SECTION 70
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the king with his followers, having
killed thousands of animals, entered another forest with a view to hunting. And
attended by a single follower and fatigued with hunger and thirst, he came upon
a large desert on the frontiers of the forest. And having crossed this herbless
plain, the king came upon another forest full of the retreats of ascetics,
beautiful to look at, delightful to the heart and of cool agreeable breezes.
And it was full of trees covered with blossoms, the soil overgrown with the
softest and greenest grass, extending for many miles around, and echoing with
the sweet notes of winged warblers. And it resounded with the notes of the male
Kokila and of the shrill cicala. And it was full of magnificent trees with outstretched
branches forming a shady canopy overhead. And the bees hovered over flowery
creepers all around. And there were beautiful bowers in every place. And there
was no tree without fruits, none that had prickles on it, none that had no bees
swarming around it. And the whole forest resounded with the melody of winged
choristers. And it was decked with the flowers of every season. And there were
refreshing shades of blossoming trees.
"Such was the delicious and excellent forest that the great
bowman entered. And trees with branches beautified with clusters began to wave gently
at the soft breeze and rain their flowers over the monarch's head. And the
trees, clad in their flowery attires of all colours, with sweet-throated
warblers perched on them, stood there in rows with heads touching the very
heavens. And around their branches hanging down with the weight of flowers the
bees tempted by the honey hummed in sweet chorus. And the king, endued with
great energy, beholding innumerable spots covered with bowers of creepers
decked with clusters of flowers, from excess of gladness, became very much
charmed. And the forest was exceedingly beautiful in consequence of those trees
ranged around with flowery branches twining with each other and looking like so
many rainbows for gaudiness and variety of colour. And it was the resort of bands
of Siddhas, of the Charanas, of tribes of Gandharvas, and Apsaras, of monkeys
and Kinnaras drunk with delight. Delicious cool and fragrant breezes, conveying
the fragrance from fresh flowers, blew in all directions as if they had come
there to sport with the trees. And the king saw that charming forest gifted
with such beauties. And it was situated in a delta of the river, and the
cluster of high trees standing together lent the place the look of a gaudy pole
erected to Indra's honour.
"And in that forest which was the resort of ever cheerful
birds, the monarch saw a delightful and charming retreat of ascetics. And there
were many trees around it. And the sacred fire was burning within it. And the king
worshipped that unrivalled retreat. And he saw seated in it numerous Yotis,
Valakhilyas and other Munis. And it was adorned with many chambers containing
sacrificial fire. And the flowers dropping from the trees had formed a thick
carpet spread over the ground. And the spot looked exceedingly beautiful with
those tall trees of large trunks. And by it flowed, O king, the sacred and
transparent Malini with every species of water-fowl playing on its bosom. And
that stream infused gladness into the hearts of the ascetics who resorted to it
for purposes of ablutions. And the king beheld on its banks many innocent
animals of the deer species and was exceedingly delighted with all that he saw.
"And the monarch, the course of whose chariot no foe could
obstruct, then entered that asylum which was like unto the region of the
celestials, being exceedingly beautiful all over. And the king saw that it
stood on the margin of the sacred stream which was like the mother of all the living
creatures residing in its vicinage. And on its bank sported the ChakraBaka, and
waves of milkwhite foam. And there stood also the habitations of Kinnaras. And
monkeys and bears too disported themselves in numbers. And there lived also
holy ascetics engaged in studies and meditation. And there could be seen also
elephants and tigers and snakes. And it was on the banks of that stream that
the excellent asylum of the illustrious Kasyapa stood, offering a home to
numerous Rishis of great ascetic merit. And beholding that river, and also the
asylum washed by that river which was studded with many islands and which
possessed banks of so much beauty,--an asylum like unto that of Nara and
Narayana laved by the water of the Ganga--the king resolved to enter into that
sacred abode. And that bull among men, desirous of beholding the great Rishi of
ascetic wealth, the illustrious Kanwa of the race of Kasyapa, one who possessed
every virtue and who, for his splendour, could be gazed at with difficulty,
approached that forest resounding with the notes of maddened peacocks and like
unto the gardens of the great Gandharva, Chitraratha, himself. And halting his
army consisting of flags, cavalry, infantry, and elephants at the entrance of
the forest, the monarch spoke as follows, 'I shall go to behold the mighty
ascetic of Kasyapa's race, one who is without darkness. Stay ye here until my
return!'
"And the king having entered that forest which was like unto
Indra's garden, soon forgot his hunger and thirst. And he was pleased beyond measure.
And the monarch, laying aside all signs of royalty, entered that excellent asylum
with but his minister and his priest, desirous of beholding that Rishi who was
an indestructible mass of ascetic merit. And the king saw that the asylum was
like unto the region of Brahman. Here were bees sweetly humming and there were
winged warblers of various species pouring forth their melodies. At particular
places that tiger among men heard the chanting of Rik hymns by first-rate
Brahmanas according to the just rules of intonation. Other places again were
graced with Brahmanas acquainted with ordinances of sacrifice, of the Angas and
of the hymns of the Yajurveda. Other places again were filled with the harmonious
strains of Saman hymns sung by vow-observing Rishis. At other places the asylum
was decked with Brahmanas learned in the Atharvan Veda. At other places again
Brahmanas learned in the Atharvan Veda and those capable of chanting the
sacrificial hymns of the Saman were reciting the Samhitas according to the just
rules of voice. And at other places again, other Brahmanas well-acquainted with
the science of orthoepy were reciting mantras of other kinds. In fact, that
sacred retreat resounding with these holy notes was like unto a second region
of Brahman himself. And there were many Brahmanas skilled in the art of making
sacrificial platforms and in the rules of Krama in sacrifices, conversant with
logic and the mental sciences, and possessing a complete knowledge of the Vedas.
There were those also who were fully acquainted with the meanings of all kinds
of expressions; those that were conversant with all special rites, those also
that were followers of Moksha-Dharma; those again that were well-skilled in
establishing propositions; rejecting superfluous causes, and drawing right
conclusions. There were those having a knowledge of the science of words
(grammar), of prosody, of Nirukta; those again that were conversant with
astrology and learned in the properties of matter and the fruits of sacrificial
rites, possessing a knowledge of causes and effects, capable of understanding
the cries of birds and monkeys, well-read in large treatises, and skilled in
various sciences. And the king, as he proceeded, heard their voices. And the retreat
resounded also with voice of men capable of charming human hearts. And the
slayer of hostile heroes also saw around him learned Brahmanas of rigid vows
engaged in Japa (the repeated muttering of the names of gods) and Homa
(burnt-offering). And the king wondered much on beholding the beautiful carpets
which those Brahmanas offered to him respectfully. And that best of monarchs,
at the sight of the rites with which those Brahmanas worshipped the gods and
the great Rishis, thought within himself that he was in the region of Brahman.
And the more the king saw that auspicious and sacred asylum of Kasyapa
protected by that Rishi's ascetic virtues and possessing all the requisites of
a holy retreat, the more he desired to see it. In fact, he was not satisfied with
his short survey. And the slayer of heroes at last, accompanied by his minister
and his priest, entered that charming and sacred retreat of Kasyapa inhabited
all around by Rishis of ascetic wealth and exalted vows.'"
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