III. THE STORY OF THE PRACHINA BARHIS OR BARHISHAD.

*SKANDHA IV. CHAP, 24.* The eldest son of Prithu was Vijitasva. He was so called for having restored the sacrificial horse stolen by Indra. Indra taught him the art of becoming invisible. Hence he was also called Antardhana. He had four brothers -- Havyaksha, Dhumrakesha, Vrika and Dravinas. To them he gave the east, the south, the west and the north respectively. By his wife Sikhandini, Vijitasva had three sons -- Pavaka, Pavamana, and Suchi. These fire-gods descended by the curse of Vasishtha but the descent was only temporary. Antardhana had by his other wife Nabhasvati one son, Havirdhana. Havirdhana had six sons -- Barhishad, Gaya, Sukla, Krishna, Satya and Jitavrata. Of these, Barhishad was a great votary of Kriya, (action) and he constantly performed Yajnas. Even while he was performing one Yajna, the place for another was preparing close by. Hence he was called Prachina-Barhis. King Prachina-Barhis married Satadruti, the daughter of the Ocean-god. And he had by her ten sons, all of whom were called Prachetas. The King ordered his sons to enlarge the creation. They went out to make Tapas for one thousand years. Narada came to the King and told him that the way to Mukti was not through Kriya Kanda. By. performing sacrifices he was only acquiring new karma. The only way to attain liberation was to know oneself. The Rishi illustrated his teachings by the famous allegory of Puranjana. The King heard the story and its explanation from Narada. He did not wait for the return of his sons. But he called his ministers together and delivered to them his mandate that his sons were to succeed him on the throne. He went to the Asrama of Kapila for Tapas and attained liberation.