used to do before with sweet smiles? Then that
Brahmana, who was within the hut, thus replied to
Sudarsana,—Do thou learn, O son of Pavaka,
that a Brahmana guest has arrived, and though tempted
by this thy wife with diverse other offers of welcome,
I have, O best of Brahmanas, desired only her person,
and this fair-faced lady is engaged in welcoming me
with due rites. Thou art at liberty to do whatever
thou thinkest to be suitable to this occasion.
Mrityu, armed with the iron club, pursued the Rishi
at that moment, desirous of compassing the destruction
of one that would, he thought, deviate from his promise.
Sudarsana was struck with wonder, but casting off
all jealousy and anger by look, word, deed, or thought,
said,—Do thou enjoy thyself, O Brahmana.
It is a great pleasure to me. A householder obtain
the highest merit by honouring a guest. It is
said by the learned that, as regards the householder,
there is no higher merit than what results unto him
from a guest departing from his house after having
been duly honoured by him. My life, my wife, and
whatever other worldly possessions I have, are all
dedicated to the use of my guests. Even this
is the vow that I have taken. As I have truly
made this statement, by that truth, O Brahmana, I
shall attain to the knowledge of Self. O foremost
of virtuous men, the five elements, viz., fire,
air, earth, water, and sky, and the mind, the intellect
and the Soul, and time and space and the ten organs
of sense, are all present in the bodies of men, and
always witness the good and evil deeds that men do.
This truth has today been uttered by me, and let the
gods bless me for it or destroy me if I have spoken
falsely. At this, O Bharata, there arose in all
directions, in repeated echoes, a voice, crying,—This
is true, this is not false. Then that Brahmana
came out of the hovel, and like the wind rising and
encompassing both Earth and sky, and making the three
worlds echo with Vedic sounds, and calling that virtuous
man by name, and congratulating him said,—O
sinless one, I am Dharma; All glory to thee.
I came here, O truth-loving one, to try thee, and I
am well pleased with thee by knowing thee to be virtuous.
Thou hast subdued and conquered Mrityu who always
has pursued thee, seeking thy laches? O best of
men, no one in the three worlds has the ability to
insult, even with looks, this chaste lady devoted
to her husband, far less to touch her person.
She has been protected from defilement by thy virtue
and by her own chastity. There can be nothing
contrary to what this proud lady will say. This
utterer of Brahma, endued with austere penances, shall,
for the salvation of the world, be metamorphosed into
a mighty river. And thou shalt attain to all
the worlds in this thy body, and as truly as the science
of Yoga is within her control, this highly blessed
lady will follow thee with only half of her corporeal
self, and with the other half will she be celebrated
as the river Oghavati! And thou shalt attain with