Indian Antiquary Vol 35

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 57

TALES OF THE TELUGU VAISHNAVAS.
Thou art the courage, the truth, the sacrifice. Thou receivest sacrifice. Thou art Dharma. Thou art the shelter of all the worlds. Thy shining is very brilliant and holy. Thou art the bridge between earth and heaven, Thou destroyest all vices. Thou savest the three worlds. Thy speed is quick as mind. Thy deeds are very wonderful. Thou art the sight of the good, and destroyest all the darkness of sin. My tongue fails to praise thee. Thy form is beyond being or non-being. I respect this Rishi as my tutelary god, therefore I pray thee to abate thy anger towards him: in being good to him thou wilt be doing good to me. If the all-pervading Vishņu is pleased with me, I pray thee let Durvasa cease to be troubled."
When Ambarisha had finished speaking, the Disc stopped. Thereupon Durvasa rejoiced and began to bless the King saying, "Now do I know the real power of God's devotees, and whoever thinks upon such as you will become holy and like you return good for evil."
III.
Saryati. King Baryati W88 a son of Manu, and had a daughter namod Sukanya. Saryati went one day hunting to the forest accompanied by his daughter. It was in this forest that Chayára the Rishi was making penance. Here Sukanya left her father, and playing about by herself, she came upon a little hillock, from one side of which were shining two little lights. Thinking that these were glow-worms, she got & thorn and stuck it into both of them. As soon as she did this, the King and his retinue, who were near, felt themselves attacked with violent pains, and saw a shower of blood falling upon them. Then Saryati suspected that some injury was done to Chayåra and enquired amongst his followers, who denied knowledge of anything. Meanwhile Sakanyå approached and told the King about the hillock and the little lights, and what she had done. Then the King was much afraid, and went with her to the hillock. This they found to be Chayâra, who, from remaining there so long, had a hillock grown over his body, from which his two eyes were glowing like lights, and it was these which Sukanyâ had pierced. The King in great fear pleaded for forgiveness, and offered to make amends, whereupon Chayâra demanded that his daughter should be given to him in marriage, to which the King consenting, Sukanya was left in the forest to attend to the Rishi; and though he was very bad-tempered, she patiently waited on him for many years.
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One day, there came to the hermitage the Asvins, heavenly physicians, and they complained to Chayâra that they were given no share in the sacrifices. Chayâra told them that he would procure for them a share, if in return they would restore to him his youth. They agreed, and took the decrepit old man with them, and all descended into a well, coming up again all alike, with youthful beautiful forms. Sukanyan, who was waiting for them, when she looked at them, could not recognise her husband, so in distress she prayed the Asvins to point him out to her. They expressed their pleasure at her faithfulness, pointed out her husband, and went their way.
One day Saryati returned to the forest to invite Chayâra to a sacrifice, and was amazed to see his daughter sitting with a handsome young man, and, mistaking him for her lover, began to upbraid her as follows: "I gave you to a man, who was respected by the whole world, who was a great Rishi and very virtuous, and was beloved by a chaste woman. You have left such a husband, and are living with your lover. This is wicked, your bonour is lost. By doing this you have thrown me into hell! My dear daughter, whether the husband be youthful or old, the wife must attend on him. Bat I reproach myself for giving you to an old Rishi."
But Sukanya only smiled, and told her father how this was her husband Chayâra, and how he came to be changed. Then her father embraced her gladly, and blessed her, and performed a sacrifice, wben Chayâra kept his word and gave a share to the Asvins.