The
king should always select an accomplished priest in order to acquire what
he hath not and protect what he hath. He who desireth his own prosperity
should ever be guided by his priest, for he may then obtain ever the whole
earth surrounded by her belt of seas. O son of Tapati, a king, who is
without a Brahmana, can never acquire any land by his bravery or glory of
birth alone. Know, therefore, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, that the
kingdom lasteth for ever in which Brahmanas have power.'"
SECTION CLXXIII
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"Arjuna said, 'Thou hast addressed me (more than once) as Tapatya. I
therefore wish to know what the precise significance of this word is, O
virtuous Gandharva, being sons of Kunti, we are, indeed, Kaunteyas. But
who is Tapati that we should be called Tapatyas?'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed, the Gandharva related to
Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, the (following) story well-known in the
three worlds.'
"The Gandharva said, 'O son of Pritha, O foremost of all intelligent men,
I will duly recite to you in full this charming narrative. O, listen with
attention to what I say in explanation of why I have addressed thee as
Tapatya. That one in heaven who pervadeth by his light the whole firmament
had a daughter named Tapati equal unto himself. Tapati, the daughter of
the god Vivaswat, was the younger sister of Savitri, and she was
celebrated throughout the three worlds and devoted to ascetic penances.
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