“Bhishma continued, ’Having said these words, those Rishis of steadfast vows, abandoning the figs having gold within them, left that spot and proceeded to whatever destination they liked.’”

“The ministers said, ’O king, coming to know of the existence of gold within the figs, the Rishis have gone away!  Let this be known to thee!’

“Bhishma continued, ’Thus addressed by his ministers, king Vrishadarbhi became filled with wrath against all those Rishis.  Indeed, to take vengeance upon them, the monarch entered his own chamber.  Observing the austerest of penances, he poured on his sacred fire libations of ghee, accompanying each with Mantras uttered by him.  From that fire there then arose as the result of the incantation, a form capable of striking every one with fear.  Vrishadarbhi named her as Yatudhani.  That form which had been from the incantations of the king, looking as terrible as the Last Night, appeared with joined hands before the monarch.  Addressing king Vrishadarbhi, she said, ‘What shall I accomplish?’”

“Vrishadarbhi said, ’Go and follow the seven Rishis, as also Arundhati, and the husband of their maid-servant, and the maid-servant herself, and comprehend what the meanings are of their names.  Having ascertained their names, do thou slay all of them.  After slaying them thou mayst go whatever destination thou likest.’"[419]

“Bhishma continued, ’Saying, ’So be it! the Rakshasi who had been named Yatudhani, in her proper form, proceeded to that forest in which the great Rishis wandered in search of food.  Indeed, O king, those great Rishis, with Atri among them, roved within the forest, subsisting upon fruits and roots.  In course of their wanderings they saw a mendicant of broad shoulders, and plump arms and legs and well-nourished face and abdomen.  Of limbs that were all adipose, he was wandering with a dog in his company.  Beholding that mendicant whose limbs were all well-developed and handsome, Arundhati exclaimed, addressing the Rishis, ’None of you will ever be able to show such well-developed features!’”

“Vasishtha said, ’The sacred fire of this person is not like ours for while he is able to pour libations on it, morning and evening, none of us are able to do the same.  It is for this reason that we see both him and his dog so well-developed.’’

“Atri said, ’This man does not, like us, feel the pangs of hunger.  His energy has not sustained, like ours, any diminution.  Acquired with the greatest difficulty, his Vedas have not, like ours, disappeared.  Hence, it is that we see both him and his dog so well-developed.’[420]

“Viswamitra said, ’This man is not, like us, unable to observe the eternal duties inculcated in the scriptures.  I have become idle.  I feel the pangs of hunger.  I have lost the knowledge I had acquired.  This man is not like us in this respect.  Hence I see both him and his dog so well-developed.’”

’’Jamadagni said, ’This man has not to think of storing his annual grain and fuel as we are compelled to, do.  Hence I see both him and his dog so well-developed!’