2023-02-26 04:07:30 by ambuda-bot
This page has not been fully proofread.
16
Story of Indradatta
(I come from Kampilya¹ country and) am a student of
Gopālaka. My teacher had a daughter of matchless beauty
who was named Virupa. He made an announcement that he
would marry her to one who had mastered the four Vedas and
the six Angas. She loved me deeply and vowed to give up her
life if she was married to any other man. (Prompted by the
desire of enjoying the fresh bloom of her youth) I went to the
temple of Subrahmanya and prayed for knowledge of Brahma-
vidya. The god similarly asked me to go to Bodhãyana in
the company of a Srutadhara. Good Lady! this will certainly
come true and your child is the fittest to receive Brahmavidya.
Be pleased to send the boy with us and we will return him
safe when the study is completed." The Fire-god had told her
that two Brahmans would take her boy to Upavarșa for study.
However, with a heavy heart, she consented to part with her
child. Then Vararuci was duly invested with the sacred
thread and the two Brahmans carried him (on their shoulders
to the city of Kundina2 in the Vidarbha country). When they
enquired about the residence of Upavarṣa in the city, people
laughed at them asking if there were men who had something
to do even with Upavarṣa (and pointed out a dilapidated
thatched hut). They entered the hut and asked the wife of
Upavarşa where the teacher had gone. She took it for a joke,
wept and scolded them.
Meanwhile Upavarşa returned from
the field with a plough on his shoulders. The pupils prostrated
before him and he greeted them in return. He asked them
who among them was the Srutadhara and was glad to know
that it was the boy Vararuci.
(Av. Sāra IV. 37-47; Av. pp. 181-82)
AVANTISUNDARI KATHA SARA
Story of Upavarşa
"After taking rest Upavarşa took the pupils aside and
related to them his own story: 'In this city there were two
sons of Bhaṭṭa (Brahman), Varșa and Upavarşa. Varșa wae
a great scholar and Upavarşa a peasant. Once Varşa's wife
observed the ceremony known as 'Murkhavrata' in order to
1. Kampil, twenty-eight miles north-east of Fathgad in the
Farrakhabad district, U.P. (Cunningham, Arch. S. Rep. 1. p. 255).
2. The ancient capital of Vidarbha; it is the same as Kuṇḍa-
pur, about forty miles east of Amaravati in Berar. (Dowson's
Classical Dictionary, 4th ed., p. 171).
4
Story of Indradatta
(I come from Kampilya¹ country and) am a student of
Gopālaka. My teacher had a daughter of matchless beauty
who was named Virupa. He made an announcement that he
would marry her to one who had mastered the four Vedas and
the six Angas. She loved me deeply and vowed to give up her
life if she was married to any other man. (Prompted by the
desire of enjoying the fresh bloom of her youth) I went to the
temple of Subrahmanya and prayed for knowledge of Brahma-
vidya. The god similarly asked me to go to Bodhãyana in
the company of a Srutadhara. Good Lady! this will certainly
come true and your child is the fittest to receive Brahmavidya.
Be pleased to send the boy with us and we will return him
safe when the study is completed." The Fire-god had told her
that two Brahmans would take her boy to Upavarșa for study.
However, with a heavy heart, she consented to part with her
child. Then Vararuci was duly invested with the sacred
thread and the two Brahmans carried him (on their shoulders
to the city of Kundina2 in the Vidarbha country). When they
enquired about the residence of Upavarṣa in the city, people
laughed at them asking if there were men who had something
to do even with Upavarṣa (and pointed out a dilapidated
thatched hut). They entered the hut and asked the wife of
Upavarşa where the teacher had gone. She took it for a joke,
wept and scolded them.
Meanwhile Upavarşa returned from
the field with a plough on his shoulders. The pupils prostrated
before him and he greeted them in return. He asked them
who among them was the Srutadhara and was glad to know
that it was the boy Vararuci.
(Av. Sāra IV. 37-47; Av. pp. 181-82)
AVANTISUNDARI KATHA SARA
Story of Upavarşa
"After taking rest Upavarşa took the pupils aside and
related to them his own story: 'In this city there were two
sons of Bhaṭṭa (Brahman), Varșa and Upavarşa. Varșa wae
a great scholar and Upavarşa a peasant. Once Varşa's wife
observed the ceremony known as 'Murkhavrata' in order to
1. Kampil, twenty-eight miles north-east of Fathgad in the
Farrakhabad district, U.P. (Cunningham, Arch. S. Rep. 1. p. 255).
2. The ancient capital of Vidarbha; it is the same as Kuṇḍa-
pur, about forty miles east of Amaravati in Berar. (Dowson's
Classical Dictionary, 4th ed., p. 171).
4