Adi Parva Part 15

"The year is but the nave of a wheel to which is attached seven hundred and twenty spokes representing as many days and

nights. The circumference of this wheel represented by twelve months is without end. This wheel is full of delusions and

knows no deterioration. It affects all creatures whether to this or of the other worlds. Ye Aswins, this wheel of time is set in

motion by you!

"The wheel of Time as represented by the year has a nave represented by the six seasons. The number of spokes attached to

that nave is twelve as represented by the twelve signs of the Zodiac. This wheel of Time manifests the fruits of the acts of all

things. The presiding deities of Time abide in that wheel. Subject as I am to its distressful influence, ye Aswins, liberate me

from that wheel of Time. Ye Aswins, ye are this universe of five elements! Ye are the objects that are enjoyed in this and in the

other world! Make me independent of the five elements! And though ye are the Supreme Brahma, yet ye move over the Earth

in forms enjoying the delights that the senses afford.

"In the beginning, ye created the ten points of the universe! Then have ye placed the Sun and the Sky above! The Rishis,

according to the course of the same Sun, perform their sacrifices, and the gods and men, according to what hath been appointed

for them, perform their sacrifices also enjoying the fruits of those acts!

"Mixing the three colours, ye have produced all the objects of sight! It is from these objects that the Universe hath sprung

whereon the gods and men are engaged in their respective occupations, and, indeed, all creatures endued with life!

"Ye Aswins, I adore you! I also adore the Sky which is your handiwork! Ye are the ordainers of the fruits of all acts from

which even the gods are not free! Ye are yourselves free from the fruits of your acts!

"Ye are the parents of all! As males and females it is ye that swallow the food which subsequently develops into the life

creating fluid and blood! The new-born infant sucks the teat of its mother. Indeed it is ye that take the shape of the infant! Ye

Aswins, grant me my sight to protect my life!"

The twin Aswins, thus invoked, appeared and said, 'We are satisfied. Here is a cake for thee. Take and eat it.' And Upamanyu

thus addressed, replied, 'Your words, O Aswins, have never proved untrue. But without first offering this cake to my preceptor

I dare not take it.' And the Aswins thereupon told him, 'Formerly, thy preceptor had invoked us. We thereupon gave him a cake

like this; and he took it without offering it to his master. Do thou do that which thy preceptor did.' Thus addressed, Upamanyu

again said unto them, 'O Aswins, I crave your pardon. Without offering it to my preceptor I dare not apply this cake.' The

Aswins then said, 'O, we are pleased with this devotion of thine to thy preceptor. Thy master's teeth are of black iron. Thine

shall be of gold. Thou shall be restored to sight and shall have good fortune.'

"Thus spoken to by the Aswins he recovered his sight, and having gone to his preceptor's presence he saluted him and told him

all. And his preceptor was well-pleased with him and said unto him, 'Thou shalt obtain prosperity even as the Aswins have

said. All the Vedas shall shine in thee and all the Dharma-sastras.' And this was the trial of Upamanyu.

"Then Veda the other disciple of Ayoda-Dhaumya was called. His preceptor once addressed him, saying, 'Veda, my child, tarry

some time in my house and serve thy preceptor. It shall be to thy profit.' And Veda having signified his assent tarried long in

the family of his preceptor mindful of serving him. Like an ox under the burthens of his master, he bore heat and cold, hunger

and thirst, at all times without a murmur. And it was not long before his preceptor was satisfied. And as a consequence of that

satisfaction, Veda obtained good fortune and universal knowledge. And this was the trial of Veda. "And Veda, having received permission from his preceptor, and leaving the latter's residence after the completion of his

studies, entered the domestic mode of life. And while living in his own house, he got three pupils. And he never told them to

perform any work or to obey implicitly his own behests; for having himself experienced much woe while abiding in the family

of his preceptor, he liked not to treat them with severity.

"After a certain time, Janamejaya and Paushya, both of the order of Kshatriyas, arriving at his residence appointed the

Brahman. Veda, as their spiritual guide (Upadhyaya). And one day while about to depart upon some business related to a

sacrifice, he employed one of his disciples, Utanka, to take charge of his household. 'Utanka', said he, 'whatsoever should have

to be done in my house, let it be done by thee without neglect.' And having given these orders to Utanka, he went on his

journey.

"So Utanka always mindful of the injunction of his preceptor took up his abode in the latter's house. And while Utanka was

residing there, the females of his preceptor's house having assembled addressed him and said, 'O Utanka, thy mistress is in that

season when connubial connection might be fruitful. The preceptor is absent; then stand thou in his place and do the needful.'

And Utanka, thus addressed, said unto those women, 'It is not proper for me to do this at the bidding of women. I have not been

enjoined by my preceptor to do aught that is improper.'

"After a while, his preceptor returned from his journey. And his preceptor having learnt all that had happened, became well-

pleased and, addressing Utanka, said, 'Utanka, my child, what favour shall I bestow on thee? I have been served by thee duly;

therefore hath our friendship for each other increased. I therefore grant thee leave to depart. Go thou, and let thy wishes be

accomplished!'

"Utanka, thus addressed, replied, saying, "Let me do something that you wish, for it hath been said, 'He who bestoweth

instruction contrary to usage and he who receiveth it contrary to usage, one of the two dieth, and enmity springeth up between

the two.--I, therefore, who have received thy leave to depart, am desirous of bringing thee some honorarium due to a preceptor.

His master, upon hearing this, replied, 'Utanka, my child, wait a while.' Sometime after, Utanka again addressed his preceptor,

saying, 'Command me to bring that for honorarium, which you desire.' And his preceptor then said, 'My dear Utanka, thou hast

often told me of your desire to bring something by way of acknowledgment for the instruction thou hast received. Go then in

and ask thy mistress what thou art to bring. And bring thou that which she directs.' And thus directed by his preceptor Utanka

addressed his preceptress, saying, 'Madam, I have obtained my master's leave to go home, and I am desirous of bringing

something agreeable to thee as honorarium for the instruction I have received, in order that I may not depart as his debtor.

Therefore, please command me what I am to bring.' Thus addressed, his preceptress replied, 'Go unto King Paushya and beg of

him the pair of ear-rings worn by his Queen, and bring them hither. The fourth day hence is a sacred day when I wish to appear

before the Brahmanas (who may dine at my house) decked with these ear-rings. Then accomplish this, O Utanka! If thou

shouldst succeed, good fortune shall attend thee; if not, what good canst thou expect?'

"Utanka thus commanded, took his departure. And as he was passing along the road he saw a bull of extraordinary size and a

man of uncommon stature mounted thereon. And that man addressed Utanka and said, 'Eat thou of the dung of this bull.'

Utanka, however, was unwilling to comply. The man said again, 'O Utanka, eat of it without scrutiny. Thy master ate of it

before.' And Utanka signified his assent and ate of the dung and drank of the urine of that bull, and rose respectfully, and

washing his hands and mouth went to where King Paushya was.

'On arriving at the palace, Utanka saw Paushya seated (on his throne). And approaching him Utanka saluted the monarch by

pronouncing blessings and said, 'I am come as a petitioner to thee.' And King Paushya, having returned Utanka's salutations,

said, 'Sir, what shall I do for thee?' And Utanka said, 'I came to beg of thee a pair of ear-rings as a present to my preceptor. It

behoveth thee to give me the ear-rings worn by the Queen.'

"King Paushya replied, 'Go, Utanka, into the female apartments where the Queen is and demand them of her.' And Utanka went

into the women's apartments. But as he could not discover the Queen, he again addressed the king, saying, 'It is not proper that

I should be treated by thee with deceit. Thy Queen is not in the private apartments, for I could not find her.' The king thus

addressed, considered for a while and replied, 'Recollect, Sir, with attention whether thou art not in a state of defilement in

consequence of contact with the impurities of a repast. My Queen is a chaste wife and cannot be seen by any one who is

impure owing to contact with the leavings of a repast. Nor doth she herself appear in sight of any one who is defiled.'