Section CLXXXII

"The Gandharva said,

'Vasishtha after this, continued the narration saying,

'Hearing these words of the Pitris, Aurva, O child, replied unto them to this effect:

'You Pitris, the vow I have made from anger for the destruction of all the worlds, must not go in vain. I cannot consent to be one whose anger and vows are futile. Like fire consuming dry woods, this rage of mine will certainly consume me if I do not accomplish my vow.

The man that represses his wrath that has been excited by (adequate) cause, becomes incapable of duly compassing the three ends of life (viz., religion, profit and pleasure).

The wrath that kings desirous of subjugating the whole earth exhibit, is not without its uses. It serves to restrain the wicked and to protect the honest. While lying unborn within my mother’s thigh, I heard the doleful cries of my mother and other women of the Bhrigu race who were then being exterminated by the Kshatriyas.

You Pitris, when those wretches of Kshatriyas began to exterminate the Bhrigus together with unborn children of their race, it was then that wrath filled my soul. My mother and the other women of our race, each in an advanced state of pregnancy, and my father, while terribly alarmed, found not in all the worlds a single protector.

Then when the Bhrigu women found not a single protector, my mother held me in one of her thighs. If there be a punisher of crimes in the worlds no one in all the worlds would dare commit a crime; if he finds not a punisher, the number of sinners becomes large.

The man who having the power to prevent or punish sin does not do so knowing that a sin has been committed, is himself defiled by that sin. When kings and others, capable of protecting my fathers, protect them not, postponing that duty preferring the pleasures of life, I have just cause to be enraged with them.

I am the lord of the creation, capable of punishing its iniquity.

I am incapable of obeying your command. Capable of punishing this crime, if I abstain from so doing, men will once more have to undergo a similar persecution. The fire of my wrath too that is ready to consume the worlds, if repressed, will certainly consume by its own energy my own self. You masters, I know that you ever seek the good of the worlds: direct me, therefore, as to what may benefit both myself and the worlds.'

"Vasishtha continued,

'The Pitris replied saying, O, throw this fire that is born of your wrath and that desires to consume the worlds, into the waters. That will do you good. The worlds, indeed, are all dependent on water (as their elementary cause). Every juicy substance contains water, indeed the whole universe is made of water. 

Therefore, O you best of Brahmanas, cast you this fire of your wrath into the waters. If, therefore, you desirest it, O Brahmana, let this fire born of your wrath abide in the great ocean, consuming the waters thereof, for it has been said that the worlds are made of water.

In this way, O you sinless one, your word will be rendered true, and the worlds with the gods will not be destroyed.'

"Vasishtha continued,

'Then, O child, Aurva cast the fire of his wrath into the abode of Varuna. And that fire which consumes the waters of the great ocean, became like unto a large horse’s head which persons conversant with the Vedas call by the name of Vadavamukha.

And emitting itself from that mouth it consumes the waters of the mighty ocean. Blest be you! It behoves not you, therefore, to destroy the worlds.

O you Parasara, who art acquainted with the higher regions, you foremost of wise men!'"