Mahabharata VOL I2 - HolyBooks.com

110 MAHABHABATAdisregard, I shall not then give it to him on any account. Havingmade this compact with me, Vasava appeared before thee, in that disguise,for giving thee nectar. Thou, however, didst disregard him andsend him away,seeing that the illustrious one had put on the guise of aChandala. Thy fault has been great. Once more, with regard to thydesire, I am prepared to do what is in my power. Indeed, this painfulthirst of thine, I shall arrange, shall be slaked. On those days t Oregenerate one, in which thou wilt feel a desire for water, clouds wellchargedwith water will rise over this desert. Those clouds, O son ofBhrigu's race, will give thee savoury water to drink. Verily, thoseclouds will become known in the world as Utanka-clouds.' Thus addressedby Krishna, Utanka became filled with gladness, and to this day, OBharata, Utanka-clouds (appear and) shower rain on arid deserts.' 'SECTIONLVIJanamejaya said, 'With what penances was the high-souledUtanka endued so that he entertained the wish to denounce a curse onVishnu himself, who is the source of all puissance ?"Vaisampayana said, "O Janamejaya, Utanka was endued withaustere penances. .He was devoted to his preceptor. Endued with greatenergy, he abstained from worshipping anybody else. All the childrenof the Rishis, O Bharata, entertained even this wish, viz., that theirdevotion to preceptors should be as great as that of Utanka. Gautama'sgratification with and affection for Utanka, among his numerousdisciples, were very great, O Janamejaya. Indeed, Gautama was highlypleased with the self-restraint and purity of behaviour that characterisedUtanka, and with his acts of prowess and the services he rendered tohim. One after another, thousands of disciples received the preceptor'spermission to return home (after the completion of their pupilage).In consequence, however, of his great affection for Utanka, Gautamacould not permit him to leave his retreat. Gradually, in course of time.O son, decrepitude overtook Utanka, that great ascetic. The ascetic,however, in consequence of his devotion to his preceptor, was notconscious of it. One day, he set out, O monarch, for fetching fuel forhis preceptor. Soon after Utanka brought a heavy load of fuel. Toilwornand hungry and afflicted by the load he bore on his head, Ochastiser of foes, he threw the load down on the Earth, O king. One ofhis matted locks, white as silver, had become entangled with the load.Accordingly, when the load was thrown down,with it fell on the earththat matted lock of hair. Oppressed as he had been by that load andovercome by hunger, O Bharata, Utanka, beholding that sign of oldage, began to indulge in loud lamentations from excess of sorrow.Conversant with every duty, the daughter of his preceptor then, who