“Vaishampaayana said, ‘That bull among the Bharatas, Arjuna, hearing
these words of the Gandharva, was inspired with feelings of devotion and stood there.
The Gandharva continued ‘Once upon a time, king Vishwamitra was killing deer
and wild boars. While out in quest of deer, the king (Vishwamitra) became weak with exertion and thirst. The
monarch arrived in that state at the ashrama of (Rishi) Vasishtha, and the blessed and respected
Rishi seeing him arrive, respected with his homage that best of men, king Vishwamitra.
“O Bharata (Arjuna), the
Rishi (Vasishtha) saluted the
monarch (Vishwamitra) by offering
him water to wash his face and feet with, and Arghya, and wild fruits, and
clarified butter. For the respected Rishi (Vasishtha) had a cow yielding anything that was desired of her. When she was
addressed, saying, ‘O give,’--she always yielded the article that was desired. O
Arjuna, she yielded various fruits and corn, wild or grown in gardens and fields,
and milk, and many excellent nutritive items full of six different kinds of
juice (taste?) and like to Amrita (Ambrosia
in English) itself, and various other
kinds of enjoyable things of taste of Amrita for drinking and eating, and for
licking and sucking, and also many precious gems and garments of various kinds.
With these desirable objects in abundance, the monarch (Vishwamitra) was worshipped. The king with his minister
and troops became highly pleased. The monarch wondered much, seeing that cow
with six elevated limbs and the beautiful flanks and hips, and five limbs that
were broad, and eyes prominent like those of the frog and beautiful in size,
and high udders, and faultless make, and straight and uplifted ears, and
handsome horns, and well-developed head and neck.
“O prince (Arjuna), the son
of Gaadhi (King Vishwamitra), pleased
with everything and applauding the cow named Nandini, addressed the Rishi (Vasishtha), saying, ‘O Brahmana, O great Muni, give
me your Nandini in exchange for ten thousand cows, or my kingdom. You enjoy my
kingdom (giving me your cow).’
“Hearing these words of Vishwamitra, (Rishi) Vasishtha said, ‘O sinless one, this cow has been kept by me for the
sake of Devas, guests, and Pitris, as also for my yagnas. I cannot give Nandini
in exchange for even your kingdom.’
“Vishwamitra replied, ‘I am a Kshatriya, but you are a Brahmana devoted
to Tapas and study. Is there any energy in Brahmanas who are peaceful and who
have their souls under perfect command? When you do not give me what I desire
in exchange even for ten thousand cows, I will not abandon the practice of my (Kshatriya)
varna; I will take your cow (Nandini)
even by force!’
“Vasishtha said, ‘You are a Kshatriya endued with might of arms. You
are a powerful monarch. O, quickly do what you desire; and stop not to consider
its propriety.’
“The Gandharva continued, ‘O Paartha (Arjuna), thus addressed by (Rishi) Vasishtha,
(King) Vishwamitra then forcibly captured
Nandini, that cow (white) like the
swan or the moon, and attempted to take her away, paining her with stripes and harrassing
her otherwise. O Paartha, the innocent Nandini then began to cry piteously, and
approaching the respected Vasishtha stood before him with uplifted face. Though
harassed very cruelly, she refused to leave the Rishi’s ashrama.’
“Seeing her in that situation, (Rishi) Vasishtha said, ‘O friendly one, you are crying repeatedly and I am
hearing your cries. But, O Nandini, Vishwamitra is taking you away by force,
what can I do in this matter, as I am a forgiving Brahmana?’
“The Gandharva continued, ‘O bull in Bharata's race (Arjuna), then Nandini alarmed at the sight of Vishwamitra’s
troops and terrified by Vishwamitra himself, approached the Rishi still closer,
and said, ‘O respected one, why are you so indifferent to my poor self, pained
with the stripes of the cruel troops of (King) Vishwamitra and crying so piteously as if I were masterless?’
“Hearing these words of the crying and harassed Nandini, the Maharishi (Vasishtha) did not lose his patience and nor turned
from his vow of forgiveness. He replied, ‘The Kshatriya’s
might lies in physical strength, the Brahmana's in forgiveness. Because
I cannot give up forgiveness, you go, O Nandini, if you choose.’
“Nandini answered, ‘O respected one, you reject me away, is that you
say so? O Brahmana, if you do not reject me off, I cannot be taken away by
force.’
“Vasishtha said, ‘O blessed one, I do not reject you off! Stay if you
can! O, at a distance is your calf, tied with a heavy cord, and now being
weakened by it!’
“The Gandharva continued, ‘Then the cow of Vasishtha, hearing the word
stay, raised her head and neck upward, and became terrible to be looked upon.
With eyes red with anger and crying repeatedly, she then attacked (King) Vishwamitra’s troops on all sides. Pained
with their stripes and running here and there with those red eyes of hers, her anger
increased. Blazing with anger, she soon became terrible to see like to the Sun
in his midday glory. From her tail she began to rain showers of burning coals (Angaara
in Sanskrit) all around.
“Some moments after, from her tail she brought
forth an army of Phalavaas (may be referring
to ancient Pallavas of Kanchipuram), and
from her udders, an army of Dravidas and Shakaas; and from her womb, an army of
Yavanas, and from her dung, an army of Savaras; and from her urine, an army of
Kanchis; and from her sides, an army of Savaras. From the froth of her mouth,
came out army of Paundras, Kiraataas, Yavanaas and Sinhalaas, and the barbarous
tribes of Khasas, Chivukas, Pulindas, China-s, Hunas with Keralas, and numerous
other Mlechchhas.
“That vast army of Mlechchhas in various uniforms, and armed with
various weapons, as soon as it sprang into life, deploying in the very sight of
(King) Vishwamitra, attacked that
monarch’s soldiers. So numerous was that Mlechchha army that each particular
soldier of Vishwamitra was attacked by a band of six or seven of their enemies.
Attacked with a mighty shower of weapons, Vishwamitra’s troops broke and fled,
panic-stricken, in all directions, before his very eyes. O bull in Bharata's
race (Arjuna), but the troops of (Rishi)
Vasishtha, though excited with anger, did
not take the life of any of Vishwamitra’s troops. Nandini simply caused the
monarch’s army to be routed and driven off. Driven (from the ashrama) twenty-seven full miles (thirty
yojanas), panic-stricken, they shrieked
aloud and did not see anyone that could protect them. (King) Vishwamitra, seeing this wonderful feat
that resulted from Brahmana prowess, became disgusted with Kshatriya prowess
and said, ‘O, shame on Kshatriya prowess! Brahmana prowess is true prowess! In judging
of strength and weakness, I see that Tapas is true strength.’
“Saying this, the monarch (Vishwamitra), abandoning his large territories and majestic luxury and turning his
back upon all pleasures, set his mind on Tapas. Crowned with success in Tapas
and filling the three worlds with the heat of his Tapas, he pained all
creatures and finally became a Brahmana (Please note that it has been said
in the Mahabharata that a Kshatriya has turned into a Brahmana, which in itself
says that caste structure is not rigid and conversion from one caste to another
is possible). The son of Kushika (Vishwamitra) at last drank Soma (juice) with (Lord) Indra himself (in Heaven).’”
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