The Gandharva narrates Samvarana's union with Tapati
King Samvarana lies senseless on a mountain, his heart stolen by the celestial maiden Tapati who has vanished into the sky. His old minister revives him, but the king sends everyone away to begin a solitary vigil, worshipping the sun and mentally summoning the one person who can help: the sage Vashishtha.
The gandharva continued his tale for Arjuna. After Tapati, the daughter of the sun god Surya, rose swiftly into the sky and vanished, King Samvarana fell to the ground once more, senseless.
His minister and attendants, searching for their missing king, found him in the great forest. He lay prone on the earth like Indra's banner fallen after a festival. Seeing the great archer in such a state, without his horse, the minister felt as if burned by fire. He was an old man—advanced in age, wisdom, fame, and deeds. He drew near and raised the unconscious king affectionately and reverently, the way a father raises a fallen son.
When the king had recovered his senses, the minister spoke to him in sweet and benevolent words. "O tiger among men! Do not be frightened. O unblemished one! You will be blessed." The minister assumed the king, a destroyer of hostile armies, had been overcome by hunger, thirst, and exhaustion. He sprinkled cold water, fragrant with the scent of lotuses, on the king's head, careful not to touch the crown. The powerful king regained full consciousness.
Samvarana then sent away all his attendants, keeping only the old minister. When the large retinue had departed on the king's instructions, Samvarana sat down again on that mountain plain. He purified himself, joined his palms in reverence, raised his arms, and began to worship the sun.
King Samvarana, destroyer of enemies, also fixed his mind on his priest, the supreme rishi Vashishtha. He remained there on the mountain, without a break, for days and nights, his worship and his mental summons unwavering.
On the twelfth day, the brahmarshi Vashishtha came to him.
Through his power of austerities, the great and self-controlled rishi knew immediately what had happened: as decreed by destiny, the king's heart had been stolen by Tapati. The sage, rigid in his vows, wished to bring good fortune to the virtuous king and assured him.
As the ruler of men watched, the illustrious Vashishtha ascended into the sky to meet the sun god. He was as radiant as the blazing one he sought. With his palms joined, the Brahmana joyfully introduced himself to the one with a thousand rays. "I am Vashishtha."
The immensely radiant Surya replied, "O maharshi! You are welcome. Tell me what you desire."