The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION CLXXXIII (Chaitraratha Parva continued)

 The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

 SECTION CLXXXIII

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"The Gandharva continued, 'The Brahmana sage (Parasara) thus addressed by

the illustrious Vasishtha restrained his wrath from destroying the

worlds. But the Rishi Parasara endued with great energy--the son of

Saktri--the foremost of all persons acquainted with the Vedas--performed

a grand Rakshasa sacrifice. And remembering the slaughter of (his father)

Saktri, the great Muni began to consume the Rakshasas, young and old, in

the sacrifice he performed. And Vasishtha did not restrain him from this

slaughter of the Rakshasa, from the determination of not obstructing this

second vow (of his grandson). And in that sacrifice the great Muni

Parasara sat before three blazing fires, himself like unto a fourth fire.

And the son of Saktri, like the Sun just emerging from the clouds,

illuminated the whole firmament by that stainless sacrifice of his into

which large were the libations poured of clarified butter. Then Vasishtha

and the other Rishis regarded that Muni blazing with his own energy as if

he were the second Sun. Then the great Rishi Atri of liberal soul

desirous of ending that sacrifice, an achievement highly difficult for

others,--came to that place. And there also came, O thou slayer of all

foes, Pulastya and Pulaha, and Kratu the performer of many great

sacrifices, all influenced by the desire of saving the Rakshasas. And, O

thou bull of the Bharata race, Pulastya then, seeing that many Rakshasas

had already been slain, told these words unto Parasara that oppressor of

all enemies:

'There is no obstruction, I hope, to this sacrifice of thine, O child!

Takest thou any pleasure, O child, in this slaughter of even all those

innocent Rakshasas that know nothing of thy father's death. It behoveth

thee not to destroy any creatures thus. This, O child, is not the

occupation of a Brahmana devoted to asceticism. Peace is the highest

virtue. Therefore, O Parasara, establish thou peace. How hast thou, O

Parasara, being so superior, engaged thyself in such a sinful practice?

It behoveth not thee to transgress against Saktri himself who was

well-acquainted with all rules of morality. It behoveth not thee to

extirpate any creatures. O descendant of Vasishtha's race, that which

befell thy father was brought about by his own curse. It was for his own

fault that Saktri was taken hence unto heaven. O Muni, no Rakshasa was

capable of devouring Saktri; he himself provided for his own death. And,

O Parasara, Viswamitra was only a blind instrument in that matter. Both

Saktri and Kalmashapada, having ascended to heaven are enjoying great

happiness. And, the other sons also of the great Rishi Vasishtha who were

younger than Saktri, are even now enjoying themselves with the

celestials. And, O child, O offspring of Vasishtha's son, thou hast also

been, in this sacrifice, only an instrument in the destruction of these

innocent Rakshasas. O, blest be thou! Abandon this sacrifice of thine.

Let it come to an end.'

"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed by Pulastya, as also by the

intelligent Vasishtha, that mighty Muni--the son of Saktri then brought

that sacrifice to an end. And the Rishi cast the fire that he had ignited

for the purpose of the Rakshasas' sacrifice into the deep woods on the

north of the Himavat. And that fire may be seen to this day consuming

Rakshasas and trees and stones in all seasons.'"

SECTION CLXXXIV

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"Arjuna asked, 'What for, O Gandharva, did king Kalmashapada command his

queen to go unto that foremost of all persons conversant with the

Vedas--the master Vasishtha? Why also did that illustrious and great

Rishi Vasishtha himself who was acquainted with every rule of morality

know a woman he should not have known? O friend, was this an act of sin

on the part of Vasishtha? It behoveth thee to remove the doubts I

entertain and refer to thee for solution.'

"The Gandharva replied, saying, 'O irrepressible Dhananjaya, listen to me

as I answer the question thou hast asked in respect of Vasishtha and king

Kalmashapada that cherisher of friends. O thou best of the Bharatas, I

have told thee all about the curse of king Kalmashapada by Saktri, the

illustrious son of Vasishtha. Brought under the influence of the curse,

that smiter of all foes--king Kalmashapada--with eyes whirling in anger

went out of his capital accompanied by his wife. And entering with his

wife the solitary woods the king began to wander about. And one day while

the king under the influence of the curse was wandering through that

forest abounding in several kinds of deer and various other animals and

overgrown with numerous large trees and shrubs and creepers and

resounding with terrible cries, he became exceedingly hungry. And the

monarch thereupon began to search for some food. Pinched with hunger, the

king at last saw, in a very solitary part of the woods, a Brahmana and

his wife enjoying each other. Alarmed at beholding the monarch the couple

ran away, their desire ungratified. Pursuing the retreating pair, the

king forcibly seized the Brahmana. Then the Brahmani, beholding her lord

seized, addressed the monarch, saying, 'Listen to what I say, O monarch

of excellent vows! It is known all over the world that thou art born in

the solar race, and that thou art ever vigilant in the practice of

morality and devoted to the service of thy superiors. It behoveth thee

not to commit sin, O thou irrepressible one, deprived though thou hast

been of thy senses by (the Rishi's) curse. My season hath come, and

wishful of my husband's company I was connected with him. I have not been

gratified yet. Be propitious unto us, O thou best of kings! Liberate my

husband.' The monarch, however, without listening to her cries cruelly

devoured her husband like a tiger devouring its desirable prey. Possessed

with wrath at this sight, the tears that that woman shed blazed up like

fire and consumed everything in that place. Afflicted with grief at the

calamity that overtook her lord, the Brahmani in anger cursed the royal

sage Kalmashapada, 'Vile wretch, since thou hast today cruelly devoured

under my very nose my illustrious husband dear unto me, even before my

desires have been gratified, therefore shall thou, O wicked one afflicted

by my curse, meet with instant death when thou goest in for thy wife in

season. And thy wife, O wretch, shall bring forth a son uniting herself

with that Rishi Vasishtha whose children have been devoured by thee. And

that child, O worst of kings, shall be the perpetuator of thy race.' And

cursing the monarch thus, that lady of Angira's house bearing every

auspicious mark, entered the blazing fire in the very sight of the

monarch. And, O thou oppressor of all foes, the illustrious and exalted

Vasishtha by his ascetic power and spiritual insight immediately knew

all. And long after this, when the king became freed from his curse, he

approached his wife Madayanati when her season came. But Madayanati

softly sent him away. Under the influence of passion the monarch had no

recollection of that curse. Hearing, however, the words of his wife, the

best of kings became terribly alarmed. And recollecting the curse he

repented bitterly of what he had done. It was for this reason, O thou

best of men, that the monarch infected with the Brahmani's curse,

appointed Vasishtha to beget a son upon his queen.'"

SECTION CLXXXV

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"Arjuna asked, 'O Gandharva, thou art acquainted with everything. Tell

us, therefore, which Veda-knowing Brahmana is worthy to be appointed as

our priest.'

"The Gandharva replied, 'There is in these woods a shrine of the name of

Utkochaka. Dhaumya, the younger brother of Devala is engaged there in

ascetic penances. Appoint him, if ye desire, your priest."

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then Arjuna, highly pleased with everything that had

happened, gave unto that Gandharva, his weapon of fire with befitting

ceremonies. And addressing him, the Pandava also said, 'O thou best of

Gandharvas, let the horses thou givest us remain with thee for a time.

When the occasion cometh, we will take them from thee. Blest be thou.'

Then the Gandharva and the Pandavas, respectfully saluting each other,

left the delightful banks of the Bhagirathi and went wheresoever they

desired. Then, O Bharata, the Pandavas going to Utkochaka, the sacred

asylum of Dhaumya installed Dhaumya as their priest. And Dhaumya, the

foremost of all conversant with the Vedas, receiving them with presents

of wild fruits and (edible) roots, consented to become their priest. And

the Pandavas with their mother forming the sixth of the company, having

obtained that Brahmana as their priest regarded their sovereignty and

kingdom as already regained and the daughter of the Panchala king as

already obtained in the Swayamavara. And those bulls of the Bharata race,

having obtained the master Dhaumya as their priest, also regarded

themselves as placed under a powerful protector. And the high-souled

Dhaumya, acquainted with the true meaning of the Vedas and every rule of

morality, becoming the spiritual preceptor of the virtuous Pandavas, made

them his Yajamanas (spiritual disciples). And that Brahmana, beholding

those heroes endued with intelligence and strength and perseverance like

unto the celestials, regarded them as already restored, by virtue of

their own accomplishments to their sovereignty and kingdom. Then those

kings of men, having had benedictions uttered upon them by that Brahmana,

resolved to go, accompanied by him, to the Swayamvara of the Princess of

Panchala.'"