Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/510

and who was equal unto Indra himself. No one on earth has equalled him in sacrifices, charity, and intelligence. Swetaki performed the five great sacrifices and many others, at all of which the presents unto Brahmanas were large. The heart of that monarch, o king, was always set upon sacrifices, religious rites, and gifts of all kinds. And king Swetaki of great intelligence, assisted by his Ritwijas performed sacrifices for many long years, till those sacrifical priests with eyes afflicted by the continued smoke and becoming very weak, left that monarch, wishing never more to assist at his sacrifices. The king, how. ever, repeatedly asked those Ritwijas to come to him. But they came not to his sacrifice in consequence of the painful state of their eyes. The king, therefore, invited at the command of his own Ritwijas, others like unto them, and completed the sacrifice that he had begun. After some days had elapsed, king Swetaki desired to perform another sacri. fice which sould extend for a hundred years. But the illustrious monarch obtained not any priest to assist him in it. The celebrated king then, with his friends and relatives, casting off all sloth, repeatedly courted his priests with great persistence, by bowing down unto them, by conciliatory speeches, and by gifts of wealth. All of them, however, refused to accomplish the purpose which that the king of immeasurable energy bad in view. Then that royal sage, getting angry. addressed those Brahmanas sitting in their asylums, and said. "If, ye Brahmanas, I were a fallen person, or, if I were wanting in homage and service to you, I should then deserve to be abandoned without scruple by you and by other Brahmanas at the same time I But as I am neither degraded nor wanting in homage to you, it behoveth you not to obstruct the performance by me of my sacrifice or to abandon me thus, ye foremost of Brahmanas, without adequate reason! I seek ye Brahmanas, your protection! It behoveth you to be propitious unto me! But, ye foremost of Brahmanas, if you abandon me from enmity alone or any improper motive, I shall go unto other priests for their assistance in this sacrifice of mine, and conciliating them by sweet words and gifts, I shall represent unto them the business I have on band, so that they may accomplish it.' Having said this, the monarch became silent. And, O chastiser of foes when those priests well knew that they could not assist at the king's sacrifice, they pretended to be angry, and addressing that best of monarchs, said, 'O best of kings, thy sacrifices are incessant 1 By assisting thee always, we have all been fatigued. And as we have been wearied in consequence of these labours, it behoveth thee to give us leave 1 O sinless one, from loss of judgement thou canst not wait, (but urgest us repeatedly). Go unto Rudra 1 He will assist at they sacrifice l' Hearing those