Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/203

Rh O son of Vribaspati, thou art, indeed, one already crowned with success, because Devayani regards thee so well I Accept the science that I will to-day impart to thee, if indeed, thou be not Indra in the form of Kacha 1 None can come out of my stomach with life. A Brahmana, however, must not be slain, therefore, accept thou the science I impart to thee ! Start thou into life as my son ! Avd possessed of the knowledge received from me, and revived by me, take care that, on coming out of my body, thou dost act gracefully!'"

Vaisampayana continued. -"Receiving the scienceim parted to him by bis preceptor the handsome Kacha, ripped open his stomach, came out like the moon at evening on the fifteenth day of the bright fortnight. And beholding remains of his preceptor lying like a heap of penances and learning Kacha revived him, aided by the science he had learned. Worshipping him with regard, Kacha said unto his preceptor,

'Him who poureth the nectar of knowledge into one's ears, even as thou hast done into those of myself who was void of knowledge, him do I regard both as my father and mother. And remembering the immense service done by him, who is there so ungra teful as to injure him? They that, having acquired knowledge, injure their preceptor who is always an object of worship, who is the giver of knowledge, who is the most precious of all precious objects on Earth, come to be hated on Earth and finally go to the regions of the sinful!"

Vaisampayana continued, "The learned Sukra, having been deceived while under wine, and remembering the total loss of consciousness that one of the terrible consequences of drink, and beholding too before him the handsome Kacha whom he bad, in a state of unconsciousness, drunk with his wine, then thought of effecting a reform in the manners of Brahmanas. The high-souled Usanas rising up from the ground in anger, then spoke as follows:-"The wretched Brabmana who from this day, unable to resist the temptation, will drink wine shall be regarded as having lost his virtue, sball be reckoned to have committed the sin of slaying a Brahmana, shall be hated both in this and the other worlds. I set this limit to the conduct and dignity of Brabmanas everywhere. Let the honest, let Brahmanas, let those with regard for their superiors, let the gods, let the three worlds, listen !' Having said these words that high-souled one, that ascetic of ascetics, then summoning the Danavas who had been deprived by fate of the good sense, told them these words : -'Ye foolish Danavas. know ye that Kacha bath obtained his wishes. He will henceforth dwell with me! Having obtained the valuable knowledge of reviving the dead, that Brahmana hath, indeed, become in prowess even as Brahmana himselt!"