राजधर्मानुशासन पर्व — ऋषभ की कथा

Bhishma said Then the best of Rishis, viz., the twice-born Rishabha, sitting in the midst of all those Rishis, smiled a little and said

Formerly, O foremost of Kings, while sojourning among sacred places, I arrived O lord, at the beautiful hermitage of Nara and Narayana.

There lies the charming spot called Badari, and there also is that lake in the sky. There the sage Ashvashiras, O king, reads the eternal Vedas.

Having performed my ablutions in that lake duly offered libations of water to the departed manes and the gods, I entered the hermitage.

Within that retreat the Rishis Nara and Narayana always spend their time happily. Not far from that place I went to another hermitage for taking up my quarter.

While seated there I saw a very tall and emaciated Rishi, clad in rags and skins, coming towards me. Rich in penances, he was named Tanu,

Compared, O mighty-armed one, with other men, his height was eight times greater. Regarding his leanness, O royal sage, I can say that I have never seen its like.

His body, O king, was as thin as one's little finger. His neck and arms and legs and hair were all of extraordinary character.

His head was proportionate to his body, and his ears and eyes, also, were the same. His speech, O best of kings, and his movements were highly feeble.

Seeing that highly emaciated Brahmana I became very dispirited and frightened. Saluting his feet, I stood before him with clasped hands.

Having given out to him my name and family, and having told him also the name of my father, O foremost of men, I slowly sat myself down on a seat that was pointed out by him.

Then, o king, that foremost of virtuous men, viz., Tanu, began to describe in the midst of the Rishis living in that hermitage the topics regarding Righteousness and Profit.

While engaged in discourse, a king, having eyes like lotus-petals and accompanied by his forces and the ladies of his seraglio, came on a car drawn by quick-coursing horses.

The name of that king was Viradyumna. Of beautiful features, he was highly illustrious. His son's name was Bhuridyumna. The child has been missing, and the father, highly dispirited, came there in there in course of his wanderings amid the forest in pursuit of the missing one.

I shall find my son here!-I shall find my son here!-Carried on by hope in this way, the king wandered through that forest in those days.

Addressing the emaciated Rishi he said,-Forsooth, that highly virtuous son of mine cannot be traced by me. Alas, he was my only son. He is lost and can nowhere be found.

Though he cannot be discovered my hope, however, of finding him is very great! With that hope (which is frequently disappointed) I am almost on the point of death.

Hearing these words of the king, that foremost of ascetics, viz., the holy Tanu, remained for a short while with head lowering down and himself immersed in contemplation.

Seeing him immersed in contemplation, the king became highly disspirited. With great sorrow he began to say slowly and softly,-What, Ocelestial, Rishi, is that which cannot be conquered and what is it that is greater than hope? O holy one, tell me this if I may hear it without any objection.

The ascetic said A holy and great ascetic had been insulted by your son. He had done it through ill luck, actuated by his foolish understanding.

The ascetic has asked your son for a golden jar and vegetable barks. Your son refused, out of contempt, to please the ascetic.

Thus treated by your son, the great sage became disappointed!-Thus addressed, the king adored that ascetic worshipped of all the world. Of virtuous soul, Viradyumna sat there, worn out with toil even as you, O best of men, noware.

The great ascetic, in return, offered the dwellers, water to wash his feet and the Arghya.

Then all the ascetics, O. foremost of kings, sat there, encircling that foremost of men like the stars of the constellation of Ursa Major surrounding the Pole star.

And they asked the unvanquished king about the cause of his arrival at that hermitage.