"'"'The king said, "I am a king called by the name of Viradyumna. My fame
has spread in all directions. My son Bhuridyumna hath been lost. It is in
quest of him that I have come to this forest. Ye foremost of Brahmanas,
that child was my only son and, ye sinless ones, he is of very tender
years. He cannot, however, be found here. I am wandering everywhere for
finding him out."'
"'"Rishabha continued, 'After the king had said these words, the ascetic
Tanu hung down his head. He remained perfectly silent, without uttering a
single word in answer. In former days that Brahmana had not been much
honoured by the king. In disappointment, O monarch, he had for that
reason practised austere penances for a long time, resolving in his mind
that he should never accept anything in gift from either kings or members
of any other order. And he said to himself, "Hope agitates every man of
foolish understanding. I shall drive away hope from my mind." Even such
had been his determination. Viradyumna once more questioned that foremost
of ascetics in these words:
"'"'The king said, "What is the measure of the thinness of Hope? What on
earth is exceedingly difficult of acquisition? Tell me this, O holy one,
for thou art well conversant with morality and profit."
"'"Rishabha continued, 'Himself recollecting all the past incidents (about
his own disregard at the hands of the king) and calling them back to the
recollection of the king also, that holy Brahmana of emaciated body
addressed the king and said the following words:
"'"'The sage said, "There is nothing, O king, that equals Hope in
slenderness. I had solicited many kings and found that nothing is so
difficult of acquisition as an image that Hope sets before the mind."
"'"'The king said, "At thy words, O Brahmana, I understand what is slender
and what is not so.[383] I understand also how difficult of acquisition
are the images set by Hope before the mind. I regard these words of thine
as utterances of Sruti. O thou of great wisdom, one doubt, however, has
arisen in my mind. It behoveth thee, O sage, to explain it in detail unto
me that ask thee. What is more slender than thy body? Tell me this, O
holy one, if, of course, O best of sages, the topic be one which may be
discoursed upon without impropriety."
"'"'The emaciated sage said, "A contented applicant is exceedingly
difficult to meet with. Perhaps, there is none such in the world. Something
rarer still, O sire, is the person that never disregards an applicant. The
hope that rests upon such persons as do not, after passing their promises,
do good to others according to the best of their powers and according as
the applicants deserve, is slenderer than even my body.[384] The hope that
rests upon an ungrateful man, or upon one that is cruel, or one that is
idle, or one that injures others, is slenderer than even my body.[384]
The hope cherished by a sire that has but one son, of once more seeing
that son after he has been lost or missed, is slenderer than even my
body. The hope that old women entertain of bringing forth sons, O king,
and that is cherished by rich men, is slenderer than even my body. The
hope that springs up in the hearts of grown up maidens of marriage when
they hear anybody only talk of it in their presence, is slenderer than
even my body."[385] Hearing these words, O monarch, king Viradyumna, and
the ladies of his household, prostrated themselves before that bull among
Brahmanas and touched his feet with their bent heads.
"'"'The king said, "I beg thy grace, O holy one! I wish to meet with my
child. What thou hast said, O best of Brahmanas, is very true. There is
no doubt of the truth of thy utterances."'
"'"Rishabha continued, 'The holy Tanu, that foremost of virtuous persons,
smiling, caused, by means of his learning and his penances the king's son
to be brought to that spot. Having caused the prince to be brought
thither, the sage rebuked the king (his father).[386] That foremost of
virtuous persons then displayed himself to be the god of righteousness.
Indeed, having displayed his own wonderful and celestial form, he entered
an adjacent forest, with heart freed from wrath and the desire of
revenge. I saw all this, O king, and heard the words I have said. Drive
off thy hope, that is even slenderer (than any of those which the sage
indicated).'"
"'Bhishma continued, "Thus addressed, O monarch, by the high-souled
Rishabha, king Sumitra speedily cast off the hope that was in his heart
and which was slenderer (than any of the kinds of hope indicated by the
emaciated Rishi). Do thou also, O son of Kunti, hearing these words of
mine, be calm and collected like Himavat. Overcome with distress,[387]
thou hast questioned me and heard my answer. Having heard it, O monarch,
it behoves thee to dispel these regrets of thine!"'"