"Markandeya continued, 'Do ye again hear from me the glory of the
_Brahmanas_! It is said that a royal sage of the name of _Vainya_ was
once engaged in performing the horse-sacrifice and that Atri desired to
go to him for alms. But Atri subsequently gave up his desire of wealth,
from religious scruples. After much thought he, of great power, became
desirous of living in the woods, and, calling his wife and sons
together, addressed them thus, "Let us attain the highly tranquil and
complete fruition of our desires. May it, therefore, be agreeable to you
to repair quickly to the forest for a life of great merit." His wife,
arguing from motives of virtue also then said to him, "Hie thee to the
illustrious prince Vainya, and beg of him vast riches! Asked by thee,
that royal sage, engaged in sacrifice will give thee wealth. Having gone
there, O regenerate _Rishi_, and received from him vast wealth, thou
canst distribute it among thy sons and servants and then thou canst go
whithersoever thou pleasest. This, indeed, is the higher virtue as
instanced by men conversant with religion." Atri replied, "I am
informed, O virtuous one, by the high-souled Gautama, that Vainya is a
pious prince, devoted to the cause of truth; but there are _Brahmanas_
(about his persons) who are jealous of me; and as Gautama hath told me
this, I do not venture to go there, for (while) there, if I were to
advise what is good and calculated to secure piety and the fulfilment of
one's desires, they would contradict me with words unproductive of any
good. But I approve of any counsel and will go there; Vainya will give
me kine and hoards of riches."'
"Markandeya continued, 'So saying, he, of great ascetic merit, hastened
to Vainya's sacrifice and reaching the sacrificial altar and making his
obeisance to the king and praising him with well-meaning speeches, he
spoke these words, "Blessed art thou, O king! Ruling over the earth,
thou art the foremost of sovereigns! The _Munis_ praise thee, and
besides thee there is none so versed in religious lore!" To him the
_Rishi_ Gautama, of great ascetic merit, then indignantly replied
saying, "Atri, do not repeat this nonsense. (It seems) thou art not in
thy proper senses. In this world of ours, Mahendra the lord of all
created beings (alone) is the foremost of all sovereigns!" Then, O,
great prince, Atri said to Gautama, "As Indra, the lord of all
creatures, ruleth over our destinies, so doth this king! Thou art
mistaken. It is thou who hast lost thine senses from want of spiritual
perception!" Gautama replied, "I know I am not mistaken; it is thou who
art labouring under a misconception in this matter. To secure the king's
countenance, thou art flattering him in (this) assembly of the people.
Thou dost not know what the highest virtue, nor dost thou feel the need
for it. Thou art like a child steeped in ignorance, for what then hast
thou become (so) old in years?"'
"Markandeya continued, 'While those two men were thus disputing in the
presence of the _Munis_, who were engaged in Vainya's sacrifice the
latter enquired, "What is the matter with them, that maketh them talk so
vociferously?" Then the very pious Kasyapa learned in all religious
lore, approaching the disputants asked them what was the matter. And
then Gautama, addressing that assembly of great _Munis_ said, "Listen, O
great _Brahmanas_, to the point in dispute between us. Atri hath said
that Vainya is the ruler of our destinies; great is our doubt on this
point."'
"Markandeya continued, 'On hearing this, the great-mind _Munis_ went
instantly to Sanatkumara who was well versed in religion to clear their
doubt. And then he of great ascetic merit, having heard the particulars
from them addressed them these words full of religious meaning. And
Sanatkumara said, "As fire assisted by the wind burneth down forests, so
a Brahmana's energy in union with a Kshatriya's or a Kshatriya's joined
with a Brahmana's destroyeth all enemies. The sovereign is the
distinguished giver of laws and the protector of his subjects. He is (a
protector of created beings) like Indra, (a propounder of morals) like
Sukra, (a counsellor) like Vrihaspati and (hence he is also called) the
ruler of men's destinies. Who does not think it proper to worship the
individual of whom such terms as 'preserver of created beings,' 'royal,'
'emperor,' 'Kshatriya' (or saviour of the earth), 'lord of earth,'
'ruler of men,' are applied in praise? The king is (also) styled the
prime cause (of social order, as being the promulgator of laws), 'the
virtuous in wars,' (and therefore, preserver after peace), 'the
watchman,' 'the contented,' 'the lord,' 'the guide to salvation,' 'the
easily victorious,' 'the Vishnu like,' 'of effective wrath,' 'the winner
of battles' and 'the cherisher of the true religion.' The _Rishis_,
fearful of sin, entrusted (the temporal) power to the Kshatriyas. As
among the gods in heaven the Sun dispelleth darkness by his effulgence,
so doth the king completely root out sin from this earth. Therefore is
the king's greatness deduced from the evidences of the sacred books, and
we are bound to pronounce for that side which hath spoken in favour of
the king."'
"Markandeya continued, 'Then that illustrious prince, highly pleased
with the victorious party, joyfully said to Atri, who had praised him
erewhile, "O regenerate _Rishi_, thou hast made and styled me the
greatest and most excellent of men here, and compared me to the gods;
therefore, shall I give thee vast and various sorts of wealth. My
impression is that thou art omniscient. I give thee, O well-dressed and
well-adorned one, a hundred millions of gold coins and also ten _bharas_
of gold." Then Atri, of high austere virtues and great spiritual powers,
thus welcomed (by the king), accepted all the gifts without any breach
of propriety, and returned home. And then giving his wealth to his sons
and subduing his self, he cheerfully repaired to the forest with the
object of performing penances.'"