(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Gandharva continued, 'The Brahmana sage () thus addressed by the illustrious restrained his wrath from destroying the worlds. But the Rishi endued with great energy--the son of --the foremost of all persons acquainted with the Vedas--performed a grand Rakshasa sacrifice. And remembering the slaughter of (his father) , the great Muni began to consume the Rakshasas, young and old, in the sacrifice he performed. And did not restrain him from this slaughter of the Rakshasa, from the determination of not obstructing this second vow (of his grandson). And in that sacrifice the great Muni sat before three blazing fires, himself like unto to a fourth fire. And the son of , like the Sun just emerging from the clouds, illuminated the whole firmament by that stainless sacrifice of his into which large were the libations poured of clarified butter. Then and the other Rishis regarded that Muni blazing with his own energy as if he were the second Sun. Then the great Rishi Atri of liberal soul desirous of ending that sacrifice, an achievement highly difficult for others,--came to that place. And there also came, O thou you slayer of all foes, and Pulaha, and Kratu the performer of many great sacrifices, all influenced by the desire of saving the Rakshasas. And, O thou you bull of the Bharata race, then, seeing that many Rakshasas had already been slain, told these words unto to that oppressor of all enemies:
'There is no obstruction, I hope, to this sacrifice of thine yours, O child! Takest take thou you any pleasure, O child, in this slaughter of even all those innocent Rakshasas that know nothing of thy your father's death. It behoveth behooves thee you not to destroy any creatures thus. This, O child, is not the occupation of a Brahmana devoted to asceticism. Peace is the highest virtue. Therefore, O , establish thou you peace. How hast have thou you, O , being so superior, engaged thyself in such a sinful practice? It behoveth behooves not thee you to transgress against himself who was well-acquainted with all rules of morality. It behoveth behooves not thee you to extirpate any creatures. O descendant of 's race, that which befell thy your father was brought about by his own curse. It was for his own fault that was taken hence unto to heaven. O Muni, no Rakshasa was capable of devouring ; he himself provided for his own death. And, O , was only a blind instrument in that matter. Both and , having ascended to heaven are enjoying great happiness. And, the other sons also of the great Rishi who were younger than , are even now enjoying themselves with the celestials. And, O child, O offspring of 's son, thou you hast have also been, in this sacrifice, only an instrument in the destruction of these innocent Rakshasas. O, blest be thou you! Abandon this sacrifice of thine yours. Let it come to an end.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed by , as also by the intelligent , that mighty Muni--the son of then brought that sacrifice to an end. And the Rishi cast the fire that he had ignited for the purpose of the Rakshasas' sacrifice into the deep woods on the north of the Himavat. And that fire may be seen to this day consuming Rakshasas and trees and stones in all seasons.'"
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
" asked, 'What for, O Gandharva, did king command his queen to go unto to that foremost of all persons conversant with the Vedas--the master ? Why also did that illustrious and great Rishi himself who was acquainted with every rule of morality know a woman he should not have known? O friend, was this an act of sin on the part of ? It behoveth behooves thee you to remove the doubts I entertain and refer to thee you for solution.'
"The Gandharva replied, saying, 'O irrepressible , listen to me as I answer the question thou you hast have asked in respect of and king that cherisher of friends. O thou you best of the Bharatas, I have told thee you all about the curse of king by , the illustrious son of . Brought under the influence of the curse, that smiter of all foes--king --with eyes whirling in anger went out of his capital accompanied by his wife. And entering with his wife the solitary woods the king began to wander about. And one day while the king under the influence of the curse was wandering through that forest abounding in several kinds of deer and various other animals and overgrown with numerous large trees and shrubs and creepers and resounding with terrible cries, he became exceedingly hungry. And the monarch thereupon then began to search for some food. Pinched with hunger, the king at last saw, in a very solitary part of the woods, a Brahmana and his wife enjoying each other. Alarmed at beholding the monarch the couple ran away, their desire ungratified. Pursuing the retreating pair, the king forcibly seized the Brahmana. Then the Brahmani, beholding her lord seized, addressed the monarch, saying, 'Listen to what I say, O monarch of excellent vows! It is known all over the world that thou you art born in the solar race, and that thou you art ever vigilant in the practice of morality and devoted to the service of thy your superiors. It behoveth behooves thee you not to commit sin, O thou you irrepressible one, deprived though thou you hast have been of thy your senses by (the Rishi's) curse. My season hath has come, and wishful of my husband's company I was connected with him. I have not been gratified yet. Be propitious unto to us, O thou you best of kings! Liberate my husband.' The monarch, however, without listening to her cries cruelly devoured her husband like a tiger devouring its desirable prey. Possessed with wrath at this sight, the tears that that woman shed blazed up like fire and consumed everything in that place. Afflicted with grief at the calamity that overtook her lord, the Brahmani in anger cursed the royal sage , 'Vile wretch, since thou you hast have today cruelly devoured under my very nose my illustrious husband dear unto to me, even before my desires have been gratified, therefore shall thou you, O wicked one afflicted by my curse, meet with instant death when thou you goest go in for thy your wife in season. And thy your wife, O wretch, shall bring forth a son uniting herself with that Rishi whose children have been devoured by thee you. And that child, O worst of kings, shall be the perpetuator of thy your race.' And cursing the monarch thus, that lady of Angira's house bearing every auspicious mark, entered the blazing fire in the very sight of the monarch. And, O thou you oppressor of all foes, the illustrious and exalted by his ascetic power and spiritual insight immediately knew all. And long after this, when the king became freed from his curse, he approached his wife Madayanati when her season came. But Madayanati softly sent him away. Under the influence of passion the monarch had no recollection of that curse. Hearing, however, the words of his wife, the best of kings became terribly alarmed. And recollecting the curse he repented bitterly of what he had done. It was for this reason, O thou you best of men, that the monarch infected with the Brahmani's curse, appointed to beget a son upon his queen.'"
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
" asked, 'O Gandharva, thou you art acquainted with everything. Tell us, therefore, which Veda-knowing Brahmana is worthy to be appointed as our priest.'
"The Gandharva replied, 'There is in these woods a shrine of the name of Utkochaka. , the younger brother of Devala is engaged there in ascetic penances. Appoint him, if ye you desire, your priest."
" said, 'Then , highly pleased with everything that had happened, gave unto to that Gandharva, his weapon of fire with befitting ceremonies. And addressing him, the Pandava also said, 'O thou you best of Gandharvas, let the horses thou you givest give us remain with thee you for a time. When the occasion cometh comes, we will take them from thee you. Blest be thou you.' Then the Gandharva and the Pandavas, respectfully saluting each other, left the delightful banks of the Bhagirathi and went wheresoever they desired. Then, O Bharata, the Pandavas going to Utkochaka, the sacred asylum of installed as their priest. And , the foremost of all conversant with the Vedas, receiving them with presents of wild fruits and (edible) roots, consented to become their priest. And the Pandavas with their mother forming the sixth of the company, having obtained that Brahmana as their priest regarded their sovereignty and kingdom as already regained and the daughter of the Panchala king as already obtained in the Swayamavara. And those bulls of the Bharata race, having obtained the master as their priest, also regarded themselves as placed under a powerful protector. And the high-souled , acquainted with the true meaning of the Vedas and every rule of morality, becoming the spiritual preceptor of the virtuous Pandavas, made them his Yajamanas (spiritual disciples). And that Brahmana, beholding those heroes endued with intelligence and strength and perseverance like unto to the celestials, regarded them as already restored, by virtue of their own accomplishments to their sovereignty and kingdom. Then those kings of men, having had benedictions uttered upon them by that Brahmana, resolved to go, accompanied by him, to the Swayamvara of the Princess of Panchala.'"
(Swayamvara Parva)
" said, 'Then those tigers among men--those brothers--the five Pandavas, set out for Panchala to behold that country and and the festivities (in view of her marriage). And those tigers among men--those oppressors of all enemies--in going along with their mother, saw on the way numerous Brahmanas proceeding together. And those Brahmanas who were all Brahmacharis beholding the Pandavas, O king, asked them, 'Where are ye you going to? Whence from where also are ye you come?' And replied unto to them, saying, 'Ye you bulls among Brahmanas, know ye you that we are uterine brothers proceeding together with our mother. We are coming even from Ekachakra.' The Brahmanas then said, 'Go ye you this very day to the abode of in the country of the Panchalas. A great Swayamvara takes place there, on which a large sum of money will be spent. We also are proceeding thither there. Let us all go together. Extraordinary festivities will take place (in 's abode). The illustrious , otherwise called , had a daughter risen from the centre of the sacrificial altar. Of eyes like lotus-petals and of faultless features endued with youth and intelligence, she is extremely beautiful. And the slender-waisted of every feature perfectly faultless, and whose body emitteth emits a fragrance like unto to that of the blue lotus for two full miles around, is the sister of the strong-armed gifted with great prowess--the (would-be) slayer of --who was born with natural mail and sword and bow and arrows from the blazing fire, himself like unto to the second Fire. And that daughter of will select a husband from among the invited princes. And we are repairing thither there to behold her and the festivities on the occasion, like unto to the festivities of heaven. And to that Swayamvara will come from various lands kings and princes who are performers of sacrifices in which the presents to the Brahmanas are large: who are devoted to study, are holy, illustrious, and of rigid vows; who are young and handsome; and who are mighty car-warriors and accomplished in arms. Desirous of winning (the hand of) the maiden those monarchs will all give away much wealth and kine and food and other articles of enjoyment. And taking all they will give away and witnessing the Swayamvara, and enjoying the festivities, we shall go wheresoever we like. And there will also come unto to that Swayamvara, from various countries, actors, and bards singing the panegyrics of kings, and dancers, and reciters of Puranas, and heralds, and powerful athletes. And beholding all these sights and taking what will be given away to illustrious ones, ye you will return with us. Ye you are all handsome and like unto to the celestials! Beholding you, may, by chance, choose some one amongst you superior to the rest. This thy your brother of mighty arms and handsome and endued with beauty also, engaged in (athletic) encounters, may, by chance, earn great wealth.'
"On hearing these words of the Brahmanas, replied, 'Ye you Brahmanas, we will all go with you to witness that maiden's Swayamvara--that excellent jubilee.'"