Anugita Parva — The story of Utanka and Saudasa

Vaishampayana said Returning to king Saudasa who was always well-disposed towards all his friends, Utanka solicited him for some sign. That foremost one of Ikshaku's race then gave him a sign.

Saudasa said This my present condition is intolerable. I do not see any refuge. Knowing this to be my wish, do you give away the jewelled ear-rings.

Thus addressed by the king, Utanka returned to the queen and reported to her the world of her husband. Hearing those words, the queen gave to Utanka her jewelled ear-rings.

Having got the ear-rings, Utanka returned to the king and said to him, 'I wish to hear, O king, what the meaning is of those mysterious words which you said as a sign to your queen.

Saudasa said Kshatriyas are seen to honour the Brahmanas from the very beginning of the creation. Towards the Brahmanas, however, many offences originate (on the part of the Kshatriyas).

As for myself, I am always bent in humility before them. I am overtaken by a calamity through a Brahmana. Possessed of Madayanti, I do not see any other refuge.

Indeed, O foremost of all persons, having a high goal, I do not see any other refuge for myself in the matter of approaching the celestial gates or in continuing here, O best of twice-born ones.

It is impossible for a king that is hostile to Brahmanas to continue living in this world or in acquiring happiness in the next.

Hence have I given you these my jewelled ear-rings which were coveted by you. Do you now keep the agreement which you have made with me today.

Utanka said O king, I shall certainly carry out my promise. I shall truly return and place myself under your power. There is, however, a question, O scorcher of enemies which I wish to ask you.

Saudasa said Say, O learned Brahmana, what is in your mind. I shall certainly reply to your words. I shall remove whatever doubt may being your mind. I have no hesitation in this.

Utanka said Those who are skilled in the rules of duty, say that Brahmanas are of controlled speech. One who acts wrongly towards friends is considered as vile as a thief.

You, again, O king, have become my friend today. Do you then, O foremost of men, give me such advice as is approved by the wise.

As for myself, I have now obtained the fruition of my wishes. You, again, are a cannibal. Is it proper for me to return to you or not.

Saudasa said If it is proper (for me), O foremost of superior Brahmanas, to say what you ask, I should then, O best of twice-born ones, tell you that you should never return to me.

O perpetuator of Bhrigu's race, by acting thus, you will secure your well-being. If you return, O learned Brahmana, you will surely meet with death.

Thus addressed by the intelligent king about what was beneficial for him, Utanka took leave of the king and set out for the presence of Ahalya.

Desirous of doing what was agreeable to the wife of his preceptor, he took the ear-rings with him and started with great speed for reaching the hermitage of Gautama.

Protecting them even in the manner directed by Madayanti, that is, binding them within the folds of his black, deer-skin, he proceeded on his way.

After he had proceeded for some distance, he became stricken with hunger. He there saw a Bilva tree covered down with the weight of (ripe) fruits. He climbed that tree.

Causing his deer-skin, O chastiser of enemies, to hang on a branch, that foremost of twice-born ones, then began to pluck some fruits.

While he was engaged in plucking those fruits with eyes set towards them, some of them dropped, O king, on that deer-skin, in which those ear-rings had been carefully tied by that foremost of Brahmanas. With the strokes of the fruits, the know became loosened.

Suddenly that deer-skin, with the ear-rings in it, dropped down. When the know being unfastened, the deer-skin fell down on the ground, a snake who was there saw those jewelled ear-rings.

That snake belonged to the race of Airavata. Promptly he took up the ear-rings in his mouth and then entered an ant-hill. Seeing the ear-rings taken by that snake, Utanka, filled with anger and in great anxiety of mind, came down from the tree. Taking his staff he began to pierce that ant-hill.

That best of Brahmanas, burning with anger and the desire for revenge, continually busied himself for thirty-five days in that work.

The goddess Earth, unable to bear the force of Utanka's walking staff and with body torn therewith, became greatly anxious.

To that twice-born Rishi then, who continued to dig the Earth from desire of making a path to the nether regions inhabited by the Nagas, the king of the celestial, armed with the thunder, came there, on his car drawn by green horses. Gifted with great energy, he saw that foremost of Brahmanas, as he sat there engaged in his task.

Vaishampayana continued : LoO king like a Brahmana stricken with the sorrow of Utanka, the king of the celestials addressed him, saying, 'This (purpose of thine) is impracticable of being accomplished.

The regions of the Nagas are thousands of Yojanas removed from this place. I think that your purpose is impossible of being achieved with your walking staff.

Utanka said If, O Brahmana, the ear-rings be not recovered by me from the regions of the Nagas, I shall renounce my life-breaths before your eyes, O foremost of twice-born persons.

Vaishmpayana said When the thunder-armed Indra could not divert Utanka from his purpose, he united the latter's walking staff with the force of thunder.

Then, O Janamejaya, the Earth, opening with those strokes having the force of thunder, gave way to the (nether) regions inhabited by the Nagas.

By that path Utanka entered the world of Nagas. He saw that that region lying thousands of Yojanas on all sides.

Indeed, O blessed one, it had many walls made of pure gold and decked with jewels and gems.

There were many flue tanks of water furnished with flights of stair-cases made of pure crystal, and many rivers of clear and transparent water. He saw also many trees with various species of birds perching on them.

That perpetuator of Bhrigu's race saw the gate of that region which was full five Yojanas high and a hundred Yojanas in width.

Seeing the regions of the Nagas, Utanka became very dispirited. Indeed, he despaired of getting back the ear-rings.

Then there appeared to him a black horse with a white tail. His face and eyes were of a coppcry colour, O you of Kuru's race, and he secmed to blaze forth with energy.

Addressing Uttanka, he said, 'Do you blew into the Apana duct of my body. You will then, O learned Brahmana, get back your ear-rings which have been taken away by a descendant of Airvata's race.

Do not hate to do my order, O son. You did it often at the hermitage of Gautama in former days.

Utanka said How did I know you in the asylum of my preceptor? Indeed, I wish to hear how I did in those days what you order me to do now.

The horse said Know, O learned Brahmana, that I am the preceptor of your preceptor, for I am the blazing Jatavedas (deity of fire). By you I was often adored for the sake of your preceptor, O child of Bhrigu's race, duly and with a pure heart and body. I shall therefore accomplish what is for your will-being. Do my bidding forthwith.

Thus addressed by the god of fire, Uttanka did as he was ordered. The deity then, pleased with him, blazed up for consuming everything.

From the pores of his body, O Bharata, on account of his very nature, a thick smoke came out threatening terrors to the world of Nagas.

With that powerful and wide-spreading smoke, O Bharata, everything became covered with darkness, so that nothing, O king, could any longer be seen in the world of the Nagas.

Cries of woe were heard throughout the place of the Airavatas, uttered by the Nagas headed by Vasuki, O Janamejaya.

Covered by that smoke, the places could no longer be seen, O Bharata. These resembled forests and hills overwhelmed by a thick frost.

With eyes that were red on account of that smoke and afflicted by the energy of the god of fire, the Nagas came out of their palaces to the greet son of Bhrigu's race for determining what was the matter.

Having heard what the matter was from that ascetic of incomparable energy, all the Nagas, with fear depicted on their eyes, offered him their adorations according to due forms.

Indeed, all the Nagas placing the old and the young ones before them, bowed to him with their heads and joining their hands addressed him, saying, 'Be pleased with us, O holy one.'

Having pleased that Brahmana and offered him water to wash his feet and the ingredients of the Arghya (for honouring him), the Nagas gave him those celestial and highly-adored earrings.

Thus honoured by them, Utanka of great prowess, going round the god of fire, started for the hermitage of his preceptor,

Indeed, going quickly to Gautama's hermitage, O king, he presented those earrings to the wife of his preceptor, O sinless one.

That best of Brahmanas also told his preceptor everything about Vasuki and the other Nagas that had occurred.

It was thus, O Janamejaya, that the great Utanka, having wandered through the three worlds, fetched, those jewelled ear-rings (for his preceptor's wife).

Of such prowess, O chief of Bharata's race, was the ascetic Utanka. So austere were the penances with which he was gifted. I have thus told you what you had asked me.