Chapter 40

Janamejaya said, “Why did the adorable Arshtishena undergo the austerestof penances? How also did Sindhudwipa acquire the status of a Brahmana?How also did Devapi, O Brahmana, and how Vishvamitra, O best of men,acquire the same status? Tell me all this, O adorable one! Great is mycuriosity to listen to all these.”

Vaishampayana said, “Formerly, in the Krita age, O king, there was aforemost of regenerate persons called Arshtishena. Residing in hispreceptor’s house, he attended to his lessons every day. Although, Oking, he resided long in the abode of his preceptor, he could not stillacquire the mastery of any branch of knowledge or of the Vedas. Omonarch! In great disappointment, O king, the great ascetic performedvery austere penances. By his penances he then acquired the mastery ofthe Vedas, to which there is nothing superior. Acquiring great learningand a mastery of the Vedas, that foremost of Rishis became crowned withsuccess in that tirtha. He then bestowed three boons on that place. (Hesaid), ‘From this day, a person, by bathing in this tirtha of the greatriver (Sarasvati), shall obtain the great fruit of a horse sacrifice!From this day there will be no fear in this tirtha from snakes and wildbeasts! By small exertions, again, one shall attain to great resulthere!’ Having said these words, that Muni of great energy proceeded toheaven. Even thus the adorable Arshtishena of great energy became crownedwith success. In that very tirtha in the Krita age, Sindhudwipa of greatenergy, and Devapi also, O monarch, had acquired the high status ofBrahmanhood. Similarly Kusika’s son, devoted to ascetic penances and withhis senses under control, acquired the status of Brahmanhood bypractising well-directed austerities. There was a great Kshatriya,celebrated over the world, known by the name of Gadhi. He had a son bornto him, of the name of Vishvamitra of great prowess. King Kausika becamea great ascetic. Possessed of great ascetic merit, he wished to installhis son Vishvamitra on his throne, himself having resolved to cast offhis body. His subjects, bowing unto him, said, ‘Thou shouldst not goaway, O thou of great wisdom, but do thou protect us from a great fear!’Thus addressed, Gadhi replied unto his subjects, saying, ‘My son willbecome the protector of the wide universe!’ Having said these words, andplaced Vishvamitra (on the throne), Gadhi, O king, went to heaven, andVishvamitra became king. He could not, however, protect the earth witheven his best exertions. The king then heard of the existence of a greatfear of Rakshasas (in his kingdom). With his four kinds of forces, hewent out of his capital. Having proceeded far on his way, he reached theasylum of Vasishtha. His troops, O king, caused much mischief there. Theadorable Brahmana Vasishtha, when he came to his asylum, saw theextensive woods in course of destruction. That best of Rishis, Vasishtha,O king, became angry, O monarch, with Vishvamitra. He commanded his own(homa) cow, saying, ‘Create a number of terrible Savaras!’ Thusaddressed, the cow created a swarm of men of frightful visages. Theseencountered the army of Vishvamitra and began to cause a great carnageeverywhere. Seeing this, his troops fled away. Vishvamitra, the son ofGadhi, however, regarding ascetic austerities highly efficacious, set hisheart upon them. In this foremost of tirthas of the Sarasvati, O king, hebegan to emaciate his own body by means of vows and fasts with fixedresolve. He made water and air and (the fallen) leaves of trees his food.He slept on the bare ground, and observed other vows (enjoined forascetics). The gods made repeated attempts for impeding him in theobservance of his vows. His heart, however, never swerved from the vows(he had proposed to himself). Then, having practised diverse kinds ofausterities with great devotion, the son of Gadhi became like the Sunhimself in effulgence. The boon-giving Grandsire, of great energy,resolved to grant Vishvamitra, when he had become endued with asceticmerit, the boon the latter desired. The boon that Vishvamitra solicitedwas that he should be permitted to become a Brahmana. Brahma theGrandsire of all the worlds, said unto him, ‘So be it.’ Having by hisaustere penances acquired the status of Brahmanhood, the illustriousVishvamitra, after the attainment of his wish, wandered over the wholeEarth like a celestial. Giving away diverse kinds of wealth in thatforemost of tirthas, Rama also cheerfully gave away milch cows andvehicles and beds, ornaments, and food and drink of the best kinds, Oking, unto many foremost of Brahmanas, after having worshipped them duly.Then, O king, Rama proceeded to the asylum of Vaka which was not verydistant from where he was, that asylum in which, as heard by us, DalvyaVaka had practised the austerest of penances.”