01.162
Library: King Samvarana sends Vashishtha to Sun for Tapati.
The gandharva said.
Having thus spoken, the blameless one quickly ascended upwards. But the king again fell down right there on the ground.
But the minister, accompanied by his retinue, saw him lying on the ground in the great forest, like Indra's banner set up at the right time.
Seeing him, the great archer, fallen on the ground without horses, his minister became inflamed like fire.
He quickly approached, agitated by affection, and raised up the king who was deluded by desire.
From the earth, he approached the lord of kings like a father to his fallen son; he was an elder by wisdom, by age, by fame, and by self-restraint.
The minister, after raising him up, was relieved of his anxiety and addressed him with kind and gentle words: "Do not be afraid, O best of men; may all be well with you, O sinless one."
He considered that king, exhausted by hunger and thirst, fallen in battle, lying on the earth among the enemies.
Then, with very cool water, he anointed his head and touched the king's crown, which was fragrant with lotus.
Then, the king, having recovered, dismissed all the army, retaining only that one minister with him.
Then, by his command, the king's great army set out. However, the king himself again sat down on that mountain plateau.
Then, having purified himself on that excellent mountain, he stood on the ground with arms raised, palms joined, wishing to worship the Sun.
Then King Saṁvaraṇa, destroyer of enemies, mentally approached Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of sages and his priest.
When the king was staying in the same place day and night, then, on the twelfth day, the brāhmaṇa sage arrived.
The great sage, whose mind was purified, having known by divine means that the king's mind was captivated by Tapatyā, understood everything.
Thus, the self-controlled and righteous-souled one addressed that best among kings, desiring to accomplish his purpose.
As the king of men watched, the venerable sage, radiant like the Sun, ascended upwards to behold the Sun.
Then the sage, with joined palms, stood before the thousand-rayed sun; with affection, he introduced himself, saying, "I am Vasiṣṭha," and presented himself.
Vivasvan, of great splendor, said to the best among sages: "O great sage, welcome to you! Please speak as you wish."
