The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (Translator)

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Section CLXXVII

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing this, Arjuna said, 'O Gandharva, whence
arose the hostility between Viswamitra and Vasishtha both of whom dwelt in
a celestial hermitage? O, tell us all about it.'

"The Gandharva replied, 'O Partha, the story of Vasishtha is regarded as a
Purana (legend) in all the three worlds. Listen to me as I recite it fully.
There was, in Kanyakuvja, O bull of Bharata's race, a great king of
worldwide fame named Gadhi, the son of Kusika. The virtuous Gadhi had a
son named Viswamitra, that grinder of foes, possessing a large army and
many animals and vehicles. And Viswamitra, accompanied by his ministers,
used to roam in quest of deer through the deep woods and over picturesque
marascetic penances the propitious lord Vivaswat, by the help of
Vasishtha's (ascetic power). And Samvarana, that bull among men with due
rites took Tapati's hand on that mountain-breast which was resorted to by
the celestials and the Gandharvas. The royal sage, with the permission of
Vasishtha, desired to sport with his wife on that mountain. And the king
caused Vasishtha to be proclaimed his regent in his capital and kingdom,
in the woods and gardens. And bidding farewell unto the monarch, Vasishtha
left him and went away. Samvarana, who sported on that mountain like a
celestial, sported with his wife in the woods and the under-woods on that
mountain for twelve full years. And, O best of the Bharatas, the god of a
thousand eyes poured no rain for twelve years on the capital and on the
kingdom of that monarch. Then, O chastiser of enemies, when that season of
drought broke out, the people of that kingdom, as also the trees and lower
animals began to die fast. And during the continuance of that dreadful
drought, not even a drop of dew fell from the skies and no corn grew. And
the inhabitants in despair, and afflicted with the fear of hunger, left
their homes and fled away in all directions. And the famished people of
the capital and the country began to abandon their wives and children and
grew reckless of one another. The people being afflicted with hunger,
without a morsel of food and reduced to skeletons, the capital looked very
much like the city of the king of the dead, full of only ghostly beings.
On beholding the capital reduced to such a state, the illustrious and
virtuous and best of Rishis, Vasishtha was resolved upon applying a remedy
and brought back unto the city that tiger among kings, Samvarana, along
with his wife, after the latter had passed so long a period in solitude
and seclusion. After the king had entered his capital, things became as
before, for, when that tiger among kings came back to his own, the god of
a thousand eyes, the slayer of Asuras, poured rain in abundance and caused
corn to grow. Revivified by the foremost of virtuous souls the capital and
the country became animated with extreme joy. The monarch, with his wife,
Tapati, once more performed sacrifices for twelve years, like the lord
Indra (god of rain) performing sacrifices with his wife, Sachi.'

"The Gandharva continued, 'This, O Partha, is the history of Tapati of old,
the daughter of Vivaswat. It is for her that thou art (called) Tapatya.
King Samvarana begot upon Tapati a son named Kuru, who was the foremost of
ascetics. Born in the race of Kuru, thou art, O Arjuna, to be called
Tapatya.'"

SECTION CLXXVI

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"The Gandharva continued, 'Once on a time, while king Viswamitra went
quest of deer, the king became weak with exertion and thirst. The monarch
arrived in that state at the asylum of Vasishtha, and the blessed and
illustrious Rishi beholding him arrive, reverenced with his homage that
best of men, king Viswamitra. And O Bharata, the Rishi saluted the monarch
by offering him water to wash his face and feet with, and Arghya, and wild
fruits, and clarified butter. For the illustrious Rishi had a cow yielding
anything that was desired of her. When she was addressed, saying, 'O give',
she always yielded the article that was sought. And she yielded various
fruits and corn, wild or grown in gardens and fields, and milk, and many
excellent nutritive viands full of six different kinds of juice (taste?)
and like unto nectar itself, and various other kinds of enjoyable things,
O Arjuna, of ambrosial taste for drinking and eating, and for licking and
sucking, and also many precious gems and robes of various kinds. With
these desirable objects in profusion the monarch was worshipped. And the
king with his minister and troops became highly pleased. And the monarch
wondered much, beholding that cow with six elevated limbs and the
beautiful flanks and hips, and five limbs that were broad, and eyes
prominent like those of the frog and beautiful in size, and high udders,
and faultless make, and straight and uplifted ears, and handsome horns,
and well-developed head and neck.

"And, O prince, the son of Gadhi, gratified with everything and applauding
the cow named Nandini, addressed the Rishi, saying, 'O Brahmana, O great
Muni, give me thy Naridini in exchange for ten thousand kine, or my
kingdom. Enjoy thou my kingdom (giving me thy cow).'

"Hearing these words of Viswamitra, Vasishtha said, 'O sinless one, this
cow hath been kept by me for the sake of the gods, guests, and the Pitris,
as also for my sacrifices. I cannot give Nandini in exchange for even thy
kingdom.' Viswamitra replied, 'I am a Kshatriya, but thou art a Brahmana
devoted to asceticism and study. Is there any energy in Brahmanas who are
peaceful and who have their souls under perfect command? When thou givest
me not what I desire in exchange even for ten thousand cows, I will not
abandon the practice of my order; I will take thy cow even by force!'

"Vasishtha said, 'Thou art a Kshatriya endued with might of arms. Thou art
a powerful monarch. O, do in haste what thou desirest; and stop not to
consider its propriety.'

"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed by Vasishtha, Viswamitra, O
Partha, then forcibly seized Nandini, that cow (white) like the swan or
the moon, and attempted to take her away, afflicting her with stripes and
persecuting her otherwise. The innocent Nandini then began, O Partha, to
low piteously, and approaching the illustrious Vasishtha stood before him
with uplifted face. Though persecuted very cruelly, she refused to leave
the Rishi's asylum.

"Beholding her in that plight, Vasishtha said, 'O amiable one, thou art
lowing repeatedly and I am hearing thy cries. But, O Nandini, even
Viswamitra is taking thee away by force, what can I do in this matter, as
I am a forgiving Brahmana?'

"The Gandharva continued, 'Then, O bull in Bharata's race, Nandini,
alarmed at the sight of Viswamitra's troops and terrified by Viswamitra
himself, approached the Rishi still closer, and said, 'O illustrious one,
why art thou so indifferent to my poor self afflicted with the stripes of
the cruel troops of Viswamitra and crying so piteously as if I were
masterless?' Hearing these words of the crying and persecuted Nandini, the
great Rishi lost not his patience nor turned from his vow of forgiveness.
He replied, 'The Kshatriya's might lies in physical strength, the
Brahmana's in forgiveness. Because I cannot give up forgiveness, go thou,
O Nandini, if thou choosest.' Nandini answered, 'Castest thou me away, O
illustrious one, that thou sayest so? If thou dost not cast me off, I
cannot, O Brahmana, be taken away by force.' Vasishtha said, 'O blessed
one, I do not cast thee off! Stay if thou canst! O, yonder is thy calf,
tied with a stout cord, and even now being weakened by it!'

"The Gandharva continued, 'Then the cow of Vasishtha, hearing the word
stay, raised her head and neck upward, and became terrible to behold. With
eyes red with rage and lowing repeatedly, she then attacked Viswamitra's
troops on all sides. Afflicted with their stripes and running hither and
thither with those red eyes of hers, her wrath increased. Blazing with
rage, she soon became terrible to behold like unto the sun in his midday
glory. And from her tail she began to rain showers of burning coals all
around. And some moments after, from her tail she brought forth an army of
Palhavas, and from her udders, an army of Dravidas and Sakas; and from her
womb, an army of Yavanas, and from her dung, an army of Savaras; and from
her urine, an army of Kanchis; and from her sides, an army of Savaras. And
from the froth of her mouth came out hosts of Paundras and Kiratas,
Yavanas and Sinhalas, and the barbarous tribes of Khasas and Chivukas and
Pulindas and Chinas and Hunas with Keralas, and numerous other Mlechchhas.
And that vast army of Mlechchhas in various uniforms, and armed with
various weapons, as soon as it sprang into life, deploying in the very
sight of Viswamitra, attacked that monarch's soldiers. And so numerous was
that Mlechchha host that each particular soldier of Viswamitra was
attacked by a band of six or seven of their enemies. Assailed with a
mighty shower of weapons, Viswamitra's troops broke and fled, panic-
stricken, in all directions, before his very eyes. But, O bull in
Bharata's race, the troops of Vasishtha, though excited with wrath, took
not the life of any of Viswamitra's troops. Nandini simply caused the
monarch's army to be routed and driven off. And driven (from the asylum)
twenty-seven full miles, panic-stricken, they shrieked aloud and beheld
not anyone that could protect them. Viswamitra, beholding this wonderful
feat that resulted from Brahmana prowess, became disgusted with Kshatriya
prowess and said, 'O, fie on Kshatriya prowess! Brahmana prowess is true
prowess! In judging of strength and weakness, I see that asceticism is
true strength.' Saying this, the monarch, abandoning his large domains and
regal splendour and turning his back upon all pleasures, set his mind on
asceticism. Crowned with success in asceticism and filling the three
worlds with the heat of his ascetic penances, he afflicted all creatures
and finally became a Brahmana. The son of Kusika at last drank Soma with
Indra himself (in Heaven).'"

SECTION CLXXVIII

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"The Gandharva continued, 'There was, O Partha, a king in this world,
named Kalmashapada, who was of the race of Ikshvaku and was unequalled on
earth for prowess. One day the king went from his capital into the woods
for purposes of hunting, and this grinder of foes pierced (with his
arrows) many deer and wild boars. And in those deep woods the king also
slew many rhinoceroses. Engaged in sport for some length of time, the
monarch became very much fatigued and at last he gave up the chase,
desiring to rest awhile.

"The great Viswamitra, endued with energy, had, a little while ago,
desired to make that monarch his disciple. As the monarch, afflicted with
hunger and thirst, was proceeding through the woods, he came across that
best of Rishis, the illustrious son of Vasishtha, coming along the same
path. The king ever victorious in battle saw that Muni bearing the name of
Saktri, that illustrious propagator of Vasishtha's race, the eldest of the
high-souled Vasishtha's hundred sons, coming along from opposite direction.
The king, beholding him said, 'Stand out of our way.' The Rishi,
addressing the monarch in a conciliatory manner, said unto him sweetly, 'O
king, this is my way. This is the eternal rule of morality indicated in
every treatise on duty and religion, viz., that a king should ever make
way for Brahmanas.' Thus did they address each other respecting their
right of way. 'Stand aside, stand aside', were the words they said unto
each other. The Rishi, who was in the right, did not yield, nor did the
king yield to him from pride and anger. That best of monarchs, enraged at
the Rishi, refusing to yield him the way, acted like a Rakshasa, striking
him with his whip. Thus whipped by the monarch, that best of Rishis, the
son of Vasishtha, was deprived of his senses by anger, and speedily cursed
that first of monarchs, saying, 'O worst of kings, since thou persecutest
like a Rakshasa an ascetic, thou shalt from this day, became a Rakshasa
subsisting on human flesh! Hence, thou worst of kings! thou shalt wander
over the earth, affecting human form!' Thus did the Rishi Sakti, endued
with great prowess, speak unto king Kalmashapada. At this time Viswamitra,
between whom and Vasishtha there was a dispute about the discipleship of
Kalmashapada, approached the place where that monarch and Vasishtha's son
were. And, O Partha, that Rishi of severe ascetic penances, viz.,
Viswamitra of great energy, approached the pair (knowing by his spiritual
insight that they had been thus quarrelling with each other). After the
curse had been pronounced, that best of monarchs knew that Rishi to be
Vasishtha's son and equal unto Vasishtha himself in energy. And, O Bharata,
Viswamitra, desirous of benefiting himself, remained on that spot,
concealed from the sight of both by making himself invisible. Then that
best of monarchs, thus cursed by Saktri, desiring to propitiate the Rishi
began to humbly beseech him. And, O chief of the Kurus, Viswamitra,
ascertaining the disposition of the king (and fearing that the difference
might be made up), ordered a Rakshasa to enter the body of the king. And a
Rakshasa of the name of Kinkara then entered the monarch's body in
obedience to Saktri's curse and Viswamitra's command. And knowing, O
chastiser of foes, that the Rakshasa had possessed himself of the monarch,
that best of Rishis, Viswamitra, then left the spot and went away.

"Shortly after, O Partha, the monarch, possessed by the Rakshasa and
terribly afflicted by him, lost all his senses. At this time a Brahmana
beheld the king in the woods. Afflicted with hunger, that Brahmana begged
of the king some food with meat. The royal sage, Kalmashapada, that
cherisher of friends, answered the Brahmana, saying, 'Stay thou here, O
Brahmana for a moment. On my return, I will give thee whatever food thou
desirest.' Having said this, the monarch went away, but the Brahmana
stayed on there. The high-minded king having roved for some time at
pleasure and according to his will, at last entered his inner apartment.
Thus waking at midnight and remembering his promise, he summoned his cook
and told him of his promise unto the Brahmana staying in the forest. And
he commanded him, saying, 'Hie thee to that forest. A Brahmana waiteth for
me in the hope of food. Go and entertain him with food and meat.'

"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus commanded, the cook went out in search of
meat. Distressed at not having found any, he informed the king of his
failure. The monarch, however, possessed as he was by the Rakshasa,
repeatedly said, without scruple of any kind, 'Feed him with human flesh.'
The cook, saying, 'So be it,' went to the place where the (king's)
executioners were, and thence taking human flesh and washing and cooking
it duly and covering it with boiled rice offered it unto that hungry
Brahmana devoted to ascetic penances. But that best of Brahmanas, seeing
with his spiritual sight that the food was unholy and, therefore, unworthy
of being eaten, said these words with eyes red with anger, 'Because that
worst of kings offereth me food that is unholy and unworthy of being taken,
therefore that wretch shall have himself a fondness for such food. And
becoming fond of human flesh as cursed by Saktri of old, the wretch shall
wander over the earth, alarming and otherwise troubling all creatures.'
The curse, therefore, on that king, thus repeated a second time, became
very strong, and the king, possessed by a Rakshasa disposition, soon lost
all his senses.

"A little while after, O Bharata, that best of monarchs, deprived of all
his senses by the Rakshasa within him, beholding Saktri who had cursed him,
said, 'Because thou hast pronounced on me this extraordinary curse,
therefore, I shall begin my life of cannibalism by devouring thee.' Having
said this, the king immediately slew Saktri and ate him up, like a tiger
eating the animal it was fond of. Beholding Saktri thus slain and devoured,
Viswamitra repeatedly urged that Rakshasa (who was within the monarch)
against the other sons of Vasishtha. Like a wrathful lion devouring small
animals, that Rakshasa soon devoured the other sons of the illustrious
Vasishtha that were junior to Saktri in age. But Vasishtha, learning that
all his sons had been caused to be slain by Viswamitra, patiently bore his
grief like the great mountain that bears the earth. That best of Munis,
that foremost of intelligent men, was resolved rather to sacrifice his own
life than exterminate (in anger) the race of Kusikas. The illustrious
Rishi threw himself down from the summit of Meru, but he descended on the
stony ground as though on a heap of cotton. And, O son of Pandu, when the
illustrious one found that death did not result from that fall, he kindled
a huge fire in the forest and entered it with alacrity. But that fire,
though burning brightly, consumed him not. O slayer of foes, that blazing
fire seemed to him cool. Then the great Muni under the influence of grief,
beholding the sea, tied a stony weight to his neck and threw himself into
its waters. But the waves soon cast him ashore. At last when that Brahmana
of rigid vows succeeded not in killing himself by any means, he returned,
in distress of heart, to his asylum.'"

SECTION CLXXIX

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"The Gandharva continued, 'Beholding his asylum bereft of his children,
the Muni afflicted with great grief left it again. And in course of his
wandering he saw, O Partha, a river swollen with the waters of the rainy
season, sweeping away numberless trees and plants that had grown on its
margin. Beholding this, O thou of Kuru's race, the distressed Muni
thinking that he would certainly be drowned if he fell into the waters of
that river, he tied himself strongly with several cords and flung himself,
under the influence of grief, into the current of that mighty stream. But,
O slayer of foes, that stream soon cut those cords and cast the Rishi
ashore. And the Rishi rose from the bank, freed from the cords with which
he had tied himself. And because his cords were thus broken off by the
violence of the current, the Rishi called the stream by the name of Vipasa
(the cord-breaker). For his grief the Muni could not, from that time, stay
in one place; he began to wander over mountains and along rivers and lakes.
And beholding once again a river named Haimavati (flowing from Himavat) of
terrible aspect and full of fierce crocodiles and other (aquatic) monsters,
the Rishi threw himself into it, but the river mistaking the Brahmana for
a mass of (unquenchable) fire, immediately flew in a hundred different
directions, and hath been known ever since by the name of the Satadru (the
river of a hundred courses). Seeing himself on the dry land even there he
exclaimed, 'O, I cannot die by my own hands!' Saying this, the Rishi once
more bent his steps towards his asylum. Crossing numberless mountains and
countries, as he was about to re-enter his asylum, he was followed by his
daughter-in-law named Adrisyanti. As she neared him, he heard the sound
from behind of a very intelligent recitation of the Vedas with the six
graces of elocution. Hearing that sound, the Rishi asked, 'Who is it that
followeth me?' His daughter-in-law then answered, 'I am Adrisyanti, the
wife of Saktri. I am helpless, though devoted to asceticism.' Hearing her,
Vasishtha said, 'O daughter, whose is this voice that I heard, repeating
the Vedas along with the Angas like unto the voice of Saktri reciting the
Vedas with the Angas?' Adrisyanti answered, 'I bear in my womb a child by
thy son Saktri. He hath been here full twelve years. The voice thou
hearest is that of the Muni, who is reciting the Vedas.'

"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed by her the illustrious Vasishtha
became exceedingly glad. And saying, 'O, there is a child (of my race)!'--
he refrained, O Partha, from self-destruction. The sinless one accompanied
by his daughter-in-law, then returned to his asylum. And the Rishi saw one
day in the solitary woods (the Rakshasa) Kalmashapada. The king, O Bharata,
possessed by fierce Rakshasa, as he saw the Rishi, became filled with
wrath and rose up, desiring to devour him. And Adrisyanti beholding before
her that the Rakshasa of cruel deeds, addressed Vasishtha in these words,
full of anxiety and fear, 'O illustrious one, the cruel Rakshasa, like
unto Death himself armed with (his) fierce club, cometh towards us with a
wooden club in hand! There is none else on earth, except thee, O
illustrious one, and, O foremost of all that are conversant with the Vedas
to restrain him today. Protect me, O illustrious one, from this cruel
wretch of terrible mien. Surely, the Rakshasa cometh hither to devour us!'
Vasishtha, hearing this, said, 'Fear not, O daughter, there is no need of
any fear from any Rakshasa. This one is no Rakshasa from whom thou
apprehendest such imminent danger. This is king Kalmashapada endued with
great energy and celebrated on earth. That terrible man dwelleth in these
woods.'

"The Gandharva continued, 'Beholding him advancing, the illustrious Rishi
Vasishtha, endued with great energy, restrained him, O Bharata, by
uttering the sound Hum. Sprinkling him again with water sanctified with
incantations the Rishi freed the monarch from that terrible curse. For
twelve years the monarch had been overwhelmed by the energy of Vasishtha's
son like Surya seized by the planet (Rahu) during the season of an eclipse.
Freed from the Rakshasa the monarch illumined that large forest by his
splendour like the sun illumining the evening clouds. Recovering his power
of reason, the king saluted that best of Rishis with joined palms and said,
'O illustrious one, I am the son of Sudasa and thy disciple, O best of
Munis! O, tell me what is thy pleasure and what I am to do.' Vasishtha
replied, saying, 'My desire hath already been accomplished. Return now to
thy kingdom and rule thy subjects. And, O chief of men, never insult
Brahmanas any more.' The monarch replied, 'O illustrious one, I shall
never more insult superior Brahmanas. In obedience to thy command I shall
always worship Brahmanas. But, O best of Brahmanas, I desire to obtain
from thee that by which, O foremost of all that are conversant with the
Vedas, I may be freed from the debt I owe to the race of Ikshvaku! O best
of men, it behoveth thee to grant me, for the perpetuation of Ikshvaku's
race, a desirable son possessing beauty and accomplishments and good
behaviour.'

"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed, Vasishtha, that best of
Brahmanas devoted to truth replied unto that mighty bowman of a monarch,
saying, 'I will give you.' After some time, O prince of men, Vasishtha,
accompanied by the monarch, went to the latter's capital known all over
the earth by the name of Ayodhya. The citizens in great joy came out to
receive the sinless and illustrious one, like the dwellers in heaven
coming out to receive their chief. The monarch, accompanied by Vasishtha,
re-entered his auspicious capital after a long time. The citizens of
Ayodhya beheld their king accompanied by his priest, as if he were the
rising sun. The monarch who was superior to everyone in beauty filled by
his splendour the whole town of Ayodhya, like the autumnal moon filling by
his splendour the whole firmament. And the excellent city itself, in
consequence of its streets having been watered and swept, and of the rows
of banners and pendants beautifying it all around, gladdened the monarch's
heart. And, O prince of Kuru's race, the city filled as it was with joyous
and healthy souls, in consequence of his presence, looked gay like
Amaravati with the presence of the chief of the celestials. After the
royal sage had entered his capital, the queen, at the king's command,
approached Vasishtha. The great Rishi, making a covenant with her, united
himself with her according to the high ordinance. And after a little while,
when the queen conceived, that best of Rishis, receiving the reverential
salutations of the king, went back to his asylum. The queen bore the
embryo in her womb for a long time. When she saw that she did not bring
forth anything, she tore open her womb by a piece of stone. It was then
that at the twelfth year (of the conception) was born Asmaka, that bull
amongst men, that royal sage who founded (the city of) Paudanya.'"

SECTION CLXXX

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"The Gandharva continued, 'Then, O Partha, Adrisyanti, who had been
residing in Vasishtha's asylum, brought forth (when the time came) a son
who was the perpetuator of Saktri's race and who was a second Saktri in
everything. O foremost of Bharatas, that best of Munis, the illustrious
Vasishtha himself performed the usual after-birth ceremonies of his
grandson. And, because the Rishi Vasishtha had resolved on self-
destruction but had abstained therefrom as soon as he knew of the
existence of that child, that child, when born, was called Parasara (the
vivifier of the dead). The virtuous Parasara, from the day of his birth,
knew Vasishtha for his father and behaved towards the Muni as such. One
day, O son of Kunti, the child addressed Vasishtha, that first of Brahmana
sages, as father, in the presence of his mother Adrisyanti. Adrisyanti,
hearing the very intelligible sound father sweetly uttered by her son,
addressed him with tearful eyes and said, 'O child, do not address this
thy grandfather as father? Thy father, O son, has been devoured by a
Rakshasa in a different forest. O innocent one, he is not thy father whom
thou regardest so. The revered one is the father of that celebrated father
of thine.' Thus addressed by his mother that best of Rishis of truthful
speech, gave way to sorrow, but soon fired up and resolved to destroy the
whole creation. Then that illustrious and great ascetic Vasishtha, that
foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma, that son of Mitravaruna,
that Rishi acquainted with positive truth, addressed his grandson who had
set his heart upon the destruction of the world. Hear, O Arjuna, the
arguments by which Vasishtha succeeded in driving out that resolution from
his grandson's mind.'