Glorification of Devotion to Parents

Sukarman said:

1-10. I have narrated to you this entire account, which removes sins, which emancipates sons, which is divine, and. which gives great religious merit. The well-known deeds of Yayati are actually seen in the world. Puru obtained the great kingdom as it was brought into existence, and Turu was reduced to a bad plight, due (respectively) to the father's favour and anger. It emancipates sons, gives glory and wealth and grains. Both Turu and Yadu were under the influence of a curse. There is no other giver of desirable fruits like the father or the mother. A father may call his son through love, and a mother (may call him saying: ) 'O son, O son.' Listen to its meritorious fruit. When a son, who is called by his mother, goes to her with affection, he would get the fruit of having bathed in the Ganges. A very glorious son, who would wash the feet (of his parents) enjoys, through their grace, the fruit of (having visited) all the sacred places; and by shampooing their bodies he would obtain the fruit of a horse-sacrifice. In that son, who would nourish his father (and mother) with food, covering, and bath, merit equal to that obtained by the gift of the earth is produced. The Ganges is full of (the merit of) all sacred places. A mother is like that (only). There is no doubt about it. The ancient poets know that as the ocean is established as full of much merit, similarly is the father in this world. Sukarrnan said:

11-19a. That son, who abandons or yells at his father or mother, undoubtedly goes to the hell called Raurava. That son, who, being a householder, does not support his old mother or father, goes to hell and would certainly meet with agony. For a wicked-minded and sinful son, who abuses his father (or mother), the ancient poets have never known any requital. O brahmana, knowing thus I am everyday worshipping devoutly and with my neck (i.e. head) bent my mother and father. My father, calling me, would tell me what ought and what ought not to be done. I do it with discrimination and according to my strength, 0 Pippala. Due to that I have obtained the highest knowledge giving me happiness. A man lives in the mundane existence due to the favour of these two (i.e. the parents). I know whatever men remaining on the earth do and when a householder proceeds to heaven. O Pippala, even while being here I know the movement of cruel persons. O best of the Vidyadharas, the three worlds have come under my sway. You should (please) worship Madhava (i.e. Vishnu). Vishnu said:

19b-21. Pippala, thus directed by him, having bowed down to the best brahmana, and also being ashamed, went to heaven in accordance with (the fruit of) his deeds. O king, that Sukarman of a religious mind, also served his father (and mother).

1 have thus told you everything pertaining to the holy place (in the form) of the father (and mother). O very intelligent Vena, tell me what else I should tell you.

 

CHAPTER EIGHTYFIVE

 The Story of Chyavana: Kunjal: Divyadevi

Vena said:

1-2. O venerable lord of gods, through your grace towards me, you have told me about the sacred place (in the form of) a wife, so also about the excellent holy place (in the form of) the father and (in the form) of the mother, giving great religious merit. Being gracious to me (now) tell me about the holy place (in the form) of the preceptor. The Lord said:

3-10. O king, I shall tell you about the matchless holy place (in the form) of the preceptor, which is declared as the remover of all sins and the giver of happiness to the disciples, which being of the nature of ancient Dharma (i.e. religious merit) gives great virtue to the disciples, which is the highest sacred place, highest knowledge giving a visible fruit, (and) O lord of kings, by whose favour (the disciple) gets the fruit here (i.e. in this world) only; and O lord of kings, by the favour of the glorious preceptor he enjoys happiness and would obtain glory and fame in the next world. O prince, (by the preceptor's favour) the disciples actually see the three worlds along with the mobile and the immobile, so also the dealings and practices of the people. A disciple obtains wisdom and goes to salvation. As the sun illumines all the worlds, so the teacher enlightens his disciples and is the best refuge of them. O best king, the king Soma (i.e. the Moon) would shine at night only, and would keep a watch over the mobile and the immobile. O best king, a lamp would illumine a multitude (of objects) in the house, and would dispel the entire dense and impure darkness.

11-15a. O you very intelligent one, the preceptor, the light of the disciples, illumines a pupil, covered with the darkness of ignorance by means of the light of instruction. The sun shines by day, the moon at night, a lamp shines in the house, always dispelling darkness. The lamp shines at night in the house (and illumines it, but) the preceptor always enlightens the disciples. The preceptor would destroy all his darkness called ignorance.

Therefore, O lord of the earth, the preceptor is the highest holy place for the disciples. Realising this, a disciple should always worship the preceptor, full of merit, by means of three kinds of acts (i.e. bodily acts, mental acts and words).

15b-29. O brahmana, for this purpose (i.e. to illustrate this), an old account, removing all sins, is reported; it is told about the glorious Chyavana. The best sage Chyavana was born in the family of Bhargava. O best king, once a thought arose in his (mind): 'When shall I be endowed with knowledge on the earth? ' The best sage, longing for knowledge, would always think day and night. When he was thus reflecting, he had a thought: 'I shall go on a pilgrimage, giving the desired fruit.' Leaving his house and field and his wife, son and wealth, he roamed over the earth in course of a pilgrimage. O king, he went on a pilgrimage in the direction of the flow of the Ganges. Under the pretext of a pilgrimage (i.e. as a pilgrim), that lord of sages visited the holy places (on the banks) of Narmada, SarasvatI, and all (other) rivers like Godavari, and (on the shore) of the ocean and all other sacred places, so also places of deities and places having auspicious characteristics, O best king. The body of him, who was wandering over (i.e. visiting) best holy places, became pure (and lustrous) like the sun's lustre. Chyavana, with his mind purified by this-act, shone with lustre. While wandering he (once) came to the best holy place on the right bank of Narmada, called Amarakantaka. (There) he saw a great Phallus (of Shiva), giving happiness to all. Then he saluted, eulogised, and worshipped the great lord Siddhanatha, then he saw (i.e. visited) Jvalesvara, then Amaresvara, Brahmesa, Kapilesa and the best Markandesa. Having thus finished his pilgrimage he then came to Ornkara. Having resorted to the cool shade of a bunyan tree, removing fatigue, the brahmana Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu, remained there comfortably. There he then heard a note given out by a bird, which was full of divine speech and spiritual and worldly knowledge.

30-38. There was a parrot (on the tree) who lived there for a long time. His name was Kunjala; he was religious-minded and had four sons and a wife. He had four sonsh who delighted their father (i.e. him). O lord of kings, I shall tell you their names: The eldest one was Ujjvala; the second was Samujjvala; the third was Vijjvala, and the fourth was Kapinjala. Thus, O very intelligent one, that meritorious parrot Kunjala had four sons, who were very much devoted to their father and mother. Being disturbed and oppressed by hunger, they together roamed in the arbours of mountains and islands. O best king, they satiated the hunger in their bellies with agreeable fruits like nectar and with water sweet like nectar. The good sons gave a ripe juicy fruit to the couple (i.e. their parents), and carefully put (aside some) fruits (for them). Being contented, the glorious ones, full of devotion, procured food for their mother, (then) ate and recited. All of them engaged in sports, played and amused themselves there. Knowing (when it was) evening time they well (i.e. without fail) came to their father, after carefully having brought food for him (and their mother).

39-46a. When that noble brahmana Chyavana was watching all the (four) birds came to the very beautiful nest of their father. O you very intelligent one, they saluted both their father and mother. Having obtained food for the two (i.e. their parents), they stood by them. O king, all the best sons esteemed by their" father and mother tenderly talked words full of love (to them)* They also (fanned) with the cool wind from their wings their father and mother. O king, the two birds, having applauded with blessings, their good sons, nourished them. They too gave them very rich food resembling nectar. O best brahmana, the two just loved them (i.e. the sons) very much. The two, resorting to their own abode, with their minds pleased through happiness, drank pure water produced (i.e. procured) from crores of holy places, told a divine, very meritorious tale, destroying sins. Vishnu said:

46b. The (eldest) son Ujjvala was (once) asked by his father Kunjala:

47. " O my son, where had you gone today? What wonderful agreeable (event) did you see or hear there? Tell me that, my son."

48. Having heard the words of Kunjala, his father, that Ujjvala, with his nock (i.e. head) bent down with devotion, replied:

49a. He saluted him with his head (bent down) and told him a pleasing story. Ujjvala said:

49b-61. O you glorious one, O you very intelligent one, everyday I go to the Plaksa island even with strenuous effort, for food. O great king, in the Plaksa island there are many countries, mountains, rivers, parks, forests and lakes, so also villages and cities enjoyed by people. Those people are always contented, are endowed with charity, piety and muttering (of sacred hymns) and possess faith, and live happily. O great king, in the Plaksa island lived Divodasa, who was of a pious mind and was righteous. He had a matchless daughter, endowed with virtues and beauty, of a good character, charming and auspicious, known by the name Divyadevi and was incomparable in beauty on the earth. The father saw (i.e. noticed) her to be faring well with beauty and youth. She, the charming and auspicious one, was in the prime of youth. That Divodasa, seeing his daughter Divyadevi, thought: 'To which noble, good groom should she be given? ' (Then) the best king, having considered, thought of the king of Riipadesa, and the king invited him and the noble one gave his daughter to the intelligent Chitrasena. O king, on the occasion of his marriage, when the right moment of the marriage came, Chitrasena died due to fated time. The religious-minded king Divodasa thought (to himself). The son of a king invited good brahmanas and asked them: " At the time of her marriage Chitrasena expired. Tell me what her fate will be." The brahmanas said:

62-66a. O king, the marriage of an unmarried daughter is seen to be performed according to the sacred injunctions. Her husband may die; if not, he will have union with her; (but) being stricken with great malady or physical disease he may abandon her and go; or he may become a recluse. This is what is seen in the religious works. Wise men get married their unmarried daughter (s). As long as she does not menstruate (i.e. does not attain puberty), another groom is enjoined for her. The father should certainly get her married according to the sacred injunc1220 Padma Purana tions. Thus, O king, the wise men have stated the sacred rules. Get her married. Thus told the best brahmanas. Ujjvala said:

66b-70. Virtuous Divodasa, the great king, prompted by the words of the brahmanas, made preparations for the (his daughter's) marriage, O king. O best brahmana, he gave away Divyadevi (in marriage) to that virtuous and glorious king, Riipasena. At the (time of) the marriage the lord of the earth (i.e. Rupasena) died. Whenever Divyadavi (was married) her husband, a king, invariably died when the proper time for marriage had arrived. O father, twentyone husbands died (like this) time after time. Then the king (Divodasa)of a well-known valour became very unhappy.

71-76. Having thought (this) over, the lord of the earth, called his ministers, and having held consultations with them, decided (to arrange) a self-choice marriage (for her). The glorious one invited the kings of Plaksadvipa. Those kings, who were greatly devoted to religion, who were invited to the selfchoice marriage, being deluded by her beauty and prompted by death, foolishly fought (among themselves) and died on the battlefield. Thus O father, there was the destruction of the noble ksatriyas. Divyadevi, being very much afflicted with grief, went to a cave in the forest. That virtuous young maiden Divyadevi wept piteously. O father, thus I witnessed (this) wonderful sight there. Then, O father, tell me its cause in detail.

 

CHAPTER EIGHTYSIX

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