The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,582 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,582 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4.
his spouse).  This, however, O chief of the Bharatas, failed to disturb the equanimity of the royal couple.  The next time the puissant Rishi was seen seated, after a bath on the throne.  Indeed, it was from that place that he then showed himself to the king and the queen, O delighter of the Kurus.  With a cheerful face, king Kusika, together with his wife, then offered the Rishi cooked food with great reverence.  Endued with wisdom, and with heart totally unmoved, Kusika made this offer.  ‘Let the food be brought’ were the words that were then uttered by the ascetic.  Assisted by his spouse, the king soon brought thither the food.  There were diverse kinds of meat and different preparations also thereof.  There was a great variety of vegetables also and pot-herbs.  There were juicy cakes too among those viands, and several agreeable kinds of confectionery, and solid preparations of milk.  Indeed, the viands offered presented different kinds of taste.  Among them there was also some food—­the produce of the wilderness—­such as ascetics liked and took.  Diverse agreeable kinds of fruit, fit to be eaten by kings, were also there.  There were Vadaras and Ingudas and Kasmaryas and Bhallatakas.  Indeed, the food that was offered contained such things as are taken by persons leading a domestic mode of life as also such things as are taken by denizens of the wilderness.  Through fear of the Rishi’s curse, the king had caused all kinds of food to be collected and dressed for his guest.  All this food, brought from the kitchen, was placed before Chyavana.  A seat was also placed for him and a bed too was spread.  The viands were then caused to be covered with white cloths.  Soon, however, Chyavana of Bhrigu’s race set fire to all the things and reduced them to ashes.  Possessed of great intelligence, the royal couple showed no wrath at this conduct of the Rishi, who once more, after this made himself invisible before the very eyes of the king and the queen.  The Royal sage Kusika thereupon stood there in the same posture for the whole night, with his spouse by his side, and without speaking a word.  Endued with great prosperity, he did not give way to wrath.  Every day, good and pure food of diverse kinds, excellent beds, abundant articles needed for bath, and cloths of various kinds, were collected and kept in readiness in the palace for the Rishi.  Indeed, Chyavana failed to notice any fault in the conduct of the king.  Then the regenerate Rishi, addressing king Kusika, said unto him, ’Do thou with thy spouse, yoke thyself unto a car and bear me on it to whichever place I shall direct.’  Without the least scruple, the king answered Chyavana endued with wealth of asceticism, saying, ’So be it!’ and he further enquired of the Rishi, asking, ’Which car shall I bring?  Shall it be my pleasure-car for making progress of pleasure, or, shall it be my battle-car?  Thus addressed by the delighted and contented monarch, the ascetic said unto him, ’Do thou promptly equip that car
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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.