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"Yatudhani said, 'The explanation thou hast given me of thy name, O great ascetic, is incapable of being understood by me. Go
and plunge into this lake of lotuses!'"
"Viswamitra said, 'The deities of the universe are my friends. I am also the friend of the universe. Hence, O Yatudhani, know
that I am called Viswamitra!'
"Yatudhani said, 'The explanation thou hast given of thy name is incomprehensible to me in consequence of the inflections the
root has undergone. Go and plunge into this lake of lotuses!'"
"Jamadagni said, 'I have sprung from the sacrificial fire of the deities. Hence am I called Jamadagni, O thou of beautiful
features!'"
"Yatudhani said, 'The etymological explanation thou hast given me, O great ascetic, of thy name, is incomprehensible to me (in
consequence of the diverse inflections the root has undergone) Do thou go and plunge into this lake of lotuses!'"
"Arundhati said, 'I always stay by the side of my husband, and hold the earth jointly with him. I always incline my husband's
heart towards me. I am, for these reasons called Arundhati!'
"Yatudhani said, The explanation thou hast given me of thy name is perfectly incomprehensible to me in consequence of the
inflections the roots have undergone. Go and plunge into this lake of lotuses!'
"Ganda said, 'The Ganda means a portion of the cheek. As I have that portion a little elevated above the others, I am, O thou
that hast sprung from the sacrificial fire of Saivya, called by the name of Ganda!'"
"Yatudhani said, 'The explanation which thou hast given me of thy name is perfectly incomprehensible to me in consequence
of the inflections which the root has undergone. Go and plunge into this lake of lotuses!'"
"Pasusakha said, 'I protect and tend all animals that I see, and I am always a friend to all animals. Hence am I called Pasusakha,
O thou that hast sprung from the (sacrificial) fire (of king Vrishadarbhi).'
"Yatudhani said, 'The explanation thou hast given me of thy name is perfectly incomprehensible to me in consequence of the
inflections which the roots have undergone. Go and plunge into this lake of lotuses!'"
"Sunahsakha said,[422] 'I am incapable of explaining the etymology of my name after the manner of these ascetics. But know,
O Yatudhani, that I am called by the name of Sunahsakha!'
"Yatudhani said, 'Thou hast mentioned thy name only once. The explanation thou hast offered I have not able to catch. Do
thou, therefore, mention it again, O regenerate one!'"
"Sunahsakha said, 'Since thou hast been unable to catch my name in consequence of my having mentioned it only once, I shall
strike thee with my triple stick! Struck with it, be thou consumed into ashes without delay!'"
"Bhishma continued, 'Struck then, on the head, by the Sannyasin, with his triple stick which resembled the chastisement
inflicted by a Brahmana, the Rakshasi who had sprung from the incantations of king. Vrishadarbhi fell down on the earth and
became reduced to ashes.[423] Having thus destroyed the mighty Rakshasi, Sunahsakha thrust his stick into the earth and sat
himself down on a grassy plot of land. The Rishis then, having, as they liked, plucked a number of lotuses and taken up a
number of lotus-stalks, came up from the lake, filled with joy. Throwing on the ground the heap of lotuses which they had
gathered with much toil, they plunged once more into it for offering oblations of water to the Pitris. Coming up, they proceeded
to that part of the bank where they had deposited the lotus-stalks. Reaching that spot, those foremost of men found that the
stalks were nowhere to be seen.'"
"The Rishis said, 'What sinful and hard-hearted man has stolen away the lotus-stalks gathered by our hungry selves from desire
of eating?'
"Bhishma continued, 'Those foremost of regenerate persons, suspecting one another, O crusher of foes, said, 'We shall each
have to swear to our innocence! All those ascetics then, famishing with hunger and worn out with exertion, agreeing to the
proposal, took these oaths.'
"Atri said, 'Let him who has stolen the lotus-stalk touch kine with his foot, make water facing the sun, and study the Vedas on
excluded days!'"
"Vasishtha said, 'Let him who has stolen the lotus-stalks abstain from studying the Vedas, or leash hounds, or be a wandering
mendicant unrestrained by the ordinances laid down for that mode of life, or be a slayer of persons that seek his protection, or
live upon the proceeds of the sale of his daughter, or solicit wealth from those that are low and vile!'"
"Kasyapa, said, 'Let him who has stolen the lotus-stalks utter all kinds of words in all places, give false evidence in a court of
law, eat the flesh of animals not slain in sacrifices, make gifts to undeserving persons or to deserving persons at unseasonable
times, and have sexual congress with women during daytime!'"
"Bharadwaja said, 'Let him who has stolen the lotus-stalks be cruel and unrighteous in his conduct towards women and
kinsmen and kine. Let him humiliate Brahmanas, in disputations, by displaying his superior knowledge and skill. Let him study
the Riks and the Yajuses, disregarding his preceptor! Let him pour libations upon fires made with dry grass or straw!"[424]
"Jamadagni said, 'Let him who has stolen the lotus-stalks be guilty of throwing filth and dirt on water. Let him be inspired with
animosity towards kine. Let him be guilty of having sexual congress with women at times other than their season. Let him
incur the aversion of all persons. Let him derive his maintenance from the earnings of his wife! Let him have no friends and let
him have many foes! Let him be another's guest for receiving in return those acts of hospitality which he has done to that
other![425]'"
"Gotama said, 'Let him who has stolen the lotus-stalks be guilty of throwing away the Vedas after having studied them! Let
him cast off the three sacred fires! Let him be a seller of the Soma (plant or juice)! Let him live with that Brahmana who
resides in a village which has only one well from which water is drawn by all classes and who has married a Sudra woman!'"
"Viswamitra said, 'Let him who has stolen the lotus-stalks be fated to see his preceptors and seniors and his servants
maintained by others during his own life-time. Let him not have a good end. Let him be the father of many children! Let him
be always impure and a wretch among Brahmanas! Let him be proud of his possessions! Let him be a tiller of the soil and let
him be filled with malice! Let him wander in the season of rains. Let him be a paid servant! Let him be the priest of the king!
Let him assist at the sacrifices of such impure persons as do not deserve to be assisted at their sacrifices!'"
"Arundhati said, 'Let her who has stolen the lotus-stalks always humiliate her mother-in-law! Let her be always vexed with her
husband! Let her eat whatever good things come to her house without sharing them with others! Disregarding the kinsmen of
her lord, let her live in her husband's house and eat, at the day's close, the flour of fried barely! Let her come to be regarded as
unenjoyable (in consequence of the stains that would tarnish her)! Let her be the mother of a heroic son![426]'"
"Ganda said, 'Let her who has stolen, the lotus-stalks be always a speaker of falsehoods! Let her always quarrel with her
kinsmen! Let her bestow her daughter in marriage for a pecuniary consideration! Let her eat the food which she has cooked,
alone and without sharing it with anybody! Let her pass her whole life in slavery! Indeed, let her who has stolen the lotus-stalks
be quick with child in consequence of sexual congress under circumstances of guilt.'"