Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.73

c5.73

Long ago some of the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya approached Dhṛtarāṣṭra with a request for some money. Their leader was the sage Dālbhya (Baka). It was he who begged Dhṛtarāṣṭra for money. The King not only refused to give money, but also insulted the sage. Provoked at this, Dālbhya began performing a homa in which Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s kingdom was the havis in the form of sliced meat. This homa was performed in Avakīrṇamahātīrtha at Pṛthūdaka. As a result of it the kingdom began to decline. The King was alarmed and consulted great scholars and astrologers about the cause of the country’s decline. They told him that the cause of the disaster was Dālbhya’s homa. Dhṛtarāṣṭra at once proceeded with rich presents to propitiate Dālbhya at Avakīrṇamahātīrtha. Dālbhya was pleased and as desired by the King, performed homa with milk and honey and revived all those who had died. (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 39).