SECTION CLXXVI
(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.'"
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