Adi Parva Part 14

Sauti said, "Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, was, with his brothers, attending his long sacrifice on the plains of Kurukshetra.

His brothers were three, Srutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhimasena. And as they were sitting at the sacrifice, there arrived at the spot

an offspring of Sarama (the celestial bitch). And belaboured by the brothers of Janamejaya, he ran away to his mother, crying

in pain. And his mother seeing him crying exceedingly asked him, 'Why criest thou so? Who hath beaten thee? And being thus

questioned, he said unto his mother, 'I have been belaboured by the brothers of Janamejaya.' And his mother replied, 'Thou hast

committed some fault for which hast thou been beaten!' He answered, 'I have not committed any fault. I have not touched the

sacrificial butter with my tongue, nor have I even cast a look upon it.' His mother Sarama hearing this and much distressed at

the affliction of her son went to the place where Janamejaya with his brothers was at his long-extending sacrifice. And she

addressed Janamejaya in anger, saying, 'This my son hath committed no fault: he hath not looked upon your sacrificial butter,

nor hath he touched it with his tongue. Wherefore hath he been beaten?' They said not a word in reply; whereupon she said, 'As

ye have beaten my son who hath committed no fault, therefore shall evil come upon ye, when ye least expect it.'

"Janamejaya, thus addressed by the celestial bitch, Sarama, became exceedingly alarmed and dejected. And after the sacrifice

was concluded returned to Hastinapura, and began to take great pains in searching for a Purohita who could by procuring

absolution for his sin, neutralise the effect of the curse.

"One day Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, while a-hunting, observed in a particular part of his dominions a hermitage where

dwelt a certain Rishi of fame, Srutasrava. He had a son named Somasrava deeply engaged in ascetic devotions. Being desirous

of appointing that son of the Rishi as his Purohita, Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, saluted the Rishi and addressed him,

saying, 'O possessor of the six attributes, let this thy son be my purohita.' The Rishi thus addressed, answered Janamejaya, 'O

Janamejaya, this my son, deep in ascetic devotions, accomplished in the study of the Vedas, and endued with the full force of

my asceticism, is born of (the womb of) a she-snake that had drunk my vital fluid. He is able to absolve thee from all offences

save those committed against Mahadeva. But he hath one particular habit, viz. he would grant to any Brahmana whatever might

be begged of him. If thou canst put up with it, then thou take him.' Janamejaya thus addressed replied to the Rishi, 'It shall be

even so.' And accepting him for his Purohita, he returned to his capital; and he then addressed his brothers saying, 'This is the "About this time there was a Rishi, Ayoda-Dhaumya by name. And Ayoda-Dhaumya had three disciples, Upamanyu, Aruni,

and Veda. And the Rishi bade one of these disciples, Aruni of Panchala, to go and stop up a breach in the water-course of a

certain field. And Aruni of Panchala, thus ordered by his preceptor, repaired to the spot. And having gone there he saw that he

could not stop up the breach in the water-course by ordinary means. And he was distressed because he could not do his

preceptor's bidding. But at length he saw a way and said, 'Well, I will do it in this way.' He then went down into the breach and

lay down himself there. And the water was thus confined.

"And some time after, the preceptor Ayoda-Dhaumya asked his other disciples where Aruni of Panchala was. And they

answered, 'Sir, he hath been sent by yourself saying, 'Go, stop up the breach in the water-course of the field,' Thus reminded,

Dhaumya, addressing his pupils, said, 'Then let us all go to the place where he is.'

"And having arrived there, he shouted, 'Ho Aruni of Panchala! Where art thou? Come hither, my child.' And Aruni hearing the

voice of his preceptor speedily came out of the water-course and stood before his preceptor. And addressing the latter, Aruni

said, 'Here I am in the breach of the water-course. Not having been able to devise any other means, I entered myself for the

purpose of preventing the water running out. It is only upon hearing thy voice that, having left it and allowed the waters to

escape, I have stood before thee. I salute thee, Master; tell me what I have to do.'

"The preceptor, thus addressed, replied, 'Because in getting up from the ditch thou hast opened the water-course, thenceforth

shalt thou be called Uddalaka as a mark of thy preceptor's favour. And because my words have been obeyed by thee, thou shalt

obtain good fortune. And all the Vedas shall shine in thee and all the Dharmasastras also.' And Aruni, thus addressed by his

preceptor, went to the country after his heart.

"The name of another of Ayoda-Dhaumya's disciples was Upamanyu. And Dhaumya appointed him saying, 'Go, my child,

Upamanyu, look after the kine.' And according to his preceptor's orders, he went to tend the kine. And having watched them all

day, he returned in the evening to his preceptor's house and standing before him he saluted him respectfully. And his preceptor

seeing him in good condition of body asked him, 'Upamanyu, my child, upon what dost thou support thyself? Thou art

exceedingly plump.' And he answered, 'Sir, I support myself by begging'. And his preceptor said, 'What is obtained in alms

should not be used by thee without offering it to me.' And Upamanyu, thus told, went away. And having obtained alms, he

offered the same to his preceptor. And his preceptor took from him even the whole. And Upamanyu, thus treated, went to

attend the cattle. And having watched them all day, he returned in the evening to his preceptor's abode. And he stood before his

preceptor and saluted him with respect. And his preceptor perceiving that he still continued to be of good condition of body

said unto him, 'Upamanyu, my child, I take from thee even the whole of what thou obtainest in alms, without leaving anything

for thee. How then dost thou, at present, contrive to support thyself?' And Upamanyu said unto his preceptor, 'Sir, having made

over to you all that I obtain in alms, I go a-begging a second time for supporting myself.' And his preceptor then replied, 'This

is not the way in which thou shouldst obey the preceptor. By this thou art diminishing the support of others that live by

begging. Truly having supported thyself so, thou hast proved thyself covetous.' And Upamanyu, having signified his assent to

all that his preceptor said, went away to attend the cattle. And having watched them all day, he returned to his preceptor's

house. And he stood before his preceptor and saluted him respectfully. And his preceptor observing that he was still fat, said

again unto him, 'Upamanyu, my child, I take from thee all thou obtainest in alms and thou dost not go a-begging a second time,

and yet art thou in healthy condition. How dost thou support thyself?' And Upamanyu, thus questioned, answered, 'Sir, I now

live upon the milk of these cows.' And his preceptor thereupon told him, 'It is not lawful for thee to appropriate the milk

without having first obtained my consent.' And Upamanyu having assented to the justice of these observations, went away to

tend the kine. And when he returned to his preceptor's abode, he stood before him and saluted him as usual. And his preceptor

seeing that he was still fat, said, 'Upamanyu, my child, thou eatest no longer of alms, nor dost thou go a-begging a second time,

not even drinkest of the milk; yet art thou fat. By what means dost thou contrive to live now? And Upamanyu replied, 'Sir, I

now sip the froth that these calves throw out, while sucking their mother's teats.' And the preceptor said, 'These generous

calves, I suppose, out of compassion for thee, throw out large quantities of froth. Wouldst thou stand in the way of their full

meals by acting as thou hast done? Know that it is unlawful for thee to drink the froth.' And Upamanyu, having signified his

assent to this, went as before to tend the cows. And restrained by his preceptor, he feedeth not on alms, nor hath he anything

else to eat; he drinketh not of the milk, nor tasteth he of the froth!

"And Upamanyu, one day, oppressed by hunger, when in a forest, ate of the leaves of the Arka (Asclepias gigantea). And his

eyes being affected by the pungent, acrimonious, crude, and saline properties of the leaves which he had eaten, he became

blind. And as he was crawling about, he fell into a pit. And upon his not returning that day when the sun was sinking down

behind the summit of the western mountains, the preceptor observed to his disciples that Upamanyu was not yet come. And

they told him that he had gone out with the cattle.

"The preceptor then said, 'Upamanyu being restrained by me from the use of everything, is, of course, and therefore, doth not

come home until it be late. Let us then go in search of him.' And having said this, he went with his disciples into the forest and

began to shout, saying, 'Ho Upamanyu, where art thou?' And Upamanyu hearing his preceptor's voice answered in a loud tone,

'Here I am at the bottom of a well.' And his preceptor asked him how he happened to be there. And Upamanyu replied, 'Having

eaten of the leaves of the Arka plant I became blind, and so have I fallen into this well.' And his preceptor thereupon told him, 'Glorify the twin Aswins, the joint physicians of the gods, and they will restore thee thy sight.' And Upamanyu thus directed by

his preceptor began to glorify the twin Aswins, in the following words of the Rig Veda:

'Ye have existed before the creation! Ye first-born beings, ye are displayed in this wondrous universe of five elements! I desire

to obtain you by the help of the knowledge derived from hearing, and of meditation, for ye are Infinite! Ye are the course itself

of Nature and intelligent Soul that pervades that course! Ye are birds of beauteous feathers perched on the body that is like to a

tree! Ye are without the three common attributes of every soul! Ye are incomparable! Ye, through your spirit in every created

thing, pervade the Universe!

"Ye are golden Eagles! Ye are the essence into which all things disappear! Ye are free from error and know no deterioration!

Ye are of beauteous beaks that would not unjustly strike and are victorious in every encounter! Ye certainly prevail over time!

Having created the sun, ye weave the wondrous cloth of the year by means of the white thread of the day and the black thread

of the night! And with the cloth so woven, ye have established two courses of action appertaining respectively to the Devas and

the Pitris. The bird of Life seized by Time which represents the strength of the Infinite soul, ye set free for delivering her unto

great happiness! They that are in deep ignorance, as long as they are under delusions of their senses, suppose you, who are

independent of the attributes of matter, to be gifted with form! Three hundred and sixty cows represented by three hundred and

sixty days produce one calf between them which is the year. That calf is the creator and destroyer of all. Seekers of truth

following different routes, draw the milk of true knowledge with its help. Ye Aswins, ye are the creators of that calf!

person I have chosen for my spiritual master; whatsoever he may say must be complied with by you without examination.' And

his brothers did as they were directed. And giving these directions to his brothers, the king marched towards Takshyashila and

brought that country under his authority.