How a King Became Shiva's Attendant Agnisikha

Shri Rama said:

1. Tell me, how this fire named Agniiikha became an attendant of Shiva like that. Salutation to you.

Sambhu said:

2-9a. Formerly he was a kshatriya who was always angry. He had lost his wife, his army and his country. (Therefore) he was extremely afflicted. Having got a couple of buffaloes, he practised agriculture with his sons. He was full of (i.e. had incurred) a great debt, and so was very much unhappy. The king was also unhappy on account of his son being killed by (the bite of) a serpent. The king, though like that, also gave up agriculture. He also abandoned his two sons, and having given up food, wept. Then the two sons came to the father, and said these (words) to him: “O father, why do you weep? What has gone does not come (back) by weeping excessively. Your lamen­tation today will (only) lead to the parching up of your body. Due to the grief your eyes have been impaired; so also your throat has been impaired. Similarly your practice of religious rites has been harmed. (Then) why do you torment (yourself)? One that has gone does not come (back). Protect the five breaths that have remained (with you). It is meritorious to protect many, especially those that have resorted to (a person). How do you grieve over this enemy who has resorted to some­one else? ”

The father said:

9b-10a. О sons, how (do you say that) a son is an enemy? Then you are also my enemies. How do you call an extremely happy son as an enemy?

The two sons said:

10b-21a. The son, as soon as he is born, would snatch away (the father’s) wife. When he is growing he would take away (the father’s) wealth. When he dies, he (would take away the father’s) life. In what way is enmity different from this? I tell you, О king, that which you described as happiness is all resulting in unhappiness. At the time of the birth of a son, there is a thought about the death of the wife. And if the wife survives, then he (i.e. the husband) loses his happiness. When the vulva has become impure, no union is possible. If he be­comes intent on embracing her, his body gets covered with milk (coming out of her breasts). Even then if the union takes place, the heart of the woman necessarily goes to the child due to the child’s weeping (i.e. when the child weeps). Then he (i.e. the man) loses interest. Then, if the child falls into (i.e. comes between) the couple that is united, then there is loss of joy. When the union is disrupted, the displeasure is great. When everything is limited by time, there is a possibility of union (only) on some occasion. At that time there is no food, no water, (no union) with his wife. Due to the trouble caused by Planets such as diseases and thirst etc., there is great pain in pro­tecting childrenrThat beautiful pleasure of getting on the father’s lap, embracing and kissing him, speaking very sweet words — (all) this which is regarded as a pleasure does not deserve (i.e. is not equal to) the sixteenth part of discontinuance of coitus. In (i.e. due to) a son, there are other thousands of sorrows. What will you do with him who will oppose you in this world and in the next? Therefore, give up this grief. We two, your sons, are here.

The king said:

21b-25a. I shall give up the grief which is difficult to check and which goes against (i.e. impedes) all acts. О my sons, in this world and the next one should accomplish one’s well-being. I shall go to Vasishtha, my priest and the foremost and great preceptor and the best sage. He will give (i.e. show) me the (proper) way.

Speaking thus, he went to his preceptor, the brahma^a living in Varanasi. He saluted him (prostrating before him) like a staff. He was honoured by the sage, was embraced by him, was smelt on his head, and was offered a seat; and was thus addressed: “What for have you come? What should I do for you? ”

The king said:

25b-26a. О brahmana, give (i.e. show) me the way to cross this worldly existence. I am always unhappy with my fate. (Therefore) I have sought your refuge.

Vasi? tha said:

26b-32a. It comes to this: take recourse to the lord of the universe (in the form of) the great Phallus. О lord of kings, worship the god of gods, the trident-holder, propitiating whom, formerly, the sage Sakti, the son of Arundhati, though devoured by a demon, did not go to Yama’s world. For a short time he went to heaven, and then went to Brahma’s heaven. My son (i.e. Sakti), (having gone to Vishnu’s heaven) from Brahma’s world, is sporting in Vishnu’s heaven. О great king, (also) see this hunter, moving in the forest, and worshipping the lord of the universe, merely with leaves of the Sami-tree collected by himself, with the flowers of puga tree, also with the kadamba-flowers and with flowers of the jasmine (creeper). See him worshipping the great lord with these and other (materials). It is a wonder that he will die merely after half a watch from now.

32b-41. When his time of death came, the hunter saw, for offering a present to Shiva, by his side a jar full of mangoes, but censurable due to the fruits being left over (after some of them were eaten) by a dog. Due to the absence of an offering as planned by him, the hunter uttered these auspicious words suggesting the devotion of people: “The sage Jamadagni offered his eye in the absence of flowers, his finger in the absence of fruits, and his soul when the Phallus was falling, and cut asunder his body and offered it when the seat of the Phallus was broken. Other devotees of Shiva have also performed great rash acts. I too have to do like that. Otherwise I shall incur a sin.” In the meanwhile a mad man came to

Shiva. Having snatched the (materials of) worship performed by the hunter, he, in a moment, ate it up. He also vomitted on the seat of Shiva. Then the hunter thought: ‘Should I or should I not kill.this one harming Shiva? ’ Then that devotee of Shiva strove to kill himself. (He said to himself: ) ‘As this mad man has eaten up the (materials of) worship that I had offered to Shiva, when the Phallus was covered, I must also quickly remove the covering of my body — my skin. This is for making (the materials of) the worship free. One should abandon one’s throat due to the loss of the fruit (of the worship)’.

42-52a. Deciding like this, he, with a sharp axe, did a wonder: He cut off the skin (on) his right leg, and below the waist. He also quickly cut off the skin on the left leg up to the waist. Being delighted and trembling, he also cut off the skin about it (i.e. the waist). The hunter who was delighted, also cut off the skin on the hands, shoulders, chest, and throat and also the skin on the head. Then between the two he cut off the body in a circular way, and having cut off his finger and taking it, he offered his skin to the god. Then the devotee of Shankara, of a divine form, of good eyes, having four hands, having many ornaments (on his person), quickly stood in the sky. Then hundreds of thousands messengers of Shiva, having beautiful crowns, and decorated with all ornaments, having tridents in their hands, all resembling pure crystal, having four arms, of lovely forms, seated in excellent aeroplanes, all resembling the sun, tranquil, accompanied by their beloveds resembling Rambha, and followed by sons, wives and army, and hundreds of energetic and amorous women resembling the sun in lustre, showered flowers. And the hunter was called by them; but he did not go (to them), and said to them: “Would I or would I not go with my wife and kinsmen? ” The followers of Shiva having heard these words of (i.e. uttered by) him, said these (words) to him: “The fruit is to be had by him (only) who has done a virtuous or a sinful act.”

The hunter said:

52b-55. Of practices that are impure, the author is (but) one; but of the practices done in honour of Shiva, the fruit (would go to) two or many.

In the meanwhile, Virabhadra arrived (there) with a hundred children and many crores of attendants. (He said to the hunter: ) “O hunter, come along with your kinsmen. As you said, (you may come) along with your wife, relatives and kinsmen; and having got into this aeroplane, go to Shiva. Well-being to you.” Then due to those words, he, having got into the aeroplane, reached Shiva’s heaven.

Vasisfha said:

56-60a. You have observed all (this). Perform the worship of the lord. Being free from the bond of sin, you will go to Shiva’s heaven. О king, if you long for kingdom, worship the lord of attendants; and besmear (the ground) with water and cowdung every day. By (doing) this much, you will certainly get the kingdom of the earth. As long as you live you will have (i.e. enjoy) the kingdom, and in the end you will go to Shiva’s posi­tion. You will not get the kingdom during this (existence); but (will get it) after death (i.e. in the next existence). Therefore, after having got another body (i.e. existence), you will have due to the prowess of your service to Shiva, the kingdom, and your devotion to Shiva will be stable.

Sambhu said:

60b-70a. Then, having performed the worship like' that, he died and went to heaven. Then he again got the birth of (i.e. was born as) a king, and, being devoted to Shiva, he ruled his kingdom. Once the king went to Shiva’s temple, which was having many lamps, like the lord of serpents having gems. There was also the crowd of warriors. One lamp fell on the king. Then the king got angry, and quickly taking the lamp, angrily dropped it in the charming temple. The abode of the god (i.e. the temple) was burnt, and sin came (to him). Then the king again fashioned the temple etc. that was burnt and got Shiva worshipped. Then when the day of his death came, the king who had propitiated Shankara, who had applied sacred ash and who lay in sacred ash, died while muttering (the hymn sacred to) Rudra. He went to Shiva’s heaven. Virabhadra (thus) spoke to him: “You become best of the attendants, (and) my servant. On my order bring the devotees of Shiva in my proximity (i.e. to me). You will be without a head, and flames will be coming out of your mouth.” He then said to Virabhadra, the noble chief of the attendants (of Shiva): “How would action be possible for me without eyes, ears, and the group of tongue, nose, mouth and head? ”

Virabhadra said:

70b-75. The beautiful woman who was formerly accepted by you yourself, every day serves the auspicious bull-bannered god (i.e. Shiva) by arranging an auspicious river, an auspicious eddy etc.; by arranging white and blue lotuses, and also a fan and a chowrie. (She also arranges) a trident, a conch, a disc, a mace and a bow. Also a trident, a drum, a sword, a bull and the auspicious (attendant) Bhpngiriti. So also other (objects) like an eight-petalled lotus, a mystical diagram etc. Once that prostitute was present in the temple of the deity. A certain jail official of the king entered the temple of the deity. He saw her there, and said these words:

The official said:

76-78. 'the prostitute is in a secluded part (i.e. alone). I am young, and not old. A woman would abandon a man who is old, diseased, impotent, weak and poor, whose penis is short and who is helpless. A woman should avoid from a distance a man who has no moustache, who is covered with dirt, who is dull, and is defiled with a bad odour, who is small and has no addic­tion. Therefore, О prostitute, let me cohabit with you. Quickly restore me to life.

The prostitute said:

79-80. We hear that for women of all castes loyalty to their husbands is a great duty that gives them happiness in this world and the next. A prostitute, when in the charge of a man, does not unite with any other man. She (then) is known as a chaste woman. Therefore she should keep him (only).

The official said:

81-94. If this is so, there is no doubt that (your) death will soon take place.

Then going to the king, he said these (words: ): “A prostitute is (just) a prostitute. She is not a wife. It is not proper (i.e. necessary) to say this.” Speaking thus to the king, he took some froth from a hollow lotus stalk from a well, and went to her house. Seeing it was time for (her to) sleep, he extended his hand, and in the hole of her garment, the wickedminded one put the froth there. Having done like this, and going to the king he said these (words) to the king: “O king, having gone out (of your palace) go to the prostitute, the woman (you love). Having got that prostitute up, please observe her entire body, and loosening the knot of the garment, observe it carefully.” The king went to the house, and said these words to the official: “She is asleep. See her. I (now) go. You see (this).” But he then said to the king: “O king, this is not proper for you. Arrange to see her mother or father. When they are seen, all this will quickly be clear.” Then the king brought her mother, and made her see (the garment). At the words of the king, she made a search of the garment. Seeing the froth there, the mother rubbed it. The garment became wet due to the rubbing. The king said: “What is it? ” The mother of the prostitute said: “There is nothing, О lord, there is nothing.” (Thus she told it) with many words. The king observed the garment with a doubt. He said: “The garment is wet with semen. See it.” Then the men who were near there, said to the king: “It is like that.” Then the king went home, and said to the chief magistrate: “Now only, without thinking, cut off the head of the prostitute. Within a ghatika (i.e. a period of twentyfour minutes) her head should be shown to me.” The chief magistrate also did like that at the words of the king, and showed (it to him).

Vlrabhadra said:

95-96a. Thus you did formerly; (and) today you have got the fruit. With flame only (in your mouth) you will speak, hear, see and smell. You will know the taste; you will be intelligent and very wrathful.

Sambhu said:

96b-98. Thus the intolerant king has become Shiva’s follower (named) Jvalamukhi. Therefore, one who desires happiness in this world and the next, should be tolerant. He who would every day listen to this excellent account, will, being free from the bond of sin, be (i.e. five) in Shiva’s heaven.

 

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