01.164
Library: Brings up Vashishtha to highlight superiority of Brahmanas, and asks Arjuna to appoint a Brahmana.
Vaiśampāyana said.
O Bharata, when Arjuna heard the words of the Gandharva, he was filled with great joy and shone like the full moon.
The great archer, foremost among the Kurus, driven by intense curiosity arising from the power of Vasiṣṭha's penance, spoke to the Gandharva.
I wish to hear from you, exactly as it is, about the sage whose name "Vasiṣṭha" you have mentioned; please tell me that.
O lord of Gandharvas, who is this who was the priest of our ancestors? Please tell me, who is this venerable sage?
The gandharva said.
Even the immortals have always found desire and anger invincible, but by austerity, both have been conquered and have served at the feet of that person.
But he, noble-minded, did not destroy the Kuśikas, even while bearing supreme anger because of Viśvāmitra's offence.
Though powerful, the lord, tormented by the misfortune concerning his son, did not deem the cruel act for the destruction of Viśvāmitra.
He, who wished to bring back his dead sons from Yama, did not cross the boundary set by Kṛtānta (Yama, god of death), just as the great ocean does not cross its shore.
Having attained him, the kings—descendants of Ikṣvāku, rulers of the earth—who had conquered themselves and were great-souled, obtained this earth.
O Arjuna, having secured Vasiṣṭha, the best among priests and foremost among sages, those kings also performed sacrifices.
O best of the Pāṇḍavas, the Brahmarṣi conquered all those foremost of kings, just as Bṛhaspati conquers the immortals.
Therefore, a Brāhmaṇa whose nature is primarily dharma, who seeks knowledge of Vedic dharma, and who is virtuous, should be carefully chosen as the priest.
O Pārtha, a kṣatriya who desires to conquer the earth must first appoint a priest for the prosperity of the kingdom.
Therefore, for a king wishing to conquer the earth, a virtuous and twice-born priest should precede all sacred acts for you.
