CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN

Dhanesvara's Story

Shri Krishna said:

1-12. Formerly there was a brahmana named Dhanes" vara who lived in the city of Avanti. He had fallen from the status of a brahmana, was addicted to sins, and was very wicked. He sold liquor, blankets, hide, and behaved falsely. His mind was addicted to stealing, prostitutes, drinking and gambling. That Dhanesvara, going from one region to another for selling (these articles), sometime went to Mahismati city. It was fashioned formerly by Mahisa. By its rampart shone Narmada that destroyed sins. Seeing there men observing Kartika-vow and coming from different directions, he, selling (his articles) stayed there for a month. He, everyday wandering on the bank of Narmada for selling (his articles), saw brahmanas who bathed (in the river) and were engaged in muttering hymns and worshipping deities. Everywhere Dhanesvara, full of curiosity saw some men reciting a Purana, some engaged in listening to it, some engaged in eulogising Vishnu with dancing, singing and musical instruments, some having marks (like a conch etc. in honour) of Vishnu, and some having on their persons garlands and Tulasl. He, wandering there everyday, due to seeing and coming in contact with Vishnu's devotees, heard the name of Vishnu etc. On his way he who resided there for a month, saw (people) keeping awake (in honour) of Vishnu at the time of the concluding rite of Kartika-vow. On the full-moon day he saw the worship of two kinds, so also presents and meals and offering of lights done by the observers of the vow. Then at the time of the sunset he saw the ceremony of illumination done for pleasing the enemy of Tripura (i.e. Shiva).

13-17a. Since on that day Shiva burnt the three cities (of Tripura), therefore, a great festival is celebrated by the devotees on that day. All the religious rites of him who would discriminate between me and Shiva, would undoubtedly be fruitless. That Dhanesvara, seeing dance etc. there, wandered. Just then he was bitten by a black serpent and deprived of strength he dropped. Men seeing him fallen, and full of pity, surrounded him. Then they sprinkled his face with water mixed with Tulasi. Then, when his body dropped (i.e. he died), Yama's servants bound him, and angrily tormented him with strokes of whips, and took him to Sariiyamini (Yama's city). Seeing him Chitragupta chided him and told Yama the bad deeds done by him from his childhood. Chitragupta said:

17b-19a. No good deed of (i.e. done by) him since his childhood is noticed. O Sun's son, his bad deeds cannot be described even in many years. O lord, this one appears to be just sin incarnate. Therefore, till the time of the final deluge he should be roasted in hell. Shri Krishna said:

19b-20a. Hearing these words, Yama showing his form resembling the fatal fire, angrily said to his servants: Yama said:

20b-21a. O you who look after ths dead, take him tormenting him with your iron clubs. Quickly put him into Kumbhipaka (hell) having the sound of the boiling of oil.

21b-25a. When he was thrown there, Kumbhfpaka became cool, as when in olden times Prahlada was thrown into it. Seeing that great wonder, the official looking after the dead was amazed. He speedily came and told it to Yama. Yama heard the curious thing told by the official looking after the dead. Saying, " Oh, what is it? " he thought (over it) properly. Just then Narada, smiling, came there quickly. He was properly honoured by Yama after seeing him. He said these words: Narada said:

25b-34. O Sun's son, he is not fit to suffer in hells, since his acts are those that keep away hell. That man who would see, touch or talk to those who do meritorious acts, obtains onesixth of the merit of those doing meritorious deeds. Since he had innumerable contacts with the observers of the Vishnu vow in Kartika for a month, therefore he shares a portion of their religious merit. Since he served them, he enjoys the entire religious merit of the vow. Therefore, his religious merit due to the Kartika-vow cannot be measured, (since) Vishnu, to whom good devotees are dear, does destroy even the major sins of those who observe the Kartika-vow. Since in the end (i.e. at the time of his death) he was favoured by Vishnu's devotees by repeating the names (of Vishnu) and by sprinkling water mixed with Tulasi (-leaves), therefore he is not be roasted in a hell. Therefore, with his sins destroyed, he deserves to get a good position. As due to deliberate or non-deliberate sins one has to suffer from torment in hell, in the same way one has to enjoy pleasures in heaven. Therefore, he who unintentionally got the religious merit, would, living in the stock of yaksa, see all hells and would undergo the fruit of his sins. When Narada, after speaking like this left, Yama, realising his religious merit on hearing his (i.e. Narada's) words, again took the brahmaria through his servant showing him all groups of hell.

 

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