Sarga-56
Brahmanabala against Kshtriyabala 1.56.3, 4
Vasishta stood up holding up his Brahmadanda (a brahmin’s power to punish with a curse) and made ineffective all the missiles of Viswamitra beginning with fire missile and ending with Brahma missile, by the strength of the rod of punishment in his hand.
1.56.17-21
The Gita says, “Peace, restraint, penance, purity, forbearance and gentility; spiritual and material knowledge and faith are inborn characteristics of a Brahmin.
Evil Effects of Anger:
In the Adiparva of the Mahabharata, Shamika says to Shringin, “Anger spoils the hard-earned merit of ascetics. Bereft of dharma, they do not achieve their desired object of going to a heaven. Serenity through forgiveness alone brings the desired results to ascetics. Success in this life and also the life hereafter is assured only to those ascetics who have forbearance. Hence one must always conduct oneself with restraint and compassion”.
In the Aranyakaparva [Ch.28, 29] of the Mahabharata Dharmaraja says, “O Draupadi, saintly people always praise victory over wrath. Forbearance always leads to success. Truth is superior to falsehood, kindness to cruelty. He who can curb his anger under provocation through wisdom is great. O graceful one! Forbearance is religion. Forbearance is sacrifice. Forbearance is Veda. Forbearance is learning. He, who knows this, knows to forgive. Forbearance is Brahman. It is the reality. It is the past and also the future. It is penance. It is cleansing. By forbearance is this world sustained. Forbearance is the lustre of the lustrous. It is the Brahman of the ascetics. It is a way of life of the self-restrained. It is the truth of the truthful. It is sacrifice. It is success. It is universal religion.
In the Vishnupurana. Vasishta says to Parashara, “Anger is the biggest destroyer of success and of spiritual merit acquired after prolonged effort by human beings. Stop burning these poor, innocent demons. Forgiveness is the essence of life of the saints”.
Supremacy of Brahmins 1.56.22, 23
Here the use of the word ‘kshatriya’ is significant to the context because brahmins are superior to all others (including the kshatriyas).
Manu corroborates this: “The part above the navel is stated to be the purer half of the human body. Brahma says that the mouth is the purest part. Brahmins are produced from the head of Brahma. They are the seniormost of the human creation and are the repositories of the Vedas. Brahmins are therefore, the rightful masters of the entire world. The self-born Brahma produced at the outset, brahmin from his mouth after practising penance for facilitating offerings to gods and manes and also for the protection of this creation. It is through his mouth that gods and manes always eat the offerings made to them. Who can possibly be more important than he? To the created, living beings are superior, to the living beings, those equipped with intellect, to the intelligent, the human beings and among the humans brahmins are superior. The creation of a learned brahmin itself is the creation of the idol of eternal dharma.
Born for the sake of dharma a brahmin is entitled to moksha. The very birth of a brahmin on this earth is as a lord of all the beings for taking care of the treasure of dharma. Whatever exists on the face of this earth belongs to a brahmin.
Vatapi-Ilvala Episode:
In Aranyakanda there is a story. Ilvala who under the guise of a brahmin feeds other brahmins invited on the occasion of a death anniversary, with the meat of a goat and then calls his younger brother, “O Vatapi, come out”. Vatapi imitating the sound of a goat jumps out, tearing open the bodies of the brahmins. Distressed by the carnage, the gods approach sage Agastya for help. Disguised as a goat Agastya consumes Vatapi and when Ilvala calls him ‘O Vatapi, come out’, Agastya replies ‘I have already digested the demon, your brother Vatapi. How can he come out?’ Enraged at this, Ilvala attacked the sage furiously. The sage killed him by a mere look of his fiery eyes. Rama narrates to Lakshmana this story of destruction of the demons Vatapi and Ilvala by sage Agastya.
Subjugation of Vindhya by Agasti:
Once the mountain Vindhya said to the Sun, “Circumambulate me with reverence the same way as you do the mountain Sumeru”. The Sun replied, “I do not rotate round the Sumeru for fulfilling my desire. That is the path I am directed to traverse by Him who designed this world”. “Infuriated by this reply, Vindhya grew enormously in height in an instant determined to block the path of the Sun and the Moon”. When the gods could not prevent Vindhya encroaching the path of the planets, they appealed to Agasti, the sage of immense prowess. Agasti said, “I am proceeding to the Southern region for some work. Wait till I return. O Mountain! you may grow as much as you wish after I return”. So saying, the sage went south of the Vindhyas and stayed there to become the pride of the south. The Vindhya was subjugated.
Similarly sage Bhargava, an exponent of supreme truth subdues the power of a ruler Manava who blinded with passion seduced the sage’s daughter Araja. Enraged, Bhargava reduced the king along with his entourage into a heap of ashes.
Defeat of Damshodbhava by Nara
King Dambhodbhava puffed with power throws a challenge to Nara Narayana .Nara targets him with an Aishika missile and the king prostrates to him for protection.
King Vena exterminated by Brahmins
King Vena in his haughtiness banned sacrifices and oblations. Who is this Visnu, he questioned when the sages advised him to perform a satra for the propitiation of Lord Visnu. ‘The king is the recipient of all sacrificial offerings’. As serving the husband is the highest dharma of women, O Brahmins! following my orders in yours, he arrogantly declared. Infuriated at this blasphemous bragging, the sages expowered a piece of kusha grass with mantras and hurled it at him. Vena died.
Subjugation of Indra by Durvasa:
The Visnupurana tells this story of Indra and Durvasa. Once Indra threw a garland given by Durvasa carelessly on the shoulder of his Airavata. Durvasa took for an affront and spelt disaster on Indra’s kingdom. Indra gave in.
Dialogue between Pawana and Kartaviryarjuna in “Anusasanaparva” of the Mahabharata
Kartavirya, a great and powerful king of Mahishmati ruled the entire world. He offered his wealth and worship to Dattatreya from whom he obtained the boon for invincibility. Infatuated with the pride of his prowess Matarishvan answered “O king, a kshatriya can rule this earth only with the assistance of brahmins. Give up these sinful thoughts and bow down to brahmins”. Kartavirya roared, “Pleased, I can create. Displeased, I can destroy. No brahmin is superior to me in act, thought or word. Brahmins depend on the kshatriyas. Kshatriyas do not depend on brahmins. Tell me the name of the most powerful brahmin equal with earth or Vayu or water or fire or the sky”.
Kasyapa’s Greatness:
Thus affronted Vayu said, “Listen! Earth was angry as she was not offered her share in the sacrifice performed by King Anga. So she discarded her earth-form and entered the abode of Brahma. Seeing this, Kasyapa assumed the form of Earth and carried out for thirty thousand years the function of the Earth of producing vegetation and rice-crops etc. for sustaining life. I will quote another instance or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Varuna’s Subjugation by Utatthya:
“When Utatthya, son of Angirasa, saw his wife, Bhadra, daughter of Soma, abducted by Varuna, the lord of water, he began drinking the entire ocean. Varuna surrendered. He returned his wife. I’ll quote qnother instance, or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Agasti burnt away Demons:
“Unable to tolerate the humiliation of Aditya by demons, Agasti’s blazing flames of anger burnt, down the demons to ashes. I will quote another instance or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Atri conquered Danavas:
“In the conflict between gods and demons, Rahu defeated the gods. The Sun and the Moon were deprived of their luster. Darkness enveloped the world. The demons started killing gods. Seeing this, sage Atri, with his asceticism, dispelled the darkness, illuminated the world and defeated the enemies. I will quote another instance or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Chyavana overpowers Indra:
“The great sage Chyavana started a sacrifice to make Ashvins partakers of soma juice along with Indra. To sabotage this sacrifice Indra attacked him. Chyavana stopped him with water sanctified by mantras and produced a demon, Mada by name. He had a thousand teeth spread over a hundred yojanas and dreadful tusks two hundred yojanas in length. While his chin rested on the ground his mouth touched the sky. On the tip of his tongue stoood all the gods including Indra. The lord of the gods trembled. He allowed Ashvins to partake the soma juice along with him. Chyavana divided the demon Mada into four parts, into dice, hunting, drinking and woman. I will quote another instance or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Brahmins kill Kapas
“When all the gods entered the mouth of demon Mada, produced by Chyavana, the daityas called Kapas encroached on heaven and earth. Brahma advised the gods to seek shelter under the brahmins. The brahmins started chanting exorcizing spells. The Kapas panicked. They sent Dhani as their emissary to threaten the brahmins. The brahmins now dispatched the Fire-god to consume the kapas. I will quote another instance or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Gods take refuge in Vasishta:
“Seeing Adityas emaciated while observing a vow, the demons called Khalins and planned to kill them. But they were chased away by the gods. Hiding in a lake called Brahmadatta, the demons renewed their attack. The beleaguered gods sought the help of Vasishta. Vasishta turned the entire army of the demons into a heap of ashes. I’ll quote yet another instances or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
“Even the ocean was formerly full of sweet water turned salty on account of the curse by angry Angirasa. You can never be equal to brahmins in strength. It will be wise on your part to realize this. A brahmin shattered the extensive kingdom of Dandakas. Aurva alone destroyed Talajangha and Mahajangha. You have obtained an extensive kingdom, as a result of Dattatreya’s favour. Protect it there is a great danger for you from the Bhrigus”.
Thus Vayu explained to Arjuna the greatness of brahmins in various ways.
Chyavana kills demon Puloma and his father Bhrigu curses fire-god:
The Adiparva of Mahabharata tells the story of Puloma, the wife of sage Bhrigu. Once during his absence a demon by the same name Puloma entered his hermitage to reclaim Puloma, who he had earlier chosen to be his mate. Inside the fireplace he saw the fire of Agnihotra burning. The demon asked whether she was the same Puloma, Bhrigu had stolen away. The Fire-god afraid of telling a lie and afraid of the possible curse of Bhrigu, hesitantly said she was the same lady. The outraged demon gave her blow after blow. Puloma was pregnant. The angry embryo the scion of the Bhrigu clan emerged out of her womb (hence the name Chyavana, the one who slipped) and burnt the demon down to ashes. On his return Bhrigu heard the story and cursed the Fire-god to become a devourer of everything.
Agasti curbs Nahusa’s pride:
In Udyogaparva of the Mahabharata Shalya tells Dharmaraja the story of Nahusa. Nahusa obtained the kingdom of Indra as a result of a boon from the gods and the sages. In his conceit he ordered the seven sages including Agasti to carry the poles of his aerial car. The great sage Agasti, the pride of the northern region, bearer of the palanquin-pole in front faltered. Nahusha goaded him with his foot. Angry at this humiliation, the great sage cursed him thus. “In your imprudence you have employed the sages who are equal in prowess to Brahma, as the carriers of your palanquin. So fallen from your glory, O sinner, you shall lose your power and with your merit exhausted fall to the mortal world from heaven to live as a serpent for ten thousand years”.
Narada subdues the Vrishnis and Andhakas:
The Musalaparva narrated by the story of the Vrishnis and Andhakas who led by Sarana once took Samba dressed as a woman to Narada, Viswamitra, Kanva, etc at Samba, ‘What will she give birth to?’ They said, looking at the sages. They could see through this game of deception. They flared up like sacrificial fire and said, “This descendant of Vasudeva will give birth to a deadly iron pestle which will exterminate the Vrishni and Andhaka clans with the exception of Rama and Janardana. Rama will enter the ocean, discarding his body, while Jara will kill the mighty Krishna.”
Agasti overcomes ocean who gave shelter to Kaleyas:
The Anushasanaparva, tells the story of sage Agasti, who overcame the Kaleyas. Kaleyas were hurt by the killing of Vritra by Indra. They thought the sages were behind this plot. Scared of the gods, they used to hide in the ocean by day and massacre the ascetics by night. Thus they rendered the world devoid of the Vashat utterances, of Vedic studies and festivals. The gods, approached Visnu. Visnu said, try to dry the ocean. Who else than Agasti could do it? They came to Agasti. Agasti drank the ocean dry even as the whole world watched.
The power of Durvasa’s wrath:
[The commentator might have drawn upon the Mahabharata and Skandapurana.]
Once Rukmini’s son asked Krishna why he should worship brahmins and why they are considered a powerful community? The Lord related this story of Durvasa to him. ‘Who can entertain me as a guest without making me lose my temper? said Durvasa once. So I accepted the challenge and brought the short-tempered sage home. He was fastridious. I offered him delicacies and desserts. Then he asked me to smear my body and of Rukmini’s with the left-over payasa. Which I did. Thereupon, the sage quickly yoked us to a chariot even as we were smeared with the payasa and asked us to pull it. He also whipped delicate Rukmini right in front of my eyes but I experienced not the slightest irritation, though provoked. But people who witnessed our insult said to one another, “Let only brahmins be born in this world. Deadly is the poison of a serpent but deadlier is a brahmin”. Then, extremely furious, the sage suddenly jumped out of the chariot and started running on foot by an unknown path heading towards south. The fury of the sage was like the blazing fire of dissolution. I ran after him. I pleaded with him. I fell at his feet said the great sage “you shall be the most meritorious in the world and the most famous, you will be invincible in war but death will hit you exactly on the sole of your foot which was not smeared with my left-over”. Thus brahmins are kings. They create and they destry.
Brahmins are free from fear of Death:
The Vanaparva says: Once a Haihaya prince went hunting into the forest. There he mistook the son of a sage for a black antelope and shot him with an arrow. On the son’s words the perturbed Haihayas reached the hermitage of Tarksha. There they saw the sage preparing to welcome them. But they told him, they had murdered a brahmin boy and deserved no welcome. The sage asked them to bring the dead body. They started on a hunt but were not able to trace the body. “The boy you had killed was my son and I have already revived him”, said the sage to the amazed Haihayas. The secret of bringing the dead back to life was simple, the sage said. We recognize only truth and never take resort to a lie. We follow our righteous code of conduct. We feed the guests as well as the servants before we sit down to eat. So we have no fear of death”.
Brahmanya Bhisma to Yudhishthira on the greatness of brahmins:
In the Anushasana parva of the Mahabharata Yudhishthira asks Bhisma, “O grandfather, who are worthy of worship? And Bhisma replies, “Brahmins deserve obeisance. They are the saviours of this world. All the four classes of people depend on them for their existence. They show the right way. They have been carrying out sacrificial performances since times immemorial. They uphold the great traditions laid down by our forefathers. They, like good oxen, never fail while carrying this yoke of ancient tradition. They know the beginning, the middle and the end of the world. They know the nature of the highest and the lowest. To them sandalpaste and mud are the same, eating or starving makes no difference. They are the gods of the gods and cause of the cause. O son of Pandu, none else in the world is dear to me like you are but brahmins are dearer to me. Just as a husband is to a wife a brahmin is to a kshatriya and like father to a son. Just as after husband’s death a woman marries his brother this earth chooses a kshatriya as her lord in the absence of a brahmin. Therefore, brahmins must be looked after like sons and served like gurus. O Yudhishthira, I am scared of two things, physical strength and ascetic power. The action initiated by both is quick.
Sarga-56
Brahmanabala against Kshtriyabala 1.56.3, 4
Vasishta stood up holding up his Brahmadanda (a brahmin’s power to punish with a curse) and made ineffective all the missiles of Viswamitra beginning with fire missile and ending with Brahma missile, by the strength of the rod of punishment in his hand.
1.56.17-21
The Gita says, “Peace, restraint, penance, purity, forbearance and gentility; spiritual and material knowledge and faith are inborn characteristics of a Brahmin.
Evil Effects of Anger:
In the Adiparva of the Mahabharata, Shamika says to Shringin, “Anger spoils the hard-earned merit of ascetics. Bereft of dharma, they do not achieve their desired object of going to a heaven. Serenity through forgiveness alone brings the desired results to ascetics. Success in this life and also the life hereafter is assured only to those ascetics who have forbearance. Hence one must always conduct oneself with restraint and compassion”.
In the Aranyakaparva [Ch.28, 29] of the Mahabharata Dharmaraja says, “O Draupadi, saintly people always praise victory over wrath. Forbearance always leads to success. Truth is superior to falsehood, kindness to cruelty. He who can curb his anger under provocation through wisdom is great. O graceful one! Forbearance is religion. Forbearance is sacrifice. Forbearance is Veda. Forbearance is learning. He, who knows this, knows to forgive. Forbearance is Brahman. It is the reality. It is the past and also the future. It is penance. It is cleansing. By forbearance is this world sustained. Forbearance is the lustre of the lustrous. It is the Brahman of the ascetics. It is a way of life of the self-restrained. It is the truth of the truthful. It is sacrifice. It is success. It is universal religion.
In the Vishnupurana. Vasishta says to Parashara, “Anger is the biggest destroyer of success and of spiritual merit acquired after prolonged effort by human beings. Stop burning these poor, innocent demons. Forgiveness is the essence of life of the saints”.
Supremacy of Brahmins 1.56.22, 23
Here the use of the word ‘kshatriya’ is significant to the context because brahmins are superior to all others (including the kshatriyas).
Manu corroborates this: “The part above the navel is stated to be the purer half of the human body. Brahma says that the mouth is the purest part. Brahmins are produced from the head of Brahma. They are the seniormost of the human creation and are the repositories of the Vedas. Brahmins are therefore, the rightful masters of the entire world. The self-born Brahma produced at the outset, brahmin from his mouth after practising penance for facilitating offerings to gods and manes and also for the protection of this creation. It is through his mouth that gods and manes always eat the offerings made to them. Who can possibly be more important than he? To the created, living beings are superior, to the living beings, those equipped with intellect, to the intelligent, the human beings and among the humans brahmins are superior. The creation of a learned brahmin itself is the creation of the idol of eternal dharma.
Born for the sake of dharma a brahmin is entitled to moksha. The very birth of a brahmin on this earth is as a lord of all the beings for taking care of the treasure of dharma. Whatever exists on the face of this earth belongs to a brahmin.
Vatapi-Ilvala Episode:
In Aranyakanda there is a story. Ilvala who under the guise of a brahmin feeds other brahmins invited on the occasion of a death anniversary, with the meat of a goat and then calls his younger brother, “O Vatapi, come out”. Vatapi imitating the sound of a goat jumps out, tearing open the bodies of the brahmins. Distressed by the carnage, the gods approach sage Agastya for help. Disguised as a goat Agastya consumes Vatapi and when Ilvala calls him ‘O Vatapi, come out’, Agastya replies ‘I have already digested the demon, your brother Vatapi. How can he come out?’ Enraged at this, Ilvala attacked the sage furiously. The sage killed him by a mere look of his fiery eyes. Rama narrates to Lakshmana this story of destruction of the demons Vatapi and Ilvala by sage Agastya.
Subjugation of Vindhya by Agasti:
Once the mountain Vindhya said to the Sun, “Circumambulate me with reverence the same way as you do the mountain Sumeru”. The Sun replied, “I do not rotate round the Sumeru for fulfilling my desire. That is the path I am directed to traverse by Him who designed this world”. “Infuriated by this reply, Vindhya grew enormously in height in an instant determined to block the path of the Sun and the Moon”. When the gods could not prevent Vindhya encroaching the path of the planets, they appealed to Agasti, the sage of immense prowess. Agasti said, “I am proceeding to the Southern region for some work. Wait till I return. O Mountain! you may grow as much as you wish after I return”. So saying, the sage went south of the Vindhyas and stayed there to become the pride of the south. The Vindhya was subjugated.
Similarly sage Bhargava, an exponent of supreme truth subdues the power of a ruler Manava who blinded with passion seduced the sage’s daughter Araja. Enraged, Bhargava reduced the king along with his entourage into a heap of ashes.
Defeat of Damshodbhava by Nara
King Dambhodbhava puffed with power throws a challenge to Nara Narayana .Nara targets him with an Aishika missile and the king prostrates to him for protection.
King Vena exterminated by Brahmins
King Vena in his haughtiness banned sacrifices and oblations. Who is this Visnu, he questioned when the sages advised him to perform a satra for the propitiation of Lord Visnu. ‘The king is the recipient of all sacrificial offerings’. As serving the husband is the highest dharma of women, O Brahmins! following my orders in yours, he arrogantly declared. Infuriated at this blasphemous bragging, the sages expowered a piece of kusha grass with mantras and hurled it at him. Vena died.
Subjugation of Indra by Durvasa:
The Visnupurana tells this story of Indra and Durvasa. Once Indra threw a garland given by Durvasa carelessly on the shoulder of his Airavata. Durvasa took for an affront and spelt disaster on Indra’s kingdom. Indra gave in.
Dialogue between Pawana and Kartaviryarjuna in “Anusasanaparva” of the Mahabharata
Kartavirya, a great and powerful king of Mahishmati ruled the entire world. He offered his wealth and worship to Dattatreya from whom he obtained the boon for invincibility. Infatuated with the pride of his prowess Matarishvan answered “O king, a kshatriya can rule this earth only with the assistance of brahmins. Give up these sinful thoughts and bow down to brahmins”. Kartavirya roared, “Pleased, I can create. Displeased, I can destroy. No brahmin is superior to me in act, thought or word. Brahmins depend on the kshatriyas. Kshatriyas do not depend on brahmins. Tell me the name of the most powerful brahmin equal with earth or Vayu or water or fire or the sky”.
Kasyapa’s Greatness:
Thus affronted Vayu said, “Listen! Earth was angry as she was not offered her share in the sacrifice performed by King Anga. So she discarded her earth-form and entered the abode of Brahma. Seeing this, Kasyapa assumed the form of Earth and carried out for thirty thousand years the function of the Earth of producing vegetation and rice-crops etc. for sustaining life. I will quote another instance or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Varuna’s Subjugation by Utatthya:
“When Utatthya, son of Angirasa, saw his wife, Bhadra, daughter of Soma, abducted by Varuna, the lord of water, he began drinking the entire ocean. Varuna surrendered. He returned his wife. I’ll quote qnother instance, or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Agasti burnt away Demons:
“Unable to tolerate the humiliation of Aditya by demons, Agasti’s blazing flames of anger burnt, down the demons to ashes. I will quote another instance or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Atri conquered Danavas:
“In the conflict between gods and demons, Rahu defeated the gods. The Sun and the Moon were deprived of their luster. Darkness enveloped the world. The demons started killing gods. Seeing this, sage Atri, with his asceticism, dispelled the darkness, illuminated the world and defeated the enemies. I will quote another instance or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Chyavana overpowers Indra:
“The great sage Chyavana started a sacrifice to make Ashvins partakers of soma juice along with Indra. To sabotage this sacrifice Indra attacked him. Chyavana stopped him with water sanctified by mantras and produced a demon, Mada by name. He had a thousand teeth spread over a hundred yojanas and dreadful tusks two hundred yojanas in length. While his chin rested on the ground his mouth touched the sky. On the tip of his tongue stoood all the gods including Indra. The lord of the gods trembled. He allowed Ashvins to partake the soma juice along with him. Chyavana divided the demon Mada into four parts, into dice, hunting, drinking and woman. I will quote another instance or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Brahmins kill Kapas
“When all the gods entered the mouth of demon Mada, produced by Chyavana, the daityas called Kapas encroached on heaven and earth. Brahma advised the gods to seek shelter under the brahmins. The brahmins started chanting exorcizing spells. The Kapas panicked. They sent Dhani as their emissary to threaten the brahmins. The brahmins now dispatched the Fire-god to consume the kapas. I will quote another instance or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
Gods take refuge in Vasishta:
“Seeing Adityas emaciated while observing a vow, the demons called Khalins and planned to kill them. But they were chased away by the gods. Hiding in a lake called Brahmadatta, the demons renewed their attack. The beleaguered gods sought the help of Vasishta. Vasishta turned the entire army of the demons into a heap of ashes. I’ll quote yet another instances or else name a kshatriya superior to a brahmin!
“Even the ocean was formerly full of sweet water turned salty on account of the curse by angry Angirasa. You can never be equal to brahmins in strength. It will be wise on your part to realize this. A brahmin shattered the extensive kingdom of Dandakas. Aurva alone destroyed Talajangha and Mahajangha. You have obtained an extensive kingdom, as a result of Dattatreya’s favour. Protect it there is a great danger for you from the Bhrigus”.
Thus Vayu explained to Arjuna the greatness of brahmins in various ways.
Chyavana kills demon Puloma and his father Bhrigu curses fire-god:
The Adiparva of Mahabharata tells the story of Puloma, the wife of sage Bhrigu. Once during his absence a demon by the same name Puloma entered his hermitage to reclaim Puloma, who he had earlier chosen to be his mate. Inside the fireplace he saw the fire of Agnihotra burning. The demon asked whether she was the same Puloma, Bhrigu had stolen away. The Fire-god afraid of telling a lie and afraid of the possible curse of Bhrigu, hesitantly said she was the same lady. The outraged demon gave her blow after blow. Puloma was pregnant. The angry embryo the scion of the Bhrigu clan emerged out of her womb (hence the name Chyavana, the one who slipped) and burnt the demon down to ashes. On his return Bhrigu heard the story and cursed the Fire-god to become a devourer of everything.
Agasti curbs Nahusa’s pride:
In Udyogaparva of the Mahabharata Shalya tells Dharmaraja the story of Nahusa. Nahusa obtained the kingdom of Indra as a result of a boon from the gods and the sages. In his conceit he ordered the seven sages including Agasti to carry the poles of his aerial car. The great sage Agasti, the pride of the northern region, bearer of the palanquin-pole in front faltered. Nahusha goaded him with his foot. Angry at this humiliation, the great sage cursed him thus. “In your imprudence you have employed the sages who are equal in prowess to Brahma, as the carriers of your palanquin. So fallen from your glory, O sinner, you shall lose your power and with your merit exhausted fall to the mortal world from heaven to live as a serpent for ten thousand years”.
Narada subdues the Vrishnis and Andhakas:
The Musalaparva narrated by the story of the Vrishnis and Andhakas who led by Sarana once took Samba dressed as a woman to Narada, Viswamitra, Kanva, etc at Samba, ‘What will she give birth to?’ They said, looking at the sages. They could see through this game of deception. They flared up like sacrificial fire and said, “This descendant of Vasudeva will give birth to a deadly iron pestle which will exterminate the Vrishni and Andhaka clans with the exception of Rama and Janardana. Rama will enter the ocean, discarding his body, while Jara will kill the mighty Krishna.”
Agasti overcomes ocean who gave shelter to Kaleyas:
The Anushasanaparva, tells the story of sage Agasti, who overcame the Kaleyas. Kaleyas were hurt by the killing of Vritra by Indra. They thought the sages were behind this plot. Scared of the gods, they used to hide in the ocean by day and massacre the ascetics by night. Thus they rendered the world devoid of the Vashat utterances, of Vedic studies and festivals. The gods, approached Visnu. Visnu said, try to dry the ocean. Who else than Agasti could do it? They came to Agasti. Agasti drank the ocean dry even as the whole world watched.
The power of Durvasa’s wrath:
[The commentator might have drawn upon the Mahabharata and Skandapurana.]
Once Rukmini’s son asked Krishna why he should worship brahmins and why they are considered a powerful community? The Lord related this story of Durvasa to him. ‘Who can entertain me as a guest without making me lose my temper? said Durvasa once. So I accepted the challenge and brought the short-tempered sage home. He was fastridious. I offered him delicacies and desserts. Then he asked me to smear my body and of Rukmini’s with the left-over payasa. Which I did. Thereupon, the sage quickly yoked us to a chariot even as we were smeared with the payasa and asked us to pull it. He also whipped delicate Rukmini right in front of my eyes but I experienced not the slightest irritation, though provoked. But people who witnessed our insult said to one another, “Let only brahmins be born in this world. Deadly is the poison of a serpent but deadlier is a brahmin”. Then, extremely furious, the sage suddenly jumped out of the chariot and started running on foot by an unknown path heading towards south. The fury of the sage was like the blazing fire of dissolution. I ran after him. I pleaded with him. I fell at his feet said the great sage “you shall be the most meritorious in the world and the most famous, you will be invincible in war but death will hit you exactly on the sole of your foot which was not smeared with my left-over”. Thus brahmins are kings. They create and they destry.
Brahmins are free from fear of Death:
The Vanaparva says: Once a Haihaya prince went hunting into the forest. There he mistook the son of a sage for a black antelope and shot him with an arrow. On the son’s words the perturbed Haihayas reached the hermitage of Tarksha. There they saw the sage preparing to welcome them. But they told him, they had murdered a brahmin boy and deserved no welcome. The sage asked them to bring the dead body. They started on a hunt but were not able to trace the body. “The boy you had killed was my son and I have already revived him”, said the sage to the amazed Haihayas. The secret of bringing the dead back to life was simple, the sage said. We recognize only truth and never take resort to a lie. We follow our righteous code of conduct. We feed the guests as well as the servants before we sit down to eat. So we have no fear of death”.
Brahmanya Bhisma to Yudhishthira on the greatness of brahmins:
In the Anushasana parva of the Mahabharata Yudhishthira asks Bhisma, “O grandfather, who are worthy of worship? And Bhisma replies, “Brahmins deserve obeisance. They are the saviours of this world. All the four classes of people depend on them for their existence. They show the right way. They have been carrying out sacrificial performances since times immemorial. They uphold the great traditions laid down by our forefathers. They, like good oxen, never fail while carrying this yoke of ancient tradition. They know the beginning, the middle and the end of the world. They know the nature of the highest and the lowest. To them sandalpaste and mud are the same, eating or starving makes no difference. They are the gods of the gods and cause of the cause. O son of Pandu, none else in the world is dear to me like you are but brahmins are dearer to me. Just as a husband is to a wife a brahmin is to a kshatriya and like father to a son. Just as after husband’s death a woman marries his brother this earth chooses a kshatriya as her lord in the absence of a brahmin. Therefore, brahmins must be looked after like sons and served like gurus. O Yudhishthira, I am scared of two things, physical strength and ascetic power. The action initiated by both is quick.