He is
able to absolve thee from all offences save those committed against
Mahadeva. But he hath one particular habit, viz. he would grant to any
Brahmana whatever might be begged of him. If thou canst put up with it,
then thou take him.' Janamejaya thus addressed replied to the Rishi, 'It
shall be even so.' And accepting him for his Purohita, he returned to his
capital; and he then addressed his brothers saying, 'This is the person I
have chosen for my spiritual master; whatsoever he may say must be
complied with by you without examination.' And his brothers did as they
were directed. And giving these directions to his brothers, the king
marched towards Takshyashila and brought that country under his authority.
"About this time there was a Rishi, Ayoda-Dhaumya by name. And Ayoda-
Dhaumya had three disciples, Upamanyu, Aruni, and Veda. And the Rishi bade
one of these disciples, Aruni of Panchala, to go and stop up a breach in
the water-course of a certain field. And Aruni of Panchala, thus ordered
by his preceptor, repaired to the spot. And having gone there he saw that
he could not stop up the breach in the water-course by ordinary means. And
he was distressed because he could not do his preceptor's bidding. But at
length he saw a way and said, 'Well, I will do it in this way.' He then
went down into the breach and lay down himself there. And the water was
thus confined.
"And some time after, the preceptor Ayoda-Dhaumya asked his other
disciples where Aruni of Panchala was.
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