Having crossed the Ganga, Viswaamitra and the princes made their difficult way
through a dense forest made dreadful by the river berating roar of wild beasts.
"This," Viswaamitra said,
"is the Dandaka forest. What is now a terrible forest was once a well-peopled
country. Once upon a time, Indra was contaminated by sin, having killed Vritra, and had
therefore to exile himself from the world of the Devas. 'The Devas set to themselves the
task of cleansing Indra. They brought waters from the sacred rivers and bathed him to the
accompaniment of mantras. The waters which cleansed Indra flowed into the ground and
enriched the earth and the land be came tremendously fertile." |
