Anugita Parva — The story of Utanka and Saudasa

Janamejaya said With what penances was the great Uttanka endued so that he entertained the wish to imprecate a curse on Vishnu himself, who is the source of all power?

Vaishampayana said Janamejaya, Utanka was gifted with austere penances. He was devoted to his preceptor. Gifted with great energy, he abstained from adoring anybody else.

All the children of the Rishis, O Bharata, entertained even this desire, viz., that their devotion to preceptors should be as great as that of Utanka.

Gautama's gratification with and affection for Utanka, among his numberless disciples, were every great, O Janamejaya.

Indecd, Gautama was greatly pleased with the self-control and purity of conduct that marked out Utanka, and with his acts or prowess and the services he did to him.

One after another, thousands of disciples received the preceptors' permission to return home. On account, however, of his great affection for Utanka, Gautama could not permit him to leave his hermitage.

Gradually, in course of time, O son, decrepitude overtook Utanka, that great ascetic. The ascetic, however, on account of his devotion to his prcccptor, was not conscious of it.

One day, he started, O king for fetching fuel for his preceptor. Soon after Utanka brought a heavy load of fuel.

Toil-worn and hungry and afflicted by the load he carried on his head, O chastiser of enemies, he threw the load down on the Earth, O king.

One of his matted locks, white as silver, had become entangled with the load. Accordingly, when the load was thrown down, with in fell on the earth that matted lock of hair.

Oppressed as he had been by that load and overcome by hunger, O Bharata, Utanka, secing that sign of old age, began to bewail a loud from excess of sorrow.

Knowing every duty, the daughter of his preceptor then who had cyes resembling lotus petals, and hips that were full and round, at the command her father, sought, with downcast face, to hold Utanka's tears in her hands. Her hands scemed to burn with those tear-drops that she held. Unable, accordingly, to hold them longer, she was compelled to throw them down on the earth.

The Earth herself was unable to hold those tear-drops of Utanka. With a pleased heart, Gautama then said to the twice-born Utanka, 'Why, O son, is your mind so afflicted with grief today? Tell me calmly and quietly, O learned Rishi, for I wish to hear it in full.

Utanka said With mind entirely devoted to you, and wholly bent upon doing what is agreeable to you, with my heart's devotion turned to you, and with thoughts entirely living on you, (I have lived nere till) decrepitude has overtaken me without my knowing it at all. I have not, again, known any happiness. Though I have lived with you for a century yet you have not granted me perinission to depart.

Many disciples of yours, who were my juniors, have, however, been permitted by you to return. Indeed, hundreds and thousands of foremost Brahmanas have, gifted with knowledge, bcen favoured with your permission.

Gautama said Through my love and affection for you, and on account of your dutiful services to me, a long time has passed without my knowing it, O foremost of Brahmanas.

If, however, O you of Bhrigu's race, you desire to leave this place, do you go without delay, with my permission.

Utanka said What shall I present to my preceptor? Tell me this, O best of twice-born persons. Having brought it, I shall go hence, O lord, with your permission.

Gautama said The good say that the satisfaction of the preceptor is the final fee. Forsooth, O twiceborn one, I have been highly pleased with your conduct.

Know, O perpetuator of Bhrigu's race, that I have been highly pleased with your conduct. Know, Operpetuator of Bhrigu's race, that I have been very much pleased with you for this. If you become a young man today of sixteen years, I shall confer on you, O twice-born years, I shall confer on you. O twice-born one, this my own daughter for becoming your wife. No other woman except this one is capable of waiting upon your energy.

At these words of Gautama. Utanka once again became a youth and accepted that famous maiden for his wife. Receiving the permission of his preceptor, he then addressed his preceptor's wife, saying, What shall I give you as final fee for my preceptor? Do you command me. I wish to do, with riches, or even my life, what is agreeable and beneficial to you.

Whatever gem, exceedingly wonderful and of great value, exists in this world, I shall bring for you with the help of my penances. I have no doubt in this.

I am highly pleased with you, O learned Brahmana, with your unceasing devotion, O sinless one. This is enough. Blessed be you, go wherever you like.

Vaishampayana said, Utanka, however, O king, once more said these words, Do you command me, O mother. It is proper that I should do something that is agreeable to you.

Ahalya said Blessed be you, bring for me those celestial ear-rings which are worn by the wife of Saudasa. That which is due to your preceptor will then be well-discharged.

Replying her, 'So be it'. Utanka went away. O Janamejaya, determined upon bringing those ear-rings for doing what his preceptor's wife liked.

That foremost of Brahmanas, Utanka, proceeded forthwith to Saudasa who had become a cannibal, in order to solicit the earrings from him.

Gautama meanwhile said to his wife —'Utanka is not to be seen today. Thus addressed, she informed him how he had gone for fetching the jewelled ear-rings (of Saudasa's queen).

At this, Gautama said, 'You have not acted wisely. Cursed (by Vasishtha), that king will, indeed, kill Utanka.

Ahalya said Without knowing this, O holy one I have engaged Utanka in this task. He shall not, however, come by any danger through your grace.

Thus addressed by her, Gautama said, 'Let it be so.' Meanwhile, Utanka met king Saudasa in a deserted forest.