The god of wind said Once on a time, O king, a king named Anga wished to give away the entire Earth as sacrificial present to the Brahmanas. At this, the Earth became stricken with anxiety.

I am the daughter of Brahman. I hold all creatures. Having obtained me, alas, why does this foremost of kings wish to give me away to the Brahmanas?

Renouncing my character as the soil, I shall now go to my father. Let this king with all his kingdom meet with destruction! Forming this conclusion, she departed for the region of Brahman.

Seeing the goddess Earth about to go, the Rishi Kashyapa himself immediately entered the visibie body of the goddess, renouncing his own body, by the help of Yoga.

Thus penetrated by the spirit of Kashyapa, the earth grow in prosperity and became full of all kinds of vegetable produce. Indeed, O king, for the time the Kashyapa pervaded the earth, Virtue became foremost everywhere and all fears ceased.

Thus, O king, the earth remained penetrated by the spirit of Kashyapa for thirty thousand divine years, fully alive to all those functions which it used to discharge while it was penetrated by the spirit of Brahmana's daughter.

Upon the expiration of this period, the goddess returned from the region of Brahman and arrived here bowed to Kashyapa and from that time became the daughter of that Rishi.

Kashyapa is a Brahmana. This was the feet, O king, that a Brahmana did, teil mc the name of the Kshatriya who is superior to Kashyapa.

Hearing these words, king Arjuna remained silent. The god of wind once more said to him, Hear now, O king, the story of Utathya who was born in the family of Angirasa.

The daughter of Soma, named Bhadra, came to be considered as peerless in beauty. Her father Soma regarded Utathya to be the fittest of husbands for her.

The famous and highly blessed maiden of faultless limbs, observing various vows practised the severest austerities from the desire of getting Utathya for her husband.

After some time, Soma's father Atri, inviting Utathya to his house, bestowed upon him the famous maiden. Utathya, who used to give away sacrificial presents in profusion, duly received the girl for his wife.

It so took place, however, that the beautiful Varuna had, from a long time before, coveted the girl. Coming to the forest where Utathya lived, Varuna stole away the girl when she had plunged into the Yamuna for a bath.

Abducting her thus, the Lord of the waters took her to his own house. That mansion was wonderful. It was adorned with six hundred thousand lakes.

There is no palace that can be considered more beautiful than that of Varuna. It was adorned with many places and by the presence of various tribes of Apsaras and of various excellent articles of enjoyment.

There, within that palace, the Lord of waters, O king, sported with the damsel. A little while after, Utathya came to know of the ravishment of his wife. Indeed, having heard all the facts from Narada, Utathya addressed the celestial Rishi, saying, Go, O Narada, to Varuna and speak with due severity to him. Ask him as to why he has abducted my wife, and, indeed, tell him in my name that he should give her up.

You may tell him further, You are a protector of the worlds, O Varuna, and not a destroyer. Why then have you abducted my wife bestowed upon me by Sona?

Thus requested by Utathya, the celestial Rishi Narada went to where Varuna was and addressing him, said, Do you liberate the wife of Utathya. Indeed, why have you abducted her!

Hearing these words of Narada, Varuna replied to him, saying, This timed girl is very dear to me. I dare not let her go.

Receiving this reply, Narada went to Utathya and cheerlessly told him, O great ascetic, Varuna has driven me from his house, catching me by the throat. He is reluctant to restore to you your wife. Do you act as you please.

Hearing these words of Narada, Angirasa became enraged. Having penances for wealth, he solidified the waters and drank them off, by his energy.

When all the waters were thus drunk off, the Lord of that clement became very dispirited with all his friends and kinsfolk. For all that, he did not still give up Utathya's wife.

Then Utathya, that foremost of twiceborn persons, filled with anger, commanded Earth, saying, O amiable one, do you show land where there are at present the six hundred thousand lakes.

At these words of The Rishi, the Ocean receded from the spot marked out, and land appeared which was highly sterile. To the rivers which flowed through that region, Utathya said. O Sarasvati, do you become invisible here. Indeed, O timid lady, leaving this region, go you to the desert. O auspicious goddess, let this region, destitute of you, cease to become sacred.

When that rcgion became dry, he repaired to Angirasaa, taking with him Utathya's wife, and made her over to him.

Getting back his wife, Utathya became cheerful. Then, O chief of the Haihaya family, that great Brahmana rescued both the universe and the Lord of waters from the situation of distress into which he had reduced them.

Knowing every duty, the highly energetic Rishi Utathya, after getting back his wife, O king, said to Varuna, I have recovered my wife, O lord of waters, with the help of my penances and after inflicting such distress on you as made you cry aloud in pain. Having said this, he went home, with that wife of his.

Even such, O_king, was Utathya, that foremost of Brahmanas. Shall I go on? Or, will you yet persist in your opinion? What, is there a Kshatriya that is superior to Utathya?