Happy End of Devasharman’s Story

Narada said:

1-6. That very wise Devasharman along with that Sumana took a bath according to proper rites at the very famous and holy sacred place called Kanakhala in (i.e. on the bank of) Ganga in Vaishakha when the Sun was in Aries. Observing curbs and restraints, he worshipped Vishiju according to the proper rites, and gave something (by way of gifts) according to his capacity. He ate food fit to be eaten during days of fast, slept on the bare ground, and practised the vow of celibacy. He became emaciated by the practice of penance like Krcchra (i.e. mortifica­tion of the body) and meditated upon Narayana in his heart. When the full-moon day arrived, he gave honey, Sheshamum seeds etc., so also he devoutly gave food, a cow along with other presents, to brahmanas, and requested the brahmaijas for the absence of a defect in (the fruit of) bathing there. That beauti­ful, chaste wife, solely devoted to her husband, every day served her husband, after bathing and worshipping Vishgu.

7-14. The couple, undoubtedly looking upon themselves as fortunate, went home, well-pleased. Due to the efficacy of that religious merit, he had, after some time, unlimited wealth,, grains, and (other) riches. He obtained four sons who were endowed with modesty, were proficient in sacred texts, knew the ways of the world, were devoted to Vishuu, were solely devoted to their mother and father, whose intellect was unbounded, and who were instructed for (having the fourfold) goal of human life, were well-known, knew the Vedas and were devoted to Brahman, who were endowed with all virtues, and were famous. The couple, having enjoyed the full rich pleasure from the sons, took, after a long time, a great (i.e. auspicious) bath in Vaishakha, due to devotion to him (i.e. Vishnu) and the favourableness of their religious merit, О king. As Vishnu is actually said to be the lord of Vidya (i.e. knowledge) and of Lakshmi (i.e. prosperity), in the same way the month of Vaishakha is dear to Vishnu. О sinless one, I have told you in a slightly abridged form this importance of (the month of) Vaishakha, which, О hero, I had formerly heard from (my) father (i.e. Brahma).

 

CHAPTER NINETYTWO

Chitra's Story

Siita said:

1. Hearing these words of that Narada, that king, being amazed, saluted him, and thinking of Vishnu in his mind, said (to him):

Ambarlfa said:

2-6. How ehould we err about it, since by means of little exertion a shudra behaving sinfully obtained excellent brahmanahood? О dear one, to obtain brahmanahood, even by means of various acts of religious merit, is difficult. (Then) how is it that the mean one obtained it (merely) by bathing (daily) during the month of Vaiiakha? О lord, even rich kings like me do not obtain the lordship of the earth by (performing) sacrifices, (giving) gifts, (practising) severe austerities, and other acts called (acts of) religious merit. That (ViSvfimitra, the) son of Gadhi obtained it after a long time and with great difficulty by practis­ing continuously for full hundred years various kinds of severe austerities and with many efforts. How is it (then) that that sinful one belonging to the lowest caste, bereft of his own duties, poor and non-giver obtained through this small religious merit done without exertion the essential nature of Rama?,

Narada said:

7-12a. О king, you have told the truth. Brahmaijahood is very difficult to get. The ways of Dharma are subtle and difficult to understand. Strange are the deeds; strange is the thought of a being; strange are the beings; and strange are the powers of deeds. О king, at some time a good deed, done in secret, thrives due to some auspicious act. It gives great fruit even in the same exist­ence. This is mysterious and subtle Dharma. It cannot be carried in any manner. No certainty about the time when it would give fruit is known. Whatever good deed concealed by other sins, comes from somewhere and at some place and gives a good fruit.

12b-18. In this world (the fruit of) a good or bad deed does not perish. Yet due to many auspicious acts (even) a formidable sin perishes. О king, you said that the fruit of a deed would be obtained there due to greater exertion; in that matter listen to what I say. If smallness and greatness of a deed depended on little exertion and much exertion (respectively), then there are men observing great vows and constantly doing deeds. There is great exertion to obtain the urine of a lion, a tiger etc. Therefore, in a rite the products of a cow are recommended. Thus if repeti­tion of a deed would mean its greatness, then entering water, fire etc. would be smaller than (any) other vow. There is no rule which says this is small or that is great. The fruit of it that is laid down in sacred texts is alone its great produce, as a great thing destroys a small one or a small thing destroys a great one. The destruction of grass (i.e. hay) is seen (to take place) even due to a small spark.

19-24. О king, Ajamila was known to be the husband of a maid servant. He had forsaken his religiously wedded wife; he constantly remained in (i.e. committed) sins. At the time of his death he called his son by his name Narayapa. And due to uttering the name (of Vishnu) he obtained a very difficult position (i.e. salvation). As fire though touched unwillingly (i.e. unknow­ingly) bums, in the same way, the name of Vishnu, even though it is uttered under some pretext, burns (sins). (Sins due to) myriads of killings, thousands of swearings, all thefts, crores of violations of the teacher’s wife are instantly destroyed by (uttering) the name ‘Govinda’ dear to Vishnu. О hero, whatever small good deed full of devotion to Vishou is done by a learned man, would have an inexhaustible fruit. No doubt should be entertained about this.

25-33. A man having devoutly worshipped Vishnu in the month of Vaishakha, would obtain whatever is desired by him. Due to devotion to Vishnu, children, wealth, wife, land, mansion, horses, elephants, pleasures, heaven and salvation are not away (i.e. are easy to obtain). Thus by means of a small act laid down in the sacred texts, if it is done according to the proper rites, even a great sin would perish. There is no doubt about this. О learned one, due to the excellence of the devotion and the act, there would be greater fruit. The ways of Dharma are subtle, and are difficult to be known even by the wise. This month of Vaishakha is dear to glorious Vishnu. Even all alone it gives all the desired objects in the three worlds. In my view a wise one who gives gifts without sincerity even from his birth, and one who somehow bathes with the holy water of Ganga at the proper place and time, is not purified. A man of wicked thoughts, though at the time of death enters fire, blazing by the sprinkling of ghee and oil with its flames turning all round, and is burnt, yet he does not obtain heaven or any other (similar) fruit. Gods live at the holy places on (the bank of) Ganga etc., so also hosts of yaksas live in temples. They, being bereft of devotion, observe fast and perish, (but) do not get the (desired) fruit. Therefore, we are not able to describe the religious merit of him who intent upon bathing (daily) and purified, would, having kept devotion in the lotus of his heart, devoutly worship Vishnu in the month of Vaishakha. О king, in this context also listen to an old account.

34-44a. I shall tell you about a certain queer fruit due to the favour of the month of Vaiiakha and of Visi? u, viz. that a certain brahmpa woman obtained. Formerly there was the lord of Kanti well-known as Divodasa. His daughter, a great gem, always best among females endowed with virtues and beauty, of a good character and charming and auspicious, and matchless in beauty on the earth, was known as Divyadevi. Her father saw [ her endowed with form and beauty. Seeing his daughter Divya­devi, the king became anxious as to which good, glorious bridegroom this daughter should be given. (Thus) thinking and properly knowing the king of RQpadeSa the king called the magnanimous Chitrasena and gave his daughter to that intelligent Chitrasena. О king, when the time of his marriage came, that Chitrasena died due to the perversity of destiny. The religiousminded king Divodasa thought and, О king, having called brahmagas, he asked them: “At the time of her marriage Chitrasena died. (Please) tell me what kind of fate she will have/’

A brahmana said:

44b-58. О king, the marriage of a daughter is performed according to sacred injunctions. Another husband is enjoined by the scriptures in the case of a woman, when her husband dies, or when he forsakes her, or when afraid of a great disease he abandons her and goes away, or, О king, if he would renounce the world. Mainly it is the father who would get (his daughter).married. There is no doubt about this. This is, О king, what is ordained by the good people in law books.

The best brahmaijas said: “Get her married.” The religiousminded Divodasa was urged by the brahmagas. The king made up his mind to get her married. О king, again he gave Divyadevi away in marriage to the meritorious, magnanimous king Pushpasena. That king too died at the time of marriage. Whenever the glorious father (king Divodasa), extremely afflicted, made an effort at getting her married, at the auspicious moment (of marriage) the husband died. Then twentyone husbands died at different times. Then the king, of a known valour, being firm along with the minister, called him, and the lord of the earth decided upon her self-choice marriage. Then he invited many kings and chiefs devoted to religion for her self-choice marriage. Those foolish kings disturbed by her beauty and pounded by death fought among themselves. Thus, О lord, men, those kshatriyas perished. Divyadevi, afflicted with grief, then wept piteously. Then king Divodasa, seeing that girl very much afflicted and weeping, saluted, with his neck (bent) politely, his family-priest knowing law, having sacred knowledge, and practising penance < and said to him).

Divodasa said:

59. Favour me and tell me what the great sin of my daughter Divyadevf is, that has done this (mis-)deed.

Jdtukarna said:

60-76. О hero, I shall tell you the deeds of Divyadevi done in her former existence. Listen while I am telling them. There is. a holy city called Varauasl that destroys sins. In it there was a very wise man named Suvira. He was born in the vaisya caste and was endowed with wealth and grains. His wife, О very wise one, was quite well-known as Chitra. Abandoning the familypractices, she behaved badly. She did not care for her husband, and remained in (doing) fearful deeds. She, of a wicked mind, gave up auspicious acts, and acted sinfully. She, a wanton woman, loving quarrels, always censured her husband. Always given to staying in another man’s house, she wandered much. The wicked one would always find the weak point of others among the beings. She was engaged in condemning the good; she always laughed very much. She was addicted to bad company; due to her speech she was dear to people of bad conduct. She wax cunning; she hated religious people; she was a liar. Knowing her to be like this, Suvira married another (woman). That pious VIra (i.e. Suvira) always given to truly holy thoughts constantly enjoy­ed, according to pious ways, objects of senses dear to his heart and happily along with that new wife. He was honoured by that unlimitedly truthful chaste lady of a good mind. That strange Chitra, of an excellent complexion, a wanton woman, hating piety in company of (i.e. with) virtues, was driven out by him. Moving freely and being shameless she moved with her para­mour. She joined those who were engaged in (committing) sins; she was attached to the job of a messenger. She was skilled in the art of a go-between of other women. She broke families and had a crooked heart. Having called a chaste woman she would urge her by words generating conviction in stories about the desire for diversion and sports. The sinful one would stir the minds of good men and women. She would cause good women to be offered to other men (than their own husbands). Thus she caused fraud, bereft of the host of pious (acts), to be done (by others). Having; thus enjoyed for a hundred years. She lived like a prostitute. Always given to sinful acts she died in course of time. She was born as your daughter Divyadev! in your house. She was (born) as a beautiful girl endowed with a (good) form, as she was urged by her destiny in the former (existences).

Narada said:

77. Hearing these words of him (i.e. Jatukarpa), Divodasa was extremely amazed. The king spoke sweet words to the sage Jatukarpa.

Divodasa said:

78-79. When she who was of such a bad behaviour and engaged in bad acts, died, how is it that she was born as a worthy daughter of mine, whose deity is Lakshmi’s husband (i.e. Vishnu) and who am born in a very noble family? And, О sage, due to which strange religious act, she doing (such) acts has obtained a lucky birth, difficult to get, in a large, royal, rich family?

Narada said:

80. Having heard these words of enquiry of that king, the wise sage then spoke a few true and pleasant words.

Jatukarria spoke:

81-86. Chitra, deceiving covert, lustful paramours, bereft of wealth and intelligence, by means of strange sexual unions, and drinking poisonous drinks, went from here and became a pro­stitute in the very famous city (called) ‘Naga’. A certain brahmana, afflicted and troubled, (but) of a pure heart, one evening came to that city named Naga. Not seeing any other place (for camping), the ignorant one went to the house of Chitra. (Merely) by looking at him, the prostitute very much deluded him. He was pleased by her with shampooing his feet, bathing him, offering him a tambula, a seat and food, and diversions. Then he was free from dejection. Then with strange sexual unions, she, abso­lutely without having any purpose in view, served him well. The brahmana who was attached (to her) due to her peculiar devo­tion, passed the entire night with her. When, in the morning, he was about to leave, he whose mind was somehow attached to CitrS. and who was pleased by her being solely devoted (to him), with her acts and deeds (said):

The brahmana said:

87-98. О dear one, I who am pleased (by you) must do a good turn in return. I shall without any discrimination tell you my strong affliction. Listen with respect to that auspicious (act) which destroys all sins, a description of (i.e. told by) the brahmanas, formerly telling atale on the bank of Narmada. He who in the month of Vaishakha, when the Sun enters Aries, carefully bathes even for three days just before sunrise, is freed from heaps of sins. He who for the entire month of Vaishakha would batheoutside (his house), and would worship Vishiju with due rites, also destroys his sins. A man is freed from great sins especially by such acts as bathing at a holy place and giving gifts (there) during the month of Vaishakha. The heap of great sins freely remains in the body of a man till he gladly, at dawn, before sunrise, bathes (at a holy place), when the Sun has entered the Zodiacal sign Aries. Thus I heard from the brahmarias that were talking, about the excellent boat (useful) in crossing the ocean of many sins. Nearby is the excellent river Shivadeha. To destroy that stream of sins I am going to bathe there. О dear one, if you like, or if your mind is detached (from the worldly existence) then come with me for the bath in Vaishakha. This life, so also this extre­mely charming youth are transitory. They are the cause of the stay in hell, and it would be difficult for us to avoid it. You pleased me and caused me to fall into the ocean of sins, which is true even of the great who live with the wicked. What is the use of talking much in this matter? Delay for (even) a moment is not proper. I shall emancipate you also, if you have special attachment to Vishnu.

Chitra said:

99-100. О lord, due to luck I am having your company as a result of (my) religious merit. My mind is certainly detached. It has a dislike for the worldly existence. Indeed I have learnt in (i.e. from) the sacred texts about the company of tlw good. My salutation to him who is inconceivable and uncontrolled.

Jatukarna said:

101-109. Speaking like this and urged by the sage that Chitra, after having taken a little wealth that was there with her, then went with him. Then that brahmana also reached the body (i.e. the stream) of Shivadeha in the month of Vaishakha, bathed (there), and the kind one gave her the joy of bathing on that day. Then the kind-hearted brahmana made that Chitra, talking beautifully, bathe according to the proper rite. When the brahmanas were separately reading the Puranas, she gladly heard there the greatness of the bath in Vaishakha, by merely hearing which the darkness of sins gets exhausted, as at the sunrise the stream (i.e. the heap) of darkness perishes. She, due to the bath in that holy water causing cessation of birth, of Shivatanu (i.e. Shivadeha), had her mind pure and she became spotless like the sun’s lustre. There in the Reva various people longing for the end of (the visits to) the worlds and engrossed in the service to Vishnu plunged in Vaishakha. The men who clean their impure bodies in (the water of) Narmada, giving happiness here (only), especially in the month of Vaiiakha, become those who enjoy the sports of the kings of mortals. (Merely) by (one’s) remem­bering Reva she destroys the sin (committed) from birth. When seen, she (destroys the sin) of ten existences. If somehow (some­one) bathes in her, she (destroys) the sins of a hundred births. When she is resorted to, she gives (residence in) Rudra’s heaven.

110-123. During the entire month of Vaishakha that Chitra bathed in the water of Narmada, and every day, according to her capacity, gave something to brahmans. Due to the company of the brahmana she devoutly listened to the prayer to Vishnu, when the brahmanas there recited it. Having bathed there in the water of Reva for the entire month of Vaishakha, and having received, according to the proper rite, (a blessing) about absence of defect from the brahmanas, she lived there for a month. That brahmana named Sudeva also made a new hut there, lived in the hut due to compassion for Chitra and favouring her incessantly bathed in the water of Reva. Then after some time the brahmana died. After him, О king, Chitra also died. Due to the religious merit of (i.e. collected during) the month of Vaishakha she, without seeing (i.e. experiencing) the torments inflicted by Yama, became your daughter at that time only. It is the result of the acts of (i.e. done during) that (month), that she obtained (birth) in a king’s family which is devoted to Vishnu, which is pure, and which cannot be obtained by sinners, О hero; and О best among men, her excellent name was (fixed as) Divyadevi. She is enjoying the fruit of the food, enjoyments, pleasures and happiness that she formerly gave to the brahmana, though she was associated with him as a prostitute and of that little that she gave after having bathed in the month of Vaiiakha. She is drinking cold water and incessantly eating sweet food; and, enjoying divine enjoyments, lives in the house of the lord (i.e. you); and, being tormented by pain, grief etc. enjoys whatever is given by destiny. A little of the fruit of her act, viz. that she was engaged in breaking the houses (i.e. families of men and women), has (now) come up. О hero, that beautiful woman, though a great sinner, was bom as your daughter with­out going through the torments inflicted by Yama due to the efficacy of the bath in the month of Vaishakha. О hero, I have thus told you the behaviour of your daughter which was due to bad acts during her entire (former) existence.

 

CHAPTER NINETYTHREE

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