03.139
Lomasha said;
But at this very time, King Bṛhaddyumna, the greatly fortunate and glorious, was residing at a sacrifice performed with Raibhya as his priest. (03-139-1)
By him, Arvāvasu and Parāvasu, the two sons of Raibhya, were chosen by the wise Bṛhaddyumna as helpers for performing the sacrifice. (03-139-2)
Thereupon, those two, having been permitted by their father, O son of Kunti, went. In the hermitage, however, there was the wife of both Raibhya and Parāvasu. (03-139-3)
Then Parāvasu, looking around, went to the houses and saw his father, clad in a black deerskin, in the forest. (3-139-4)
Blinded by sleep in the last part of the night, when some darkness remained, he, wandering in the thick forest, mistook his father for a wild animal. (03-139-5)
But the father, thinking it a deer, was indeed injured by him, who did not desire to harm, but wished only to protect his own body. (03-139-6)
After performing all the funeral rites for him, O Bhārata, he returned to that assembly and spoke to his brother. (03-139-7)
You are not able to bear this deed alone in any way. It was I who harmed your father, thinking that (he was) a deer. (03-139-8)
He, for our sake, you must properly undertake the vow of killing a Brāhmaṇa. For I alone am indeed capable of performing this action, O sage. (03-139-9)
Arvā Asura said;
You should indeed perform the sacrifice of the wise Bṛhaddyumna. For your sake, I will undertake the act of slaying a Brāhmaṇa, maintaining self-control. (03-139-10)
Lomasha said.
Having crossed beyond the sin of Brahmin-slaying, O Yudhishthira, Arvavasu, the sage, then returned again to the sacrifice. (03-139-11)
Then Parāvasu, seeing his brother approach, spoke these words addressed to the assembly to Bṛhaddyumna. (03-139-12)
This is your slayer of a Brāhmaṇa; he must not enter to witness the sacrifice. There is no doubt that even seeing the slayer of a Brāhmaṇa may harm you. (03-139-13)
But, O king, as Arvāvasu was being driven away by the attendants at that time, he repeatedly said, 'This Brāhmaṇa-slaying was not committed by me.' (03-139-14)
Although he is repeatedly called by the servants, "O slayer of a brāhmaṇa," O Bhārata, he never acknowledges having committed the brāhmaṇa-murder himself. This was done by my brother; as for me, I only protected it. (03-139-15)
O king, the gods became pleased with him by the act of Arvāvasu. They chose him, and rejected Parāvasu. (03-139-16)
Then the gods, with Agni at their head, granted him a boon; and he too chose the restoration of his father for himself. (3-139-17)
The absence of Agastya, thus the brother and the father not being remembered at the killing; and the resurrection of both Bharadvāja and Yavakrīta. (03-139-18)
Then all of them appeared, O Yudhiṣṭhira. Thereupon Yavakrīta spoke to the gods headed by Agni. (03-139-19)
I have thoroughly studied the Veda and performed the vows. How indeed is Raibhya, through such proper means sanctioned by the best among the immortals, able to destroy me, an ascetic engaged in study? (03-139-20)
The gods said.
O Yavakrīta, do not act in this way as you claim, O sage. Formerly, you studied the Vedas easily without a teacher. (03-139-21)
But by this, having pleased the gurus through his own actions amidst suffering and hardship over a long time, he attained the supreme Brahman. (03-139-22)
Lomaśa said.
Then, having thus spoken to Yavakrīta, the gods led by Agni revived all of them and returned again to heaven. (03-139-23)
This holy hermitage of his, always adorned with trees bearing flowers and fruits; here, O tiger among kings, having dwelt, you will be freed from all sins. (03-139-24)
