The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section CLXXV

SECTION CLXXV

( Chaitra.ratha Parva continued )

"The Oandharva continued, 'Saying this, Tapati of faultless features ascended the skies. The monarch thereupon again fell down on the earth. His ministers and followers searching for him throughout the forest at length came upon him lying on that solitary spot, and beholding that excellent king, that mighty bowman, thus lying forsaken on the ground like a rainbow dropped from the firmanent, his minister-inchief became like one burnt by a flame of fire. Advancing hastily with affection and respect, the minister raised that best of monarchs lying prostrate on the ground and deprived of his senses by desire. Old in wisdom as in age, old in achievements as in policy, the minister, after having raised the prostrate monarch, became easy (in mind). Addressing the king in sweet words that were also for his good, he said, Blest be thou, O sinless one I Fear not, O tiger among kings ! The minister thought that the monarch, that great feller of hostile ranks in battle, had been lying on the ground overcome with hunger, thirst, and fatigue. The old man then sprinkled over the crownless head of the monarch water that was cold and rendered fragrant with lotaspetals. Slowly regaining his consciousness, the mighty monarch sent away all his attendants with the exception of his minister only. After those attendants had retired at his command, the king sat upon the mountain-breast, Having purified himself duly, the king sat upon that chief of mountains, and began, with joined hands and upturned face, to worship Suryya. King Samvarana, that smiter of all foes, thought also of his chief priest Vasistha, that best of Rishis. The king continued to sit there day and night without intermission. The Brahmana sage Vasistha came there on the twelfth day : that great Rishis of soul under perfect command knew at once by his ascetic power that the monarch had lost his senses in consequence of Tapati. And. that virtuous and best of Munis, as soon as he knew this, desirous of behefitting the monarch who was ever observant of vows, addressed him and gave him every assurance. The illustrious Rishis, in the very sight of that monarch, ascended upward to interview Suryya, himself possessed of the splendour of that luminary. The Brahmana then approached with joined hands the god of a thousand rays and introduced himself cheerfully unto him, saying I am Vasistha. Then Vivasvat of great energy said unto that best of is, Welcome art thou, O great Rishi ! Tell me what is in thy mind. O thou of great good fortune, whatever thou demandest of me, O foremost of eloquent men, I will confer on thee, however difficult it may be for me ! Thus addressed by Suryya, the Rishi of great ascetic merit, bowing unto the god of light, replied, saying, O Vibhavasu, this thy daughter Tapati, the younger sister of Savitri, I ask of thee for Samvarana ! That monarch is of mighty achievements, conversant with virtue, and of high soul. O firmament-ranger, Samvarana will make a worthy husband for thy daughter ! Thus addressed by the Rishi Vibhakara, resolved upon bestowing his daughter upon Samv.nana, saluted the Rishi, and replied unto him, saying Oh, Samvarana is the best of monarches, thou art the best of Rishis, Tapati is the best ot women. What should we do therefore but bestow her on Samvarana ? Saying this, the god Tapana made over his daughter Tapati of every feature perfectly faultless unto the illustrious Vasistha to bestow her upon Samvarana. And the great Rishi then accepted the girl Tapati and taking leave of Suryya, came back to the spot, where that bull amongst the Kurus, of celestial achievements, was. King Samvarana, possessed by Kama and with his heart fixed on Tapati, beholding that celestial maiden of sweet smiles led by Vasistha, became exceedingly glad. And Tapati of fair eyebrows came down from the firmament like lightning from the clouds, dazzling the ten points of the heavens. And the illustrious Rishi Vasistha of pure soul approached the monarch after the latter's twelve night's vow was over. It was thus that king Samvarana obtained a wife after having worshipped with ascetic penances the propitious lord Vivaswat, by the help of Vasistha's (ascetic power). And Samvarana, that bull among men with due rites took Tapati's hand on that mountain-breast which was resorted to by the celestials and the Gandharvas. The royal sage, with the permission of Vasistha, desired to sport with his wife on that mountain. And the king caused Vasistha to bz proclaimed his regent in his capital and kingdom, in the woods and gardens. And bidding farewell unto the monarch, Vasistha left him and went away. Samvarana, who sported on that mountain-like a celestial, sported with his wife in the woods and the under-woods on that mountain for twelve full years. And, O best of the Bharatas, the god of a thousand eyes poured no rain for twelve years on the capital and on the kingdom of that monarch, Then O chastiser of enemies, when that season of drought broken out, the people of that kingdom, as also the trees and lower animals began to die fast. And during the continuance of that dreadful drought, not even a drop of dew fell from the skies and no corn grew. And the inhabitants in despair, and afflicted with the fear of hunger, left their homes and fled away in all directions. And the famished people of the capital and the country began to abandon their wives and children and grew reckless of one another. The people being afflicted with hunger, without a morsel of food, and reduced to skeletons, the capital looked very much like the city of the king of the dead, full of only ghostly beings. On beholding the capital reduced to such a state, the illustrious and virtuous and best of Bishis, Vasistha was resolved upon applying remedy and brought back unto the city that tiger among kings, Samvarana along with his wife, after the latter had passed so long a period in solitude and seclusion. After the king had entered his capital, things became as before, for, when that tigar among kings came back to his own, the god of a thousand eyes, the slayer of Asuras, poured rain in abundance and caused corn to grow. Revivfied by the foremost of virtuous soul the capital and the country became animated with extreme joy. The monarch, with his wife Tapati, once more performed sacrifices for twelve years, like the lord Indra (god of rain) performing sacrifices with his wife Sachi.' "The Oandharva continued, 'This, O Partha, is the history of Tapati of old, the daughter of Vivaswat. It is for her that thou art (called) Tapatya \ King Samvarana begot upon Tapat^a son named Kuru, who was the foremost of ascetics- Born in the race of Kuru, thou art, O Arjuna, to be called Tapatya' Thus ends the hundred and seventy-fifth section in the Chaitraratha Parva of the Adi Parva.