Chapter 95
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O chief of Bharata’s rare, by whom was the custom ofgiving umbrellas and sandals at obsequial ceremonies introduced? Why wasit introduced and for what purpose are those gifts made? They are givennot only at obsequial ceremonies but also at other religious rites. Theyare given on many occasions with a view to acquiring religious merit. Iwish to know, in detail, O regenerate one, the true meaning of thiscustom!'”
“Bhishma said, ‘Do thou, O prince, attentively listen to the details Ishall recite in respect of the custom of giving away umbrellas and shoesat religious rites, and as to how and by whom it was introduced. I shallalso tell thee in full, O prince, how it acquired the force of apermanent observance and how it came to be viewed as a meritorious act. Ishall, in this connection, recite the narrative of the discourse betweenJamadagni and the high-souled Surya. In ancient times, the illustriousJamadagni, O puissant king, of Bhrigu’s race, was engaged in practisingwith his bow. Taking his aim, he shot arrow after arrow. His wife Renukaused to pick up the shafts when shot and repeatedly bring them back tothat descendant, endued with blazing energy, of Bhrigu’s race. Pleasedwith the whizzing noise of his arrows and the twang of his bow, he amusedhimself thus by repeatedly discharging his arrows which Renuka broughtback into him. One day, at noontide, O monarch, in that month when thesun was in Jyesthamula, the Brahmana, having discharged all his arrows,said to Renuka, ‘O large-eyed lady, go and fetch me the shafts I haveshot from my bow, O thou of beautiful eye-brows! I shall again shoot themwith my bow.’ The lady proceeded on her errand but was compelled to situnder the shade of a tree, in consequence of her head and feet beingscorched by the heat of the sun. The black-eyed and graceful Renuka,having rested for only a moment, feared the curse of her husband and,therefore, addressed herself again to the task of collecting and bringingback the arrows. Taking them with her, the celebrated lady of gracefulfeatures came back, distressed in mind and her feet smarting with pain.Trembling with fear, she approached her husband. The Rishi, filled withwrath, repeatedly addressed his fair-faced spouse, saying, ‘O Renuka, whyhast thou teen so late in returning?'”
“Renuka said, ‘O thou that art endued with wealth of penances, my headand feet were scorched by the rays of the sun! Oppressed by the heat, Ihad betaken myself to the shade of a tree! Just this has been the causeof the delay! Informed of the cause, do thou, O lord, cease to be angrywith me!'”
“Jamadagni said, ‘O Renuka, this very day shall I destroy, with the fieryenergy of my weapons, the star of day with his blazing rays, that hasafflicted thee in this way!'”
“Bhishma continued, ‘Drawing his celestial bow, and taking up manyarrows, Jamadagni stood, turning his face towards the sun and watchinghim as he moved (in his diurnal course). Then, O son of Kunti, beholdinghim addressed for fight, Surya approached him in the guise of a Brahmana,and said unto him. ‘What has Surya done to displease thee? Coursingthrough the firmament, he draws up the moisture from the earth, and inthe form of rains he pours it down once more on her. It is through this,O regenerate one, that the food of human beings springs up,–food that isso agreeable to them! The Vedas say that it is food that constitutes thelife-breaths. O Brahmana, hidden in the clouds and encompassed by hisrays, the sun drenches the seven islands with showers of rain. O puissantone, the moisture, thus poured, diffusing itself into the leaves andfruits of vegetables and herbs, is transformed into food. O son ofBhrigu, the rites of nativity, religious observances of every kind,investiture with the sacred thread, gifts of kine, weddings, all articlesin view of sacrifices, the rules for the governance of men, gifts, allsorts of union (between man and man), and the acquisition of wealth, havetheir origin in food! Thou knowest this well! All the good and agreeablethings in the universe, and all the efforts made by living creatures,flow from food. I duly recite what is well-known to thee! Indeed, thoufully knowest all that I have said! Do thou, therefore, O regenerateRishi, appease thy anger! What wilt thou gain by annihilating the sun?'”
