Anushasanika Parva — The nature of compassion and pity. The discourse between Nahusha and Chyavana

Yudhishthira said What is the nature of the compassion or pity that is felt at seeing the misery of another? What is the nature of that compassion or sympathy that one feels for another on account of his living in the companionship of that other? What is the nature of the supreme blessedness of kine? You should, O grandfather explain all this to me.

Bhishma said I shall, O you of great effulgence, recite to you in this connection an ancient narrative of a conversation between Nahusha and the Rishi Chyavana.

Formerly, O chief of Bharata's race, the great Rishi Chyavana of Bhrigu's race, always practising high vows, became desirous of leading for sometime the mode of life called Udavasa, and sed himself to commence it.

Renouncing pride, anger, joy and grief, the ascetic, pledging himself to observe that vow, set himself to live for twelve years, according to the rules of Udavasa.

The Rishi inspired all creatures with trust. And he inspired similar confidence in all creatures living in water. The powerful ascetic resembled the Moon himself in his conduct to all.

Bowing to all the deities and having purged himself of all sins, he entered the water at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, and stood there like an inanimate post of wood.

Placing his head against it, he bore the fierce and roaring current of the two rivers united together,—the current whose speed resembled that of the wind itself.

Ganga and Yamuna, however, and the other rivers and lakes, whose waters unite together at the confluence at Prayaga, instead of afflicting the Rishi, went beyond him.

Assuming the attitude of a wooden post, the great Muni sometimes laid himself down in the water and slept at ease. And sometimes, O chief of Bharata's race the intelligent sage stood erect.

He became quite agreeable to all creatures living in water. Without the least fear, all these used to smell the Rishi's lips.

In this way, the Rishi passed a long time at that grand confluence of waters. One day, some fishermen came there.

With nets in their hands, O you of great effuigence, those men came where the Rishi was. They were many in number and all of them were bent upon catching fish.

Well-formed and broadchested, gifted with great strength and courage, and never returning in fear from water, those men who lived upon the earning by their nets, came there, resolved to catch fish.

Arrived at that water which, contained many fish, those fishermen, O chief of the Bharatas, tied all their nets together.

Desirous of fish, of fish, those innumerable Kaivartas, united together and surrounded a portion of the waters of Ganga and Yamuna with their nets.

Indeed, they threw upon the water their net which was made of new strings, capable of covering a large space, and having sufficient length and breadth.

Getting down into the water, all of them began to drag with great force that net which was very large and had been wellspread over a large space.

All of them were free from fear, cheerful, and fully determined to do one another's bidding. They had succeeded in catching a large number of fish and other aquatic animals.

And as they dragged their net, o king, they easily dragged up Chyavana the son of Bhrigu, along with a large number of fish.

His body was overgrown with the rivermoss. His beard and matted locks had become green. And all over his body could be seen conchs and other mollusca attached with their heads.

Seeing that Rishi who was a master of the Vedas dragged up by them from the water, all the fishermen stood with joined hands and then laid themselves low on the ground and repeatedly bent their heads.

Through fear and pain caused by the dragging to the net, and on account of their being brought upon the land, the fishes caught in the net died.

Seeing that great onslaught of fishes, the ascetic became filled with compassion and sighed repeatedly.

The fishermen said We have perpetrated this sin unwillingly. Be pleased with us! What wish of yours shall we fulfil? Command us, ogreat ascetic.

Bhishma said Thus addressed by them, Chyavana, from among that mass of fishes around him, said Do you with rapt attention hear what my most cherished wish is.

I shall either die with these fishes or do ye sell me with them. I have lived with them for a long time within the water. I do not wish to leave them at such a time!

When he said these words to them, the fishermen became greatly terrified. With pale faces they went to king Nahusha and informed him of all that had occurred.