Chapter 52

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O thou of great wisdom, a doubt I have that is verygreat and that is as vast as the ocean itself. Listen to it, Omighty-armed one and having learnt what it is, it behoves thee to explainit unto me. I have a great curiosity with respect to Jamadagni’s son, Olord, viz., Rama, that foremost of all righteous persons. It behoveththee to gratify that curiosity. How was Rama born who was endued withprowess incapable of being baffled? He belonged by birth to a race ofregenerate Rishis. How did he become a follower of Kshatriya practices?Do thou, then, O king, recite to me in detail the circumstances of Rama’sbirth. How also did a son of the race of Kusika who was Kshatriya becomea Brahmana? Great, without doubt, was the puissance of the high-souledRama, O chief of men, as also of Viswamitra. Why did the grandson ofRichika instead of his son become a Kshatriya in conduct? Why also didthe grandson of Kusika and not his son become a Brahmana? Why did suchuntoward incidents overtake the grandsons of both, instead of their sons?It behoveth thee to explain the truth in respect of these circumstances.’

“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection is cited an old history of thediscourse between Chyavana and Kusika, O Bharata! Endued with greatintelligence, Chyavana of Bhrigu’s race, that best of ascetics beheld(with his spiritual eye) the stain that would affect his own race (inconsequence of some descendant of his becoming wedded to Kshatriyapractice). Reflecting upon the merits and faults of that incident, asalso its strength and weakness, Chyavana endued with wealth of asceticismbecame desirous of consuming the race of the Kusikas (for it was fromthat race that the stain of Kshatriya practices would, he knew, affecthis own race). Repairing then to the presence of king Kusika, Chyavanasaid unto him, ‘O sinless one, the desire has arisen in my heart ofdwelling with thee for some time.’

“Kusika said, ‘O holy one, residence together is an act which the learnedordain for girls when these are given away. They that are endued withwisdom always speak of the practice in such connection only. O Rishiendued with wealth of asceticism, the residence which thou seekest withme is not sanctioned by the ordinance. Yet, however opposed to thedictates of duty and righteousness, I shall do what thou mayst be pleasedto command.’

“Bhishma continued, ‘Ordering a seat to be placed for the great asceticChyavana, king Kusika, accompanied by his wife, stood in the presence ofthe ascetic. Bringing a little jar of water, the king offered him waterfor washing his feet. He then, through his, servants, caused all therites to be duly performed in honour of his high-souled guest. Thehigh-souled Kusika, who was observant of restraints and vows, thencheerfully presented, according to due forms, the ingredients consistingof honey and the other things, to the great Rishi and induced him toaccept the same. Having welcomed and honoured the learned Brahmana inthis way, the king once more addressed him and said, ‘We two await thyorders! Command us what we are to do for thee, O holy one! If it is ourkingdom or wealth or kine, O thou of rigid vows, or all articles that aregiven away in sacrifices, which thou wantest, tell us the word, and weshall bestow all upon thee! This palace, the kingdom, this seat ofjustice, await thy pleasure. Thou art the lord of all these! Do thou rulethe earth! As regards myself, I am completely dependent upon thee.’Addressed in these words by the king, Chyavana of Bhrigu’s race, filledwith great delight, said unto Kusika these words in reply.’

“Chyavana said, ‘I do not, O king, covet thy kingdom, nor thy wealth, northe damsels thou hast, nor thy kine, nor thy provinces, nor articlesneeded for sacrifice. Do thou listen to me. If it pleases thee and thywife, I shall commence to observe a certain vow. I desire thee and thywife to serve me during that period without any scruples. Thus addressedby the Rishi, the king and the queen became filled with joy, O Bharata,and answered him, saving, ‘Be it so, O Rishi!’ Delighted with the Rishi’swords, the king led him into an apartment of the palace. It was anexcellent one, agreeable to see. The king showed him everything in thatroom. And the king said. ‘This, O holy one, is thy bed. Do thou live hereas thou pleasest! O thou that art endued with wealth of asceticism,myself and my queen shall strive our best to give thee every comfort andevery pleasure.’ While they were thus conversing with each other, the sunpassed the meridian. The Rishi commanded the king to bring him food anddrink, King Kusika, bowing unto the Rishi, asked him, saying, ‘What kindof food is agreeable to thee? What food, indeed, shall be brought forthee?’ Filled with delight, the Rishi answered that rule of men, OBharata, saying, ‘Let food that is proper be given to me.’ Receivingthese words with respect, the king said, ‘So be it!’ and then offeredunto the Rishi food of the proper kind. Having finished his meals, theholy Chyavana, conversant with every duty, addressed the king and thequeen, saying, ‘I desire to slumber. O puissant one, sleep hinders menow.’ Proceeding thence to a chamber that had been prepared for him, thatbest of Rishis then laid himself down upon a bed. The king and the queensat themselves down. The Rishi said to them, ‘Do not, while I sleep,awake me. Do ye keep yourselves awake and continually press my feet aslong as I sleep.’ Without the least scruple, Kusika, conversant withevery duty, said, ‘So be it!’ Indeed, the king and the queen keptthemselves awake all night, duly engaged in tending and serving the Rishiin the manner directed. The royal couple, O monarch accomplished theRishi’s bidding with earnestness and attention. Meanwhile the holyBrahmana, having thus laid his commands upon the king, slept soundly,without changing his posture or turning even once, for a space of one andtwenty days. The king, O delighter of the Kurus, foregoing all food,along with his wife, sat joyfully the whole time engaged in tending andserving the Rishi. On the expiration of one and twenty days, the son ofBhrigu rose of his own accord. The great ascetic then went out of theroom, without accosting them at all. Famished and toil-worn the king andthe queen followed him, but that foremost of Rishis did not deign to casta single glance upon any of them. Proceeding a little way, the son ofBhrigu disappeared in the very sight of the royal couple (making himselfinvisible by his Yoga-power). At this, the king, struck with grief, felldown on the earth. Comforted, he rose up soon, and accompanied by hisqueen, the monarch, possessed of great splendour, began to searcheverywhere for the Rishi.’