125 - Avikshita’s exploits. 

Canto cxxvi, in the Calcutta edition. 

Avikshita’s mother induced him, to engage in the ‘What-want-ye?’ penance, in which he declared he would bestow on any one who ashed whatever he wanted—His father Karandhama, being entreated by his ministers, pressed Avikshita to forgo his religious continence and beget a son—Avikshita though very loth was obliged to promise compliance. 

Markandeya spoke:

1 Now Avikshita’s mother Vira, mother of a hero, called her son Avikshita on a sacred day and said: 

2       “My son, permitted by thy high-souled father, I will engage in a fast; it is this difficult penance, the ‘What-want-ye? † 

† Kim-icchakah, “Whatever one wants I will give.” A penance in which one binds one’s self to satisfy the wish of any applicant (comment.)

3 And it depends* on thy father, and must fee achieved by thee and hy me also. When thou hast consented, my son.

* Ayattas. 

4 I will then give my endeavours thereto. I will give thee half the riches from thy father’s great treasury; thy riches

5 depend on thy father, and I have his permission. To be achieved through affliction is the part of the penance that depends upon me; it will indeed be a noble thing. If, on the other hand, any part of it maj be achievable by thee

6 through strength and prowess, that will indeed be unachievable by thee otherwise, or will be achievable with difficulty. If then thou givest me a promise, my son, I also will pledge thee here the very same thing. Tell me what thou thinkest.” 

Avikshita spoke:

7 Riches depend on my, father; I indeed have no ownership therein.† I will perform what can be accomplished by my

† For mam asi tvam read mat-svamitvam as in the Bombay edition

8 body, as thou hast said, even the ‘What-want-ye? ‘penance, O mother—cease then from anxiety and distress ††—if it has been approved for me by the king, my father, the master of the riches. 

†† Or “cease then, mother, from anxiety and distress with regard to the ‘What-want-ye’ penance.” (comment.) 

Markandeya spoke:

9       Then the queen applied herself wholly to that penance. She performed the worship of the king of kings§ as directed,

§ Kuvera (comment.) 

10 with self subdued, and the worship of all the Nidhis|| and of the band of Nihi-guardians and of Lakshmi, with profound faith, with voice, body and mind restrained. 

|| See canto lxviii.

11 Now this king Karandhama dwelt in his house in a sequestered part. As he sat there, his ministers, learned in the books of Good Policy, addressed him. 

The ministers spoke:

12 O king, this thy time of life has reached its decline, while  thou art ruling the earth. Thy -only son Avikshit has forsworn

13 possession of his wives; and he has no son. When he shall reach thy condition,* O king, thy territory will

* I.e., the decline of life; nishtham = antam (comment.) 

14 assuredly pass to thy enemies then. There will be ruin to thy family, and ruin to the cakes and water offered to the pitris; thou wilt have this great dread of enemies† with

† Te ‘ri-bhayam; this is the Bombay reading. The Calcutta edition reads te viravam, which is incorrect; virava is masc, and a Vedic Word. The Poona edition reads te vivaram, “thou wilt have this great breach with loss pf sacrifices,” For visham asman read vishamarh syan as in the Bombay edition.

15 loss of sacrifices. Contrive therefore, O king, so that thy son shall again steadfastly apply tis mind so as to benefit the pitris 

Markandeya spoke:

16     At this moment the king heard the sound of Vira’s family priest speaking to some petitioner;- 

17     “‘Who wishes for what, that is hard to be achieved? Who must achieve what?’ —this ‘What-want-ye?’ penance Karandhama’s queen is intent upon!” 

18 Now prince Avikshit also heard the priest’s speech and replied to all the petitioners who were assembled at the 

19 king’s gate;— “Let him speak out, for whom I must accomplish anything with my body; my illustrious mother

20 is intent upon the ‘What-want-ye? penance. Let all petitioners hear me. 1 have promised then; what want ye? here I give it, while the ‘What-want-ye?’ penance as being performed! 

Markandeya spoke:

21 Thereupon the king, on hearing this speech that fell from his son’s mouth, springing up said to his son,— “I have a petition; grant it me!” 

Avikshit spoke:

22 Tell me, dear father, what I must give to your highness; I must do it for thee, whether it be difficult, or readily accomplishable, or truly hard to be accomplished! 

The king spoke:

23 If thou art true to thy -word, and thou grantest the ‘What want-ye?’ boon, show me then the face of a grandson lying upon my lap! 

Avikshit spoke:

24     I am thy only son, and religious continence is my lot, king; no son have I, how can I show thee a grandson’s face? 

The king spoke:

25 Thy religious continence tends to sin, if thou holdest to this. Therefore, deliver thou thy own self and show me a grandson! 

Avikshit spoke:

26 Any other thing that may be arduous,* O great king, command me that. Intercourse with women has been eschewed by me, with passionlessness—let it be so still! 

The king spoke:

27 Thou in sooth hast seen victory over enemies who were fighting against thee with numbers; yet, there if thou hast

28 recourse to passionlessness, then thou art unwise. Yet what need have we of more talking? Abandon thy religious continence. At thy mother’s desire show thou me a grandson’s face! 

Markandeya spoke:

29 When the king, though accosted by the son in many words,

30 makes no other request, the son then spoke again; — “By granting thee the ‘What-want-ye?’ boon, I am in a strait, dear father. I will therefore without shame wed a wife

31 again. He, who in a woman’s sight has been vanquished and has fallen to the face of the earth, shall further be that woman’s husband—this is exceedingly hard, dear father.

32 Nevertheless what am I to do here, who have passed under the power of Truth’s fetters? I will do as thou hast said; do thou enjoy thy prevailing in this matter!”