SECTION XCVI
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'There was a king known
by the name of Mahabhisha born in the race of Ikshvaku. He was the lord of all
the earth, and was truthful (in speech) and of true prowess. By a thousand
horse-sacrifices and a hundred Rajasuyas he had gratified the chief of the
celestials and ultimately attained to heaven.
"One day the celestials had assembled
together and were worshipping Brahman. Many royal sages and king Mahabhisha
also were present on the spot. And Ganga, the queen of rivers, also came there
to pay her adorations to the Grandsire. And her garments white as the beams of
the moon was displaced by the action of the wind. And as her person became
exposed, the celestials bent down their heads. But the royal sage Mahabhisha
rudely stared at the queen of rivers. And Mahabhisha was for this cursed by
Brahman, who said, 'Wretch, as thou hast forgotten thyself at the sight of
Ganga, thou shalt be re-born on earth. But thou shall again and again attain to
these regions. And she, too, shall be born in the world of men and shall do
thee injuries. But when thy wrath shall be provoked, thou shalt then be freed
from my curse.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'King Mahabhisha
then recollecting all the monarchs and ascetics on earth, wished to be born as
son to Pratipa of great prowess. And the queen of rivers, too, seeing king
Mahabhisha lose his firmness, went away, thinking of him wishfully. And on her
way, she saw those dwellers in heaven, the Vasus, also pursuing the same path.
And the queen of rivers beholding them in the predicament, asked them, 'Why
look ye so dejected? Ye dwellers in heaven, is everything right with you?'
Those celestials, the Vasus, answered her, saying, 'O queen of rivers, we have
been cursed, for a venial fault, by the illustrious Vasishtha in anger. The
foremost of excellent Rishis, Vasishtha, had been engaged in his twilight
adorations and seated as he was, he could not be seen by us. We crossed him in
ignorance. Therefore, in wrath he hath cursed us, saying, Be ye born among
men!' It is beyond our power to frustrate what hath been said by that utterance
of Brahma. Therefore, O river, thyself becoming a human female make us the
Vasus, thy children. O amiable one, we are unwilling to enter the womb of any
human female.' Thus addressed, the queen of rivers told them, 'Be it so and
asked them, 'On earth, who is that foremost of men whom ye will make your
father?'
"The Vasus replied, 'On earth, unto Pratipa
shall be born a son, Santanu, who will be a king of world-wide fame.' Ganga
then said, 'Ye celestials, that is exactly my wish which ye sinless ones have
expressed. I shall, indeed, do good to that Santanu. That is also your desire
as just expressed.' The Vasus then said, 'It behoveth thee to throw thy
children after birth, into the water, so that, O thou of three courses
(celestial, terrestrial, and subterranean) we may be rescued soon without
having to live on earth for any length of time.' Ganga then answered, 'I shall
do what ye desire. But in order that his intercourse with me may not be
entirely fruitless, provide ye that one son at least may live.' The Vasus then
replied, 'We shall each contribute an eighth part of our respective energies
With the sum thereof, thou shall have one son according to thy and his wishes.
But this son shall not begat any children on earth. Therefore, that son of
thine endued with great energy, shall be childless.'
"The Vasus, making this arrangement with
Ganga, went away without Waiting to the place they liked.'"
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