60 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
that he would give him. Vishvamitra did so, and though he had ‘done left for himself, and was obliged to remain fasting, he said nothing to the Brahmin, on account of his vow of silence. “As he continued to suspend his breath, smoke issued from his head, to the great consternation and distress of the three worlds.” The Gods, rishis, etc., then addressed Brahma. “The great muni Vishvamitra has been allured and provoked in various ways, but still advances in his sanctity. If his wish is not conceded, he will destroy the three worlds by the force of his austerity. All the regions of the universe are confounded, no light anywhere shines; all the oceans are tossed, and the mountains crumble, the earth quakes, and the wind blows confusedly. We cannot, O Brahma, guarantee that mankind shall not become atheistic ............ Before the great and glorious sage of fiery form resolves to destroy (everything) let him be propitiated.” The Gods, headed by Brahma, then addressed Vishvamitra : ‘Hail, Brahman rishi, we are gratified by the austerity ; O Kausika, thou hast, through their intensity, attained to Brahmahood. I, O Brahman, associated with the Maruts, confers on thee long life. May every blessing attend thee; depart whereever thou wilt.’ The sage, delighted, made his obeisance to the Gods, and said : ‘If I have obtained Brahmahood, and long life, then let the mystic monosyllable (omkara) and the sacrificial formula (vashatkara) and the Vedas recognise me in that capacity. And let Vashishtha, the son of Brahmin, the most eminent of those who are skilled in the Kshatra-Veda, and the Brahma-Veda (the knowledge of the Kshatriya and the Brahmnical disciplines), address me similarly’ ........... Accordingly Vashishtha, being propitiated by the Gods, became reconciled to Vishvamitra, and recognised his claim fo all the prerogatives of a Brahman rishi ............ Vishvamitra, too having attained the Brahmanical rank, paid all honour to Vashishtha”.
The second event has a reference to the slaughter of the Brahmins by the Kshatriyas. It is related in the Adiparva of the Mahabharat from which the following account is taken:—
“There was a King named Kritrvirya, by whose liberality the Bhrigus, learned in the Vedas, who officiated as his priests, had been greatly enriched with corn and money. After he had gone to heaven, his descendants were in want of money, and came to beg for a supply from the Bhrigus, of whose wealth they were aware. Some of the latter hid their money under ground, others bestowed it on Brahmins, being afraid of the Kshatriyas, while others again gave these last what they wanted. It happened, however, that a Kshatriya, while digging the ground, discovered some money buried in the house of Bhrigu. The Kshatriyas then assembled and saw this treasure, and, being incensed,