SECTION –XCVI
(Tirtha-yatra Parva Continued)
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?'"
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