The Sacrificial Horse Develops Stiffness

Shesha said:

1-6. Then, O brahmana, the horse went to Hemakflta close to Bharata. The horse with chowries tied (on to his body) was protected by thousands of warriors. That Hemakuta was (many) yojanas in expanse and length on all sides and had myriads of silver and golden peaks. There was an excellent garden adorned with trees (like) sala, tala, tamala, karnikara, hirhtala, naga-punnaga, kovidara and bilva, also campaka, bakula, megha (a kind of fragrant grass), madana, kutaja and others. It was also adorned with creapers like jatika, yuthika and navamalika (varieties of jasmine), so also with mango-trees, vines with sweet grapes, and pomegranates. It was noisy with many birds; it was resounding with (the humming of) bees. It had the sounds of peacocks' notes. It gave joy in all seasons.

7-13. Accompanied by Shatrughna the horse which had mind's speed and had a charming golden note on his large forehead (came there). While that horse (let loose) for the horsesacrifice, was (thus) going, suddenly a wonder took place. Listen to it, O best brahmana. His body became stiff, and he did not move, but (just) stood on the path. The best horse became immovable like the HemakQta. Then all the guards of the horse gave him strokes with whips. Even though he was (thus) beaten (i.e. whipped) the horse with his body having become stiff, did not move (on). The guards of the horse, having approached Shatrughna, cried: " O lord, we do not know what has happened to (our) excellent horse. O you very intelligent king, when the excellent horse having mind's speed, was proceeding, there was a sudden stiffness in his body. We whipped him, but he did not move. O best king, having considered this, take whatever action (you deem proper)."

14-21. Then the king who was amazed, went along with his soldiers near the great horse. Puskala seized his feet with his hand, and lifted (i.e tried to lift) him up from the ground. But he did not move from it (i.e. from the ground). Though attacked by the strong one the horse did not move at that time. Large-hearted Hanumat decided to lift him up. The best among the powerful ones encircled him strongly with his tail, and with (great) might dragged (i.e. tried to drag) him. Yet he did not move. Then, Hanumat, the best monkey, being amazed said to Shatrughna, the greatest among the mighty, when the heroes were listening (i.e. in the presence of the heroes): " (Encircling) Drona with my tail, I now (i.e. recently, had) lifted it up easily. But it is a great wonder now that this (comparatively) small horse does not move. The excited, strong heroes have in this case realised the general cause: Even though dragged, he did not move from his place as much as (the measure of) a Sheshamum seed." Having heard the words of the monkey Shatrughna, the best among speakers, said to Sumati, the best of the ministers. Shatrughna said:

22. O innocent minister, why is there the stiffness in the body of the horse? Why (for what cause) is there stiffness in the horse's body, O innocent one? What remedy should be employed here, so that the horse can move? Sumati said:

23. O lord, some sage proficient in all (branches of) knowledge should be looked for. I know only what actually occurs in a region and is perceptible but do not know what is concealed from the senses. Shesha said:

24-29. Hearing these words of Sumati he, the knower of dharma, looked, along with his servants, for an auspicious sage. All the soldiers going everywhere looked for a sage, a knower of dharma. But, nowhere did they find the best sage. But one diligent follower (of the horse) went as far as (the distance of) a yojana in the east. There he saw a great hermitage where all beasts and men also had no enemies, (as) the very charming ones had all their sins destroyed due to a bath in Ganga, where many (sages) practised penance with fire. With their faces hung down, they filled their bellies with (i.e. subsisted on) smoke, leaves and air; where the smoke rising from the sacred fire always purified (everything). It was happy with many sages and was excellent due to creepers with their leaves taken off.

30-32. He, coming to know that the charming hermitage belonged to the sage Shaunaka, reported it to the king with his heart full of wonder. Hearing that Shatrughna along with his servants became extremely glad. Along with Hanumat, Puskala and others he went to that hermitage. Having seen there the best sage who had properly offered oblation to the fire, he saluted (prostrating before him) like a staff, his feet destroying sins.

33-36. Seeing king Shatrughna, best among the mighty, coming (there), he offered him materials of worship and water for washing the feet; and became glad on seeing him. The best sage seeing him comfortably seated and resting said to the king: *'O lord, why are you wandering? Your wandering is great. If, kings like you do not roam over the entire earth, then the wicked will harass the good who are free from affliction. O king, Shatrughna, the best among the mighty, tell me (why you are wandering like this). May all your wandering etc. be for our good." Shesha said:

37. The king with his body delighted replied in a faltering tone to the brahmana who was speaking like this. Shatrughna said:

38-41. Not far away from your abode all of a sudden a wonder took place in the case of Rama's horse having the mind's speed. O best among the wise, hear (about) it. The horse by chance went into your garden rich in beauty. In its skirt there developed stiffness in his body (just) in a moment. Then my mighty heroes like Puskala, fierce with madness, forcibly dragged the horse. Yet he did not move. Due to our good fortune you who are known to be a boat for us who are drowned into the boundless ocean of misery, are seen by chance. Tell us the cause (of the stiffness of the horse's body). Shesha said: A2-43. The best and very intelligent sage, when asked like this, mentally conceiving the horse along with the cause (of its stiffness), thought for a moment. Having in a moment known it with his eyes dilating with amazement, he said to the king who was grieved and full of doubt. Shaunaka said:

44-55. O king, listen, I shall tell you the cause of the stiffness (of the body) of the horse, hearing which you will be free from misery. Such is the strange account. In the Gauda country in a great forest adorned by the bank of Kaverl, a brahmana named Sattvika practised a great (i.e. severe) penance. One day he drank water. One day he ate (i.e. subsisted on) air. One day he did not eat anything. In this way he would pass three days. When he was thus engaged in the vow Death himself seized him with his fangs; (and) the observer of the great vow met with death. Playing with celestial nymphs in a divine car, rich in all (kinds of) beauty and adorned with all gems, he went to the peak of Meru. There was a great Jambu tree, the fluid from which was enjoyable. (There was) a river called JambavatI, full of golden water. In it, sages, meritorious due to many (kinds of) penance, and having all pleasures, sported eagerly according to their desires. There he (i.e. Sattvika) joyfully playing at his will with the celestial nymphs, being arrogant due to pride on account of his high opinion about himself, acted disagreeably with them. Then he was cursed by the sages: " Be a hideous demon." Then, he being extremely afflicted said to the sages, rich in knowledge and penance: " May all you kind brahmanas favour me." He was then favoured by them: " When you will speedily stiffen (Rama's) horse, you will hear Rama's account. After that you will be free from this very fierce cause." O lord, that brahmana thus addressed by the sages became a demon. He has stiffened Rama's horse. Free him by narration (of Rama's account), O sinless one.

 

CHAPTER FORTYEIGHT

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