SECTION CLXXX
(Chaitra-ratha Parva continued)
"The Gandbarva continued.-"Then O Partha, Adrisganti, who had been residing in Vasistha's asylum. brought forth (when the time came) a son who was the perpetuator of Saktri's race and who was a second Saktri in everything. O foremost of Bharata, that best of Munis, the illustrious Vasistha himself performed the usual after-birth ceremonies of his grandson. And, because the Rishi Vasistha had resolved on selfdestruction but had abstained therefrom as soon as he knew of the existence of that child, that child, when born, was called Parasara (the vivifier of the dead ). The virtuous Parasara, from the day of his birth, knew Vasistha for his father and behaved towards the Muni as such. One day, O son of Kunti, the child addressed Vasistha, that first of Brahmana sages, as father, in the presence of his mother Adrisyanti. Adrisyanti, hearing the very intelligible sound father sweetly uttered by her son, addressed him with tearful eyes and said, - child, do not address this thy grand father as father? Thy father' O son, has been devoured by a Rakshasa in a different forest I O innocent one, he is not thy father whom thou regardest so I The reverend one is the father of that celebrated father of thine 1-Thus addressed by his mother that best of Rishi of truthful speech, gave away to sorrow, but soon fired up and resolved to destroy the whole creation. Then that illustrious and great ascetic Vasistba, that foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma, that son of Mitravaruna, that Rishi acquainted with positive truth, addressed his grand-son who had set his heart upon the destruction of the world. Hear, O Arjuna, the arguments by which Vasistha succeeded in driving out that resolution from bis grandson's mind!
"The Gandharva continued,'Then Vasistha said. There was a celebrated king of the name of Kritavirya. That bull among the kings of the earth was the disciple of the Veda-knowing Bhrigus. That king, O child, after performing the Soma sacrifice, gratified the Brahmanas with great presents of rice and wealth. After that monarch had ascen. ded to heaven, an occasion came when his descendants were in want of wealth. And knowing that the Bhrigus were rich, those princes went unto those best of Brahmanas, in the guise of beggars. Some amongst the Bbrigus, to protect their wealth, buried it under earth; and some from fear of the Kshatriyas, began to give away their wealth unto (other) Brahmanas; while some amongst them duly gave unto the Kshatriyas whatever they wanted. It happened, however, that some Kshatriyas,
