tathya, that foremost of
regenerate persons, filled with wrath, commanded Earth, saying, "O
amiable one, do thou show land where there are at present the six hundred
thousand lakes." At these words of the Rishi, the Ocean receded from the
spot indicated, and land appeared which was exceedingly sterile. Unto the
rivers that flowed through that region, Utathya said, "O Saraswati, do
thou become invisible here. Indeed, O timid lady, leaving this region, go
thou to the desert! O auspicious goddess, let this region, destitute of
thee, cease to become sacred." When that region (in which the lord of
waters dwelt) became dry, he repaired to Angiras, taking with him
Utathya's spouse, and made her over to him. Getting back his wife,
Utathya became cheerful. Then, O chief of the Haihaya race, that great
Brahmana rescued both the universe and the Lord of waters from the
situation of distress into which he had brought them. Conversant with
every duty, the Rishi Utathya of great energy, after getting back his
spouse, O king, said so unto Varuna, "I have recovered my wife, O Lord of
waters, with the aid of my penances and after inflicting such distress on
thee as made thee cry aloud in anguish!" 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 thy opinion? What,
is there a Kshatriya that is superior to Utathya?'"'"

SECTION CLV

"'Bhishma said, "Thus addressed, king Arjuna remained silent. The god of
wind once more spoke to him, 'Listen now, O king, to the story of the
greatness of the Brahmana Agastya. Once on a time, the gods were
subjugated by the Asuras upon which they became very cheerless. The
sacrifices of the deities were all seized, and the Swadha of the Pitris
was also misappropriated. Indeed, O Chief of the Haihayas, all the
religious acts and observances of human beings also were suspended by the
Danavas. Divested of their prosperity, the deities wandered over the
earth as we have heard. One day, in course of their wandering they met
Agastya of high vows, that Brahmana, O king, who was endued with great
energy and splendour which was as blazing as that of the sun. Saluting
him duly, the deities made the usual enquiries of politeness. They then,
O King, said these words unto that high-souled one, "We have been
defeated by the Danavas in battle and have, therefore, fallen off from
affluence and prosperity. Do tho