the Mahabharat

Once upon a time king Dushmanta accompanied by a large force went into the forest.

And he took with him hundreds of horses and elephants. And the force that accompanied the monarch was of four kinds (infantry, chariot warriors, cavalry and elephants)--heroes armed with swords and darts and bearing in their hands maces and stout clubs.

And surrounded by hundreds of warriors with lances and spears in their hands, the monarch set out on his journey.

And with the leonine roars of the warriors and the notes of conchs, sound of drums with the rattle of the chariot wheels and shrieks of huge elephants all mingling with the neighing of horses and the clash of weapons of the variously armed attendants in diverse dresses there arose a deafening large sound while the king was on his march.

And ladies gifted with great beauty beheld from the terraces of godly mansions that heroic monarch.

And the ladies saw that he was like unto Sakra capable of repulsing the elephants of foes--And they believed that he was the wielder of the thunderbolt himself.

And they said, 'This is that tiger among men who in battle is equal unto the Vasus in prowess and in consequence of the might of whose arms no foes are left.' And saying this the ladies from affection gratified the monarch by showering flowers on his head.

And followed by foremost of Brahmanas (scholars) uttering blessings all the way, the king in great gladness of heart went towards the forest, eager for slaying the deer. And many Brahmanas (scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaisyas (merchants) and Sudras (commoners) followed the monarch who was like unto the king of the celestials seated on the back of airavata (the king of elephants).

The citizens and other classes followed the monarch for some distance. And they at last refrained from going farther at the command of the king. And the king then ascending his chariot of wind's speed filled the whole earth and even the heavens with the rattle of his chariot wheels.

And as he went he saw around him a forest like unto Nandana itself (the celestial garden). And it was full of Vilwa, Arka, Khadira, Kapittha and Dhava trees.

he saw that the soil was uneven and scattered over with blocks of stone loosened from the neighbouring cliffs, it was without water and without human beings and lay extended for many Yojanas (1 yojana=8 miles) around. it was full of deer and lions and other terrible beasts of prey.

And king Dushmanta assisted by his followers and the warriors in his army agitated that forest killing numerous animals. And Dushmanta piercing them with his arrows slaughtered numerous tigers that were within shooting range.

And the king wounded many that were too distant with his bow, killing many that were too near with his heavy sword. And that foremost of all wielders of darts killed many by hurling his darts at them. And well conversant with the art of whirling the mace the king of immeasurable prowess fearlessly wandered over the forest.

And the king roamed about killing the denizens of the wilderness sometimes with his sword and sometimes by fast-descending blows of his mace and heavy club.

when the forest was disturbed by the king possessed of wonderful energy the warriors in his train delighted in warlike sports, the lions also began to desert it in numbers.

And herds of animals deprived of their leaders from fear and anxiety began to utter loud cries as they fled in all directions. And fatigued with running they began to fall down on all sides unable to slake their thirst for water, having reached river-beds that were perfectly dry.

And many so falling were eaten up by the hungry vultures and crows. And many strong elephants maddened with the wounds they received and alarmed beyond measure by the king fled with trunks raised on high.

And those wild elephants betraying the usual symptoms of fear by urinating, ejecting the contents of their stomachs, vomiting blood in large quantities trampled many warriors to death.

And that forest which had been full of animals was by the king and his bands of followers with sharp weapons soon made the forest bereft of lions, tigers and other monarchs of the forest.

Then the king with his followers having killed thousands of animals entered another forest with a view to hunting. And attended by a single follower and fatigued with hunger and thirst, he came upon a large desert on the frontiers of the forest.

And having crossed this herbless plain, the king came upon another forest full of the retreats of ascetics beautiful to look at delightful to the heart and of cool breezes.

And it was full of trees covered with blossoms, the soil overgrown with the softest and greenest grass extended for many miles around and echoing with the sweet notes of winged warblers. it resounded with the notes of the male cuckoo and the shrill cicala.

it was full of magnificent trees with outstretched branches forming a shady canopy overhead. the bees hovered over flowers all around.

there were beautiful bowers in every place. there was no tree without fruits, none that had prickles on it, none that had no bees swarming around it. And the whole forest resounded with the melody of winged choristers. it was decked with the flowers of every season.

And there were refreshing shades of blossoming trees. Such was the delicious and excellent forest that the great bowman entered. trees with branches beautified with clusters began to wave gently at the soft breeze and rain their flowers over the monarch's head.

And the trees clad in their flowery attires of all colours, with sweet-throated warblers perched on them stood there in rows with heads touching the very heavens. And around their branches hanging down with the weight of flowers the bees tempted by the honey hummed in sweet chorus.

the king endued with great power beholding innumerable spots covered with bowers of creepers decked with clusters of flowers from excess of gladness became very much charmed.

And the forest was exceedingly beautiful in consequence of those trees ranged around with flowery branches twining with each other looking like many rainbows for gaudiness and variety of colour.

And it was the resort of bands of Siddhas, of the Charanas, of tribes of Gandharvas and Apsaras, of vannaras and Kinnaras drunk with delight.

Delicious cool and fragrant breezes conveying the fragrance from fresh flowers, blew in all directions as if they had come there to sport with the trees. And the king saw that charming forest gifted with such beauties. it was situated in a delta of the river and the cluster of high trees standing together lent the place the look of a gaudy pole erected to Indra's honour.

And in that forest which was the resort of ever cheerful birds, the monarch saw a delightful and charming retreat of saints. there were many trees around it, the sacred fire was burning within the houses of saints. And the king worshipped that unrivalled retreat.

And he saw seated in it numerous Yotis, Valakhilyas and other Munis. And it was adorned with many chambers containing sacrificial fire. the flowers dropping from the trees had formed a thick carpet spread over the ground. And the spot looked exceedingly beautiful with those tall trees of large trunks.

And by it flowed the sacred and transparent Malini with every species of water-fowl playing on its bosom. And that stream infused gladness into the hearts of the ascetics who resorted to it for purposes of ablutions.

And the king beheld on its banks many innocent animals of deer species and was exceedingly delighted with all that he saw.

And the monarch, the course of whose chariot no foe could obstruct, then entered that hermitage which was like unto the region of the celestials being exceedingly beautiful all over.

And the king saw that it stood on the margin of the sacred stream which was like the mother of all the living creatures residing in its vicinage. And on its bank sported the Chakravaka and waves of white milk foam. And there stood also the habitations of Kinnaras.

And vaanars and bears too disported themselves in numbers. And there lived also holy ascetics engaged in studies and meditation. And there could be seen also elephants, tigers and snakes.

And it was on the banks of that stream that the excellent asylum of the illustrious Kasyapa stood offering a home to numerous Rishis of great ascetic merit. And beholding that river, and also the hermitage washed by that river which was studded with many islands and which possessed banks of so much beauty,--an abode like unto that of Nara and Narayana laved by the water of the Ganga--the king resolved to enter into that sacred abode.

And that bull among men, desirous of beholding the great Rishi of ascetic wealth, the illustrious Kanwa of the race of Kasyapa, one who possessed every virtue and who for his splendour could be gazed at with difficulty approached that forest resounding with the notes of maddened peacocks like unto the gardens of the great Gandharva Chitraratha himself.

And halting his army consisting of flags, cavalry, infantry and elephants at the entrance of the forest the monarch spoke as follows, 'I shall go to behold the mighty ascetic of Kasyapa's race one who is without darkness. Stay here until my return!'

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