SECTION XCVI
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'There was a king known by the name of Mahabhisha
born in the race of Ikshvaku. He was the lord of all the earth, and was
truthful (in speech) and of true prowess. By a thousand Ashvamedha-Yajnas
and a hundred Rajasuyas he had gratified the chief of the celestials and
ultimately attained to heaven.
"One day the celestials had assembled together and were worshipping
Brahman. Many royal sages and king Mahabhisha also were present on the
spot. And Ganga, the queen of rivers, also came there to pay her
adorations to the Grandsire. And her garments white as the beams of the
moon was displaced by the action of the wind. And as her person became
exposed, the celestials bent down their heads. But the royal sage
Mahabhisha rudely stared at the queen of rivers. And Mahabhisha was for
this cursed by Brahman, who said, 'Wretch, as you hast forgotten thyself
at the sight of Ganga, you shalt be re-born on earth. But you shall
again and again attain to these regions. And she, too, shall be born in
the world of men and shall do you injuries. But when your wrath shall be
provoked, you shalt then be freed from my curse.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'King Mahabhisha then recollecting all the
monarchs and ascetics on earth, wished to be born as son to Pratipa of
great prowess. And the queen of rivers, too, seeing king Mahabhisha lose
his firmness, went away, thinking of him wishfully. And on her way, she
saw those dwellers in heaven, the Vasus, also pursuing the same path. And
the queen of rivers beholding them in the predicament, asked them, 'Why
look the so dejected? Ye dwellers in heaven, is everything right with
you?' Those celestials, the Vasus, answered her, saying, 'O queen of
rivers, we have been cursed, for a venial fault, by the illustrious
Vasishtha in anger. The foremost of excellent Rishis, Vasishtha, had been
engaged in his twilight adorations and seated as he was, he could not be
seen by us. We crossed him in ignorance. Therefore, in wrath he hath
cursed us, saying, Be the born among men!' It is beyond our power to
frustrate what hath been said by that utterance of Brahma. Therefore, O
river, thyself becoming a human female make us the Vasus, your children. O
amiable one, we are unwilling to enter the womb of any human female.'
Thus addressed, the queen of rivers told them, 'Be it so and asked them,
'On earth, who is that foremost of men whom the will make your father?'
"The Vasus replied, 'On earth, unto Pratipa shall be born a son, Santanu,
who will be a king of world-wide fame.' Ganga then said, 'Ye celestials,
that is exactly my wish which the sinless ones have expressed. I shall,
indeed, do good to that Santanu. That is also your desire as just
expressed.' The Vasus then said, 'It behoveth you to throw your children
after birth, into the water, so that, O you of three courses (celestial,
terrestrial, and subterranean) we may be rescued soon without having to
live on earth for any length of time.' Ganga then answered, 'I shall do
what the desire. But in order that his intercourse with me may not be
entirely fruitless, provide the that one son at least may live.' The Vasus
then replied, 'We shall each contribute an eighth part of our respective
energies With the sum thereof, you shall have one son according to thy
and his wishes. But this son shall not begat any children on earth.
Therefore, that son of yours endued with great energy, shall be
childless.'
"The Vasus, making this arrangement with Ganga, went away without Waiting
to the place they liked.'"
--------------------END OF PARVA 1 : UPA-PARVA 96 ---------------------
