SECTION –CLXXXIV
(Markandeya-Samasya Parva Continued)
Vaisampayana continued,--"The sons of Pandu
said to the high-souled Markandeya, 'We long to hear of the greatness of the
Brahmanas Do thou tell us of it!' Thus asked, the revered Markandeya, of
austere virtue and high spiritual energy, and proficient in all departments of
knowledge, replied, 'A strong-limbed, handsome young prince of the race of the
Haihayas, a conqueror of hostile cities, (once) went out hunting. And (while)
roaming in the wilderness of big trees and thickets of grass, he saw, at no
great distance from him, a Muni with the skin of a black antelope for his upper
garment, and killed him for a deer. Pained at what he had done, and his senses
paralysed with grief, he repaired to the presence of the more distinguished of
the Haihaya chiefs. The louts-eyed prince related to them the particulars. On
hearing the account, O my son, and beholding the body of the Muni who had
subsisted on fruits and roots, they were sorely afflicted in mind. And they all
set out enquiring here and there as they proceeded, as to whose son the Muni
might be. And they soon after reached the hermitage of Arishtanemi, son of
Kasyapa. And saluting that great Muni, so constant in austerity, they all
remained standing, while the Muni, on his part, busied himself about their
reception. And they said unto the illustrious Muni, 'By a freak of destiny, we
have ceased to merit thy welcome: indeed, we have killed a Brahmana!' And the
regenerate Rishi said to them, 'How hath a Brahmana come to be killed by you,
and say where may be he? Do ye all witness the power of my ascetic practices!'
And they, having related everything to him as it had happened went back, but
found not the body of the dead Rishi on the spot (where they had left it). And
having searched for him, they returned, ashamed and bereft of all perception,
as in a dream. And then, O thou conqueror of hostile cities, the Muni Tarkshya,
addressed them, saying, 'Ye princes, can this be the Brahmana of your killing?
This Brahmana, endowed with occult gifts from spiritual exercises, is, indeed,
my son!' Seeing that Rishi, O lord of the earth, they were struck with
bewilderment. And they said, 'What a marvel! How hath the dead come to life
again? Is it the power of his austere virtue by which he hath revived again?
We long to hear this, O Brahmana, if, indeed, it
can be divulged?' To them, he replied, 'Death, O lords of men, hath no power
over us! I shall tell ye the reason briefly and intelligibly. We perform our
own sacred duties; therefore, have we no fear of death; we speak well of
Brahmanas but never think any ill of them; therefore hath death no terror for
us. Entertaining our guests with food and drink, and our dependants with plenty
of food, we ourselves (then) partake of what is left; therefore we are not
afraid of death. We are peaceful and austere and charitable and forbearing and
fond of visiting sacred shrines, and we live in sacred places; therefore we
have no fear of death. And we live in places inhabited by men who have great
spiritual power; therefore hath death no terror for us. I have briefly told ye
all! Return ye now all together, cured of all worldly vanity. Ye have no fear
of sin!' Saying amen, O foremost scion of Bharata's race, and saluting the great
Muni, all those princes joyously returned to their country."
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