13.042
Bhishma said.
Vipula, having performed intense austerity as instructed by his teacher, then considered himself endowed with austerity and powerful. (13-42-1)
O lord of the earth, by that action, he, competing with the earth, moved about among men, fearless, pleased, and having attained fame, being excellent. (13-42-2)
The lord thought that both worlds had been conquered by him, O Kauravya, by his actions and by great austerity. (13-42-3)
Then, after some time had passed, O joy of the Kurus, Rucā, the sister, made a gift that was abundant in wealth and grain. (13-42-4)
At that very moment, a certain divine and beautiful woman, possessing a supreme form, then went through the sky. (13-42-5)
O Bhārata, flowers had fallen from her body onto the earth, and not far from her hermitage, there were divine fragrances. (13-42-6)
Then, O king, Ruci, the lotus-eyed lady, took those things. At that time, the inviter quickly came from her limbs. (13-42-7)
Her elder sister, O dear one, named Prabhavati, became the wife of Citraratha, the lord of Aṅga. (13-42-8)
The beautiful-complexioned woman fastened those flowers in her hair, and, having been invited, then went to the house of the lord of the beautiful body. (13-42-9)
Having seen those flowers, then the beautiful-eyed best woman of Indra's body incited her sister for the sake of the flowers. (13-42-10)
Ruci, who had a beautiful face, told her husband everything; the sage approved all that was spoken by the sister. (13-42-11)
Then, O Bhārata, the great ascetic Devaśarmā urged the greatly honored one for the sake of flowers, saying, "Go, go." (13-42-12)
But Vipula, the great ascetic, without deliberating on the teacher's words, said so, O king, and indeed went to that place. (13-42-13)
But in that region, those that had fallen from the sky were there; and there were also unwithered flowers and other flowers as well. (13-42-14)
Then he took those divine and beautiful objects, and the divinely fragrant ones obtained by his own austerity, O Bhārata. (13-42-15)
Having obtained those things, the one with a delighted mind, who fulfilled the teacher's command, then quickly went to Campā, the city adorned with campaka flowers. (13-42-16)
O dear one, he saw in the solitary forest a pair of humans, moving around like a wheel, each holding the other's hand with their own hand. (13-42-17)
There, one quickly went to that place, turning around; but the other did not do so, O king, and then they quarreled. (13-42-18)
One said, "You go quickly," but the other said, "Not so." Thus, both of them, dear one, kept saying to each other, "Not so, not so." (13-42-19)
As those two were competing in this way, an oath was made at that time. Then, having greatly considered in their minds, they spoke these words. (13-42-20)
Whoever among us two has spoken falsehood, then, for that twice-born, indeed, whatever state exists in the vast other world, that shall be his. (13-42-21)
But on hearing this, Vipula became downcast. Thus, I, who practice severe austerity, find this acceptance difficult. (13-42-22)
What sin would come to me from this union, since its result has been declared by this as undesirable for all beings, to me, today, indeed. (13-42-23)
Thus, while reflecting in this way, the great and noble king, with his face turned downward and his head bowed, meditated upon his own evil deed. (13-42-24)
Then he saw six other men playing with dice made of gold and silver, who were filled with both greed and joy. (13-42-25)
Indeed, when that oath was made by the pair, having indicated the great (matter), they also then spoke these words. (13-42-26)
Whoever, out of greed, would try to harm us, may he attain that great state which awaits in the next world. (13-42-27)
But Vipula, having heard this, did not see any confusion of dharma in himself, O descendant of Kuru, since all had been done by him from birth onward. (13-42-28)
He then reflected deeply, O king, like fire placed in fire, his mind burning after hearing such a curse. (13-42-29)
O dear one, while he was thinking, many days and nights passed; in his mind, this act of protection was done with delight. (13-42-30)
The mark was indeed identified by the mark, and the face by the face; having arranged thus, it was not spoken by me, and this is the truth of the guru at that time. (13-42-31)
O descendant of Kuru, he then considered this great misdeed as his own; O greatly fortunate one, thus there is no doubt about that. (13-42-32)
He reached the city of Campā and offered flowers to his guru. Being dear to the guru, he worshipped him in the prescribed manner. (13-42-33)
