and when he was seated with his wife on the same seat,
Vipula represented unto him everything that Sakra
had done. Hearing these words of Vipula, that
foremost of Munis, endued with great prowess, became
highly gratified with him for his conduct and disposition,
his penances, and his observances. Observing Vipula’s
conduct towards himself—his preceptor—and
his devotion also, and noting his steadiness in virtue,
the puissant Devasarman exclaimed, “Excellent,
excellent!’ The righteous-souled Devasarman,
receiving his virtuous disciple with a sincere welcome,
honoured him with a boon. Indeed, Vipula, steady
in virtue obtained from his preceptor the boon that
he would never swerve or fall away from righteousness.
Dismissed by his preceptor he left his abode and practised
the most severe austerities. Devasarman also,
of severe penances, with his spouse, began from that
day to live in those solitary woods, perfectly fearless
of him who had slain Vala and Vritra.’”
“Bhishma said, ’Having accomplished his
preceptor’s behest, Vipula practised the most
severe penances. Possessed of great energy, he
at last regarded himself as endued with sufficient
ascetic merit, Priding himself upon the feat he had
achieved, he wandered fearlessly and contentedly over
the earth, O monarch, regarded by all as one possessed
of great fame for what he had done. The puissant
Bhargava regarded that he had conquered both the worlds
by that feat of his as also by his severe penances.
After some time had passed away, O delighter of the
Kurus, the occasion came for a ceremony of gifts to
take place with respect to the sister of Ruchi.
Abundant wealth and corn were to be given away in
it.[276] Meanwhile, a certain celestial damsel endued
with great beauty, was journeying through the skies.
From her body as she coursed through the welkin, some
flowers dropped down on the earth. Those flowers
possessed of celestial fragrance fell on a spot not
far from the retreat of Ruchi’s husband.
As the flowers lay scattered on the ground, they were
picked up by Ruchi of beautiful eyes. Soon after
an invitation came to Ruchi from the country of the
Angas. The sister, referred to above, of Ruchi,
named Prabhavati, was the spouse of Chitraratha, the
ruler of the Angas. Ruchi, of very superior complexion,
having attached those flowers to her hair, went to
the palace of the king of the Angas in answer to the
invitation she had received. Beholding those flowers
on her hair the queen of the Angas, possessed of beautiful
eyes, urged her sister to obtain some for her.
Ruchi, of beautiful face, speedily informed her husband
of that request of her sister. The Rishi accepted
the prayer of his sister-in-law. Summoning Vipula
into his presence Devasarman of severe penances commanded
his disciple to bring him some flowers of the same
kind, saying, ‘Go, go!’ Accepting without
hesitation the behest of his preceptor, the great
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