SAVITRI SAVES HER HUSBAND:-Ashwapati, the king of Madras, was very pious and religious. He always served the Brahmins, was highly spiritual, and was firm in fulfilling his pledges. He restrsined his senses, performed sacrifices, and worked for the welfare of all beings. The best of donors, he was competent and adored by both the residents of the city and the country. However, this forgiving and truthful king, though married, had on child, and as he grew older, this distressed him. Therefore, in other to have children, the king decided to practice austerities and thereby atone for whatever sins he had committed in the past that resulted in his present childlessness. With a firm vow he ate sparingly, observed celibacy, and curbed his senses. Moreover, he daily offered ten thousand oblations into the sacrificial fire, chanted mantras honoring Goddess Savitri, and ate moderately at the sixth hour. After the king observed this vow for eighteen years, during one of the sacrifices Goddess Savitri finally arose from the fire and said, “Ashwapati, I have been pleased with your celibacy, purity, self-control, observance of vows, and all your efforts and reverence. Therefore, without violating the cade of righteousness, how would you like me to bless you?” “Goddess, please bless me with many sons who may be worthy of my family line. For the Brahmins have advised me that there is tremendous merit in having children.” BHISHMA’S TERRIBLE VOW:- In the dynasty of Ikshava there was once a king named Mahabhisha. He ruled the entire earth, spoke the truth, and was verily heroic. Because he had satisfied the king of heaven by performing one hundred horse sacrifices and one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices, he finally attained the heavenly realm. One day gods gathered together in the heavenly realm to worship Lord Brahma. Numerous royal saints, such as King Mahabhisha, and Ganga, the queen of rivers, also attended. As Ganga offered Brahma her respects, a strong wind suddenly blew, lifting up her white gown and exposing her lovely body. Out of respect for her, all the celestials lowered their eyes and heads—except Mahabhisha. Instead, he gazed at her person irreverently. When Lord Brahma saw this, he cursed Mahabhisha: “You rascal! You have forgotten yourself in front of Ganga. Therefore you shall take birth again on earth. And Ganga, too shall take such a birth, but she will hurt you. And when you become angry, you will be free from my curse.” AMBA’S REVENGE:- In the grand outdoor arena, numerous kings from all over India were sitting on thrones and waiting impatiently. For they had been invited by the king of Kashi to participate in his beautiful daughters’ swayamvara, or marriage-selection ceremony. Hoping that one of the three teenaged princesses would choose him over thw other candidates, each king gazed at the girls with eager longing: Amba, the oldest; second; and Ambalika, the youngest. Behind the kings, the stands were packed with many of Kashi’s citizens, all of them wondering and speculating about which of the sovereigns each princess would select. The master of ceremonies then began announcing the names of the illustrious monarchs, when suddenly there was an unexpected interruption. From the entrance of the arena, a horse-drawn chariot, bearing a driver and a warrior, sped across the dusty field and halted just in front of the princesses. Surprised and curious, almost everyone recognized the warrior, who appeared to be in his forties. For he was none other than the world-famous General Bhishma of Hastinapura. KING SHIVI TESTED:-One day Indra &Agni, the chief gods, went to the sacrificial ground of king Shivi of Ushinara. Their purpose was to test the king’s virtue and to confer blessings on him. Indra assumed the form of a hawk and Agni, a pigeon. The hawk was chasing the pigeon, and latter, very fearful and seeking protection, landed on the king’s thigh. The hawk said to the king, “All the monarchs of the world say you’re a righteous king. Why then are you sheltering this pigeon and thus violating the scriptural injunction? I’ve been terribly distressed by hunger. Therefore, don’t, under the notion you’re being virtuous, deny me the food God has designated for me. By doing this, you’re actually abandoning virtue.” “Bet this pigeon is afraid of you,” replied the king. “It wanted to escape from your claws; thus, it landed on my thigh and appealed to me to save it. Why don’t you realize that the highest virtue exists in my not giving the pigeon to you?”