(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the king with his followers, having killed
thousands of animals, entered another forest with a view to hunting. And
attended by a single follower and fatigued with hunger and thirst, he came
upon a large desert on the frontiers of the forest. And having crossed
this herbless plain, the king came upon another forest full of the
retreats of ascetics, beautiful to look at, delightful to the heart and of
cool agreeable breezes. And it was full of trees covered with blossoms,
the soil overgrown with the softest and greenest grass, extending for many
miles around, and echoing with the sweet notes of winged warblers. And it
resounded with the notes of the male Kokila and of the shrill cicala. And
it was full of magnificent trees with outstretched branches forming a
shady canopy overhead. And the bees hovered over flowery creepers all
around. And there were beautiful bowers in every place. And there was no
tree without fruits, none that had prickles on it, none that had no bees
swarming around it. And the whole forest resounded with the melody of
winged choristers. And it was decked with the flowers of every season. And
there were refreshing shades of blossoming trees.
"'Such was the delicious and excellent forest that the great bowman
entered. And trees with branches beautified with clusters began to wave
gently at the soft breeze and rain their flowers over the monarch's head.
And the trees, clad in their flowery attires of all colours, with sweet-
throated warblers perched on them, stood there in rows with heads touching
the very heavens. And around their branches hanging down with the weight of
flowers the bees tempted by the honey hummed in sweet chorus. And the king,
endued with great energy, beholding innumerable spots covered with bowers
of creepers decked with clusters of flowers, from excess of gladness,
became very much charmed. And the forest was exceedingly beautiful in
consequence of those trees ranged around with flowery branches twining with
each other and looking like so many rainbows for gaudiness and variety of
colour. And it was the resort of bands of Siddhas, of the Charanas, of
tribes of Gandharvas, and Apsaras, of monkeys and Kinnaras drunk with
delight. Delicious cool, and fragrant breezes, conveying the fragrance from
fresh flowers, blew in all directions as if they had come there to sport
with the trees. And the king saw that charming forest gifted with such
beauties. And it was situated in a delta of the river, and the cluster of
high trees standing together lent the place the look of a gaudy pole
erected to Indra's honour.
"'And in that forest which was the resort of ever cheerful birds, the
monarch saw a delightful and charming retreat of ascetics. And there were
many trees around it. And the sacred fire was burning within it. And the
king worshipped that unrivalled retreat. And he saw seated in it numerous
Yotis, Valakhilyas and other Munis. And it was adorned with many chambers
containing sacrificial fire. And the flowers dropping from the trees had
formed a thick carpet spread over the ground. And the spot looked
exceedingly beautiful with those tall trees of large trunks. And by it
flowed, O king, the sacred and transparent Malini with every species of
water-fowl playing on its bosom. And that stream infused gladness into the
hearts of the ascetics who resorted to it for purposes of ablutions. And
the king beheld on its banks many innocent animals of the deer species and
was exceedingly delighted with all that he saw.
"'And the monarch, the course of whose chariot no foe could obstruct, then
entered that asylum which was like unto the region of the celestials,
being exceedingly beautiful all over. And the king saw that it stood on
the margin of the sacred stream which was like the mother of all the
living creatures residing in its vicinage. And on its bank sported the
Chakravaka, and waves of milkwhite foam. And there stood also the
habitations of Kinnaras. And monkeys and bears too disported themselves in
numbers. And there lived also holy ascetics engaged in studies and
meditation. And there could be seen also elephants and tigers and snakes.
And it was on the banks of that stream that the excellent asylum of the
illustrious Kasyapa stood, offering a home to numerous Rishis of great
ascetic merit. And beholding that river, and also the asylum washed by
that river which was studded with many islands and which possessed banks
of so much beauty,--an asylum like unto that of Nara and Narayana laved by
the water of the Ganga--the king resolved to enter into that sacred abode.
And that bull among men, desirous of beholding the great Rishi of ascetic
wealth, the illustrious Kanwa of the race of Kasyapa, one who possessed
every virtue and who, for his splendour, could be gazed at with difficulty,
approached that forest resounding with the notes of maddened peacocks and
like unto the gardens of the great Gandharva, Chitraratha, himself. And
halting his army consisting of flags, cavalry, infantry, and elephants at
the entrance of the forest, the monarch spoke as follows, "I shall go to
behold the mighty ascetic of Kasyapa's race, one who is without darkness.
Stay ye here until my return!"
"'And the king having entered that forest which was like unto Indra's
garden, soon forgot his hunger and thirst. And he was pleased beyond
measure. And the monarch, laying aside all signs of royalty, entered that
excellent asylum with but his minister and his priest, desirous of
beholding that Rishi who was an indestructible mass of ascetic merit. And
the king saw that the asylum was like unto the region of Brahman. Here
were bees sweetly humming and there were winged warblers of various
species pouring forth their melodies. At particular places that tiger
among men heard the chanting of Rik hymns by first-rate Brahmanas
according to the just rules of intonation. Other places again were graced
with Brahmanas acquainted with ordinances of sacrifice, of the Angas and
of the hymns of the Yajurveda. Other places again were filled with the
harmonious strains of Saman hymns sung by vow-observing Rishis. At other
places the asylum was decked with Brahmanas learned in the Atharvan Veda.
At other places again Brahmanas learned in the Atharvan Veda and those
capable of chanting the sacrificial hymns of the Saman were reciting the
Samhitas according to the just rules of voice. And at other places again,
other Brahmanas well-acquainted with the science of orthoepy were reciting
mantras of other kinds. In fact, that sacred retreat resounding with these
holy notes was like unto a second region of Brahman himself. And there
were many Brahmanas skilled in the art of making sacrificial platforms and
in the rules of Krama in sacrifices, conversant with logic and the mental
sciences, and possessing a complete knowledge of the Vedas. There were
those also who were fully acquainted with the meanings of all kinds of
expressions; those that were conversant with all special rites, those also
that were followers of Moksha-Dharma; those again that were well-skilled
in establishing propositions, rejecting superfluous causes, and drawing
right conclusions. There were those having a knowledge of the science of
words (grammar), of prosody, of Nirukta; those again that were conversant
with astrology and learned in the properties of matter and the fruits of
sacrificial rites, possessing a knowledge of causes and effects, capable
of understanding the cries of birds and monkeys, well-read in large
treatises, and skilled in various sciences. And the king, as he proceeded,
heard their voices. And the retreat resounded also with voice of men
capable of charming human hearts. And the slayer of hostile heroes also
saw around him learned Brahmanas of rigid vows engaged in Japa (the
repeated muttering of the names of gods) and Homa (burnt-offering). And
the king wondered much on beholding the beautiful carpets which those
Brahmanas offered to him respectfully. And that best of monarchs, at the
sight of the rites with which those Brahmanas worshipped the gods and the
great Rishis, thought within himself that he was in the region of Brahman.
And the more the king saw that auspicious and sacred asylum of Kasyapa
protected by that Rishi's ascetic virtues and possessing all the
requisites of a holy retreat, the more he desired to see it. In fact, he
was not satisfied with his short survey. And the slayer of heroes at last,
accompanied by his minister and his priest, entered that charming and
sacred retreat of Kasyapa inhabited all around by Rishis of ascetic wealth
and exalted vows.'"