Chapter 182
“The Gandharva said, ‘Vasishtha after this, continued the narrationsaying, ‘Hearing these words of the Pitris, Aurva, O child, replied untothem to this effect:
‘Ye Pitris, the vow I have made from anger for the destruction of all theworlds, must not go in vain. I cannot consent to be one whose anger andvows are futile. Like fire consuming dry woods, this rage of mine willcertainly consume me if I do not accomplish my vow. The man thatrepresseth his wrath that hath been excited by (adequate) cause, becomethincapable of duly compassing the three ends of life (viz., religion,profit and pleasure). The wrath that kings desirous of subjugating thewhole earth exhibit, is not without its uses. It serveth to restrain thewicked and to protect the honest. While lying unborn within my mother’sthigh, I heard the doleful cries of my mother and other women of theBhrigu race who were then being exterminated by the Kshatriyas. YePitris, when those wretches of Kshatriyas began to exterminate theBhrigus together with unborn children of their race, it was then thatwrath filled my soul. My mother and the other women of our race, each inan advanced state of pregnancy, and my father, while terribly alarmed,found not in all the worlds a single protector. Then when the Bhriguwomen found not a single protector, my mother held me in one of herthighs. If there be a punisher of crimes in the worlds no one in all theworlds would dare commit a crime; if he findeth not a punisher, thenumber of sinners becometh large. The man who having the power to preventor punish sin doth not do so knowing that a sin hath been committed, ishimself defiled by that sin. When kings and others, capable of protectingmy fathers, protect them not, postponing that duty preferring thepleasures of life, I have just cause to be enraged with them. I am thelord of the creation, capable of punishing its iniquity. I am incapableof obeying your command. Capable of punishing this crime, if I abstainfrom so doing, men will once more have to undergo a similar persecution.The fire of my wrath too that is ready to consume the worlds, ifrepressed, will certainly consume by its own energy my own self. Yemasters, I know that ye ever seek the good of the worlds: direct me,therefore, as to what may benefit both myself and the worlds.’
“Vasishtha continued, ‘The Pitris replied saying, O, throw this fire thatis born of thy wrath and that desireth to consume the worlds, into thewaters. That will do thee good. The worlds, indeed, are all dependent onwater (as their elementary cause). Every juicy substance containethwater, indeed the whole universe is made of water. Therefore, O thou bestof Brahmanas, cast thou this fire of thy wrath into the waters. If,therefore, thou desirest it, O Brahmana, let this fire born of thy wrathabide in the great ocean, consuming the waters thereof, for it hath beensaid that the worlds are made of water. In this way, O thou sinless one,thy word will be rendered true, and the worlds with the gods will not bedestroyed.’
“Vasishtha continued, ‘Then, O child, Aurva cast the fire of his wrathinto the abode of Varuna. And that fire which consumeth the waters of thegreat ocean, became like unto a large horse’s head which personsconversant with the Vedas call by the name of Vadavamukha. And emittingitself from that mouth it consumeth the waters of the mighty ocean. Blestbe thou! It behoveth not thee, therefore, to destroy the worlds. O thouParasara, who art acquainted with the higher regions, thou foremost ofwise men!'”
