(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
" said, 'That bull among the Bharatas, , hearing these words of the Gandharva, was inspired with feelings of devotion and stood shes (???--JBH), killing deer and wild boars. Once on a time, while out in quest of deer, the king became weak with exertion and thirst. The monarch arrived in that state at the asylum of , and the blessed and illustrious Rishi beholding him arrive, reverenced with his homage that best of men, king . And O Bharata, the Rishi saluted the monarch by offering him water to wash his face and feet with, and Arghya, and wild fruits, and clarified butter. For the illustrious Rishi had a cow yielding anything that was desired of her. When she was addressed, saying, 'O give',--she always yielded the article that was sought. And she yielded various fruits and corn, wild or grown in gardens and fields, and milk, and many excellent nutritive viands full of six different kinds of juice (taste?) and like unto to nectar itself, and various other kinds of enjoyable things, O , of ambrosial taste for drinking and eating, and for licking and sucking, and also many precious gems and robes of various kinds. With these desirable objects in profusion the monarch was worshipped. And the king with his minister and troops became highly pleased. And the monarch wondered much, beholding that cow with six elevated limbs and the beautiful flanks and hips, and five limbs that were broad, and eyes prominent like those of the frog and beautiful in size, and high udders, and faultless make, and straight and uplifted ears, and handsome horns, and well-developed head and neck.
"And, O prince, the son of Gadhi, gratified with everything and applauding the cow named , addressed the Rishi, saying, 'O Brahmana, O great Muni, give me thy your Naridini in exchange for ten thousand kine, or my kingdom. Enjoy thou you my kingdom (giving me thy your cow).'
"Hearing these words of , said, 'O sinless one, this cow hath has been kept by me for the sake of the gods, guests, and the Pitris, as also for my sacrifices. I cannot give in exchange for even thy your kingdom.' replied, 'I am a Kshatriya, but thou you art a Brahmana devoted to asceticism and study. Is there any energy in Brahmanas who are peaceful and who have their souls under perfect command? When thou you givest give me not what I desire in exchange even for ten thousand cows, I will not abandon the practice of my order; I will take thy your cow even by force!'
" said, 'Thou you art a Kshatriya endued with might of arms. Thou you art a powerful monarch. O, do in haste what thou you desirest; and stop not to consider its propriety.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed by , , O , then forcibly seized , that cow (white) like the swan or the moon, and attempted to take her away, afflicting her with stripes and persecuting her otherwise. The innocent then began, O , to low piteously, and approaching the illustrious stood before him with uplifted face. Though persecuted very cruelly, she refused to leave the Rishi's asylum.'
"Beholding her in that plight, said, 'O amiable one, thou you art lowing repeatedly and I am hearing thy your cries. But, O , even is taking thee you away by force, what can I do in this matter, as I am a forgiving Brahmana?'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Then, O bull in Bharata's race, , alarmed at the sight of 's troops and terrified by himself, approached the Rishi still closer, and said, 'O illustrious one, why art thou you so indifferent to my poor self afflicted with the stripes of the cruel troops of and crying so piteously as if I were masterless?' Hearing these words of the crying and persecuted , the great Rishi lost not his patience nor turned from his vow of forgiveness. He replied, 'The Kshatriya's might lies in physical strength, the Brahmana's in forgiveness. Because I cannot give up forgiveness, go thou you, O , if thou you choosest choose.' answered, 'Castest thou you me away, O illustrious one, that thou you sayest say so? If thou you dost do not cast me off, I cannot, O Brahmana, be taken away by force.' said, 'O blessed one, I do not cast thee you off! Stay if thou you canst can! O, yonder is thy your calf, tied with a stout cord, and even now being weakened by it!'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Then the cow of , hearing the word stay, raised her head and neck upward, and became terrible to behold. With eyes red with rage and lowing repeatedly, she then attacked 's troops on all sides. Afflicted with their stripes and running hither here and thither there with those red eyes of hers, her wrath increased. Blazing with rage, she soon became terrible to behold like unto to the sun in his midday glory. And from her tail she began to rain showers of burning coals all around. And some moments after, from her tail she brought forth an army of Palhavas, and from her udders, an army of Dravidas and Sakas; and from her womb, an army of Yavanas, and from her dung, an army of Savaras; and from her urine, an army of Kanchis; and from her sides, an army of Savaras. And from the froth of her mouth came out hosts of Paundras and Kiratas, Yavanas and Sinhalas, and the barbarous tribes of Khasas and Chivukas and Pulindas and Chinas and Hunas with Keralas, and numerous other Mlechchhas. And that vast army of Mlechchhas in various uniforms, and armed with various weapons, as soon as it sprang into life, deploying in the very sight of , attacked that monarch's soldiers. And so numerous was that Mlechchha host that each particular soldier of was attacked by a band of six or seven of their enemies. Assailed with a mighty shower of weapons, 's troops broke and fled, panic-stricken, in all directions, before his very eyes. But, O bull in Bharata's race, the troops of , though excited with wrath, took not the life of any of 's troops. simply caused the monarch's army to be routed and driven off. And driven (from the asylum) twenty-seven full miles, panic-stricken, they shrieked aloud and beheld not anyone that could protect them. , beholding this wonderful feat that resulted from Brahmana prowess, became disgusted with Kshatriya prowess and said, 'O, fie on Kshatriya prowess! Brahmana prowess is true prowess! In judging of strength and weakness, I see that asceticism is true strength.' Saying this, the monarch, abandoning his large domains and regal splendour and turning his back upon all pleasures, set his mind on asceticism. Crowned with success in asceticism and filling the three worlds with the heat of his ascetic penances, he afflicted all creatures and finally became a Brahmana. The son of Kusika at last drank with himself (in Heaven).'"
" said, 'That bull among the Bharatas, , hearing these words of the Gandharva, was inspired with feelings of devotion and stood shes, killing deer and wild boars. Once on a time, while out in quest of deer, the king became weak with exertion and thirst. The monarch arrived in that state at the asylum of , and the blessed and illustrious Rishi beholding him arrive, reverenced with his homage that best of men, king . And O Bharata, the Rishi saluted the monarch by offering him water to wash his face and feet with, and Arghya, and wild fruits, and clarified butter. For the illustrious Rishi had a cow yielding anything that was desired of her. When she was addressed, saying, 'O give', -- she always yielded the article that was sought. And she yielded various fruits and corn, wild or grown in gardens and fields, and milk, and many excellent nutritive viands full of six different kinds of juice (taste?) and like unto to nectar itself, and various other kinds of enjoyable things, O , of ambrosial taste for drinking and eating, and for licking and sucking, and also many precious gems and robes of various kinds. With these desirable objects in profusion the monarch was worshipped. And the king with his minister and troops became highly pleased. And the monarch wondered much, beholding that cow with six elevated limbs and the beautiful flanks and hips, and five limbs that were broad, and eyes prominent like those of the frog and beautiful in size, and high udders, and faultless make, and straight and uplifted ears, and handsome horns, and well-developed head and neck.
"And, O prince, the son of Gadhi, gratified with everything and applauding the cow named , addressed the Rishi, saying, 'O Brahmana, O great Muni, give me thy your Naridini in exchange for ten thousand kine, or my kingdom. Enjoy thou you my kingdom (giving me thy your cow).'
"Hearing these words of , said, 'O sinless one, this cow hath has been kept by me for the sake of the gods, guests, and the Pitris, as also for my sacrifices. I cannot give in exchange for even thy your kingdom.' replied, 'I am a Kshatriya, but thou you art a Brahmana devoted to asceticism and study. Is there any energy in Brahmanas who are peaceful and who have their souls under perfect command? When thou you givest give me not what I desire in exchange even for ten thousand cows, I will not abandon the practice of my order; I will take thy your cow even by force!'
" said, 'Thou you art a Kshatriya endued with might of arms. Thou you art a powerful monarch. O, do in haste what thou you desirest; and stop not to consider its propriety.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed by , , O , then forcibly seized , that cow (white) like the swan or the moon, and attempted to take her away, afflicting her with stripes and persecuting her otherwise. The innocent then began, O , to low piteously, and approaching the illustrious stood before him with uplifted face. Though persecuted very cruelly, she refused to leave the Rishi's asylum.'
"Beholding her in that plight, said, 'O amiable one, thou you art lowing repeatedly and I am hearing thy your cries. But, O , even is taking thee you away by force, what can I do in this matter, as I am a forgiving Brahmana?'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Then, O bull in Bharata's race, , alarmed at the sight of 's troops and terrified by himself, approached the Rishi still closer, and said, 'O illustrious one, why art thou you so indifferent to my poor self afflicted with the stripes of the cruel troops of and crying so piteously as if I were masterless?' Hearing these words of the crying and persecuted , the great Rishi lost not his patience nor turned from his vow of forgiveness. He replied, 'The Kshatriya's might lies in physical strength, the Brahmana's in forgiveness. Because I cannot give up forgiveness, go thou you, O , if thou you choosest choose.' answered, 'Castest thou you me away, O illustrious one, that thou you sayest say so? If thou you dost do not cast me off, I cannot, O Brahmana, be taken away by force.' said, 'O blessed one, I do not cast thee you off! Stay if thou you canst can! O, yonder is thy your calf, tied with a stout cord, and even now being weakened by it!'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Then the cow of , hearing the word stay, raised her head and neck upward, and became terrible to behold. With eyes red with rage and lowing repeatedly, she then attacked 's troops on all sides. Afflicted with their stripes and running hither here and thither there with those red eyes of hers, her wrath increased. Blazing with rage, she soon became terrible to behold like unto to in his midday glory. And from her tail she began to rain showers of burning coals all around. And some moments after, from her tail she brought forth an army of Palhavas, and from her udders, an army of Dravidas and Sakas; and from her womb, an army of Yavanas, and from her dung, an army of Savaras; and from her urine, an army of Kanchis; and from her sides, an army of Savaras. And from the froth of her mouth came out hosts of Paundras and Kiratas, Yavanas and Sinhalas, and the barbarous tribes of Khasas and Chivukas and Pulindas and Chinas and Hunas with Keralas, and numerous other Mlechchhas. And that vast army of Mlechchhas in various uniforms, and armed with various weapons, as soon as it sprang into life, deploying in the very sight of , attacked that monarch's soldiers. And so numerous was that Mlechchha host that each particular soldier of was attacked by a band of six or seven of their enemies. Assailed with a mighty shower of weapons, 's troops broke and fled, panic-stricken, in all directions, before his very eyes. But, O bull in Bharata's race, the troops of , though excited with wrath, took not the life of any of 's troops. simply caused the monarch's army to be routed and driven off. And driven (from the asylum) twenty-seven full miles, panic-stricken, they shrieked aloud and beheld not anyone that could protect them. , beholding this wonderful feat that resulted from Brahmana prowess, became disgusted with Kshatriya prowess and said, 'O, fie on Kshatriya prowess! Brahmana prowess is true prowess! In judging of strength and weakness, I see that asceticism is true strength.' Saying this, the monarch, abandoning his large domains and regal splendour and turning his back upon all pleasures, set his mind on asceticism. Crowned with success in asceticism and filling the three worlds with the heat of his ascetic penances, he afflicted all creatures and finally became a Brahmana. The son of Kusika at last drank with himself (in Heaven).'"