(Sambhava Parva continued)
" continued, 'Know, then, O , that he that mindeth minds not the evil speeches of others, conquereth conquers everything! The wise say that he is a true charioteer who without slackening holdeth holds tightly the reins of his horses. He, therefore, is the true man that subdueth subdues, without indulging in his rising wrath. Know thou you, O , that by him is everything conquered, who calmly subdueth subdues his rising anger. He is regarded as a man who by having recourse to forgiveness, shaketh shakes off his rising anger like a snake casting off its slough He that suppresseth suppresses his anger, he that regardeth regards not the evil speeches of others, he that becometh becomes not angry, though there be cause, certainly acquireth acquires the four objects for which we live (viz., virtue, profit, desire, and salvation) Between him that performeth performs without fatigue sacrifices every month for a hundred years, and him that never feeleth feels angry at anything, he that feeleth feels not wrath is certainly the higher. Boys and girls, unable to distinguish between right and wrong, quarrel with each other. The wise never imitate them.' , on hearing this speech of her father, said, 'O father, I know, also what the difference is between anger and forgiveness as regards the power of each. But when a disciple behaveth behaves disrespectfully, he should never be forgiven by if the latter is really desirous of benefiting the former. Therefore, I do not desire to live any longer in a country where evil behaviour is at a premium. The wise man desirous of good, should not dwell among those sinfully inclined men who always speak ill of good behaviour and high birth. But there should one live,--indeed, that hath has been said to be the best of dwelling places,--where good behaviour and purity of birth are known and respected. The cruel words uttered by 's daughter burn my heart even as men, desirous of kindling a fire, burn the dry fuel. I do not think anything more miserable for a man in the three worlds than to adore one's enemies blessed with good fortune, himself possessing none. It hath has been indeed said by the learned that for such a man even death would be better.'"
(Sambhava Parva continued)
" said, 'Then , the foremost of 's line, became angry himself. And approaching where the latter was seated, began to address him without weighing his words, 'O king,' he said, 'sinful acts do not, like the Earth, bear fruit immediately! But gradually and secretly do they extirpate their doers. Such fruit visiteth visits either in one's own self, one's son, or one's grandson. Sins must bear their fruit. Like rich food they can never be digested. And because ye you slew the Brahmana , the grandson of , who was virtuous, acquainted with the precepts of religion, and attentive to his duties, while residing in my abode, even for this act of slaughter--and for the mal-treatment of my daughter too, know, O , I shall leave thee you and thy your relatives! Indeed, O king, for this, I can no longer stay with thee you! Dost do thou you, O Asura chief, think that I am a raving liar? Thou you makest make light of thy your offence without seeking to correct it!'.
" then said, 'O son of , never have I attributed want of virtue, of falsehood, to thee you. Indeed, virtue and truth ever dwell in thee you. Be kind to me! O Bhargava, if, leaving us, thou you really goest go hence, we shall then go into the depths of the ocean. Indeed, there is nothing else for us to do.'
" then replied, 'Ye you Asuras, whether ye you go into the depths of the ocean or fly away to all directions. I care little. I am unable to bear my daughter's grief. My daughter is ever dear to me. My life dependeth depends on her. Seek ye you to please her. As ever seeketh seeks the good of , so do I always seek thine yours by my ascetic merits.'
" then said, 'O Bhargava, thou you art the absolute master of whatever is possessed by the Asura chiefs in this world-their elephants, kine and horses, and even my humble self!'
" then answered, 'If it is true, O great Asura, that I am the lord of all the wealth of the Asuras, then go and gratify .'
" continued, 'when the great was so addressed by , he then went to and told her all. , however, quickly replied, 'O Bhargava, if thou you art truly the lord of the Asura king himself and of all his wealth, then let the king himself come to me and say so in my presence.' then approached and told her, 'O of sweet smiles, whatever thou you desirest I am willing to give thee you, however difficult it may be to grant the same.' answered, 'I desire with a thousand maids to wait on me! She must also follow me to where my father may give me away.'
" then commanded a maid-servant in attendance on him, saying, 'Go and quickly bring hither here. Let her also accomplish what wisheth wishes.'
" continued, 'The maid-servant then repaired to and told her, 'O amiable , rise and follow me. Accomplish the good of thy your relatives. Urged by , the Brahmana () is on the point of leaving his disciples (the Asuras). O sinless one, thou you must do what wisheth wishes.' replied, 'I shall cheerfully do what wisheth wishes. Urged by is calling me. Both and must not leave the Asuras through my fault.'
" continued, 'Commanded by her father, then, , accompanied by a thousand maidens, soon came, in a palanquin, out of her father's excellent mansion. And approaching she said, 'With my thousand maids, I am thy your waiting-maid! And I shall follow thee you where thy your father may give thee you away.' replied, 'I am the daughter of one who chanteth chants the praises of thy your father, and who beggeth begs and accepteth accepts alms; thou you, on the other hand, art the daughter of one who is adored. How canst can thou you be my waiting-maid?'
" answered, 'One must by all means contribute to the happiness of one's afflicted relatives. Therefore shall I follow thee you wherever thy your father may give thee you away.'
" continued, 'When thus promised to be 's waiting-maid the latter, O king, then spoke unto to her father thus, 'O best of all excellent Brahmanas, I am gratified. I shall now enter the Asura capital! I now know that thy your science and power of knowledge are not futile!'
" continued, 'That best of Brahmanas, of great reputation, thus addressed by his daughter, then, entered the Asura capital in the gladness of his heart. And the Danavas worshipped him with great reverence.'"
(Sambhava Parva continued)
said, 'After some length of time, O best of monarchs, of the fairest complexion went into the same woods for purposes of pleasure. And accompanied by with her thousand maids she reached the same spot and began to wander freely. And waited upon by all those companions she felt supremely happy. And sporting with light hearts, they began drinking the honey in flowers, eating various kinds of fruit and biting some. And just at that time, king , the son of , again came there tired and thirsty, in course of his wanderings, in search of deer. And the king saw and , and those other maidens also, all decked with celestial ornaments and full of voluptuous languor in consequence of the flower-honey they drank. And of sweet smiles, unrivalled for beauty and possessed of the fairest complexion amongst them all, was reclining at her ease. And she was waited upon by who was gently kneading her feet.
"And seeing all this, said, 'O amiable ones, I would ask you both your names and parentage. It seems that these two thousand maids wait on you two.' 'Hearing the monarch, then answered, 'Listen to me, O best of men. Know that I am the daughter of , the spiritual guide of the Asuras. This my companion is my waiting-maid. She attendeth attends on me wherever I go. She is , the daughter of the Asura king .'
" then asked, 'I am curious to know why is this thy your companion of fair eye-brows, this maiden of the fairest complexion, the daughter of the Asura chief thy your waiting-maid!' replied, 'O best of king, everything resulteth results from Fate. Knowing this also to be the result of Fate, wonder not at it. Thy your feature and attire are both like a king's. Thy your speech also is fair and correct as that of the Vedas. Tell me thy your name, whence from where thou you art and whose son also.'
"The monarch replied, 'During my vow of Brahmacharya, the whole Vedas entered my ears. I am known as , a king's son and myself a king.' then enquired, 'O king, what hast have thou you come here for? Is it to gather lotuses or to angle or to hunt?' said, 'O amiable one, thirsty from the pursuit of deer, I have come hither here in search of water. I am very much fatigued. I await but your commands to leave this spot.'
" answered, 'With my two thousand damsels and my waiting-maid , I wait but your commands. Prosperity to thee you. Be thou you my friend and lord.'
", thereupon then, replied, 'Beautiful one, I do not deserve thee you. Thou you art the daughter of far superior to me. Thy your father cannot bestow thee you even on a great king.' To this replied, 'Brahmanas had before this been united with the Kshatriyas, and Kshatriyas with Brahmanas. Thou you art the son of a Rishi and thyself a Rishi. Therefore, O son of , marry me.' , however, replied, 'O thou you of the handsomest features, the four orders have, indeed, sprung from one body. But their duties and purity are not the same, the Brahmana being truly superior to all.' answered, 'This hand of mine hath has never been touched before by any man save thee you. Therefore, do I accept thee you for my lord. How, indeed, shall any other man touch my hand which had before been touched by thyself who art a Rishi? then said, 'The wise know that a Brahmana is more to be avoided than an angry snake of virulent poison, or a blazing fire of spreading flames.' then told the monarch, 'O bull amongst men, why dost do thou you, indeed, say that Brahmana should be more avoided than an angry snake of virulent poison or a blazing fire of spreading flames?' The monarch answered, 'The snake killeth kills only one. The sharpest weapon slayeth slays but a single person. The Brahmana, when angry destroyeth destroys whole cities and kingdoms! Therefore, O timid one, do I deem a Brahmana as more to be avoided than either. I cannot hence wed thee you, O amiable one, unless thy your father bestoweth bestows thee you on me. then said, 'Thou you art, indeed, chosen by me. And, O king, it is understood that thou you wilt will accept me if my father bestoweth bestows me on thee you. Thou you needst not fear to accept my poor self bestowed on thee you. Thou you dost do not, indeed, ask for me.'
" continued, 'After this, quickly sent a maidservant to her father. The maid represented to everything as it had happened. And as soon as he had heard all, Bhargava came and saw . And beholding Bhargava come, worshipped and adored that Brahmana, and stood with joined palms in expectation of his commands.'
"And then said, 'This O father, is the son of . He took hold of my hand, when I was in distress. I bow to thee you. Bestow me upon him. I shall not wed any other person in the world.' exclaimed, 'O thou you of splendid courage, thou you hast have, indeed, been accepted as her lord by this my dear daughter. I bestow her on thee you. Therefore, O son of , accept her as thy your wife.'
" then said, 'I solicit the boon, O Brahmana, that by so doing, the sin of begetting a half-breed might not touch me.' , however, assured him by saying, 'I shall absolve thee you from the sin. Ask thou you the boon that thou you desirest. Fear not to wed her. I grant thee you absolution. Maintain virtuously thy your wife--the slender-waisted . Transports of happiness be thine yours in her company. This other maiden, 's daughter, should ever be regarded by thee you. But thou you shall not summon her to thy your bed.'
" continued, 'Thus addressed by , then walked round the Brahmana. And the king then went through the auspicious ceremony of marriage according to the rites of the scriptures. And having received from this rich treasure of the excellent with and those two thousand maidens, and duly honoured also by himself and the Asuras, the best of monarchs, then, commanded by the high-souled Bhargava, returned to his capital with a joyous heart.'"