Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.894

c4.894

ARVĀVASU. An ancient Ascetic who had been a luminary in the Durbar hall of King Yudhiṣṭhira. There is a story in the Mahābhārata showing the merits of penance of Arvāvasu. This story was told by the hermit Lomaśa to the Pāṇḍavas, when they arrived at the holy bath Madhugilasamaṅga, during their exile in the forest. "Long ago two ascetics Raibhya and Bharadvāja had built their hermitages and lived here. A son named Yavakrīta was born to Bharadvāja. To Raibhya, two sons called Arvāvasu and Parāvasu were born. Raibhya and his sons were learned men. Bharadvāja and Yavakrīta became ascetics. Yavakrīta started doing penance with a view to get the boon of learning coming to him automatically without getting it directly from Brahmins. When his penance became severe Indra appeared and told him that the boon he asked for was an impossibility and tried to dissuade him from his attempt. Yavakrīta was not willing to give up penance. Later Indra came in the guise of a Brahmin to the Banks of the Ganges and began to build a dam with sand particles. Yavakrīta said that it was an impossible task. Indra said that the desire of Yavakrīta also was as impossible as that. Still Yavakrīta did not show any intention of drawing back. Finally Indra granted him the boon.