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Treasures.[194] Beholding the Rishi arrived there, all the Rakshasas having Manibhadra for their head, who were engaged in |
protecting that lake abounding with beautiful lotuses, came out in a body for welcoming and honouring the illustrious traveller. |
The Rishi worshipped in return those Rakshasas of terrible prowess and asked them to report, without delay, his arrival unto |
the Lord of Treasures. Requested by him to do this, those Rakshasas, O king, said unto him,--King Vaisravana, without waiting |
for the news from us, is coming of his own accord to thy presence. The illustrious Lord of Treasures is well acquainted with the |
object of this thy journey. Behold him,--that blessed Master,--who blazes with his own energy. Then king Vaisravana, |
approaching the faultless Ashtavakra, duly enquired about his welfare. The usual enquiries of politeness being over, the Lord |
of Treasures then addressed the regenerate Rishi, saying,--Welcome art thou here. Do tell me what it is thou seekest at my |
hands. Inform me of it. I shall, O regenerate one, accomplish whatever thou mayst bid me to accomplish. Do thou enter my |
abode as pleases thee, O foremost of Brahamanas. Duly entertained by me, and after thy business is accomplished, thou mayst |
go without any obstacles being placed in thy way.--Having said these words, Kuvera took the hand of that foremost of |
Brahmanas and led him into his palace. He offered him his own seat as also water to wash his feet and the Arghya made of the |
usual ingredients. After the two had taken their seats, the Yakshas of Kuvera headed by Manibhadra, and many Gandharvas |
and Kinnaras, also sat down before them. After all of them had taken their seats, the Lord of Treasures said these words,-- |
Understanding what thy pleasure is, the diverse tribes of Apsaras will commence their dance. It is meet that I should entertain |
thee with hospitality and that thou shouldst be served with proper ministrations. Thus addressed, the ascetic Ashtavakra said, in |
a sweet voice, Let the dance proceed. Then Urvara and Misrakesi, and Rambha and Urvasi, and Alumvusha and Ghritachi, and |
Chitra and Chitrangada and Ruchi, and Manohara and Sukesi and Sumukhi and Hasini and Prabha, and Vidyuta, and Prasami |
and Danta and Vidyota and Rati,--these and many other beautiful Apsaras began to dance. The Gandharvas played on diverse |
kinds of musical instruments. After such excellent music and dance had commenced, the Rishi Ashtavakra of severe penances |
unconsciously passed a full celestial year there in the abode of king Vaisravana.[195] Then king Vaisravana said unto the |
Rishi,--O learned Brahmana, behold, a little more than a year has passed away since thy arrival here. This music and dance, |
especially known by the name of Gandharva, is a stealer of the heart (and of time). Do thou act as thou wishes or let this go on |
if that be thy pleasure. Thou art my guest and, therefore, worthy of adoration. This is my house. Givest thou thy commands. |
We are all bound to thee. The illustrious Ashtavakra, thus addressed by king Vaisravana, replied unto him, with a pleased |
heart, saying,--I have been duly honoured by thee. I desire now, O Lord of Treasures, to go hence. Indeed, I am highly pleased. |
All this befits thee, O Lord of Treasures. Through thy grace, O illustrious one, and agreeably to the command of the high- |
souled Rishi Vadanya, I shall now proceed to my journey's end. Let growth and prosperity be thine.--Having said these words, |
the illustrious Rishi set out of Kuvera's abode and proceeded northwards. He crossed the Kailasa and the Mandara as also the |
golden mountains. Beyond those high and great mountains is situated that excellent region where Mahadeva, dressed as an |
humble ascetic, has taken up his residence. He circumambulated the spot, with concentrated mind, bending his head in |
reverence the while. Descending then on the Earth, he considered himself sanctified for having obtained a sight of that holy |
spot which is the abode of Mahadeva. Having circumambulated that mountain thrice, the Rishi, with face turned towards the |
north, proceeded with a joyous heart. He then beheld another forest that was very delightful in aspect. It was adorned with the |
fruits and roots of every season, and it resounded with the music of winged warblers numbering by thousands. There were |
many delightful groves throughout the forest. The illustrious Rishi then beheld a charming hermitage. The Rishi saw also many |
golden hills decked with gems and possessed of diverse forms. In the begemmed soil he saw many lakes and tanks also. And he |
saw diverse other objects that were exceedingly delightful. Beholding these things, the mind of that Rishi of cleansed soul |
became filled with joy. He then saw a beautiful mansion made of gold and adorned with gems of many kinds. Of wonderful |
structure, that mansion surpassed the place of Kuvera himself in every respect. Around it there were many hills and mounts of |
jewels and gems. Many beautiful cars and many heaps of diverse kinds of jewels also were visible in that place. The Rishi |
beheld there the river Mandakini whose waters were strewn with many Mandara flowers. Many gems also were seen there that |
were self-luminous, and the soil all around was decked with diamonds of diverse species. The palatial mansion which the Rishi |
saw contained many chambers whose arches were embellished with various kinds of stones. Those chambers were adorned |
also with nets of pearls interspersed with jewels and gems of different species. Diverse kinds of beautiful objects capable of |
stealing the heart and the eye, surrounded that palace. That delightful retreat was inhabited by numerous Rishis. Beholding |
these beautiful sights all around, the Rishi began to think where he would take shelter. Proceeding then to the gate of the |
mansion, he uttered these words:--Let those that live here know that a guest has come (desirous of shelter). Hearing the voice |
of the Rishi, a number of maidens came out together from that palace. They were seven in number, O King, of different styles |
of beauty, all of them were exceedingly charming. Every one of those maidens upon whom the Rishi cast his eyes, stole his |
heart. The sage could not, with even his best efforts, control his mind. Indeed, at the sight of those maidens of very superior |
beauty, his heart lost all its tranquillity. Seeing himself yielding to such influences, the Rishi made a vigorous effort and |
possessed as he was of great wisdom he at last succeeded in controlling himself. Those damsels then addressed the Rishi, |
saying,--Let the illustrious one enter. Filled with curiosity in respect of those exceedingly beautiful damsels as also of that |
palatial mansion, the regenerate Rishi entered as he was bidden. Entering the mansion he beheld an old lady, with indications |
of decrepitude, attired in white robes and adorned with every kind of ornament. The Rishi blessed her, saying,--Good be to |
you.--The old lady returned his good wishes in proper form. Rising up, she offered a seat to the Rishi. Having taken his seat, |
Ashtavakra said,--Let all the damsels go to their respective quarters. Only let one stay here. Let that one remain here who is |
possessed of wisdom and who has tranquillity of heart. Indeed, let all the others go away at their will.--Thus addressed, all |
those damsels circumambulated the Rishi and then left the chamber. Only that aged lady remained there. The day quickly |
passed and night came. The Rishi seated on a splendid bed, addressed the old lady, saying,--O blessed lady, the night is |
deepening. Do thou address thyself to sleep. Their conversation being thus put a stop to by the Rishi, the old lady laid herself |
down on an excellent bed of great splendour. Soon after, she rose from her bed and pretending to tremble with cold, she left it |
for going to the bed of the Rishi. The illustrious Ashtavakra welcomed her with courtesy. The lady however, stretching her |
arms, tenderly embraced the Rishi, O foremost of men. Beholding the Rishi quite unmoved and as inanimate as a piece of |
wood, she became very sorry and began to converse with him. There is no pleasure, save that which waits upon Kama (desire), |
which women can derive from a person of the other sex. I am now under the influence of desire. I seek thee for that reason. Do |
thou seek me in return. Be cheerful, O learned Rishi, and unite thyself with me. Do thou embrace me, O learned one, for I |
desire thee greatly. O thou of righteous soul, even this union with me is the excellent and desirable reward of those severe |
penances which thou hast undergone. At the first sight I have become disposed to seek thee. Do thou also seek me. All this |
wealth, and everything else of value that thou seest here are mine. Do thou verily become the lord of all this along with my |
person and heart. I shall gratify every wish of thine. Do thou sport with me, therefore, in these delightful forest, O Brahmana, |
that are capable of granting every wish. I shall yield thee complete obedience in everything, and thou shall sport with me |
according to thy pleasure. All objects of desire that are human or that appertain to heaven shall be enjoyed by us. There is no |
pleasure more agreeable to women (than that which is derivable from the companionship of a person of the other sex). Verily, |
congress with a person of the opposite sex is the most delicious fruit of joy that we can reap. When urged by the god of desire, |
women become very capricious. At such times they do not feel any pain, even if they walk over a desert of burning sand.'" |
"Ashtavakra said, 'O blessed lady, I never approach one that is another's spouse. One's congress with another man's wife is |
condemned by persons conversant with the scriptures on morality. I am an utter stranger to enjoyments of every kind. O |
blessed lady, know that I have become desirous of wedlock for obtaining offspring. I swear by truth itself. Through the aid of |
offspring righteously obtained, I shall proceed to those regions of felicity which cannot be attained without such aid. O good |
lady, know what is consistent with morality, and knowing it, desist from thy efforts.'" |
"The lady said, 'The very deities of wind and fire and water, or the other celestials, O regenerate one, are not so agreeable to |
women as the deity of desire. Verily, women are exceedingly fond of sexual congress. Among a thousand women, or, perhaps, |
among hundreds of thousands, sometimes only one may be found that is devoted to her husband. When under the influence of |
desire, they care not for family or father or mother or brother or husband or sons or husband's brother (but pursue the way that |
desire points out). Verily, in pursuit of what they consider happiness, they destroy the family (to which they belong by birth or |
marriage) even as many queenly rivers eat away the banks that contain them. The Creator himself had said this, quickly |
marking the faults of women.'"[196] |
"Bhishma continued, 'The Rishi, bent upon finding out the faults of women, then addressed that lady, saying,--Cease to speak |
to me in this strain. Yearning springs from liking. Tell me what (else) I am to do.[197]--That lady then said in return,--O |
illustrious one, thou shalt see according to time and place (as do whether I have anything agreeable in me). Do thou only live |
here (for some time). O highly blessed one, and I shall regard myself amply rewarded.--Thus addressed by her, the regenerate |
Rishi, O Yudhishthira, expressed his resolution to comply with her request, saying,--Verily, I shall dwell with thee in this place |
as long as I can venture to do so.--The Rishi then, beholding that lady afflicted with decrepitude, began to reflect earnestly on |
the matter. He seemed to be even tortured by his thoughts. The eyes of that foremost of Brahmanas failed to derive any delight |
from those parts of that lady's person whereupon they were cast. On the other hand, his glances seemed to be dispelled by the |
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