded with energy, urging those fleet horses. And from the touch of +Kali the _Vibhitaka_ tree from that hour fell into disrepute. And Nala, +with a glad heart, began to urge those foremost of steeds which sprang +into the air once and again like creatures endued with wings. And the +illustrious monarch drove (the car) in the direction of the Vidarbhas. +And after Nala had gone far away, Kali also returned to his abode. And +abandoned by Kali, O king, that lord of earth, the royal Nala, became +freed from calamity though he did not assume his native form.'" + + +SECTION LXXIII + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'After Rituparna of prowess incapable of being baffled +had, in the evening, arrived at the city of the Vidarbhas, the people +brought unto king Bhima the tidings (of his arrival). And at the +invitation of Bhima, the king (of Ayodhya) entered the city of Kundina, +filling with the rattle of his car all the ten points, direct and +transverse, of the horizon. And the steeds of Nala that were in that +city heard that sound, and hearing it they became delighted as they used +to be in the presence of Nala himself. And Damayanti also heard the +sound of that car driven by Nala, like the deep roar of the clouds in +the rainy season. And Bhima and the steeds (of Nala) regarded the +clatter of that car to be like that which they used to hear in days of +yore when king Nala himself urged his own steeds. And the peacocks on +the terraces, and the elephants in the stables, and the horses also, all +heard the rattle of Rituparna's car. And hearing the sound, so like the +roar of the clouds, the elephants and the peacocks, O king, began to +utter their cries, facing that direction, and filled with delight such +as they experience when they hear the actual roar of the clouds. And +Damayanti said, "Because the rattle of his car filling the whole earth, +gladdens my heart, it must be King Nala (that has come). If I do not see +Nala, of face bright as the moon, that hero with countless virtues, I +shall certainly die. If I am not clasped today in that hero's thrilling +embrace, I shall certainly cease to be. If Naishadha with voice deep as +that of the clouds doth not come to me today, I shall enter into a pyre +of golden brilliance. If that foremost of kings, powerful as a lion and +gifted with the strength of an infuriated elephant, doth not present +himself before me, I shall certainly cease to live. I do not remember a +single untruth in him, or a single wrong done by him to others. Never +hath he spoken an untruth even in jest. Oh, my Nala is exalted and +forgiving and heroic and magnificent and superior to all other kings, +and faithful to his marriage vow and like unto a eunuch in respect of +other females. Night and day dwelling upon his perceptions, my heart, in +absence of that dear one, is about to burst in grief." + +"'Thus bewailing as if devoid of sense, Damayanti, O Bharata, ascended +the terrace (of her mansion) with the desire of seeing the righteous +Nala. And in the yard of the central mansion she beheld king Rituparna +on the car with Varshneya and Vahuka. And Varshneya and Vahuka, +descending for that excellent vehicle, unyoked the steeds, and kept the +vehicle itself in a proper place. And king Rituparna also, descending +from the car, presented himself before king Bhima possessed of terrible +prowess. And Bhima received him with great respect, for in the absence +of a proper occasion, a great person cannot be had (as a guest). And +honoured by Bhima, king Rituparna looked about him again and again, but +saw no traces of the _Swayamvara_. And the ruler of the Vidarbhas, O +Bharata, approaching Rituparna, said, "Welcome! What is the occasion of +this thy visit?" And king Bhima asked this without knowing that +Rituparna had come to obtain the hand of his daughter. And king +Rituparna, of unbaffled prowess and gifted with intelligence, saw that +there were no other kings or princes. Nor did he hear any talk relating +to the _Swayamvara_, nor saw any concourse of Brahmanas. And at this, +the king of Kosala reflected a while and at length said, "I have come +here to pay my respects to thee." And the king Bhima was struck with +astonishment, and reflected upon the (probable) cause of Rituparna's +coming, having passed over a hundred _yojanas_. And he reflected, "That +passing by other sovereigns, and leaving behind him innumerable +countries, he should come simply to pay his respect to me is scarcely +the reason of his arrival. What he assigneth to be the cause of his +coming appeareth to be a trifle. However, I shall learn the true reason +in the future." And although king Bhima thought so, he did not dismiss +Rituparna summarily, but said unto him again and again, "Rest, thou art +weary." And honoured thus by the pleased Bhima, king Rituparna was +satisfied, and with a delighted heart, he went to his appointed quarters +followed by the servants of the royal household.' + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'And, O king, after Rituparna had gone away with +Varshneya, Vahuka took the car to the stables. And there freeing the +steeds, and tending them according to rule, and soothing them himself, +sat down on a side of the car. Meanwhile, the princess of Vidharbha, +Damayanti, afflicted with grief, having beheld the royal son of +Bhangasura, and Varshneya of the _Suta_ race, and also Vahuka in that +guise, asked herself, "Whose is this car-rattle? It was loud as that of +Nala, but I do not see the ruler of the Nishadhas. Certainly, Varshneya +hath learnt the art from Nala, and it is for this the rattle of the car +driven by him hath been even like that of Nala. Or, is Rituparna equally +skilled with Nala so that the rattle of his car seemeth to be like that +of Nala?" And reflecting thus, O monarch, the blessed and beauteous girl +sent a female messenger in search of Nishada.'" + + +SECTION LXXIV + +"'Damayanti said, "O Kesini, go thou and learn who that charioteer is +that sitteth by the car, unsightly and possessed of short arms. O +blessed one, O faultless one, approaching him, cautiously and with sweet +words, make thou the usual inquiries of courtesy and learn all +particulars truly. Having regard to the feeling of satisfaction my mind +experienceth, and the delight my heart feeleth, I am greatly afraid this +one is king Nala himself. And, O faultless one, having inquired after +his welfare, thou shalt speak unto him the words of Parnada. And, O +beauteous one, understand the reply he may make thereto." Thus +instructed, that female messenger, going cautiously, while the blessed +Damayanti watched from the terrace, addressed Vahuka in these words, "O +foremost of men, thou art welcome. I wish thee happiness. O bull among +men, hear now the words of Damayanti. When did ye all set out, and with +what object have ye come hither. Tell us truly, for the princess of +Vidarbha wisheth to hear it." Thus addressed, Vahuka answered, "the +illustrious king of Kosala had heard from a Brahmana that a second +_Swayamvara_ of Damayanti would take place. And hearing it, he hath come +here, by the help of excellent steeds fleet as the wind and capable of +going a hundred _yojanas_. I am his charioteer." Kesini then asked, +"Whence doth the third among you come, and whose (son) is he? And whose +son art thou, and how hast thou come to do this work?" Thus questioned, +Vahuka replied, "He (of whom thou inquirest) was the charioteer of the +virtuous Nala, and known to all by the name of Varshneya. After Nala +had, O beauteous one, left his kingdom, he came to the son of +Bhangasura. I am skilled in horse-lore, and have, therefore, been +appointed as charioteer. Indeed, king Rituparna hath himself chosen me +as his charioteer and cook." At this Kesini rejoined, "Perhaps Varshneya +knoweth where king Nala hath gone, and O Vahuka, he may also have spoken +to thee (about his master)." Vahuka then said, "Having brought hither +the children of Nala of excellent deeds, Varshneya went away whither he +listed: He doth not know where Naishadha is. Nor, O illustrious one, +doth anybody else know of Nala's whereabouts; for the king (in calamity) +wandereth over the world in disguise and despoiled of (his native) +beauty. Nala's self only knoweth Nala. Nala never discovereth his marks +of identity anywhere." Thus addressed, Kesini returned, "The Brahmana +that had before this gone to Ayodhya, had repeatedly said these words +suitable to female lips, 'O beloved gambler, where hast thou gone +cutting off half my piece of cloth, and deserting me, his dear and +devoted wife asleep in the woods? And she herself, as commanded by him, +waiteth expecting him clad in half a garment and burning day and night +in grief. O king, O hero, do thou relent towards her that weepeth +ceaselessly for that calamity and do thou give her an answer. O +illustrious one, do thou speak the words agreeable to her for the +blameless one panteth to hear them.' Hearing these words of the Brahmana +thou didst formerly give a reply! The princess of Vidarbha again wisheth +to hear the words thou didst then say."' + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'O son of the Kuru race, hearing these words of +Kesini, Nala's heart was pained, and his eyes filled with tears. And +repressing his sorrow, the king who was burning in grief, said again +these words, in accents choked with tears: "Chaste women, though +overtaken by calamity, yet protect themselves, and thereby secure +heaven. Women that are chaste, deserted by their lords, never become +angry, but continue to live, cased in virtue's mail. Deserted by one +fallen into calamity, bereft of sense, and despoiled of bliss, it +behoveth her not to be angry. A virtuous lady should not be angry with +one that was deprived by birds of his garment while striving to procure +sustenance and who is burning in misery. Whether treated well or ill she +would never be angry, seeing her husband in that plight, despoiled of +his kingdom, bereft of prosperity, oppressed with hunger, and +overwhelmed with calamity." And, O Bharata, while speaking thus, Nala +oppressed with grief, could not restrain his tears, but began to weep. +And thereupon Kesini went back to Damayanti, and acquainted her with +everything about that conversation as well as that outburst of grief.'" + + +SECTION LXXV + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'Hearing everything, Damayanti became oppressed with +grief, and suspecting the person to be Nala, said unto Kesini, "O +Kesini, go thou again, and examine Vahuka, and staying in silence at his +side mark thou his conduct. And, O beauteous one, whenever he happens to +do anything skilful, do thou observe well his act while accomplishing +it. And, O Kesini, whenever he may ask water or fire, with the view of +offering him obstruction, thou shalt be in no hurry to give it. And +marking everything about his behaviour, come thou and tell me. And +whatever human or super-human thou seest in Vahuka, together with +anything else, should all be reported unto me." And thus addressed by +Damayanti, Kesini went away, and having marked the conduct of that +person versed in horse-lore, she came back. And she related unto +Damayanti all that had happened, indeed, everything of human and +superhuman that she had witnessed in Vahuka. And Kesini said, "O +Damayanti, a person of such control over the elements I have never +before seen or heard of. Whenever he cometh to low passage, he never +stoopeth down, but seeing him, the passage itself groweth in height so +that he may pass through it easily. And at his approach, impassable +narrow holes open wide. King Bhima had sent various kinds of meat--of +diverse animals, for Rituparna's food. And many vessels had been placed +there for washing the meat. And as he looked upon them, those vessels +became filled (with water). And having washed the meat, as he set +himself to cook, he took up a handful of grass and held it in the sun, +when fire blazed up all on a sudden. Beholding this marvel, I have come +hither amazed. Further, I have witnessed in him another great wonder. O +beauteous one, he touched fire and was not burnt. And at his will, water +falling floweth in a stream. And, I have witnessed another greater +wonder still. He took up some flowers, began to press them slowly with +his hands. And pressed by his hand, the flowers did not lose their +original forms, but, on the contrary, became gayer and more odorous than +before. Having beheld wonderful things I have come hither with speed."' + +"Vrihadaswa continued, 'Hearing of these acts of the virtuous Nala, and +discovering him from his behaviour, Damayanti considered him as already +recovered. And from these indications suspecting that Vahuka was her +husband, Damayanti once more weepingly addressed Kesini in soft words, +saying, "O beauteous one, go thou once more, and bring from the kitchen +without Vahuka's knowledge some meat that hath been boiled and dressed +(by him)." Thus commanded, Kesini, ever bent on doing what was agreeable +to Damayanti, went to Vahuka, and taking some hot meat came back without +loss of time. And Kesini gave that meat, O son of the Kuru race, unto +Damayanti. And Damayanti who had formerly often partaken of meat dressed +by Nala, tasted the meat that was brought by her hand-maid. And she +thereupon decided Vahuka to be Nala and wept aloud in grief of heart. +And, O Bharata, overwhelmed with grief, and washing her face, she sent +her two children with Kesini. And Vahuka, who was the king in disguise, +recognising Indrasena with her brother, advanced hastily, and embracing +them, took them up on his lap. And taking up his children like unto the +children of the celestials, he began to weep aloud in sonorous accents, +his heart oppressed with great sorrow. And after having repeatedly +betrayed his agitation, Naishadha suddenly left children, and addressed +Kesini, saying, "O fair damsel, these twins are very like my own +children. Beholding them unexpectedly, I shed tears. If thou comest to +me frequently people may think evil, for we are guests from another +land. Therefore. O blessed one, go at thy ease."'" + + +SECTION LXXVI + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'Beholding the agitation of the virtuous and wise +Nala, Kesini returned unto Damayanti and related everything unto her. +And thereupon Damayanti with a sorrowful heart and eager to behold Nala, +again despatched Kesini to her mother, asking her to say on her behalf: +"Suspecting Vahuka to be Nala, I have tried him in various ways. My +doubt now only relates to his appearance. I intend to examine him +myself. O mother, either let him enter the palace, or give me permission +to go to him. And arrange this with the knowledge of my father or +without it." And thus addressed to Damayanti, that lady communicated +unto Bhima the intention of his daughter, and upon learning it the king +gave his consent. And, O bull of the Bharata race, having obtained the +consent both of her father and mother, Damayanti caused Nala to be +brought to her apartments. And as soon as he saw Damayanti unexpectedly, +king Nala was overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, and bathed in tears. +And that best of women, Damayanti, also, upon beholding king Nala in +that condition, was sorely afflicted with grief. And, O monarch, herself +clad in a piece of red cloth, and wearing matted locks, and covered with +dirt and dust, Damayanti then addressed Vahuka, saying, "O Vahuka, hast +thou ever seen any person acquainted with duty, who hath gone away, +deserting his sleeping wife in the forest? Who, except the virtuous +Nala, could go away, deserting in the woods, his dear and unoffending +wife overcome with fatigue? Of what offence was I guilty in the eyes of +that monarch since my early youth that he should go away deserting me in +the woods while asleep overcome with fatigue? Why should he whom I +formerly chose in preference to the gods themselves abandon his +ever-devoted and loving wife who had become the mother also of his +children? Before the fire, and in presence also of the celestials, he +had taken my hand, vowing, '_Verily I will be thine_.' Oh, where was +that vow when he deserted me, O represser of foes." While Damayanti was +saying all this, tears of sorrow began to flow plentifully from her +eyes. And beholding her thus afflicted with grief, Nala also, shedding +tears, black of those of the gazelle with extremities of reddish hue, +said, "O timid one, neither the loss of my kingdom nor my desertion of +thee was my act. Both were due to Kali. And, O foremost of virtuous +women, lamenting for me day and night, and overcome with sorrow, thou +hadst in the woods cursed Kali, and so he began to dwell in my body, +burning in consequence of thy curse. Indeed burning with thy curse, he +lived within me like fire within fire. O blessed girl, that our sorrows +might terminate, that wretch have I overcome by my observances and +austerities. The sinful wretch hath already left me, and it is for this +that I have come hither. My presence here, O fair lady, is for thy sake. +I have no other object. But, O timid one, can any other woman, forsaking +her loving and devoted husband, ever choose a second lord like thee? At +the command of the king, messengers are ranging this entire earth, +saying, '_Bhima's daughter will, of her own accord, choose a second +husband worthy of her_.' Immediately on hearing this, the son of +Bhangasura hath arrived here." Hearing these lamentations of Nala, +Damayanti, frightened and trembling, said with joined hand, "It behoveth +thee not, O blessed one, to suspect any fault in me. O ruler of the +Nishadhas, passing over the celestials themselves, I choose thee as my +lord. It was to bring thee hither that the Brahmanas had gone out in all +directions, even to all the sides of the horizon, singing my words, in +the form of ballads. At last, O king, a learned Brahmana named Parnada +had found thee in Kosala in the palace of Rituparna. When thou hadst +returned a fit answer to those words of his, it was then, O Naishadha, +that I devised this scheme to recover thee. Except thee, O lord of +earth, there is no one in this world, who in one day can clear, O King, +a hundred _yojanas_ with horses. O monarch, touching thy feet I can +swear truly that I have not, even in thought, committed any sin. May the +all-witnessing Air that courseth through this world, take my life, if I +have committed any sin. May the Sun that ever courseth through the sky +take my life, if I have committed any sin. May the Moon, that dwelleth +within every creature as a witness, take my life, if I have committed +any sin. Let the three gods that sustain the triple worlds in their +entirety, declare truly, or let them forsake me today." And thus +addressed by her, the Wind-god said from the sky, "O Nala, I tell thee +truly that she hath done no wrong. O king, Damayanti, well guarding the +honour of thy family, hath enhanced it. Of this we are the witnesses, as +we have been her protectors for these three years. It is for thy good +that she hath devised this unrivalled scheme, for, except thee, none on +earth is capable of travelling in a single day a hundred _yojanas_. O +monarch, thou hast obtained Bhima's daughter, and she hath also obtained +thee. Thou needst not entertain any suspicion but be united with thy +partner." And after the Wind-god had said this, a floral shower fell +there and the celestial kettle-drum began to play, and auspicious +breezes began to blow. And beholding those wonders, O Bharata, king +Nala, the represser of foes, cast away all his doubts in respect of +Damayanti. And then that lord of earth, remembering the king of +serpents, wore that pure garment and regained his native form. And +beholding her righteous lord in his own form, Bhima's daughter of +faultless limbs embraced him, and began to weep aloud. And king Nala +also embraced Bhima's daughter devoted to him, as before, and also his +children, and experienced great delight. And burying her face in his +bosom, the beauteous Damayanti of large eyes began to sigh heavily, +remembering her griefs. And overwhelmed with sorrow, that tiger among +men stood for some time, clasping the dust-covered Damayanti of sweet +smiles. And, O king, the queen-mother then, with a glad heart, told +Bhima all that had passed between Nala and Damayanti. And the mighty +monarch answered, "Let Nala pass this day in peace, to-morrow I shall +see him after his bath and prayers, with Damayanti by his side." And, O +king, they passed that night pleasantly, in relating to each other the +past incidents of their life in the forest. And with hearts filled with +joy, the princess of Vidarbha and Nala began to pass their days in the +palace of king Bhima, intent upon making each other happy. And it was in +the fourth year (after the loss of his kingdom) that Nala was re-united +with his wife, and all his desires gratified, once more experienced the +highest bliss. And Damayanti rejoiced exceedingly in having recovered +her lord even as fields of tender plants on receiving a shower. And +Bhima's daughter, thus recovering her lord, obtained her wish, and +blazed forth in beauty, her weariness gone, her anxieties dispelled and +herself swelling with joy, ever like a night that is lit by the bright +disc of the moon!'" + + +SECTION LXXVII + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'Having passed that night, king Nala decked in +ornaments and with Damayanti by his side, presented himself in due time +before the king. And Nala saluted his father-in-law with becoming +humility and after him the fair Damayanti paid her respects to her +father. And the exalted Bhima, with great joy, received him as a son, +and honouring him duly along with his devoted wife, comforted them in +proper words. And duly accepting the homage rendered unto him, king Nala +offered his father-in-law his services as became him. And seeing Nala +arrived, the citizens were in great joy. And there arose in the city a +loud uproar of delight. And the citizens decorated the city with flags +and standards and garlands of flowers. And the streets were watered and +decked in floral wreaths and other ornaments. And at their gates +citizens piled flowers, and their temples and shrines were all adorned +with flowers. And Rituparna heard that Vahuka had already been united +with Damayanti. And the king was glad to hear of all this. And calling +unto him king Nala, he asked his forgiveness. And the intelligent Nala +also asked Rituparna's forgiveness, showing diverse reasons. And that +foremost of speakers versed in the truth, king Rituparna, after being +thus honoured by Nala, said, with a countenance expressive of wonder, +these words unto the ruler of the Nishadhas. "By good fortune it is that +regaining the company of thy own wife, thou hast obtained happiness. O +Naishadha, while dwelling in disguise at my house, I hope I did not +wrong thee in any way, O lord of the earth! If knowingly I have done +thee any wrong, it behoveth thee to forgive me." Hearing this, Nala +replied, "Thou hast not, O monarch, done me ever so little an injury. +And if thou hast, it hath not awakened my ire, for surely thou shouldst +be forgiven by me. Thou wert formerly my friend, and, O ruler of men, +thou art also related to me. Henceforth I shall find greater delight in +thee. O king, with all my desires gratified, I lived happily in thy +abode, in fact more happily there than in my own house. This thy +horse-lore is in my keeping. If thou wishest, O king, I will make it +over to thee." Saying this, Naishadha gave unto Rituparna that science +and the latter took it with the ordained rites. And, O monarch, the +royal son of Bhangasura, having obtained the mysteries of equestrian +science and having given unto the ruler of the Naishadhas the mysteries +of dice, went to his own city, employing another person for his +charioteer. And, O king, after Rituparna had gone, king Nala did not +stay long in the city of Kundina!'" + + +SECTION LXXVIII + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'O son of Kunti, the ruler of the Nishadhas having +dwelt there for a month, set out from that city with Bhima's permission +and accompanied by only a few (followers) for the country of the +Nishadhas. With a single car white in hue, sixteen elephants, fifty +horses, and six hundred infantry, that illustrious king, causing the +earth itself to tremble, entered (the country of the Nishadhas) without +loss of a moment and swelling with rage. And the mighty son of Virasena, +approaching his brother Pushkara said unto him, "We will play again, for +I have earned vast wealth. Let Damayanti and all else that I have be my +stake, let, O Pushkara, thy kingdom be thy stake. Let the play begin +again. This is my certain determination. Blessed be thou, let us stake +all we have along with our lives. Having won over and acquired another's +wealth or kingdom, it is a high duty, says the ordinance, to stake it +when the owner demands. Or, if thou dost not relish play with dice, let +the play with weapons begin. O king, let me or thyself have peace by a +single combat. That this ancestral kingdom should, under all +circumstances and by any means, be recovered, there is the authority of +sages for holding. And, O Pushkara, choose thou one of these two +things--gambling with dice or bending the bow in battle!" Thus addressed +by Nishadha, Pushkara, sure of his own success, laughingly answered that +monarch, saying, "O Naishadha, it is by good fortune that thou hast +earned wealth again to stake. It is by good fortune also that +Damayanti's ill-luck hath at last come to an end. And O king, it is by +good fortune that thou art still alive with thy wife, O thou of mighty +arms! It is evident that Damayanti, adorned with this wealth of thine +that I will win, will wait upon me like an Apsara in heaven upon Indra. +O Naishadha, I daily recollect thee and am even waiting for thee, since +I derive no pleasure from gambling with those that are not connected +with me by blood. Winning over to-day the beauteous Damayanti of +faultless features, I shall regard myself fortunate, indeed, since she +it is that hath ever dwelt in my heart." Hearing these words of that +incoherent braggart, Nala in anger desired to cut off his head with a +scimitar. With a smile, however, though his eyes were red in anger, king +Nala said, "Let us play. Why do you speak so now? Having vanquished me, +you can say anything you like." Then the play commenced between Pushkara +and Nala. And blessed be Nala who at a single throw won his wealth and +treasures back along with the life of his brother that also had been +staked. And the king, having won, smilingly said unto Pushkara, "This +whole kingdom without a thorn in its side is now undisturbedly mine. +And, O worst of kings, thou canst not now even look at the princess of +Vidarbha. With all thy family, thou art now, O fool, reduced to the +position of her slave. But my former defeat at thy hands was not due to +any act of thine. Thou knowest it not, O fool, that it was Kali who did +it all. I shall not, therefore, impute to thee the faults of others. +Live happily as thou choosest, I grant thee thy life. I also grant thee +thy portion (in the paternal kingdom) along with all necessaries. And, O +hero, without doubt, my affection towards thee is now the same as +before. My fraternal love also for thee will never know any diminution. +O Pushkara, thou art my brother, live thou for a hundred years!" + +"'And Nala of unbaffled prowess, having comforted his brother thus gave +him permission to go to his own town, having embraced him repeatedly. +And Pushkara himself, thus comforted by the ruler of the Nishadhas +saluted that righteous king, and addressed him, O monarch, saying these +words with joined hands, "Let thy fame be immortal and live thou happily +for ten thousand years, thou who grantest me, O king, both life and +refuge." And entertained by the king, Pushkara dwelt there for a month +and then went to his own town accompanied by large force and many +obedient servants and his own kindred, his heart filled with joy. And +that bull among men all the while blazed forth in beauty of person like +a second Sun. And the blessed ruler of the Nishadhas, having established +Pushkara and made him wealthy and freed him from troubles, entered his +richly decorated palace. And the ruler of the Nishadhas, having entered +his palace, comforted the citizens. And all the citizens and the +subjects from the country horripilated in joy. And the people headed by +the officers of state said with joined hands, "O king, we are truly glad +to-day throughout the city and the country. We have obtained to-day our +ruler, like the gods their chief of a hundred sacrifice!"'" + + +SECTION LXXIX + +"Vrihadaswa said, 'After the festivities had commenced in the city that +was full of joy and without anxiety of any kind, the king with a large +force brought Damayanti (from her father's home). And her father, too, +that slayer of hostile heroes, Bhima of terrible prowess and +immeasurable soul, sent his daughter, having honoured her duly. And upon +the arrival of the princess of Vidarbha accompanied by her son and +daughter, king Nala began to pass his days in joy like the chief of the +celestials in the gardens of Nandana. And the king of undying fame, +having regained his kingdom and becoming illustrious among monarchs of +the island of Jamvu, began once more to rule it. And he duly performed +numerous sacrifices with abundant gifts to Brahmanas. O great king, thou +also wilt with thy kindred and relatives, so blaze forth in effulgence +soon. For, O foremost of men, it was thus that subjugator of hostile +cities, king Nala, had fallen into distress along with his wife, in +consequence, O bull of Bharata race, of dice. And, O lord of the earth, +Nala suffered such dire woe all alone and recovered his prosperity, +whereas thou, O son of Pandu, with heart fixed on virtue, art sporting +in joy in this great forest, accompanied by thy brothers and Krishna. +When thou art also, O monarch, mixing daily with blessed Brahmanas +versed in the Vedas and their branches, thou hast little cause for +sorrow. This history, besides, of the Naga Karkotaka, of Damayanti, of +Nala and of that royal sage Rituparna, is destructive of evil. And, O +thou of unfading glory, this history, destructive of the influence of +Kali, is capable, O king, of comforting persons like thee when they +listen to it. And reflecting upon the uncertainty (of success) of human +exertion, it behoveth thee not to joy or grieve at prosperity or +adversity. Having listened to this history, be comforted, O king, and +yield not to grief. It behoveth thee not, O great king, to pine under +calamity. Indeed, men of self-possession, reflecting upon the caprice of +destiny and the fruitlessness of exertion, never suffer themselves to be +depressed. They that will repeatedly recite this noble history of Nala, +and that will hear it recited, will never be touched by adversity. He +that listeneth to this old and excellent history hath all his purposes +crowned with success and, without doubt, obtaineth fame, besides sons +and grandsons and animals, a high position among men, and health, and +joy. And, O king, the fear also that thou entertainest, _viz_., (_Some +one skilled in dice will summon me_), I will for once dispel. O thou of +invincible prowess, I know the science of dice in its entirety. I am +gratified with thee; take this lore, O son of Kunti, I will tell unto +thee.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "King Yudhishthira then, with a glad heart, said +unto Vrihadaswa, 'O illustrious one, I desire to learn the science of +dice from thee.' The Rishi then gave his dice-lore unto the high-souled +son of Pandu, and having given it unto him, that great ascetic went to +the sacred waters of Hayasirsha for a bath. + +"And after Vrihadaswa had gone away, Yudhishthira of firm vows heard +from Brahmanas and ascetics that came to him from various directions and +from places of pilgrimage and mountains and forests that Arjuna of high +intelligence and capable of drawing the bow with his left hand, was +still engaged in the austerest of ascetic penances, living upon air +alone. And he heard that the mighty-armed Partha was engaged in such +fierce asceticism that none else before him had ever been engaged in +such penances. And Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, engaged in ascetic +austerities with regulated vows and fixed mind and observing the vow of +perfect silence, was, he heard, like the blazing god of justice himself +in his embodied form. And, O king, (Yudhishthira) the son of Pandu +hearing that his dear brother Jaya, the son of Kunti, was engaged in +such asceticism in the great forest, began to grieve for him. And with a +heart burning in grief, the eldest son of Pandu, seeking consolation in +that mighty forest held converse with the Brahmanas possessed of various +knowledge who were living with him there." + + +SECTION LXXX + +(Tirtha-yatra Parva) + +Janamejaya said, "O holy one, after my great-grandfather Partha had gone +away from the woods of Kamyaka, what did the sons of Pandu do in the +absence of that hero capable of drawing the bow with his left hand? It +seemeth to me that mighty bowman and vanquisher of armies was their +refuge, as Vishnu of the celestials. How did my heroic grandsires pass +their time in the forest, deprived of the company of that hero, who +resembled Indra himself in prowess and never turned his back in battle?" + +Vaisampayana said, "After Arjuna of unbaffled prowess had gone away from +Kamyaka, the sons of Pandu, O son, were filled with sorrow and grief. +And the Pandavas with cheerless hearts very much resembled pearls +unstrung from a wreath, or birds shorn of their wings. And without that +hero of white steeds that forest looked like the _Chaitraratha_ woods +when deprived of the presence of Kuvera. And, O Janamejaya, those tigers +among men--the sons of Pandu--deprived of the company of Arjuna, +continued to live in Kamyaka in perfect cheerlessness. And, O chief of +the Bharata race, those mighty warriors endowed with great prowess slew +with pure arrows various kinds of sacrificial animals for the Brahmanas. +And those tigers among men and repressers of foes, daily slaying those +wild animals and sanctifying them properly, offered them unto the +Brahmanas. And it was thus, O king, that those bulls among men afflicted +with sorrow lived there with cheerless hearts after Dhananjaya's +departure. The princess of Panchala in particular, remembering her third +lord, addressed the anxious Yudhishthira and said, 'That Arjuna who with +two hands rivals the thousand-armed Arjuna (of old), alas, without that +foremost of the sons of Pandu, this forest doth not seem at all +beautiful in my eyes. Without him, whenever I cast my eyes, this earth +seems to be forlorn. Even this forest with its blossoming trees and so +full of wonders, without Arjuna seems not so delightful as before. +Without him who is like a mass of blue clouds (in hue), who hath the +prowess of an infuriated elephant, and whose eyes are like the leaves of +the lotus, this Kamyaka forest doth not seem beautiful to me. +Remembering that hero capable of drawing the bow with his left hand, and +the twang of whose bow sounds like the roar of thunder, I cannot feel +any happiness, O king!' And, O monarch, hearing her lament in this +strain, that slayer of hostile heroes, Bhimasena, addressed Draupadi in +these words, 'O blessed lady of slender waist, the agreeable words thou +utterest delight my heart like the quaffing of nectar. Without him whose +arms are long and symmetrical, and stout and like unto a couple of iron +maces and round and marked by the scars of the bow-strings and graced +with the bow and sword and other weapons and encircled with golden +bracelets and like unto a couple of five-headed snakes, without that +tiger among men the sky itself seemeth to be without the sun. Without +that mighty-armed one relying upon whom the Panchalas and the Kauravas +fear not the sternly-exerting ranks of the celestials themselves, +without that illustrious hero relying upon whose arms we all regard our +foes as already vanquished and the earth itself as already conquered, +without that Phalguna I cannot obtain any peace in the woods of Kamyaka. +The different directions also, wherever I cast my eyes, appear to be +empty!' + +"After Bhima had concluded, Nakula the son of Pandu, with voice choked +with tears, said, 'Without him whose extraordinary deeds on the field of +battle constitute the talk of even the gods, without that foremost of +warriors, what pleasure can we have in the woods? Without him who having +gone towards the north had vanquished mighty Gandharva chiefs by +hundreds, and who having obtained numberless handsome horses of the +Tittiri and Kalmasha species all endowed with the speed of the wind, +presented them from affection unto his brother the king, on the occasion +of the great Rajasuya sacrifice, without that dear and illustrious one, +without that terrible warrior born after Bhima, without that hero equal +unto a god I do not desire to live in the Kamyaka woods any longer.' + +"After Nakula's lamentations, Sahadeva said, 'He who having vanquished +mighty warriors in battle won wealth and virgins and brought them unto +the king on the occasion of the great _Rajasuya_ sacrifice, that hero of +immeasurable splendour who having vanquished single-handed the assembled +Yadavas in battle, ravished Subhadra with the consent of Vasudeva, he, +who having invaded the dominion of the illustrious Drupada gave, O +Bharata, unto the preceptor Drona his tuition fee--beholding, O king, +that Jishnu's bed of grass empty in our asylum, my heart refuses +consolation. A migration from this forest is what, O represser of foes, +I would prefer for without that hero this forest cannot be delightful.'" + + +SECTION LXXXI + +Vaisampayana said, "Hearing these words of his brothers as also of +Krishna, all of whom were anxious on account of Dhananjaya, king +Yudhishthira, the just, became melancholy. And at that time he saw +(before him) the celestial Rishi Narada blazing with _Brahmi_ beauty and +like unto a fire flaming up in consequence of sacrificial libation. And +beholding him come, king Yudhishthira with his brothers stood up and +duly worshipped the illustrious one. And endued with blazing energy, the +handsome chief of the Kuru race, surrounded by his brothers, shone like +the god of a hundred sacrifices encircled by the celestials. And +Yajnaseni in obedience to the dictates of morality adhered to her lords, +the sons of Pritha, like Savitri to the Vedas or the rays of the Sun to +the peak of Meru. And the illustrious Rishi Narada, accepting that +worship, comforted the son of Dharma in proper terms. And, O sinless +one, addressing the high-souled king Yudhishthira, the just, the Rishi +said, 'Tell me, O foremost of virtuous men, what it is that thou seekest +and what I can do for thee.' At this, the royal son of Dharma bowing +with his brothers unto Narada, who was the revered of the celestials, +told him with joined hands, 'O thou that art highly blessed and +worshipped by all the worlds when thou art gratified with me, I regard +all my wishes in consequence of thy grace, as already fulfilled, O thou +of excellent vows! If, O sinless one, I with my brothers deserve thy +favour, it behoveth thee, O best of Munis, to dispel the doubt that is +in my mind. It behoveth thee to tell me in detail what merit is his that +goeth round the worlds, desirous of beholding the sacred waters and +shrines that are on it.' + +"Narada said, 'Listen, O king, with attention, to what the intelligent +Bhishma had heard before from Pulastya! Once, O blessed one, that +foremost of virtuous men, Bhishma, while in the observance of the +_Pitrya_ vow, lived, O king, in the company of Munis in a delightful and +sacred region, near the source of the Ganga, that is resorted to by the +celestial Rishis and Gandharvas and the celestials themselves. And while +living there, the resplendent one gratified with his oblations the +_Pitris_, the gods and the Rishis, according to the rites inculcated in +the scriptures. And once on a time while the illustrious one was engaged +in his silent recitations, he beheld Pulastya--that best of Rishis, of +wonderful appearance. And beholding that austere ascetic blazing with +beauty, he was filled with great delight and exceeding wonder. And, O +Bharata, that foremost of virtuous men, Bhishma, then worshipped that +blessed Rishi according to the rites of the ordinance. And purifying +himself and with rapt attention, he approached that best of Brahmarshis, +with the _Arghya_ on his head. And uttering aloud his name, he said, "O +thou of excellent vow, blessed be thou, I am Bhishma, thy slave. At +sight of thee, I am freed from all my sins." And saying this, that +foremost of virtuous men, Bhishma, restraining speeches stood, O +Yudhishthira, in silence and with joined hands. And beholding Bhishma +that foremost of the Kurus, reduced and emaciated by the observance of +vows and the study of the Vedas, the Muni became filled with joy.'" + + +SECTION LXXXII + +"'Pulastya said, "O thou of excellent vows, I have been much gratified +with thy humility, thy self-control, and thy truth, thou blessed one +versed in morality! O sinless one, it is for this virtue of thine which +thou hast acquired from regard to thy ancestors, that I have been +gratified with thee and thou hast, O son, obtained a sight of my person. +O Bhishma, my eyes can penetrate into everything. Tell me what I may do +for thee. O sinless one, O thou foremost of the Kuru race, I will grant +thee whatever thou mayst ask me." + +"'Bhishma said, "O highly blessed one, when thou who art worshipped by +the three worlds hast been gratified with me and when I have obtained a +sight of thy exalted self, I regard myself as already crowned with +success. But, O thou foremost of virtuous persons, if I have deserved +thy favour, I will tell thee my doubts and it behoveth thee to dispel +them. O holy one, I have some religious doubts in respect of _tirthas_. +Speak of those to me in detail, I desire to hear thee. O thou that +resemblest a celestial himself, what is his merit, O regenerate Rishi, +who goeth round the whole earth (visiting shrines). O tell me this with +certainty." + +"'Pulastya said, "O son, listen with attention. I will tell thee of the +merit which attacheth to _tirthas_ and which constituteth the refuge of +the Rishis. He whose hands and feet and mind and knowledge and +asceticism and acts are under wholesome control, enjoyeth the fruits of +_tirthas_. He who has ceased to accept gifts, he that is contented, he +that is free from pride enjoys the fruits of _tirthas_. He that is +without sin, he that acts without purpose, he that eats light, he that +has his senses under control, he that is free from every sin, enjoys the +fruits of _tirthas_. O king, he that is free from anger, he that +adhereth to truth, he that is firm in vows, he that regardeth all +creatures as his own self, enjoyeth the fruits of _tirthas_. In the +Vedas the Rishis have declared in due order the sacrifices and also +their fruits here and hereafter truly. O lord of earth, those sacrifices +cannot be accomplished by him that is poor, for those sacrifices require +various materials and diverse things in large measures. These, therefore +can be performed by kings or sometimes by other men of prosperity and +wealth. O lord of men, that rite, however, which men without wealth, +without allies, singly, without wife and children, and destitute of +means, are capable of accomplishing and the merit of which is equal unto +the sacred fruits of sacrifices, I will now declare unto thee, thou best +of warriors! O thou best of the Bharata race, sojourns in _tirthas_ +which are meritorious and which constitute one of the high mysteries of +the Rishis, are even superior to sacrifices. He is a poor man who having +gone to a _tirtha_ hath not fasted for three nights, who hath not given +away gold, and who hath not distributed kine. Indeed, one acquireth not, +by the performance of the _Agnishtoma_ and other sacrifices +distinguished by large gifts, that merit which one requireth by a +sojourn to a _tirtha_. In the world of men, there is that _tirtha_ of +the God of gods, celebrated over the three worlds by the name of +_Pushkara_. One that sojourneth there becometh equal unto that deity. O +high-souled son of the Kuru race, during the two twilights and mid-day +there is the presence of hundred thousand millions of _tirthas_ in +_Pushkara_. The Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Sadhyas, the Maruts, +the Gandharvas, and the Apsaras are ever present, O exalted one, in +_Pushkara_. It was there, O king, that the gods, the Daityas and +_Brahmarshis_, having performed ascetic devotions there, obtained great +merit and finally attained to god-hood. + +"'"Men of self-control, by even thinking mentally of Pushkara, are +cleansed from their sins, and regarded in heaven. O king, the +illustrious grand-sire having the lotus for his seat, had dwelt with +great pleasure in this _tirtha_. O blessed one, it was in Pushkara that +the gods with the Rishis having acquired of old great merit, finally +obtained the highest success. The person who, devoted to the worship of +the gods and the _Pitris_, batheth in this _tirtha_, obtaineth, it hath +been said by the wise, merit that is equal to ten times that of the +horse-sacrifice. Having gone to the Pushkara woods, he that feedeth even +one Brahmana, becometh happy here and hereafter, O Bhishma, for that +act. He that supporteth himself on vegetables and roots and fruits, may +with pious regard and without disrespect, give even such fare to a +Brahmana. And, O best of kings, the man of wisdom, even by such a gift, +will acquire the merit of a horse-sacrifice. Those illustrious persons +among Brahmanas or Kshatriyas or Vaisyas or Sudras that bathe in +Pushkara are freed from the obligation of rebirth. That man in special +who visits Pushkara on the full moon of the month of _Karttika_, +acquireth ever-lasting regions in the abode of Brahma. He that thinketh +with joined hands morning and evening, of the Pushkara, practically +batheth, O Bharata, in every _tirtha_. Whether a male or a female, +whatever sins one may commit since birth, are all destroyed as soon as +one batheth in Pushkara. As the slayer of Madhu is the foremost of all +the celestials, so is Pushkara, O king, the foremost of all _tirthas_. A +man by residing with purity and regulated vows for twelve years in +Pushkara, acquireth the merit of all the sacrifices, and goeth to the +abode of Brahma. The merit of one who performeth the _Agnihotra_ for +full one hundred years, is equal to that of him who resideth for the +single month of _Karttika_ in Pushkara. There are three white hillocks +and three springs known from the remotest times, we do not know why, by +the name of the Pushkara. It is difficult to go to Pushkara; it is +difficult to undergo ascetic austerities at Pushkara; it is difficult to +give away at Pushkara; and it is difficult to live at Pushkara. + +"'"Having dwelt for twelve nights at Pushkara with regulated diet and +vows, and having walked round (the place), one must go to _Jamvu-marga_. +One that goeth to _Jamvu-marga_ which is resorted to by the celestials, +the Rishis, and the _Pitris_, acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice +and the fruition of all his wishes. The man that resideth there for five +nights, hath his soul cleansed from all sins. He never sinketh into +hell, but acquireth high success. Leaving Jamvu-marga one must go to +_Tandulikasrama_. He that goeth there never sinketh into hell but +ascendeth to the abode of Brahma. He that goeth to the lake of Agastya +and occupieth himself with the worship of the _Pitris_ and celestials, +fasting for three nights, acquireth, O king, the fruit of the +_Agnishtoma_. Going thither, he that liveth on vegetables or fruits +acquireth the status called _Kaumara_. One should next proceed to the +beautiful asylum of Kanwa, which is worshipped by the whole world. That +sacred wood characterised by holiness, existeth, O bull of the Bharata +race, from very remote times. As soon as one entereth it, he is freed +from all his sins. He who with regulated diet and vows worshippeth the +_Pitris_ and the gods there, obtaineth the fruit of a sacrifice that is +capable of bestowing the fruition of all one's desires. Having walked +round this asylum one must then go to the spot where Yayati fell (from +heaven). He that goeth thither, acquireth the merit of a +horse-sacrifice. One must then go to _Mahakala_ with regulated diet and +senses subdued. And having bathed in the _tirtha_ called _Koti_, one +obtaineth the merit of a horse-sacrifice. A virtuous man should next +proceed to the _tirtha_ of Sthanu, the husband of Uma, known over the +three worlds by the name of _Bhadravata_. That best of men who goeth to +_Bhadravata_, beholdeth Isana and obtaineth the fruit of a gift of a +thousand kine. And through the grace of Mahadeva, he acquireth the +status of _Ganapatya_ blessed with prosperity and peace and high grace. +Having arrived then at the _Narmada_, that river celebrated over the +three worlds, and given oblations of water to the _Pitris_ and the gods, +one acquireth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. He that goeth into the +Southern ocean, practising the Brahmacharya mode of life, and with +senses subdued, acquireth the fruit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice and +ascendeth to heaven. Having arrived at _Charmanwati_, with regulated +diet and senses subdued, one acquireth, at the command of Ramideva, the +merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. One must then go, O virtuous chief +of warriors, to _Arauda_, the son of Himavat, where there was a hole +through the earth in days of yore. There is the asylum of Vasistha, +celebrated over the three worlds. Having resided for one night, one +obtaineth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. He that, leading a +Brahmacharya mode of life batheth in the _tirtha_ called _Pinga_, +obtaineth, O tiger among kings, the merit of the gift of a hundred +_Kapila_ kine. One must next go, O king, to that excellent _tirtha_ +called _Prabhasa_. There Hutasana is always present in his own person. +He, the friend of Pavana, O hero, is the mouth of all the gods. The man +that with subdued and sanctified soul batheth in that _tirtha_, +obtaineth merit greater than that of the _Agnishtoma_ or _Atimtra_ +sacrifices. Proceeding next to the spot where the Saraswati mingleth +with the sea, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine and +heaven also besides, O bull of the Bharata race, blazing forth for all +time like Agni himself. He that with subdued soul batheth in the +_tirtha_ of the king of waters, and giveth oblations of water unto the +_Pitris_ and the gods, living there for three nights, blazeth forth like +the Moon, and obtaineth also the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. One +should next proceed, O best of the Bharata, unto the _tirtha_ known by +the name of _Varadana_, where (the Rishi) Durvasa had given a boon unto +Vishnu. A man by bathing in Varadana obtaineth the fruit of the gift of +a thousand kine. One should next proceed with subdued senses and +regulated diet to _Dwaravati_, where by bathing in _Pindaraka_, one +obtaineth the fruit of the gift of gold in abundance. O blessed one, it +is wonderful to relate that in that _tirtha_, to this day, coins with +the mark of the lotus and lotuses also with the mark of the trident, are +seen, O represser of heroes! And O bull among men, the presence of +Mahadeva is there. Arriving then, O Bharata, at the spot where the +_Sindhu_ mingleth with the sea, one should with subdued soul bathe in +that _tirtha_ of Varuna. And bathing there and giving oblations of water +to the _Pitris_, the Rishis, and the gods one acquireth, O bull of the +Bharata race, the region of Varuna, and blazeth forth in effulgence of +his own. Men of wisdom say that, by worshipping the god known by the +name of _Shankukarneswara_, one acquireth ten times the merit of the +horse-sacrifice. O bull of the Bharata race, having walked round that +_tirtha_, one should, O thou foremost of the Kurus, go to that _tirtha_ +celebrated over the three worlds and known by the name of _Drimi_. That +_tirtha_ cleanseth from every sin, and it is there that the gods +including Brahma worship Maheswara. Having bathed there and worshipped +Rudra surrounded by the other gods, one is freed from all sins since +birth. It was there, O best of men, that _Drimi_ was adored by all the +gods. Bathing there, O best of men, one obtaineth the fruit of the +horse-sacrifice. O thou of great intelligence, Vishnu the creator of the +universe, after slaying the Daityas and Danavas, went thither to purify +himself. O virtuous one, one should next proceed to _Vasudhara_ adored +by all. The moment one arrives at that _tirtha_, one acquireth the fruit +of the horse-sacrifice. And, O thou best of the Kurus, by bathing there +with subdued soul and rapt attention, and giving oblations of water unto +the gods and the _Pitris_ one ascendeth unto the region of Vishnu and is +adored there. In that _tirtha_, O bull of the Bharata race, there is a +sacred lake of the Vasus. By bathing there and drinking of its water, +one becometh regarded of the Vasus. There is a celebrated _tirtha_ of +the name of _Sindhuttama_, which destroyeth every sin. O best of men, by +bathing there, one acquireth the fruit of the gift of gold in abundance. +By arriving at _Bhadratunga_ with sanctified soul and purity of conduct, +one acquireth the region of Brahma and a high state of blessedness. +There is then the _tirtha_ of the _Kumarikas_ of Indra, that is much +resorted to by the _Siddhas_. O best of men, by bathing there, one +obtaineth the region of Indra. In _Kumarika_ there is another _tirtha_ +called _Renuka_, which is also resorted to by the _Siddhas_. A Brahmana +by bathing there would become as bright as the Moon. Proceeding next to +the tirtha called the _Panchananda_, with subdued sense and regulated +diet, one obtaineth the fruit of the five sacrifices that have been +mentioned one after another in the scriptures. Then, O king, one should +go to the excellent region of Bhima. O best of the Bharatas by bathing +in the _tirtha_ there, that is called _Yoni_, a man (in his next birth) +becometh, O king, the son of a goddess, bearing ear-rings decked with +pearls, and obtaineth also the merit of the gift of a hundred thousand +kine. Proceeding next to _Srikunda_, celebrated over the three worlds +and worshipping the grandsire, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a +thousand kine. O virtuous one, one should then go to the excellent +tirtha called _Vimala_, where to this day may be seen fishes of golden +and silver hues. By bathing there, one soon acquireth the region of +Vasava, and his soul being cleansed from every sin, he attaineth to a +high state of blessedness. Proceeding next to _Vitasta_ and giving +oblations of water unto the _Pitris_ and the gods, a man, O Bharata, +obtaineth the fruit of the _Vajapeya_ sacrifice. That sin-destroying +tirtha known by the name of _Vitasta_, is situate in the country of the +_Kasmiras_ and is the abode of the Naga Takshaka. Bathing there, a man +certainly obtaineth the fruit of the _Vajapeya_ sacrifice, and his soul +cleansed from every sin, he attaineth to a high state of blessedness. +One should next proceed to _Vadava_ celebrated over the three worlds. +Bathing there with due rites in the evening, one should offer rice +boiled in butter and milk, according to the best of his might, unto the +deity of seven flames. Men of wisdom say that a gift made here in honour +of the _Pitris_, becometh inexhaustible. The Rishis, the _Pitris_, the +gods, the Gandharvas, several tribes of Apsaras, the Guhyakas, the +Kinnaras, the Yakshas, the _Siddhas_, the Vidhyadharas, the Rakshasas, +Daityas, Rudras, and Brahma himself, O king, having with subdued senses, +accepted a course of austerities for a thousand years in order to move +Vishnu to grace, cooked rice in milk and butter and gratified Kesava +with oblations, each offered with seven Riks. And, O king, the gratified +Kesava thereupon conferred on them the eight-fold attributes called +_Aiswarya_ and other objects that they desired. And having bestowed upon +them these, that god disappeared in their sight like lightning in the +clouds. And it is for this, O Bharata, that that _tirtha_ became known +by the name of _Saptacharu_, and if one offereth _Charu_ there to the +seven flamed deity, he obtaineth merit superior to that of the gift of a +hundred thousand kine, to that of a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices, as also +of a hundred horse-sacrifices. Leaving _Vadava_, O king, one should then +proceed to Raudrapada, and beholding Mahadeva there one obtaineth the +merit of the horse-sacrifice. Proceeding then, with subdued soul and +leading a Brahmacharya mode of life, to _Manirnat_, and residing there +for one night, one acquireth, O king, the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ +sacrifice. One should then go, O king, to _Devika_ celebrated over the +whole world. It was there, O bull of Bharata race, that, as heard by us, +the Brahmanas first sprang into existence. There also is the region of +the holder of the trident--a region that is celebrated over the world. +Having bathed in _Devika_ and worshipped Maheswara by offering him, to +the best of one's might, rice boiled in milk and butter, a man +obtaineth, O bull of the Bharata race, the merit of a sacrifice that is +capable of filling every desire. There also is another _tirtha_ of Rudra +called _Kamakhya_, which is much resorted to by the gods. Bathing there, +a man speedily obtaineth success. By touching also the water of +_Yajana_, _Brahmavaluka_, and _Pushpamva_, one becometh free from sorrow +in after life. The learned have said that the sacred _tirtha_ of +_Devika_, the resort of the gods and the Rishis, is five _Yojanas_ in +length and half a _Yojana_ in breadth. One should then, in due order, +proceed, O king, to _Dirghasatra_. There the gods with Brahma at their +head, the _Siddhas_, and the greatest Rishis, with regulated vows and +the recitation and acceptance of the preliminary pledge, perform the +long-extending sacrifice. O king, by going only to _Dirghasatra_, O +represser of foes, one obtaineth merit that is superior, O Bharata, to +that of the Rajasuya or the horse-sacrifice. One should next proceed +with subdued senses and regulated diet to _Vinasana_, where _Saraswati_ +disappearing on the breast of Meru, re-appeareth at _Chamasa_, +_Shivodbheda_ and _Nagadbheda_. Bathing in _Chamasadbheda_, one +obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. Bathing in +_Shivodbheda_, one acquireth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. +And bathing in _Nagodbheda_, one obtaineth the region of the Nagas. One +should proceed, next, to the inaccessible _tirtha_ of _Shasayana_, where +the cranes, O Bharata, disappearing in the form of _sasas_, re-appear +every year in the month of _Kavttika_, and bathe, O blessed chief of the +Bharata race, in the Sarasawati. Bathing there, O tiger among men, one +blazeth forth like the Moon, and obtaineth, O bull of the Bharata race, +the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. One should next proceed, O +thou of the Kuru race, to _Kumarakoti_, with subdued senses, and bathing +there, worship the gods and the _Puris_. By doing this, one obtaineth +the merit of the gift of ten thousand kine, and raiseth all his +ancestors to higher regions. One should next, O virtuous one, proceed +with subdued soul to _Rudrakoti_, where in olden days, O king, ten +millions of Munis had assembled. And, O king, filled with great joy at +the prospect of beholding Mahadeva, the Rishis assembled there, each +saying, '_I will first behold the god! I will first behold the god!_' +And, O king, in order to prevent disputes amongst those Rishis of +subdued souls, the Lord of _Yoga_, by the help of his _Yoga_ power, +multiplied himself into ten million forms, and stood before every one of +them. And every one of these Rishis said, '_I have seen him first!_' And +gratified, O king, with the deep devotion of those Munis of subdued +souls, Mahadeva granted them a boon, saying, '_From this day your +righteousness shall grow!_' And, O tiger among men, one that bathes, +with a pure mind, in _Rudrakoti_ obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice and delivereth his ancestors. One should next proceed, O +king, to that highly sacred and celebrated region where the Saraswati +mingles with the sea. Thither, O king, the gods with Brahma at their +head and Rishis with wealth of asceticism repair for adoring Kesava on +the fourteenth day of the lighted fortnight of the month of Chaitra. +Bathing there, O tiger among men, one obtaineth the merit of giving away +gold in abundance, and his soul being cleansed from every sin, he +ascendeth to the region of Brahma. It is there, O king, that the Rishis +have completed many a sacrifice. By a trip to that spot one obtaineth +the merit of the gifts of a thousand kine."'" + + +SECTION LXXXIII + +"'Pulastya said, "One should next proceed, O king, to the adored +Kurukshetra at sight of which all creatures are freed from their sins. +He is freed from all sins who constantly sayeth, '_I will live in +Kurukshetra_.' The very dust of Kurukshetra, conveyed by the wind, +leadeth a sinful man to a blessed course (in after-life). They that +dwell in Kurukshetra which lieth to the south of the Saraswati and the +north of the Drishadwati, are said to dwell in heaven. O hero, one +should reside there, O thou foremost of warriors, for a month. There, O +lord of earth, the gods with Brahma at their head, the Rishis, the +Siddhas, the Charanas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, the Yakshas and the +Nagas, often repair, O Bharata, to the highly sacred Brahmakshetra. O +foremost of warriors, the sins of one that desireth to repair to +Kurukshetra even mentally are all destroyed, and he finally goeth into +the region of Brahma. O son of the Kuru race, by repairing to +Kurukshetra in a pious frame of mind, one obtaineth the fruit of the +Rajasuya and horse sacrifices. By saluting next the Yaksha called +Mankanaka, that mighty gate-keeper (of Kuvera), he obtaineth the fruit +of giving away a thousand kine. O virtuous king, one should next repair +to the excellent region of Vishnu, where Hari is always present. Bathing +there and bowing down unto Hari, the Creator of the three worlds, one +obtaineth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice and repaireth to the abode of +Vishnu. One should next repair to Pariplava, that _tirtha_ celebrated +over the three worlds, and (bathing there), O Bharata, one obtaineth +merit that is greater than that of the _Agnishtoma_ and the _Atiratra_ +sacrifices. Repairing next to the _tirtha_ called Prithivi, one +obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine. The pilgrim should +next, O king, proceed to Shalukini and bathing there in the Dasaswamedha +one obtaineth the merit of ten horse-sacrifices. Proceeding next to +_Sarpadevi_, that excellent _tirtha_ of the Nagas, one obtaineth the +merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice and attaineth to the region of the +Nagas. O virtuous one, one should next proceed to _Tarantuka_, the +gatekeeper, and residing there for one night one obtaineth the merit of +giving away a thousand kine. Proceeding next with subdued senses and +regulated diet to _Panchananda_ and bathing in the _tirtha_ there, +called _Koti_, one obtaineth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. +Proceeding then to the _tirtha_ of the twin _Aswins_ one obtaineth +personal beauty. O virtuous one, one should next proceed to the +excellent _tirtha_ called _Varaha_, where Vishnu formerly stood in the +form of a boar. Bathing there one obtaineth, O foremost of men, the +merit of the horse-sacrifice. One should next, O king, repair to the +_tirtha_ called _Sama_ in Jayanti. Bathing there one obtaineth the merit +of Rajasuya sacrifice. By bathing in _Ekahansa_, a man obtaineth the +merit of giving away a thousand kine. O king, a pilgrim repairing to +_Kritasaucha_ obtaineth the lotus-eyed deity (Vishnu) and perfect purity +of soul. One should next proceed to _Munjavata_, that spot sacred to the +illustrious _Sthanu_. Residing there without food for one night, one +obtaineth the status called _Ganapatya_. There, O king, is the +celebrated _tirtha_ called _Yakshini_. O king, repairing to that +_tirtha_ and bathing there, one obtaineth fruition of all his desires. O +bull of the Bharata race, that _tirtha_ is regarded as the gate of +_Kurukshetra_. The pilgrim should with concentrated soul, walk round it. +Equal unto the Pushkaras, it was created by the high-souled Rama, the +son of Jamadagni. Bathing there and worshipping the _Pitris_ and the +gods, one obtaineth, O king, the merit of the horse-sacrifice and +becometh successful in everything. The pilgrim should next repair with +concentrated soul to the _Rama-hrada_. There, O king, the heroic Rama of +resplendent energy, exterminating the Kshatriyas by his might, dug five +lakes and filled them, O tiger among men, with the blood of his victims, +as heard by us. And having filled those lakes with Kshatriya blood, Rama +offered oblations of blood to his sires and grandsires. Gratified (with +the oblations) those Rishis then addressed Rama and said, 'O Rama, O +Rama, O thou of great good fortune, we have been gratified with thee, O +thou of the Bhrigu race, for this thy regard for the Pitris, and thy +prowess, O exalted one! Blessed be thou and ask thou the boon thou +choosest. What is that thou desirest, O thou of great splendour!' Thus +addressed (by them), Rama, that foremost of smiters, said with joined +hands these words unto the _Pitris_, stationed in the firmament, 'If ye +have been gratified with me, if I have deserved your favour, I desire +this favour of the Pitris, _viz_., that I may have pleasure again in +ascetic austerities. Let me also, through your power, be freed from the +sin I have committed by exterminating, from wrath, the Kshatriya race. +Let also my lakes become _tirthas_ celebrated over the world.' The +Pitris, hearing these blessed words of Rama, were highly gratified, and +filled with joy they answered him saying, 'Let thy asceticism increase +in consequence of thy regard for the Pitris. Thou hast exterminated the +Kshatriyas from wrath. Freed art thou already from that sin, for they +have perished as a consequence of their own misdeeds. Without doubt, +these lakes of thine will become _tirthas_. And if one, bathing in these +lakes, offereth oblations of the water thereof to the _Pitris_, the +latter gratified with him will grant him desire, difficult of fulfilment +in the world as also eternal heaven.' O king, having granted him these +boons, the Pitris joyfully saluted Rama of the Bhrigu race and +disappeared there and then. It was thus that the lakes of the +illustrious Rama of the Bhrigu race became sacred. Leading a +Brahmacharya mode of life and observing sacred vows, one should bathe in +the lakes of Rama. Bathing therein and worshipping Rama, one obtaineth, +O king, the merit of gift of gold in abundance. Proceeding next, O son +of the Kuru race, to _Vansamulaka_, a pilgrim by bathing there, raiseth, +O king, his own race. O best of the Bharatas, arriving next at the +_tirtha_ called _Kayasodhana_, and bathing there, one purifieth, without +doubt, his body, and proceeded with purified body to the blessed region +of unrivalled excellence. One should next repair, O virtuous one, to +that _tirtha_, celebrated over the three worlds, called _Lokoddara_, +where formerly Vishnu of great prowess had created the worlds. Arriving +at that _tirtha_ which is adored by the three worlds one earneth, O +king, by bathing there, numerous worlds for himself. Repairing next with +subdued soul to the _tirtha_ called _Sree_, one acquires, by bathing +there and worshipping the Pitris and the gods, high prosperity. Leading +a Brahmacharya mode of life and with concentrated soul, one should +proceed next to the _tirtha_ called _Kapila_. Bathing there and +worshipping one's own Pitris and the gods, a man earneth the fruit of +the gift of a thousand Kapila kine. Repairing next to the _tirtha_ +called _Surya_ and bathing there with subdued soul and worshipping the +Pitris and the gods, fasting all the while, one obtaineth the fruit of +the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice and goeth (finally) to the region of the Sun. +The pilgrim by proceeding next to Gobhavana and bathing there obtaineth +the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. O son of the Kuru race, a +pilgrim by repairing then to the _tirtha_ called _Shankhini_ and bathing +in the _Devi-tirtha_ that is there, obtaineth high prowess. O king, one +should then proceed to the _tirtha_ called _Tarandaka_ situated in the +Saraswati and belonging to the illustrious chief of the Yakshas who is +one of the gate-keepers (of Kuvera). O king, bathing there one obtaineth +the fruit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. O virtuous king, one should +next repair to the _tirtha_ called _Brahmavarta_. Bathing in +_Brahmavarta_, one ascendeth to the abode of Brahma. O king, one should +then repair to the excellent _tirtha_ called _Sutirtha_. There the +Pitris are ever present along with the gods. One should bathe there and +worship the Pitris and the gods. By so doing, one obtaineth the merit of +the horse-sacrifice and goeth (finally) into the region of the Pitris. +It is for this, O virtuous one, that _Sutirtha_ situate in _Amvumati_ is +regarded as so excellent. And, O thou best of the Bharata race, having +bathed in the _tirtha_ of _Kasiswara_, one becometh freed from all +diseases and is adored in the abode of Brahma. There in that _tirtha_, +is another called _Matri_. One that bathes in _Matri tirtha_ hath a +large progeny and obtaineth, O king, great prosperity. One should next +proceed with subdued sense and regulated diet to the _tirtha_ called +_Shitavana_. And, O great king, it hath been seen that one merit of that +_tirtha_ which rarely belongs to any other, is that one only going +thither obtaineth holiness. By casting off his hair in that _tirtha_ one +acquireth, O Bharata, great sanctity. There, in that _tirtha_, is +another called _Shwavillomapaha_, where, O tiger among men, and chief of +the Bharata race, learned Brahmanas that go to _tirthas_ obtain great +satisfaction by a dip into its waters. Good Brahmanas, O king, by +casting off their hair in that _tirtha_ acquire holiness by _Pranayama_ +and finally attain to a high state. There, O king, in that _tirtha_ is +also another called _Dasaswamedhika_. Bathing there, O tiger among men, +one attains to a high state. One should next proceed, O king, to the +celebrated _tirtha_ called _Manusha_ where, O king, a number of black +antelopes afflicted by the hunter's arrows, plunging into its waters, +were transformed into human beings. Bathing in that _tirtha_, leading a +_Brahmacharya_ mode of life and with concentrated soul, a man becomes +freed from all his sins and is adored in heaven. Distant by a _krosa_, O +king, to the east of _Manusha_ there is a river celebrated by the name +of _Apaga_ that is resorted to by the _Siddhas_. The man that offereth +there the _syamaka_ grain in honour of the gods and the Pitris acquireth +great religious merit. And if one Brahmana is fed there, it becomes +equivalent to feeding ten millions of Brahmanas. Having bathed in that +_tirtha_ and worshipped the gods and the Pitris and resided there for +one night, a man obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. One +should then repair, O king, to that excellent region of Brahma which, O +Bharata, is known on earth by the name of _Brahmodumvara_. Bathing in +the tank of the seven Rishis that is there, O bull among men, with pure +mind and subdued soul, as also in the _tirtha_ called _Kedara_ of the +high-souled _Kapila_, and beholding Brahma who is there, one's soul +being purified from all sins, one goeth to the abode of Brahma. +Proceeding next to the inaccessible _tirtha_ called _Kedara of Kapila_, +and burning one's sins there by ascetic penances, one acquireth the +power of disappearance at will. One should next proceed, O king, to the +celebrated _tirtha_ called _Saraka_, and beholding Mahadeva there on the +fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, one obtaineth all his wishes and +goeth also into heaven. O son of the Kuru race, in _Saraka_ and +_Rudrakoti_ as also in the well and the lakes that are there, thirty +millions of _tirthas_ are present. There in that _tirtha_, O chief of +the Bharatas, is another called _Ilaspada_. Bathing there and +worshipping the gods and the Pitris, one never sinketh into hell but +obtaineth the fruit of the _Vajapeya_ sacrifice. Repairing next to +_Kindana_ and _Kinjapya_, one acquireth, O Bharata, the merit of giving +away in measureless abundance and the infinite recitation of prayers. +Repairing next to the _tirtha_ called _Kalasi_ and bathing there +devoutly and with the senses under control, a man obtaineth the fruit of +the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. To the east of _Saraka_, O chief of the +Kurus, there is an auspicious _tirtha_ known by the name of _Anajanma_, +of the high-souled Narada. He that bathes there, O Bharata, obtaineth, +after death, at the command of Narada various unrivalled regions. One +should next proceed, on the tenth day of the lighted fortnight, to the +_tirtha_ called _Pundarika_. Bathing there, O king, one obtaineth the +merit of the _Pundarika_ sacrifice. One should next proceed to the +_tirtha_ called _Tripishtapa_ that is known over the three worlds. There +in that _tirtha_ is the sacred and sin-destroying river called +_Vaitarani_. Bathing there and adoring the god known by the mark of the +bull and holding the trident in his hand, one's soul being purified from +every sin one attaineth to the highest state. One should next proceed, O +king, to the excellent _tirtha_ called _Phalakivana_. There in that +_tirtha_ the gods, O monarch, having been present, performed their +ascetic austerities extending for many thousand years. One should then +proceed to the _Dhrishadwati_. Bathing there and worshipping the gods, +one obtaineth, O Bharata, merit that is superior to that of both the +_Agnishtoma_ and the _Atiratra_ sacrifices. O chief of the Bharatas, +bathing in that _tirtha_ called _Sarvadeva_, a man obtaineth, O king, +the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Bathing next in the _tirtha_ +called _Panikhata_ and worshipping all the gods, a man obtaineth merit +that is superior to that of both the _Agnishtoma_ and the _Atiratra_ +sacrifices, besides acquiring that of the _Rajasuya_ sacrifice and +finally going into the region of the Rishis. One should next proceed, O +virtuous one, to that excellent _tirtha_ called _Misraka_. There, O +tiger among kings, it hath been heard by us that the high-souled Vyasa, +for the sake of the Brahmanas, hath mixed all the _tirthas_. He, +therefore, that bathes in _Misraka_ really bathes in all the _tirtha_. +One should next proceed with subdued senses and regulated diet, to the +_tirtha_ called _Vyasavana_. Bathing in the _tirtha_ called _Manojava_ +that is there, one obtaineth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. +Proceeding next to the _Devi tirtha_ that is in _Madhuvati_, one that +bathes there and worships the gods and the Pitris obtains at the command +of the Goddess the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. Proceeding with +regulated diet, he that bathes in the confluence of the _Kausiki_ and +the _Drishadwati_, becometh free from all his sins. One should next +proceed to _Vyasasthali_ where Vyasa of great intelligence, burning with +grief for his son had resolved to cast off his body but was cheered +again by the gods. Proceeding to that spot of Vyasa, one obtaineth the +merit of a thousand kine. O son of the Kuru race, proceeding next to the +well called _Kindatta_, he that throweth into it a measure of sesame, is +freed from all his debts and obtaineth his success. Bathing in the +_tirtha_ called _Vedi_, one obtaineth the merit of the gift of a +thousand kine. There are two other celebrated tirthas called _Ahas_ and +_Sudina_. Bathing there, O tiger among men, one goeth to the region of +the Sun. One should next proceed to the _tirtha_ called _Mrigadhuma_ +that is celebrated throughout the three worlds. One should bathe there, +O king, in Ganga. Bathing there and worshipping Mahadeva, one obtaineth +the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Bathing next in the _Devi tirtha_ one +obtaineth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. One should then +proceed to _Vamanaka_ celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing there in +_Vishnupada_ and worshipping Vamana one's soul being purified from every +sin, one goeth to the abode of Vishnu. Bathing next in Kulampuna, one +sanctifieth his own race. Proceeding then to the _Pavana-hrada_, that +excellent _tirtha_ of the _Marutas_, and bathing there, O king and tiger +among men, one becometh adored in the region of the Wind-god. Bathing in +the _Amara-hrada_ and worshipping with devotion the chief of the +celestials, one becometh adored in heaven and courseth, seated on an +excellent car, in the company of the immortals. O best of great men, +bathing next with due rites in the _tirtha_ called _Salisurya_, of +_Salihotra_, one obtaineth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. O +best of the Bharatas, there is a tirtha called _Sreekunja_ in the +Saraswati. Bathing there, O best of men, one obtaineth the merit of the +_Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. O son of the Kuru race, one should next repair +to _Naimishakunja_. O king, the Rishis engaged in ascetic austerities in +the woods of _Naimisha_ had, in days of old, taking the vow of +pilgrimage, gone to Kurukshetra. There, on the banks of the Saraswati, O +chief of the Bharatas, a grove was made, which might serve for a resting +spot for themselves, and which was highly gratifying to them. Bathing in +the _Saraswati_ there, one obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ +sacrifice. One should next proceed, O virtuous one, to the excellent +_tirtha_ called _Kanya_. Bathing there one obtaineth the merit of the +gift of a thousand kine. One should next proceed to the excellent +_tirtha_ of _Brahma_. Bathing there, a person, of the (three) inferior +orders, obtaineth the status of a Brahmana, and if one be a Brahmana, +his soul being purified from every sin, he attaineth to the highest +state. One should then, O best of men, proceed to the excellent _tirtha_ +called _Soma_. Bathing there, O king, one obtaineth the region of +_Soma_. One should next proceed, O king, to the _tirtha_ called +_Saptasaraswata_, where the celebrated Rishi, Mankanaka, had obtained +ascetic success. O king, it hath been heard by us that in days of old +Mankanaka having cut his hand with the pointed blade of the Kusa grass, +there flowed from his wound vegetable juice (instead of blood). And +beholding vegetable juice flow from his wound, the Rishi began to dance +with wonder-expanded eyes. And as the Rishi danced, all the mobile and +immobile creatures also, overwhelmed with his prowess, began to dance +with him. Then, O king, the gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis +endued with the wealth of asceticism moved by the act of Mankanaka, +represented the matter to Mahadeva, saying, 'It behoveth thee, O god, to +act in such a way that this Rishi may not dance.' Thus addressed, +Mahadeva, with heart filled with joy, approached the dancing Rishi, and +moved by the desire of doing good to the gods, said, 'O great Rishi, O +virtuous one, why dost thou dance? O bull among Munis, what can be the +reason of this thy present joy?' The Rishi answered, 'O best of +Brahmanas, I am an ascetic that tread the path of virtue. Dost thou not +behold, O Brahmana, that vegetable juice floweth from the wound in my +hand? Filled with great joy at sight of this, I am dancing.' Addressing +the Rishi blinded by emotion, the god laughingly said, 'O Brahmana, I do +not wonder at this. Behold me.' Having said this, O best of men, +Mahadeva, O sinless king, pressed his thumb by the tip of his own +finger. And, lo, from the wound thus inflicted, there came out ashes +white as snow. And beholding this, O king, that Muni became ashamed and +fell at the feet of the god. And believing that there was nothing better +and greater than the god Rudra, he began to adore him in these words: 'O +holder of the trident, thou art the refuge of the celestials and the +Asuras, of, indeed, the universe. By thee have been created the three +worlds with their mobile and immobile beings. It is thou again that +swallowest everything at the end of the Yuga. Thou art incapable of +being known by the gods themselves, far less by me. O sinless one, the +gods with Brahma at their head are all displayed in thee. Thou art all, +the Creator himself and the Ordainer of the worlds. It is by thy grace +that all the gods sport without anxiety or fear.' And adoring Mahadeva +thus the Rishi also said, 'O god of gods, grant me thy grace, so that my +asceticism may not diminish.' Then that god of cheerful soul answered +the regenerate Rishi,--saying, 'Let thy asceticism, O Brahmana, increase +a thousandfold through my grace. And, O great Muni, I shall dwell with +thee in this thy asylum. Bathing in _Saptasaraswata_, they that will +worship me, shall be able to attain everything here and hereafter. And, +without doubt, they shall all attain to the _Saraswata_ region in the +end.' Having said this, Mahadeva disappeared then and there. After +visiting _Saraswata_, one should proceed to _Ausanasa_ celebrated over +the three worlds. There, O Bharata, the gods with Brahma at their head, +and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, and the illustrious +Kartikeya, were ever present during two twilights and the mid-day, +impelled by the desire of doing good to Bhargava. There in that _tirtha_ +is another called _Kapalamochana_, which cleanseth from every sin. O +tiger among men, bathing there one is cleansed from every sin. One +should then proceed to the _tirtha_ called _Agni_. Bathing there, O bull +among men, one obtaineth the regions of _agni_ and raiseth his own race +(from lower regions). There in that _tirtha_ is another, O chief of the +Bharatas, that belongeth to Viswamitra. Bathing there, O best of men, +one obtaineth the status of a Brahmana. Proceeding next to Brahmayoni in +purity of body and with subdued soul, one obtaineth, O tiger among men, +by bathing there, the abode of Brahma, and sanctifieth, without doubt, +his own race to the seventh generation up and down. One should next +proceed, O king, to the _tirtha_ celebrated over the three worlds, which +is called _Prithudaka_, belonging to Kartikeya. One should bathe there +and occupy oneself in the worship of the Pitris and the gods. Whatever +evil hath been committed, knowingly or unknowingly, by man or woman, +impelled by human motives, is all destroyed, O Bharata, by a bath in +that _tirtha_. Bathing there one obtaineth, too, the merit of the +horse-sacrifice and heaven also. The learned have said that +_Kurukshetra_ is holy; that holier than _Kurukshetra_ is the +_Saraswati_; that holier than the Saraswati are all the _tirthas_ +together, and that holier than all the _tirthas_ together is +_Prithudaka_. He that engaged in the recitation of prayers casteth off +his body at Prithudaka, which is the best of all _tirthas_, becometh an +immortal. It hath been sung by Sanatkumara and by the high-souled Vyasa, +and it is in the Vedas also, that one should, O king, go to Prithudaka, +with subdued soul. O son of Kuru race, there is no _tirtha_ which is +superior to Prithudaka. Without doubt, that _tirtha_ is purifying, holy +and sin-destroying. O best of men, it hath been said by learned persons +that men, however sinful, by bathing in Prithudaka, go to heaven. O best +of the Bharatas, there in that _tirtha_ is another called _Madhusrava_. +Bathing there, O king, one obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand +kine. One should then proceed, O king, to that celebrated and sacred +_tirtha_ where the Saraswati uniteth with the Aruna. One that batheth +there, having fasted for three nights, is cleansed of even the sin of +slaying a Brahmana, and obtaineth also merit that is superior to that of +either the _Agnishtoma_ or _Atiratra_ sacrifice, and rescueth his race +to the seventh generation up and down. There in that _tirtha_ is +another, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, that is called Ardhakila. From +compassion for the Brahmanas, that _tirtha_ was made by Darbhi in days +of old. Without doubt, by vows, by investiture of the sacred, by fasts, +by rites and by _Mantras_, one becometh a Brahmana. O bull among men, it +hath been seen, however, by learned persons of old that even one +destitute of rites and _Mantras_, by only bathing in that _tirtha_ +becometh learned and endued with the merit of vows. Darbhi had also +brought hither the four oceans. O best of men, one that batheth here, +never meeteth with distress hereafter and obtaineth also the merit of +giving away four thousand kine. One should next repair, O virtuous one, +to the _tirtha_ called _Satasahasraka_. Near to this is another called +_Sahasraka_. Both are celebrated, and one that batheth in them, +obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Fasts and gifts +there multiply a thousandfold. One should next proceed, O king, to the +excellent _tirtha_ called _Renuka_. One should bathe there and worship +the _Pitris_ and the gods. By this, cleansed from every sin, he +obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. Bathing next in the +_tirtha_ called _Vimochana_ with passions and senses under control, one +is cleansed from all the sins generated by the acceptance of gifts. With +senses under control and practising the Brahmacharya mode of life, one +should next repair to the woods of Panchavati. By a sojourn thither, one +earneth much virtue and becometh adored in the regions of the virtuous. +One should next go to the _tirtha_ of _Varuna_ called _Taijasa_, blazing +in effulgence of its own. There in that _tirtha_ is the lord of Yoga, +Sthanu himself, having for his vehicle the bull. He that sojourneth +there, obtaineth success by worshipping the god of gods. It was there +that the gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis endued with wealth of +asceticism, installed Guha as the generalissimo of the celestials. To +the east of that _tirtha_ is another, O perpetuator of Kuru race, that +is called Kuru _tirtha_. With senses under control and leading a +Brahmacharya mode of life, he that bathes in _Kuru-tirtha_, becometh +cleansed of all his sins and obtaineth the region of Brahma. With +subdued senses and regulated diet one should next proceed to +_Svargadwara_. Sojourning thither, one obtaineth the merit of the +_Agnishtoma_ sacrifice and goeth to the abode of Brahma. The pilgrim +should then, O king, proceed to the _tirtha_ called _Anaraka_. Bathing +there, O king, one never meeteth with distress hereafter. There, O king, +Brahma himself with the other gods having Narayana at their head, is +ever present, O tiger among men! And, O royal son of the Kuru race, the +wife also of Rudra is present there. Beholding the goddess, one never +meeteth with distress hereafter. There in that _tirtha_ O king, is also +(an image of) _Visweswara_, the lord of Uma. Beholding the god of gods +there, one is cleansed of all his sins. Beholding also (the image of) +_Narayana_ from whose navel had sprung the lotus, one blazeth forth, O +royal represser of all foes, and goeth to the abode of Vishnu. O bull +among men, he that batheth in the _tirthas_ of all the gods, is exempted +from every sorrow and blazeth forth like the Moon. The pilgrim should +next proceed, O king, to _Swastipura_. By walking around that place, one +obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Arriving next at the +_tirtha_ called _Pavana_, one should offer oblations to the _Pitris_ and +the gods. By this, he obtaineth, O Bharata, the merit of the +_Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. Near to that is _Ganga-hrada_, and another, O +Bharata, called _Kupa_. Thirty millions of _tirthas_, O king, are +present in that Kupa. Bathing there, O king, a person obtaineth heaven. +Bathing also in the _Ganga-hrada_ and adoring Maheswara, one obtaineth +the status of _Ganapatya_ and rescueth his own race. One should next +proceed to _Sthanuvata_, celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing +there, O king, one obtaineth heaven. One should then proceed to +_Vadanpachana_, the asylum of _Vasishtha_. Having fasted there for three +nights, one should eat jujubes. He that liveth on jujubes for twelve +years, and he that fasteth at the _tirtha_ for three nights, acquireth +merit that is eternal. Arriving then at _Indramarga_, O king, and +fasting there for a day and night the pilgrim becometh adored in the +abode of Indra. Arriving next at the _tirtha_ called _Ekaratra_, a +person that stayeth there for one night, with regulated vows and +refraining from untruth, becometh adored in the abode of Brahma. One +should next go, O king, to the asylum of _Aditya_--that illustrious god +who is a mass of effulgence. Bathing in that tirtha celebrated over +three worlds, and worshipping the god of light, one goeth to the region +of Aditya and rescueth his own race. The pilgrim then, O king, bathing +in the _tirtha_ of _Soma_, obtaineth, without doubt, the region of Soma. +One should next proceed, O virtuous one, to the most sacred _tirtha_ of +the illustrious _Dadhicha_, that sanctifying _tirtha_ which is +celebrated over the whole world. It was here that Angiras, that ocean of +ascetic austerities belonging to the Saraswata race, was born. Bathing +in that _tirtha_, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and +without doubt, gaineth also residence in the region of Saraswati. With +subdued senses and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life, one should next +proceed to _Kanyasrama_. Residing there for three nights, O king, with +subdued senses and regulated diet, one obtaineth a hundred celestial +damsels and goeth also to the abode of Brahma. One should next, O +virtuous one, proceed to the _tirtha_ called _Sannihati_. Sojourning +thither the gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis endued with wealth +of asceticism earn much virtue. Bathing in the Saraswati during a solar +eclipse, one obtaineth the merit of a hundred horse-sacrifices, and any +sacrifice that one may perform there produceth merit that is eternal. +Whatever _tirthas_ exist on earth or in the firmament, all the rivers, +lakes, smaller lakes, springs, tanks, large and small, and spots sacred +to particular gods, without doubt, all come, O tiger among men, month +after month, and mingle with _Sannihati_, O king of men! And it is +because that all other _tirthas_ are united together here, that this +_tirtha_ is so called. Bathing there and drinking of its water, one +becometh adored in heaven. Listen now, O king, to the merit acquired by +that mortal who performeth a _Sraddha_ on the day of the new moon during +a solar eclipse. The person that performeth a _Sraddha_ there, after +having bathed in that _tirtha_, obtaineth the merit that one earneth by +properly celebrating a thousand horse-sacrifices. Whatever sins a man or +woman committeth, are, without doubt, all destroyed as soon as one +batheth in that _tirtha_. Bathing there one also ascendeth to the abode +of Brahma on the lotus-coloured car. Bathing next in _Koti-tirtha_, +after having worshipped the Yaksha doorkeeper, Machakruka, one obtaineth +the merit of giving away gold in abundance. Near to this, O best of the +Bharatas, is a _tirtha_ called _Ganga-hrada_. One should bathe there, O +virtuous one, with subdued soul and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life. +By this, one obtaineth merit that is greater than that of a Rajasuya and +horse-sacrifices. The _tirtha_ called _Naimisha_ is productive of good +on earth. _Pushkara_ is productive of good in the regions of the +firmament; _Kurukshetra_, however, is productive of good in respect of +all the three worlds. Even the dust of Kurukshetra, carried by the wind, +leadeth sinful men to a highly blessed state. They that reside in +Kurukshetra, which lieth to the north of the Drishadwati and the south +of the Saraswati, really reside in heaven. '_I will go to Kurukshetra,' +'I will dwell in Kurukshetra_,' he that uttereth those words even once, +becometh cleansed of all sins. The sacred _Kurukshetra_ which is +worshipped by Brahmarshis, is regarded as the sacrificial altar of the +celestials. Those mortals that dwell there, have nothing to grieve for +at any time. That which lieth between Tarantuka and Arantuka and the +lakes of Rama and Machakruka is Kurukshetra. It is also called +_Samantapanchaka_ and is said to be the northern sacrificial altar of +the Grandsire."'" + + +SECTION LXXXIV + +"'Pulastya said, "Then, O great king, one should proceed to the +excellent _tirtha_ of _Dharma_, where the illustrious god of justice had +practised highly meritorious austerities. And it is for this that he +made the spot a sacred _tirtha_ and rendered it celebrated by his own +name. Bathing there, O king, a virtuous man with concentrated soul +certainly sanctifieth his family to the seventh generation. One should +then repair, O king, to the excellent _Jnanapavana_. Sojourning thither, +one obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice, and goeth to the +region of the Munis. Then, O monarch, a man should repair to the +_Saugandhika-vana_. There dwell the celestials with Brahma at their +head, Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, the Siddhas, the +Charanas, the Gandharvas, the Kinnaras and the serpents. As soon as one +entereth these woods, he is cleansed of all his sins. Then, O king, +should one repair to the sacred goddess Saraswati, known there as the +goddess Plaksha, that best of streams and foremost of rivers. There +should one bathe in the water issuing from an ant-hill. (Bathing there +and) worshipping the Pitris and the gods, one obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice. There existeth a rare _tirtha_ called _Isanadhyushita_, +lying from the ant-hill at the distance of six throws of a heavy stick. +As seen in the Puranas, O tiger among men, bathing there a man obtaineth +the merit of giving away a thousand Kapila kine and of the +horse-sacrifice. Journeying next, O foremost of men, to _Sugandha_, and +_Satakumbha_ and _Pancha-yaksha_, a man becometh adored in heaven. +Repairing to another _tirtha_ there called _Trisulakhata_, one should +bathe and set himself to worship the Pitris and the gods. Doing so, +without doubt, one obtaineth, after death, the status of _Ganapatya_. +One should next proceed, O king, to the excellent spot of the Goddess +celebrated over the three worlds by the name of _Sakamvari_. There, for +the space of a thousand celestial years, she of excellent vows, month +after month, had subsisted upon herbs, O king of men! And attracted by +their reverence for the Goddess, many Rishis with wealth of asceticism, +came thither, O Bharata, and were entertained by her with herbs. And it +is for this that they bestowed on her the name of _Sakamvari_. O +Bharata, the man who arriveth at _Sakamvari_, with rapt attention and +leading a Brahmacharya mode of life and passeth three nights there in +purity and subsisting on herbs alone, obtaineth, at the will of the +goddess, the merit of him that liveth upon herbs for twelve years. Then +should one proceed to the _tirtha_ called _Suvarna_, famed through the +three worlds. There in days of old, Vishnu had paid his adorations to +Rudra, for his grace, and obtaineth also many boons difficult of +acquisition even by the gods. And, O Bharata, the gratified destroyer of +Tripura said, 'O Krishna, thou shalt, without doubt, be much beloved in +the world, and the foremost of everything in the universe.' Repairing +thither, O king, and worshipping the deity having the bull for his mark, +one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice as also the status of +_Ganapatya_. One should next proceed to the _tirtha_ of _Dhumavati_. +Fasting there for three nights, one obtaineth, without doubt, all the +wishes cherished by him. To the southern half of this spot of the +Goddess, there is, O king, a _tirtha_ called _Rathavarta_. One should, O +virtuous one, go up to that place, with devout heart, and having his +senses under control. By this, through the grace of Mahadeva, one +attaineth to an exalted state. After walking round the place, one +should, O bull of the Bharata race, proceed to the _tirtha_ named +_Dhara_, which, O thou of great wisdom, washeth off all sins. Bathing +there, O tiger among men, a man is freed from every sorrow. One should +then repair, O virtuous one, after bowing to the great mountain +(Himavat), to the source of the Ganges, which is, without doubt, like +the gate of heaven. There should one, with concentrated soul, bathe in +the _tirtha_ called _Koti_. By this, one obtaineth the merit of the +Pundarika sacrifice, and delivereth his race. Residing one night there, +one acquireth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. By offering +oblations of water duly to the gods and the Pitris, at _Saptaganga_, +_Triganga_ and _Sakravarta_, (which are all there), becometh adored in +the regions of the virtuous. Bathing next at _Kanakhala_, and fasting +there for three nights, a person reapeth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice and goeth to heaven. Then O lord of men, the pilgrim +should repair to _Kapilavata_. Fasting for one night there, he obtaineth +the merit of giving away a thousand kine. O king, there is a _tirtha_ of +the illustrious Kapila, king of the Nagas, that is celebrated, O thou +best of Kurus, over all the worlds. Bathing there at the _Nagatirtha_ +one obtaineth, O king, the merit of giving away a thousand Kapila kine. +One should next repair to the excellent _tirtha_ of _Santanu_, called +_Lalitika_. Bathing there, O king, one never sinketh into distress +(hereafter). The man that bathes at the confluence of the Ganga and the +Yamuna, obtains the merit of ten horse-sacrifices, and also rescues his +race. One should next, O king, go to _Sugandha_, celebrated over the +world. By this, cleansed of every sin, he becometh adored in the abode +of Brahma. Then, O lord of men, the pilgrim should repair to +_Rudravarta_. Bathing there, one ascendeth to heaven. Bathing at the +confluence of the Ganga and the Saraswati, a person obtaineth the merit +of the horse-sacrifice and also ascendeth to heaven. Proceeding next to +_Bhadrakarneswara_ and worshipping the gods duly, one, without sinking +into distress, becometh adored in heaven. Then, O lord of men, the +pilgrim should proceed to the _tirtha_ called _Kuvjamraka_. By this he +obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine, and heaven also. +Then, O king, the pilgrim should go to the _Arundhativata_. Proceeding +thither with concentrated soul and practising the Brahmacharya vows, one +that batheth in _Samudraka_ and fasteth for three nights, obtaineth the +merit of the horse-sacrifice and of giving away a thousand kine, and +also rescueth his race. One should next proceed to _Brahmavarta_, with +concentrated soul and practising the Brahmacharya vows. By this, one +obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and goeth to the region of +Soma. The man that proceedeth to the _Yamuna-prabhava_, (the source of +the Yamuna) and batheth there, obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice and is worshipped in heaven. Arriving at +_Darvisankramana_, that _tirtha_ which is worshipped of the three +worlds, a person obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and goeth to +heaven. Repairing next to _Sindhu-prabhava_ (the source of the Indus) +which is worshipped by Siddhas and Gandharvas, and staying there for +five nights, one obtaineth the merit of giving away gold in abundance. +Proceeding next to the inaccessible _tirtha_ called _Vedi_, one +obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and ascendeth to heaven. +Then, O Bharata, should one proceed to _Rishikulya_ and _Vasishtha_. By +visiting the latter, all orders attain to Brahmanhood. Repairing to +_Rishikulya_ and bathing there, and living a month upon herbs, and +worshipping the gods and Pitris, one is cleansed of all his sins, and +obtaineth the region of the Rishis. Proceeding next to _Bhrigutunga_ a +person acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Repairing then to +_Vipramoksha_, one is freed from every sin. Proceeding then to the +_tirtha_ of _Krittika_ and _Magha_, one, O Bharata, obtaineth the merit +superior to that of the _Agnishtoma_ and _Atiratha_ sacrifices. The man +who, repairing to the excellent _tirtha_ called _Vidya_, batheth there +in the evening, obtaineth proficiency in every kind of knowledge. One +should next reside for one night at _Mahasrama_ capable of destroying +every sin, taking a single meal. By this, one obtains many auspicious +regions, and delivers ten preceding and ten succeeding generations of +his race. Dwelling next for a month of Mahalaya, and fasting there for +three nights, one's soul is cleansed of all sins and one acquires the +merit of giving away gold in abundance. Proceeding next to _Vetasika_ +worshipped by the Grandsire, one obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice and the state of Usanas. Going next to the _tirtha_ +called _Sundarika_, worshipped by the Siddhas, one obtaineth personal +beauty as witnessed by the ancients. Proceeding next to Brahmani with +subdued senses and observing the Brahmacharya vow, a person ascendeth to +the region of Brahma on a lotus-hued car. One should repair next to the +sacred Naimisha, worshipped by the Siddhas. There dwelleth for aye +Brahma with the gods. By only purposing to go to Naimisha, half one's +sins are destroyed; by entering it, one is cleansed of all his sins. The +pilgrim of subdued senses should stay at Naimisha for a month; for, O +Bharata, all the _tirthas_ of the earth are at Naimisha. Bathing there, +with restrained senses and regulated fare, one obtains, O Bharata, the +merit of the cow-sacrifice, and also sanctifies, O best of the Bharatas, +his race for seven generations both upwards and downwards. He who +renounceth his life at Naimisha by fasting, enjoyeth happiness in the +heavenly regions. Even this is the opinion of the wise. O foremost of +kings, Naimisha is ever sacred and holy. Proceeding next to +_Gangod-bheda_ and fasting there for three nights, a man obtaineth the +merit of the _Vajapeya_ sacrifice, and becometh like unto Brahma +himself. Journeying to the Saraswati, one should offer oblations unto +the gods and the Pitris. By this, one certainly enjoyeth bliss in the +regions called Saraswata. Then should one wend to _Vahuda_, with subdued +soul and observing the Brahmacharya vow. Residing there for one night, +one becometh adored in heaven, and obtaineth also, O Kaurava, the merit +of the _Devasatra_ sacrifice. Then should one repair to the holy +_Kshiravati_, frequented by holier men. By worshipping the gods and the +Pitris there, one obtains the merit of the _Vajapeya sacrifice_. +Proceeding next to _Vimalasoka_, with subdued soul and observing the +Brahmacharya vow, and residing there for one night, one is adored in +heaven. One should next proceed to the excellent _Gopratra_ in the +Sarayu, whence Rama, O king, with all his attendants and animals, +renouncing his body, ascended to heaven in consequence of the efficacy +of the _tirtha_ alone. Bathing in that _tirtha_, O Bharata, one's soul, +through Rama's grace, and by virtue of his own deeds, being cleansed of +all sins, one becometh adored in heaven. O Bharata! Proceeding next, O +son of the Kuru race, to the _Rama-tirtha_ on the Gomati, and bathing +there, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and sanctifieth +also his own race. There, O bull of the Bharata race, is another +_tirtha_ called _Satasahasrika_. Bathing there, with restrained senses +and regulated diet, a person reapeth, O bull of Bharata race, the merit +of giving away a thousand kine. Then should one, O king, go to the +unrivalled _tirtha_ called _Bhartristhana_. By this, a person obtaineth +the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Bathing next in the _tirtha_ called +_Koti_, and worshipping Kartikeya, a man reapeth, O king, the merit of +giving away a thousand kine, and acquireth great energy. Proceeding next +to _Varanasi_, and worshipping the god having the bull for his mark, +after a bath in the _Kapilahrada_, one obtaineth the merit of the +Rajasuya sacrifice. Repairing then, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, to +the _tirtha_ called _Avimukta_, and beholding there the god of gods, the +pilgrim, from such sight alone, is immediately cleansed of even the sin +of slaying a Brahmana. By renouncing one's life there, one obtaineth +deliverance. Arriving next, O king, at the rare _tirtha_ called +_Markandeya_ celebrated over the world and situated at the confluence of +the Ganges, a person obtaineth the merit of _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice, and +delivereth his race. Sojourning next to _Gaya_, with subdued senses and +observing the Brahmacharya vow, one obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice and also rescueth his race. There in that _tirtha_ is +the _Akshaya-vata_, celebrated over the three worlds. Whatever is +offered there to the Pitris is said to become inexhaustible. Bathing +there at the _Mahanadi_, and offering oblations to the gods and the +Pitris, a man acquireth eternal regions, and also rescueth his race. +Proceeding then to _Brahma-sara_ that is adorned by the woods of Dharma, +and passing one night there, a man attaineth to the region of Brahma. In +that lake, Brahma had raised a sacrificial pillar. By walking round this +pillar, a person acquireth the merit of the _Vajapeya_ sacrifice. One +should next, O mighty monarch, go to _Denuka_ celebrated over the world. +Staying there for one night and giving away sesame and kine, one's soul +being cleansed from every sin, one ascendeth, without doubt to the +region of Soma. There, O king, on the mountains, the cow called Kapila +used to range with her calf. There is little doubt of this, O Bharata, +the hoof-marks of that cow and her calf are seen there to this day. By +bathing in those hoof-prints, O foremost of monarchs, whatever sin a man +may have incurred is, O Bharata, washed away. Then should one go to +_Gridhravata_, the spot consecrated to the trident-bearing god. +Approaching the deity having the bull for his mark one should rub +himself with ashes. If a Brahmana, he obtains the merit of observing the +twelve year's vow and if belonging to any of the other orders, he is +freed from all his sins. One should next proceed to the _Udyanta_ +mountains, resounding with melodious notes. There, O bull of the Bharata +race, is still seen the foot-print of Savitri. The Brahmana of rigid +vows, who sayeth his morning, noon and evening prayers there, obtaineth +the merit of performing that service for twelve years. There, O bull of +the Bharata race, is the famous _Yonidwara_. Repairing thither, a person +becometh exempted from the pain of rebirth. The person that stayeth at +Gaya during both the dark and lighted fortnights, certainly sanctifieth, +O king, his own race up and down to the seventh generation. One should +wish for many sons so that even one may go to Gaya, or celebrate the +horse-sacrifice, or offer a _nila_ bull. Then, O king, the pilgrim +should proceed to _Phalgu_. By this, he obtains the merit of +horse-sacrifice, and acquires great success. O king, one should repair +then, with subdued soul, to _Dharmaprishta_. There, O foremost of +warriors, dwelleth Dharma for aye. Drinking of the water of a well which +is there, and purifying one's self by a bath, he that offereth oblations +to the gods and the Pitris is cleansed of all his sins and ascendeth to +heaven. There in that _tirtha_ is the hermitage of the great Rishi +Matanga of soul under complete control. By entering that beautiful +asylum capable of soothing fatigue and sorrow, one earneth the merit of +the _Gacayana_ sacrifice, and by touching (the image of) Dharma which is +there, one obtaineth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. One should next +go, O king, to the excellent _tirtha_ called _Brahmasthana_. Approaching +Brahma, that bull among male beings, who is there, one acquireth, O +mighty monarch, the merit of the Rajasuya and horse-sacrifices. The +pilgrim should then repair to _Rajasuya_, O king of men! Bathing there, +one liveth (in heaven) as happily as (the Rishi) Kakshiyan. After +purifying himself, one should partake there of the offerings daily made +unto the Yakshini. By this, one is freed from the sin of even slaying a +Brahmana, through the Yakshini's grace. Proceeding next to _Maninaga_, +one obtains the merit of giving away a thousand kine. O Bharata, he that +eateth anything relating to the _tirtha_ of _Maninaga_, if bitten by a +venomous snake, doth not succumb to its poison. Residing there for one +night, one is cleansed of one's sins. Then should one proceed to the +favourite wood of the Brahmarshi Gautama. There bathing in the lake of +_Ahalya_, one attaineth to an exalted state. Beholding next the image of +Sree, one acquireth great prosperity. There in that _tirtha_ is a well +celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing in it, one obtaineth the merit +of the horse-sacrifice. There also existeth a well sacred to the royal +Rishi Janaka, which is worshipped by the gods. Bathing in the well, one +ascendeth to the region of Vishnu. Then should one repair to Vinasana +that destroys every sin. By a sojourn thither, one obtaineth the merit +of the _Vajapeya_ sacrifice, and goeth also to the region of Soma. +Proceeding next to _Gandaki_ which is produced by the waters of every +_tirtha_, a person acquireth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice, and +ascendeth also to the solar region. Proceeding next to the _Visala_, +that river celebrated over the three worlds, one obtaineth the merit of +the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice and ascendeth also to heaven. Repairing then, +O virtuous one, to the woody seat of ascetics that is called +_Adhivanga_, one obtains, without doubt, great happiness amongst the +Guhyakas. Proceeding next to the river _Kampana_, visited by the +Siddhas, one obtaineth the merit of the _Pundarika_ sacrifice, and +ascendeth also to heaven. Arriving then, O lord of earth, at the stream +called _Maheswari_, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and +also rescueth his own race. Repairing next to the tank of the +celestials, one earneth immunity from misfortune, and also the merit of +the horse-sacrifice. One should next go to _Somapada_, with subdued soul +and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life. Bathing in _Maheswarapada_ that +is there, one reapeth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. There in that +_tirtha_, O bull of the Bharata race, it is well known that ten millions +of _tirthas_ exist together. A wicked Asura in the shape of a tortoise +had, O foremost of monarchs, been carrying it away when the powerful +Vishnu recovered it from him. There in that _tirtha_ should one perform +his ablutions, for by this he acquireth the merit of the _Pundarika_ +sacrifice and ascendeth also to the region of Vishnu. Then, O best of +kings, should one proceed to the place of Narayana, where, O Bharata, +Narayana is ever present and dwelleth for aye. There the gods with +Brahma at their head, Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, the +Adityas, the Vasus, and the Rudras, all adore Janardana, in that +_tirtha_, and Vishnu of wonderful deeds hath become known as +_Salagrama_. Approaching the eternal Vishnu, that lord of the three +worlds, that giver of boons, one obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice, and goeth to the region of Vishnu. There in that place, +O virtuous one, is a well, capable of destroying every sin. The four +seas are ever present in that well. He that bathes in it, O king, will +have immunity from misfortune. Beholding (the image of) the boon-giving, +eternal, and fierce Mahadeva who is there, one shineth, O king, like the +moon emerged from the cloud. Bathing then in _Jatismara_, with pure mind +and subdued senses, one acquireth, without doubt, the recollections of +his former life. Proceeding then to _Maheswarapura_, and worshipping the +god having the bull for his mark, fasting the while, one obtaineth, +without doubt, the fruition of all his desires. Repairing then to +_Vamana_ that destroys every sin, and beholding the god Hari, one +acquireth exemption from every misfortune. One should next go to the +asylum of _Kusika_ that is capable of removing every sin. Repairing then +to the river _Kausika_ that cleanseth from even great sins, one should +bathe in it. By this one obtaineth the merit of Rajasuya sacrifice. One +should next, O foremost of kings, proceed to the excellent woods of +_Champaka_. By spending there one night, one acquireth the merit of +giving away a thousand kine. Arriving next at _Jyeshthila_, that +_tirtha_ of rare worth, and passing one night there, one reapeth the +fruit of the gift of a thousand kine. Beholding there (the image of) +Visweswara of great splendour, with his consort the goddess, a person +obtaineth, O bull among men, the region of Mitra-Varuna. By fasting +there for three nights, a man acquireth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ +sacrifice. By visiting _Kanya-samvedya_, with senses restrained and +regulated fare, one acquireth, O bull among men, the region of Manu, the +lord of creation. Rishis of rigid vows have said that he that giveth +away rice or maketh any gift at the _tirtha_ called _Kanya_, rendereth +such gift eternal. Arriving next at _Nischira_ celebrated over the three +worlds, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and goeth to the +region of Vishnu. O king, those that give away at the confluence of the +Nischira, ascend to the blessed region of Brahma. There in that _tirtha_ +is the asylum of Vasishtha that is known over the three worlds. Bathing +there, one obtaineth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. Proceeding +next to _Devakuta_ that is resorted to by celestial Rishis, one +acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and also delivereth his +race. Then should one, O king, go to the lake of the _Muni Kausika_, +where Kusika's son, Viswamitra, obtained high success. Bathing there, a +person acquireth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. There, O hero, at +Kausika, should one reside for a month, O bull of the Bharata race! By a +month's residence there, one reapeth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. +He that resideth at the best of tirthas called _Maha-hrada_, enjoys +immunity from misfortune, and also obtains the merit of giving away gold +in abundance. Beholding next Kartikeya who dwelleth at _Virasrama_, a +man certainly reapeth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. Proceeding then +to _Agnidhara_ celebrated over the three worlds, and beholding there +after a bath the eternal and boon-giving Vishnu, that god of gods, one +obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. Proceeding next to +the Grandsire's tank near the snowcapped of mountains, and bathing in +it, a man obtains the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. Falling from +the Grandsire's tank, is that world-sanctifying (stream), celebrated +over the three worlds, called _Kumara-Dhara_. Bathing there, one +regardeth himself as having all his purposes fulfilled. Fasting in that +tirtha for three days, one is even cleansed from the sin of slaying a +Brahmana. The pilgrim should next, O virtuous one, proceed to the peak +of the great goddess Gauri, famed over the three worlds. Ascending it, O +best of men, one should approach _Stana-Kunda_. By touching the waters +of _Stana-Kunda_, a person obtaineth the merit of the _Vajapeya_ +sacrifice. Bathing in that _tirtha_ and worshipping the gods and Pitris, +one acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and also ascendeth to the +region of Indra. Arriving next at the well of _Tamraruna_, that is +frequented by the gods, one acquireth, O lord of men, the merit that +attaches to human sacrifice. Bathing next at the confluence of the +Kirtika with the Kausiki and the Aruna, and fasting there for three +nights a man of learning is cleansed of all his sins. Proceeding next to +the _tirtha_ called _Urvasi_, and then to _Somasrama_, a wise man by +bathing next at _Kumbhakarnasrama_ becometh adored in the world. The +ancients knew that by touching the waters of _Kokamukha_, with steady +vows and leading Brahmacharya mode of life, the memory of one's former +life is revived. Arriving next with speed to the river called _Nanda_ a +regenerate one becometh freed from all his sins and ascendeth with soul +under control to Indra's region. Proceeding next to the island called +_Rishabha_, that is destructive of cranes, and bathing in the Saraswati, +an individual blazeth forth in heaven. Proceeding next to the _tirtha_ +called _Auddalaka_ frequented by _Munis_, and bathing there one is +cleansed of all his sins. Repairing next to the sacred _tirtha_ called +_Dharma_ that is visited by Brahmarshis, one acquireth the merit of the +_Vajapeya_ sacrifice and becometh respected in heaven. Proceeding next +to _Champa_ and bathing in the _Bhagirathi_ he that sojourneth to +_Dandaparna_, acquireth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Then +should one proceed to the sacred _Lalitika_ that is graced by the +presence of the virtuous. By this one acquireth the merit of the +Rajasuya sacrifice and is regarded in heaven."'" + + +SECTION LXXXV + +"'Pulastya said, "Arriving next at the excellent _tirtha_ called +_Samvedya_ in the evening, and touching its waters, one surely obtaineth +knowledge. Created a _tirtha_ in days of yore by Rama's energy, he that +proceedeth to _Lauhitya_ obtaineth the merit of giving away gold in +abundance. Proceeding next to the river _Karatoya_, and fasting there +for three nights, a man acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Even +this is the injunction of the Creator himself. It hath been said by the +wise, O king, that if a person goeth to the spot where the Ganga +mingleth with the sea, he reapeth merit which is ten times that of the +horse-sacrifice. Crossing over to the opposite bank of the Ganga, he +that batheth there having resided for three nights is, O king, cleansed +from all his sins. One should next proceed to the _Vaitarani_ capable of +destroying every sin. Arriving next at the _tirtha_ named _Viraja_ one +shineth like the moon, and sanctifying his race rescueth it and is +himself cleansed of all his sins. He that bathes in _Viraja_ further +reapeth the merit of giving away a thousand kine besides sanctifying his +line. Residing with purity at the confluence of the _Sona_ and the +_Jyotirathi_, and offering oblations of water to the gods and the +Pitris, a man reapeth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. Touching +next the waters of the _Vansagulma_ constituting the sources of both the +Sona and the Narmada, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. +Sojourning next to the _tirtha_ called _Rishabha_ in Kosala, O lord of +men, and fasting there for three nights one earneth the merit of the +_Vajapeya_ sacrifice, and of the gift of a thousand kine, and also +delivereth his race. Arriving at Kosala, a man should bathe in the +_tirtha_ named _Kala_. By this one surely obtaineth the merit of giving +away one and ten bulls. By bathing in _Pushpavati_ and fasting there, O +king, for three nights one sanctifieth his own race, besides earning the +merit of the gift of a thousand kine. Then, O foremost of the Bharata +race, by bathing in the _tirtha_ called _Vadarika_, one obtaineth long +life, and also goeth to heaven. Arriving next at _Champa_, and bathing +in the _Bhagirathi_, and seeing _Danda_ one earneth the merit of giving +away a thousand kine. Then should one go to the sacred _Lapetika_, +graced by the presence of the pious. By so doing one reapeth the merit +of the _Vajapeya_ sacrifice and also becometh regarded by the gods. +Proceeding next to the mountain called _Mahendra_, inhabited (of yore) +by Jamadagnya, and bathing in Rama's _tirtha_, a person acquireth the +merit of the horse-sacrifice. Here is Matanga's _tirtha_ called +_Kedara_, O son of the Kuru race! Bathing in it, O foremost of the +Kurus, a man obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Going +to the mountain _Sree_, one who toucheth the waters of the stream that +is there by worshipping there the god having the bull for his mark +obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. On the mountain Sree +dwelleth happily, the effulgent Mahadeva with the goddess, as also +Brahma with the other gods. By bathing in the lake of _Deva_, with +purity and restrained mind, one obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice, and also attaineth to the highest success. + +"'"Proceeding next to the mountain _Rishabha_ in Pandya, worshipped by +the gods, one obtains the merit of the _Vajapeya_ sacrifice and rejoices +in heaven. One should next proceed to the river Kaveri, frequented by +Apsaras. Bathing there, O monarch, one obtaineth the merit of giving +away a thousand kine. Touching next the waters of the _tirtha_ called +_Kanya_ on the shores of the sea one is cleansed from every sin. +Proceeding next to _Gokarna_ celebrated over the three worlds, and which +is situate, O best of kings, in the midst of the deep, and is reverenced +by all the worlds, and where the gods headed by Brahma, and Rishis +endued with wealth of asceticism, and spirits and Yakshas and Pisachas, +and Kinnaras and the great Nagas, and Siddhas and Charanas and +Gandharvas, and men and Pannagas, and rivers, Seas and Mountains, +worship the lord of Uma, one should worship _Isana_, fasting there for +three nights. By this, one acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, +and the status of _Ganapatya_. By staying there for twelve nights, one's +soul is cleansed of all sins. One should next proceed to the _tirtha_ +known as _Gayatri_ celebrated over the three worlds. Staying there for +three nights, one acquireth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. A +strange phenomenon is seen to occur there in respect to Brahmanas, O +Lord of men! If a Brahmana, whether born of a Brahmani or any other +woman, reciteth the _Gayatri_ there, the recitation becomes rhythmic and +musical, while, O king, a person who is not a Brahmana cannot adequately +hymn it at all. Proceeding next to the inaccessible tank of the Brahmana +Rishi Samvarta, one acquireth personal beauty and prosperity. Repairing +next to _Vena_, he that offers oblations of water to the gods and the +Pitris, obtains a car drawn by peacocks and cranes. Going next to the +_Godavari_, ever frequented by the Siddhas, one earneth the merit of the +cow-sacrifice, and goeth to the excellent region of _Vasuki_. Bathing +next at the confluence of the _Venna_, one obtains the merit of the +_Vajapeya_ sacrifice. By a dip next at the confluence of _Varada_, one +acquireth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Arriving next at +_Brahmasthuna_, one that stayeth there for three nights acquireth the +merit of giving away a thousand kine, and also ascendeth to heaven. +Coming next to _Kusaplavana_, with subdued soul and leading a +Brahmacharya mode of life, and staying there for three nights he that +bathes in it obtains the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Bathing next at +the romantic _Deva-hrada_ that is supplied by the waters of the +Krishna-Venna, and also in the _Jatismara-hrada_, one acquireth the +memory of one's former life. It was there that the chief of the +celestials celebrated a hundred sacrifices and ascended to heaven. By a +visit only to that spot, one acquireth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ +sacrifice. Bathing next in the _Sarvadeva-hrada_, a person obtaineth the +merit of giving away a thousand kine. Proceeding next to the highly +sacred tank called _Payoshni_, that best of waters, he that offers +oblations of water to the gods and the Pitris acquires the merit of the +gift of a thousand kine. Arriving next at the sacred forest of +_Dandaka_, a person should bathe (in the waters) there. By this, O king, +one at once obtains, O Bharata, the merit of giving away a thousand +kine. Proceeding next to the asylum of _Sarabhanga_ and that of the +illustrious Suka, one acquireth immunity from misfortune, besides +sanctifying his race. Then should one proceed to _Surparaka_, where +Jamadagni's son had formerly dwelt. Bathing in that _tirtha_ of Rama, +one acquireth the merit of giving away gold in abundance. Bathing next +in the _Saptagadavara_, with the subdued sense and regulated diet, one +earneth great merit, and goeth also to the region of the celestials. +Proceeding next to _Deva-hrada_, with subdued sense and regulated diet, +a man obtaineth the merit of the _Devasatra_ sacrifice. One should +proceed next to the forest of _Tungaka_, with subdued senses and leading +a Brahmacharya mode of life. It was here that in olden days Muni +Saraswata taught the Vedas to the ascetics. When the Vedas had been lost +(in consequence of the Munis having forgotten them), Angirasa's son, +seated at ease on the upper garments of the Munis (duly spread out), +pronounced distinctly and with emphasis the syllable _Om_. And at this, +the ascetics again recollected all that they had learnt before. It was +there that the Rishis and the gods Varuna, Agni, Prajapati, Narayana +also called Hari, Mahadeva and the illustrious Grandsire of great +splendour, appointed the resplendent Bhrigu to officiate at a sacrifice. +Gratifying Agni by libations of clarified butter poured according to the +ordinance, the illustrious Bhrigu once performed the _Agnyadhana_ +sacrifice for all those Rishis, after which both they and the gods went +away to their respective homes one after another. One who enters the +forest of _Tungaka_, is, O best of kings, male or female, cleansed of +every sin. There in that _tirtha_, O hero, one should reside for a +month, with subdued senses and regulated diet. By this, O king, one +ascendeth to the region of Brahma, and delivereth also his race. +Arriving next at _Medhavika_, one should offer oblations of water to the +gods and the Pitris. By this, one acquires the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ +sacrifice, and also memory and intellect. There in that _tirtha_ is the +mountain known over the whole world and called _Kalanjara_. Bathing in +the celestial lake that is there, one acquires the merit of giving away +a thousand kine. He that, O king, after a bath, offereth oblations (to +the gods and the Pitris) on the Kalanjara mountain, is, without doubt, +regarded in heaven. Proceeding next, O monarch, to the river _Mandakini_ +capable of destroying all sins and which is on that best of mountains +called _Chitrakuta_, he that bathes there and worships the gods and the +Pitris, obtains the merit of the horse-sacrifice and attains to an +exalted state. One should next, O virtuous one, proceed to the excellent +_tirtha_ called _Bhartristhana_, where, O king, ever dwells the +celestial generalissimo Kartikeya. By a journey only to that spot, a +person, O foremost of kings, attaineth to success. Bathing next at the +_tirtha_ called _Koti_, one earneth the merit of giving away a thousand +kine. Having walked round Koti, one should proceed next to +_Jyeshthasthana_. Beholding Mahadeva who is there, one shineth like the +moon. There, O mighty monarch, is a celebrated well, O bull of the +Bharata race! There in that well, O foremost of warriors, are the four +seas. He that bathes there, O foremost of kings, and with subdued soul +worships the gods and the Pitris, is cleansed of all his sins and +attaineth to an exalted state. Then, O mighty king, should one proceed +to the great _Sringaverapura_, where, O foremost of kings, formerly +Rama, Dasaratha's son, had crossed (the Ganga). Bathing in that +_tirtha_, one, O mighty-armed one, is cleansed of all his sins. Bathing +with subdued senses and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life, in the +Ganga, one is cleansed of every sin, and obtains also the merit of the +_Vajapeya_ sacrifice. One should next proceed to the place called +_Mayuravala_, consecrated to Mahadeva of high intelligence. Beholding +there the god, bowing down to him and walking round the spot, one +acquireth, O Bharata, the _Ganapatya_ status. Bathing in Ganga at that +_tirtha_, one is cleansed of all his sins. Then, O king, should one +proceed to _Prayaga_, whose praises have been sung by Rishis and where +dwell the gods with Brahma at their head, the directions with their +presiding deities, the Lokapalas, the Siddhas, the Pitris adored by the +worlds, the great Rishis--Sanatkumara and others, stainless +Brahmarshis--Angiras and others,--the Nagas, the Suparnas, the Siddhas, +the Snakes, the Rivers, the Seas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, and the +Lord Hari with Prajapati. There in that _tirtha_ are three fiery caverns +between which the Ganga, that foremost of _tirthas_, rolleth rapidly. +There in that region also the world-purifying daughter of the sun, +Yamuna, celebrated over the three worlds, uniteth with the Ganga. The +country between the Ganga and the Yamuna is regarded as the _mons +veneris_ of the world, and Prayaga as the foremost point of that region. +The _tirthas Prayaga, Pratisthana, Kamvala, Aswatara_ and _Bhogavati_ +are the sacrificial platforms of the Creator. There in those places, O +foremost of warriors, the Vedas and the Sacrifices, in embodied forms, +and the Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, adore Brahma, and there +the gods and rulers of territories also celebrate their sacrifices. The +learned, however, say that of all these _tirthas_, O exalted one, +Prayaga is the most sacred, in fact, the foremost of all _tirthas_ in +the three worlds. By going to that _tirtha_, by singing its praises, or +by taking a little earth from it, one is cleansed from every sin. He +that bathes in that confluence celebrated over the world, acquires all +the merits of the Rajasuya and the horse-sacrifices. This sacrificial +place is worshipped by the gods themselves. If a man giveth there ever +so little, it increaseth, O Bharata, a thousandfold. O child, let not +the texts of the Veda, nor the opinions of men dissuade thy mind from +the desire of dying at Prayaga. O son of the Kuru race, the wise say +that six hundred million and ten thousand _tirthas_ exist at Prayaga. +Bathing in the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, one obtains the merit +that attaches to the four kinds of knowledge and the merits also of +those that are truthful. There at Prayaga is the excellent _tirtha_ of +_Vasuki_ called _Bhogavati_. He that batheth in it, obtaineth the merit +of the horse-sacrifice. There also in the Ganga is the _tirtha_ famed +over the three worlds, called _Ramaprapatana_, which conferreth the +merit of ten horse-sacrifices, O son of the Kuru race! Wherever may a +person bathe in the Ganga, he earneth merit equal to that of a trip to +Kurukshetra. An exception, however, is made in favour of _Kanakhala_, +while the merit attaching to _Prayaga_ is the greatest. Having committed +a hundred sins, he that bathes in the Ganga, hath all his sins washed +off by the waters thereof, even as fuel is consumed by fire. It hath +been said that in the _Satyayuga_ all the _tirthas_ were sacred; in the +_Treta_, Pushkara alone was such; in _Dwapara_, Kurukshetra; and in the +_Kali-yuga_, the Ganga alone is sacred. In Pushkara, one should practise +austerities; in Mahalaya, one should give away; in the Malaya mountains, +one should ascend the funeral pyre; and in Bhrigutunga, one should +renounce one's body by forgoing food. Bathing in Pushkara, in +Kurukshetra, in the Ganga and in the confluence (of the Ganga and the +Yamuna), one sanctifieth seven generations of one's race up and down. He +that reciteth the name of the Ganga is purified; while he that beholdeth +her, receiveth prosperity; while he that bathes in her and drinks of her +waters sanctifieth seven generations of his race up and down. As long, O +king, as one's bones lie in contact with the waters of the Ganga, so +long doth he live regarded in heaven, even as one liveth in heaven in +consequence of the merit he earneth by pious pilgrimages to sacred +_tirthas_ and holy spots. There is no _tirtha_ that is like unto the +Ganga, there is no god like unto Kesava, and there is none superior to +Brahmanas,--this hath been said even by the Grandsire. O great king, the +region through which the Ganga flows should be regarded as a sacred +asylum, and a spot of land that is on the Ganga's banks, should be +regarded as one favourable to the attainment of ascetic success. + +"'"This truthful description (of the _tirthas_) one should recite only +unto the regenerate ones, unto those that are pious, unto one's son and +friends and disciples and dependents. This narrative, without a rival, +is blessed and holy and leadeth to heaven. Holy and entertaining and +sanctifying, it is productive of merit and high worth. Destructive of +every sin, it is a mystery that the great Rishis cherish with care. By +reciting it in the midst of Brahmanas, one is cleansed of every sin, and +ascends to heaven. This description of _tirthas_ is auspicious and +heaven-giving and sacred; ever blessed as it is, it destroys one's +enemies; foremost of all accounts, it sharpens the intellect. By reading +this narrative the sonless obtains sons, the destitute obtains riches, a +person of the royal order conquereth the whole earth, the Vaisya cometh +by wealth, the Sudra obtaineth all his desires, and the Brahmana +crosseth the ocean (of the world). Purifying himself, he that listens +daily to the merits of the different _tirthas_, recollects the incidents +of many previous births and rejoices in heaven. Of the _tirthas_ that +have been recited here, some are easily accessible, while others are +difficult of access. But he that is inspired with the desire of +beholding all _tirthas_, should visit them even in imagination. Desirous +of obtaining merit, the Vasus, and the Sadhyas, the Adityas, the Maruts, +the Aswins, and the Rishis equal unto celestials, all bathed in these +_tirthas_. Do thou also, O thou of the Kuru race, observing the +ordinance as explained by me, visit, with subdued senses, these +_tirthas_, increasing thy merit, O thou of excellent vows. Men of piety +and learning are able to visit these _tirthas_, by reason of their +purified senses, their belief in Godhead, and their acquaintance with +the Vedas. He that doth not observe vows, he that hath not his soul +under control, he that is impure, he that is a thief, and he that is of +crooked mind, doth not, O Kauravya, bathe in _tirthas_. Thou art ever +observant of virtue, and art of pure character. By thy virtue, O +virtuous one, thou hast always gratified thy father and thy +grand-father, and great-grand-fathers, and the gods with Brahma at their +head, and the _Rishis_ also, O thou versed in virtue! Thou who +resemblest Vasava, thou wilt, O Bhishma, attain to the region of the +Vasus, and also eternal fame on earth!"' + +"Narada continued, 'Having cheerfully spoken thus, the illustrious Rishi +Pulastya, well-pleased, bidding Bhishma farewell, disappeared there and +then. And Bhishma also, O tiger among men, well understanding the true +import of the _Shastras_, wandered over the world at the command of +Pulastya. Thus, O thou blessed one, did Bhishma end at Prayaga his +highly meritorious journey to the _tirthas_ capable of destroying all +sins. The man that ranges the earth in accordance with these +injunctions, obtains the highest fruit of a hundred horse-sacrifices and +earns salvation hereafter. Thou wilt, O son of Pritha, obtain merit +consisting of the eight attributes, even like that which Bhishma, the +foremost of the Kurus, had obtained of yore. And as thou wilt lead these +ascetics to those _tirthas_, thy merit will be much greater. Those +_tirthas_ are infested by Rakshasas, and no one, save thyself, O son of +Kuru race, can go there. Rising early he that reciteth this narrative by +the celestial Rishis on the subject of the _tirthas_, becometh free from +all sins. Those foremost of Rishis, Valmiki, and Kasyapa, and Atreya, +and Kundajathara, and Viswamitra, and Gautama, and Asita, and Devala, +and Markandeya, and Galava, and Bharadwaja, and Vasishtha, and the +_Muni_ Uddalaka, and Saunaka with his son, and Vyasa, that best of +ascetics, and Durvasas, that foremost of _Munis_, and Javali of great +austerities--all these illustrious _Rishis_ endued with wealth of +asceticism, are staying in expectation of thee. With these, O mighty +king, do thou meet by visiting these _tirthas_. And, O illustrious +monarch, a great Rishi of immeasurable energy, Lomasa by name, will come +to thee. Do thou follow him, and me, and by turns visit these _tirthas_, +O thou virtuous one! By this, thou wilt acquire great fame, like king +Mahabhisha! O tiger among kings, even as the virtuous Yayati and king +Pururavas, dost thou blaze forth with thy own virtue. Like king +Bhagiratha and the illustrious Rama, dost thou shine among kings even as +the Sun himself. And thou art, O great king, celebrated (in the world) +even as Muni or Ikshwaku, or the highly famous Puru or Vainya! And as in +days of yore the slayer of Vritra, after burning all his foes, ruled the +three worlds, his mind freed from anxiety, so wilt thou rule thy +subjects, after slaying all thy enemies. And, O thou of eyes like lotus +leaves, having conquered the earth according to the customs of thy +order, thou wilt obtain renown by thy virtue, even like +Kartaviryaryuna.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "O great king, having comforted the monarch +thus, the illustrious Rishi Narada, bidding farewell to the king, +disappeared there and then. And the virtuous Yudhishthira, reflecting +upon the subject, began to recite unto the ascetics the merit attaching +to _tirthas_!" + + +SECTION LXXXVI + +Vaisampayana continued, "Having ascertained the opinion of his brothers, +and of the intelligent Narada, king Yudhishthira, addressing Dhaumya, +who was like unto the Grandsire himself, said, 'I have for the +acquisition of arms, sent away that tiger among men, Jishnu, whose +prowess is incapable of being baffled, and who is possessed of long arms +and immeasurable intelligence. O thou of ascetic wealth, that hero is +devoted to me, endued with ability, and well-skilled in weapons, and +like unto the exalted Vasudeva himself. I know them both, Krishna and +Arjuna, those destroyers of enemies, O Brahmana, endued with prowess, +even as the puissant Vyasa knoweth them. I know Vasudeva and Dhananjaya +to be none else than Vishnu himself, possessed of the six attributes. +And this is also what Narada knoweth, for he hath always spoken so unto +me. I also know them to be _Rishis_, Nara and Narayana. Knowing him to +possess the ability, I have sent him (on the mission). Not inferior unto +Indra and fully competent (for the task), I have sent that son of a god +to see the lord of the celestials and obtain weapons from him. Bhishma +and Drona are _Atirathas_. Kripa and the son of Drona are invincible; +these mighty warriors have been installed by Dhritarashtra's son in the +command of his army. All these are versed in the Vedas, are heroic, and +possessed of the knowledge of every weapon. Endued with great strength, +these always desire to encounter Arjuna in fight. And Karna also of the +_Suta_ caste is a mighty warrior versed in celestial weapons. In respect +of the impetus of his weapons, he is endued with the strength of the +Wind-god. Himself like a flame of fire, the arrows (proceeding from him) +constitute its tongues. The slaps of his left hand cased in leathern +fence constitute the crackling of that flame. The dust of the +battle-field is its smoke. Urged by the sons of Dhritarashtra even as +the wind urgeth the fire, Karna like unto the all-consuming fire at the +end of the _Yuga_ that is sent by Death himself, will, without doubt, +consume my troops like unto a heap of straw. Only that mighty mass of +clouds called Arjuna, aided by Krishna like unto a powerful wind, with +celestial weapon representing its fierce lightning, the white steeds, +the rows of white cranes coursing underneath and the unbearable Gandiva, +the rainbow ahead, is capable of extinguishing the blazing flame +represented by Karna by means of its arrowy showers let off with +unflagging steadiness. That conqueror of hostile cities, Vibhatsu, will, +without doubt, succeed in obtaining from Indra himself all the celestial +weapons with their fullness and life. Alone he is equal, I think, unto +them all. Otherwise it is impossible (for us) to vanquish in fight all +those foes, who have attained to eminent success in all their purposes. +We shall behold Arjuna, that repressor of foes, fully equipped with +celestial weapons, for Vibhatsu having once undertaken a task, never +droopeth under its weight. Without that hero, however, that best of men, +ourselves, with Krishna, cannot be at rest in Kamyaka. Therefore, do +thou mention some other wood that is sacred and delightful, and abounds +in food and fruits, and that is inhabited by men of pious +practices:--where we may pass some time, expecting the warlike Arjuna of +unbaffled prowess, like the _Chataka_ in expectation of gathering +clouds. Do thou tell us of some asylums open to the regenerate ones, and +lakes and streams and beautiful mountains. O Brahmana, deprived of +Arjuna, I do not like to stay in this wood of Kamyaka. We wish to go +somewhere else.'" + + +SECTION LXXXVII + +Vaisampayana said, "Beholding the Pandavas afflicted with anxiety and +depressed in spirits, Dhaumya, who resembled Vrihaspati, spake thus, +comforting them, 'O bull of the Bharata race, O sinless one, listen to +me as I mention certain sacred asylums and regions and _tirthas_ and +mountains that are approved of by Brahmanas. O king, listen to me as I +speak, thyself with the daughter of Drupada and thy brothers, wilt, O +lord of men, be relieved from grief. And, O son of Pandu, by hearing +only of these places, thou wilt acquire merit. And by visiting them thou +wilt obtain merit a hundred times greater, O best of men! First, O king, +I will, so far as I recollect, speak of the beautiful eastern country, +much regarded, O Yudhishthira, by royal Rishis. In that direction, O +Bharata is a place called Naimisha which is regarded by the celestials. +There in that region are several sacred tirthas belonging to the gods. +There also is the sacred and beautiful Gomati which is adored by +celestial Rishis and there also is the sacrificial region of the gods +and the sacrificial stake of Surya. In that quarter also is that best of +hills called Gaya, which is sacred and much regarded by royal ascetics. +There on that hill, is the auspicious lake called Brahmasara which is +adored by celestial Rishis. It is for this that the ancients say that +one should wish for many sons, so that even one among them may visit +Gaya, celebrate the horse-sacrifice or give away a _nila_ bull, and +thereby deliver ten generations of his race up and down. There, O +monarch, is a great river, and spot called Gayasira. In Gayasira is a +banian, which is called by the Brahmanas the _Eternal_ banian, for the +food that is offered there to the Pitris becometh eternal, O exalted +one! The great river that floweth by the place is known by the name of +Phalgu, and its waters are all sacred. And, O bull among the Bharatas, +there also, in that place, is the Kausiki, whose basin abounds in +various fruit and roots, and where Viswamitra endued with wealth of +asceticism acquired Brahmanahood. Towards that direction also is the +sacred Ganga, on whose banks Bhagiratha celebrated many sacrifices with +profuse gifts (to Brahmanas). They say that in the country of Panchala, +there is a wood called Utpala, where Viswamitra of Kusika's race had +performed sacrifices with his son, and where beholding the relics of +Viswamitra's superhuman power, Rama, the son of Jamadagni, recited the +praises of his ancestry. At Kamyaka, Kusika's son had quaffed the _Soma_ +juice with Indra. Then abandoning the Kshatriya order, he began to say, +_I am a Brahmana_. In that quarter, O hero is the sacred confluence of +Ganga and Yamuna which is celebrated over the world. Holy and +sin-destroying, that _tirtha_ is much regarded by the Rishis. It is +there that the soul of all things, the Grandsire, had, in olden days, +performed his sacrifice, and it is for this, O chief of the Bharata +race, that the place hath come to be called Prayaga. In this direction, +O foremost of kings, lieth the excellent asylum of Agastya, O monarch, +and the forest called Tapasa, decked by many ascetics. And there also is +the great _tirtha_ called Hiranyavinda on the Kalanjara hills, and that +best of mountains called Agastya, which is beautiful, sacred and +auspicious. In that quarter, O descendant of the Kuru race, is the +mountain called Mahendra, sacred to the illustrious Rama of the Bhrigu +race. There, O son of Kunti, the Grandsire performed sacrifices of yore. +There, O Yudhishthira, the sacred Bhagiratha entereth a lake and there +also, O king, is that sacred river known by the name of the +merit-bestowing Brahmasara, whose banks are inhabited by persons whose +sins have been washed away, and whose sight alone produceth merit. In +that direction also lieth the high-souled Matanga's excellent asylum, +called Kedara which is sacred and auspicious and celebrated over the +world. And there also is the mountain called Kundoda, which is so +delightful and abounding in fruits and roots and waters, and where the +king of the Nishadhas (Nala) had slaked his thirst and rested for a +while. In that quarter also is the delightful Deva-vana which is graced +by ascetics. There also are the rivers Vahuda and Nanda on the +mountain's crest. O mighty king, I have described unto thee all the +_tirthas_ and sacred spots in the Eastern quarter. Do thou now hear of +the sacred _tirthas_, and rivers and mountains and holy spots in the +other three quarters!'" + + +SECTION LXXXVIII + +"Dhaumya continued, 'Listen, O Bharata, I shall now narrate to thee in +detail according to my knowledge, the sacred _tirthas_ of the south. In +that quarter lieth the sacred and auspicious river Godavari, full of +water abounding in groves and frequented by ascetics. In that direction +also are the rivers Venna and Bhimarathi, both capable of destroying sin +and fear, and abounding in birds and deer, and graced with abodes of +ascetics. In that region also, O bull of the Bharata race, is the +_tirtha_ of the royal ascetic, Nriga _viz_., the river Payoshni, which +is delightful and full of waters and visited by Brahmanas. There the +illustrious Markandeya, of high ascetic merit sang the praises in verse +of king Nriga's line. We have heard respecting the sacrificing king +Nriga that which really took place while he was performing a sacrifice +in the excellent _tirtha_ called Varaha on the Payoshni. In that +sacrifice Indra became intoxicated with quaffing the _Soma_, and the +Brahmanas, with the gifts they received. The water of the Payoshni, +taken up (in vessel), or flowing along the ground, or conveyed by the +wind, can cleanse a person from whatever sins he may commit till the day +of his death. Higher than heaven itself, and pure, and created and +bestowed by the trident-bearing god, there in that _tirtha_ is an image +of Mahadeva beholding which a mortal goeth to the region of Siva. +Placing on one scale Ganga and the other rivers with their waters, and +on the other, the Payoshni, the latter, in my opinion would be superior +to all the _tirthas_, together, in point of merit! Then, O foremost of +the Bharata race, on the mountain called Varunasrotasa is the sacred and +auspicious wood of Mathara abounding in fruits and roots, and containing +a sacrificial stake. Then, O king, it is said that in the region on the +north of the Praveni, and about the sacred asylum of Kanwa, are many +woody retreats of ascetics. And, O child, in the _tirtha_ called +Surparaka are two sacrificial platforms of the illustrious Jamadagni, +called Pashana and Punaschandra, O Bharata! And, O son of Kunti, in that +spot is the _tirtha_ called Asoka abounding in woody retreats of +ascetics. And, O Yudhishthira, in the country of the Pandyas are the +_tirthas_ named Agastya and Varuna! And, O bull among men, there, +amongst the Pandavas, is the _tirtha_ called the Kumaris. Listen, O son +of Kunti, I shall now describe Tamraparni. In that asylum the gods had +undergone penances impelled by the desire of obtaining salvation. In +that region also is the lake of Gokarna which is celebrated over the +three worlds, hath an abundance of cool waters, and is sacred, +auspicious, and capable, O child, of producing great merit. That lake is +extremely difficult of access to men of unpurified souls. Near to that +_tirtha_ is the sacred asylum of Agastya's disciple, the mountain +Devasabha, which abounds in trees and grass, and fruits and roots. And +there also is the Vaiduryya mountain, which is delightful abounding in +gems and capable of bestowing great merit. There on that mountain is the +asylum of Agastya abounding in fruits and roots and water. + +"'I shall now, O lord of men, describe the sacred spots, and asylums, +and rivers and lakes belonging to the Surashtra country! O Yudhishthira, +the Brahmanas say that on the sea-coast is the Chamasodbheda, and also +Prabhasa, that _tirtha_ which is much regarded by the gods. There also +is the _tirtha_ called Pindaraka, frequented by ascetics and capable of +producing great merit. In that region is a mighty hill named Ujjayanta +which conduceth to speedy success. Regarding it the celestial _Rishi_ +Narada of great intelligence hath recited an ancient _sloka_. Do thou +listen to it, O Yudhishthira! By performing austerities on the sacred +hill of Ujjayanta in Surashtra, that abounds in birds and animals, a +person becometh regarded in heaven. There also is Dwaravati, producing +great merit, where dwelleth the slayer of Madhu, who is the Ancient one +in embodied form, and eternal virtue. Brahmanas versed in the Vedas, and +persons acquainted with the philosophy of the soul say that the +illustrious Krishna is eternal Virtue. Govinda is said to be the purest +of all pure things, the righteous of the righteous and the auspicious of +the auspicious. In all the three worlds, He of eyes like lotus-leaves is +the God of gods, and is eternal. He is the pure soul and the active +principle of life, is the Supreme _Brahma_ and is the lord of all. That +slayer of Madhu, Hari of inconceivable soul, dwelleth there!'" + + +SECTION LXXXIX + +"Dhaumya continued, 'I shall describe to thee those sacred spots capable +of producing merit that lie on the west. In the country of the Anarttas, +O Bharata, there flows in a westward course the sacred river Narmada, +graced by _Priyangu_ and mango trees, and engarlanded with thickest of +canes. All the _tirthas_ and sacred spots, and rivers and woods and +foremost of mountains that are in the three worlds, all the gods with +the Grandsire, along with the Siddhas, the Rishis and the Charanas, O +best of the Kurus, always come, O Bharata, to bathe in the sacred waters +of the Narmada. And it hath been heard by us that the sacred asylum of +the Muni Visravas, had stood there, and that there was born the lord of +treasures, Kuvera, having men for his vehicles. There also is that +foremost of hills, the sacred and auspicious Vaidurya peak abounding +with trees that are green and which are always graced with fruit and +flowers. O lord of the earth, on the top of that mountain is a sacred +tank decked with full-blown lotus and resorted to by the gods and the +Gandharvas. Many are the wonders, O mighty monarch, that may be seen on +that sacred mountain which is like unto heaven itself and which is +visited by celestial Rishis. There, O subjugator of hostile cities, is +the sacred river called Viswamitra belonging to the royal sage of that +name and which abounds, O king, in many sacred _tirthas_. It was on the +banks of this river, that Yayati, the son of Nahusha, (fell from heaven) +among the virtuous, and obtained once more the eternal regions of the +righteous. Here also are the well-known lake called _Punya_, the +mountain called Mainaka, and that other mountain called Asita abounding +in fruits and roots. And here also is the sacred asylum of Kakshasena, +and O Yudhishthira, the asylum of Chyavana also, which is famed over +every country, O son of Pandu! In that spot, O exalted one, men attain +to (ascetic) success without severe austerities. Here also, O mighty +king, is the region called Jamvumarga, inhabited by birds and deer, and +which constitutes the retreat of ascetics with souls under control, O +thou foremost of those that have subdued their senses! Next lie the +exceedingly sacred Ketumala, and Medhya ever graced with ascetics, and, +O lord of earth, Gangadwara, and the well-known woods of Saindhava which +are sacred and inhabited by the regenerate ones. There also is the +celebrated tank of the Grandsire, called Pushkara, the favourite abode +of the Vaikanasas, and Siddhas and Rishis. Moved by the desire of +obtaining its protection, the Creator sang this verse at Pushkara, O +chief of the Kurus and foremost of virtuous men! If a person of pure +soul purposes a pilgrimage to the Pushkaras in imagination even, he +becometh purged from all his sins and rejoiceth in heaven!'" + + +SECTION XC + +"Dhaumya continued, 'O tiger among kings, I shall now describe those +_tirthas_ and sacred spots that lie to the north. Do thou, O exalted +one, listen to me attentively. By hearing this narration, O hero, one +acquireth a reverential frame of mind, which conduceth to much good. In +that region is the highly sacred Saraswati abounding in _tirthas_ and +with banks easy of descent. There also, O son of Pandu, is the +ocean-going and impetuous Yamuna, and the _tirtha_ called +Plakshavatarana, productive of high merit and prosperity. It was there +that the regenerate ones having performed the _Saraswata_ sacrifice, +bathed on the completion thereof, O sinless one, in the well-known +celestial _tirtha_ called Agnisiras, which is productive of great merit. +There king Sahadeva had celebrated a sacrifice measuring out the ground +by a throw of the _Samya_. It is for this reason, O Yudhishthira, that +Indra sang the praises of Sahadeva in verse. Those verses are still +current in this world, being recited by the regenerate ones, e.g., _on +the Yamuna Sahadeva worshipped the sacrificial fire, with gifts in a +hundred thousands to Brahmanas_. There the illustrious king, the +imperial Bharata, performed five and thirty horse-sacrifices. O child, +we have heard that Sarabhanga of yore used to fully gratify the desires +of the regenerate ones. There in this region is his celebrated asylum +productive of great merit. In that region also, O son of Pritha, is the +river Saraswati, which is ever worshipped by the god, where, in days of +yore, the Valikhilyas, O great king, performed sacrifices. In that +region also, O Yudhishthira, is the well-known river Drisadwati, which +is productive of great merit. Then, O chief of men, are Nyagrodhakhya, +and Panchalya, and Punyaka and Dalbhyaghosha, and Dalbhya, which are, O +son of Kunti, the sacred asylum in the world of illustrious Anandayasas +of excellent vows and great energy, and which are celebrated over the +three worlds. Here also, O lord of men, the illustrious Etavarna and +Avavarana versed in the Vedas, learned in Vedic lore, and proficient in +the knowledge of Vedic rites, performed meritorious sacrifices, O chief +of the Bharata race! There also is Visakhayupa to which, in days of +yore, came the gods with Varuna and Indra, and practised ascetic +austerities. And therefore is that spot so eminently sacred. Here also +is Palasaka, where the great and illustrious and highly blessed Rishi +Jamadagni performed sacrifices. There all the principal rivers in their +embodied forms taking their respective waters stood surrounding that +best of sages. And there also, O monarch, Vibhavasu (fire) himself, +beholding that high-souled one's initiation, sang the following _sloka: +"The river coming to the illustrious Jamadagni while sacrificing unto +the gods gratified the Brahmanas with offerings of honey."_ O +Yudhishthira, the spot where Ganga rusheth past, cleaving the foremost +of mountains which is frequented by Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas +and Apsaras, and inhabited by hunters, and Kinnaras, is called +Gangadwara. O king, Sanatkumara regardeth that spot visited by +Brahmarshis, as also the _tirtha_ Kanakhala (that is near to it), as +sacred. There also is the mountain named Puru which is resorted to by +great Rishis and where Pururavas was born, and Bhrigu practised ascetic +austerities. For this it is, O king, that asylum hath become known as +the great peak of Bhrigutunga. Near that peak is the sacred and +extensive Vadari, that highly meritorious asylum, famed over the three +worlds, of him, O bull of the Bharata race, who is the Present, the Past +and the Future, who is called Narayana and the lord Vishnu, who is +eternal and the best of male beings, and who is pre-eminently +illustrious. Near Vadari, the cool current of Ganga was formerly warm, +and the banks there were overspread with golden sands. There the gods +and Rishis of high fortune and exceeding effulgence, approaching the +divine lord Narayana, always worship him. The entire universe with all +its _tirthas_ and holy spots is there where dwelleth the divine and +eternal Narayana, the Supreme soul, for he is Merit, he is the Supreme +_Brahma_, he is _tirtha_, he is the ascetic retreat, he is the First, he +is the foremost of gods, and he is the great Lord of all creatures. He +is eternal, he is the great Creator, and he is the highest state of +blessedness. Learned persons versed in the scriptures attain to great +happiness by knowing him. In that spot are the celestial Rishis, the +Siddhas, and, indeed, all the Rishis,--where dwelleth the slayer of +Madhu, that primeval Deity and mighty Yogin! Let no doubt enter thy +heart that that spot is the foremost of all holy spots. These, O lord of +earth, are the _tirthas_ and sacred spots on earth, that I have recited, +O best of men! These all are visited by the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the +Adityas, the Marutas, the Aswins and the illustrious Rishis resembling +the celestials themselves. By journeying, O son of Kunti, to those +places, with the Brahmanas and ascetics that are with thee and with thy +blessed brothers, thou wilt be freed from anxiety!'" + + +SECTION XCI + +Vaisampayana continued, "O son of the Kuru race, while Dhaumya was +speaking thus, there arrived at the spot the Rishi Lomasa of great +energy. And the king, who was the eldest of Pandu's sons, with his +followers and those Brahmanas sat round the highly righteous one, like +celestials in heaven sitting round Sakra. And having received him duly, +Yudhishthira the just enquired after the reason of his arrival, and the +object also of his wanderings. Thus asked by Pandu's son, the +illustrious ascetic, well-pleased, replied in sweet words delighting the +Pandayas, 'Travelling at will, O Kaunteya, over all the regions, I came +to Sakra's abode, and saw there the lord of the celestials. There, I saw +thy heroic brother capable of wielding the bow with his left hand, +seated on the same seat with Sakra. And beholding Partha on that seat I +was greatly astonished, O tiger among men! And the lord of the +celestials then said unto me, "_Go thou unto the sons of Pandu_." At the +request, therefore, of Indra as also of the high-souled son of Pritha +have I come hither with speed, desiring to see thee with thy younger +brothers. O child, I will relate what will please thee highly, O son of +Pandu! Do thou listen to it, O king, with Krishna and the Rishis that +are with thee. O bull of the Bharata race, Partha hath obtained from +Rudra that incomparable weapon for the acquisition of which thou hadst +sent him to heaven. That fierce weapon, known by the name of +_Brahma-sira_ which arose after _Amrila_, and which Rudra had obtained +by means of ascetic austerities, hath been acquired by Arjuna together +with the _Mantras_ for hurling and withdrawing it, and the rites of +expiation and revival. And, O Yudhishthira, Arjuna of immeasurable +prowess hath also acquired Vajras and _Dandas_ and other celestial +weapons from Yama and Kuvera and Varuna and Indra, O son of the Kuru +race! And he hath also thoroughly learnt music, both vocal and +instrumental, and dancing and proper recitation of the _Saman_ (Veda) +from Vishwavasu's son. And having thus acquired weapons and mastered the +_Gandhama Veda_, thy third brother Vibhatsu liveth happily (in heaven). +Listen to me, O Yudhishthira, for I shall now deliver to thee the +message of that foremost of celestials. He hath commanded me saying, +"Thou wilt, no doubt, go to the world of men. O best of Brahmanas, tell +thou Yudhishthira these words of mine. Soon will thy brother Arjuna come +to thee, having acquired arms and accomplished a great deed for the +celestials that is incapable of being accomplished by themselves. Do +thou meanwhile devote thyself to ascetic austerities, with thy brothers. +There is nothing superior to asceticism, and it is by asceticism that a +person achieveth great results. And, O bull of the Bharata race, well do +I know that Karna is endued with great ardour and energy and strength +and prowess that is incapable of being baffled. Well do I know that, +skilled in fierce conflict, he hath not his rival in battle; that he is +a mighty bowman, a hero deft in the use of fierce weapons and cased in +the best of mail. Well do I know that that exalted son of Aditya +resembleth the son of Maheswara himself. Well do I also know the high +natural prowess of the broad-shouldered Arjuna. In battle Karna is not +equal unto even a sixteenth part of Pritha's son. And as for the fear of +Karna which is in thy heart, O repressor of foes, I shall dispel when +Savyasachin will have left heaven. And as regards thy purpose, O hero, +to set out on a pilgrimage to _tirthas_, the great Rishi Lomasa will, +without doubt, speak unto thee. And whatever that regenerate Rishi will +relate unto thee touching the merits of asceticism and _tirthas_, thou +shouldst receive with respect and not otherwise!"'" + + +SECTION XCII + +"Lomasa continued, 'Listen now, O Yudhishthira, to what Dhananjaya hath +said: "Cause my brother Yudhishthira to attend to the practice of virtue +which leadeth to prosperity. Endued with wealth of asceticism, thou art +conversant with the highest morality, with ascetic austerities of every +kind, with the eternal duties of kings blessed with prosperity, and the +high and sanctifying merit that men obtain from _tirthas_. Persuade thou +the sons of Pandu to acquire the merit attaching to _tirthas_. Do thou +with thy whole soul persuade the king to visit the _tirthas_ and give +away kine." This is what Arjuna said unto me. Indeed he also said, "Let +him visit all the _tirthas_ protected by thee. Thou wilt also protect +him from Rakshasas, and watch over him in inaccessible regions and +rugged mountain breasts. And as Dadhichi had protected Indra, and +Angiras had protected the Sun, so do thou, O best of regenerate ones, +protect the sons of Kunti from Rakshasas. Along the way are many +Rakshasas, huge as mountain-cliffs. But protected by thee these will not +be able to approach the sons of Kunti." Obedient to the words of Indra +and at the request of Arjuna also protecting thee from dangers, I shall +wander with thee. Before this, O son of the Kuru race, I have twice +visited the _tirthas_. With thee I shall repair to them for the third +time. O Yudhishthira, Manu and other royal _Rishis_ of meritorious deeds +had undertaken journeys to _tirthas_. Indeed, a trip to them is capable +of dispelling all fear, O king! They that are crooked-minded, they that +have not their souls under control, they that are illiterate and +perverse, do not, O Kauravya, bathe in _tirthas_. But thou art ever of a +virtuous disposition and conversant with morality and firm in thy +promises. Thou wilt surely be able to free thyself from the world. For, +O son of Pandu, thou art even as king Bhagiratha, or Gaya, or Yayati, or +any one, O son of Kunti, that is like them.' + +"Yudhishthira answered, 'I am so overwhelmed with delight, O Brahmana, +that I cannot find words to answer thee. Who can be more fortunate than +he who is remembered even by the lord of the celestials? Who can be more +fortunate than he who hath been favoured with thy company, who hath +Dhananjaya for a brother, and who is thought of by Vasava himself? As to +thy words, O illustrious one, in respect of a trip to the _tirthas_, my +mind had already been made up at the words of Dhaumya. O Brahmana, I +shall start, at whatever hour thou mayst be pleased to appoint, on the +proposed journey to _tirthas_. Even this is my firm resolve!'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "Lomasa then said unto Yudhishthira, who had +made up his mind to start on the proposed journey, 'O mighty king, be +thou light as regards thy retinue, for by this thou wilt be able to go +more easily!' + +"Yudhishthira then said, 'Let those mendicants and Brahmanas and _Yogis_ +that are incapable of bearing hunger and thirst, the fatigues of travel +and toil, and the severity of winter, desist. Let those Brahmanas also +desist that live on sweetmeats, and they also that desire cooked viands +and food that is sucked or drunk as well as meat. And let those also +remain behind that are dependent on cooks. Let those citizens that have +followed me from motives of loyalty, and whom I have hitherto kept on +proper stipends, repair to king Dhritarashtra. He will give them their +allowances in due time. If, however, that king refuses to grant them +proper allowances, the king of the Panchalas will, for our satisfaction +and welfare, give them these.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "And thereupon oppressed with grief, the +citizens and the principal Brahmanas and Yatis set out for Hastinapura. +And out of affection for Yudhishthira the just, the royal son of Amvika +received them properly, and gratified them with proper allowances. And +the royal son of Kunti, with only a small number of Brahmanas, abode for +three nights at Kamyaka, cheered by Lomasa." + + +SECTION XCIII + +Vaisampayana said, "Those Brahmanas then, that had been dwelling (with +him) in the woods, beholding the son of Kunti about to set out (on the +pious pilgrimage), approached him, O king, and said, 'Thou art about to +set out, O king, on thy journey to the sacred _tirthas_, along with thy +brothers and accompanied by the illustrious Rishi Lomasa. O king, it +behoveth thee, O son of Pandu, to take us with thee. Without thee, we +shall not be able, O son of the Kuru race, to visit them at any time. +Surrounded by dangers and difficult of access, they are infested by +beasts of prey. Those _tirthas_, O lord of men, are inaccessible to +persons in small parties. Foremost of all wielders of the bow, thy +brothers are ever brave. Protected by your heroic selves, we also would +proceed to them. Permit us to acquire, O lord of earth, through thy +grace the blessed fruit of _tirthas_. Protected by thy energy, let us, O +king, be cleansed of all our sins by visiting those _tirthas_ and +purified by baths therein. Bathing in those _tirthas_, thou also, O +Bharata, wilt acquire without doubt the regions difficult of acquisition +that Kartavirya and Ashtaka, the royal sage Lomapada and the imperial +and heroic Bharata only had earned. In thy company, O king, we desire to +behold Prabhasa and other _tirthas_, Mahendra and other hills, Ganga and +other rivers, and Plaksha and other gigantic trees. If, O lord of men, +thou hast any regard for the Brahmanas, do thou our bidding. Thou wilt +surely have prosperity from this. O thou of mighty arms, the _tirthas_ +are infested by Rakshasas that ever obstruct ascetic penances. It +behoveth thee to protect us from them. Protected by Lomasa and taking us +with thee, go thou to all the _tirthas_ spoken of by Dhaumya and the +intelligent Narada, as also all those that have been spoken of by the +celestial Rishi Lomasa, endued with great ascetic wealth, and be thou, +by this, cleansed of all thy sins.' + +"Thus addressed respectfully by them, the king--that bull amongst the +sons of Pandu--surrounded by his heroic brothers headed by Bhima, with +tears of joy in his eyes, said unto all those ascetics, 'Let it be so.' +With the permission then of Lomasa, as also of his priest Dhaumya, that +foremost of Pandu's sons with soul under complete control, resolved, +along with his brothers and Drupada's daughter of faultless features, to +set out. Just at this time, the blessed Vyasa, as also Parvata and +Narada, all endued with high intelligence, came to Kamyaka for seeing +the son of Pandu. Beholding them, king Yudhishthira worshipped them with +due rites. And worshipped by the monarch thus, those blessed ones, +addressing Yudhishthira, said, 'O Yudhishthira, O Bhima, and ye twins, +banish all evil thoughts from your minds. Purify your hearts and then +set out for the _tirthas_. The Brahmanas have said that the observance +of regulations in respect of the body are called earthly vows, while +efforts to purify the heart, so that it may be free from evil thoughts, +are called spiritual vows. O king, the mind that is free from all evil +thoughts is highly pure. Purifying yourselves, therefore, harbouring +only friendly feelings for all, behold ye the _tirthas_. Observing +earthly vows in respect of your bodies and purifying your minds by +spiritual vows, obtain ye the fruits as recited, of pilgrimages.' + +"Saying, 'So be it,' the Pandavas with Krishna, caused those celestial +and human Rishis to perform the usual propitiatory ceremonies. And those +heroes, having worshipped the feet of Lomasa and Dwaipayana and Narada +and the celestial Rishi Parvata, O king, and accompanied by Dhaumya as +also the ascetics that had been residing with them in the woods, set out +on the day following the full moon of _Agrahayana_ in which the +constellation _Pushya_ was ascendant. Dressed in barks and hides, and +with matted lock on head, they were all cased in impenetrable mail and +armed with swords. And O Janamejaya, the heroic sons of Pandu with +quivers and arrows and scimitars and other weapons, and accompanied by +Indrasena and other attendants with fourteen and one cars, a number of +cooks and servants of other classes, set out with faces turned towards +the east!" + + +SECTION XCIV + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O best of celestial Rishis, I do not think that I +am without merits. Yet am I afflicted with so much sorrow that there +never was a king like me. I think, however, that my enemies are +destitute of good qualities and even destitute of morality. Yet why, O +Lomasa, do they prosper in this world?' + +"Lomasa said, 'Grieve not ever, O king, O son of Pritha, that sinful men +should often prosper in consequence of the sins they commit. A man may +be seen to prosper by his sins, obtain good therefrom and vanquish his +foes. Destruction, however, overtakes him to the roots. O king, I have +seen many Daityas and Danavas prosper by sin but I have also seen +destruction overtake them. O exalted one, I have seen all this in the +righteous age of yore. The gods practised virtue, while the Asuras +abandoned it. The gods visited the _tirthas_, while the Asuras did not +visit them. And at first the sinful Asuras were possessed with pride. +And pride begat vanity and vanity begat wrath. And from wrath arose +every kind of evil propensities, and from these latter sprang +shamelessness. And in consequence of shamelessness, good behaviour +disappeared from among them. And because they had become shameless and +destitute of virtuous propensities and good conduct and virtuous vows, +forgiveness and prosperity and morality forsook them in no time. And +prosperity then, O king, sought the gods, while adversity sought the +Asuras. And when the Daityas and the Danavas, deprived of sense by +pride, were possessed by adversity, Kali also sought to possess them. +And, O son of Kunti, overwhelmed with pride, and destitute of rites and +sacrifices, and devoid of reason and feeling, and their hearts full of +vanity, destruction overtook them soon. And covered with infamy, the +Daityas were soon exterminated. The gods, however, who were virtuous in +their practices, going to the seas, the rivers, the lakes and the holy +spots, cleansed themselves of all sins, O son of Pandu, by means of +ascetic penances and sacrifices and gifts and blessings, and obtained +prosperity and the consequence. And because the gods always performed +sacrifices and holy deeds abandoning every practice that was evil, and +visited the _tirthas_, as the consequence thereof they acquired great +good fortune. Guided by this, O king, do thou also, with thy brothers, +bathe in _tirthas_, for then thou wilt obtain prosperity once more. Even +this is the eternal road. And, O monarch, as king Nriga and Shivi and +Ausinara and Bhagiratha and Vasumanas and Gaya and Puru and Pururavas, +by practising ascetic penances and visiting _tirthas_ and touching +sacred waters and beholding illustrious ascetics, obtained fame and +sanctity and merit and wealth, so wilt thou also obtain prosperity that +is great. And as Ikshwaku with his sons, friends and followers, as +Muchukunda and Mandhatri and king Marutta, as the gods through power of +asceticism and the celestial Rishis also, had all obtained fame, so wilt +thou also obtain great celebrity. The sons of Dhritarashtra, on the +other hand, enslaved by sinfulness and ignorance, will, without doubt, +be soon exterminated like the Daityas.'" + + +SECTION XCV + +Vaisampayana said, "The heroic sons of Pandu, accompanied by their +followers, proceeding from place to place, at last arrived at Naimisha. +O king, reaching the Gomati, the Pandavas bathed in the sacred _tirtha_ +of that stream, and having performed their ablutions there, they gave +away, O Bharata, both kine and wealth! And repeatedly offering oblations +of water, O Bharata, to the gods, the pitris, and the Brahmanas, in the +_tirthas_ called Kanya, Aswa, and Go and staying (as directed) in +Kalakoti and the Vishaprastha hills, the Kauravas then, O king, reached +Vahuda and performed their ablution in that stream. Proceeding next, O +lord of earth, to the sacrificial region of the gods known by the name +Prayaga, they bathed in the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna and residing +there practised ascetic penances of great merit. And the Pandavas, of +truthful promises, bathing in the _tirtha_, cleansed themselves of every +sin. The sons of Pandu then, O king of the Bharata race, accompanied by +those Brahmanas, proceeded to the _tirtha_ called _Vedi_, sacred to the +Creator and adored by the ascetics. Residing there for some time and +gratifying the Brahmanas with the fruit and roots of the wilderness and +clarified butter, those heroes began to practise ascetic penances of +great merit. They then proceeded to Mahidhara consecrated by that +virtuous royal sage Gaya of unrivalled splendour. In that region is the +hill called Gayasira, as well as the delightful river called Mahanadi, +with fine banks graced by bushes of canes. On that celestial hill of +holy peaks is a sacred _tirtha_ called _Brahmasara_ which is much adored +by ascetics. There on the banks of that lake had dwelt of yore the +eternal god himself of justice, and it was thither that the illustrious +Rishi Agastya had repaired to behold that deity. It is from that lake +that all the rivers take their rise and there in that _tirtha_, Mahadeva +the wielder of the _Pinaka_, is present for aye. Arriving at that spot, +the heroic sons of Pandu practised the vow that is known by the name of +the _Chaturmasya_ according to all the rites and ordinances of the great +sacrifice called _Rishiyajna_. It is there that that mighty tree called +the Eternal banian stands. Any sacrifice performed there produces merit +that is eternal. In that sacrificial platform of the gods producing +eternal merit, the Pandavas began to fast with concentrated souls. And +there came unto them Brahmanas by hundreds endued with wealth of +asceticism. And those Brahmanas also all performed the _Chaturmasya_ +sacrifice according to the rites inculcated by the Rishis. And there in +that _tirtha_, those Brahmanas old in knowledge and ascetic merit and +fully versed in the Vedas, that constituted the court of the illustrious +sons of Pandu, talked in their presence upon various subjects of sacred +import. And it was in that place that the learned vow-observing, and +sacred Shamatha, leading, besides, a life of celibacy, spake unto them, +O king, of Gaya, the son of Amurttaraya. And Shamatha said, 'Gaya, the +son of Amurttaraya, was one of the foremost of royal sages. Listen to +me, O Bharata, as I recite his meritorious deeds. It was here, O king, +that Gaya had performed many sacrifices distinguished by the enormous +quantities of food (that were distributed) and the profuse gifts that +were given away (unto Brahmanas). Those sacrifices, O king, were +distinguished by mountains in hundreds and thousands of cooked rice, +lakes of clarified butter and rivers of curds in many hundreds, and +streams of richly-dressed curries in thousands. Day after day were these +got ready and distributed amongst all comers, while, over and above +this, Brahmanas and others, O king, received food that was clean and +pure. During the conclusion also (of every sacrifice) when gifts were +dedicated to the Brahmanas, the chanting of the Vedas reached the +heavens. And so loud, indeed, was the sound of the Vedic _Mantras_ that +nothing else, O Bharata, could be heard there. Thus sacred sounds, O +king, filled the earth, the points of the horizon, the sky and heaven +itself. Even these were the wonders that persons noticed on those +occasions. And gratified with the excellent viands and drinks that the +illustrious Gaya provided, men, O bull of the Bharata race, went about +singing these verses. In Gaya's great sacrifice, who is there today, +amongst creatures, that still desireth to eat? There are yet twenty-five +mountains of food there after all have been fed! What the royal sage +Gaya of immense splendour hath achieved in his sacrifice was never +achieved by men before, nor will be by any in future. The gods have been +so surfeited by Gaya with clarified butter that they are not able to +take anything that anybody else may offer. As sand grains on earth, as +stars in the firmament, as drops showered by rain-charged clouds, cannot +ever be counted by anybody, so can none count the gifts in Gaya's +sacrifice! + +"'O son of the Kuru race, many times did king Gaya perform sacrifices of +this description, here, by the side of this Brahmasara!'" + + +SECTION XCVI + +Vaisampayana said, "After this the royal son of Kunti who was ever +distinguished for his profuse gifts unto Brahmanas, proceeded to the +asylum of Agastya and took up his abode in Durjaya. It was here that +that foremost of speakers, king Yudhishthira asked Lomasa as to why +Agastya had slain Vatapi there. And the king also enquired after the +extent of that man-destroying Daitya's prowess, and the reason also of +the illustrious Agastya's wrath being excited against that Asura. + +"Thus questioned, Lomasa said, 'O son of Kuru race, there was in the +city called Manimati, in days of yore, a Daitya named Ilwala, whose +younger brother was Vatapi. One day that son of Diti addressed the +Brahmana endued with ascetic merit, saying, "O holy one, grant me a son +equal unto Indra." The Brahmana, however, did not grant the Asura a son +like Indra. And at this, the Asura was inflamed with wrath against the +Brahmana. And from that day, O king, the Asura Ilwala became a destroyer +of Brahmanas. And endued with power of illusion the angry Asura +transformed his brother into a ram. And Vatapi also capable of assuming +any form at will, would immediately assume the shape of a ram. And the +flesh of that ram, after being properly dressed, was offered to +Brahmanas as food. And after they had eaten of it, they were slain. For +whomsoever Ilwala summoned with his voice, he would come back to Ilwala +even if he had gone to the abode of Yama, in re-embodied form endued +with life, and show himself to Ilwala. And so having transformed the +Asura Vatapi into a ram and properly cooked his flesh and feeding +Brahmanas therewith, he would summon Vatapi. And the mighty Asura +Vatapi, that foe of Brahmanas, endued with great strength and power of +illusion, hearing, O king, those sounds uttered with a loud voice by +Ilwala, and ripping open the flanks of the Brahmana would come +laughingly out, O lord of earth! And it was thus, O monarch, that the +wicked-hearted Daitya Ilwala, having fed Brahmanas, frequently took away +their lives. + +"'Meanwhile, the illustrious Agastya beheld his deceased ancestors +hanging in a pit with heads downwards. And he asked those personages +thus suspended in that hole, saying, "_What is the matter with you?_" +Thus questioned those utterers of _Brahma_ replied, "It is even for +offspring." And they also told him, "We are your ancestors. It is even +for offspring that we stay suspended in this pit. If, O Agastya, thou +canst beget us a good son, we may then be saved from this hell and thou +also wilt obtain thy blessed state of those having offspring." Endued +with great energy and observant of truth and morality Agastya replied, +saying, "Ye Pitris, I will accomplish your desire. Let this anxiety of +yours be dispelled." And the illustrious Rishi then began to think of +perpetuating his race. But he saw not a wife worthy of him on whom he +himself could take his birth in the form of a son. The Rishi +accordingly, taking those parts that were regarded as highly beautiful, +from creatures possessing them, created therewith an excellent woman. +And the Muni, endued with great ascetic merit, thereupon gave that girl +created for himself to the king of the Vidharbhas who was then +undergoing ascetic penances for obtaining offspring. And that blessed +girl of sweet face (thus disposed of) then took her birth (in Vidarbha's +royal line) and, beautiful as the effulgent lightning, her limbs began +to grow day by day. And as soon as that lord of earth--the ruler of the +Vidarbhas--saw her ushered into life, he joyfully communicated the +intelligence, O Bharata, unto the Brahmanas. And the Brahmanas +thereupon, O lord of earth, blessed the girl and they bestowed upon her +the name Lopamudra. And possessed of great beauty, she began, O monarch, +to grow quickly like unto a lotus in the midst of water or the effulgent +flame of a fire. And when the girl grew and attained to puberty, a +hundred virgins decked in ornaments and a hundred maids waited in +obedience upon her blessed self. And surrounded by those hundred maids +and virgins, she shone in their midst, endued as she was with bright +effulgence, like Rohini in the firmament amid an inferior multitude of +stars. And possessed as she was of good behaviour and excellent manners, +none dared ask for her hand even when she attained to puberty, through +fear of her father, the king of the Vidharbhas. And Lopamudra, devoted +to truth, surpassing the Apsaras even in beauty, gratified her father +and relatives by means of her conduct. And her father, beholding his +daughter--the princess of Vidharbha--attain to puberty, began to reflect +in his mind, saying, "To whom should I give this daughter of mine?"'" + + +SECTION XCVII + +"Lomasa continued, 'When Agastya thought that girl to be competent for +the duties of domesticity, he approached that lord of earth--the ruler +of Vidharbhas--and addressing him, said, "I solicit thee, O king, to +bestow thy daughter Lopamudra on me." Thus addressed by the Muni, the +king of the Vidharbhas swooned away. And though unwilling to give the +Muni his daughter, he dared not refuse. And that lord of earth then, +approaching his queen, said, "This Rishi is endued with great energy. If +angry, he may consume me with the fire of his curse. O thou of sweet +face, tell me what is thy wish." Hearing these words of the king, she +uttered not a word. And beholding the king along with the queen +afflicted with sorrow, Lopamudra approached them in due time and said, +"O monarch, it behoveth thee not to grieve on my account. Bestow me on +Agastya, and, O father, save thyself, by giving me away." And at these +words of his daughter, O monarch, the king gave away Lopamudra unto the +illustrious Agastya with due rites. And obtaining her as wife, Agastya +addressed Lopamudra, saying, "Cast thou away these costly robes and +ornaments." And at these words of her lord, that large-eyed damsel of +thighs tapering as the stem of the plantain tree cast away her handsome +and costly robes of fine texture. And casting them away she dressed +herself in rags and barks and deerskins, and became her husband's equal +in vows and acts. And proceeding then to Gangadwara that illustrious and +best of Rishis began to practise the severest penances along with his +helpful wife. And Lopamudra herself, well pleased, began to serve her +lord from the deep respect that she bore him. And the exalted Agastya +also began to manifest great love for his wife. + +"'After a considerable time, O king, the illustrious Rishi one day +beheld Lopamudra, blazing in ascetic splendour come up after the bath in +her season. And pleased with the girl, for her services, her purity, and +self control, as also with her grace and beauty, he summoned her for +marital intercourse. The girl, however, joining her hands, bashfully but +lovingly addressed the Rishi, saying, "The husband, without doubt, +weddeth the wife for offspring. But it behoveth thee, O Rishi, to show +that love to me which I have for thee. And it behoveth thee, O +regenerate one, to approach me on a bed like to that which I had in the +palace of my father. I also desire that thou shouldst be decked in +garlands of flowers and other ornaments, and that I should approach thee +adorned in those celestial ornaments that I like. Otherwise, I cannot +approach thee, dressed in these rags dyed in red. Nor, O regenerate +Rishi, it is sinful to wear ornaments (on such an occasion)." Hearing +these words of his wife, Agastya replied, "O blessed girl, O thou of +slender waist, I have not wealth like what thy father hath, O +Lopamudra!" She answered saying, "Thou who art endued with wealth of +asceticism, art certainly able to bring hither within a moment, by +ascetic power, everything that exists in the world of men." Agastya +said, "It is even so as thou hast said. That, however, would waste my +ascetic merit. O bid me do that which may not loosen my ascetic merit." +Lopamudra then said, "O thou endued with wealth of asceticism, my season +will not last long, I do not desire, however, to approach thee +otherwise. Nor do I desire to diminish thy (ascetic) merit in any way. +It behoveth thee, however, to do as I desire, without injuring thy +virtue." + +"'Agastya then said, "O blessed girl, if this be the resolve that thou +hast settled in thy heart, I will go out in quest of wealth. Meanwhile, +stay thou here as it pleaseth thee."'" + + +SECTION XCVIII + +"Lomasa continued, 'Agastya then, O son of the Kuru race, went to king +Srutarvan who was regarded as richer than other kings, to beg for +wealth. And that monarch, learning of the arrival of the pot-born Rishi +on the frontiers of his kingdoms, went out with his ministers and +received the holy man with respect. And the king duly offering the +_Arghya_ in the first instance, submissively and with joined hands +enquired then after the reason of the Rishi's arrival. And Agastya +answered saying, "O lord of the earth, know that I have come to thee, +desirous of wealth. Give me a portion according to thy ability and +without doing injury to others."' + +"Lomasa continued, 'The king, then, representing unto the Rishi the +equality of his expenditure and income, said, "O learned one, take thou +from my possessions the wealth thou pleasest." Beholding, however, the +equality of that monarch's expenditure with income, the Rishi who always +saw both sides with equal eyes, thought that if he took anything under +the circumstances, his act would result in injury to creatures. Taking, +therefore, Srutarvan with him, the Rishi went to Vradhnaswa. The latter, +hearing of their arrival on his frontiers, received them duly. And +Vradhnaswa also offered them the _Arghyas_ and water to wash their feet. +And the monarch, with their permission, then enquired after the reason +of their coming. And Agastya said, "O lord of earth, know that we have +come to thee desirous of wealth. Give us what thou canst, without doing +injury to others."' + +"Lomasa continued, 'That monarch then represented unto them the equality +of his expenditure and income, and said, "Knowing this, take ye what ye +desire." The Rishi, however, who saw both sides with equal eyes, +beholding the equality of that monarch's income with expenditure, +thought that if he took anything under the circumstances, his act would +result in injury to all creatures. Agastya and Srutarvan, with king +Vardhnaswa then went to Purokutsa's son, Trasadasyu, of enormous wealth. +The high-souled Trasadasyu, learning of their arrival on the confines of +his kingdom went out, O king, and received them well. And that best of +monarchs in Ikshvaku's line, having worshipped all of them duly, +enquired after the reason of their arrival. And Agastya answered, "O +lord of earth, know that we have all come to thee, desirous of wealth. +Give us what you can, without injuring others."' + +"Lomasa continued, 'That monarch then, represented unto them the +equality of his income with expenditure, and said, "Knowing this, take +ye what ye desire." Beholding, however, the equality of that monarch's +expenditure with income, the Rishi who saw both sides with equal eyes, +thought that if he took anything under the circumstances, his act would +result in injury to all creatures. Then, O monarch, all those kings +looking at one another, together spoke unto the Rishis saying, "O +Brahmana, there is a Danava of the name Ilwala who of all persons on +earth, is possessed of enormous wealth. Let us all approach him to-day +and beg wealth of him."' + +"Lomasa continued, 'This suggestion, O king, of begging wealth of Ilwala +appeared to them to be proper. And, O monarch, all of them went together +to Ilwala after this!'" + + +SECTION XCIX + +"Lomasa said, 'When Ilwala learnt that those kings along with the great +Rishi had arrived on the confines of his domain, he went out with his +ministers and worshipped them duly. And that prince of Asuras received +them hospitably, entertaining them, O son of the Kuru race, with well +dressed meat supplied by his brother Vatapi (transformed into a ram). +Then all those royal sages, beholding the mighty Asura Vatapi, who had +been transformed into a ram thus cooked for them, became sad and +cheerless and were nearly deprived of themselves. But that best of +Rishis--Agastya--addressing those royal sages, said, "Yield ye not to +grief, I will eat up the great Asura." And the mighty Rishi then sat +himself down on an excellent seat, and the prince of Asuras, Ilwala, +began to distribute the food smilingly. And Agastya ate up the whole of +the meat supplied by Vatapi (transformed into a ram). And after the +dinner was over, Ilwala began to summon his brother. But thereupon a +quantity of air alone came out of the illustrious Rishi's stomach, with +a sound that was as loud, O child, as the roar of the clouds. And Ilwala +repeatedly said, "Come out, O Vatapi!" Then that best of +Munis--Agastya--bursting out in laughter, said, "How can he come out? I +have already digested that great Asura." And beholding his brother +already digested, Ilwala became sad and cheerless and joining his hands, +along with his ministers, addressing the Rishi (and his companions), +said, "What for have ye come hither, and what can I do for you?" And +Agastya smilingly answered Ilwala, saying, "We know thee, O Asura, to be +possessed of great power and also enormous wealth. These kings are not +very wealthy while my need also of wealth is great. Give us what thou +canst, without injuring others." Thus addressed Ilwala saluted the Rishi +and said, "If thou say what it is that I mean to give, then will I give +you wealth." Hearing this Agastya said, "O great Asura, thou hast even +purposed to give unto each of these kings ten thousand kine and as many +gold coins. And unto me thou hast purposed to give twice as much, as +also a car of gold and a couple of horses fleet as thought. If thou +enquirest now, thou wilt soon learn that your car is made of gold." +Thereupon, O son of Kunti, Ilwala made enquiries and learnt that the car +he had intended to give away was really a golden one. And the Daitya +then with a sad heart, gave away much wealth and that car, unto which +were yoked two steeds called Virava and Surava. And those steeds, O +Bharata, took those kings and Agastya and all that wealth to the asylum +of Agastya within the twinkling of an eye. And those royal sages then +obtaining Agastya's permission, went away to their respective cities. +And Agastya also (with that wealth) did all that his wife Lopamudra had +desired. And Lopamudra then said, "O illustrious one, thou hast now +accomplished all my wishes. Beget thou a child on me that shall be +possessed of great energy." And Agastya replied unto her, saying, "O +blessed and beauteous one, I have been much gratified with thy conduct. +Listen thou unto me as regards the proposal I make in respect of thy +offspring. Wouldst thou have a thousand sons, or a century of sons each +equal to ten, or ten sons equal each to an hundred, or only one son who +may vanquish a thousand?" Lopamudra answered, "Let me have one son equal +unto a thousand, O thou endued with wealth of asceticism! One good and +learned son is preferable to many evil ones."' + +"Lomasa continued, 'Saying, "So be it," that pious Muni thereupon knew +his devout wife of equal behaviour. And after she had conceived, he +retired into the forest. And after the Muni had gone away, the foetus +began to grow for seven years. And after the seventh year had expired, +there came out of the womb, the highly learned Dridhasyu, blazing, O +Bharata, in his own splendour. And the great Brahmana and illustrious +ascetic, endued with mighty energy, took his birth as the Rishi's son, +coming out of the womb, as if repeating the Vedas with the _Upanishads_ +and the _Angas_. Endued with great energy while yet a child, he used to +carry loads of sacrificial fuel into the asylum of his father, and was +thence called _Idhmavaha_ (carrier of sacrificial wood). And the Muni, +beholding his son possessed of such virtues, became highly glad. + +"'And it was thus, O Bharata, that Agastya begat an excellent son in +consequence of which his ancestors, O king, obtained the regions they +desired. And it is from that time that this spot hath become known on +the earth as the asylum of Agastya. Indeed, O king, this is the asylum +graced with numerous beauties, of that Agastya who had slain Vatapi of +Prahlada's race. The sacred Bhagirathi, adored by gods and Gandharvas +gently runneth by, like a breeze-shaken pennon in the welkin. Yonder +also she floweth over craggy crests descending lower and lower, and +looketh like an affrighted she-snake lying along the hilly slopes. +Issuing out of the matted locks of Mahadeva, she passes along, flooding +the southern country and benefiting it like a mother, and ultimately +mingleth with the ocean as if she were his favourite bride. Bathe ye as +ye like in this sacred river, ye son of Pandu! And behold there, O +Yudhishthira, the _tirtha_ of Bhrigu that is celebrated over the three +worlds and adored, O king, by great Rishis. Bathing here, Rama (of +Bhrigu's race) regained his might, which had been taken away from him +(by Dasaratha's son). Bathing here, O son of Pandu, with thy brothers +and Krishna, thou wilt certainly regain that energy of thine that hath +been taken away by Duryodhana, even as Rama regained his that had been +taken away by Dasaratha's son in hostile encounter.'" + +Vaisampayana continued, "At these words of Lomasa, Yudhishthira bathed +there with his brothers and Krishna, and offered oblations of water, O +Bharata, to the gods and the Pitris. And, O bull among men, after +Yudhishthira had bathed in that _tirtha_, his body blazed forth in +brighter effulgence, and he became invincible in respect of all foes. The +son of Pandu then, O king, asked Lomasa, saying, 'O illustrious one, why +had Rama's energy and might been taken away? And how also did he regain +it? O exalted one, I ask thee, tell me everything.' + +"Lomasa said, 'Listen, O king, to the history of Rama (the son of +Dasaratha) and Rama of Bhrigu's line gifted with intelligence. For the +destruction of Ravana, O king, Vishnu, in his own body, took his birth +as the son of illustrious Dasaratha. We saw in Ayodhya that son of +Dasaratha after he had been born. It was then that Rama of Bhrigu's +line, the son of Richika by Renuka, hearing of Rama the son of +Dasaratha--of spotless deeds--went to Ayodhya, impelled by curiosity, +and taking with him that celestial bow so fatal to the Kshatriyas, for +ascertaining the prowess of Dasaratha's son. And Dasaratha, hearing that +Rama of Bhrigu's race had arrived on the confines of his domains, set +his own son Rama to receive the hero with respect. And beholding +Dasaratha's son approach and stand before him with ready weapons, Rama +of Bhrigu's line smilingly addressed him, O son of Kunti, saying, "O +king, O exalted one, string, if thou canst, with all thy might, this +bow which in my hands was made the instrument of destroying the +Kshatriya race." Thus addressed, Dasaratha's son answered, "O +illustrious one, it behoveth thee not to insult me thus. Nor am I, +amongst the regenerate classes, deficient in the virtues of the +Kshatriya order. The descendants of Ikshwaku in special never boast of +the prowess of their arms." Then unto Dasaratha's son who said so, Rama +of Bhrigu's line replied, "A truce to all crafty speech, O king! Take +this bow." At this, Rama the son of Dasaratha, took in anger from the +hands of Rama of Bhrigu's line that celestial bow that had dealt death +to the foremost of Kshatriyas. And, O Bharata, the mighty hero smilingly +strung that bow without the least exertion, and with its twang loud as +the thunder-rattle, affrighted all creatures. And Rama, the son of +Dasaratha, then, addressing Rama of Bhrigu's said, "Here, I have strung +this bow. What else, O Brahmana, shall I do for thee?" Then Rama, the +son of Jamadagni, gave unto the illustrious son of Dasaratha a celestial +arrow and said, "Placing this on the bow-string, draw to thy ear, O +hero!"'" + +"Lomasa continued, 'Hearing this, Dasaratha's son blazed up in +wrath and said, "I have heard what thou hast said, and even pardoned +thee. O son of Bhrigu's race, thou art full of vanity. Through the +Grandsire's grace thou hast obtained energy that is superior to that of +the Kshatriyas. And it is for this that thou insultest me. Behold me now +in my native form: I give thee sight." Then Rama of Bhrigu's race beheld +in the body of Dasaratha's son the Adityas with the Vasus, the Rudras, +the Sadhyas with the Marutas, the Pitris, Hutasana, the stellar +constellations and the planets, the Gandharvas, the Rakshasas, the +Yakshas, the Rivers, the _tirthas_, those eternal Rishis identified with +_Brahma_ and called the Valkhilyas, the celestial Rishis, the Seas and +Mountains, the Vedas with the Upanishads and _Vashats_ and the +sacrifices, the Samans in their living form, the Science of weapons, O +Bharata, and the Clouds with rain and lightning, O Yudhishthira! And the +illustrious Vishnu then shot that shaft. And at this the earth was +filled with sounds of thunder, and burning meteors, O Bharata, began to +flash through the welkin. And showers of dust and rain fell upon the +surface of the earth. And whirlwinds and frightful sounds convulsed +everything, and the earth herself began to quake. And shot by the hand +of Rama, that shaft, confounding by its energy the other Rama, came back +blazing into Rama's hands. And Bhargava, who had thus been deprived of +his senses, regaining consciousness and life, bowed unto Rama--that +manifestation of Vishnu's power. And commanded by Vishnu, he proceeded +to the mountains of Mahendra. And thenceforth that great ascetic began +to dwell there, in terror and shame. And after the expiration of a year, +the Pitris, beholding Rama dwelling there deprived of energy, his pride +quelled, and himself sunk in affliction, said unto him, "O son, having +approached Vishnu, thy behaviour towards him was not proper. He +deserveth for aye worship and respect in the three worlds. Go, O son, to +that sacred river which goeth by name of Vadhusara! Bathing in all the +_tirthas_ of that stream, thou wilt regain thy energy! There in that +river is the _tirthas_ called Diptoda where thy grandsire Bhrigu, O +Rama, in the celestial age had practised ascetic penances of great +merit." Thus addressed by them, Rama, O son of Kunti, did what the +Pitris bade him, and obtained back at this _tirtha_, O son of Pandu, the +energy he had lost. Even this O child, was what befell Rama of spotless +deeds in days in of yore, after he had, O king, met Vishnu (in the form +of Dasaratha's son)!'" + + +SECTION C + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O best of regenerate ones, I desire again to hear +of the achievements in detail of Agastya--that illustrious Rishi endued +with great intelligence.' + +"Lomasa said, 'Listen now, O king, to the excellent and wonderful and +extraordinary history of Agastya, as also, O monarch, about the prowess +of that Rishi of immeasurable energy. There were in the Krita age +certain tribes of fierce Danavas that were invincible in battle. And +they were known by the name of Kalakeyas and were endued with terrible +prowess. Placing themselves under Vritra and arming themselves with +diverse weapons they pursued the celestials with Indra at their head in +all directions. The gods then all resolved upon the destruction of +Vritra, and went with Indra at their head to Brahma. And beholding them +standing before him with joined hands, Parameshthi addressed them all +and said, "Everything is known to me, ye gods, about what ye seek. I +shall indicate now the means by which ye may slay Vritra. There is a +high-souled and great Rishi known by the name of Dadhicha. Go ye all +together unto him and solicit of him a boon. With well-pleased heart, +that Rishi of virtuous soul will even grant you the boon. Desirous as ye +are of victory, go ye all together unto him and tell him, '_For the good +of the three worlds, give us thy bones_.' Renouncing his body, he will +give you his bones. With these bones of his, make ye a fierce and +powerful weapon to be called _Vajra_, endued with six sides and terrible +roar and capable of destroying even the most powerful enemies. With that +weapon will he of a hundred sacrifices slay Vritra. I have now told you +all. See that all this is done speedily." Thus addressed by him, the +gods with the Grandsire's leave (came away), and with Narayana at their +head proceeded to the asylum of Dadhicha. That asylum was on the other +bank of the river Saraswati and covered with diverse trees and creepers. +And it resounded with the hum of bees as if they were reciting _Samans_. +And it also echoed with the melodious notes of the male _Kokila_ and the +_Chakora_. And buffaloes and boars and deer and _Chamaras_ wandered +there at pleasure freed from the fear of tigers. And elephants with the +juice trickling down from rent temples, plunging in the stream, sported +with the she-elephants and made the entire region resound with their +roars. And the place also echoed with the loud roars of lions and +tigers, while at intervals might be seen those grisly monarchs of the +forest lying stretched in caves and glens and beautifying them with +their presence. And such was the asylum, like unto heaven itself, of +Dadhicha, that the gods entered. And there they beheld Dadhicha looking +like the sun himself in splendour and blazing in grace of person like +the Grandsire himself. And the celestials saluted the feet of the Rishi +and bowed unto him and begged of him the boon that the Grandsire had +bade them do. Then Dadhicha, well pleased, addressing those foremost of +celestials, said, "Ye celestials, I will do what is for your benefit. I +will even renounce this body of mine myself." And that foremost of men +with soul under control, having said this, suddenly renounced his life. +The gods then took the bones of the deceased Rishi as directed. And the +celestials, glad at heart, went to Twashtri (the celestial Artificer) +and spake to him of the means of victory. And Twashtri, hearing those +words of theirs, became filled with joy, and constructed (out of those +bones) with great attention and care the fierce weapons called _Vajra_. +And having manufactured it, he joyfully addressed Indra, saying, "With +this foremost of weapons, O exalted one, reduce that fierce foe of the +gods to ashes. And having slain the foe, rule thou happily the entire +domain of heaven, O chief of the celestials, with those that follow +thee." And thus addressed by Twashtri, Purandara took the _Vajra_ from +his hand, joyfully and with proper respect.'" + + +SECTION CI + +"Lomasa said, 'Armed with the _Vajra_ then, and supported by celestials +endued with great might, Indra then approached Vritra, who was then +occupying the entire earth and the heaven. And he was guarded on all +sides by huge-bodied Kalakeyas with upraised weapons resembling gigantic +mountains with towering peaks. And the encounter that took place between +the gods and the Danavas lasted for a short while and was, O chief of +the Bharatas, terrific in the extreme, appalling as it did the three +worlds. And loud was the clash of swords and scimitars upraised and +warded off by heroic hands in course of those fierce encounters. And +heads (severed from trunks) began to roll from the firmament to the +earth like fruits of the palmyra palm falling upon the ground, loosened +from their stalks. And the Kalakeyas armed with iron-mounted bludgeons +and cased in golden mail ran against the gods, like moving mountains on +conflagration. And the gods, unable to stand the shock of that impetuous +and proudly advancing host, broke and fled from fear. Purandara of a +thousand eyes, beholding the gods flying in fear and Vritra growing in +boldness, became deeply dejected. And the foremost of gods Purandara, +himself, agitated with the fear of the Kalakeyas, without losing a +moment, sought the exalted Narayana's refuge. And the eternal Vishnu +beholding Indra so depressed enhanced his might by imparting unto him a +portion of his own energy. And when the celestials beheld that Sakra was +thus protected by Vishnu, each of them imparted unto him his own energy. +And the spotless Brahmarshis also imparted their energies unto the chief +of the celestials. And favoured thus by Vishnu and all the gods and by +the high-blessed Rishis also, Sakra became mightier than before. And +when Vritra learnt that the chief of the celestials had been filled with +might of others, he sent forth some terrific roars. And at these roars +of his, the earth, the directions, the firmament, heaven, and the +mountains all began to tremble. And the chief of the celestials, deeply +agitated on hearing that fierce and loud roar, was filled with fear, and +desiring to slay the Asura soon, hurled, O king, the mighty _Vajra_. And +struck with Indra's _Vajra_ the great Asura decked in gold and garlands +fell head-long, like the great mountain Mandara hurled of yore from +Vishnu's hands; and although the prince of Daityas was slain, yet Sakra +in panic ran from the field, desiring to take shelter in a lake, +thinking that the _Vajra_ itself had not been hurled from his hands and +regarding that Vritra himself was still alive. The celestials, however, +and the great Rishis became filled with joy, and all of them began to +cheerfully chant the praise of Indra. And mustering together, the +celestials began to slay the Danavas, who were dejected at the death of +their leader. And struck with panic at sight of the assembled celestial +host, the afflicted Danavas fled to the depths of the sea. And having +entered the fathomless deep, teeming with fishes and crocodiles, the +Danavas assembled together and began to proudly conspire for the +destruction of the three worlds. And some amongst them that were wise in +inferences suggested courses of action, each according to his judgment. +In course of time, however, the dreadful resolution arrived at those +conspiring sons of Diti, was that they should, first of all, compass the +destruction of all persons possessed of knowledge and ascetic virtue. +The worlds are all supported by asceticism. Therefore, they said, "Lose +no time for the destruction of asceticism. Compass ye without delay the +destruction of those on earth that are possessed of ascetic virtues, +that are conversant with duties and the ways of morality, and that have +a knowledge of _Brahma_; for when these are destroyed, the universe +itself will be destroyed." And all the Danavas, having arrived at this +resolution for the destruction of the universe, became highly glad. And +thenceforth they made the ocean--that abode of Varuna--with billows high +as hills, their fort, from which to make their sallies.'" + + +SECTION CII + +"Lomasa said, 'The Kalakeyas then having recourse to that receptacle of +waters, which is the abode of Varuna, began their operations for the +destruction of the universe. And during the darkness of the night those +angry Daityas began to devour the Munis they found in woody retreats and +sacred spots. And those wicked wretches devoured in the asylum of +Vasishtha, Brahmanas to the number of a hundred and eighty, besides nine +other ascetics. And, proceeding to the asylum of Chyavana that was +inhabited by many _Brahmacharis_, they devoured a century of Brahmanas +that lived upon fruit and roots alone. And they began to do all this +during the darkness of the night, while they entered the depths of the +sea by day. And they slew a full score of Brahmanas of subdued souls and +leading a Brahmacharya mode of life and living upon air and water alone, +in the retreat of Bharadwaja. And it was thus that those Danavas the +Kalakeyas, intoxicated with prowess of arms and their lives nearly run +out, gradually invaded all the asylums of the Rishis during the darkness +of the night, slaughtering numerous Brahmanas. And, O best of men, +although the Danavas behaved in this way towards the ascetics in woody +retreats, yet men failed to discover anything of them. And every morning +people saw the dead bodies of Munis emaciated with frugal diet, lying on +the ground. And many of those bodies were without flesh and without +blood, without marrow, without entrails, and with limbs separated from +one another. And here and there lay on the ground heaps of bones like +masses of conch shells. And the earth was scattered over with the +(sacrificial) contents of broken jars and shattered ladles for pouring +libations of clarified butter and with the sacred fires kept with care +by the ascetics. And the universe afflicted with the terror of the +Kalakeyas, being destitute of Vedic studies and _vashats_ and +sacrificial festivals and religious rites, became entirely cheerless. +And, O king, when men began to perish in this way, the survivors, +afflicted with fear, fled for their lives in all directions. And some +fled to caverns and some behind mountain-streams and springs and some +through fear of death, died without much ado. And some who were brave +and mighty bowmen cheerfully went out and took great trouble in tracking +the Danavas. Unable, however, to find them out, for the Asuras had +sought refuge in the depths of the sea, these brave men came back to +their homes gratified with the search. And, O lord of men, when the +universe was being thus destroyed, and when sacrificial festivals and +religious rites had been suspended, the gods became deeply afflicted. +And gathering together with Indra in their midst they began, from fear, +to take counsel of one another. And repairing unto the exalted and +uncreate Narayana--that unvanquished god of Vaikuntha--the celestials +sought his protection. And bowing unto the slayer of Madhu, the gods +addressed him, saying, "O lord, thou art the creator, the protector, and +the slayer of ourselves as well as of the universe. It is thou who has +created this universe with its mobile and immobile creatures. O thou of +eyes like lotus leaves, it was thou who in days of yore hadst for the +benefit of all creatures raised from the sea the sunken earth, assuming +also the form of a boar. And, O best of male beings, assuming also the +form of half-man and half-lion, thou hadst slain in days of yore that +ancient Daitya of mighty prowess known by the name of Hiranyakasipu. And +that other great Asura also, Vali by name, was incapable of being slain +by any one. Assuming the form of a dwarf, thou exiledest him from the +three worlds. O lord, it was by thee that that wicked Asura, Jambha by +name, who was a mighty bowman and who always obstructed sacrifices, was +slain. Achievements like these, which cannot be counted, are thine. O +slayer of Madhu, we who have been afflicted with fear, have thee for our +refuge. It is for this, O god of gods, that we inform thee of our +present troubles. Protect the worlds, the gods, and Sakra also, from a +terrible fear."'" + + +SECTION CIII + +"'The celestials said, "Through thy favour it is that all born beings of +the four kinds increase. And they being created, propitiate the dwellers +of heaven by offerings made to the gods and the names of departed +forefathers. Thus it is that people, protected by thee and free from +trouble live depending on one another, and (so) increase. Now this peril +hath befallen the people. We do not know by whom are Brahmanas being +killed during the night. If the Brahmanas are destroyed, the earth +itself will meet with destruction, and if the earth cometh to an end, +heaven also will cease to exist. O mighty-armed one, O lord of the +universe! we beseech thee (to act so) that all the worlds, protected by +thee, may not come to an end, so it may please thee." + +"'Vishnu said, "Ye gods! To me is known the reason of the destruction of +the born beings, I shall speak of it to you; listen with minds free from +tribulation. There exists an exceedingly fierce host, known by the name +of Kalakeyas. They, under the lead of Vritra, were devastating the whole +universe. And when they saw that Vritra was slain by the sagacious Indra +endued with a thousand eyes, they, to preserve their lives, entered into +the ocean, that abode of Varuna. And having entered the ocean, abounding +with sharks and crocodiles, they at night killed the saints at this spot +with the view of exterminating the people. But they cannot be slain, as +they have taken shelter within the sea. Ye should, therefore, think of +some expedient to dry up the ocean. Who save Agastya is capable of +drying up the sea. And without drying up the ocean, these (demons) +cannot be assailed by any other means." Hearing these words of Vishnu, +the gods took the permission of Brahma, who lives at the best of all +regions, and went to the hermitage of Agastya. Then they beheld the +high-souled Agastya, the son of Varuna, of resplendent mien, and waited +upon by saints, even as Brahma is waited upon by celestials. And +approaching him, they addressed the son of Mitra and Varuna at the +hermitage, magnanimous and unswerving, and looking like an embodiment of +pious works piled together, and glorified him by reciting his deeds. The +deities said, "Thou wert formerly the refuge of the gods when they were +oppressed by Nahusha. Thorn of the world that he was, he was thrown down +from his throne of heaven--from the celestial regions. Vindhya, the +foremost of all mountains, suddenly began to increase his height, from a +wrathful competition with the sun (_i.e._, to rival him in altitude). +But he hath ceased to increase, as he was unable to disobey thy command. +And when darkness hath covered the world, the born beings were harassed +by death, but having obtained thee for a protector, they attained the +utmost security. Whenever we are beset by perils, thy reverence is +always our refuge; for this reason it is that we solicit a boon from +thee; as thou ever grantest the boon solicited (of thee)."'" + + +SECTION CIV + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O great saint! I am desirous of hearing in detail +why it was that Vindhya, made senseless with wrath, suddenly began to +increase his bulk.' + +"Lomasa said, 'The sun between his rising and setting used to revolve +round that monarch of mountains--the great Meru of golden lustre. And +seeing this the mountain Vindhya spake to Surya saying, "As thou every +day goest round Meru and honourest him by thy circumambulations, do thou +even the same by me, O maker of light!" Thus addressed, the sun replied +to the great mountain, saying, "I do not of my own will honour this +mountain by my circumambulations. By those who have built this universe +hath that path been assigned to me." Thus addressed the mountain +suddenly began to increase from wrath, desirous, O chastiser of foes, of +obstructing the path of the Sun and the Moon. And all the assembled gods +came to Vindhya, the mighty king of mountains, and tried to dissuade him +from his course. But he heeded not what they said. And then all the +assembled gods went to the saint, living in the hermitage, engaged in +the practice of austerities, and the very best of persons devoted to +virtue; and stated all that happened to Agastya, possessed of exceeding +marvellous power. + +"'The gods said, "This king of hills, Vindhya, giving way to wrath, is +stopping the path of the Sun and the Moon, and also the course of the +stars. O foremost of Brahmanas! O thou great in gifts! excepting +thyself, there is none who can prevent him; therefore do thou make him +desist." Hearing these words of the gods the Brahmana came to the +mountain. And he with his wife, having arrived there, came near Vindhya +and spake to him, saying, "O thou best of mountains! I wish to have a +path given to me by thee, as, for some purpose, I shall have to go to +the southern region. Until my return, do thou wait for me. And when I +have returned, O king of mountains, thou mayst increase in bulk as much +as thou pleasest." And, O slayer of foes! having made this compact with +Vindhya up to the present day Varuna's son doth not return from the +southern region. Thus have I, asked by thee, narrated to thee why +Vindhya doth not increase in bulk, by reason of the power of Agastya. +Now, O king! hear how the Kalakeyas were killed by the gods, after they +had obtained their prayer from Agastya. + +"'Having heard the words of the gods, Agastya, the son of Mitra, and +Varuna, said, "Wherefore are ye come? What boon do ye solicit from me?" +Thus addressed by him, the deities then spake to the saint, saying, +"This deed we ask thee to achieve, _viz_., to drink up the great ocean, +O magnanimous (saint)! Then we shall be able to slay those enemies of +the gods, known by the name of Kalakeyas, together with all their +adherents." Having heard the words of the gods, the saint said, "Let it +be so--I shall do even what ye desire, and that which will conduce to +the great happiness of men." Having said this, he then proceeded to the +ocean--the lord of rivers,--accompanied by sages, ripe in the practice +of penances, and also by the deities, O thou who leadest an excellent +life! And men and snakes, celestial choristers, Yakshas and Kinnaras +followed the magnanimous saints,--desirous of witnessing that wonderful +event. Then they came up all together near to the sea, of awful roar, +dancing, as it were, with its billows, bounding with the breeze, and +laughing with masses of froth, and stumbling at the caves, and thronged +with diverse kinds of sharks, and frequented by flocks of various birds. +And the deities accompanied by Agastya and celestial choristers and huge +snakes and highly-gifted saints, approached the immense watery waste.'" + + +SECTION CV + +"Lomasa said, 'That blessed saint, the son of Varuna, having reached the +sea spake unto the assembled gods, and the saints gathered together, +saying "I surely am going to drink up the ocean--that abode of the god +of waters. Be ye quickly ready with those preparations which it devolves +upon you to make." Having spoken these few words, the unswerving +offspring of Mitra and Varuna, full of wrath, began to drink up the sea, +while all the worlds stood observing (the deed). Then the gods, together +with Indra, seeing how the sea was being drunk up, were struck with +mighty amazement, and glorified him with laudatory words, saying, "Thou +art our protector, and the Providence itself for men,--and also the +creator of the worlds. By thy favour the universe with its gods may +possibly be saved from havoc." And the magnanimous one, glorified by the +gods--while the musical instruments of celestial choristers were playing +all round, and while celestial blossoms were showered upon him--rendered +waterless the wide ocean. And seeing the wide ocean rendered devoid of +water, the host of gods was exceedingly glad; and taking up choice +weapons of celestial forge, fell to slaying the demons with courageous +hearts,--And they, assailed by the magnanimous gods, of great strength, +and swift of speed, and roaring loudly, were unable to withstand the +onset of their fleet and valorous (foes)--those residents of the +heavenly regions, O descendant of Bharata! And those demons, attacked by +the gods, bellowing loudly, for a moment carried on terrible conflict. +They had been in the first instance burnt by the force of penances +performed by the saints, who had matured their selves; therefore, the +demons, though they tried to the utmost, were at last slaughtered by the +gods. And decked with brooches of gold, and bearing on their persons +ear-rings and armlets, the demons, when slain, looked beautiful indeed, +like _palasa_ trees when full of blossoms. Then, O best of men! a +few--the remnant of those that were killed of the Kalakeya race, having +rent asunder the goddess Earth, took refuge at the bottom of the nether +regions. And the gods, when they saw that the demons were slain, with +diverse speeches, glorified the mighty saint, and spake the following +words. "O thou of mighty arms, by thy favour men have attained a mighty +blessing, and the Kalakeyas, of ruthless strength have been killed by +thy power, O creator of beings! Fill the sea (now), O mighty-armed one; +give up again the water drunk up by thee." Thus addressed, the blessed +and mighty saint replied, "That water in sooth hath been digested by me. +Some other expedient, therefore, must be thought of by you, if ye desire +to make endeavour to fill the ocean." Hearing this speech of that saint +of matured soul, the assembled gods were struck with both wonder and +sadness, O great king! And thereupon, having bidden adieu to each other, +and bowed to the mighty saint all the born beings went their way. And +the gods with Vishnu, came to Brahma. And having held consultation +again, with the view of filling up the sea, they, with joined hands, +spake about replenishing it.'" + + +SECTION CVI + +"Lomasa said, 'Then gathered together, Brahma, the grandfather of men +(thus) addressed, "Go ye, O gods! whither your pleasure may lead you, or +your desire conduct you. It will take a long course of time for the +ocean to resume its wonted state; the occasion will be furnished by the +agnates of the great king Bhagiratha." Hearing the words of the +(universal) grandfather (Brahma), all the foremost gods went their way +biding the day (when the ocean was to be filled again).' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'What was that occasion, O Saint? And how did the +agnates of (Bhagiratha furnish the same)? And how was the ocean refilled +by the interference of Bhagiratha? O Saint, who deemest thy religious +practices as thy only treasure, O thou of the priestly class! I wish to +hear the account of the achievements of the king, narrated in detail by +thyself.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by the magnanimous and virtuous king, +he, the chief of men of the priestly class, narrated the achievements of +the high-souled (king) Sagara. + +"Lomasa said, 'There was born in the family of the Ikshaku tribe, a +ruler of the earth named Sagara, endued with beauty, and strength. And +that same (king) of a dreaded name was sonless, O descendant of Bharata! +And he carried havoc through the tribes of the Haihayas and the +Talajanghas; brought under subjection the whole of the military caste; +(and so) ruled over his own kingdom. And, O most praiseworthy of the +descendants of Bharata! O chief of the Bharata race! he had two wives +proud of their beauty and of their youth,--one a princess of the +Vidarbha race, and the other of the royal line of Sivi. And, O chief of +kings, that same ruler of men, betook himself to the mountain Kailasa, +accompanied by both his wives, and with the desire of having a son +became engaged in the practice of exceeding austere penances. And being +engaged in the practice of rigid austerities, and (also) employed in the +contemplation known by the name of Yoga, he obtained the sight of the +magnanimous god with three eyes--the slayer of the demon called Tripura; +the worker of blessings (for all beings); the (eternally) existent one; +the ruling Being, the holder of the Pinaka bow; carrying in his hand his +(well-known weapon)--the trident; the god of three eyes; the repository +of (eternal) peace; the ruler of all those that are fierce; capable of +assuming very many forms; and the lord of the goddess Uma. And that same +ruler of men, of mighty arms, as soon as he beheld the god--that giver +of boons--fell down at his feet, with both his queens, and proffered a +prayer to have a son. And the god Siva, well pleased with him, spake +(thus) to that most righteous of the rulers of men, attended by his two +wives, saying, "O lord of men! considering the (astrological) moment at +which thou hast proffered thy prayer to me, sixty thousand sons, O +foremost of choice men valorous and characterised by exceeding pride, +will be born in one of thy two wives (here). But they all, O ruler of +the earth, shall perish together. In the other wife, (however), will be +born a single valiant son, who will perpetuate thy race." Having said +this to him, the god Rudra (Siva) vanished from sight at that very spot, +and that same king Sagara now came (back) to his own abode accompanied +by his two wives, exceedingly delighted at heart (for what had happened) +then. And, O most praiseworthy of the sons of Manu! (i.e., men), there +the two lotus-eyed wives of him--the princess of Vidarbha and the +princess of Sivi--came (erelong) to be with child. And afterwards, on +the due day, the princess of Vidarbha brought forth (something) of the +shape of a gourd and the princess of Sivi gave birth to a boy as +beautiful as a god. Then the ruler of the earth made up his mind to +throw away the gourd,--when he heard (proceeding) from the sky a speech +(uttered) in a grave and solemn voice, "O king! do thou not be guilty of +this hasty act; thou shouldst not abandon thy sons. Take out the seeds +from the gourd and let them be preserved with care in steaming vessels +partly filled with clarified butter. Then thou wilt get, O scion of +Bharata's race! sixty thousand sons. O ruler of men! the great god +(Siva) hath spoken that thy sons are to be born in this manner. Let not +therefore thy mind be turned away therefrom."'" + + +SECTION CVII + +"Lomasa said, 'O most righteous of kings! When he heard these words +(proceeding) from the sky, he had faith therein, and did all that he was +directed to do, O chief of the men of Bharata's race! Then the ruler of +men took separately each of the seeds and then placed these divisions +(of the gourd) in vessels filled with clarified butter. And intent on +the preservation of his sons, he provided a nurse for every +(receptacle). Then after a long time there arose sixty thousand +exceedingly powerful sons of that same king--gifted with unmeasured +strength, they were born, O ruler of earth! to that saint-like king, by +Rudra's favour. And they were terrible; and their acts were ruthless. +And they were able to ascend and roam about in the sky; and being +numerous themselves, despised everybody, including the gods. And they +would chase even the gods, the Gandharvas, and the Rakshasas and all the +born beings, being themselves valiant and addicted to fighting. Then all +people, harassed by the dull-headed sons of Sagara, united with all the +gods, went to Brahma as their refuge. And then addressed the blessed +grandfather of all beings (Brahma), "Go ye your way, ye gods, together +with all these men. In a not very long space of time, there will come +about, O gods! a great and exceedingly terrible destruction of Sagara's +sons, caused by the deed perpetrated by them." Thus addressed, those +same gods, and men, O lord of the sons of Manu! bade adieu to the +grandfather, and went back to whence they had come. Then, O chief of +Bharata's race! after the expiry of very many days, the mighty king +Sagara accepted the consecration for performing the rites of a +horse-sacrifice. And his horse began to roam over the world, protected +by his sons. And when the horse reached the sea, waterless and frightful +to behold--although the horse was guarded with very great care--it +(suddenly) vanished at the very spot (it stood upon). Then, O respected +sir! those same sons of Sagara imagined the same fine horse to have been +stolen; and returning to their father, narrated how it had been stolen +out of sight. And thereupon he addressed them, saying, "Go ye and search +for the horse in all the cardinal points." Then, O great king, by this +command of their father, they began to search for the horse in the +cardinal points and throughout the whole surface of the earth. But all +those sons of Sagara, all mutually united, could not find the horse, nor +the person who had stolen it. And coming back then, they with joined +palms thus addressed their father, (standing) before them, "O Protector +of men! O ruler of the earth! O king! by thy command, the whole of this +world with its hills and its forest tracts, with its seas, and its +woods, and its islands, with its rivulets and rivers and caves, hath +been searched through by us. But we cannot find either the horse, or the +thief who had stolen the same." And hearing the words, the same king +became senseless with wrath, and then told them all, carried away by +Destiny, "Go ye all, may ye never return! Search ye again for the horse. +Without that sacrificial horse, ye must never return, my boys!" + +"'And those same sons of Sagara, accepted this command of their father, +and once more began to search through the entire world. Now these heroes +saw a rift on the surface of the earth. And having reached this pit, the +sons of Sagara began to excavate it. And with spades and pickaxes they +went on digging the sea, making the utmost efforts. And that same abode +of Varuna (namely the ocean), being thus excavated by the united sons +of Sagara and rent and cut on all sides round, was placed in a condition +of the utmost distress. And the demons and snakes and Rakshasas and +various (other) animated beings began to utter distressful cries, while +being killed by Sagara's sons. And hundreds and thousands of animated +beings were beheld with severed heads and separated trunks and with +their skins and bones and joints rent asunder and broken. Thus they went +on digging the ocean, which was the abode of Varuna and an exceedingly +long space of time expired in this work, but still the horse was not +found. Then, O lord of earth! towards the north-eastern region of the +sea, the incensed sons of Sagara dug down as far as the lower world, and +there they beheld the horse, roaming about on the surface of the ground. +And they saw the magnanimous Kapila, who looked like a perfect mass of +splendour. And having beheld him shining with his brightness, just as +the fire shineth with its flames, they, O king! seeing the horse, were +flushed with delight. And they being incensed, sent forward by their +fate, paid no heed to the presence of the magnanimous Kapila, and ran +forward with a view to seizing the horse. Then, O great king! Kapila, +the most righteous of saints,--he whom the great sages name as Kapila +Vasudeva--assumed a fiery look, and the mighty saint shot flames towards +them, and thereby burnt down the dull-headed sons of Sagara. And Narada, +whose practice of austerities was very great, when he beheld them +reduced to ashes, came to Sagara's side, and gave the information to +him. And when the king learnt this terrible news which proceeded from +the mouth of the saint, for nearly an hour he remained sad, and then he +bethought himself of what Siva had said. Then sending for Ansuman, the +son of Asamanjas, and his own grandson, he, O chief of Bharata's race! +spake the following words, "Those same sixty thousand sons of unmeasured +strength having encountered Kapila's wrath, have met their death on my +account. And, O my boy of stainless character! thy father also hath been +forsaken by me, in order to discharge my duty (as a king), and being +desirous of doing good to my subjects."' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O saint, whose sole wealth consists in religious +practices! Tell me for what reason, Sagara, the foremost of kings, +abandoned his own begotten son, endued with valour--an act so difficult +(for all other men).' + +"Lomasa said, 'A son was born to Sagara, known by the name of Asamanjas, +he who was given birth to by the princess of Sivi. And he used to seize +by throat the feeble children of the townsmen, and threw them while +screaming into the river. And thereupon the townsmen, overwhelmed with +terror and grief, met together, and all standing with joined palms, +besought Sagara in the following way, "O great king! Thou art our +protector from the dreaded peril of attack from a hostile force. +Therefore it is proper for thee to deliver us from the frightful danger, +proceeding from Asamanjas." And the most righteous of the rulers of men, +having heard this frightful news from his subjects, for nearly an hour +remained sad and then spake to his ministers, saying, "This day from the +city let my son Asamanjas be driven forth. If ye wish to do what will be +acceptable to me, let this be quickly done." And, O protector of men! +those same ministers, thus addressed by the king, performed in a hurry +exactly what the king had commanded them to do. Thus have I narrated to +thee how the magnanimous Sagara banished his son, with a view to the +welfare of the residents of the town. I shall now fully narrate to thee +what Ansuman of the powerful bow was told by Sagara. Listen to me! + +"'Sagara said, "O my boy! sore am I at heart for having abandoned thy +father, on account of the death of my sons, and also on being +unsuccessful in getting back the horse. Therefore, O grandson! harassed +with grief and confounded with the obstruction to my religious rites as +I am, thou must bring back the horse and deliver me from hell." Thus +addressed by the magnanimous Sagara, Ansuman went with sorrow to that +spot where the earth had been excavated. And by that very passage he +entered into the sea, and beheld that illustrious Kapila and that same +horse. And having beheld that ancient saint, most righteous of his +order, looking like a mass of light, he bowed with his head to the +ground, and informed him of the reason of his visit. Then, O great king, +Kapila was pleased with Ansuman, and that saint of a virtuous soul told +him to ask for a favour from him. And he in the first place prayed for +the horse, for the purpose of using it in the sacrifice; in the second +place he prayed for the purification of his fathers. Then the mighty +chief of saints, Kapila spake to him, saying, "I shall grant thee +everything that thou desirest, O stainless (prince). May good luck be +thine! In thee are fixed (the virtues of) forbearance, and truth, and +righteousness. By thee hath Sagara had all his desires fulfilled. Thou +are (really) a son to thy father. And by thy ability the sons of Sagara +will go to heaven (i.e., will be delivered from the consequences of +their unhallowed death). And the son of thy son, with a view to +purifying the sons of Sagara, will obtain the favour of the great god +Siva, (by means of practising great austerities), and will (thus) bring +(to this world) the river that floweth in three (separate) streams, +Ganga, O chief of men! May good luck be thine! Take thou with thee the +sacrificial horse. Finish, my lad! the sacrificial rites of the +magnanimous Sagara." Thus addressed by the illustrious Kapila, Ansuman +took the horse with him, and came back to the sacrificial yard of the +mighty-minded Sagara. Then he fell prostrate at the feet of the +high-souled Sagara, who smelt him on the head and narrated all the +events to him, all that had been seen and heard by him, and likewise the +destruction of Sagara's sons. He also announced that the horse had been +brought back to the sacrificial yard. And when king Sagara heard of +this, he no more grieved on account of his sons. And he praised and +honoured Ansuman, and finished those same sacrificial rites. His +sacrifice finished, Sagara was greeted honourably by all the gods; and +he converted the sea, Varuna's dwelling place, into a son of himself. +And the lotus-eyed (King Sagara) having ruled his kingdom for a period +of exceeding length, placed his grandson on the throne, (full of) +responsibilities and then ascended to heaven. And Ansuman likewise, O +great king! virtuous in soul, ruled over the world as far as the edge of +the sea, following the foot-prints of his father's father. His son was +named Dilipa, versed in virtue. Upon him placing the duties of his +sovereign post, Ansuman likewise departed this life. And then when +Dilipa heard what an awful fate had overtaken his forefathers, he was +sorely grieved and thought of the means of raising them. And the ruler +of men made every great effort towards the descent of Ganga (to the +mortal world). But although trying to the utmost of his power, he could +not bring about what he so much wished. And a son was born to him, known +by the name of Bhagiratha, beauteous, and devoted to a virtuous life, +and truthful, and free from feelings of malice. And Dilipa appointed him +as king, and betook himself to the forest life. And, O best of all the +scions of Bharata's race! that same king (Dilipa), devoted himself to a +successful course of austerities, and at the end of (sufficient) period, +from the forest departed to heaven.'" + + +SECTION CVIII + +"Lomasa said, 'That same king, of a powerful bow, standing at the head +of the surrounding, (i.e., the occupant of an imperial throne) of a +powerful car, (i.e., possessing every great fighting power) became the +delight of the eyes and the soul of all the world. And he of the +powerful arm came to learn how his forefathers had met an awful end from +Kapila of mighty soul, and how they had been unable to attain the region +of gods. And he with a sorrowful heart made over his kingly duties to +his minister, and, O lord of men! for practising austerities, went to +the side of the snowy Mountain (the Himalayas). And, O most praiseworthy +of men, desirous of extinguishing his sins by leading an austere life, +and (thereby) obtaining the favour of the (goddess) Ganga, he visited +that foremost of mountains--Himalaya. And he beheld it adorned with +peaks of diverse forms full of mineral earth; besprinkled on all sides +with drops from clouds which were resting themselves upon the breeze; +beautiful with rivers and groves and rocky spurs, looking like (so many) +palaces (in a city); attended upon by lions and tigers that had +concealed themselves in its caves and pits; and also inhabited by birds +of checkered forms, which were uttering diverse sounds, such as the +Bhringarajas, and ganders, and Datyuhas, and water-cocks, and peacocks +and birds with a hundred feathers, and Jivanjivakas, and black birds, +and Chakoras of eyes furnished with black corners, and the birds that +love their young. And he saw the mountain abounding in lotus plants +growing in delightful reservoirs of water. And the cranes rendered it +charming with their sounds; and the Kinnaras and the celestial nymphs +were seated on its stony slabs. And the elephants occupying the cardinal +points had everywhere robbed its trees with the end of their tusks; and +the demi-gods of the Vidyadhara class frequented the hill. And it was +full of various gems, and was also infested by snakes bearing terrible +poison and of glowing tongues. And the mountain at places looked like +(massive) gold, and elsewhere it resembled a silvery (pile), and at some +places it was like a (sable) heap of collyrium. Such was the snowy hill +where the king now found himself. And that most praiseworthy of men at +that spot betook himself to an awful austere course of life. And for one +thousand years his subsistence was nothing but water, fruit and roots. +When, however, a thousand years according to the calculation of gods had +elapsed, then the great river Ganga having assumed a material form, +manifested to him her (divine) self. + +"'Ganga said. "O great king! what dost thou desire of me? And what must +I bestow on thee? Tell me the same, O most praiseworthy of men! I shall +do as thou mayst ask me." Thus addressed, the king then made his reply +to Ganga, the daughter of the snowy Hill, saying, "O grantress of boons! +O great river! my father's fathers, while searching for the horse, were +sent by Kapila to the abode of the god of death. And those same sixty +thousand sons of Sagara of mighty soul, having met with the majestic +Kapila, perished, (to a soul) in an instant of time. Having thus +perished, there hath been no place for them in the region of heaven. O +great river! So long as thou dost not besprinkle those same bodies with +thy water, there is no salvation for these same Sagara's sons. O blessed +goddess! carry thou my forefathers, Sagara's sons, to the region of +heaven. O great river! on their account am I beseeching thee +forsooth."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Ganga, the goddess saluted by the world, having heard +these words of the king, was well pleased, and spake to Bhagiratha the +following words: "O great king! I am prepared to do what thou dost ask +me; there is no doubt therein. But when I shall descend from the sky to +the earth, the force of my fall will be difficult to sustain, O +protector of men! In the three worlds there exists none who is able to +sustain the same, excepting Siva, the most praiseworthy of gods, the +great Lord with the throat of sable blue. O (prince) of a powerful arm! +Obtain the favour, by practising austerities, of that same Siva--giver +of boons. That same god will sustain my descent upon his head. Thy +desire he will fulfill, the desire, namely, to be of service to thy +fathers, O king!" Then the great king Bhagiratha having heard the same, +went to the Kailasa hill, and betaking himself to a severe course of +penances, at the expiration of a certain length of time obtained the +favour of that worker of blessings (Siva). And, O protector of men! that +same best of men, in order that his forefathers might have a place in +heaven secured to them, received from that very Siva the fulfilment of +his wish, namely the wish that the descending Ganga might be +sustained.'" + + +SECTION CIX + +"Lomasa said, 'The blessed God having heard what Bhagiratha had said, +and with a view to doing what was agreeable to the residents of heaven, +replied to the king, saying, "So let it be. O most righteous of the +protectors of men, O (prince) of a powerful arm! For thy sake I shall +sustain the river of the gods, when she will take her descent from the +sky, she who is pure and blessed and divine, O (king) of a mighty arm!" +Saying this, he came to the snowy mountain, surrounded by his +attendants, of awful mien, and with uplifted weapons of diverse forms. +And standing there, he said to Bhagiratha, the most praiseworthy of men, +"O (prince) of a powerful arm! do thou pray to the river, the daughter +of the king of mountains. I shall sustain that most praiseworthy of +rivers when she falls down from the third region of the world (heaven)." +Having heard these words uttered by Siva, the king became devout (in +heart), made obesiance and directed his thoughts towards Ganga. Then the +delightful (river), of pure water in being so thought of by the king, +and seeing that the great lord (Siva) was standing (to receive her +fall), came down all of a sudden from the sky. And seeing that she had +taken her leap from the sky, the gods, together with the mighty saints, +the Gandharvas, the snakes, and the Yakshas, assembled there as +spectators. Then came down from the sky Ganga, the daughter of the snowy +mountain. And her whirlpools were raging, and she was teeming with +fishes and sharks. O king! she directing her course towards the sea, +separated herself, into three streams; and her water was bestrewn with +piles of froth, which looked like so many rows of (white) ganders. And +crooked and tortuous in the movement of her body, at places; and at +others stumbling as it were; and covered with foam as with a robe: she +went forward like a woman drunk. And elsewhere, by virtue of the roar of +her waters, she uttered loud sounds. Thus assuming very many different +aspects, when she fell from the sky, and reached the surface of the +earth, she said to Bhagiratha, "O great king! show me the path that I +shall have to take. O lord of the earth! for thy sake have I descended +to the earth." Having heard these words, king Bhagiratha directed his +course towards the spot where lay those bodies of mighty Sagara's sons, +in order that, O most praiseworthy of men, the holy water might flood +(the same). Having achieved the task of sustaining Ganga, Siva, saluted +by men, went to Kailasa the most praiseworthy of mountains, accompanied +by the celestials. And the protector of men (Bhagiratha) accompanied by +Ganga reached the sea; and the sea, the abode of Varuna, was quickly +filled. And the king adopted Ganga as a daughter of himself, and at that +spot offered libations of water to the names of his forefathers; thus +was his heart's wish fulfilled. Thus asked by thee, I have narrated the +whole story how Ganga running in three streams, was brought down to the +earth for filling the sea; how the mighty saint had drunk up the sea for +a particular reason, and how, O lord! Vatapi, the slayer of Brahmanas, +was destroyed by Agastya.'" + + +SECTION CX + +Vaisampayana said, "O chief of the Bharata race! then the son of Kunti +went at a slow pace to the two rivers Nanda and Aparananda, which had +the virtue of destroying the dread of sin. And the protector of men +having reached the healthy hill Hemakuta, beheld there very many strange +and inconceivable sights. There the very utterance of words caused the +gathering of clouds, and a thousand volleys of stones. And people at its +sight were struck sad, and were unable to ascend the hill. There the +winds blew for aye, and the heavens always poured down rains; and +likewise the sounds of the recitation of the sacred writ were heard, yet +nobody was seen. In the evening and in the morning would be seen the +blessed fire that carries offerings to the gods and there flies would +bite and interrupt the practice of austerities. And there a sadness +would overtake the soul, and people would become sick. The son of Pandu, +having observed very many strange circumstances of this character again +addressed his questions to Lomasa with reference to these wonderful +things. + +"Lomasa said, 'O slayer of foes! O king! I am going to tell thee as we +heard it before; do thou attend to the same with intent mind. In this +peak of Rishava, there was once a saint known by that name. And his life +had lasted for many hundred years. And he was devoted to penances and +was greatly wrathful. And he, forsooth, for having been spoken to by +others, from wrath addressed the hill thus, "Whoever should utter any +words here, thou must throw stones at him, and thou must call up the +winds to prevent him from making any noise." This was what the saint +said. And so at this place, as soon as a man utters any words, he is +forbidden by a roaring cloud. O king! thus these deeds were performed by +that great saint, and from wrath he also forbade other acts. O king! +tradition says that when the gods of yore had come to the Nanda, +suddenly came over (there) a number of men to look at the celestials. +Those same gods at whose head stood Indra did not, however, like to be +seen; and so they rendered this spot inaccessible, by raising +obstructions in the form of hills. And from that day forward, O Kunti's +son! men could not cast their eyes at any time on what looked like a +hill, far less could they ascend the same. This big mountain is +incapable of being seen by one who hath not led an austere life, nor can +such a one ascend it. Therefore, O son of Kunti! keep thou thy tongue +under control. Here at that time all those gods performed the best +sacrificial rites. O Bharata's son! Even up to this day these marks +thereof may be seen. This grass here hath the form of the sacred _kusa_ +grass: the ground here seemeth to be overspread with the sacred grass; +and, O lord of men! many of these trees here look like the spots for +tying the sacrificial beasts. O Bharata's son! still the Gods and saints +have residence here; and their sacred fire is observed in the morning +and in the evening. Here if one bathes, his sin is forthwith destroyed, +O Kunti's son! O most praiseworthy of the race of Kuru! do thou, +therefore, perform thy ablutions, together with thy younger brothers. +Then after having washed thyself in the Nanda, thou wilt repair to the +river Kausiki, the spot where the most excellent and severest form of +penances was practised by Viswamitra.' Then the king with his +attendants, having washed his body there, proceeded to the river +Kausiki, which was pure and delightful and pleasant with cool water. + +"Lomasa said, 'This is the pure divine river by name Kausiki. O chief of +Bharata's race! and this is the delightful hermitage of Viswamitra, +conspicuous here. And this is a hermitage, with a holy name, belonging +to Kasyapa of mighty soul; whose son was Rishyasringa, devoted to +penances, and of passions under control. He by force of his penances +caused Indra to rain; and that god, the slayer of the demons Vala and +Vritra, dreading him, poured down rain during a drought. That powerful +and mighty son of Kasyapa was born of a hind. He worked a great marvel +in the territory of Lomapada. And when the crops had been restored, king +Lomapada gave his daughter Santa in marriage to him, as the sun gave in +marriage his daughter Savitri.' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'How was the son of Kasyapa, Rishyasringa, born of a +hind? And how was he endowed with holiness, being the issue of a +reprehensible sexual connexion? And for what reason was Indra, the +slayer of the demons Vala and Vritra, afraid of that same sagacious boy, +and poured down rain during a period of drought? And how beautiful was +that princess Santa, pure in life, she who allured the heart of him when +he had turned himself into a stag? And since the royal saint Lomapada is +said to have been of a virtuous disposition, why was it that in his +territory, Indra, the chastiser of the demon Paka, had withheld rain? O +holy saint! all this in detail, exactly as it happened, thou wilt be +pleased to narrate to me, for I am desirous of hearing the deeds of +Rishyasringa's life.' + +"Lomasa said, 'Hear how Rishyasringa, of dreaded name, was born as a son +to Vibhandaka, who was a saint of the Brahmana caste, who had cultured +his soul by means of religious austerities, whose seed never failed in +causing generation, and who was learned and bright like the Lord of +beings. And the father was highly honoured, and the son was possessed of +a mighty spirit, and, though a boy, was respected by aged men. And that +son of Kasyapa, Vibhandaka, having proceeded to a big lake, devoted +himself to the practice of penances. And that same saint, comparable to +a god, laboured for a long period. And once while he was washing his +mouth in the waters, he beheld the celestial nymph Urvasi--whereupon +came out his seminal fluid. And, O king! a hind at that time lapped it +up along with the water that she was drinking, being athirst; and from +this cause she became with child. That same hind had really been a +daughter of the gods, and had been told of yore by the holy Brahma, the +creator of the worlds, "Thou shall be a hind; and when in that form, +thou shall give birth to a saint; thou shalt then be freed." As Destiny +would have it, and as the word of the creator would not be untrue, in +that same hind was born his (Vibhandaka's) son a mighty saint. And +Rishyasringa, devoted to penances, always passed his days in the forest. +O king! there was a horn on the head of that magnanimous saint and for +this reason did he come to be known at the time by the name of +Rishyasringa. And barring his father, not a man had ever before been +seen by him; therefore his mind, O protector of men! was entirely +devoted to the duties of a continent life. At this very period there was +a ruler of the land of Anga known by the name of Lomapada who was a +friend of Dasaratha. We have heard that he from love of pleasure had +been guilty of a falsehood towards a Brahmana. And that same ruler of +the world had at that time been shunned by all persons of the priestly +class. And he was without a ministering priest (to assist him in his +religious rites). And the god of a thousand eyes (Indra) suddenly +abstained from giving rain in his territory; so that his people began to +suffer and O lord of the earth! he questioned a number of Brahmanas, +devoted to penances, of cultivated minds, and possessed of capabilities +with reference to the matter of rain being granted by the lord of gods, +saying, "How may the heavens grant us the rain? Think of an expedient +(for this purpose)." And those same cultured men, being thus questioned, +gave expression to their respective views. And one among them--the best +of saints--spake to that same king, saying, "O lord of kings! the +Brahmanas are angry with thee. Do some act (therefore) for appeasing +them. O ruler of the earth! send for Rishyasringa, the son of a saint, +resident of the forest knowing nothing of the female sex, and always +taking delight in simplicity. O king! if he, great in the practice of +penances, should show himself in thy territory, forthwith rain would be +granted by the heavens, herein I have no doubt at all." And, O king! +having heard these words Lomapada made atonement for his sins. And he +went away; and when the Brahmanas had been appeased, he returned again, +and seeing the king returned, the people were again glad at heart. Then +the king of Anga convened a meeting of his ministers, proficient in +giving counsel. And he took great pains in order to settle some plan for +securing a visit from Rishyasringa. And, O unswerving (prince)! with +those ministers, who were versed in all branches of knowledge, and +exceedingly proficient in worldly matters, and had a thorough training +in practical affairs, he at last settled a plan (for gaining his +object). And then he sent for a number of courtesans, women of the town, +clever in everything. And when they came, that same ruler of the earth +spake to them, saying, "Ye lovely women! Ye must find some means to +allure, and obtain the confidence of the son of the saint--Rishyasringa, +whom ye must bring over to my territory." And those same women, on the +one hand afraid of the anger of the king and on the other, dreading a +curse from the saint, became sad and confounded, and declared the +business to be beyond their power. One, however, among them--a hoary +woman, thus spake to the king, "O great king! him whose wealth solely +consists in penances, I shall try to bring over here. Thou wilt, +however, have to procure for me certain things, in connection with the +plan. In that case, I may be able to bring over the son of the +saint--Rishyasringa." Thereupon the king gave an order that all that she +might ask for should be procured. And he also gave a good deal of wealth +and jewels of various kinds. And then, O Lord of the earth, she took +with herself a number of women endowed with beauty and youth, and went +to the forest without delay.'" + + +SECTION CXI + +"Lomasa said, 'O descendant of Bharata! she in order to compass the +object of the king, prepared a floating hermitage, both because the king +had ordered so, and also because it exactly accorded with her plan. And +the floating hermitage, containing artificial trees adorned with various +flowers and fruits, and surrounded by diverse shrubs and creeping plants +and capable of furnishing choice and delicious fruits, was exceedingly +delightful, and nice, and pleasing, and looked as if it had been created +by magic. Then she moored the vessel at no great distance from the +hermitage of Kasyapa's son, and sent emissaries to survey the place +where that same saint habitually went about. And then she saw an +opportunity; and having conceived a plan in her mind, sent forward her +daughter, a courtesan by trade and of smart sense. And that clever woman +went to the vicinity of the religious man and arriving at the hermitage +beheld the son of the saint. + +"'The courtesan said, "I hope, O saint! that is all well with the +religious devotees. And I hope that thou hast a plentiful store of +fruits and roots and that thou takest delight in this hermitage. Verily +I come here now to pay thee a visit. I hope the practice of austerities +among the saints is on the increase. I hope that thy father's spirit +hath not slackened and that he is well pleased with thee. O Rishyasringa +of the priestly caste! I hope thou prosecutest the studies proper for +thee." + +"'Rishyasringa said, "Thou art shining with lustre, as if thou wert a +(mass) of light. And I deem thee worthy of obeisance. Verily I shall +give thee water for washing thy feet and such fruits and roots also as +may be liked by thee, for this is what my religion hath prescribed to +me. Be thou pleased to take at thy pleasure thy seat on a mat made of +the sacred grass, covered over with a black deer-skin and made pleasant +and comfortable to sit upon. And where is thy hermitage? O Brahmana! +thou resemblest a god in thy mien. What is the name of this particular +religious vow, which thou seemest to be observing now?" + +"'The courtesan said, "O son of Kasyapa! on the other side of yonder +hill, which covers the space of three Yojanas, is my hermitage--a +delightful place. There, not to receive obeisance is the rule of my +faith nor do I touch water for washing my feet. I am not worthy of +obeisance from persons like thee; but I must make obeisance to thee. O +Brahmana! This is the religious observance to be practised by me, +namely, that thou must be clasped in my arms." + +"'Rishyasringa said, "Let me give thee ripe fruits, such as gallnuts, +myrobalans, _Karushas, Ingudas_ from sandy tracts and Indian fig. May it +please thee to take a delight in them!"' + +"Lomasa said, 'She, however, threw aside all those edible things and +then gave him unsuitable things for food. And these were exceedingly +nice and beautiful to see and were very much acceptable to Rishyasringa. +And she gave him garlands of an exceedingly fragrant scent and beautiful +and shining garments to wear and first-rate drinks; and then played and +laughed and enjoyed herself. And she at his sight played with a ball and +while thus employed, looked like a creeping plant broken in two. And she +touched his body with her own and repeatedly clasped Rishyasringa in her +arms. Then she bent and broke the flowery twigs from trees, such as the +Sala, the Asoka and the Tilaka. And overpowered with intoxication, +assuming a bashful look, she went on tempting the great saint's son. And +when she saw that the heart of Rishyasringa had been touched, she +repeatedly pressed his body with her own and casting glances, slowly +went away under the pretext that she was going to make offerings on the +fire. On her departure, Rishyasringa became over-powered with love and +lost his sense. His mind turned constantly to her and felt itself +vacant. And he began to sigh and seemed to be in great distress. At that +moment appeared Vibhandaka, Kasyapa's son, he whose eyes were tawny like +those of a lion, whose body was covered with hair down to the tip of the +nails, who was devoted to studies proper for his caste, and whose life +was pure and was passed in religious meditation. He came up and saw that +his son was seated alone, pensive and sad, his mind upset and sighing +again and again with upturned eyes. And Vibhandaka spake to his +distressed son, saying, "My boy! why is it that thou art not hewing the +logs for fuel. I hope thou hast performed the ceremony of burnt offering +today. I hope thou hast polished the sacrificial ladles and spoons and +brought the calf to the milch cow whose milk furnisheth materials for +making offerings on the fire. Verily thou art not in thy wonted state, O +son! Thou seemest to be pensive, and to have lost thy sense. Why art +thou so sad today? Let me ask thee, who hath been to this place +today?"'" + + +SECTION CXII + +"'Rishyasringa said, "Here came to-day a religious student with a mass +of hair on his head. And he was neither short nor tall. And he was of a +spirited look and a golden complexion, and endued with eye large as +lotuses; and he was shining and graceful as a god. And rich was his +beauty blazing like the Sun; and he was exceedingly fair with eyes +graceful and black. And his twisted hair was blue-black and neat and +long and of a fragrant scent and tied up with strings of gold. A +beautiful ornament was shining on his neck which looked like lightning +in the sky. And under the throat he had two balls of flesh without a +single hair upon them and of an exceedingly beautiful form. And his +waist was slender to a degree and his navel neat; and smooth also was +the region about his ribs. Then again there shone a golden string from +under his cloth, just like this waist-string of mine. And there was +something on his feet of a wonderful shape which give forth a jingling +sound. Upon his wrists likewise was tied a pair of ornaments that made a +similar sound and looked just like this rosary here. And when he walked, +his ornaments uttered a jingling sound like those uttered by delighted +ganders upon a sheet of water. And he had on his person garments of a +wonderful make; these clothes of mine are by no means beautiful like +those. And his face was wonderful to behold; and his voice was +calculated to gladden the heart; and his speech was pleasant like the +song of the male blackbird. And while listening to the same I felt +touched to my inmost soul. And as a forest in the midst of the vernal +season, assumes a grace only when it is swept over by the breeze, so, O +father! he of an excellent and pure smell looks beautiful when fanned by +the air. And his mass of hair is neatly tied up and remains adhering to +the head and forehead evenly sundered in two. And his two eyes seemed to +be covered with wonderful Chakravaka birds of an exceedingly beautiful +form. And he carried upon his right palm a wonderful globur fruit, which +reaches the ground and again and again leaps up to the sky in a strange +way. And he beats it and turns himself round and whirls like a tree +moved by the breeze. And when I looked at him, O father! he seemed to be +a son of the celestials, and my joy was extreme, and my pleasure +unbounded. And he clasped my body, took hold of my matted hair, and bent +down my mouth, and, mingling his mouth with my own, uttered a sound that +was exceedingly pleasant. And he doth not care for water for washing his +feet, nor for those fruits offered by me; and he told me that such was +the religious observance practised by him. And he gave unto me a number +of fruits. Those fruits were tasteful unto me: these here are not equal +to them in taste. They have not got any rind nor any stone within them, +like these. And he of a noble form gave me to drink water of an +exceedingly fine flavour; and having drunk it, I experienced great +pleasure; and the ground seemed to be moving under my feet. And these +are the garlands beautiful and fragrant and twined with silken threads +that belong to him. And he, bright with fervent piety, having scattered +these garlands here, went back to his own hermitage. His departure hath +saddened my heart; and my frame seems to be in a burning sensation! And +my desire is to go to him as soon as I can, and to have him every day +walk about here. O father, let me this very moment go to him. Pray, what +is that religious observance which is being practised by him. As he of a +noble piety is practising penances, so I am desirous to live the same +life with him. My heart is yearning after similar observances. My soul +will be in torment if I see him not."'" + + +SECTION CXIII + +"'Vibhandaka said, "Those are, O son! Rakshasas. They walk about in that +wonderfully beautiful form. Their strength is unrivalled and their +beauty great. And they always meditate obstruction to the practice of +penances. And, O my boy, they assume lovely forms and try to allure by +diverse means. And those fierce beings hurled the saints, the dwellers +of the woods, from blessed regions (won by their pious deeds). And the +saint who hath control over his soul, and who is desirous of obtaining +the regions where go the righteous, ought to have nothing to do with +them. And their acts are vile and their delight is in causing +obstruction to those who practise penance; (therefore) a pious man +should never look at them. And, O son! those were drinks unworthy to be +drunk, being as they were spirituous liquors consumed by unrighteous +men. And these garlands, also, bright and fragrant and of various hues, +are not intended for saints." Having thus forbidden his son by saying +that those were wicked demons, Vibhandaka went in quest of her. And when +by three day's search he was unable to trace where she was he then came +back to his own hermitage. In the meanwhile, when the son of Kasyapa had +gone out to gather fruits, then that very courtesan came again to tempt +Rishyasringa in the manner described above. And as soon as Rishyasringa +had her in sight, he was glad and hurriedly rushing towards him said, +"Let us go to thy hermitage before the return of my father." Then, O +king! those same courtesans by contrivances made the only son of Kasyapa +enter their bark, and unmoored the vessel. And by various means they +went on delighting him and at length came to the side of Anga's king. +And leaving then that floating vessel of an exceedingly white tint upon +the water, and having placed it within sight of the hermitage, he +similarly prepared a beautiful forest known by the name of the _Floating +Hermitage_. The king, however, kept that only son of Vibhandaka within +that part of the palace destined for the females when of a sudden he +beheld that rain was poured by the heavens and that the world began to +be flooded with water. And Lomapada, the desire of his heart fulfilled, +bestowed his daughter Santa on Rishyasringa in marriage. And with a view +to appease the wrath of his father, he ordered kine to be placed, and +fields to be ploughed, by the road that Vibhandaka was to take, in order +to come to his son. And the king also placed plentiful cattle and stout +cowherds, and gave the latter the following order: + +"'"When the great saint Vibhandaka should enquire of you about his son, +ye must join your palms and say to him that these cattle, and these +ploughed fields belong to his son and that ye are his slaves, and that +ye are ready to obey him in all that he might bid." Now the saint, whose +wrath was fierce, came to his hermitage, having gathered fruits and +roots and searched for his son. But not finding him he became +exceedingly wroth. And he was tortured with anger and suspected it to be +the doing of the king. And therefore, he directed his course towards the +city of Champa having made up his mind to burn the king, his city, and +his whole territory. And on the way he was fatigued and hungry, when he +reached those same settlements of cowherds, rich with cattle. And he was +honoured in a suitable way by those cowherds and then spent the night in +a manner befitting a king. And having received very great hospitality +from them, he asked them, saying, "To whom, O cowherds, do ye belong?" +Then they all came up to him and said, "All this wealth hath been +provided for thy son." At different places he was thus honoured by that +best of men, and saw his son who looked like the god Indra in heaven. +And he also beheld there his daughter-in-law, Santa, looking like +lightning issuing from a (cloud). And having seen the hamlets and the +cowpens provided for his son and having also beheld Santa, his great +resentment was appeased. And O king of men! Vibhandaka expressed great +satisfaction with the very ruler of the earth. And the great saint, +whose power rivalled that of the sun and the god of fire, placed there +his son, and thus spake, "As soon as a son is born to thee, and having +performed all that is agreeable to the king, to the forest must thou +come without fail." And Rishyasringa did exactly as his father said, and +went back to the place where his father was. And, O king of men! Santa +obediently waited upon him as in the firmament the star Rohind waits +upon the Moon, or as the fortunate Arundhati waits upon Vasishtha, or as +Lopamudra waits upon Agastya. And as Damayanti was an obedient wife to +Nala, or as Sachi is to the god who holdeth the thunderbolt in his hand +or as Indrasena, Narayana's daughter, was always obedient to Mudgala, so +did Santa wait affectionately upon Rishyasringa, when he lived in the +wood. This is the holy hermitage which belonged to him. Beautifying the +great lake here, it bears holy fame. Here perform thy ablutions and have +thy desire fulfilled. And having purified thyself, direct thy course +towards other holy spots.'" + + +SECTION CXIV + +Vaisampayana said, "Then, O Janamejaya, the son of Pandu started from +the river Kausiki and repaired in succession to all the sacred shrines. +And, O protector of men, he came to the sea where the river Ganga falls +into it; and there in the centre of five hundred rivers, he performed +the holy ceremony of a plunge. Then, O ruler of the earth, accompanied +by his brothers, the valiant prince proceeded by the shore of the sea +towards the land where the Kalinga tribes dwell. + +"Lomasa said, 'There is the land, O Kunti's son, where the Kalinga +tribes dwell. Through it passeth the river Vaitarani, on the banks +whereof even the god of virtue performed religious rites, having first +placed himself under the protection of the celestials. Verily, this is +the northern bank, inhabited by saints, suitable for the performance of +religious rites beautified by a hill, and frequented by persons of the +regenerate caste. This spot (in holiness) rivals the path whereby a +virtuous man, fit for going to heaven, repairs to the region inhabited +by gods. And verily at this spot in former times, other saints likewise +worshipped the immortals by the performance of religious rites. And at +the very spot it was that the god Rudra, O king of kings, seized the +sacrificial beast and exclaimed, "This is my share!" O chief of the +descendants of Bharata, then when the beast was carried away by Siva, +the gods spake to him saying, "Cast not a covetous glance at the +property of others, disregarding all the righteous rules." Then they +addressed words of glorification of a pleasing kind to the god Rudra. +And they satisfied him by offering a sacrifice, and paid him suitable +honours. Thereupon he gave up the beast, and went by the path trodden by +the gods. Thereupon what happened to Rudra, learn from me, O +Yudhishthira! Influenced by the dread of Rudra, the gods set apart for +evermore, the best allotment out of all shares, such as was fresh and +not stale (to be appropriated by the god). Whosoever performs his +ablutions at this spot, while reciting this ancient story, beholds with +his mortal eyes the path that leads to the region of the gods.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Then all the sons of Pandu and likewise the daughter +of Drupada--all of whom were the favoured of Fate--descended to the +river Vaitarani, and made libations to the manes of their fathers. + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O Lomasa, how great must be the force of a pious +deed! Having taken my bath at this spot in a proper form, I seem to +touch no more the region inhabited by mortal men! O saint of a virtuous +life, I am beholding all the regions. And this is the noise of the +magnanimous dwellers of the wood, who are reciting their audible +prayers.' + +"Lomasa said, 'O Yudhishthira, the place whence this noise comes and +reaches thy ears is at the distance of three hundred thousand _yojanas_, +to be sure. O lord of men, rest thou quiet and utter no word. O king, +this is the divine forest of the Self-existent One, which hath now come +to our view. There, O king, Viswakarma of a dreaded name performed +religious rites. On the mighty occasion of that sacrifice, the +Self-existent One made a gift of this entire earth with all its hilly +and forest tracts, to Kasyapa, by way of gratuity, for ministering as a +priest. And then, O Kuru's son, as soon as that goddess Earth was giving +away, she became sad at heart, and wrathfully spake the following words +to that great lord, the ruler of the worlds, "O mighty god, it is +unworthy of thee to give me away to an ordinary mortal. And this act of +gift on thy part will come to nothing; (for) here am I going to descend +into the bottom of the nether world." Then when the blessed saint +Kasyapa beheld the goddess Earth, despondent and sad, he, O protector of +men, performed a propitiatory act calculated to appease her wrath. And +then, O Pandu's son, the Earth was pleased with his pious deed. And she +uprose again from within the waters, and showed herself in the form of a +sacred altar. This, O king, is the spot which distinctly manifests the +form of an altar. O great monarch, ascend over it, and thou wilt gain +valour and strength. And, O king, this is the very altar which reaches +as far as the sea, and rests itself upon its bosom. May good luck be +thine, do thou mount hereupon, and of thyself cross the sea. And while +thou this day mountest upon it, I shall administer the ceremony for +averting all evil from thee; for this altar here, as soon as it gets a +mortal's touch, at once enters into the sea. _Salutation to the god who +protects the universe! Salutation to thee that art beyond the universe! +O Lord of gods, vouchsafe thy presence in this sea._ O Pandu's son, thou +must recite the following words of truth, and while so reciting, thou +must quickly ascend this altar, "The god of fire, and the sun, and the +organ of generation, and water, and goddess and the seed of Vishnu, and +the navel of nectar. The god of fire is the organ that generated the +(ocean); the earth is thy body; Vishnu deposited the seed that caused +thy being and thou art the navel of nectar." Thus, O Pandu's son, the +words of truth must be audibly recited, and while so reciting, one must +plunge into the lord of rivers. O most praiseworthy of Kunti's son, +otherwise this lord of waters of divine birth, this best storehouse of +the waters (of the earth), should not be touched, O son of Kunti, even +with the end of a sacred grass.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Then when the ceremony for averting evil had been +completed in his behalf, the magnanimous Yudhishthira went into the sea, +and having performed all that the saint had bid, repaired to the skirts +of the Mahendra hill, and spent the night at that spot." + + +SECTION CXV + +Vaisampayana said, "The protector of the earth spent there a single +night, and with his brothers, paid the highest honours to the religious +men. And Lomasa made him acquainted with the names of all of them, such +as the _Bhrigus_, the _Angiras_, the _Vasishthas_, and the _Kasyapas_. +And the royal saint paid visit to them all and made obeisance to them +with joined palms. And then he asked the valiant Akritavrana, who was a +follower of Parasurama, 'when will the revered Parasurama show himself +to the religious men here? It is desired on that occasion to obtain a +sight of the descendant of Bhrigu.' + +"Akritavrana said, 'Thy journey to this spot is already known to Rama, +whose soul spontaneously knows everything. And he is in every way +well-pleased with thee, and he will show himself readily to thee. And +the saints who practise penances here, are permitted to see him on the +fourteenth and the eighth day of the lunar course. On the morrow at the +end of this very night there will set in the fourteenth day of the lunar +course. On that occasion thou wilt have a sight of him, clad in a sable +deerskin, and wearing his hair in the form of a matted mass.' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'Thou hast been a follower of the mighty Rama, +Jamadagni's son; thou must, therefore, have been the eye-witness of all +the deeds achieved by him in former days. I, therefore, request thee to +narrate to me how the members of the military caste were vanquished by +Rama on the field of battle, and what the original cause of those +conflicts was.' + +"Akritavrana said, 'With pleasure shall I recite to thee that excellent +story, O Bharata's son, O chief of kings, the story of the godlike deeds +of Rama, the son of Jamadagni, who traced his origin to Bhrigu's race. I +shall also relate the achievements of the great ruler of the _Haihaya_ +tribe. That king, Arjuna by name, the mighty lord of the _Haihaya_ tribe +was killed by Rama. He, O Pandu's son, was endued with a thousand arms; +and by the favour of Dattatreya he likewise had a celestial car made of +gold. And, O protector of the earth, his rule extended over the entire +animated world, wheresoever located on this earth. And the car of that +mighty monarch could proceed everywhere in an unobstructed course. And +grown resistless by the virtue of a granted boon, he ever mounted on +that car, trampled upon gods and _Yakshas_ and saints on all sides +round. And all the born beings wheresoever placed, were harassed by him. +Then the celestials and the saints of a rigidly virtuous life, met +together, and thus spake to Vishnu, the god of gods, the slayer of +demons, and possessed of prowess that never failed, saying, "O blessed +and revered lord, for the purpose of preserving all the born beings, it +is necessary that Arjuna should be killed by thee." And the mighty ruler +of the Haihaya tribe placing himself on his celestial car, affronted +Indra, while that deity was enjoying himself with Sachi, his queen. +Then, O Bharata's son, the blessed and the revered god (Vishnu) held a +consultation with Indra, with a view to destroying Kartavirya's son. And +on that occasion, all that was for the good of the world of beings, was +communicated by the lord of gods; and the blessed god worshipped by the +world, to do all that was necessary, went to the delightful _Vadari_ +wood which was his own chosen retreat for practising penances. And at +this very time there lived on the earth a mighty monarch in the land of +_Kanyakuvja_, a sovereign whose military force was exceedingly great. +And his name of Gadhi was famous in the world. He, however, betook +himself to a forest-life. And while he was dwelling in the midst of the +wood, there was born to him a daughter beautiful as a nymph of heaven. +And Richika, the son of Bhrigu, asked for her to be united with himself +in marriage. And then Gadhi spake to that Brahmana, who led a rigidly +austere life, saying, "There is a certain family custom in our race; it +hath been founded by my ancestors of a bygone age. And, O most excellent +of the sacerdotal caste, be it known to thee that the intending +bridegroom must offer a dowry consisting of a thousand fleet steeds, +whose colour must be brown and every one of whom must possess a single +sable ear. But, O Bhrigu's son, a reverend saint like thee cannot be +asked to offer the same. Nor can my daughter be refused to a magnanimous +saint of thy (exalted) rank." Thereupon Richika said, "I will give thee +a thousand fleet steeds, brown in hue and possessing a single sable ear; +let thy daughter be given in marriage to me."' + +"Akritavrana said, 'Thus having given his word, O king, he went and said +to Varuna, "Give me a thousand fleet steeds brown in colour, and each +with one black ear. I want the same as dowry for my marriage." To him +Varuna forthwith gave a thousand steeds. Those steeds had issued out of +the river Ganga; hence the spot hath been named, _The horse's landing +place_. And in the city of Kanyakuvja, the daughter of Gadhi, Satyavati +by name, was given in marriage; and the gods themselves were of the +party of the bride. Richika, the most excellent of the sacerdotal caste, +thus procured a thousand steeds, and had a sight of the dwellers of +heaven and won a wife in the proper form. And he enjoyed himself with +the girl of slender waist, and thus gratified all the wishes and desire +that he ever had. And when the marriage had been celebrated, O king, his +father Bhrigu came on a visit to see him and his wife; and he was glad +to see his praiseworthy son. And the husband and wife together paid +their best respects to him, who was worshipped by all the gods. And when +he had seated himself, they both with joined palms, stood near him, in +order that they might do his bidding. And then the revered saint, +Bhrigu, glad at heart, thus spoke to his daughter-in-law, saying, "O +lovely daughter, as for a boon I am ready to grant thee any object of +thy wish." And there upon she asked for his favour in this, that a son +might be born to both herself and her mother. And he vouchsafed the +favour thus asked for. + +"'Bhrigu said, "During the days that your season lasts, thou and thy +mother must take a bath, with the ceremony for bringing forth a male +child. And ye two must then separately embrace two different trees--she +a peepal tree, and thou a fig tree. And, O dutiful girl, here are two +pots of rice and milk, prepared by me with the utmost care. I having +ransacked the whole universe to find the drugs, the essence whereof hath +been blended with this milk and rice. It must be taken as food with the +greatest care." And saying this, he vanished from sight. The two ladies, +however, made an interchange both in the matter of the pots of rice, and +likewise as regards the trees (to be embraced by each). Then after the +lapse of very many days, the revered saint, once more came. And he came +knowing (what had happened) by his attribute of divine knowledge. Then +Bhrigu possessed of mighty strength, spake to Satyavati, his +daughter-in-law, saying, "O dutiful girl! O my daughter of a lovely +brow, the wrong pot of rice thou tookest as food. And it was the wrong +tree which was embraced by thee. It was thy mother who deluded thee. A +son will be born of thee, who, though of the priestly caste, will be of +a character fit for the military order; while a mighty son will be born +of thy mother, who, though by birth a Kshatriya will assume a life +suitable to the sacerdotal order. And his power will be great, and he +will walk on the path trodden by righteous men." Then she entreated her +father-in-law again and again, saying, "Let not my son be of this +character; but let my grandson be such." And, O Pandu's son, he replied, +"So let it be!" And thus he was pleased to grant her prayer. Then she +brought forth on the expected day a son by name Jamadagni. And this son +of Bhrigu was endowed with both splendour and grace. And he grew in +years and in strength, and excelled the other saints in the proficiency +of his _Vaidik_ lore. O chieftain of Bharata's race, to him, rivalling +in lustre the author of light (the sun), came spontaneously and without +instruction the knowledge of the entire military art and of the fourfold +missile arms.'" + + +SECTION CXVI + +"Akritavrana said, 'Jamadagni devoted himself to the study of the _Veda_ +and the practice of sacred penances, and became famous for his great +austerities. Then he pursued a methodical course of study and obtained a +mastery over the entire Veda. And, O king, he paid a visit to Prasenajit +and solicited the hand of Renuka in marriage. And this prayer was +granted by the king. And the delight of Bhrigu's race having thus +obtained Renuka for his wife, took his residence with her in a +hermitage, and began to practice penances, being assisted by her. And +four boys were born of her, with Rama for the fifth. And although the +youngest, Rama was superior to all in merit. Now once upon a time, when +her sons had gone out for the purpose of gathering fruits, Renuka who +had a pure and austere life, went out to bathe. And, O king, while +returning home, she happened to cast her glance towards the king of +Martikavata, known by the name of Chitraratha. The king was in the water +with his wives, and wearing on his breast a lotus wreath, was engaged in +sport. And beholding his magnificent form, Renuka was inspired with +desire. And this unlawful desire she could not control, but became +polluted within the water, and came back to the hermitage frightened at +heart. Her husband readily perceived what state she was in. And mighty +and powerful and of a wrathful turn of mind, when he beheld that she had +been giddy and that the lustre of chastity had abandoned her, he +reproached her by crying out "Fie!" At that very moment came in the +eldest of Jamadagni's sons, Rumanvan; and then, Sushena, and then, Vasu, +and likewise, Viswavasu. And the mighty saint directed them all one by +one to put an end to the life of their mother. They, however, were quite +confounded and lost heart. And they could not utter a single word. Then +he in ire cursed them. And on being cursed they lost their sense and +suddenly became like inanimate objects, and comparable in conduct to +beasts and birds. And then Rama, the slayer of hostile heroes, came to +the hermitage, last of all. Him the mighty-armed Jamadagni, of great +austerities, addressed, saying, "Kill this wicked mother of thine, +without compunction, O my son." Thereupon Rama immediately took up an +axe and therewith severed his mother's head. Then, O great king, the +wrath of Jamadagni of mighty soul, was at once appeased; and +well-pleased, he spake the following words, "Thou hast, my boy, +performed at my bidding this difficult task, being versed in virtue. +Therefore, whatsoever wishes there may be in thy heart, I am ready to +grant them all. Do thou ask me." Thereupon Rama solicited that his +mother might be restored to life, and that he might not be haunted by +the remembrance of this cruel deed and that he might not be affected by +any sin, and that his brothers might recover their former state, and +that he might be unrivalled on the field of battle, and that he might +obtain long life. And, O Bharata's son, Jamadagni, whose penances were +the most rigid, granted all those desires of his son. Once, however, O +lord, when his sons had gone out as before, the valourous son of +Kartavirya, the lord of the country near the shore of the sea, came up +to the hermitage. And when he arrived at that hermitage, the wife of the +saint received him hospitably. He, however, intoxicated with a warrior's +pride, was not at all pleased with the reception accorded to him, and by +force and in defiance of all resistance, seized and carried off from +that hermitage the chief of the cows whose milk supplied the sacred +butter, not heeding the loud lowing of the cow. And he wantonly pulled +down the large trees of the wood. When Rama came home, his father +himself told him all that had happened. Then when Rama saw how the cow +was lowing for its calf, resentment arose in his heart. And he rushed +towards Kartavirya's son, whose last moments had drawn nigh. Then the +descendant of Bhrigu, the exterminator of hostile heroes, put forth his +valour on the field of battle, and with sharpened arrows with flattened +tips, which were shot from a beautiful bow, cut down Arjuna's arms, +which numbered a thousand, and were massive like (wooden) bolts for +barring the door. He, already touched by the hand of death, was +overpowered by Rama, his foe. Then the kinsmen of Arjuna, their wrath +excited against Rama, rushed at Jamadagni in his hermitage, while Rama +was away. And they slew him there; for although his strength was great, +yet being at the time engaged in penances, he would not fight. And while +thus attacked by his foes, he repeatedly shouted the name of Rama in a +helpless and piteous way. And, O Yudhishthira, the sons of Kartavirya +shot Jamadagni, with their arrows, and having thus chastised their foe, +went their way. And when they had gone away, and when Jamadagni had +breathed his last, Rama, the delight of Bhrigu's race, returned to the +hermitage, bearing in his arms, fuel for religious rites. And the hero +beheld his father who had been put to death. And grieved exceedingly he +began to bewail the unworthy fate that had laid his father low.'" + + +SECTION CXVII + +"'Rama said, "The blame is mine, O father, that like a stag in the wood, +thou hast been shot dead with arrows, by those mean and stupid +wretches--the sons of Kartavirya. And O father, virtuous and unswerving +from the path of righteousness and inoffensive to all animated beings as +thou wert, how came it to be permitted by Fate that thou shouldst die in +this way? What an awful sin must have been committed by them, who have +killed thee with hundreds of sharpened shafts, although thou wert an +aged man, and engaged in penances at the time and absolutely averse to +fighting with them. With what face will those shameless persons speak of +this deed of theirs to their friends and servants, _viz_., that they +have slain an unassisted and unresisting virtuous man?"--O protector of +men, thus he, great in penance, bewailed much in a piteous manner, and +then performed the obsequies of his departed sire. And Rama, the +conqueror of hostile cities, cremated his father on the funeral pyre, +and vowed, O scion of Bharata's race, the slaughter of the entire +military caste, and of exceeding strength in the field of battle, and +possessed of valour suited to a heroic soul, and comparable to the god +of death himself, he took up his weapon in wrathful mood, and +singlehanded put Kartavirya's sons to death. And, O chieftain of the +military caste, Rama, the leader of all capable of beating their foes, +thrice smote down all the Kshatriya followers of Kartavirya's sons. And +seven times did that powerful lord exterminate the military tribes of +the earth. In the tract of land, called Samantapanchaka five lakes of +blood were made by him. There the mightiest scion of Bhrigu's race +offered libations to his forefathers--the Bhrigus, and Richika appeared +to him in a visible form, and spake to him words of counsel. Then the +son of Jamadagni of dreaded name, performed a mighty sacrifice and +gratified the lord of the celestials, and bestowed the earth to the +ministering priests. And, O protector of human beings, he raised an +altar made of gold, ten _Vyamas_ in breadth and nine in height, and made +a gift of the same to the magnanimous Kasyapa. Then at Kasyapa's bidding +the Brahmanas divided the altar into a number of shares, and thus they +became reputed as the _Khandavayamas_ (share takers). And the +exterminator of the military race possessed of immense strength, +bestowed the earth upon the high-souled Kasyapa, and then became engaged +in penance of an exceedingly severe form. He now dwells in this +Mahendra, monarch of hills. Thus did hostilities arise between him and +the members of the military caste,--all of them who dwell on this earth; +and Rama, endowed with immense strength, in this way subdued the entire +world.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Then on the fourteenth day of the moon, the +mighty-souled Rama at the proper hour showed himself to those members of +the priestly caste and also to the virtuous king (Yudhishthira) and his +younger brothers. And, O king of kings, the lord together with his +brothers, worshipped Rama, and, O most righteous of the rulers of men, +the very highest honours were paid by him to all those members of the +twice-born class. And after worshipping Jamadagni's son and having +received words of praise from him, at his direction he spent the night +on the Mahendra hill, and then started on his journey towards the +southern regions." + + +SECTION CXVIII + +Vaisampayana said, "The magnanimous monarch pursued his journey, and at +different spots on the shore of the sea visited the various bathing +places, all sacred and pleasant and frequented by men of the sacerdotal +caste. And O son of Parikshit! He in proper form took his bath in them +together with his younger brothers and then went to an excellent river, +the holiest of all. There also the magnanimous king, took his plunge, +and offered libations to his forefathers and the gods, and distributed +riches to the leaders of the twice-born class. Then he went to the +Godavari, a river that falls directly into the sea. There he was freed +from his sins. And he reached the sea in the Dravida land, and visited +the holy spot passing under Agastya's name, which was exceedingly sacred +and exceptionally pure. And the valiant king visited the feminine sacred +spots. Here he listened to the story of that well-known feat which was +achieved by Arjuna, chief of all wielders of the bow, and which was +beyond the power of human beings to perform. And here he was praised by +the highest members of the saintly class, and the son of Pandu +experienced the greatest delight. And, O protector of the earth! the +ruler of the world, accompanied by Krishna bathed in those holy spots, +and speaking of Arjuna's valour in laudatory terms delightfully spent +his time in the place. Then he gave away thousands of cows at those holy +spots on the coast of the sea; and with his brothers narrated well +pleased how Arjuna had made a gift of kine. And he, O king! visited one +by one those holy places on the coast of the sea and many other sacred +spots, and thus fulfilled his heart's desire, till he came to the +holiest of all known by the name of Suparaka. Then having crossed a +certain tract on the coast of the sea, he reached a forest celebrated on +earth. There the deities had practised asceticism in former days, and +likewise virtuous rulers of men had performed sacrificial rites. There +he, possessed of long and lusty arms, beheld the celebrated altar of +Richika's son, who was the foremost of all wielders of the bow. And the +altar was girt round by hosts of ascetics, and was fit to be worshipped +by persons of a virtuous life. Then the king beheld the holy and +delightful shrines of all the gods and of the Vasus, and of the hosts of +wind and of the two celestial physicians and of Yatna, son of the sun +and of the lord of riches, and of Indra, and of Vishnu, and of the lord +Creator and of Siva, and of the moon, and of the author of day, and of +the lord of waters, and of the host of Sadhyas, and of Brahma, and of +the forefathers, and of Rudra together with all his followers, and of +the goddess of learning, and of the host of Siddhas, and of many +immortal holy gods besides. And in those shrines the king observed +various fasts, and gave away large quantities of gems. He plunged his +body in all the holy spots, and then came again to Surparaka. And he by +the same landing-place of the sea again proceeded with his uterine +brothers and came over to the holy spot Prabhasa, whereof fame hath been +spread by mighty Brahmanas throughout the world. There he, possessed of +a pair of large red eyes, washed himself with all his younger brothers, +and offered libations to the forefathers and the celestial hosts; and so +did Krishna and all those Brahmanas together with Lomasa. For twelve +days he subsisted upon air and water. And he performed ablutions for +days and nights and surrounded himself with fires kindled on all sides. +Thus that greatest of all virtuous men engaged himself in asceticism. +While he was acting thus, information reached both Valarama and Krishna +that the king was practising penances of a most austere form and these +two leaders of the entire Vrishni tribe accompanied with troops came to +Yudhishthira of Ajamidha's race. And when the Vrishnis beheld that the +sons of Pandu lay down on the ground, their bodies besmeared all over +with dirt and when they beheld the daughter of Drupada in a sad state, +their grief was great and they could not refrain from breaking out in +loud lamentations. Then the king, whose courage was such that misfortune +never could cast him down, cordially met Rama and Krishna and Samva, +Krishna's son, and the grand-son of Sini and other Vrishnis, and paid +honour to them in a suitable form. And they also in return paid honour +to all the sons of Pritha, and were similarly honoured by Pandu's sons. +And they seated themselves round about Yudhishthira, as round Indra, O +king! are seated the celestial hosts. And highly pleased, he recounted +to them all the machinations of his adversaries, and how also he had +resided in the forest, and how Arjuna had gone to Indra's abode in order +to learn the science of arms--all this he related with a gladdened +heart. And they were happy to learn all this news from him; but when +they saw the Pandavas so exceedingly lean, the majestic and magnanimous +Vrishnis could not forbear shedding tears, which spontaneously gushed +from their eyes on account of the agony they felt." + + +SECTION CXIX + +Janamejaya said, "O thou of ascetic wealth! when the sons of Pandu and +the Vrishnis reached the holy spot Prabhasa, what did they do and what +conversation was held there by them, for all of them were of mighty +souls, proficient in all the branches of science and both the Vrishnis +and the sons of Pandu held one another in friendly estimation." + +Vaisampayana said, "When the Vrishnis reached the holy spot Prabhasa, the +sacred landing-place on the coast of the sea, they surrounded the sons +of Pandu and waited upon them. Then Valarama, resembling in hue the milk +of the cow and the Kunda flower and the moon and the silver and the +lotus root and who wore a wreath made of wild flowers and who had the +ploughshare for his arms, spake to the lotuseyed one, saying, 'O +Krishna, I do not see that the practice of virtue leads to any good or +that unrighteous practices can cause evil, since the magnanimous +Yudhishthira is in this miserable state, with matted hair, a resident of +the wood, and for his garment wearing the bark of trees. And Duryodhana +is now ruling the earth, and the ground doth not yet swallow him up. +From this, a person of limited sense would believe a vicious course of +life is preferable to a virtuous one. When Duryodhana is in a +flourishing state and Yudhishthira, robbed of his throne, is suffering +thus, what should people do in such a matter?--This is the doubt that is +now perplexing all men. Here is the lord of men sprung from the god of +virtue, holding fast to a righteous path, strictly truthful and of a +liberal heart. This son of Pritha would give up his kingdom and his +pleasure but would not swerve from the righteous path, in order to +thrive. How is it that Bhishma and Kripa and the Brahmana Drona and the +aged king, the senior member of the house, are living happily, after +having banished the sons of Pritha? Fie upon the vicious-minded leaders +of Bharata's race! What will that sinner, the chieftain of the earth, +say to the departed forefathers of his race, when the wretch will meet +them in the world to come? Having hurled from the throne his +in-offensive sons, will he be able to declare that he had treated them +in a blameless way? He doth not now see with his mind's eye how he hath +become so sightless, and on account of what act he hath grown blind +among the kings of this entire earth. Is it not because he hath banished +Kunti's son from his kingdom? I have no doubt that Vichitravirya's son, +when he with his sons perpetrated this inhuman act, beheld on the spot +where dead bodies are burnt, flowering trees of a golden hue. Verily he +must have asked them, when those stood before him with their shoulders +projected forward towards him, and with their large red eyes staring at +him, and he must have listened to their evil advice, since he fearlessly +sent away Yudhishthira to the forest, who had all his weapons of war +with him and was borne company by his younger brothers. This Bhima here, +whose voracious appetite is like that of a wolf, is able to destroy with +the sole strength of his powerful arms, and without the help of any +weapons of war, a formidable array of hostile troops. The forces in the +field of battle were utterly unmanned on hearing his war-cry. And now +the strong one is suffering from hunger and thirst, and is emaciated +with toilsome journeys. But when he will take up in his hand arrows and +diverse other weapons of war, and meet his foes in the field of battle, +he will then remember the sufferings of his exceedingly miserable +forest-life, and kill his enemies to a man: of a certainty do I +anticipate this. There is not throughout the whole world a single soul +who can boast of strength and prowess equal to his. And his body, alas! +is emaciated with cold, and heat and winds. But when he will stand up +for fight, he will not leave a single man out of his foes. This powerful +hero, who is a very great warrior when mounted on a car--this Bhima, of +appetite rivalling a wolf's conquered single-handed all the rulers of +men in the east, together with, those who followed them in battle; and +he returned from those wars safe and uninjured. And that same Bhima, +miserably dressed in the bark of trees, is now leading a wretched life +in the woods. This powerful Sahadeva vanquished all the kings in the +south; those lords of men who had gathered on the coast of the +sea,--look at him now in an anchorite's dress. Valiant in battle Nakula +vanquished single-handed the kings who ruled the regions towards the +west,--and he now walks about the wood, subsisting on fruit and roots, +with a matted mass of hair on the head, and his body besmeared all over +with dirt. This daughter of a king, who is a great soldier when mounted +on a car, took her rise from beneath the altar, during the pomp of +sacrificial rites. She hath been always accustomed to a life of +happiness; how is she now enduring this exceedingly miserable life in +this wood! And the son of the god of virtue,--virtue which stands at the +head of all the three pursuits of life--and the son of the wind-god and +also the son of the lord of celestials, and those two sons of the +celestial physicians,--being the sons of all those gods and always +accustomed to a life of happiness, how are they living in this wood, +deprived of all comforts? When the son of Virtue met with defeat and +when his wife, his brothers, his followers, and himself were all driven +forth, and Duryodhana began to flourish, why did not the earth subside +with all its hills?'" + + +SECTION CXX + +"Satyaki said, 'O Rama! this is not the time of lamentation; let us do +that which is proper and suited to the present occasion, although +Yudhishthira doth not speak a single word. Those who have persons to +look after their welfare do not undertake anything of themselves; they +have others to do their work, as Saivya and others did for Yayati. +Likewise, O Rama! those who have appointed functionaries to undertake +their work on their own responsibility, as the leaders of men, they may +be said to have real patrons, and they meet with no difficulty, like +helpless beings. How is it that when the sons of Pritha have for their +patrons these two men, Rama and Krishna, and the two others, Pradyumna +and Samva, together with myself,--these patrons being able to protect +all the three worlds,--how is it that the son of Pritha is living in the +wood with his brothers? It is fit that this very day the army of the +Dasarhas should march out, variously armed and with checkered mails. Let +Dhritarashtra's sons be overwhelmed with the forces of the Vrishnis and +let them go with their friends to the abode of the god of death. Let him +alone who wields the bow made of the horn (Krishna), thou alone, if +roused, wouldst be able to surround even the whole of this earth. I ask +thee to kill Dhritarashtra's son with all his men, as the great Indra, +the lord of the gods killed Vritra. Arjuna, the son of Pritha, is my +brother, and also my friend, and also my preceptor, and is like the +second self of Krishna. It is for this that men desire for a worthy son, +and that preceptor seeks a pupil who would contradict him not. It is for +this that the time is come for that excellent work, which is the best of +all tasks and difficult to perform. I shall baffle Duryodhana's volleys +of arms by my own excellent weapons. I shall overpower all in the field +of battle. I shall in my wrath cut off his head with my excellent +shafts, little inferior to snakes and poison and fire. And with the keen +edge of my sword, I shall forcibly sever his head from the trunk, in the +field of battle; then I shall kill his followers, and Duryodhana, and +all of Kuru's race. O son of Rohini! let the followers of Bhima look at +me with joy at their heart, when I shall keep up the weapons of war in +the field of battle, and when I shall go on slaying all the best +fighting men on the side of the Kurus, as at the end of time fire will +burn vast heaps of straw. Kripa and Drona and Vikarna and Karna are not +able to bear the keen arrows shot by Pradyumna. I know the power of +Arjuna's son--he conducts himself like the son of Krishna in the field +of battle. Let Samva chastise by the force of his arms Dussasana; let +him destroy by force Dussasana and his charioteer and his car. In the +field of battle when the son of Jamvavati becomes irresistible in fight, +there is nothing which can withstand his force. The army of the demon +Samvara was speedily routed by him when only a boy. By him was killed in +fight Asvachakra, whose thighs were round, and whose muscular arms were +of exceeding length. Who is there that would be able to go forward to +the car of Samva, who is great in fight, when mounted on a car? As a +mortal coming under the clutches of death can never escape; so who is +there that once coming under his clutches in the field of battle, is +able to return with his life? The son of Vasudeva will burn down by the +volleys of his fiery shafts all the hostile troops, and those two +warriors, Bhishma and Drona,--who are great on a car, and Somadatta +surrounded by all his sons. What is there in all the world including the +gods, which Krishna cannot encounter on an equal footing, when he takes +up the weapons of war, wields in his hands excellent arrows, arms +himself with his mace, and thus becomes unrivalled in fight? Then let +Aniruddha also take up in his hand his buckler and sword, and let him +cover the surface of the earth with Dhritarashtra's sons, their heads +separated from their trunks, their bodies devoid of all consciousness as +in a sacrificial rite the altar is overspread with sacred grass placed +upon the same. And Gada and Uluka, and Vahuka and Bhanu and Nitha and +the young Nishatha valiant in battle and Sarana, and Charudeshna, +irresistible in war, let them perform feats befitting their race. Let +the united army of the Satwatas and Suras, together with the best +soldiers of the Vrishnis, the Bhojas, and the Andhakas, kill those sons +of Dhritarashtra in the field of battle and let them swell their +expanded fame throughout the world. Then let Abhimanyu rule the world so +long as this most excellent of virtuous men, the magnanimous +Yudhishthira, may be engaged in fulfilling his vow,--the vow that was +accepted and declared by him, the most righteous of Kuru's race, on the +occasion of the famous play at dice. Afterwards the virtuous king will +protect the earth, all his foes defeated in battle by shafts which will +be discharged by us. Then there will remain no sons of Dhritarashtra on +earth,--nor the son of the charioteer (Karna). This is the most +important work for us to do, and this will surely lead to fame.' + +"Krishna said, 'O scion of the race of Madhu! no doubt what thou sayest +is true; we accept thy words, O thou of courage that is never weak! But +this bull of the Kuru race (Yudhishthira) would never accept the +sovereignty of the earth, unless it were won by the prowess of his own +arms. Neither for the sake of pleasure, nor from fear, nor from +covetousness, would Yudhishthira ever renounce the rules of the caste; +nor would these two heroes, who are mighty, when mounted on a car--Bhima +and Arjuna; nor the twin brothers, nor Krishna, the daughter of Drupada. +He possessing the appetite of a wolf (Bhima), and the winner of riches +(Arjuna), are both unrivalled in fight throughout the world. And why +should not this king rule over the entire world when he hath the two +sons of Madri to espouse his cause? The high-souled ruler of Panchala +together with the Kekaya king, and we also should put forth our united +strength, and then would the enemies of Yudhishthira be annihilated.' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'It is not strange that thou shouldst speak thus, O +scion of Madhu's race! but to me truth seems to be the first +consideration, above that of my sovereign power itself. But it is +Krishna alone who precisely knoweth what I am; and it is I alone who +precisely know what Krishna (really) is. O thou endued with valour! O +scion of Madhu's race! as soon as he will perceive that the time is come +for feats of bravery, then, O most valiant of Sini's race, he also of +beautiful hair (Krishna) will defeat Suyodhana. Let the brave men of the +Dasarha race go back today. They are my patrons; and the foremost of +human beings, they have visited me here. O ye of immeasurable strength! +never fall off from the path of virtue. I shall see you again, when ye +will be happily gathered together.' + +"Then after mutual greeting and obeisance to seniors, and having +embraced the youthful, those valiant men of the Yadu race and the sons +of Pandu separated. And the Yadus reunited to their home; and the +Pandavas continued their journey to the sacred spots. Then having parted +with Krishna, the virtuous king, accompanied by his brothers and +servants, and also by Lomasa, went to the sacred river Payosini. Its +fine landing place was constructed by the king of Vidarbha. And he began +to dwell on the banks of the Payosini, whose waters were mingled with +the distilled Soma juice. There the high-souled Yudhishthira was greeted +with excellent laudatory terms by numerous leaders of the twice-born +class, who were delighted to see him there." + + +SECTION CXXI + +"Lomasa said, 'O king! when the Nriga performed a sacrifice here, he +gratified Indra, the demolisher of hostile cities, by offering the Soma +juice. And Indra was refreshed and was very much pleased. Here the gods +together with Indra, and the protectors of all born beings, celebrated +sacrifices of various kinds on a large scale, and paid abundant +gratuities to the ministering priests. Here king Amurtarayasa, the lord +of the world, satisfied Indra, the holder of the thunderbolt, by the +offer of the Soma juice, when seven horse-sacrifices were performed by +that king. The articles which in other sacrificial rites are uniformly +made of the timber, wood and of earth, were all made of gold in the +seven sacrifices performed by him. And it is said that in all those +rites, seven sets of stakes, rings for the sacrificial stakes, spots, +ladles, utensils, spoons were prepared by him. On each sacrificial +stake, seven rings were fastened at the top. And, O Yudhishthira! the +celestials together with Indra, themselves erected the sacrificial +stakes of shining gold which had been prepared for his sacred rites. In +all those magnificent sacrifices instituted by Gaya, the protector of +the earth, Indra, was delighted by drinking the _Soma_ juice, and the +ministering priests were gratified with the gratuities paid to them. And +the priests obtained untold wealth counted out to them. And as the +sand-grains of the earth, or as the stars in the sky, or as the +rain-drops when it raineth, cannot be counted by anyone, so the wealth +Gaya gave away was incapable of being counted by figures. So untold was +the wealth, O great king! that was given to the ministering priests in +all those seven sacrifices that even the above-mentioned objects might +be counted by figures, but the gratuities bestowed by him whose +largeness exceeded all that was known before were not capable of being +counted by figures. And images of the goddess of speech were made of +gold by the sculptor of the gods;--and the king gratified the members of +the sacerdotal caste, who had arrived from all the cardinal points, by +making presents to them of those images, of gold. O protector of men! +when the high-souled Gaya performed his sacrificial rites, he erected +sacrificial piles at so many different spots that but little space was +left on the surface of the earth. And, O scion of Bharata's race! he by +that sacred act attained the regions of Indra. Whoever should bathe in +the river, Payosini, would go to the regions attained by Gaya. +Therefore, O lord of kings! O unswerving prince! thou and thy brothers +should bathe in this river; then, O protector of the earth, thou wilt be +freed from all these sins.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "O most praiseworthy of men! Yudhishthira with his +brothers performed ablutions in the Payosini river. Then, O sinless +prince! the powerful monarch together with his brothers, journeyed to +the hill of sapphires and the great river Narmada. The blessed saint +Lomasa there named to him all the delightful holy spots and all the +sacred shrines of the celestials. Then he with his brothers visited +those places, according to his desire and convenience. And at various +places Brahmanas by thousands received gifts from him. + +"Lomasa said, 'O son of Kunti! one who visits the sapphire Hill and +plunges his body in the river Narmada attains the regions inhabited by +the celestials and kings. O most praiseworthy of men! this period is the +junction between the Treta and the Kali age, O Kunti's son! This is the +period when a person gets rid of all his sins. O respected sir! this is +the spot where Saryati performed sacrificial rites, wherein Indra +appeared in a visible form and drank the Soma juice, with the two +celestial physicians. And Bhrigu's son of severe austerities conceived +anger towards the great Indra; and the mighty Chyavana paralysed Indra, +and for his wife obtained the princess, Sukanya.' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'How was the chastiser of the demon Paka, the god +possessed of the six attributes, paralysed by Chyavana? And for what +reason did the mighty saint conceive wrath towards Indra? And how, O +Brahmana! did he raise the celestial physicians to the rank of the +drinkers of Soma? All this, precisely as it happened, thy venerable self +will be pleased to recount to me.'" + + +SECTION CXXII + +"Lomasa said, 'A son was born to the great saint Bhrigu, Chyavana by +name. And he, of an exceedingly resplendent form, began to practise +austerities by the side of yonder lake. And, O Pandu's son! O protector +of men! he of mighty energy assumed the posture called _Vira_, quiet and +still like an inanimate post, and for a long period, remained at the +same spot of ground. And he was turned into an anthill covered over with +creepers. And after the lapse of a long period, swarms of ants enveloped +him. And covered all over with ants, the sagacious saint looked exactly +like a heap of earth. And he went on practising austerities, enveloped +on all sides with that ant-hill. Now after the lapse of a long space of +time, that ruler of earth, Saryati by name, for amusement visited this +pleasant and excellent lake. With him were four thousand females, +espoused by him, O son of Bharata's race! there was also his only +daughter endued with beautiful brows, named Sukanya. She surrounded by +her maids, and decked out with jewels fit for the celestials, while +walking about, approached the anthill where Bhrigu's son was seated. And +surrounded by her maids, she began to amuse herself there, viewing the +beautiful scenery, and looking at the lofty trees of the wood. And she +was handsome and in the prime of her youth; and she was amorous and bent +on frolicking. And she began to break the twigs of the forest trees +bearing blossoms. And Bhrigu's son endued with intelligence beheld her +wandering like lightning, without her maids, and wearing a single piece +of cloth and decked with ornaments. And seeing her in the lone forest, +that ascetic of exceeding effulgence was inspired with desire. And that +regenerate _Rishi_ possessing ascetic energy, who had a low voice, +called the auspicious one,--but she heard him not. Then seeing the eyes +of Bhrigu's son from the ant-hill, Sukanya from curiosity and losing her +sense, said, "_What is this?_"--and with thorns pierced the eyes (of the +Rishi). And as his eyes being pierced by her, he felt exceeding pain and +became wroth. And (from anger) he obstructed the calls of nature of +Saryati's forces. And on their calls of nature being obstructed, the men +were greatly afflicted. And seeing this state of things, the king asked. +"Who is it that hath done wrong to the illustrious son of Bhrigu, old +and ever engaged in austerities and of wrathful temper? Tell me quick if +ye know it." The soldiers (thereupon) answered him saying, "We do not +know whether any one hath done wrong to the _Rishi_. Do thou, as thou +list, make a searching enquiry into the matter." Thereupon that ruler of +earth, using (as he saw occasion) both menace and conciliation, asked +his friends (about the circumstance). But they too did not know +anything. Seeing that the army was distressed owing to the obstruction +of the calls of nature, and also finding her father aggrieved, Sukanya +said, "Roving in the forest, I lighted in the ant-hill here upon some +brilliant substance. Thereupon taking it for a glow-worm I neared it, +and pierced it (with thorns)." Hearing this Saryati immediately came to +the ant-hill, and there saw Bhrigu's son, old both in years and +austerities. Then the lord of earth with joined hands, besought (the +ascetic) saying, "It behoveth thee to forgive what my daughter through +ignorance and greenness, hath done unto thee." Chyavana the son of +Bhrigu, addressed the monarch saying, "Disregarding me, this one, filled +with pride hath pierced my eyes. Even her, O king, endued with beauty +and who was bereft of her senses by ignorance and temptation--even thy +daughter would I have for my bride, I tell thee truly, on this condition +alone will I forgive thee."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Hearing the words of the sage, Saryati, without pausing, +bestowed his daughter on the high-souled Chyavana. Having received the +hand of that girl, the holy one was pleased with the king. And having +won the _Rishi's_ grace, the king went to his city, accompanied by his +troops. And the faultless Sukanya also having obtained that ascetic for +her husband, began to tend him, practising penances, and observing the +ordinance. And that one of a graceful countenance, and void of guile +worshipped Chyavana, and also ministered unto guests, and the sacred +fire.'" + + +SECTION CXXIII + +"Lomasa said, 'Once on a time, O king, those celestials, namely the twin +Aswins, happened to behold Sukanya, when she had (just) bathed, and when +her person was bare. And seeing that one of excellent limbs, and like +unto the daughter of the lord of celestials, the nose-born Aswins neared +her, and addressed her, saying, "O thou of shapely thighs, whose +daughter art thou? And what doest thou in this wood? O auspicious one, O +thou of excellent grace, we desire to know this, do thou therefore tell +us." Thereupon she replied bashfully unto those foremost of celestials, +"Know me as Saryati's daughter, and Chyavana's wife." Thereat the +Aswins again spake unto her, smiling. "What for, O fortunate one, hath +thy father bestowed thee on a person who is verging on death? Surely, O +timid girl, thou shinest in this wood like lightning. Not in the regions +of the celestials themselves, O girl, have our eyes lighted on thy like. +O damsel, unadorned and without gay robes as thou art, thou beautifiest +this wood exceedingly. Still, O thou of faultless limbs, thou canst not +look so beautiful, when (as at present) thou art soiled with mud and +dirt, as thou couldst, if decked with every ornament and wearing +gorgeous apparel. Why, O excellent girl in such plight servest thou a +decrepit old husband, and one that hath become incapable of realising +pleasure and also of maintaining thee, O thou of luminous smiles? O +divinely beautiful damsel, do thou, forsaking Chyavana accept one of us +for husband. It behoveth thee not to spend thy youth fruitlessly." + +"'Thus addressed Sukanya answered the celestials saying, "I am devoted +to my husband, Chyavana: do ye not entertain any doubts (regarding my +fidelity)." Thereupon they again spake unto her, "We two are the +celestial physicians of note. We will make thy lord young and graceful. +Do thou then select one of us, _viz._, ourselves and thy husband,--for +thy partner. Promising this do thou, O auspicious one, bring hither thy +husband." O king, agreeably to their words she went to Bhrigu's son and +communicated to him what the two celestials had said. Hearing her +message, Chyavana said unto his wife, "Do thou so." Having received the +permission of her lord, (she returned to the celestials) and said, "Do +ye so." Then hearing her words, _viz_., "Do ye so," they spoke unto the +king's daughter. "Let thy husband enter into water." Thereat Chyavana +desirous of obtaining beauty, quickly entered into water. The twin +Aswins also, O king, sank into the sheet of water. And the next moment +they all came out of the tank in surpassingly beautiful forms, and young +and wearing burnished earrings. And all, possessed of the same +appearance pleasing to behold, addressed her saying, "O fortunate one, +do thou choose one of us for spouse. And O beauteous one, do thou select +him for lord who may please thy fancy." Finding, however, all of them of +the same appearance she deliberated; and at last ascertaining the +identity of her husband, even selected him. + +"'Having obtained coveted beauty and also his wife, Chyavana, of +exceeding energy, well pleased, spake these words unto the nose-born +celestials: "Since at your hands, an old man, I have obtained youth, and +beauty, and also this wife of mine, I will, well pleased, make you +quaffers of the Soma juice in the presence of the lord of celestials +himself. This I tell you truly." Hearing this, highly delighted, the +twins ascended to heaven; and Chyavana and Sukanya too passed their +days happily even like celestials.'" + + +SECTION CXXIV + +"Lomasa said, 'Now the news came to Saryati that Chyavana had been +turned into a youth. And well pleased he came, accompanied by his +troops, to the hermitage of the son of Bhrigu. And he saw Chyavana and +Sukanya, like two children sprung from celestials, and his joy and that +of his wife were as great as if the king had conquered the entire world. +And the ruler of earth together with his wife was received honourably by +that saint. And the king seated himself near the ascetic, and entered +into a delightful conversation of an auspicious kind. Then, O king, the +son of Bhrigu spake to the king these words of a soothing nature: "I +shall, O king, officiate at a religious ceremony to be performed by +thee: let the requisite articles, therefore, be procured." Thereat, that +protector of earth Saryati, experienced the very height of joy, and O +great king, he expressed his approbation of the proposal made by +Chyavana. And on an auspicious day, suitable for the commencement of a +sacrificial ceremony, Saryati ordered the erection of a sacrificial +shrine of an excellent description and splendidly furnished with all +desirable things. There Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu, officiated for the +king as his priest. Now listen to me relating the wonderful events which +happened at that spot. Chyavana took up a quantity of the Soma juice, in +order that he might offer the same to the Aswins, who were physicians to +the celestials. And while the saint was taking up the intended offering +for those celestial twins, Indra pronounced his interdiction, saying, +"These Aswins both of them in my opinion have no right to receive an +offering of the Soma juice. They are the physicians of the celestials in +heaven,--this vocation of theirs hath disentitled them (in the matter of +Soma)." Thereupon Chyavana said, "These two are of mighty enterprise, +possessed of mighty souls, and uncommonly endued with beauty and grace. +And they, O Indra, have converted me into an eternally youthful person, +even like unto a celestial. Why shouldst thou and the other celestials +have a right to the distilled Soma juice, and not they? O lord of the +celestials, O demolisher of hostile towns! be it known to thee that the +Aswins also rank as gods." At this, Indra spake saying, "These two +practise the healing art,--so they are but servants. And assuming forms +at their pleasure they roam about in the world of mortal beings. How can +they then rightfully claim the juice of the Soma?"' + +"Lomasa said, 'When these very identical words were spoken again and +again by the lord of celestials, the son of Bhrigu, setting Indra at +naught, took up the offering he had intended to make. And as he was +about to take up an excellent portion of the Soma juice with the object +of offering it to the two Aswins, the destroyer of the demon Vala +(Indra) observed his act, and thus spoke unto him, "If thou take up the +Soma with a view to offering it to those celestials, I shall hurl at +thee my thunderbolt of awful form, which is superior to all the weapons +that exist." Thus addressed by Indra, the son of Bhrigu, cast at Indra a +smiling glance, and took up in due form a goodly quantity of the Soma +juice, to make an offering to the Aswins. Then Sachi's lord hurled at +him the thunderbolt of awful form. And as he was about to launch it, his +arm was paralysed by Bhrigu's son. And having paralysed his arm, +Chyavana recited sacred hymns, and made offering on the fire. His object +gained, he now attempted to destroy that celestial. Then by the virtue +of that saint's ascetic energy, an evil spirit came into being,--a huge +demon, _Mada_ by name, of great strength and gigantic proportions. And +his body was incapable of being measured either by demons or by gods. +And his mouth was terrible and of huge size, and with teeth of sharpened +edge. And one of his jaws rested on the earth, and the other stretched +to heaven. And he had four fangs, each extending as far as one hundred +_yojanas_, and his other fangs were extended to the distance of ten +_yojanas_, and were of a form resembling towers on a palace, and which +might be likened to the ends of spears. And his two arms were like unto +hills, and extended ten thousand _yojanas_, and both were of equal bulk. +And his two eyes resembled the sun and the moon; and his face rivalled +the conflagration at the universal dissolution. And he was licking his +mouth with his tongue, which, like lightning, knew no rest. And his +mouth was open, and his glance was frightful, and seemed as if he would +forcibly swallow up the world. The demon rushed at the celestial by whom +a hundred sacrifices had been performed. And his intent was to devour +that deity. And the world resounded with the loud and frightful sounds +uttered by the Asura.'" + + +SECTION CXXV + +"Lomasa said, 'When the god who had performed a hundred sacrifices +(Indra) beheld the demon _Mada_ of a frightful mien, coming towards him +with open mouth, his intention being to devour him, and looking like the +god of death himself, while his own arms remained paralysed, he through +fear repeatedly licked the corners of his mouth. Then the lord of the +celestials, tortured with fright, spake to Chyavana saying, "O Bhrigu's +son! O Brahmana! verily I tell thee as truth itself, that from this day +forward the two Aswins will be entitled to the Soma juice. Be merciful +to me! My undertaking can never come to naught. Let this be the rule. +And I know, O saint of the sacerdotal caste! that thy work can never +come to nothing. These two Aswins will have a right to drink the Soma +juice, since thou hast made them entitled to the same. And, O Bhrigu's +son, I have done this but to spread the fame of thy powers, and my +object was to give thee an occasion for displaying thy powers. My other +object was that the fame of the father of this Sukanya here might spread +everywhere. Therefore be merciful to me: let it be as thou wishest." +Being thus addressed by Indra, the wrath of Chyavana of mighty soul was +quickly appeased, and he set free the demolisher of hostile cities +(Indra). And the powerful saint, O king! distributed _Mada_ (_literally_ +intoxication), and put it piece-meal in drinks, in women, in gambling, +and in field sports, even this same _Mada_ who had been created +repeatedly before. Having thus cast down the demon _Mada_ and gratified +Indra with a Soma draught and assisted king Sarvati in worshipping all +the gods together with the two Aswins and also spread his fame for power +over all the worlds, the best of those endued with speech passed his +days happily in the wood, in the company of Sukanya, his loving wife. +This is his lake, shining, O king! and resounding with the voice of +birds. Here must thou, together with thy uterine brothers, offer +libations of water to thy forefathers and the gods. And, O ruler of +earth! O scion of Bharata's race! having visited it and Sikataksha also, +thou shalt repair to the Saindhava wood, and behold a number of small +artificial rivers. And O great king, O scion of Bharata's race! thou +shalt touch the waters of all the holy lakes and reciting the hymns of +the god Sthanu (Siva), meet with success in every undertaking. For this +is the junction, O most praiseworthy of men, of the two ages of the +world, _viz_., _Dwapara_ and _Treta_. It is a time, O Kunti's son! +capable of destroying all the sins of a person. Here do thou perform +ablutions, for the spot is able to remove all the sins of an individual. +Yonder is the Archika hill, a dwelling place for men of cultured minds. +Fruits of all the seasons grow here at all times and the streams run for +ever. It is an excellent place fit for the celestials. And there are the +holy cairns of diverse forms, set up by the celestials. O Yudhishthira! +this is the bathing spot belonging to the Moon. And the saints are in +attendance here on all sides round--they are the dwellers of the wood +and the Valakhilyas, and the Pavakas, who subsist on air only. These are +three peaks and three springs. Thou mayst walk round them all, one by +one: then thou mayst wash thyself at pleasure. Santanu, O king! and +Sunaka the sovereign of men, and both _Nara_ and _Narayana_ have +attained everlasting regions from this place. Here did the gods +constantly lie down, as also the forefathers, together with the mighty +saints. In this Archika hill, they all carried on austerities. Sacrifice +to them, O Yudhishthira! Here did they, also the saints, eat rice cooked +in milk, O protector of men! And here is the Yamuna of an exhaustless +spring. Krishna here engaged himself in a life of penances, O Pandu's +son. O thou that draggest the dead bodies of thy foes! the twin +brothers, and Bhimasena and Krishna and all of us will accompany thee to +this spot. O lord of men, this is the holy spring that belongeth to +Indra. Here the creative and the dispensing deity, and Varuna also rose +upwards, and here too they dwelt, O king! observing forbearance, and +possessed of the highest faith. This excellent and propitious hill is +fit for persons of a kindly and candid disposition. This is that +celebrated Yamuna, O king! frequented by hosts of mighty saints, the +scene of diverse religious rites, holy, and destructive of the dread of +sin. Here did Mandhata himself, of a mighty bow, perform sacrificial +rites for the gods; and so did Somaka, O Kunti's son! who was the son of +Sahadeva, and a most excellent maker of gifts.'" + + +SECTION CXXVI + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O great Brahmana, how was that tiger among kings, +Mandhata, Yuvanaswa's son, born,--even he who was the best of monarchs, +and celebrated over the three worlds? And how did he of unmeasured +lustre attain the very height of real power, since all the three worlds +were as much under his subjection, as they are under that of Vishnu of +mighty soul? I am desirous of hearing all this in connection with the +life and achievements of that sagacious monarch. I should also like to +hear how his name of Mandhata originated, belonging as it did to him who +rivalled in lustre Indra himself: and also how he of unrivalled strength +was born, for thou art skilled in the art of narrating events.' + +"Lomasa said, 'Hear with attention, O king! how the name of Mandhata +belonging to that monarch of mighty soul hath come to be celebrated +throughout all the worlds. Yuvanaswa, the ruler of the earth, was sprung +from Ikshvaku's race. That protector of the earth performed many +sacrificial rites noted for magnificent gifts. And the most excellent +of all virtuous men performed a thousand times the ceremony of +sacrificing a horse. And he also performed other sacrifices of the +highest order, wherein he made abundant gifts. But that saintly king had +no son. And he of mighty soul and rigid vows made over to his ministers +the duties of the state, and became a constant resident of the woods. +And he of cultured soul devoted himself to the pursuits enjoined in the +sacred writ. And once upon a time, that protector of men, O king! had +observed a fast. And he was suffering from the pangs of hunger and his +inner soul seemed parched with thirst. And (in this state) he entered +the hermitage of Bhrigu. On that very night, O king of kings! the great +saint who was the delight of Bhrigu's race, had officiated in a +religious ceremony, with the object that a son might be born to +Saudyumni. O king of kings! at the spot stood a large jar filled with +water, consecrated with the recitation of sacred hymns, and which had +been previously deposited there. And the water was endued with the +virtue that the wife of Saudyumni would by drinking the same, bring +forth a god-like son. Those mighty saints had deposited the jar on the +altar and had gone to sleep, having been fatigued by keeping up the +night. And as Saudyumni passed them by, his palate was dry, and he was +suffering greatly from thirst. And the king was very much in need of +water to drink. And he entered that hermitage and asked for drink. And +becoming fatigued, he cried in feeble voice, proceeding from a parched +throat, which resembled the weak inarticulate utterance of a bird. And +his voice reached nobody's ears. Then the king beheld the jar filled +with water. And he quickly ran towards it, and having drunk the water, +put the jar down. And as the water was cool, and as the king had been +suffering greatly from thirst, the draught of water relieved the +sagacious monarch and appeased his thirst. Then those saints together +with him of ascetic wealth, awoke from sleep; and all of them observed +that the water of the jar had gone. Thereupon they met together and +began to enquire as to who might have done it. Then Yuvanaswa truthfully +admitted that it was his act. Then the revered son of Bhrigu spoke unto +him, saying. "It was not proper. This water had an occult virtue infused +into it, and had been placed there with the object that a son might be +born to thee. Having performed severe austerities, I infused the virtue +of my religious acts in this water, that a son might be born to thee. O +saintly king of mighty valour and physical strength! a son would have +been born to thee of exceeding strength and valour, and strengthened by +austerities, and who would have sent by his bravery even Indra to the +abode of the god of death. It was in this manner, O king! that this +water had been prepared by me. By drinking this water, O king, thou hast +done what was not at all right. But it is impossible now for us to turn +back the accident which hath happened. Surely what thou hast done must +have been the fiat of Fate. Since thou, O great king, being athirst +hast drunk water prepared with sacred hymns, and filled with the virtue +of my religious labours, thou must bring forth out of thy own body a son +of the character described above. To that end we shall perform a +sacrifice for thee, of wonderful effect so that, valorous as thou art, +thou wilt bring forth a son equal to Indra. Nor wilt thou experience any +trouble on account of the labour pains." Then when one hundred years had +passed away, a son shining as the sun pierced the left side of the king +endowed with a mighty soul, and came forth. And the son was possessed of +mighty strength. Nor did Yuvanaswa die--which itself was strange. Then +Indra of mighty strength came to pay him a visit. And the deities +enquired of the great Indra, "What is to be sucked by this boy?" Then +Indra introduced his own forefinger into his mouth. And when the wielder +of the thunderbolt said, "He will suck me," the dwellers of heaven +together with Indra christened the boy Mandhata, (_literally_, Me he +shall suck). Then the boy having tasted the forefinger extended by +Indra, became possessed of mighty strength, and he grew thirteen cubits, +O king. And O great king! the whole of sacred learning together with the +holy science of arms, was acquired by that masterful boy, who gained all +that knowledge by the simple and unassisted power of his thought. And +all at once, the bow celebrated under the name of Ajagava and a number +of shafts made of horn, together with an impenetrable coat of mail, came +to his possession on the very same day, O scion of Bharata's race! And +he was placed on the throne by Indra himself and he conquered the three +worlds in a righteous way, as Vishnu did by his three strides. And the +wheel of the car of that mighty king as irresistible in its course +(throughout the world). And the gems, of their own accord, came into the +possession of that saintly king. This is the tract of land, O lord of +earth, which belonged to him. It abounds in wealth. He performed a +number of sacrificial rites of various kinds, in which abundant +gratuities were paid to the priests. O king! he of mighty force and +unmeasured lustre, erected sacred piles, and performed splendid pious +deeds, and attained the position of sitting at Indra's side. That +sagacious king of unswerving piety sent forth his fiat, and simply by +its virtue conquered the earth, together with the sea--that source of +gems--and all the cities (or the earth), O great king! The sacrificial +grounds prepared by him were to be found all over the earth on all sides +round--not a single spot, but was marked with the same. O great king! +the mighty monarch is said to have given to the Brahmanas ten thousand +padmas of kine. When there was a drought, which continued for twelve +consecutive years, the mighty king caused rain to come down for the +growth of crops, paying no heed to Indra, the wielder of the +thunder-bolt, who remained staring (at him). The mighty ruler of the +Gandhara land, born in the lunar dynasty of kings, who was terrible like +a roaring cloud, was slain by him, who wounded him sorely with his +shafts. O king! he of cultured soul protected the four orders of people, +and by him of mighty force the worlds were kept from harm, by virtue of +his austere and righteous life. This is the spot where he, lustrous like +the sun, sacrificed to the god. Look at it! here it is, in the midst of +the field of the Kurus, situated in a tract, the holiest of all. O +preceptor of earth! requested by thee, I have thus narrated to thee the +great life of Mandhata, and also the way in which he was born, which was +a birth of an extraordinary kind.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "O scion of Bharata's race! Kunti's son, thus +addressed by the mighty saint, Lomasa, immediately put fresh questions +to him, with regard to Somaka." + + +SECTION CXXVII + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O best of speakers! what was the extent of power +and strength possessed by king Somaka? I am desirous of hearing an exact +account of his deeds and of his power.' + +"Lomasa said, 'O Yudhishthira! there was a virtuous king Somaka by name. +He had one hundred wives, O king, all suitably matched to their husband. +He took great care, but could not succeed in getting a single son from +any one of them, and a long time elapsed during which he continued a +sonless man. Once upon a time, when he had become old, and was trying +every means to have a son, a son was born to him, Jantu by name, out of +that century of women. And, O ruler of men! All the mothers used to sit +surrounding their son and every one giving him such objects as might +conduce to his enjoyment and pleasure. And it came to pass that one day +an ant stung the boy at his hip. And the boy screamed loudly on account +of the pain caused by the sting. And forthwith the mothers were +exceedingly distressed to see how the child had been stung by the ant. +And they stood around him and set up cries. Thus there arose a +tumultuous noise. And that scream of pain suddenly reached (the ears of) +the sovereign of the earth, when he was seated in the midst of his +ministers, with the family priest at his side. Then the king sent for +information as to what it was about. And the royal usher explained to +him precisely what the matter was with reference to his son. And Somaka +got up together with his ministers and hastened towards the female +apartments. And on coming there, O subjugator of foes! he soothed his +son. And having done so and coming out from the female apartments, the +king sat with his family priest and ministers. + +"'Somaka then spoke thus, "Fie on having only a single son! I had rather +be a sonless man. Considering how constantly liable to disease are all +organized beings, to have an only son is but a trouble. O Brahmana! O my +lord! With the view that I might have many sons born to me, this century +of wives hath been wedded by me, after inspection, and after I had +satisfied myself that they would prove suitable to me. But issue they +have none. Having tried every means, and put forth great efforts, they +have borne this single son, Jantu. What grief can be greater than this? +O most excellent of the twice-born caste! I am grown old in years and so +are my wives too. And yet this only son is like the breath of their +nostrils, and so he is to me also. But is there any ceremony, by +celebrating which one may get a hundred sons? (And if there is one +such), tell me whether it is great or small, and easy or difficult to +perform." + +"'The family priest said, "There is a ceremony by virtue of which a man +may get a century of sons. If thou art able to perform it, O Somaka, +then I shall explain it to thee." + +"'Somaka said, "Whether it be a good or an evil deed, the ceremony by +which a hundred sons may be born, may be taken by thee as already +performed. Let thy blessed self explain it to me." + +"'The family priest thereupon said, "O king! Let me set on foot a +sacrifice and thou must sacrifice thy son, Jantu in it. Then on no +distant date, a century of handsome sons will be born to thee. When +Jantu's fat will be put into the fire as an offering to the gods, the +mothers will take a smell of that smoke, and bring forth a number of +sons, valourous and strong. And Jantu also will once more be born as a +self-begotten son of thine in that very (mother); and on his back there +will appear a mark of gold."'" + + +SECTION CXXVIII + +"'Somaka said, "O Brahmana! whatever is to be performed--do precisely as +it may be necessary. As I am desirous of having a number of sons, I +shall do all that may be prescribed by thee."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Then the priest officiated in the sacrifice in which +Jantu was offered as the victim. But the mothers as in pity forcibly +snatched the son and took him away. And they cried, "We are undone!" And +they were smitten with torturing grief and they caught hold of Jantu by +his right hand, and wept in a piteous way. But the officiating priest +held the boy by the right hand and pulled him. And like female ospreys +they screamed in agony! but the priest dragged the son, killed him, and +made a burnt offering of his fat in the proper form. And, O delight of +the race of Kuru! While the fat was being made an offering of the +agonised mothers smelt its smell, and of a sudden fell to the ground +(and swooned away.) And then all those lovely women became with child, +and O lord of men! O scion of Bharata's race! When ten months had passed +a full century of sons was born to Somaka begotten on all those women. +And, O monarch of the earth! Jantu became the eldest and was born of his +former mother and he became the most beloved to the women,--not so were +their own sons. And on his back there was that mark of gold and of that +century of sons, he was also superior in merit. Then that family priest +of Somaka departed this life as also Somaka after a certain time. Now he +beheld that the priest was being grilled in a terrible hell. And +thereupon he questioned him, "Why art thou, O Brahmana! being grilled in +this hell?" Then the family priest exceedingly scorched with fire, spake +to him saying, "This is the outcome of my having officiated in that +sacrifice of thine." O king, hearing this, the saintly king thus spake +to the god who meteth out punishments to departed souls, "I shall enter +here. Set free my officiating priest; this reverend man is being grilled +by hell-fire on my account only." + +"'Dharmaraja thereat answered thus, "One cannot enjoy or suffer for +another person's acts. O best of speakers! these are the fruits of thy +acts; see it here." + +"'Somaka said, "Without this Brahmana here, I desire not go to the +blessed regions. My desire is to dwell in company with this very man, +either in the abode of the gods, or in hell, for, O Dharmaraja! my deed +is identical with what hath been done by him and the fruit of our +virtuous or evil deed must be the same for both of us." + +"'Dharmaraja said, "O king! If this is thy wish, then taste with him the +fruit of that act, for the same period that he must do. After that thou +shall go to the blessed regions."' + +"Lomasa said, 'The lotus-eyed king did all that exactly in the way +prescribed to him. And when his sins were worked off, he was set free +together with the priest. O king! Fond of the priest as he was, he won +all those blessings to which he had entitled himself by his meritorious +acts and shared everything with the family priest. This is his hermitage +which looketh lovely before our eyes. Any one would attain the blessed +regions, if he should spend six nights here controlling his passions. O +king of kings! O leader of the tribe of Kurus! Here, free from +excitement and self-controlled, we must spend six nights. Be thou ready +therefor.'" + + +SECTION CXXIX + +"Lomasa said, 'Here, O king! The lord of born beings himself performed a +sacrifice in former times,--the ceremony called _Ishtikrita_, which +occupied one thousand years. And Amvarisha, son of Nabhaga, sacrificed +near the Yamuna river. And having sacrificed there, he gave away ten +_Padmas_ (of gold coins) to the attendant priests, and he obtained the +highest success by his sacrifices and austerities. And, O Kunti's son! +This is the spot where that sovereign of the entire earth, Nahusha's +son, Yayati, of unmeasured force, and who led a holy life, performed his +sacrificial rites. He competed with Indra and performed his sacrifice +here. Behold how the ground is studded with places for the sacrificial +fires of various forms, and how the earth seems to be subsiding here +under the pressure of Yayati's pious works. This is the Sami tree, which +hath got but a single leaf, and this is a most excellent lake. Behold +these lakes of Parasurama, and the hermitage of Narayana. O protector of +earth! This is the path which was followed by Richika's son, of +unmeasured energy, who roamed over the earth, practising the Yoga rites +in the river Raupya. And, O delight of the tribe of Kurus! Hear what a +_Pisacha_ woman (she-goblin), who was decked with pestles for her +ornaments, said (to a Brahmana woman), as I was reciting here the table +of genealogy. (She said), "Having eaten curd in Yugandhara, and lived in +Achutasthala, and also bathed in Bhutilaya, thou shouldst live with thy +sons." Having passed a single night here, if thou wilt spend the second, +the events of the night will be different from those that have happened +to thee in the day-time, O most righteous of Bharata's race! Today we +shall spend the night at this very spot. O scion of Bharata's race! this +is the threshold of the field of the Kurus. O king! At this very spot, +the monarch Yayati, son of Nahusha, performed sacrificial rites, and +made gifts of an abundance of gems. And Indra was pleased with those +sacred rites. This is an excellent holy bathing-place on the river +Yamuna, known as Plakshavatarana (descent of the banian tree). Men of +cultured minds call it the entrance to the region of heaven. O respected +sir! here, after having performed sacrificial rites of the Saraswata +king, and making use of the sacrificial stake for their pestle, the +highest order of saints performed the holy plunge prescribed at the end +of a sacred ceremony. O monarch! King Bharata here performed sacrificial +rites. To celebrate the horse-sacrifice, he here set free the horse who +was the intended victim. That monarch had won the sovereignty of the +earth by righteousness. The horse he let go more than once were of a +colour checkered with black. O tiger among men! it was here that Marutta +sheltered by Samvartta, leader of saints, succeeded in performing +excellent sacrifices. O sovereign of kings! Having taken his bath at +this spot, one can behold all the worlds, and is purified from his evil +deeds. Do thou, therefore, bathe at this spot.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Then that most praiseworthy of Pandu's sons, there +bathed with his brothers, while the mighty saints were uttering +laudatory words to him. And he addressed the following words to Lomasa, +'O thou whose strength lieth in truthfulness! By virtue of this pious +act, I behold all the worlds. And from this place, I behold that most +praiseworthy of Pandu's sons Arjuna, the rider of white steed.' + +"Lomasa said, 'It is even so, O thou of powerful arms! The saints of the +highest order thus behold all the regions. Behold this holy Saraswati +here, thronged by persons who look upon her as their sole refuge. O most +praiseworthy of men! having bathed here, thou wilt be free from all thy +sins. O Kunti's son! here the celestial saints performed sacrificial +rites of Saraswata king: and so did the saints and the royal saints. +This is the altar of the lord of beings, five _yojanas_ in extent on all +sides round. And this is the field of the magnanimous Kurus, whose habit +it was to perform sacrifices.'" + + +SECTION CXXX + +"Lomasa said, 'O son of Bharata's race! If mortals breathe their last at +this spot, they go to heaven. O king! Thousands upon thousands of men +come to this place to die. A blessing was pronounced on this spot by +Daksha, when he was engaged in sacrifice here, (in these words), "Those +men that shall die at this spot shall win a place in heaven." Here is +the beautiful and sacred river, Saraswati, full of water: and here, O +lord of men, is the spot known as _Vinasana_, or the place where the +Saraswati disappeared. Here is the gate of the kingdom of the Nishadas +and it is from hatred for them that the Saraswati entered into the earth +in order that the Nishadas might not see her. Here too is the sacred +region of Chamashodbheda where the Saraswati once more became visible to +them. And here she is joined by other sacred rivers running seawards. O +conqueror of foes, here is that sacred spot known by the name of +Sindhu--where Lopamudra accepted the great sage Agastya as her lord and, +O thou whose effulgence is like unto that of the sun, here is the sacred +_tirtha_ called Prabhasa, the favoured spot of Indra and which removeth +all sins. Yonder is visible the region of Vishnupada. And here is the +delightful and sacred river, Vipasa. From grief for the death of his +sons the great sage Vasistha had thrown himself into this stream, after +binding his limbs. And when he rose from the water, lo! he was +unfettered. Look, O king with thy brothers at the sacred region of +Kasmeera, frequented by holy sages. Here, O scion of Bharata's race, is +the spot, where a conference took place between Agni and the sage +Kasyapa, and also between Nahusha's son and the sages of the north. And, +O great prince, yonder is the gate of the Manasasarovara. In the midst +of this mountain, a gap hath been opened by Rama. And here, O prince of +prowess incapable of being baffled, is the well-known region of +Vatikhanda, which, although adjacent to the gate of Videha, lieth on the +north of it. And O bull among men, there is another very remarkable +thing connected with this place,--namely, that on the waning of every +_yuga_, the god Siva, having the power to assume any shape at will, may +be seen with Uma and his followers. In yonder lake also people desirous +of securing welfare to the family, propitiate with sacrifices the holder +of the great bow Pinaka, in the month of Chaitra. And persons of +devotion having passions under control, performing their ablutions in +this lake, become free from sins and, without doubt, attain to the holy +regions. Here is the sacred _tirtha_ called Vijanaka, where the holy +sage Vasistha with his wife Arundhati and also the sage Yavakri obtained +tranquillity. Yonder is the lake Kausava, where grown the lotuses called +Kausesaya, and here also is the sacred hermitage of Rukmini, where she +attained peace, after conquering that evil passion, anger. I think, O +prince, that thou hast heard something about that man of meditations, +Bhrigutunga. There, O king, before thee is that lofty peak. And, O +foremost of kings, yonder is Vitasta, the sacred stream that absolveth +men from all sins. The water of this stream is extremely cool and +limpid, and it is largely used by the great sages. O prince, behold the +holy rivers Jala and Upajala, on either side of the Yamuna. By +performing a sacrifice here, king Usinara surpassed in greatness Indra +himself. And, O descendant of Bharata, desirous of testing Usinara's +merit and also of bestowing boons on him, Indra and Agni presented +themselves at his sacrificial ground. And Indra assuming the shape of a +hawk, and Agni that of a pigeon, came up to that king. And the pigeon in +fear of the hawk, fell upon the king's thigh, seeking his protection.'" + + +SECTION CXXXI + +"'The hawk said, "All the kings of the earth represent thee as a pious +ruler. Wherefore, O prince, has thou then stopped to perpetrate a deed +not sanctioned by the ordinance? I have been sore afflicted with hunger. +Do thou not withhold from me that which hath been appointed by the Diety +for my food,--under the impression that thereby thou servest the +interests of virtue, whereas in reality, thou wilt forsake it, (by +committing thyself to this act)." Thereupon, the king said, "O best of +the feathered race, afflicted with fear of thee, and desirous of +escaping from thy hands, this bird, all in a hurry, hath come up to me +asking for life. When this pigeon hath in such a manner sought my +protection, why dost thou not see that the highest merit is even in my +not surrendering it unto thee? And it is trembling with fear, and is +agitated, and is seeking its life from me. It is therefore certainly +blameworthy to forsake it. He that slayeth a Brahmana, he that +slaughtered a cow--the common mother of all the worlds--and he that +forsaketh one seeking for protection are equally sinful." Thereat the +hawk replied, "O lord of earth, it is from food that all beings derive +their life, and it is food also that nourisheth and sustaineth them. A +man can live long even after forsaking what is dearest to him, but he +cannot do so, after abstaining from food. Being deprived of food, my +life, O ruler of men, will surely leave this body, and will attain to +regions unknown to such troubles. But at my death, O pious king, my wife +and children will surely perish, and by protecting this single pigeon, O +prince, thou dost not protect many lives. The virtue that standeth in +the way of another virtue, is certainly no virtue at all, but in reality +is unrighteousness. But O king, whose prowess consisteth in truth, that +virtue is worthy of the name, which is not conflicting. After +instituting a comparison between opposing virtues, and weighing their +comparative merits, one, O great prince, ought to espouse that which is +not opposing. Do thou, therefore, O king, striking a balance between +virtues, adopt that which preponderates." At this the king said, "O best +of birds, as thou speakest words fraught with much good, I suspect thee +to be _Suparna_, the monarch of birds. I have not the least hesitation +to declare that thou art fully conversant with the ways of virtue. As +thou speakest wonders about virtue, I think that there is nothing +connected with it, that is unknown to thee. How canst thou then consider +the forsaking of one, seeking for help, as virtuous? Thy efforts in this +matter, O ranger of the skies, have been in quest of food. Thou canst, +however, appease thy hunger with some other sort of food, even more +copious. I am perfectly willing to procure for thee any sort of food +that to thee may seem most tasteful, even if it be an ox, or a boar, or +a deer, or a buffalo." Thereupon the hawk said, "O great king, I am not +desirous of eating (the flesh of) a boar or an ox or the various species +of beasts. What have I to do with any other sort of food? Therefore, O +bull among the Kshatriyas, leave to me this pigeon, whom Heaven hath +today ordained for my food. O ruler of earth, that hawks eat pigeons is +the eternal provision. O prince, do not for support embrace a plantain +tree, not knowing its want of strength." The king said, "Ranger of the +skies, I am willing to bestow on thee this rich province of my race, or +any other thing that to thee may seem desirable. With the sole exception +of this pigeon, which hath approached me craving my protection, I shall +be glad to give unto thee anything that thou mayst like. Let me know +what I shall have to do for the deliverance of this bird. But this I +shall not return to thee on any condition whatever." + +"'The hawk said, "O great ruler of men, if thou hast conceived an +affection for this pigeon, then cut off a portion of thine own flesh, +and weigh it in a balance, against this pigeon. And when thou hast found +it equal (in weight) to the pigeon, then do thou give it unto me, and +that will be to my satisfaction." Then the king replied, "This request +of thine, O hawk, I consider as a favour unto me, and, therefore, I will +give unto thee even my own flesh, after weighing it in a balance."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Saying this, O mighty son of Kunti, the highly virtuous +king cut off a portion of his own flesh, and placed it in a balance, +against the pigeon. But when he found that pigeon exceeded his flesh in +weight, he once more cut off another portion of his flesh, and added it +to the former. When portion after portion had been repeatedly added to +weigh against the pigeon, and no more flesh was left on his body, he +mounted the scale himself, utterly devoid of flesh. + +"'The hawk then said, "I am Indra, O virtuous king, and this pigeon is +Agni, the carrier of the sacrificial clarified butter. We had come unto +thy sacrificial ground, desirous of testing thy merit. Since thou hast +cut off thy own flesh from thy body, thy glory shall be resplendent, and +shall surpass that of all others in the world. As long as men, O king, +shall speak of thee, so long shall thy glory endure, and thou shalt +inhabit the holy regions." Saying this to the king, Indra ascended to +heaven. And the virtuous king Usinara, after having filled heaven and +earth with the merit of his pious deeds, ascended to heaven in a radiant +shape. Behold, O king, the residence of that noble-hearted monarch. +Here, O king, are seen holy sages and gods, together with virtuous and +highsouled Brahmanas.'" + + +SECTION CXXXII + +"Lomasa said, 'See here, O lord of men, the sacred hermitage of +Swetaketu, son of Uddalaka, whose fame as an expert in the sacred +_mantras_ is so widely spread on earth. This hermitage is graced with +cocoanut trees. Here Swetaketu beheld the goddess Saraswati in her human +shape, and spake unto her, saying, "May I be endowed with the gift of +speech!" In that _yuga_, Swetaketu, the son of Uddalaka, and Ashtavakra, +the son of Kahoda, who stood to each other in the relation of uncle and +nephew, were the best of those conversant with the sacred lore. Those +two Brahmanas, of matchless energy, who bore unto each other the +relationship of uncle and nephew, went into the sacrificial ground of +king Janaka and there defeated Vandin in a controversy. Worship, O son +of Kunti, with thy brothers, the sacred hermitage of him who had for his +grandson Ashtavakra, who, even when a mere child, had caused Vandin to +be drowned in a river, after having defeated him in a (literary) +contest."' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'Tell me, O Lomasa, all about the power of this man, +who had in that way defeated Vandin. Why was he born as _Ashtavakra_ +(crooked in eight parts in his body)?' + +"Lomasa said, 'The sage Uddalaka had a disciple named Kahoda of subdued +passions, and entirely devoted to the service of his preceptor and who +had continued his studies long. The Brahmana had served his tutor long, +and his preceptor, recognising his service, gave him his own daughter, +Sujata, in marriage, as well as a mastery over the Shastras. And she +became with child, radiant as fire. And the embryo addressed his father +while employed in reading, "O father, thou hast been reading the whole +night, but (of all that) thy reading doth not seem to me correct. Even +in my fetal state I have, by thy favour, become versed in the Shastras +and the Vedas with their several branches. I say, O father, that what +proceeds from thy mouth, is not correct." Thus insulted in the presence +of his disciples, the great sage in anger cursed his child in the womb, +saying, "Because thou speakest thus even while in the womb, therefore +thou shalt be crooked in eight parts of the body." The child was +accordingly born crooked, and the great sage was ever after known by the +name of Ashtavakra. Now, he had an uncle named Swetaketu who was the +same age with himself. Afflicted by the growth of the child in the womb, +Sujata, desirous of riches, conciliating her husband who had no wealth +told him in private: "How shall I manage, O great sage, the tenth month +of my pregnancy having come? Thou hast no substance whereby I may +extricate myself from the exigencies, after I have been delivered." Thus +addressed by his wife, Kahoda went unto king Janaka for riches. He was +there defeated in a controversy by Vandin, well versed in the science of +arguments, and (in consequence) was immersed into water. And hearing +that his son-in-law had been defeated in a controversy by Vandin and +caused to be drowned by him, Uddalaka spake unto his daughter Sujata, +saying, "Thou shall keep it a secret from Ashtavakra." She accordingly +kept her counsel--so that Ashtavakra, when born, had heard nothing about +the matter. And he regarded Uddalaka as his father and Swetaketu as his +brother. And when Ashtavakra was in his twelfth year, Swetaketu one day +saw the former seated on his father's lap. And thereat he pulled him by +the hand, and on Ashtavakra's beginning to cry, he told him, "It is not +the lap of thy father." This cruel communication went direct into +Ashtavakra's heart and it pained him sorely. And he went home and asked +his mother saying, "Where is my father?" Thereupon Sujata who was +greatly afflicted (by his question), and apprehending a curse told him +all that had happened. And having heard all, the Brahmana at night said +unto his uncle Swetaketu, "Let us go unto the sacrifice of king Janaka, +wherein many wonderful things are to be seen. There we shall listen to +the controversy between the Brahmanas and shall partake of excellent +food. Our knowledge also will increase. The recitation of the sacred +Vedas is sweet to hear and is fraught with blessings." Then they +both--uncle and nephew--went unto the splendid sacrifice of king Janaka. +And on being driven from the entrance, Ashtavakra met the king and +addressed him in the following words.'" + + +SECTION CXXXIII + +"'Ashtavakra said, "When no Brahmana is met with on the way, the way +belongeth to the blind, the deaf, the women, carriers of burden, and the +king respectively. But when a Brahmana is met with on the way, it +belongeth to him alone." Thereupon the king said, "I give the privilege +to enter. Do thou, therefore, go in by whatever way thou likest. No fire +ever so small is to be slighted. Even Indra himself boweth unto the +Brahmanas." At this Ashtavakra said, "We have come, O ruler of men, to +witness thy sacrificial ceremony and our curiosity, O king, is very +great. And we have come here as guests. We want the permission of thy +order (to enter). And, O son of Indradyumna, we have come, desirous of +seeing the sacrifice, and to meet king Janaka and speak to him. But thy +warder obstructs us and for this our anger burneth us like fever." The +warder said, "We carry out the orders of Vandin. Listen to what I have +to say. Lads are not permitted to enter here and it is only the learned +old Brahmanas that are allowed to enter." Ashtavakra said. "If this be +the condition, O warder, that the door is open to those only that are +old, then we have a right to enter. We are old and we have observed +sacred vows and are in possession of energy proceeding from the Vedic +lore. And we have served our superiors and subdued our passions--and +have also won proficiency in knowledge. It is said that even boys are +not to be slighted,--for a fire, small though it be, burneth on being +touched." The warder replied, "O young Brahmana, I consider you a boy, +and therefore recite, if you know, the verse demonstrating the existence +of the Supreme Being, and adored by the divine sages, and which, +although composed of one letter, is yet multifarious. Make no vain +boast. Learned men are really very rare." Ashtavakra said, "True growth +cannot be inferred from the mere development of the body, as the growth +of the knots of the Salmali tree cannot signify its age. That tree is +called full-grown which although slender and short, beareth fruits. But +that which doth not bear fruits, is not considered as grown." The warder +said, "Boys receive instruction from the old and they also in time grow +old. Knowledge certainly is not attainable in a short time. Wherefore +then being a child, dost thou talk like an old man?" Then Ashtavakra +said, "One is not old because his head is gray. But the gods regard him +as old who, although a child in years, is yet possessed of knowledge. +The sages have not laid down that a man's merit consists in years, or +gray hair, or wealth, or friends. To us he is great who is versed in the +Vedas. I have come here, O porter, desirous of seeing Vandin in the +court. Go and inform king Janaka, who hath a garland of lotuses on his +neck, that I am here. Thou shalt to-day see me enter into a dispute with +the learned men, and defeat Vandin in a controversy. And when others +have been silenced, the Brahmanas of matured learning and the king also +with his principal priests, bear witness to the superior or the inferior +quality of his attainments." The warder said, "How canst thou, who art but +in thy tenth year, hope to enter into this sacrifice, into which learned +and educated men only are admitted? I shall, however, try some means for +thy admittance. Do thou also try thyself." Ashtavakra then addressing +the king said, "O king, O foremost of Janaka's race, thou art the +paramount sovereign and all power reposeth in thee. In times of old, +king Yayati was the celebrator of sacrifices. And in the present age, +thou it is that art performer thereof. We have heard that the learned +Vandin, after defeating (in controversy) men expert in discussion, +causeth them to be drowned by faithful servants employed by thee. +Hearing this, I have come before these Brahmanas, to expound the +doctrine of the unity of the Supreme Being. Where is now Vandin? Tell me +so that I may approach him, and destroy him, even as the sun destroyeth +the stars." Thereupon the king said, "Thou hopest, O Brahmana, to defeat +Vandin, not knowing his power of speech. Can those who are familiar with +his power, speak as thou dost? He hath been sounded by Brahmanas versed +in the Vedas. Thou hopest to defeat Vandin, only because thou knowest +not his powers (of speech). Many a Brahmana hath waned before him, even +as the stars before the sun. Desirous of defeating him, people proud of +their learning, have lost their glory on appearing before him, and have +retired from his presence, without even venturing to speak with the +members of the assembly." Ashtavakra said, "Vandin hath never entered +into disputation with a man like myself, and it is for this only that he +looketh upon himself as a lion, and goeth about roaring like one. But +to-day meeting me he will lie down dead, even like a cart on the +highway, of which the wheels have been deranged." The king said, "He +alone is a truly learned man who understandeth the significance of the +thing that hath thirty divisions, twelve parts twenty-four joints, and +three hundred and sixty spokes." Ashtavakra said, "May that ever-moving +wheel that hath twenty-four joints, six naves, twelve peripheries, and +sixty spokes protect thee!"[19] The king said, "Who amongst the gods +beareth those two which go together like two mares (yoked to a car), and +sweep like a hawk, and to what also do they give birth?" Ashtavakra +said, "May God, O king, forfend the presence of these two[20] in thy +house; aye, even in the house of thine enemies. He who appeareth, having +for his charioteer the wind,[21] begetteth them, and they also produce +him." Thereupon the king said, "What is that doth not close its eyes +even while sleeping; what is it that doth not move, even when born; what +is it that hath no heart; and what doth increase even in its own speed?" +Ashtavakra said, "It is a fish[22] that doth not close its eye-lids, +while sleeping; and it is an a egg[23] that doth not move when +produced; it is stone[24] that hath no heart; and it is a river[25] +that increase in its own speed." + + [19] This wheel is the wheel of Time--i.e., measured according + to the solar, lunar and astral revolutions. The importance of + Ashtavakra's reply is this: May the meritorious deeds performed + at proper times, during the revolution of this wheel of Time + protect thee. + + [20] Thunder and lightning or misery and death. + + [21] Cloud or the mind. + + [22] The male being that is ever conscious. + + [23] The mundane egg. + + [24] The soul that has renounced connection with the body. + + [25] The heart of a _Yogi_. + +"'The king said, "It seemeth, O possessor of divine energy, that thou +art no human being. I consider thee not a boy, but a matured man; there +is no other man who can compare with thee in the art of speech. I +therefore give thee admittance. There is Vandin."'" + + +SECTION CXXXIV + +"'Ashtavakra said, "O king, O leader of fierce legions, in this assembly +of monarchs of unrivalled power who have met together, I am unable to +find out Vandin, chief of the controversialists. But I am searching for +him, even as one doth for a swan on a vast expanse of water. O Vandin, +thou regardest thyself as the foremost of controversialists. When though +wilt engage with me in staking, thou wilt not be able to flow like the +current of a river. I am like a full-flaming fire. Be silent before me, +O Vandin! Do not awaken a sleeping tiger. Know that thou shalt not +escape unstung, after trampling on the head of a venomous snake, licking +the corners of its mouth with its tongue, and who hath been hurt by thy +foot. That weak man who, in pride of strength, attempts to strike a blow +at a mountain, only gets his hands and nails hurt, but no wound is left +on the mountain itself. As the other mountains are inferior to the +Mainaka, and as calves are inferior to the ox, so are all other kings of +the earth inferior to the lord of Mithila. And as Indra is the foremost +of celestials, and as the Ganga is the best of rivers, so thou alone +art, O king, the greatest of monarchs. O king, cause Vandin to be +brought to my presence."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Saying this, O Yudhishthira, wroth with Vandin, +Ashtavakra thus thundered in the assembly, and addressed him in these +words, "Do thou answer my questions, and I shall answer thine." Thereat +Vandin said, "One only fire blazeth forth in various shapes; one only +sun illumineth this whole world; one only hero, Indra, the lord of +celestials, destroyeth enemies; and one only Yama is the sole lord of +the Pitris."[26] Ashtavakra said, "The two friends, Indra and Agni, ever +move together; the two celestial sages are Narada and Parvata; twins are +the Aswinikumaras; two is the number of the wheels of a car; and it is +as a couple that husband and wife live together, as ordained by the +deity."[27] Vandin said, "Three kinds of born beings are produced by +acts; the three Vedas together perform the sacrifice, Vajapeya; at three +different times, the Adhwaryus commence sacrificial rites; three is the +number of words: and three also are the divine lights."[28] Ashtavakra +said, "Four are the Asramas of the Brahmanas; the four orders perform +sacrifices; four are the cardinal points; four is the number of letters; +and four also, as is ever known, are the legs of a cow."[29] Vandin +said, "Five is the number of fires; five are the feet of the metre +called _Punki_; five are the sacrifices; five locks, it is said in the +Vedas, are on the heads of the Apsaras; and five sacred rivers are known +in the world."[30] Ashtavakra said, "Six cows, it is asserted by some, +are paid as a gratuity on the occasion of establishing the sacred fire; +six are the seasons belonging to the wheel of time; six is the number of +the senses; six stars constitute the constellation _Kirtika_; and six, +it is found in all the Vedas, is the number of the Sadyaska +sacrifice."[31] Vandin said, "Seven is the number of the domesticated +animals; seven are the wild animals; seven metres are used in completing +a sacrifice; seven are the _Rishis_, seven forms of paying homage are +extant (in the world); and seven, it is known, are the strings of the +Vina."[32] Ashtavakra said, "Eight are the bags containing a hundred +fold; eight is the number of the legs of the Sarabha, which preyeth upon +lions; eight Vasus, as we hear, are amongst the celestials; and eight +are the angles of _yupa_ (stake), in all sacrificial rites."[33] Vandin +said, "Nine is the number of the mantras used in kindling the fire in +sacrifices to the _Pitris_; nine are the appointed functions in the +processes of creation; nine letters compose the foot of the metre, +Vrihati; and nine also is ever the number of the figures (in +calculation)."[34] Ashtavakra said, "Ten is said to be the number of +cardinal points, entering into the cognition of men in this world; ten +times hundred make up a thousand; ten is the number of months, during +which women bear; and ten are the teachers of true knowledge, and ten, +the haters thereof, and ten again are those capable of learning it."[35] +Vandin said, "Eleven are the objects enjoyable by beings; eleven is the +number of the _yupas_; eleven are the changes of the natural state +pertaining to those having life; and eleven are the Rudras among the +gods in heaven."[36] Ashtavakra said, "Twelve months compose the year; +twelve letters go to the composition of a foot of the metre called +_Jagati_; twelve are the minor sacrifices; and twelve, according to the +learned, is the number of the Adityas."[37] Vandin said, "The +thirteenth lunar day is considered the most auspicious; thirteen islands +exist on earth."'[38] + + [26] Ashtavakra comes to Janaka's sacrifice with the object of + proving the unity of the Supreme Being. Vandin avails himself of + various system of Philosophy to combat his opponent. He begins + with the Buddhistic system. The form of the dialogue is unique + in literature being that of enigmas and the latent meaning is in + a queer way hid under the appearance of puerile and + heterogeneous combinations of things. + + Vandin opens the controversy by saying that as the number of + each of these is one, so one only intellect is the lord, leader + and guide of the senses. + + [27] There is a Vedic revelation that two birds live together on + a tree as friends--one of these eats the fruits and the other + looks at the former. From this it is manifest that _two_ are the + lords, leaders, and guides of the senses. That there is a second + faculty besides the intellect is also proved by the fact that in + sleep when the intellect is inactive that faculty continues in + action, for if it were not so we could not remember having + slept, nor connect the state after awaking with that preceding + sleep. Accordingly by citing the number _two_ Ashtavakra asserts + that besides intellect there is another faculty--consciousness + that these _two_ are jointly the lords, leaders and guides of + the senses and that they act together as Indra and Agni, etc. + + [28] By citing the number _three_ Vandin means to say that as it + is Acts that produce the _three_ kinds of born beings, etc., so + Acts are supreme and that everything else be it intellect alone, + or intellect and consciousness together is subservient to Acts. + + [29] Ashtavakra here advances the thesis that even if Acts be + supreme still when the (_fourth_) or Supreme Being becomes + manifest to the soul, it stands in no further needs to Acts. + + [30] By bringing in the _quinquennial_ series, Vandin wishes to + assert that the _five_ senses are competent to cognise there + respective objects and that besides these senses and their + objects there is neither any other sense to perceive nor any + other object of perception. He also cites the authority of the + Veda according to which the _Apsaras_ (or consciousness) have + _five_ "locks" on their hands--i.e., _five_ objects of + perception. + + [31] Besides the five senses Ashtavakra contends for an + additional sense namely the Mind and accordingly cites the + number _six_. + + [32] Vandin admits the existence of the six senses but says that + the soul experiences happiness and misery through those as well + as through the _intellect_. + + [33] Ashtavakra advances an eighth element, namely, the + _knowledge of the ego_. + + [34] Each of the three qualities (existence, foulness and + ignorance) of _prakriti_ (the passive or material cause of the + world) mixing with each of the three corresponding qualities of + _pradhana_ (the active or spiritual cause of the world) in + various proportions produces the mundane order of things. Thus + is proved the eternity of _prakriti_ or nature and is also + established the doctrine of duality. + + [35] Prakriti does not really create. It is the Supreme Being + who through the medium of illusion in contract with the _ten_ + organs (viz., the five locomotive organs and the five organs of + sense) makes manifest the system of things. Prakriti therefore + has no real existence--her existence is only apparent in the + real existence of the soul. + + [36] Yupas (stakes) mean here, _feelings_, etc, which keep men + bound to the world. _Rudras_ are those who makes others cry. + + Vandin means to say that the soul is not essentially free from + the fetters of happiness and misery arising from the eleven + objects of perception. In this world all men are subject to + happiness and misery. We also hear that there are Rudras in + heaven. + + [37] The supreme soul unaffected by happiness and misery really + exists--but His existence is not susceptible of being + proved--nor can the ignorant ever perceive Him. Men attain that + condition through these _twelve_, viz., virtue, truth, + self-restraint, penances, good-will, modesty, forgiveness, + exemption from envy, sacrifice, charity, concentration and + control over the senses. + + [38] According to some, endeavours to attain emancipation can be + successful not in this world but in the world of Brahma. Others + say that to that end a special _yoga_ is necessary. By bringing + forward the objects numbering _thirteen_, Vandin advances the + opinion that, virtue, etc., are not sufficient for purposes of + emancipation but that suitable time and place are also + essential. + +"Lomasa said, 'Having proceeded thus far, Vandin stopped. Thereupon +Ashtavakra supplied the latter half of the _sloka_. Ashtavakra said, +"Thirteen sacrifices are presided over by Kesi; and thirteen are +devoured by _Atichhandas_, (the longer metres) of the Veda."[39] And +seeing Ashtavakra speaking and the Suta's son silent, and pensive, and +with head downcast, the assembly broke into a long uproar. And when the +tumult thus arose in the splendid sacrifice performed by king Janaka, +the Brahmanas well pleased, and with joined hands, approached +Ashtavakra, and began to pay him homage. + + [39] Ashtavakra concludes by citing the same number _thirteen_. + The soul which is essentially unaffected, becomes subject to + happiness and misery through the _thirteen_, viz., the ten + organs of locomotion and sense, and intellect mind and egoism. + But Atichhanadas, i.e., those that have surmounted ignorance, + namely, the twelve, virtue, etc. destroy those thirteen and that + is emancipation. + +"'Thereupon Ashtavakra said, "Before this, this man, defeating the +Brahmanas in controversy, used to cast them into water. Let Vandin today +meet with the same fate. Seize him and drown him in water." Vandin said, +"O Janaka, I am the son of king Varuna. Simultaneously with thy +sacrifice, there also hath commenced a sacrifice extending over twelve +years. It is for this that I have despatched the principal Brahmanas +thither. They have gone to witness Varuna's sacrifice. Lo! there they +are returning. I pay homage to the worshipful Ashtavakra, by whose grace +to-day I shall join him who hath begot me." + +"'Ashtavakra said, "Defeating the Brahmanas either by words or subtlety, +Vandin had cast them into the waters of the sea. (That Vedic truth which +he had suppressed by false arguments), have I to-day rescued by dint of +my intellect. Now let candid men judge. As Agni, who knoweth the +character of both the good and the bad, leaveth unscorched by his heat +the bodies of those whose designs are honest, and is thus partial to +them, so good men judge the assertions of boys, although lacking the +power of speech, and are favourably disposed towards them. O Janaka, +thou hearest my words as if thou hast been stupefied in consequence of +having eaten the fruit of the Sleshmataki tree. Or flattery hath robbed +thee of thy sense, and for this it is that although pierced by my words +as an elephant (by the hook), thou hearest them not." + +"'Janaka said, "Listening to thy words, I take them to be excellent and +superhuman. Thy form also standeth manifest as superhuman. As thou hast +to-day defeated Vandin in discussion, I place even him at thy disposal." +Ashtavakra said, "O king, Vandin remaining alive, will not serve any +purpose of mine. If his father be really Varuna, let him be drowned in +the sea." Vandin said, "I am King Varuna's son. I have no fear +(therefore) in being drowned. Even at this moment, Ashtavakra shall see +his long-lost sire, Kahoda."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Then rose before Janaka all the Brahmanas, after having +been duly worshipped by the magnanimous Varuna. Kahoda said, "It is for +this, O Janaka, that men pray for sons, by performing meritorious acts. +That in which I had failed hath been achieved by my son. Weak persons +may have sons endued with strength; dunces may have intelligent sons; +and the illiterate may have sons possessed of learning." Vandin said, +"It is with thy sharpened axe, O monarch, that even Yama severeth the +heads of foes. May prosperity attend thee! In this sacrifice of king +Janaka, the principal hymns relating to the _Uktha_ rites are being +chanted, and the Soma juice also is being adequately quaffed. And the +gods themselves, in person, and with cheerful hearts, are accepting +their sacred shares."' + +"Lomasa said, 'When in enhanced splendour, the Brahmanas had risen up, +Vandin, taking king Janaka's permission, entered into the waters of the +sea. And then Ashtavakra worshipped his father, and he himself also was +worshipped by the Brahmanas. And having thus defeated the Suta's +son,[40] Ashtavakra returned to his own excellent hermitage, in company +with his uncle. Then in the presence of his mother, his father addressed +him, saying, "(O son), thou speedily enter into this river, Samanga." +And accordingly, he entered (into the water). (And as he plunged beneath +the water), all his (crooked) limbs were immediately made straight. And +from that day that river came to be called Samanga and she became +invested with the virtues of purifying (sins). He that shall bathe in +her, will be freed from his sins. Therefore, O Yudhishthira, do thou +with thy brothers and wife descend to the river, and perform thy +ablutions. O Kunti's son, O scion of the Ajamidha race, living happily +and cheerfully at this place together with thy brothers and the +Brahmanas, thou wilt perform with me other acts of merit, being intent +upon good deeds.'" + + [40] _Su_ means _excellent_, and _uta_, _sacrifice_. The + compound accordingly means,--_performer of excellent sacrifice_. + + +SECTION CXXXV + +"Lomasa said, 'Here, O king, is visible the river Samanga, whose former +name was Madhuvila, and yonder is the spot named Kardamila, the bathing +place of Bharata. The lord of Sachi, when fallen into misery in +consequence of having slain Vritra, became freed from his sin, by +performing his ablutions in this Samanga. Here, O bull among men, is the +spot where the Mainaka mountain hath sunk into the interior of the +earth; and it is hence called Vinasana. For obtaining sons, here Aditi +in days of yore had cooked that celebrated food, (presided over by the +Supreme Being). O ye bulls among men, ascend this lofty mountain and put +an end to your inglorious misery unworthy to be uttered. Here, O king, +before thee is the Kanakhala range, the favourite resort of sages. And +yonder is the mighty river Ganga. Here, in ancient times, the holy sage +Sanatkumara attained ascetic success. O scion of the Ajamidha race, by +performing thy ablutions here in this river, thou wilt be freed from all +thy sins. O son of Kunti, do thou together with thy ministers, touch +(the waters) of this lake called Punya, and this mountain Bhrigutunga +and also (the water of) these two rivers, called Tushniganga. Here, O +Kunti's son, appeareth the hermitage of the sage Sthulasiras. Resign +here thy anger and sense of self-importance. There, O son of Pandu, is +seen the beautiful hermitage of Raivya, where perished Bharadwaja's son, +Yavakri, profound in Vedic lore.' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'How did the mighty sage, Yavakri, son of the +ascetic Bharadwaja, acquire profoundity in the Vedas? And how also did +he perish? I am anxious to hear all this, just as it happened. I take +delight in listening to the narration of the deeds of god-like men.' + +"Lomasa said, 'Bharadwaja and Raivya were two friends. And they dwelt +here, ever taking the greatest pleasure in each other's company. Now, +Raivya had two sons, named Arvavasu and Paravasu. And, Bharadwaja, O +Bharata's son, had an only son, named Yavakri. Raivya and his two sons +were versed in the Vedas, while Bharadwaja practised asceticism. But, O +son of Bharata, from their boyhood, the friendship subsisting between +those two was unequalled. O sinless one, the highspirited Yavakri +finding that his father, who practised asceticism, was slighted by the +Brahmanas, while Raivya with his sons was greatly respected by them, was +overwhelmed with sorrow, and became sore aggrieved. Thereupon, O son of +Pandu, he entered upon severe austerities, for (obtaining) a knowledge +of the Vedas. And he exposed his body to a flaming fire. By thus +practising the most rigid austerities, he caused anxiety in the mind of +Indra. Then Indra, O Yudhishthira, went to him and addressed him saying, +"Wherefore, O sage, hast thou become engaged in practising such rigid +austerities?" Yavakri said, "O thou adored of celestial hosts, I am +practising severe penances, because I wish that such a knowledge of the +Vedas as hath never been acquired by any Brahmana whatever, may be +manifest unto me. O conqueror of Paka, these endeavours of mine have +been for Vedic lore. O Kausika, by the force of my asceticism, I purpose +to obtain all sorts of knowledge. O lord, a knowledge of the Vedas as +learnt through teachers, is acquired in a long time. Therefore, (with +the view of attaining in short time a proficiency in the Vedas), I have +put forth these high endeavours." Indra said, "O Brahmana sage, the way +that thou hast adopted is not the proper way. What for, O Brahmana, +wilt thou destroy thyself? Go and learn from the lips of a preceptor."' + +"Lomasa said, 'O son of Bharata, having said this, Sakra went away, and +Yavakri of immeasurable energy, once more directed his attention to +asceticism. O king, we have heard that carrying on severe austerities he +again greatly agitated Indra. And the god Indra, slayer of Vala, again +came unto that great sage, who was engaged in austere penances; and +forbade him, saying, "Thou art striving with the object that Vedic lore +may be manifest unto thee as well as unto thy father; but thy exertions +can never be successful, nor is this act of thine well-advised." Yavakri +said, "O lord of the celestials, if thou wilt not do for me what I want, +I shall, observing stricter vows, practise still severer penances. O +lord of celestials! know that if thou do not fulfil all my desires, I +shall then cut off my limbs and offer them as a sacrifice into a blazing +fire."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Knowing the determination of that high-souled sage, the +sagacious Indra reflected and hit upon some expedient to dissuade him. +Then Indra assumed the guise of an ascetic Brahmana, hundreds of years +old, and infirm, and suffering from consumption. And he fell to throwing +up a dam with sands, at that spot of the Bhagirathi to which Yavakri +used to descend for performing ablutions. Because Yavakri, chief of the +Brahmanas, paid no heed to Indra's words, the latter began to fill the +Ganga with sands. And without cessation, he threw handfuls of sand into +the Bhagirathi, and began to construct the dam attracting the notice of +the sage. And when that bull among the sages, Yavakri, saw Indra thus +earnestly engaged in constructing the dam, he broke into laughter, and +said the following words, "What art thou engaged in, O Brahmana, and +what is thy object? Why dost thou, for nothing, make this mighty +endeavour?" Indra said, "I am trying, O my son, to dam the Ganga so that +there may be a commodious passage. People experience considerable +difficulty in crossing and recrossing (the river) by boat." Yavakri +said, "O thou of ascetic wealth, thou canst not dam up this mighty +current. O Brahmana, desist from, what is impracticable, and take up +something that is practicable." Indra said, "O sage, I have imposed on +myself this heavy task, even as, for obtaining a knowledge of the Vedas, +thou hast begun these penances, which can never be fruitful." Yavakri +said, "If, O chief of the celestials, those efforts of mine be +fruitless, even as those of thy own, then, O lord of heavenly hosts, be +thou pleased to do for me what is practicable. Vouchsafe unto me boons +whereby I may excel other men."' + +"Lomasa said 'Then Indra granted boons, as was prayed for by the mighty +ascetic. Indra said, "As thou desirest, the Vedas will be manifest unto +thee, yea--even unto thy father. And all thy other desires will also be +fulfilled. Return home, O Yavakri." + +"'Having thus obtained the object of his desire, Yavakri came unto his +father and said, "The Vedas, O father, will be manifest unto thee as +well as unto myself and I have obtained boons whereby we shall excel all +men." Thereat Bharadwaja said, "O my son, as thou hast obtained the +objects of thy desire, thou wilt be proud. And when thou art puffed up +with pride and hast also become uncharitable, destruction will soon +overtake thee. O my son, there is a current anecdote narrated by the +gods. In ancient times, O son, there lived a sage named Valadhi, +possessed of great energy. And in grief for the death of a child, he +practised the severest penances to have a child that should be immortal. +And he obtained a son even as he desired. But the gods, though very +favourably disposed (towards him), did not yet make his son immortal +like unto the gods. They said, "On condition can a mortal being be made +immortal. Thy son's life, however, shall depend on some instrumental +cause." Thereupon, Valadhi said, "O chiefs of the celestials, these +mountains have been existing eternally, and indestructible, let them be +the instrumental cause of my son's life." Afterwards a son was born to +the sage, named Medhavi. And he was of a very irritable temper. And +hearing of (the incident of his birth), he grew haughty, and began to +insult the sages. And he ranged over the earth, doing mischief to the +_munis_. And one day, meeting with the learned sage Dhannushaksha endued +with energy, Medhavi maltreated him. Thereupon, the former cursed him, +saying, "Be thou reduced to ashes." Medhavi, however, was not reduced to +ashes. Then Dhannushaksha caused the mountain which was the instrumental +cause of Medhavi's life, to be shattered by buffaloes. And the boy +perished, with the destruction of the instrumental cause of his life. +And embracing his dead son, Medhavi's father began to bewail his fate. +Now hear from me, O my son, what was chanted by the sages conversant +with the Vedas, when they found the sage mourning. _A mortal on no +condition whatever can overcome what hath been ordained by Fate. Lo! +Dhannushaksha succeeded in shattering even the mountain by buffaloes._ +Thus young ascetics, puffed up with pride for having obtained boons, +perish in a short time. Be thou not one of them. This Raivya, O my son, +is possessed of great energy, and his two sons are like him. Therefore, +be thou vigilant--so as never to approach him. O my son, Raivya is a +great ascetic of an irritable temper. When angry, he can do thee harm." +Yavakri said, "I shall do as thou biddest me. Oh father, do thou not by +any means entertain anxiety for that. Raivya deserveth my regard even as +thou, my father." Having replied unto his father in these sweet words, +Yavakri, fearing nothing and nobody, began to delight in wantonly +offending other _munis_.'" + + +SECTION CXXXVI + +"Lomasa said, 'One day in the month of Chaitra, while fearlessly +wandering at large, Yavakri approached the hermitage of Raivya. And O +son of Bharata, in that beautiful hermitage, adorned with trees bearing +blossoms, he happened to behold the daughter-in-law of Raivya, +sauntering about like a Kinnara woman. And having lost his senses +through passion, Yavakri shamelessly spake unto the bashful maiden, +saying, "Be thou attached unto me." Thereupon, knowing his nature, and +afraid of a curse, as well as thinking of Raivya's power, she went unto +him saying, "I agree." Then, O son of Bharata, taking him in private, +she kept him chained. O conqueror of foes, returning to his hermitage, +Raivya found his daughter-in-law, Paravasu's wife, in tears. O +Yudhishthira, thereat consoling her with soft words, he enquired of her +as to the cause of her grief. Thereupon, the beautiful damsel told him +all that Yavakri had said unto her, and what she also had cleverly said +unto him. Hearing of this gross misbehaviour of Yavakri, the mind of the +sage flamed up, and he waxed exceedingly wroth. And being thus seized +with passion, the great sage of a highly irascible temper, tore off a +matted lock of his hair, and with holy _mantras_, offered it as a +sacrifice on the sacred fire. At this, there sprang out of it a female +exactly resembling his daughter-in-law. And then he plucked another +matted lock of his hair, and again offered it as a sacrifice into the +fire. Thereupon sprang out of it a demon, terrible to behold, and having +fierce eyes. Then those two spake unto Raivya, saying, "What shall we +do?" Thereat, the angry sage said unto them, "Go and kill Yavakri." Then +saying, "We shall do (as thou biddest)"--they two went away with the +intention of slaying Yavakri. And with her charms, the female whom the +large-hearted sage had created, robbed Yavakri of his sacred water-pot. +Then with his uplifted spear the demon flew at Yavakri, when he had been +deprived of his water-pot and rendered unclean. And seeing the demon +approach with uplifted spear for the purpose of slaying him, Yavakri +rose up all on a sudden and fled towards a tank. But finding it devoid +of water, he hurried towards all the rivers. But they too were all dried +up. And being obstructed again and again by the fierce demon, holding +the spear, Yavakri in fright attempted to enter into the _Agnihotra_ +room of his father. But there, O king, he was repulsed by a blind Sudra +warder, and he remained at the door, grasped by the man. And, finding +Yavakri thus grasped by the Sudra, the demon hurled his spear at him, +and thereupon he fell down dead, pierced in the heart. After slaying +Yavakri, the demon went back to Raivya, and with the permission of that +sage, began to live with the female.'" + + +SECTION CXXXVII + +"Lomasa said, 'O son of Kunti, Bharadwaja returned to his hermitage +after performing the ritual duties of the day, and having collected the +sacrificial fuel. And because his son had been slain, the sacrificial +fires which used to welcome him everyday, did not on that day come +forward to welcome him. And marking this change in the Agnihotra, the +great sage asked the blind Sudra warder seated there, saying, "Why is +it, O Sudra, that the fires rejoice not at sight of me? Thou too dost +not rejoice as is thy wont. Is it all well with my hermitage? I hope +that my son of little sense had not gone to the sage Raivya. Answer +speedily, O Sudra, all these questions of mine. My mind misgiveth me." +The Sudra said, "Thy son of little sense had gone to the sage Raivya, +and therefore it is that he lieth prostrate (on the ground), having been +slain by a powerful demon. Being attacked by the Rakshasa, holding a +spear, he attempted to force his way into this room, and I therefore +barred his way with my arms. Then desirous of having water in an unclean +state, as he stood hopeless, he was slain by the vehement Rakshasa, +carrying a spear in his hand." On hearing from the Sudra of this great +calamity, Bharadwaja, sorely afflicted with grief, began to lament, +embracing his dead son. And he said, "O my son, it is for the good of +the Brahmanas that thou didst practise penances, with the intention that +the Vedas unstudied by any Brahmana whatever might be manifest unto +thee. Thy behaviour towards the Brahmanas had always been for their +good, and thou hadst also been innocent in regard to all creatures. But, +alas! (at last) thou didst lapse into rudeness. I had prohibited thee, O +my son, from visiting the residence of Raivya; but alas! to that very +hermitage, (destructive to thee) as the god of death himself, Yama, +didst thou repair. Evil-minded is that man, who, (knowing that) I am an +old man, and also that (Yavakri) was my only son, had given way to +wrath. It is through the agency of Raivya that I have sustained the loss +of my child. Without thee, O my son, I shall give up my life, the most +precious thing in the world. In grief for the death of my son, I +renounce my life; but this I say that Raivya's eldest son shall in a +short time kill him although he be innocent. Blessed are those to whom +children have never been born, for they lead a happy life, without +having to experience the grief (incident to the death of a child). Who +in this world can be more wicked than those who from affliction, and +deprived of their sense by sorrow consequent upon the death of a child, +curse even their dearest friend! I found my son dead, and, therefore, +have cursed my dearest friend. Ah! what second man can there be in this +world, destined to suffer so grievous a misfortune!" Having lamented +long Bharadwaja cremated his son and then himself entered into a +full-blazing fire.'" + + +SECTION CXXXVIII + +"Lomasa said, 'At that very time, the mighty king, Vrihadyumna, of high +fortune, who was the _Yajamana_ of Raivya, commenced a sacrifice. And +the two sons of Raivya, Arvavasu and Paravasu, were engaged by that +intelligent monarch, to assist him in the performance of the ceremony. +And, O son of Kunti, taking the permission of their father, they two +went to the sacrifice, while Raivya with Paravasu's wife remained in the +hermitage. And it came to pass that one day, desirous of seeing his +wife, Paravasu returned home alone. And he met his father in the wood, +wrapped in the skin of a black antelope. And the night was far advanced +and dark; and Paravasu, blinded by drowsiness in that deep wood, mistook +his father for a straggling deer. And mistaking him for a deer, +Paravasu, for the sake of personal safety, unintentionally killed his +father. Then, O son of Bharata, after performing the funeral rites (of +his father), he returned to the sacrifice and there addressed his +brother saying, "Thou wilt never be able to perform this task +unassisted. I again, have killed our father, mistaking him for a deer. O +brother, for me do thou observe a vow, prescribed in the case of killing +a Brahmana. O Muni, I shall be able to perform this work (sacrifice), +without any assistant." Arvavasu said, "Do thou then thyself officiate +at this sacrifice of the gifted Vrihadyumna; and for thee will I, +bringing my senses under perfect control, observe the vow prescribed in +the case of slaying a Brahmana."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Having observed the vow relative to the killing of a +Brahmana, the sage Arvavasu came back to the sacrifice. Seeing his +brother arrive, Paravasa, in accents choked with malice, addressed +Vrihadyumna, saying, "O king, see that this slayer of a Brahmana enter +not into thy sacrifice, nor look at it. Even by a glance, the killer of +a Brahmana can, without doubt, do thee harm." O lord of men, immediately +on hearing this, the king ordered his attendants (to turn out Arvavasu). +O king, on being driven out by the king's attendants, and repeatedly +addressed by them--"_O slayer of a Brahmana_"--Arvavasu more than once +cried, "It is not I that have killed a Brahmana." Nor did he own that he +had observed the vow for his own sake. He said that his brother had +committed the sin, and that he had freed him therefrom. Having said this +in anger, and being reprimanded by the attendants, the Brahmana sage of +austere penances, retired in silence into the woods. There betaking +himself to the severest penances, the great Brahmana sought the +protection of the Sun. Thereupon, the revelation teaching the _mantra_ +relative to the worship of the Sun, became manifest unto him and that +eternal deity who obtaineth his share (of the sacrificial butter) first, +appeared before him in an embodied form.' + +"Lomasa said, 'The celestials, O king, were well pleased with Arvavasu +for his acts. And they made him engaged as the chief priest in the +sacrifice (of Vrihadyumna), and Paravasu to be dismissed from it. Then +Agni and the other celestials (of their own accord) bestowed boons on +Arvavasu. And they also prayed that his father might be restored to +life. He further prayed that his brother might be absolved from his sin; +that his father might have no recollection of his having been slain; +that Bharadwaja and Yavakri might both be restored to life; and that the +solar revelation might attain celebrity (on earth). Then the god said, +"So be it," and conferred on him other boons also. Thereat, O +Yudhishthira, all of these persons regained their life. Yavakri now +addressed Agni and the other deities, saying, "I had obtained a +knowledge of all the Vedas, and also practised penances. How came it +then, O chiefs of the immortals, that Raivya succeeded in killing me in +that way?" Thereupon the gods said, "O Yavakri, never act again as those +have done. What thou askest about is quite possible, for thou hast +learnt the Vedas without exertion, and without the help of a preceptor. +But this man (Raivya) bearing various troubles, had satisfied his +preceptor by his conduct, and obtained (from the latter) the excellent +Vedas through great exertions and in a long time."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Having said this to Yavakri, and restored all those to +life, the celestials with Indra at their head, ascended to heaven. Here, +O Yudhishthira, is the sacred hermitage of that sage embellished with +trees bearing blossoms and fruits at all seasons. O tiger among kings, +dwelling at this spot, thou wilt be delivered from all thy sins.'" + + +SECTION CXXXIX + +"Lomasa said, 'O descendant of Bharata, O king, now hast thou left +behind the mountains Usiravija, Mainaka and Sweta, as well as the Kala +hills. O son of Kunti, O bull among the descendants of Bharata, here +flow before thee the seven Gangas. This spot is pure and holy. Here Agni +blazeth forth without intermission. No son of Manu is able to obtain a +sight of this wonder. Therefore, O son of Pandu, concentrate your mind +in order that he may intently behold these _tirthas_. Now wilt thou see +the play-ground of the gods, marked with their footprints, as we have +passed the mountain Kala. We shall now ascend that white rock--the +mountain Mandara, inhabited by the Yakshas, Manibhadra and Kuvera, king +of the Yakshas. O king, at this place eighty thousand fleet Gandharvas, +and four times as many Kimpurushas and Yakshas of various shapes and +forms, holding various weapons, attend upon Manibhadra, king of the +Yakshas. In these regions their power is very great. And in speed they +are even as the wind. They can, without doubt, displace even the lord of +the celestials from his seat. Protected by them, and also watched over +by the Rakshasas, these mountains have been rendered inaccessible. +Therefore, O son of Pritha, do thou concentrate thy thoughts. Besides +these, O son of Kunti, here are fierce ministers of Kuvera and his +Rakshasa kindred. We shall have to meet them, and, therefore, O Kunti's +son, gather up thy energies. O king the mountain Kailasa is six +_yojanas_ in height. It contains a gigantic jujube tree. And, O son of +Kunti, numberless gods and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Kinnaras and Nagas +and Suparnas and Gandharvas pass this way, in going towards Kuvera's +palace. O king, protected by me, as well as by the might of Bhimasena, +and also in virtue of thy own asceticism and self-command, do thou +to-day mix with them. May king Varuna and Yama, conqueror of battles, +and Ganga, and Yamuna, and this mountain, and the Maruts and the twin +Aswins, and all rivers and lakes, vouchsafe thy safety. And, O effulgent +one, mayst thou have safety from all the celestials and the Asuras, and +the Vasus. O Goddess Ganga, I hear thy roar from this golden mountain, +sacred to Indra. O Goddess of high fortune, in these mountainous +regions, protect the king, worshipped by all of the Ajamidha race. O +daughter of the mountain (Himalaya), this king is about to enter into +these mountainous regions. Do thou, therefore, confer protection upon +him.' + +"Having thus addressed the river, Lomasa bade Yudhishthira, saying, 'Be +thou careful.' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'This confusion of Lomasa is unprecedented. +Therefore, protect ye Krishna, and be not careless. Lomasa knows this +place to be certainly difficult of access. Therefore, do ye practise +here the utmost cleanliness.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "He next addressed his brother Bhima of vast prowess, +saying, 'O Bhimasena, do thou protect Krishna carefully. Whether Arjuna +be near or away, Krishna in times of danger ever seeketh protection from +thee alone.' + +"Then the high-souled monarch approached the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva, +and after smelling their heads, and rubbing their persons, with tears +said unto them, 'Do not fear. Proceed, however, with caution.'" + + +SECTION CXL + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O Vrikodara, there are mighty and powerful +invisible spirits at this place. We shall, however, pass it, through the +merit of our asceticism and _Agnihotra_ sacrifices. O son of Kunti, do +thou therefore, restrain thy hunger and thirst by collecting thy +energies, and also, O Vrikodara have recourse to thy strength and +cleverness. O Kunti's son, thou hast heard what the sage (Lomasa) had +said regarding mount Kailasa. Ascertain, therefore, after deliberation, +how Krishna will pass the spot. Or, O mighty Bhima of large eyes, do +return from hence, taking with thee Sahadeva, and all our charioteers, +cooks, servants, cars, horses, and Brahmanas worn out with travel, while +I together with Nakula and the sage Lomasa of severe austerities +proceed, subsisting on the lightest fare and observing vows. Do thou in +expectation of my return, cautiously wait at the source of the Ganga, +protecting Draupadi till I come back.' + +"Bhima replied, 'O descendant of Bharata, although this blessed princess +hath been sore afflicted by toil and distress, yet she easily +proceedeth, in the hope of beholding him of the white steeds (Arjuna). +Thy dejection also is already very great at not seeing the high-souled +Arjuna, who never retreateth from fight. O Bharata, it is superfluous +then to say that if thou seest neither myself nor Sahadeva nor Krishna, +thy dejection will certainly increase. The Brahmanas had better return +with our servants, charioteers, cooks and whomsoever else thou mayst +command. I never shall leave thee in these rugged and inaccessible +mountainous regions, infested by Rakshasas. And, O tiger among men, also +this princess of high fortune, ever devoted to her lords, desireth not +to return without thee. Sahadeva is always devoted to thee; he too will +never retrace his steps. His disposition is known to me. O king, O +mighty monarch, we are all eager to behold Savyasachin, and therefore, +will we all go together. If we are unable to go over this mountain in +our cars, abounding as it doth in defiles, well, we would go on foot. +Trouble thyself not, O king, I shall carry Panchala's daughter wherever +she will be incapable of walking. O king, I have decided upon this. +Therefore let not thy mind be distracted. I shall also carry over +inaccessible tracts those tender-bodied heroes, the twins, the delight +of their mother, wherever they will be incapable of proceeding.' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'May thy strength increase, O Bhima, as thou speakest +thus, and as thou boldly undertakest to carry the illustrious Panchali +and these twins. Blessed be thou! Such courage dwelleth not in any other +individual. May thy strength, fame, merit, and reputation increase! O +long-armed one, as thou offerest to carry Krishna and our brothers the +twins, exhaustion and defeat never be thine!'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Then the charming Krishna said with a smile, 'O +descendant of Bharata, I shall be able to go, and, therefore, be thou +not anxious on my account.' + +"Lomasa said, 'Access to the mountain, Gandhamadana, is only to be +obtained by dint of asceticism. Therefore, O son of Kunti, shall we all +practise austerities, O king, Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhimasena, thou and +myself shall then see him of the white steeds, O Kunti's son.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "O king, thus conversing together, they saw with +delight the extensive domains of Suvahu, situated on the Himalayas +abounding in horses and elephants, densely inhabited by the Kiratas and +the Tanganas, crowded by hundreds of Pulindas, frequented by the +celestials, and rife with wonders. King Suvahu, the lord of the +Pulindas, cheerfully received them at the frontiers of his dominions, +paying them proper respect. Having been thus received with honour, and +having dwelt comfortably at this place, they started for the mountain +Himalaya, when the sun shone brightly in the firmament. And, O king, +having entrusted to the care of the lord of the Pulindas, all their +servants--Indrasena and the others,--and the cooks and the stewards, and +Draupadi's accoutrements, and every thing else, those mighty +charioteers, the son of the Kurus, endued with great prowess, set out +from that country, and began to proceed cautiously with Krishna,--all of +them cheerful in the expectation of beholding Arjuna. + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O Bhimasena, O Panchali, and ye twins, hearken unto +my words. The acts done (by a person) in a former birth do not perish, +(without producing their effects). Behold! Even we have become rangers +of the wilderness. Even to see Dhananjaya, exhausted and distressed as +we are, we have to bear each other, and pass through impassable places. +This burneth me even as fire doth a heap of cotton. O hero, I do not see +Dhananjaya at my side. I reside in the wood with my younger brothers, +anxious for beholding him. This thought, as also the memory of that +grave insult offered to Yajanaseni, consumes me. O Vrikodara, I do not +see the invincible Partha of strong bow and incomparable energy, and who +is the immediate elder to Nakula. For this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. +In order to see that hero, Dhananjaya, firm in promise, for these five +years have I been wandering in various _tirthas_, and beautiful forests +and lakes and yet I do not meet with him. For this, O Vrikodara, I am +miserable. I do not see the long-armed Gudakesa, of dark blue hue, and +leonine gait. For this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. I do not see that +foremost of Kurus, accomplished in arms, skilful in fight, and matchless +among bowmen. For this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. Distressed for I am +I do not see that son of Pritha, Dhananjaya, born under the influence of +the star Phalguni; ranging amidst foes even like Yama at the time of the +universal dissolution; possessed of the prowess of an elephant with the +temporal juice trickling down; endued with leonine shoulders; not +inferior to Sakra himself in prowess and energy; elder in years to the +twins; of white steeds; unrivalled in heroism; invincible; and wielding +a strong bow. For this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. And he is always of +a forgiving temper,--even when insulted by the meanest individual. And +he conferreth benefit and protection to the righteous; but to that +tortuous person who by craft attempts to do him mischief, Dhananjaya is +like unto virulent poison, albeit that one were Sakra himself. And the +mighty Vibhatsu of immeasurable soul and possessing great strength, +showeth mercy and extendeth protection even to a foe when fallen. And he +is the refuge of us all and he crusheth his foes in fight. And he hath +the power to collect any treasure whatever, and he ministereth unto our +happiness. It was through his prowess that I had owned formerly +measureless precious jewels of various kinds which at present Suyodhana +hath usurped. It was by his might, O hero, that I had possessed before +that palatial amphitheatre embellished with all manner of jewels, and +celebrated throughout the three worlds. O Pandu's son, in prowess, +Phalguni is like unto Vasudeva, and in fight he is invincible and +unrivalled, even like unto Kartavirya. Alas! I see him not, O Bhima. In +might, that conqueror of foes goeth in the wake of the invincible and +most powerful Sankarshana (Valarama) and Vasudeva. In strength of arms, +and spirit, he is like unto Purandara himself. And in swiftness, he is +even as the wind, and in grace, as the moon, and in ire, he is the +eternal Death himself. O mighty-armed one, with the object of beholding +that war-like tiger among men, shall we repair to the Gandhamadana +mountain, where lies the hermitage of Nara and Narayana at the site of +the celebrated jujube tree, and which is inhabited by the Yakshas. We +shall see that best of mountains. And, practising severe austerities +only on foot we shall go to Kuvera's beautiful lake guarded by +Rakshasas. That place cannot be reached by vehicles, O Vrikodara. +Neither can cruel or avaricious, or irascible people attain to that +spot, O Bharata's son. O Bhima, in order to see Arjuna, thither shall we +repair, in company, with Brahmanas of strict vows, girding on our +swords, and wielding our bows. Those only that are impure, meet with +flies, gad-flies, mosquitoes, tigers, lions, and reptiles, but the pure +never come across them. Therefore, regulating our fare, and restraining +our senses, we shall go to the Gandhamadana, desirous of seeing +Dhananjaya.'" + + +SECTION CXLI + +"Lomasa said, 'O sons of Pandu, ye have seen many a mountain, and river +and town and forest and beautiful _tirtha_; and have touched with your +hands the sacred waters. Now this way leads to the celestial mountain +Mandara; therefore be ye attentive and composed. Ye will now repair to +the residence of the celestials and the divine sages of meritorious +deeds. Here, O king, flows the mighty and beautiful river (Alakananda) +of holy water adored by hosts of celestials and sages, and tracing its +source to (the site of) the jujube tree. It is frequented and worshipped +by high-souled Vaihayasas, Valakhilyas and Gandharvas of mighty souls. +Accustomed to sing the Sama hymns, the sages, Marichi, Pulaha, Bhrigu +and Angiras, chanted them at this spot. Here the lord of celestials +performeth with the Marats his daily prayers. And the Sadhyas and the +Aswins attend on him. The sun, the moon and all the luminaries with the +planets resort to this river, alternately by day and by night. O highly +fortunate monarch, that protector of the world, Mahadeva, having a bull +for his mark, received on his head the fall of the waters of this river, +at the source of the Ganga. O children, approach this goddess of the six +attributes and bow down before her with concentrated minds.' + +"Hearing the words of the high-souled Lomasa, the son of Pandu +reverentially worshipped the river (Ganga), flowing through the +firmament. And after having adored her the pious sons of Pandu resumed +their journey accompanied by the sages. And it came to pass that those +best of men beheld at a distance some white object of vast proportions, +even like Meru and stretching on all sides. And knowing that Pandu's +sons were intent upon asking (him), Lomasa versed in speech said, 'Hear, +O sons of Pandu! O best of men, what ye see before you, of vast +proportions like unto a mountain and beautiful as the Kailasa cliff, is +a collection of the bones of the mighty Daitya Naraka. Being placed on a +mountain, it looketh like one. The Daitya was slain by that Supreme +Soul, the eternal God Vishnu, for the good of the lord of celestials. +Aiming at the possession of Indra's place, by the force of austere and +Vedic lore, that mighty-minded (demon) had practised austere penances +for ten thousand years. And on account of his asceticism, as also of the +force and might of his arms he had grown invincible and always harassed +(Indra). And O sinless one, knowing his strength and austerities and +observance of religious vows, Indra became agitated and was overwhelmed +with fear. And mentally he thought of the eternal deity, Vishnu. And +thereat the graceful lord of the universe, who is present everywhere, +appeared and stood before him manifest. And the sages and celestials +began to propitiate Vishnu with prayers. And in his presence even Agni +of the six attributes and of blazing beauty being overpowered by his +effulgence, became shorn of radiance and seeing before him the God +Vishnu, the chief of the celestials who wields the thunder-bolt, bowing +with head down readily apprised Vishnu of the source of his fear. +Thereupon Vishnu said, "I know, O Sakra, that thy fear proceedeth from +Naraka, that lord of the Daityas. By the merit of his successful ascetic +acts he aimeth at Indra's position. Therefore, for pleasing thee, I +shall certainly sever his soul from his body, although he hath achieved +success in asceticism. Do thou, lord of celestials, wait for a moment." +Then the exceedingly powerful Vishnu deprived (Naraka) of his senses (by +striking him) with his hand. And he fell down on the earth even like the +monarch of mountains struck by (thunder). He was thus slain by a miracle +and his bones lie gathered at this spot. Here also is manifest another +deed of Vishnu's. Once the whole earth having been lost and sunk into +the nether regions she was lifted up by him in the shape of a boar +having a single tusk.' + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O worshipful one, relate in particular how Vishnu, +the lord of the celestials, raised up the earth sunk a hundred +_yojanas_? In what manner also was that support of all created +things--the goddess Earth of high fortune-who dispenseth blessings and +bringeth forth all sorts of corn rendered stable? Through whose power +had she sunk an hundred _yojanas_ below, and under what circumstances +was exhibited this greatest exploit of the Supreme Being? O chief of the +twice-born race, I wish to hear all about it in detail as it happened. +Certainly, it is known to thee.' + +"Lomasa said, 'O Yudhishthira, listen to all at length as I relate the +story, which thou hast asked me (to narrate). O child, in days of yore, +there was (once) a terrible time in the Krita Yuga when the eternal and +primeval Diety assumed the duties of Yama. And, O thou that never +fallest off, when the God of gods began to perform the functions of +Yama, there died not a creature while the births were as usual. Then +there began to multiply birds and beasts and kine, and sheep, and deer +and all kinds of carnivorous animals. O tiger among men and vanquisher +of foes, then the human race also increased by thousands even like unto +a current of water. And, O my son, when the increase of population had +been so frightful, the Earth oppressed with the excessive burden, sank +down for a hundred _yojanas_. And suffering pain in all her limbs, and +being deprived of her senses by excessive pressure, the earth in +distress sought the protection of Narayana, the foremost of the gods. +The earth spake saying, "It is by thy favour, O possessor of the six +attributes, that I had been able to remain so long in my position. But I +have been overcome with burden and now I cannot hold myself any longer. +It behoveth thee, O adorable one, to relieve this load of mine. I have +sought thy protection, O lord; and do thou, therefore, extend unto me +thy favour." Hearing these words of hers, the eternal lord, possessor of +the six attributes, complaisantly said, in words uttered in distinct +letters, Vishnu said, "Thou need not fear, O afflicted Earth, the bearer +of all treasures. I shall act so that thou mayst be made light."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Having thus dismissed the Earth, who hath the mountains +for her ear-rings, he suddenly became turned into a boar with one tusk, +and of exceeding effulgence. Causing terror with his glowing red eyes +and emitting fumes from his blazing lustre, he began to swell in +magnitude in that region. O hero, then holding the earth with his single +radiant tusk that being who pervadeth the Vedas, raised her up a hundred +_yojanas_. And while she was being thus raised, there ensued a mighty +agitation and all the celestials, together with the sages of ascetic +wealth became agitated. And heaven, and the firmament, and also the +Earth were filled with exclamations of _Oh!_ and _Alas!_ and neither the +celestials nor men could rest in peace. Then countless celestials +together with the sages went to Brahma, who was seated burning as it +were in his (own) lustre. Then approaching Brahma, the lord of +celestials, and the witness of the acts of all beings, they with folded +hands spake the following words, "O lord of the celestials, all created +beings have become agitated and the mobile and immobile creatures are +restless. O lord of the celestials, even the oceans are found to be +agitated and this whole earth hath gone down a hundred _yojanas_. What +is the matter? And by whose influence is it that the whole universe is +in ferment? May it please thee to explain it unto us without delay, for +we are all bewildered." Thereupon Brahma replied, "Ye immortals! do ye +not entertain fear for the Asuras, in any matter or place. Hearken, ye +celestials, to the reason to which all this commotion is owing! This +agitation in the heavens hath been produced by the influence of the +illustrious Being who is omnipresent, eternal and the never-perishing +Soul. That Supreme soul, Vishnu hath lifted up the Earth, who had +entirely sunk down hundred _yojanas_. This commotion hath taken place in +consequence of the earth being raised up. Know ye this and dispel your +doubts." The celestials said, "Where is that Being who with pleasure +raiseth up the Earth? O possessor of the six attributes, mention unto us +the place. Thither shall we repair." Brahma said "Go ye. May good happen +to you! Ye will find him resting in the Nandana (gardens). Yonder is +visible the glorious worshipful Suparna (Garuda). After having raised +the Earth, the Supreme Being from whom the world become manifest, +flameth even in the shape of a boar, like unto the all-consuming fire at +the universal dissolution. And on his beast is really to be seen the gem +Srivatsa. (Go) and behold that Being knowing no deterioration."' + +"Lomasa said, 'Then the celestials, placing the grandsire at their head, +came to that infinite Soul, and having listened to his praise, bade him +adieu and went back to whence they had come.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "O Janamejaya, having heard this story, all the +Pandavas without delay and with alacrity, began to proceed by the way +pointed out by Lomasa." + + +SECTION CXLII + +Vaisampayana said, "O king, then those foremost of bowmen, of +immeasurable prowess, holding bows stringed at full stretch and equipped +with quivers and arrows and wearing finger-caps made of the guana-skin, +and with their swords on, proceeded with Panchali towards the +Gandhamadana, taking with them the best of Brahmanas. And on their way +they saw various lakes, and rivers and mountains and forests, and trees +of wide-spreading shade on mountain summits and places abounding in +trees bearing flowers and fruit in all seasons and frequented by +celestials and sages. And restraining their senses within their inner +self and subsisting on fruits and roots, the heroes passed through +rugged regions, craggy and difficult of passage, beholding many and +various kinds of beasts. Thus those high-souled ones entered the +mountain inhabited by the sages, the Siddhas and the celestials, and +frequented by the Kinnaras and the Apsaras. And, O lord of men, as those +mighty heroes were entering the mountain Gandhamandana, there arose a +violent wind, attended with a heavy shower. And owing to this, mighty +clouds of dust bearing lots of dry leaves, rose, and all on a sudden +covered earth, air and firmament. And when the heavens had been covered +with dust nothing could be perceived, neither could they (the Pandavas) +speak to one another. And with eyes enveloped with darkness and pushed +by the wind carrying particles of rocks they could not see one another. +And there began to arrive mighty sounds proceeding from the tree, and +also from those breaking down incessantly under the force of the wind, +and falling to the ground. And distracted by gusts of the wind, they +thought, 'Are the heavens falling down; or the earth and the mountains +being rent?' And afraid of the wind, they felt about with their hands +and took shelter under the way-side tree and ant-hills and in caverns. +Then holding his bow and supporting Krishna the mighty Bhimasena stood +under a tree. And Yudhishthira the just with Dhaumya crept into the deep +wood. And Sahadeva carrying the sacred fire with him took shelter in a +rock. And Nakula together with Lomasa and other Brahmanas of great +asceticism stood in fright, each under a tree. Then when the wind had +abated and the dust subsided, there came down a shower in torrents. +There also arose a loud rattling noise, like unto the thunder hurled; +and quick-flashing lightning began to play gracefully upon the clouds. +And being helped on by the swift wind, showers of rain poured down +without intermissions, filling all sides round. And, O lord of men, all +around there began to flow many rivers covered with foam and turbid with +mud; and these bearing volumes of water spread over the frothy rafts +rushed down with tremendous roar uprooting trees. And afterwards when +that sound had ceased and the air had arisen they (each of them) +cautiously came out of their coverts and met together, O descendant of +Bharata. And then the heroes started for the mountain Gandhamadana." + + +SECTION CXLIII + +Vaisampayana said, "When the high-souled sons of Pandu had proceeded +only two miles, Draupadi unaccustomed to travel on foot, sank down. +Weary and afflicted as she was, the poor daughter of Panchala became +faint, on account of the hailstorm and also of her extreme delicacy. And +trembling with faintness, the black-eyed one supported herself on her +thighs with her plump arms, becoming (her graceful form). And thus +resting for support on her thighs resembling the trunk of an elephant, +and which were in contact with each other, she suddenly dropped upon the +ground, trembling like a plantain tree. And finding that the beautiful +one was falling down like a twisted creeper, Nakula ran forward and +supported her. And he said, 'O king, this black-eyed daughter of +Panchala, being weary, hath fallen down upon the ground. Do thou, +therefore, tend her, O son of Bharata. Undeserving as she is of misery, +this lady of slow pace hath been subject to great hardships, and she is +also worn out with the fatigues of the journey. O mighty king, do thou +therefore, comfort her.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Having heard these words of Nakula, the king as also +Bhima and Sahadeva, became sorely afflicted, and hastily ran towards +her. And finding her weak, and her countenance pale, the pious son of +Kunti began to lament in grief, taking her on his lap. Yudhishthira +said, 'Accustomed to ease, and deserving to sleep in well protected +rooms, on beds spread over with fine sheets, how doth this beautiful one +sleep prostrate on the ground! Alas! On my account (alone), the delicate +feet and the lotus-like face of this one deserving of all excellent +things, have contracted a dark-blue hue. O what have I done! Fool that I +am, having been addicted to dice, I have been wandering in the forest +full of wild beasts, taking Krishna in my company. This large-eyed one +had been bestowed by her father, the king of the Drupadas, in the hope +that the blessed girl would be happy, by obtaining the sons of Pandu for +her lords. It is on account of my wretched self, that without obtaining +anything hoped for, she sleepeth prostrate on the ground, tired with +hardships, sorrow and travel!'" + +Vaisampayana said, "While king Yudhishthira the just was lamenting thus, +Dhaumya with all the other principal Brahmanas came to the spot. And +they began to console him and to honour him with blessings. And they +recited _mantras_ capable of dispelling Rakshasas and (to that end) also +performed rites. And on the _mantras_ being recited by the great +ascetics, in order to the restoration of (Panchali's) health, Panchali +frequently touched by the Pandavas with their soothing palms and fanned +by cool breezes surcharged with particles of water, felt ease, and +gradually regained her senses. And finding that exhausted poor lady +restored to her senses, the sons of Pritha, placing her on deer-skin, +caused her to take rest. And taking her feet of red soles, bearing +auspicious marks, the twins began to press them gently with their hands, +scarred by the bow-string. And Yudhishthira the just, the foremost of +the Kurus, also comforted her and addressed Bhima in the following +words: 'O Bhima, there yet remain many mountains (before us), rugged, +and inaccessible because of snow. How, long-armed one, will Krishna pass +over them?' Thereupon Bhima said, 'O king, I myself shall carry thee, +together with this princess and these bulls among men, the twins; +therefore, O king of kings, resign not thy mind unto despair. Or, at thy +bidding, O sinless one, Hidimva's son, the mighty Ghatotkacha, who is +capable of ranging the skies and who is like unto me in strength, will +carry us all.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Then with Yudhishthira's permission, Bhima thought +of his Rakshasa son. And no sooner was he thought of by his father, than +the pious Ghatotkacha made his appearance and, saluting the Pandavas and +the Brahmanas, stood with joined hands. And they also caressed him of +mighty arms. He then addressed his father, Bhimasena of dreadful +prowess, saying, 'Having been thought of by thee I have come here with +speed, in order to serve thee. Do thou, O longarmed one, command me. I +shall certainly be able to perform whatever thou bidst.' Hearing this, +Bhimasena hugged the Rakshasa to his breast." + + +SECTION CXLIV + +"Yudhishthira said, 'O Bhima, let this mighty and heroic Rakshasa chief, +thy legitimate son, devoted to us, and truthful, and conversant with +virtue carry (his) mother (Draupadi) without delay. And, O possessor of +dreadful prowess, depending on the strength of thy arms, I shall reach +the Gandhamadana, unhurt, together with Panchala's daughter.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Hearing the words of his brother, that tiger among +men, Bhimasena, commanded his son, Ghatotkacha, represser of foes, +saying, 'O invincible son of Hidimva, this thy mother hath been sorely +tired. Thou art, again, strong and capable of going wherever thou +likest. Do thou therefore, O ranger of the skies, carry her. May +prosperity attend thee! Taking her on thy shoulders, thou shalt go in +our company, adopting a course not far overhead,--so that thou mayst not +render her uneasy.' Thereat, Ghatotkacha said, 'Even single-handed, I am +able to carry Yudhishthira the just, and Dhaumya, and Krishna, and the +twins--and what wonder then that I shall to-day carry them, when I have +others to assist me? And, O sinless one, hundreds of other heroic +(Rakshasas), capable of moving through the sky, and of assuming any +shape at will, will together carry you all with the Brahmanas.'" + +Vaisampayana said, "Saying this, Ghatotkacha carried Krishna in the +midst of the Pandavas, and the other (Rakshasas) also began to carry the +Pandavas. And by virtue of his native energy, Lomasa of incomparable +effulgence moved along the path of the Siddhas, like unto a second sun. +And at the command of the lord of the Rakshasas, those Rakshasas of +terrific prowess began to proceed, bearing all the other Brahmanas, and +beholding many a romantic wood. And they proceeded towards the gigantic +jujube tree. And carried by the Rakshasas of great speed, proceeding at +a rapid pace, the heroes passed over longextending ways quickly, as if +over short ones. And on their way they saw various tracts crowded with +_Mlechchha_ people, and containing mines of diverse gems. And they also +saw hillocks teeming with various minerals, thronged with Vidyadharas, +inhabited on all sides by monkeys and Kinnaras and Kimpurushas, and +Gandharvas, and filled with peacocks, and _chamaras_, and apes, and +_turus_, and bears, and gavayas, and buffaloes, intersected with a +network of rivulets, and inhabited by various birds and beasts, and +beautified by elephants, and abounding in trees and enraptured birds. +After having thus passed many countries, and also the Uttarakurus, they +saw that foremost of mountains, the Kailasa, containing many wonders. +And by the side of it, they beheld the hermitage of Nara and Narayana, +with celestial trees bearing flowers and fruits in all seasons. And they +also beheld that beautiful jujube of round trunk. And it was fresh; and +of deep shade; and of excellent beauty; and of thick, soft and sleek +foliage; and healthful; and having gigantic boughs; and wide-spreading; +and of incomparable lustre; and bearing full-grown, tasteful, and holy +fruits dropping honey. And this celestial tree was frequented by hosts +of mighty sages, and was always inhabited by various birds maddened with +animal spirits. And it grew at a spot devoid of mosquitoes and +gad-flies, and abounding in fruits and roots and water, and covered with +green grass, and inhabited by the celestials and the Gandharvas, and of +smooth surface, and naturally healthful, and beauteous and cool and of +delicate feel. Having reached that (tree) together with those bulls +among Brahmanas, the high-souled ones gently alighted from the shoulders +of the Rakshasas. Then in company with those bulls among the twice-born +ones, the Pandavas beheld that romantic asylum presided over by Nara and +Narayana; devoid of gloom; and sacred; and untouched by the solar rays; +and free from those rubs, viz. hunger, and thirst, heat and cold, and +removing (all) sorrow; and crowded with hosts of mighty sages; and +adorned with the grace proceeding from the Vedas, Saman, Rich, and +Yajus; and, O king, inaccessible to men who have renounced religion; and +beautified with offerings, and _homas_; and sacred; and well-swept and +daubed; and shining all around with offerings of celestial blossoms; and +spread over with altars of sacrificial fire, and sacred ladles and pots; +and graced with large water-jars, and baskets and the refuge of all +beings; and echoing with the chanting of the Vedas; and heavenly; and +worthy of being inhabited; and removing fatigue; and attended with +splendour and of incomprehensible merit; and majestic with divine +qualities. And the hermitage was inhabited by hosts of great sages, +subsisting on fruits and roots; and having their senses under perfect +control; and clad in black deer-skins; and effulgent like unto the Sun +and Agni; and of souls magnified by asceticism and intent on +emancipation; and leading the Vanaprastha mode of life; and of subdued +senses; and identified with the Supreme Soul; and of high fortune; and +reciting Vedic hymns. Then having purified himself and restrained his +senses, that son of Dharma, the intelligent Yudhishthira of exceeding +energy, accompanied by his brothers, approached those sages. And all the +great sages endued with supernatural knowledge, knowing Yudhishthira +arrived, received him joyfully. And those sages engaged in the +recitation of the Vedas, and like unto fire itself, after having +conferred blessings on Yudhishthira, cheerfully accorded him fitting +reception. And they gave him clean water and flowers and roots. And +Yudhishthira the just received with regard the things gladly offered for +his reception by the great sages. And then, O sinless one, Pandu's son +together with Krishna and his brothers, and thousands of Brahmanas +versed in the Vedas and the Vendangas, entered into that holy hermitage, +like unto the abode of Sukra and pleasing the mind with heavenly odours +and resembling heaven itself and attended with beauty. There the pious +(Yudhishthira) beheld the hermitage of Nara and Narayana, beautified by +the Bhagirathi and worshipped by the gods and the celestial sages. And +seeing that hermitage inhabited by the Brahmarshis and containing fruits +dropping honey, the Pandavas were filled with delight. And having +reached that place, the high-souled ones began to dwell with the +Brahmanas. There beholding the holy lake Vinda, and the mountain +Mainaka, of golden summits and inhabited by various species of birds, +the magnanimous ones lived happily with joy. The son of Pandu together +with Krishna took pleasure in ranging excellent and captivating woods, +shining with flowers of every season; beauteous on all sides with trees +bearing blown blossoms; and bending down with the weight of fruits and +attended by the numerous male _kokilas_ and of glossy foliage; and thick +and having cool shade and lovely to behold. They took delight in +beholding diverse beautiful lakes of limpid water and shining all round +with lotuses and lilies. And there, O lord, the balmy breeze bearing +pure fragrance, blew gladdening all the Pandavas, together with Krishna. +And hard by the gigantic jujube, the mighty son of Kunti saw the +Bhagirathi of easy descent and cool and furnished with fresh lotuses and +having stairs made of rubies and corals and graced with trees and +scattered over with celestial flowers, and gladsome to the mind. And at +that spot, frequented by celestials and sages, and extremely +inaccessible, they, after having purified themselves offered oblations +unto the _pitris_ and the gods and the _rishis_ in the sacred waters of +the Bhagirathi. Thus those bulls among men the heroic perpetuators of +the Kuru race, began to reside there with the Brahmanas offering +oblations and practising meditation. And those tigers among men, the +Pandavas of the god-like appearance, felt delight in witnessing the +various amusements of Draupadi." + + +SECTION CXLV + +Vaisampayana said, "There observing cleanliness, those tigers among men +dwelt for six nights, in expectation of beholding Dhananjaya. And it +came to pass that all of a sudden there blew a wind from the north-east +and brought a celestial lotus of a thousand petals and effulgent as the +sun. And Panchali saw that pure and charming lotus of unearthly +fragrance, brought by the wind and left on the ground. And having +obtained that excellent and beautiful lotus, that blessed one became +exceedingly delighted, O king, and addressed Bhimasena in the following +words, 'Behold, O Bhima, this most beautiful unearthly flower having +within it the very source of fragrance. It gladdenth my heart, O +represser of foes. This one shall be presented to Yudhishthira the just. +Do thou, therefore, procure others for my satisfaction--in order that I +may carry them to our hermitage in the Kamyaka. If, O Pritha's son, I +have found grace with thee, do thou then procure others of this species +in large numbers. I wish to carry them to our hermitage.' Having said +this, the blameless lady of beautiful glances approached Yudhishthira +the just, taking the flower. And knowing the desire of his beloved queen +that bull among men, Bhima of great strength, also set out, in order to +gratify her. And intent upon fetching the flowers, he began to proceed +at rapid space, facing the wind, in the direction from which the flower +had come. And taking the bow inlaid with gold on the back as also arrows +like unto venomous snakes, he proceeded as a lion in anger or an +elephant in rut. And all beings gazed at him, holding a mighty bow and +arrows. And neither exhaustion, nor langour, neither fear nor confusion, +ever possessed the son of Pritha and the offspring of Vayu (wind). And +desirous of pleasing Draupadi the mighty one, free from fear or +confusion, ascended the peak depending on the strength of his arms. And +that slayer of foes began to range that beautiful peak covered with +trees, creepers and of black rocky base; and frequented by Kinnaras; and +variegated with minerals, plants, beasts, and birds of various hues; and +appearing like an upraised arm of the Earth adorned with an entire set +of ornaments. And that one of matchless prowess proceeded, fixing his +look at the slopes of the Gandhamadana,--beautiful with flowers of every +season--and revolving various thoughts in his mind and with his ears, +eyes and mind rivetted to the spots resounding with the notes of male +_kokilas_ and ringing with the hum of black bees. And like an elephant +in rut ranging mad in a forest that one of mighty prowess smelt the rare +odour proceeding from the flowers of every season. And he was fanned by +the fresh breeze of the Gandhamadana bearing the perfumes of various +blossoms and cooling like unto a father's touch. On his fatigue being +removed the down on his body stood on end. And in this state that +represser of foes for the flowers began to survey all the mountain, +inhabited by Yakshas and Gandharvas and celestials and Brahmarshis. And +brushed by the leaves of _Saptachchada_ tree, besmeared with fresh red, +black and white minerals, he looked as if decorated with lines of holy +unguents drawn by fingers. And with clouds stretching at its sides, the +mountain seemed dancing with outspread wings. And on account of the +trickling waters of springs, it appeared to be decked with necklaces of +pearls. And it contained romantic caverns and groves and cascades and +caves. And there were excellent peacocks dancing to the jingling of the +bangles of the Apsaras. And its rocky surface was worn away by the end +of tusks of the elephants presiding over the cardinal points. And with +the waters of rivers falling down, the mountain looked as if its clothes +were getting loosened. And that graceful son of the wind-god playfully +and cheerfully went on, pushing away by his force countless intertwisted +creepers. And stags in curiosity gazed at him, with grass in their +mouths. And not having experienced fear (ever before), they were +unalarmed, and did not flee away. And being engaged in fulfilling the +desire of his love, the youthful son of Pandu, stalwart and of splendour +like unto the hue of gold; and having a body strong as a lion; and +treading like a mad elephant; and possessing the force of a mad +elephant; and having coppery eyes like unto those of a mad elephant; and +capable of checking a mad elephant began to range the romantic sides of +the Gandhamadana with his beautiful eyes uplifted; and displaying as it +were a novel type of beauty. And the wives of Yakshas and Gandharvas +sitting invisible by the side of their husbands, stared at him, turning +their faces with various motions. Intent upon gratifying Draupadi exiled +unto the woods, as he was ranging the beautiful Gandhamadana, he +remembered the many and various woes caused by Duryodhana. And he +thought, 'Now that Arjuna sojourn in heaven and that I too have come +away to procure the flowers, what will our brother Yudhishthira do at +present? Surely, from affection and doubting their prowess, that +foremost of men, Yudhishthira, will not let Nakula and Sahadeva come in +search of us. How, again, can I obtain the flowers soon?' Thinking thus, +that tiger among men proceeded in amain like unto the king of birds, his +mind and sight fixed on the delightful side of the mountain. And having +for his provisions on the journey the words of Draupadi, the mighty son +of Pandu, Vrikodara Bhima, endued with strength and the swiftness of the +wind, with his mind and sight fixed on the blooming slopes of the +mountain, proceeded speedily, making the earth tremble with his tread, +even as doth a hurricane at the equinox; and frightening herds of +elephants and grinding lions and tigers and deer and uprooting and +smashing large trees and tearing away by force plants and creepers, like +unto an elephant ascending higher and higher the summit of a mountain; +and roaring fiercely even as a cloud attended with thunder. And awakened +by that mighty roaring of Bhima, tigers came out of their dens, while +other rangers of the forest hid themselves. And the coursers of the +skies sprang up (on their wing) in fright. And herds of deer hurriedly +ran away. And birds left the trees (and fled). And lions forsook their +dens. And the mighty lions were roused from their slumber. And the +buffaloes stared. And the elephants in fright, leaving that wood, ran to +more extensive forests company with their mates. And the boars and the +deer and the lions and the buffaloes and the tigers and the jackals and +the _gavayas_ of the wood began to cry in herds. + +(Paragraph continued in next e-book.) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana +Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1, by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAHABHARATA BK.3 PT. 1 *** + +***** This file should be named 11894.txt or 11894.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/8/9/11894/ + +Produced by John B. 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