256 
Rajendralala Mitra —The Yavanas of Sanskrit Writers. [No. 3, 
ing to it, “ Once on a time Yis'vamitra, who was son of Gadhi, king of 
Kanyakubja (Kanauj), and grandson of Kus'ika, when out hunting, 
came to the hermitage of Yas'ishtha, where he was received with all 
honour, entertained together with his attendants with delicious food and 
drink, and presented with precious jewels and dresses obtained by the sage 
from his wonder-working cow (Nandini), the fulfiller of all his desires. The 
cupidity of Yis'vamitra is aroused by the sight of this beautiful animal (all 
of whose fine points are enumerated in the legend), and he offers Yas'ishtha 
a hundred million cows, or his kingdom, in exchange for her. Yas'ishtha, 
however, replies that he is unable to part with her even in return for the 
kingdom. Yis'vamitra then tells him that he will enforce the law of the 
stronger: (G665) ‘ I am a Kshattriya, thou art a Brahman, whose functions 
are austere fervour and sacred study. How can there be any vigour in 
Brahmans who are calm and self-restrained ? Since thou dost not give 
up to me, in exchange for a hundred million, cows, that which I desire, 
I shall not abandon my own class characteristic ; I will carry away the 
cow by force.’ Yas'ishtha, confident, no doubt, of his own superior power, 
tells him to do as he proposes without loss of time. Yis'vamitra according¬ 
ly seizes the wonder-working cow; but she will not move from the hermi¬ 
tage, though beaten with whip and stick, and pushed hither and thither. 
Witnessing this, Yas'istha asks her what he, a patient Brahman, can do ? 
She demands of him why he overlooks the violence to which she is subject¬ 
ed. Yas'istha replies: ‘ Force is the strength of Kshattriyas, patience that 
of Brahmans. As patience possesses me, go, if thou pleasest’ (6676. 
Kshattriyanam halam tejo brahmananam Kshamct Balam Kshamamam bliajate 
yasmdt gamyatdm yadi rocliate ). The cow enquires if he means to abandon 
her, as, unless he forsakes her, she can never be carried off by force. She 
is assured by Yas'istha that he does not forsake her, and that she should 
remain if she could. Hearing these words of her master, the cow tosses 
her head aloft, assumes a terrific aspect, (6(580) her eyes become red with 
rage, she utters a deep bellowing sound, and puts to flight the entire army 
of Vis'vamitra. Being (again) beaten with whip and stick, and pushed 
hither and thither, she becomes more incensed, her eyes are red with anger, 
her whole body, kindled by her indignation, glows like the noonday sun, 
she discharges showers of firebrands from her tail, creates Pahlavas from 
the same member, Dravidas and S'akas, Yavanas, S'abaras, Kanchis, Sara- 
bhas, Paunclras, Kiratas, Sinhalas, Vasas, and other tribes of armed war¬ 
riors from her sweat, urine, excrements, etc., who assail Vis'vamitra’s army, 
and put it to a complete rout. (6692.) ‘Beholding this great miracle, the 
product of Brahmanical might, Yis'vamitra was humbled at (the impotence 
of) a Kshattriya’s nature, and exclaimed, ‘ Shame on a Kshattriya’s force ; 
it is the force of a Brahman’s might that is force indeed.’ Examining what 
