Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.786

c4.786

2) Tapaśśakti of Ariṣṭanemi. Ariṣṭanemi with his son was once performing tapas in the forest. The son was immersed in meditation clad in the skin of a deer thus looking like a deer. Parapurañjaya, the King of Hehaya who happened at the time to be hunting in the forest discharged his arrow against the son of Ariṣṭanemi taking him for a deer. When the king found out the real fact he felt extremely sorry, and he craved pardon of the boy's father for unwittingly killing his son. Then Ariṣṭanemi pointing out his son who was standing alive asked the King, "Is this the boy whom you killed?" The King was naturally wonder-struck. But Ariṣṭanemi told the King that there was nothing to wonder at in the case as nobody would be able to kill them because their Tapaśśakti was so great. The King felt so happy at this, and returned to his palace after prostrating at the feet of the sage. (M.B., Araṇya Parva, Chapter 184).