Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/55

 And having obtained divine discernment I have told you the great tale: now as my curse has spent its strength, I will strive to leave the body; and do you remain here for the present, until there comes to you a Brahman named Gunadhya, who has forsaken the use of three languages, surrounded with his pupils, for he like myself was cursed by the goddess in anger, being an excellent Gana Malyavan by name, who for taking my part has become a mortal. To him you must tell this tale originally told by Siva, then you shall be delivered from your curse, and so shall he.

Having said all this to Kanabhuti, that Vararuchi set forth for the holy hermitage of Badarika in order to put off his body. As he was going along he beheld on the banks of the Ganges a vegetable-eating hermit, and while he was looking on, that hermit's hand was pricked with kusa grass. Then Vararuchi turned his blood, as it flowed out, into sap through his magic power, out of curiosity, in order to test his egotism; on beholding that, the hermit exclaimed, "Ha! I have attained perfection;" and so he became puffed up with pride. Then Vararuchi laughed a little and said to him, "I turned your blood into sap in order to test you, because even now, hermit, you have not abandoned egotism. Egotism is in truth an obstacle in the road to knowledge hard to overcome, and without knowledge liberation cannot be attained even by a hundred vows. But the perishable joys of Svarga cannot attract the hearts of those who long for liberation, therefore, O hermit, endeavour to acquire knowledge by forsaking egotism." Having thus read that hermit a lesson, and having been praised by him prostrate in adoration, Vararuchi went to the tranquil site of the hermitage of Badari. There he, desirous of putting off his mortal condition, resorted for protection with intense devotion to that goddess who only can protect, and she manifesting her real form to him told him the secret of that meditation which arises from fire, to help him to put off the body. Then Vararuchi having consumed his body by that form of meditation, reached his own heavenly home; and henceforth that Kanabhuti remained in the Vindhya forest eager for his desired meeting with Gunadhya.