13.053
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
When that Brāhmaṇa had disappeared, what did the king do then? And what about his most fortunate wife? Tell me that, O grandsire. (13-53-1)
Bhīṣma said.
Not finding that sage with his wife, the king, exhausted, ashamed, and faint, turned back. (13-53-2)
He entered the city dejected and did not say anything, but only thought about what Cyavana had done. (13-53-3)
Then, with an empty mind, the king entered the house. There, on the bed, he saw the son of Bhṛgu lying down. (13-53-4)
The two, amazed, after seeing that wonder and reflecting upon it, from beholding that sage, both became relaxed. (13-53-5)
But, having stood in their proper places, those two again together carried him. Then the great sage slept on his other side. (13-53-6)
By that very means and by the influence of time, the powerful one woke up; and the two (others), suspecting danger, did not make any change. (13-53-7)
But the awakened sage said to those two, "O lord of kings, let oil for anointing be given to me, I shall bathe," thus, O Bhārata. (13-53-8)
"Thus," having promised, the two, hungry and exhausted from exertion, both approached with very precious oil that had been boiled a hundred times. (13-53-9)
Then, those who obeyed commands carried the sage, who was seated comfortably. Yet the son of Bhṛgu, endowed with great austerities, said: "It is not sufficient." (13-53-10)
When Bhārgava observed that those two were undisturbed, he rose quickly and entered the bathing hall. There, materials for the bath appropriate for a king were already prepared. (13-53-11)
But disregarding all of that, it disappeared right there. The sage, at that moment, again—even as the king was watching—none of the husband and wife found fault, O best of the Bharatas. (13-53-12)
Then, after bathing, the revered master ascended the throne, and the descendant of Bhrigu caused Kusika and his wife to be shown. (13-53-13)
The king Kuśika, delighted in expression and accompanied by his wife, humbly and without any change, offered the prepared food to the sage, saying, "It is ready." (13-53-14)
“Let it be brought,” thus the sage said to the king. And the king, along with his wife, brought that food. (13-53-15)
Various types of meat, various vegetables, vesavāra preparations, and light drinks. (13-53-16)
Mango-cakes, various kinds of sweet dumplings, spicy dishes, many sorts of juicy rice foods, and forest produce, constitute the food of sages. (13-53-17)
There were fruits and various other foods in abundance—such as jujube, long-bean, kāśmarya, marking-nut, and banyan fruits. (13-53-18)
The king, out of fear of the sage's curse, caused all the food of both householders and forest-dwellers to be brought. (13-53-19)
Then all was placed in front of Cyavana; after bringing together all, the sage also (arranged) that bed and seat. (13-53-20)
Cyavana, the descendant of Bhṛgu, covered everything with auspicious cloths and dining utensils, and made everything splendid. (13-53-21)
And the couple of great vows did not become angry. As those two were just observing, he disappeared again. (13-53-22)
He, the royal sage, remained there that night with his wife, silent and illustrious, and anger did not enter him. (13-53-23)
In the royal palace, there was always refined and varied food; principal beds and abundant ablutions as well. (13-53-24)
The garment of various shapes was well acquired, and thereafter Cyavana at that time could not see the difference. (13-53-25)
Again, the sage among the twice-born spoke to King Kushika: "With your wife, quickly take me by chariot to wherever I tell you." (13-53-26)
Thus, the king said without hesitation to the ascetic, "Let it be a sport chariot, O Lord, or else a battle chariot." (13-53-27)
Thus addressed by the delighted king, the sage Cyavana, also delighted, spoke these words to the conqueror of enemy cities. (13-53-28)
Quickly prepare the chariot that is considered suitable for you in battle, it is armed, bears a banner, is equipped with a spear, and has a whip. (13-53-29)
He resounded with the jingle of a hundred small bells, was furnished with devices resembling javelins, adorned with maces and swords, and was equipped with a hundred powerful arrows. (13-53-30)
Then, having said 'so be it' to him and prepared the great chariot, he placed his wife at the yoke on the left and himself on the right. (13-53-31)
He placed there a three-pronged goad, with a tip like a diamond needle. Having given all this, the king then spoke these words. (13-53-32)
O Lord, let the descendant of Bhṛgu say where the chariot should go. Wherever you say, O sage among Brāhmaṇas, there your chariot will go. (13-53-33)
Thus addressed, the Blessed Lord then replied to the king: "From now on, proceed step by step, slowly." (13-53-34)
So that I may not become fatigued, let my two will-moving beings (vehicles) act thus. Let everyone see that I too am to be borne in comfort. (13-53-35)
I will not turn away any traveller; to them I shall give wealth. And to the Brāhmaṇas, whoever asks me for any desires on the road, I will grant them. (13-53-36)
I will give everything completely — wealth and gems indeed. Let all this be done at once; do not hesitate, O king. (13-53-37)
Hearing his statement, the king then said to the servants: "Whatever the sage requests, give all of it without any suspicion." (13-53-38)
Then there were brought many gems, women, yokeable goats and sheep, manufactured and unmanufactured gold, and great elephants as large as mountains. (13-53-39)
All the king and ministers together followed the sage; and that entire city was overcome with distress and tumult. (13-53-40)
Those two, suddenly urged with the sharp-pointed goad and pierced on the back and side, carried him without any change. (13-53-41)
The trembling couple, wearied by separation and emaciated over fifty nights, somehow as heroes pulled that splendid chariot. (13-53-42)
O great king, those two, repeatedly pierced and streaming blood from their wounds, looked just like blossoming Kiṃśuka trees. (13-53-43)
Having seen those two, the group of citizens, exceedingly grief-stricken and terrified out of fear of a curse, did not say anything at all. (13-53-44)
And the gods of dualities all said, "See the power of austerity. Even though we are angry, we cannot even look upon the best of sages." (13-53-45)
Oh, see the power of the revered great sage whose spirit is perfected, and also the incredible fortitude of the king accompanied by his wife! (13-53-46)
Though both were weary, they nevertheless lifted the chariot with difficulty; but the son of Bhr̥gu saw no change in either of them. (13-53-47)
Bhishma said.
Then, seeing those two who remained unchanged, the best of the Bhṛgu lineage distributed wealth just as Vaiśravaṇa does. (13-53-48)
There also, the king, with a delighted mind, did as he was instructed; then the Venerable best among sages became pleased with him. (13-53-49)
He got down from the excellent chariot and released the couple. Then, having properly freed them, he spoke to them. (13-53-50)
Bhārgava, with gentle and deep speech and with a very clear mind, said: "I shall grant you two the best boon; declare what it is," O Bhārata. (13-53-51)
The learned sage, O best of the Bharatas, out of affection, touched those two very tender boys with his hands, hands like nectar. (13-53-52)
Then the king said: “There is no fatigue for either of us here. By your own power and your meditation, we are rested, O Bhārgava.” (13-53-53)
Then, the joyful Cyavana, the revered one, said to them: "What was declared by me before will not be in vain; that will certainly come to pass." (13-53-54)
This auspicious and beautiful region, the bank of the Ganga—here I shall live for some time, devoted to my vow, O king. (13-53-55)
Go to your own city, son; after resting, you will return again. Tomorrow, with your wife, you will see me here, O king. (13-53-56)
Do not allow anger to arise; good fortune has come to you. Whatever you have desired in your heart, all of that will happen. (13-53-57)
Having thus been addressed, Kuśika, filled with joy in his heart, spoke these meaningful words to the tiger among sages. (13-53-58)
O greatly fortunate one, I am not angry; I am purified by you, O Lord. We have both become youthful again, possessing our own strong bodies. (13-53-59)
The wounds inflicted on me and my wife by your goad—I do not see those on our bodies; together with my wife, I am healthy. (13-53-60)
O sage, I see this goddess, who resembles a divine apsaras, endowed with supreme splendor, just as I saw her before. (13-53-61)
All this has come into being through your favor, O great sage. It is not surprising, O venerable one of true valor, (that this has occurred) in you. (13-53-62)
Thus addressed, Cyavana then replied to Kushika: "You and your wife may come here," O king. (13-53-63)
Having been told thus and fully permitted, the royal sage saluted him and went to the city, resplendent like the king of the gods. (13-53-64)
Then the ministers, together with the priests, the army commanders, the officers overseeing the courtesans, and all the officials also, approached him. (13-53-65)
Surrounded by them, King Kuśika, shining with supreme splendor, joyfully entered the city, being honored then by the bards. (13-53-66)
Then, the king entered the city, performed all his daily duties, ate his meal, and spent the night with his wife. (13-53-67)
Then those two, beholding their renewed youth, like immortals free from old age, rejoiced together as they lay on the bed, bearing forms endowed with splendor by her, who had been given by the excellent Brāhmaṇa. (13-53-68)
And that sage, who increased the fame of the Bhṛgu lineage and whose wealth was his austerity, created by his wisdom a beautiful and prosperous forest adorned with many kinds of gems—something not possessed even by Indra (Śatakratu). (13-53-69)
