“The Gandharva continued, ‘Saying this, Tapati of faultless features,
ascended the skies. The monarch (Samvarana) immediately again fell down on the earth. His (King Samvarana’s) ministers and followers searching for him
throughout the forest at length came upon him lying on that isolated spot, and seeing
that excellent king, that mighty bowman, thus lying abandoned on the ground
like a rainbow dropped from the sky, his (Samvarana’s) chief minister became like one burnt by a flame of fire. Quickly advancing
with affection and respect, the minister raised that best of monarchs (Samvarana) lying flat on the ground and deprived of
his senses by desire. The minister, old both in knowledge and age, old in
achievements as in policy, after having raised the flat monarch, became easy (in
mind). Addressing the king (Samvarana) in sweet words that were also for his
good, he said, ‘Blessed be you, O sinless one! Fear not, O tiger among kings!’
The minister thought that the monarch, that great feller of hostile armies in
battle, had been lying on the ground overcome with hunger, thirst, and tiredness.
The old man then sprinkled over the crownless head of the monarch water that
was cold and rendered fragrant with lotus-petals.
“Slowly regaining his consciousness, the mighty monarch (Samvarana) sent away all his attendants with the
exception of his minister only. After those attendants had retired at his
command, the king (Samvarana) sat
upon the mountain. Having purified himself duly, the king sat upon that chief
of mountains, and began, with joined palms and upturned face, to worship (Lord)
Surya. King Samvarana, that striker of
all enemies, also thought of his chief priest (Purohita in Sanskrit) Vasishtha, that best of Rishis. The king
continued to sit there day and night without intermission. The Brahmana sage
Vasishtha came there on the twelfth day; that Maharishi (Vasishtha) of soul under perfect command knew at once
by his power of Tapas that the monarch had lost his senses in consequence of
Tapati. That virtuous and best of Munis (Vasishtha), as soon as he knew this, desirous of benefiting the monarch (Samvarana) who was ever observant of vows (Vrata
in Sanskrit), addressed him and gave him
every assurance.
“The respected Rishi (Vasishtha), in the very sight of that monarch (Samvarana), ascended upward to interview (Lord) Surya, himself possessed of the brightness of that luminary (Lord
Surya). The Brahmana (Rishi
Vasishtha) then approached with joined
hands the Lord of a thousand rays (Lord Surya) and introduced himself cheerfully to him, saying, ‘I am Vasishtha.’
Then Vivaswat (Lord Surya) of great
energy said to that best of Rishis, ‘Welcome are you, O Maharishi! Tell me what
is in your mind. O you of great good fortune, O foremost of eloquent men, whatever
you demand of me I will confer on you, however difficult it may be for me!’
Thus addressed by (Lord) Surya, the
Rishi of great merit of Tapas (Vasishtha), bowing to the god of light, replied, saying, ‘O Vibhavasu (Lord
Surya), this your daughter, Tapati, the
younger sister of Savitri, I ask of you for (King) Samvarana! That monarch is of mighty achievements, knowledgeable with Dharma,
and of high soul. O sky-traveller (Lord Surya), Samvarana will make a worthy husband for your daughter.’
“Thus addressed by the Rishi Vibhakara (Vasishtha), resolved upon giving his daughter upon
Samvarana, saluted the Rishi, and replied to him, saying, ‘Oh, Samvarana is the
best of monarchs, you (Rishi Vasishtha)
are the best of Rishis, Tapati is the best of women. What should we do,
therefore, but give her on Samvarana?’ With these words, the Lord Tapana (Lord
Surya), made over his daughter, Tapati,
of every feature perfectly faultless, to the respected (Rishi) Vasishtha to give her upon Samvarana. And
the great Rishi then accepted the girl, Tapati, and taking leave of Surya, came
back to the spot, where that bull amongst the Kurus, of celestial achievements,
was. King Samvarana, possessed by love and with his heart fixed on Tapati, seeing
that divine women of sweet smiles led by (Rishi) Vasishtha, became exceedingly glad. Tapati of fair eyebrows came down
from the sky like lightning from the clouds, dazzling the ten points of the
heavens. The respected Rishi Vasishtha of pure soul approached the monarch
after the latter’s (Rishi Vasishtha’s)
twelve nights’ vow (Vrata in Sanskrit)
was over. It was thus that king Samvarana obtained a wife after having
worshipped with like the full moon.
“That mighty bowman (Arjuna),
that foremost one in Kuru’s race having his curiosity greatly excited by what
he heard of Vasishtha’s Tapas power, aske d the Gandharva, saying, ‘I desire to
hear of the Rishi whom you have mentioned as Vasishtha. O, tell me in full
about him! O chief of the Gandharvas, tell me who this illustrious Rishi was
that was the priest of our ancestors.’
“The Gandharva replied, ‘Vasishtha is Brahma’s spiritual (lit,
mind-born) son and Arundhati’s husband.
Ever difficult of being conquered by the very immortals (Amara in Sanskrit;
here Amara refers to Devas), Desire and Anger
(Kaamaa and Krodha in Sanskrit),
conquered by Vasishtha’s Tapas, used to shampoo his feet. Though his anger was
excited by (Rishi) Vishwamitra’s
offence, that high-souled Rishi did not yet destroy Kushikas (the kula
whose king Vishwamitra was). Pained at
the loss of his sons, he (Rishi Vasishtha) did not, as if powerless, even though otherwise, do any terrible act
destructive of (Rishi) Vishwamitra.
Like the ocean not crossing its continents, (Rishi) Vasishtha did not cross (the laws of) Yama by bringing back his children from the domains of the king of the
dead. It was by obtaining that illustrious one (Rishi Vasishtha) who had conquered his own self, that (King) Ikshvaku and other great monarchs acquired
the whole earth. O prince of Kuru’s race (Arjuna), it was by obtaining Vasishtha, that best of Rishis as their priest (Purohita
in Sanskrit), that those monarchs
performed many grand yagnas. O best of the Pandavas (Arjuna), that Dwija Rishi (Vasishtha) (Dwija
means twice born, while the first birth is natural, the second birth occurs
when the person realizes the Supreme Soul)
assisted these monarchs in the performance of their yagnas like (Deva Guru) Brihaspati assisting the Amaras.
Therefore, you look for some accomplished and desirable Brahmana knowledgeable
with the Vedas and in whose heart Dharma prevails, to appoint as your priest (Purohita
in Sanskrit). O Paartha (Arjuna), a Kshatriya of good lineage, desirous of
extending his territory by conquering the earth, should first appoint a Purohita.
He who is desirous of conquering the earth should have a Brahmana before him.
Therefore, O Arjuna, let some accomplished and learned Brahmana, who has his
senses under complete control and who is knowledgeable with Dharma, Arthaa and Kaamaa,
be your Purohita.’”
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