The Story of shоshа and His Wife Kala

Sambhu said:

1 -5. (Now) I shall also tell you another account of a woman. (I shall tell you) what Devarata’s daughter obtained by the utterance of (Shiva’s) name. The young, very beautiful daughter of Devarata was the wife of the intelligent Sopa, the son of Dhanaiijaya. The two were restrained, devoted to pious acts alone, and virtuous. When they had gone for a bath in Ganga, they found a treasure. (When they had gone) to bring clay on the bank that had fallen due to the current, they took a clod of clay and saw a great silver pitcher having a stone on it (i.e. covered with a stone). Then Sopa said these words to his dear wife: ‘‘How should we act? What should we do that would be beneficial to us? ”

The wife said:

6-13a. A man should not undertake any work depending upon the view of a woman. A man should not also share a secret dear to him or (of) any (other kind). If a treasure would be noticed in the presence of a woman, then by groups of such words the woman should be deceived. Whatever remains there is not to be seen by us. If it is wealth, it is not to be seen, (for) it results in suffering. If it is not known by anyone else, wherefrom can definite knowledge be had? If someone is not seen now, he re* mains hidden. If there is no hiding (i.e. if someone has not hidden himself), then someone remains (here) deceitfully. If it is not a deception on the part of human beings, then Shiva remains here. If it is not Shiva, then a brahmana (turned into a) demon (after his death) remains here. If he is not that (demon), then it may be the great lore (Mahavidya? ) of kings. If the king does not know it, then there is a possibility of an affair (done) in a secret manner. (Or) it may be a trouble from thieves. If you are not cautious, then a great peril will take place.

13b-20. Generally, desire for enjoyment is produced in wealthy kings. From one enjoyment desire for another enjoyment (follows), and it destroys the religious rites. If a woman knows about the wealth found through chance, then she becomes free, and through anger divulges (i.e. may divulge) what is found. Due to anger she becomes one having lack of trust (i.e. she is not trusted); then the fault told before (follows). Trust is put in a familiar person; (so also) journey (is undertaken with him), or the mind is fixed on someone else. Various kinds of acts are possible for women due to trust (put in them). (Their) love would go towards any young man on seeing him. Due to love contact takes place; and due to contact sexual union takes place. When sexual union takes place constantly, then another (place of trust) may occur. Formerly you have enjoyed a woman, and now also you are enjoying one. Whom do you long for now or whom do you love? Which clever or very affectionate woman would go to another man than her own? If today you speak the same words as he spoke to her, then I shall tell you all this. Otherwise no words will be uttered (by me).

21-23a. Having gained so much audacity, so also due to change in form, she would behave independently after taking whatever wealth (she can). He, getting her killed, and taking that wealth, will cause her to be thrown. On the death of the husband before (her death) she should not enter fire (with the thought: ) ‘In my widowhood, all this wealth will be useful for my religious merit.’

23b-33a. Resolving like this with (i.e. in) her mind, when widowhood has come, she, when she gets an itching of the vulva (i.e. has a desire for sex) by day or at night, she said (i.e. would say), after having gone to a lonely place and after having un­covered (i.e. taken off) her garment, to her vulva these words, through grief, and with her hand on her generative organ: ‘‘O vulva, what have you done? What sin have you committed? Or is it the sin of the penis due to having got into you? Or is it the sin of the doer due to avoiding service like me? ” Even then when the itch is produced, she would put her finger (into her vulva); and due to the feeling of the itch she would do strange move­ments after that. Having rubbed it with her hands, having struck it and having expanded it, she, being extremely pained, re­peatedly shook her feet. She, after having embraced the (piece of) wood of the cot, and pressed her breasts (against it) as she liked, became sad due to a peculiar disposition of her mind. Or having in the day stayed in the house she would process the vegetable, and having hung it in the house, she, having changed her dress (would stir out) on the highways in the evening, and is enjoyed by any one. Then due to the prowess of her words, she, being unsuspected, would act indecently. Or going to an unknown house, she would certainly make (someone) sport with her. This is what is expected of the wealth that is obtained in the presence of a woman. Therefore, there is no need for you to consult me (in this matter).

Soya said:

33b-39a. It is so. There is no doubt about it. Go and stay away for evacuation of the bowels and passing urine. Remaining (here for some time) I shall go hereafter. When she had gone, Soija also cut his garment into pieces. Then in each piece he took ample wealth. On the sand-bank, he made a hole as deep as the knee, threw the wealth (into it), filled it (with sand) and evacuated his bowels over it; and he put the pitcher, supporting it with the garment somewhere. Doing all this, as if he knew nothing, the sage went for his bath. Then his wife having bathed and having worshipped Parvati, when told by her hus­band to go, the chaste woman went home. Knowing her to be alone, a demon by name Marica assumed the form of her husband and said to Kala:

MSrlca said:

39b-41a. On the bank of Saptagodavarl there is (a grove) called Draksharama where Bhima himself had stayed, which gives enjoyments and salvation and which destroys sins merely by being remembered. Let us go there. О beautiful woman, quickly come out.

Kala said:

41b-42. You who had proceeded to bathe, have not bathed. How do you say this now, which you have not said before? The best ones know the change of nature as a calamity.

Marlca said:

43-53. Not to go against the husband is said to be the duty of women. Quickly tell me whether you are friendly or hostile to me.

The chaste woman remained silent, and that he was her hus­band, the young woman went out with him; and the chaste woman went into a forest. (She said to him: ) “It is the mid-day. Perform your daily rites.” Hearing her words, the demon said: “This is not the place for performing rites. We have to go to that (region) where it is. So we shall go fromhere.” Having gone to some region, and seeing (there) a cave and a lake (he said: ) “This is the place for me to stay at; О dear one, I shall bathe (here).” Saying so, he bathed in the lake and ate fruits. When it was the time for (taking) the meal, Kala meditated upon Uma (and) Shiva. She was engrossed in reflecting upon whether he was or was not her husband. Then ascertaining by means of reflection that he was a thief, she was frightened, was very sub­missive, and had her face full of (i.e. bedewed with) tears. Saying, “Oh, a hurtful misery has befallen (me) I” she fell down. Seeing her weeping, the demon started to offend her; and (i.e. but) he (was not able) to offend her. When the demon tried to rape her, she made a covering of stone from her knees up to her navel. The demon, having seen her with a stonelike garment (thought): “I shall kill her and eat her up.” Saying so and whirling the sword he proceeded to cut off her head. (She said to him: )

54-57. " I am Kala. My husband, knowing (you) will curse you. Do not snatch me away.” When she just uttered these words, the demon cut off her head. When she met with such a bad (i.e. miserable) death, the messengers of Shiva, who had put on lovely ornaments, who had held all (kinds of) weapons, and who were auspicious, came there. Putting her into an aeroplane, they went to Shiva’s heaven. Seeing her who had come there, Uma, the daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, honoured her with joy, and spoke (these) words to her who had bent (i.e. fallen) at her feet and who was pure: “I am pleased with your loyalty to your husband. I (shall) give you whatever is desired by you.”

Kala said:

58-61 a. Give me the status of your servant. Your lotus-like feet are dear to me. What is the use of many other requests?

Shiva (i.e. Parvati) said: ‘‘All right.” She was honoured by the wives of Indra and others. The sage Sona, the treasure of arts reached his house. Not seeing his wife there, he became engrossed in reflection. Through his eye of wisdom he saw her to have been snatched away by the demon, to be dead, to have reached Shiva’s heaven and Uma, and to have been granted a boon by Uma.

61b-66a. The best sage had some affliction for a long time, turned back and went to his father-in-law Devarata. Having reported everything to him, he went to sage Visvamitra with him. He reported it to Vasishtha. Vasishtha also said to those sages: “Having gone to Kailasa and having first seen god Mahesvara, and then having got permission from Shiva and gone to Parvatf’s abode, we shall request the goddess and tell her everything properly.” The excellent sages, saying “All right”, went to Shankara’s abode, and saluted the god of gods. Being honoured by Vlrabhadra, they informed him this: “The wife of Sopa has been kidnapped.”

66b-71. Shiva said to the best sages: “I had already known this. Her death is untimely. (Still the span of) her life is a hundred years (more). For those who have met with an untimely death, there is life again. She will give birth to ten sons; she will have beauty and good fortune also. Ascertaining this, you have come here, О brahmanas. All this is certain about people that have gone to Yama’s world. (But) there is no other course for those who have come to my heaven. Formerly, at the time when her vital breath went out of her body (i.e. at the time of her death) she had uttered my name (viz. Нага). By that the writing of Yama was wiped. Then how (can) a decision (be had) about her life? Or you (better) tell the entire (account) to (Parvati) the daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain." Then the brahmanas went to see the feet of Parvati.

72-75. All of them saluted the mother. Vishvamitra said these (words): “O mother, having formerly protected the wives who were helpless and forlorn and children who had lost their parents, you have always been one who gave whatever was desired. This Kala is my grand-daughter only. Having propitiated you, she had obtained this shopa as her husband. This is the fruit of your worship. О Aparpa (i.e. Parvati), I shall get (back) Kala through penance, or through charity, or through vows and fasts. I desire to eat food served by her. How (can I have it)? "

Parvati said:

76. I give the wife as she is desired to be (by her husband).

1 am unable to part with her. What do you think, О sage?

VUvamitra said:

77. I spoke without any fear as you are (our) mother. О mother, this sage shopa will (now) request you.

shosha said:

78. I love that wife (i.e. Kala) only, (since) the chaste one gave (me) more than said (i.e. asked for by me). Give me that wife only. Otherwise death would come (to me).

Parvati said:

79-80a. The wife and husband (should be) equal to (i.e. fit for) each'Other. Those that are not equal (i.e. fit) are condemned. This one is not proper for you. I shall give you a suitable one. I dull not desert her who came to my abode without a body.

Soria said:

80b-83a. If you do not give (back) this wife, then give me another dear to me; and give me, as an excellent boon, kingdom, and devotion to Shiva.

“It will be just like this.” Speaking thus, she said to the sages: “Here, in my (house), you will enjoy for three days. To please god Shiva, eight brahmaijas are always to be fed on every Monday, О best sages”.

83b-87a. As one desires, one should commence this vow any­where. When a year is over, one should get fashioned (the image of) the lord with gold weighing four nishkas or half of it. One should assign all these (articles) — a pair of fine white garments, two chowries, also a couple of fans, wooden sandals, shoes, an umbrella — to a brahmana. Having given gifts to brahmaqas, one should dismiss the brahmanas. A wise man should do so at the time of the conclusion, the beginning and in the middle (of the vow).

87b-93. Every day he (should offer) worship to Shiva, the highest soul. The hymn to be recited at the time of the worship is: ‘We know (the lustre) of the Purusha. We reflect upon that (lustre) of Mahadeva. May Rudra, therefore, urge us on’. He should worship the god on an altar or in an image. He himself endowed with (i.e. observing) celibacy, should eat once (a day). This is said to be the auspicious vow of (i.e. in honour of) Shiva. It gives pleasure to Shiva. One, a man or a woman, who devoutly practises this (vow), always follows Shankara like his shadow. Today Monday has come (i.e. it is Monday). So meal (will be taken) after mid-day. О you best sages, all of you, after having performed the forenoon rites, please eat food (here).** Hearing the words of the mother (i.e. Pirvati), and saying “All right”» they went to river Gaiiga for the performance of religious rites.

94-100. Performing their mid-day rites in the confluence and having worshipped the lord of the universe with the sixteen articles of worship, they went to Parvatfs house and saluted her. By the order of the mother of the worlds, Salafikayana’s son arranged for the formalities like washing the feet. He took the paficagandhaka (i.e. five fragrant substances) and applied them to (the bodies' of) the sages. He who would give paficagandhaka, would obtain a great kingdom; and being like Cupid, he would be dear to women. He too, who would offer (presents) to V-ishpu, would become like Cupid. He who would long for Shiva (and observe a vow) for five years on Kailasa, would be born as a king having all fragrances, would enjoy pleasures, whould move (as he likes), would behave according to his desire. Musk, sandal, camphor with double agaru are (together) called pancagandhaka,. It is auspicious in all rites.

101-107. When the illustrious brahmanas, to whose bodies pancagandha was applied, were seated, there came an old, weak, brahmana dressed like a mad man. He was stark naked, was disabled due to old age and was hurrying. He was bald-headed; he suffered from asthma; he very much hiccoughed; he was oppressed with hunger. He was oozing saliva, had bent with a brush-like moustache and phlegm and his steps were faltering. (He was accompanied by) a girl sixteen years old; she was decorated with all ornaments. She was endowed with form and beauty. She was excellently beautiful in the world. She was looking at men here and there; she was singing; she was dancing, looking at her husband; she was laughing at him. She troubled her old husband (saying): “O weak, mean man, come quickly. О old man, by supporting your hand constantly, I am afflicted. Ornaments, garments, fragrances, garlands, unguents, laughter, singing, also drinking, decoration, a good house, affluence in all seasons are for the augmentation of sex only.

108-112a. Sex alone is the purpose of all desires. If all the pleasures are placed together (on one side) and pleasure of sex remains (i.e. is placed on the other side), and if they are weighed with a balance (then) sexual pleasure is a hundred times more (weighty). Then having obtained (a husband like) you what will a woman like me do? ” She, holding him by his hand, spoke these and other words. He gave this reply to her: “What shall we do? Our destiny is like this, knowing me to be like this, do not strike me with bad words." Such a brahmana went to Parvati’s house at that time. Not recognising Parvati at all he spoke these words:

The brahmana said:

112b-114a. Osage, know me to be a brahmana who has come here for food at the time of (serving the) meals. Do not feed the brahmanas.

His wife said (these) words: “Where is the sage? This is just a woman. The words of a blind man are always certainly like this.”

Parvati said:

114b-119. Having washed his feet, make him sit on a seat.

She has not satisfied the brahmana having a vessel (decked) with good jewels by the food cooked in a golden vessel. Then Ambika (i.e. Parvati) called Arundhat! who expounded the Vedas and made her dress the food. Kala, Arundhat! and the chaste Anasuya, who were decorated with garlands, sandal, and sacred rice-grains, dressed separately the articles of food of six flavours. When the brahmanas were eating, that naked, brahmana (-like) figure in a moment ate everything. The ladies could not give (i.e. serve food) to others. Then that goddess Girija herself started giving (i.e. serving) food, as the brahmana in a moment ate up whatever was served.

120-124. He desired to eat, along with his beloved, every­thing that had remained in the vessels. Then Ambika took it and gave it saying, “Let this be inexhaustible.” Then he desired to eat with the lelf hand. Then also saying, “Let this food be in­exhaustible for you”, gave it to him Then the best brahmana produced a thousand hands like this, and desired to eat. The goddess gave him again and again, but did not get angry. Then die brahmana, realising that he could not divert her mind, washed his hands and feet, and with a fragrant substance applied to his hands, said these words to Parvati: “I am pleased. Ask for a boon.”

Parvati said:

125-127. О best brahmana, even if you are capable of gran­ting me a boon, what is the use of the boon to me, since Shankara is my husband.

Then the brihmapa said to the goddess: “Of what kind is Shankara? Is he suitable or not for you? He would be suitable for you, and not otherwise. Handsomeness and cleverness are liked by women. How otherwise such an auspicious woman would have come under my influence? ”

Parvati said:

128. О brahma^a, having heard your wife’s words, and also your words, this is untrue. О brahmana, is it untruth or venom?

BrUhmaria said:

129. I shall tie your braid; sit upon my lap. If your mind will be diverted, wherefrom would be your chastity (i.e. how can you be called chaste).

Pttrvatl said:

130-136. О best brahmaqa, my vow is to sit on the lap of Shankara only.

Then the highest god, knowing the mind of Parvati, became a youth of sixteen years. His tied hair was very glossy. His char­ming eyes were very affectionate. His body was (fair) like cow’s milk. His handsomeness was like that of a crore of Cupids. He was adorned with all ornaments. He had spread both his hands on the shoulder of the woman seated by his side. He sang gently as (Shiva) with Uma. Then Sambhu dragged Parvati with his hand, and smiled. Putting both his hands on the two shoulders of the lady (i.e. Parvati), he, with all ornaments (on his body), and with pleasing eyes, with his body full of joy and sung (i.e. praised) by sages, sang and danced at that time. By meditating upon Shiva like this, he (i.e. a man) has no grief for hundreds of crores of existences. Joy always comes to him. Thus praised by the best sages, he changed the girl into Vishnu. Then that Parvati who was pleased, said to the trident-holder:

PSrvati said:

137-141a. Why is it that taking recourse to this condition and turning Vishnu into a young girl. Why did you not come in your natural (i.e. original) forms (as Shiva and Vishnu)?

Shiva said: “In this vow the food (taken as) a guest is auspici­ous. I know that those who do not have dejection obtain per­fection. It is definite that when there is dejection, the vow is improper. He would, О respectable lady, (stay) in my city, will be endowed with all enjoyments, and living along with his wife, sons and relatives, his (full) life as told in the Vedas, will later go to Varanasi, and having died (there) will obtain salvation.”

Sambhu said:

141b-145. When the god remained there, the sages went round him, keeping him to the right, thrice, then saluting five times, again having gone round him, again being (i.e. prostrating themselves) like a staff, and being dismissed by him, went out from that place. Then Sopa obtained his wife whose body was auspicious and who was not censured (i.e. was praised). The brahmaQa religiously ruled in the country called BMrata. The devotee of Shiva enjoyed all human pleasures. He was always engaged in charity. He always performed sacrifices and always listened to (the recital of) the Puragas. When he died, he went to the auspicious heaven of lord Shankara.

iSambhu said:

146-147. As the occasion had come, I told (you) the im­portance of the utterance of his names. It destroys all the sins of the listeners — the devotees. It gives all auspicious things. It always gives a good wife and a (good) kingdom. It is auspici­ous. It gives (i.e. creates in one) devotion to Shiva. It is to be observed. A man should not tell it to any one.

 

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