अनुशासनिक पर्व — भूतों पर ब्राह्मणों की श्रेष्ठता

Bhishma said Thus addressed, king Arjuna remained silent. The god of wind once more spoke to him. Listen now, O king, to the greatness of the Brahmana Agastya.

Once on a time, the gods were defeated by the Asuras upon which they became very dispirited. The sacrifices of the deities were all robbed, and the Svadha of the manes was also misappropriated.

Indeed, O chief of the Haihayas, all the religious acts and observances of human beings also were stopped by the Danavas. Shorn of their prosperity, the celestials wandered over the Earth as we have heard.

One day, in course of their wanderings, they met Agastya of high vows, that Brahimana, O king, who was gifted with great energy and solar splendour.

Saluting him duly, the celestials made the usual polite enquiries. They then, O king, said these words to that highsouled one, We have been defeated by the Danavas in battle, and have, therefore, been deprived of affluence and prosperity. Do you, therefore, O foremost of ascetics, rescue us from this situation of great fear.

Thus informed of the condition to which the celestials had been reduced, Agastya became highly enraged. Highly energetic, he at once blazed forth like the allconsuming fire at the time of the universal dissolution.

With the burning rays which then came out from the Rishi, the Danavas began to be buint. Indeed, O king, thousands of them began to drop down from the sky.

Burning with the energy of Agastya, the Danavas, abandoning both Heaven and Earth, fled towards the south.

At that time the Danava king Bali was celebrating a HorseSacrifice in the nether regions. Those great Asuras who were with himn in those regions or who were living in the bowels of the Earth, were not burnt.

The celestials, upon the destruction of their enemies, then regained their own regions, their fears entirely removed, Encouraged by what he did for them, they then begged the Rishi to destroy those Asuras who had taken refuge within the bowels of the Earth or in the nether regions.

Thus requested by the gods, Agastya replied to them, saying, Yes, I can consume those Asuras who are living underneath the Earth; but if I achieve such a feat, my penances will suffer decay. Hence, I shall not exert my power.

Thus, O king, were the Danavas consumed by the illustrious Rishi with his own energy. This did Agastya of purified soul, O monarch, accomplish that deed with the help of his penances.

O sinless one, so was Agastya as described by me. Shall I continue? Or, will you say anything in reply? Is there any Kshatriya who is greater than Agastya?

Bhishma said Thus addressed, king Arjuna remained silent. The god of wind once more said, Hear, O king, one of the great feats of the illustrious Vasishtha.

Once on a time the celestials were engaged in celebrating a sacrifice on the shores of the lake Vaikhanasa. Knowing his power, the sacrificing gods thought of Vasishtha and made him their priest in imagination.

Meanwhile, seeing the gods reducer and emaciated on account of the initiation they were undergoing, a race of Danavas, of the name of Khalins, of statures as gigantic as mountains, wished to kill them.

Those amongst the Danavas that were either disabled or killed in the fight were plunged into the waters of the Manasa lake and on account of the boon of the Grandfather they immediately came back to vigour and life.

Taking up huge and terrible mountain summits and maces and trees, they agitated the waters of the lake, making them swell up to the height of a hundred Yojanas.

They then ran against the celestials numbering ten thousand. Afflicted by the Danavas, the gods then sought the refuge of their king Vasava.

Shakra, however, was soon afflicted by them. In his distress he sought the protection of Vasishtha. At this, the holy Rishi Vasishtha assured the celestials, removing their fears.

Understanding that the gods had become greatly dispirited, the ascetic did this through mercy. He displayed his energy and burnt, without any exertion, those Danavas called Khalins.

Having penances for wealth, the Rishi brought the River Ganga who had gone to Kailasa, to that spot, Indeed, Ganga appeared, piercing through the waters of the lake.

The lake was penetrated by that river. And as that celestial river piercing through the waters of the lake, appeared, it flowed on, under the name of Sarayu. The palace whereon those Danavas fell came to be called after them.

Thus were the dwellers of Heaven, headed by Indra, rescued from great distress by Vasishtha. It was thus that those Danavas, who had received boons from Brahman, were killed by that great Rishi.

O sinless one, I have described to you the fcat which Vasishtha accomplished. Shall I go on? Or, will you say anything? Was there a Kshatriya who could be said to excel the Brahmana Vasishtha?