The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,273 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,273 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1.
one already crowned with success, because Devayani regards thee so well.  Accept the science that I will today impart to thee, if, indeed, thou be not Indra in the form of Kacha.  None can come out of my stomach with life.  A Brahmana, however, must not be slain, therefore, accept thou the science I impart to thee.  Start thou into life as my son.  And possessed of the knowledge received from me, and revived by me, take care that, on coming out of my body, thou dost act gracefully.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Receiving the science imparted to him by his preceptor the handsome Kacha, ripped open his stomach, came out like the moon at evening on the fifteenth day of the bright fort-night.  And beholding the remains of his preceptor lying like a heap of penances, Kacha revived him, aided by the science he had learned.  Worshipping him with regard, Kacha said unto his preceptor, ’Him who poureth the nectar of knowledge into one’s ears, even as thou hast done into those of myself who was void of knowledge, him do I regard both as my father and mother.  And remembering the immense service done by him, who is there so ungrateful as to injure him?  They that, having acquired knowledge, injure their preceptor who is always an object of worship, who is the giver of knowledge, who is the most precious of all precious objects on Earth, come to be hated on Earth and finally go to the regions of the sinful.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’The learned Sukra, having been deceived while under the influence of wine, and remembering the total loss of consciousness that is one of the terrible consequences of drink, and beholding too before him the handsome Kacha whom he had, in a state of unconsciousness, drunk with his wine, then thought of effecting a reform in the manners of Brahmanas.  The high-souled Usanas rising up from the ground in anger, then spoke as follows:  “The wretched Brahmana who from this day, unable to resist the temptation, will drink wine shall be regarded as having lost his virtue, shall be reckoned to have committed the sin of slaying a Brahmana, shall be hated both in this and the other worlds.  I set this limit to the conduct and dignity of Brahmanas everywhere.  Let the honest, let Brahmanas, let those with regard for their superiors, let the gods, let the three worlds, listen!’ Having said these words that high-souled one, that ascetic of ascetics, then summoning the Danavas who had been deprived by fate of the good sense, told them these words, Ye foolish Danavas, know ye that Kacha hath obtained his wishes.  He will henceforth dwell with me.  Having obtained the valuable knowledge of reviving the dead, that Brahmana hath, indeed, become in prowess even as Brahman himself!’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Bhargava having said so much cut short his speech.  The Danavas were surprised and went away to their homes.  Kacha, too, having stayed with his preceptor for a full thousand years, then prepared to return to the abode of the celestials, after having obtained his preceptor’s permission.’”

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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.