Chapter 41

‘Bhishma said, One day the chief of the celestials assuming a form ofcelestial beauty, came to the retreat of the Rishi, thinking that theopportunity he had been expecting had at last come. Verily, O king,having assumed a form unrivalled for comeliness and exceedingly temptingto women and highly agreeable to look at, Indra entered the ascetic’sasylum. He saw the body of Vipula staying in a sitting posture, immovableas a stake, and with eyes destitute of vision, like a picture drawn onthe canvas. And he saw also that Ruchi was seated there, adorned witheyes whose ends were extremely beautiful, possessed of full and rotundhips, and having a deep and swelling bosom. Her eyes were large andexpansive like the petals of the lotus, and her face was as beautiful andsweet as the moon at full. Seeing Indra come in that guise, the ladywished to rise up and offer him a welcome. Her wonder having been excitedat the unrivalled beauty of form which the person possessed, she verymuch wished to ask him as to who he was. Although, however, she wished torise up and offer him a welcome, yet her limbs having been restrained byVipula who was dwelling within her, she failed, O king, to do what shewished. In fact, she was unable to move from the place where she sat. Thechief of the celestials then addressed her in agreeable words utteredwith a sweet voice. Indeed, he said, ‘O thou of sweet smiles, know that Iam Indra, arrived here for thy sake! Know, O sweet lady, that I amafflicted by the deity of desire provoked by thoughts of thee! O thou ofbeautiful brows, I have come to thy presence. Time wears off.'[274] Thesewords that Indra spoke were heard by the ascetic Vipula. Remaining withinthe body of his preceptor’s wife, he saw everything that occurred. Thelady of faultless beauty, though she heard what Indra said, was, however,unable to rise up for welcoming or honouring the chief of the celestials.Her senses restrained by Vipula, she was unable to utter a word in reply.That scion of Bhrigu’s race, of mighty energy, judging from theindications afforded by the body of his preceptor’s wife that she was notunwilling to receive Indra with kindness, restrained her limbs and sensesall the more effectually, O king, by his Yoga-powers. With Yoga-bonds hebound up all her senses. Beholding her seated without any indication ofagitation on her person, the lord of Sachi, abashed a little, once moreaddressed that lady who was stupefied by the Yoga-powers of her husband’sdisciple, in these words, ‘Come, come, O sweet lady!’ Then the ladyendeavoured to answer him. Vipula, however restrained the words that sheintended to utter. The words, therefore, that actually escaped her lips(under the influence of Vipula) were. ‘What is the reason of thy cominghither?’ These words adorned with grammatical refinements, issued out ofher mouth that was as beautiful as the moon.[275] Subject to theinfluence of another, she uttered these words, but became rather ashamedfor uttering them. Hearing her, Purandara became exceedingly cheerless.Observing that awkward result, the chief of the celestials, O monarch,adorned with a thousand eyes saw every thing with his spiritual eye. Hethen beheld the ascetic staying within the body of the lady. Indeed, theascetic remained within the body of his preceptor’s wife like an image orreflection on a mirror. Beholding the ascetic endued with the terriblemight of penances, Purandara, O monarch, fearing the Rishi’s curse,trembled in fright. Vipula then, possessed of high ascetic might, leftthe body of his preceptor’s wife and returned to his own body that waslying near. He then addressed the terrified Indra in the following words:

“Vipula said, ‘O wicked-souled Purandara, O thou of sinful mind, O wretchthat hast no control over thy senses, neither the deities nor humanbeings will worship thee for any length of time! Hast thou forgotten it.O Sakra,–does it not still dwell in thy remembrance,–that Gautama hadcursed thee in consequence of which thy body became disfigured with athousand sex-marks, which, owing to the Rishi’s compassion, wereafterwards changed into organs of vision? I know that thou art of anexceedingly foolish understanding, that thy soul is uncleansed, and thatthou art of an exceedingly unstable mind! O fool, know that this lady isbeing protected by me. O sinful wretch, go back to that place whence thoutamest. O thou of foolish soul, I do not consume thee today into asheswith my energy. Verily, I am filled with compassion for thee. It is forthis that I do not, O Vasava, wish to burn thee. My preceptor, enduedwith great intelligence, is possessed of terrible might. With eyesblazing with wrath, he would, if he saw thee, have burnt thy sinful selftoday. Thou shouldst not, O Sakra, do like this again. The Brahmanasshould be regarded by thee. See that thou dost not, with thy sons andcounsellors, meet with destruction, afflicted by the might of theBrahmanas. Thou thinkest that thou art an immortal and that, therefore,art at liberty to proceed in this way. Do not, however, disregard theBrahmanas. Know that there is nothing unattainable by penance.’

“Bhishma continued, ‘Hearing these words of the high-souled Vipula, Sakrawithout saying anything, and overwhelmed with shame, made himselfinvisible. A moment after he had gone away, Devasarman of high asceticmerit, having accomplished the sacrifice he had intended to perform, cameback to his own asylum. When his preceptor came back, Vipula, who haddone an agreeable deed, gave, unto him his wife of faultless beauty whomhe had successfully protected against the machinations of Indra. Oftranquil soul and full of reverence for his preceptor, Vipularespectfully saluted him and stood in his presence with a fearless heart.After his preceptor had rested a while and when he was seated with hiswife on the same seat, Vipula represented unto him everything that Sakrahad done. Hearing these words of Vipula, that foremost of Munis, enduedwith great prowess, became highly gratified with him for his conduct anddisposition, his penances, and his observances. Observing Vipula’sconduct towards himself–his preceptor–and his devotion also, and notinghis steadiness in virtue, the puissant Devasarman exclaimed, “Excellent,excellent!’ The righteous-souled Devasarman, receiving his virtuousdisciple with a sincere welcome, honoured him with a boon. Indeed,Vipula, steady in virtue obtained from his preceptor the boon that hewould never swerve or fall away from righteousness. Dismissed by hispreceptor he left his abode and practised the most severe austerities.Devasarman also, of severe penances, with his spouse, began from that dayto live in those solitary woods, perfectly fearless of him who had slainVala and Vritra.'”