The people being afflicted with hunger,
without a morsel of food and reduced to skeletons, the capital looked very
much like the city of the king of the dead, full of only ghostly beings.
On beholding the capital reduced to such a state, the illustrious and
virtuous and best of Rishis, Vasishtha was resolved upon applying a remedy
and brought back unto the city that tiger among kings, Samvarana, along
with his wife, after the latter had passed so long a period in solitude
and seclusion. After the king had entered his capital, things became as
before, for, when that tiger among kings came back to his own, the god of
a thousand eyes, the slayer of Asuras, poured rain in abundance and caused
corn to grow. Revivified by the foremost of virtuous souls the capital and
the country became animated with extreme joy. The monarch, with his wife,
Tapati, once more performed sacrifices for twelve years, like the lord
Indra (god of rain) performing sacrifices with his wife, Sachi.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'This, O Partha, is the history of Tapati of old,
the daughter of Vivaswat. It is for her that thou art (called) Tapatya.
King Samvarana begot upon Tapati a son named Kuru, who was the foremost of
ascetics. Born in the race of Kuru, thou art, O Arjuna, to be called
Tapatya.'"
SECTION CLXXVI
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Gandharva continued, 'Once on a time, while king Viswamitra went
quest of deer, the king became weak with exertion and thirst.
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