The Mahabharata, of, Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, BOOK 3, (Tirtha-yatra Parva), 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 Vradhnaswa 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

Prahrada'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 passeth 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 Yudhisthira, 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 invisible 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 mighty, 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 shalt,

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 Vritia. 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."