Gadayuddha Parva — The story of Dadhicha

Vaishampayana said "There, in that Tirtha, O Bharata, where the Moon had formerly celebrated the Rajasuya sacrifice, a great battle was fought in which Taraka was the root.

Bathing in that Tirtha and distributing many presents, the virtuous Vala of pure soul went to the Tirtha of the Muni named Sarasvat. There, during a drought extending over twelve years, the sage Sarasvat, formerly taught the Vedas unto many best of Brahmanas.

Janamejaya said "Why did the sage Sarasvat, O you of ascetic merit, teach the Vedas to the Rishis during a twelve years' drought?

Vaishampayana said Formerly. O king, there was an intelligent sage of great ascetic viriuc. He was celebrated by the name of Dadhicha. Having governed his senses, he led the life of a Brahmacharin.

On account of his excessive ascetic austerities, Shakra was possessed by fear. The sage could not be dissuaded (from the practices of his penances) by the offer of even various kinds of rewards.

At last, for tempting the sage, the chastiser of Paka, sent to him the highly beautiful and celestial Apsara by name Alambusha.

On the banks of the Sarasvat the great sage was engaged in the worship of the gods and ! there the celestial nymphs, O king, arrived.

Seeing that beautiful damsel the seminal fluid of thar ascetic came out. Having fallen into the Sarasvati, the latter preserved it with care.

Indeed, O foremost of men, the River, sceing that sced, held it in her womb. In time the secd developed into a fetus and the great river kept it so that it might have life and grow into a child.

When the time came, the best of rivers delivered that child and then went, O lord, taking it with her, to that Rishi.

Seeing that best of Rishis in a conclave, Sarasvati, O king, while handing over the child, said these words:-"O Rishi, this is your son whom I held out of respect for you! That seed of yours, which fell at seeing the nymph Alambusha, had been held by me in my womb, O Rishi, through devotion for you and knowing well that your sced would never be destroyed.

Given by me, accept this faultless child of your own!' Thus addressed by her, the Rishi accepted the child and was highly pleased.

That best of Brahmanas then out of affection smelt the head of his son and embraced him closely, O best of Bharata, for some time.

Pleased with the River, the great ascetic Dadhicha then gave a boon to her, saying "The Vishvedevas, the Rishis and all the clans of the Gandharvas and the Apsaras, will henceforth, blessed one, derive great happiness when oblations of your water are presented to them!'

Having said to that great river, the sage, pleased and filled with joy, then praised her in these words. Hear them duly, O king!

Thou hast sprung, O highly blessed one, from the lake of Brahman in days of old. All ascetics know thee, O best of rivers.

Highly beautiful, you have done me great good! This your great child, O fair river, will be known by the name of Sarasvat.

This your son, capable of creating new worlds, will pass after thy name! That great ascetic will be known by the name of Sarasvat!

During a drought extending over iwelve years, this Sarasvat, will teach the Vedas to many best of Brahmanas.

O blessed Sarasvati, through my grace, thou shalt always become the best of all sacred rivers!'

Thus was the great River lauded by the sage after the latter had granted her boons. The River then, overjoyed went away, O best of Bharata's race! taking with her that child.

Meanwhile, during a war between the gods and demons Shakra travelled through the three worlds in search of weapons.

The king of the celestials, however, failed to find such weapons as were fit to kill the enemies of the celestials.

Shakra then said to the gods-"The great Asuras are incapable of being defeated by me. Save with the bones of Dadhicha, our foes cannot be killed.

O best of celestials, go, therefore, to that best of Rishis and beg of him, saying-"Grant us, O Dadhicha, your bones! With them we will kill our enemies.'

Begged by them for his bones, that best of Rishis, O best of Kuru's race, unhesitatingly gave up his life. Having done what was agreeable to the celestials, the sage attained to the eternally blissful region.

With his bones, Shakra gladly made many kinds of weapons, such as thunder-bolts, disci, heavy maces and many kinds of clubs and bludgeons.

Equal to the Creator himself Dadhicha, had been begotten by the penances of great Rishi Bhrigu. Strongly built and highly energetic Dadhicha had been made the strongest of men in the world. The powerful and glorious Dadhicha, became tall like the king of mountains. The chastiser of Paka had always been in dread of his power.

With the thunder-bolt created by Brahma and inspired with mantras, O Bharata, Indra made a loud noise when he hurled it and killed ninety-nine Daityas.

After a dreadful long time a drought. O king, took place that extended over twelve years.

During that drought extending over twelve years, the great Rishis fled away, O king, on all sides to maintain themselves.

Seeing them scattered on all sides, the sage Sarasvat also set his heart on flight. The river Sarasvati then said to him. You need not, O son, go away, for I will always supply you with food even here by giving you large fishes! Remain therefore, here!'

Thus addressed (by the river), the sage continued to live there and offer oblations of food to the Rishis and the celestials, He got also his daily food and thus continued to support both himself and the gods.

After the termination of that twelve years' drought the great Rishis requested one another to deliver discourses on the Vedas.

While wandering hungrily the Rishis had forgotten the Vedas. There was indeed, not even one amongst thein that could interpret the Vedas.

It so happened that some one amongst them met Sarasvat, that foremost of Rishis, while the latter was reading the Vedas with concentrated attention.

Returning to the assemblage of Rishis, he spoke to them of Sarasvat, of his matchless effulgence and celestial appearance and of deep concentration in the Vedas in a secluded forest.

Then all the great Rishis came there unitedly and spoke to Sarasvat, that best of ascetics, these words.:-"Teach us, O sage!' The ascetic replied, saying-"Become my disciples duly!'

The host of ascetics answered-"O son, you are too young.' Thereupon he answered the ascetics-"I must act in such a way that my religious merit may not suffer decrease'.

He that teaches improperly and he that learns improperly, are both doomed to destruction and mutual hatred.

It is not age or decrepitude, of wealth or the number of kinsmen, by which the Rishis claim their mcrit. He only is great who is capable of reading and understanding the Vedas.'

Hearing these words of his, those ascetics duly became his disciples and learning again from him the Vedas began to practise their rites.

Sixty thousand ascetics became disciples of the great Rishi Sarasvat for the sake of learning again the Vedas from him.

Obeying that beautiful Rishi though a boy, the ascetics each brought a handful of grass and offered it to him for his seat.

The powerful son of Rohini and elder brother of Keshava, having distributed wealth in that Tirtha, then joyfully went to another where lived formerly an old virgin lady.”