Early History of Orissa

SR No.: 006922
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Amarchand Mittal
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society
Publication Year: 1957
Total Pages: 506
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 126

TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF KALINGA 101 blessed and know what the eternal religion is. Hence, within a few verses of each other two contradicting statements are met with in the Mahābhārata, regarding the social and religious condition of the Kalingas.
But Kalinga was essentially considered to be a virtuous country. For we find the Pāņdava heroes visiting it on pilgrimage. Below is given a description of one of their such visits' :-"Accompanied by his brothers the valient prince (Yudhishthira) proceeded by the shore of the sea towards the land where the Kalinga tribe dwells. Through it passeth the river Vaitarņi, on the bank whereof even the god of Virtue performed religious rites having first placed himself under the protection of the celestials. Verily this is the northern bank inhabited by saints, suitable for the performance of religious rites, beautified by a hill and frequented by persons of the regenerate caste. This spot (in holiness) rivals the path whereby a virtuous man, fit for going to Heaven, repairs to the region inhabited by gods. And verily at this spot, in former times, other saints like. wise worshipped the immortals by the performance of religious rites. And at this very spot, it was that the god Rudra seized the sacrificial beast and exclaimed :-"This is my share'. When the beast was carried away by Siva, the gods spoke to him :-Cast not a covetous glance at the property of others disregarding all the righteous rules'. Then they addressed words of glorification and of a pleasing kind to the god Rudra. And they satisfied him by offering a sacrifice and paid him suitable honours. Thereupon the god Rudra gave up the beast and went by the path trodden by the gods. Influenced by the dread of Rudra, the gods set apart for ever-more the best allotments out of all shares such as was fresh and not stale (to be appreciated by that
1. Vana parvan, Ch. 114, p. 352 (Ray).