SECTION XXX

“Yudhishthira said, ’I have heard this great narrative, O perpetuator of Kuru’s race.  Thou, O foremost of eloquent men, hast said that the status of a Brahmana is exceedingly difficult of acquisition.  It is heard, however, that in former times the status of a Brahmana had been acquired by Viswamitra.  Thou, however, O best of men, tellest us that status is incapable of being acquired.  I have also heard that king Vitahavya in ancient times succeeded in obtaining the status of a Brahmana.  I desire to hear, O puissant son of Ganga, the story of Vitahavya’s promotion.  By what acts did that best of kings succeed in acquiring the status of a Brahmana?  Was it through some boon (obtained from some one of great puissance) or was it through the virtue of penances?  It behoveth thee to tell me everything.’

“Bhishma said, ’Hear, O monarch, how the royal sage Vitahavya of great celebrity succeeded in ancient times in acquiring the status of a Brahmana that is so difficult to attain and that is held in such high reverence by all the world.  While the high-souled Manu in days of yore was employed in righteously ruling his subjects, he obtained a son of righteous soul who became celebrated under the name of Saryati.  In Saryati’s, race, O monarch, two kings took their birth, viz., Haihaya and Talajangha.  Both of them were sons of Vatsa, O foremost of victorious kings.  Haihaya, O monarch, had ten wives.  Upon them he begot, O Bharata, a century of sons all of whom were highly inclined to fighting.  All of them resembled one another in features and prowess.  All of them were endued with great strength and all of them were possessed of great skill in battle.  They all studied the Vedas and the science of weapons thoroughly.  In Kasi also, O monarch, there was a king who was the grandfather of Divodasa.  The foremost of victorious men, he was known by the name of Haryyaswa.  The sons of king Haihaya, O chief of men (who was otherwise known by the name of Vitahavya), invaded the kingdom of Kasi and advancing to the country that lies between the rivers Ganga and Yamuna, fought a battle with king Haryyaswa and also slew him in it.  Having slain king Haryyaswa in this way, the sons of Haihaya, those great car-warriors, fearlessly went back to their own delightful city in the country of the Vatsas.  Meanwhile Haryyaswa’s son Sudeva, who looked like a deity in splendour and who was a second god of righteousness, was installed on the throne of Kasi as its ruler.  The delighter of Kasi, that righteous-souled prince ruled his kingdom for sometime, when the hundred sons of Vitahavya once more invaded his dominions and defeated him in battle.  Having vanquished king Sudeva thus, the victors returned to their own city.  After that Divodasa, the son of Sudeva, became installed on the throne of Kasi as its ruler.  Realising the prowess of those high-souled princes, viz., the sons of Vitahavya, king Divodasa,