Divyddevi Goes to Vishnu's Heaven

Kunjala said:

1 -4a. O good son, I have told you the vow, the hymn, the great knowledge and the meditation of Vishnu which destroy sins. When she (i.e. Divyadevi) would practise these auspicious four, she will go to Vishnu's world, difficult to be obtained even by gods. O child, going from here, teach the vow to Divyadevi. Tell (i.e. teach) her the king of vows called Asunya-sayana. Emanicipate the glorious princess from a great sin. You asked me (and therefore) I told (you about the vow) giving religious merit and destroying sins. O glorious one, go, (do) go. Saying so, he ceased (to speak). Shri Vishnu said:

4b-10. That religious-minded and very intelligent Ujjvala, thus addressed by his father, having saluted the feet of his mother and father, quickly went to Plaksadvipa. He went to that mountain, auspicious on all sides, full of various minerals, and adorned with lofty peaks full of many kinds of jewels. O king, there were rivers with clean water flowing in many streams on that excellent mountain. O king, Kinnaras and Gandharvas sang there melodiously. It was crowded with the celestial nymphs; it was filled with hosts of gods; it was ringing with Siddhas and Garanas; it was adorned with groups of sages. It was everywhere resounding with the notes of various birds.

11-13. The bright and quick-footed one thus reached that mountain. That woman also was weeping melodiously on that mountain. The wise one said (these) words to her who was again and again weeping. " O auspicious one, who are you? Why are you weeping now? Whom had you resorted to? Who has harmed you? Today only tell me the entire cause of your grief." Divyddevi said:

14-18. O glorious one, it is properly the fruit of my deeds.

Being widowed I am staying here unhappily. O you illustrious one, who are you, afflicted by my grief? O child, he, who had taken the form of a bird, having heard all that the princess had said, spoke enthusiastically, O child: " O glorious one, I am a bird, afflicted by your grief. I have taken the form of a bird, (but) I am neither a Siddha, nor a wise person. I saw you weeping here very loudly; therefore, O respectable lady, I am asking you. Tell me its cause, what happened in your father's house, and your own account."

19-24a. In brief and in proper order, she told everything that pained her. Having heard that, that large-hearted, great bird Ujjvala said to that Divyadevi who was very much pained: " At the time of your marriage your grooms died, the ksatriyas also perished due to your self-choice marriage. O you lady of beautiful eyes, through compassion for you, my father told me the sinful deeds you had done in the other (i.e. former) existence. O you beautiful lady, strengthened by that blemish you are covered with that. Eat the fruit of the deeds you did in the previous birth. Be composed."

24b-27. That young humble lady, having heard those words of Ujjvala, replied to that magnanimous bird, who (thus) spoke (in human voice) in piteous words: " O bird, favour me. With (i.e. showing) grace, tell (me about) the atonement of that sin; also (tell me about) the expiation which will purify my sins, by which, being pure due to my sins washed, I shall go to a holy (place). Be gracious, and tell me about the expiation, O you glorious one." Ujjvala said:

28-31. O you glorious one, for you only I asked my father. Then my father told (me) about the matchless expiation. O you illustrious one, you do that which would purify all your sins. Meditate upon Hrslkesa (i.e. Vishnu), mutter his hundred names. Be intent upon (obtaining) knowledge. Always practise the excellent, holy vow (called) 'Asunyasayana' which destroys sins. The religious-minded one explained to her knowledge, hymn, vow of and meditation upon the noble Vishnu, which reveals all knowledge.

Vishnu said:

32-35. Remaining in the solitary forest, she took, itfrom him. She became free from all pairs of opposites and remained in penance. O great king, controlling her food, helpless and very much afflicted, free from lust and anger, and always controlling the group of the organs of sense and having abandoned great delusion, she practised the vow. When the fourth year came, the excellent lordjanardana (i.e. Vishnu) who was very much pleased came there with a desire to grant her a boon. The lord, the giver of boons, manifested his form to her. Suta said:

36-42a. She, joining the palms of her hands, trembling and helpless, spoke in a faltering tone, after saluting Madhusiidana (i.e. Vishnu), the great lord, dark-green like a sapphire and a cloud, holding a conch, a disc and a mace, rich with charm due to all ornaments, having a lotus in his hand: " I am not at all able to stand your divine lustre. Be gracious and please tell me who you, of a divine form, are and what is the.cause (of) your (coming over) here? With favour (i.e. favour me) and tell me everything, O highly intelligent one. Due to your lustre and gestures I know (i.e. I think) you are just a god. O lord of the world, I, who am ignorant, do not know your form and name. Are you Brahma, or Vishnu or Sarikara himself? " Speaking like this, and bowing to him she fell (i.e. prostrated herself) on the ground like a staff. Vishnu spoke to that princess who had bent before him. The lord said:

42b-46a. O you auspicious one, there is no difference among the three. O you beautiful lady, I am always worshipped -by him who has worshipped Brahma or Shankara. No doubt should be raised about it. These two are not different from me. I always have these three forms. Those who worship me, worship well these two. I am god Vishnu, who has come here through pity for you and due to the hymn and this auspicious vow and your restraint. You have become free from blemishes. O you auspicious one, ask for a boon.

Divyddevi said:

46b-49a. O Vishnu, O Krishna the remover of affliction, be victorious. I am saluting your couple of feet. O lord of gods, emancipate me. O you having the disc in your hand, you desire to grant me a boon. Be gracious to me. O you sinless one, give (i.e. create in) me devotion for the couple of your feet. O lord of the world, show (me) the sound path to salvation. If, O Janardana, you are pleased, give me the status of your servant (i.e. make me your servant). The Lord said:

49b-54. O you noble one, let it be so. Go, with your sins completely washed, to Vishnu's highest heaven, always difficult to be obtained (even) by meditating saints. Now, due to my grace, do go to the highest world. When the magnanimous Vishnu uttered these words, Divyadevi became divine with her lustre resembling that of the sun. She, adorned with divine ornaments, with a divine garland, a divine necklace, went, when all the people were watching, to Vishnu's heaven, free from tormentation and destruction. The bird, full of joy, again came home. The best one told all that to his father. I CHAPTER EIGHTYNINE The Miraculous Bath in the Water of Manasa Lake Vishnu said: l-3a. Then Kunjala said (these) words to his very bright son: " O son, tell me what you saw earlier. Tell me that. I am now very much pleased to listen to it." Thus ordering his son, that Kunjala ceased speaking. The son, bending with modesty replied to the father: Samujjvala said:

3b-14. O father, for your and my food, I go to Himalaya, the best mountain, attended by hosts of gods. I saw a wonder there, not seen or heard of before. (I saw) a region crowded with groups of sages, adorned with celestial nymphs, rich in many beautiful things creating curiosity, auspicious, and endowed with auspicious things, attracting the mind with many curious things, full of many auspicious fruits. There, near the Manasa (lake), O father, I saw a wonderful thing. A swan accompanied by many swans came there. In the same way, O glorious one, other black swans with white beaks and feet (also) came there. At other places their bodies were white (i.e. other parts of their bodies were white). They were black like that, and, O you very intelligent one, others were white. There were four females of formidable figures and fearful, fierce and cruel due to their fangs> with their hair erect and causing fear. Later they also came there to that Manasa lake. O father, in front of me the black swans bathed in the Manasa (lake). Others roamed around; they did not bathe there in the Manasa (lake). Later the females also came there to that Manasa (lake). O father, the women laughed loudly and fiercely. From that lake a swan of a huge body came out. Then three went out; they neglected the swan. Discussing with each other, they went along the aerial path. Those very fearful women wandered on all sides.

15-19a. All the birds, afflicted with great agonies, sat in the shades of trees on the auspicious peak of Vindhya. When they were well (i.e. minutely) watching there came a bhilla, holding a bow and with an arrow in his hand, after having harassed beasts. Resorting to a slab, he sat there happily. Then the female bhilla (the wife of that bhilla) came there carrying (i.e. with) food and water. She saw her husband endowed with superior marks of kings. Knowing (i.e. taking) her husband covered with lustre, full of divine lustre, like the sun remaining in the sky, to be someone else, she left him and went (i.e. started going). The hunter said:

19b-22. O darling, come, come on, why do you not look at me? I, who am being tormented by hunger, am waiting for you. Hearing his words, the female hunter came (there) quickly. Reaching the vicinity of her husband, she wondered: 'Who this lustrous god may be that is calling me? ' Then the female hunter said to her husband of a blazing lustre: " O hero, what.have you to do here? Who are you, having divine marks? ' Suta said:

23. The hunter, thus addressed by the female hunter said to his wife: " O dear one, I am your husband, and you are my wife.

24. How do you not recognise me? Why is there a doubt (in your mind)? One who is oppressed by hunger expects water and food." The female hunter said:

25-29. My husband is a barbarian, of a dark complexion and has put on a black dress. Such is my husband who causes fear to all beings. Who are you of a divine body, who would call (i.e. who addressed) me 'O dear one'? This is my doubt; tell me the truth. For convincing his wife he told her (about) his family, his (native) village, his sports, his distinguishing mark, his son, his daughter. That female hunter, with her heart pleased said to her husband: " Due to what has your body become like this? Why have you put on a white dress? Tell me (about it). I am wondering." Hearing these words, the hunter, who was thus asked by his wife, full of respect (for him), replied to her: Suta said:

30-35a. " O you of a good vow, there is a confluence on the northern bank of Narmada. O you very dear one, I, who was fatigued, quickly went to this (place of) confluence. I bathed (there), drank water, and have (now) come (here). Since then my body is covered with lustre like this. I became (fully) clad, and my garment turned white." By the marks, figure, family, place she recognised her husband, and having realised the possibility of religious merit, she then said to him: " Show me the (place of) confluence (first). I shall afterwards give you food with drink."

35b-42a. Thus addressed by his wife, the hunter quickly went (there); he subsequently showed her the confluence, the destroyer of sins. " O noble one, the birds of quick steps flew, and with her went to that excellent confluence of Reva. While birds and I were watching, she gave a bath to her husband, and she herself took a bath. Both turned (to be persons) possessing divine bodies and endowed with divine beauty, clad in divine garments, and (smeared) with (divine) unguents, having divine garlands, and smeared with divine sandal, O best of birds. Having got into Vishnu's vehicle, the two, worshipped by sages and Gandharvas, and honoured by Vishnu's devotees, went to Vishnu's heaven. I saw the noble couple being praised, and going along the heavenly path. Seeing the excellent best holy place, the birds also warbled with clear notes due to joy.

42b-50. The four black swans, having bathed at the confluence destroying sins, and with their hearts purified, again became bright. Having bathed and drunk water they again went out. All those black females died just due to that bath. O father, crying and moving, trembling with grief they went to Yama's world. I saw them then. Then the swans flew and went to their abode. O father, I actually saw this, and told it to you. O father, please tell me what those females with black sides and huge bodies will be (turned into). Tell me about the geese with black legs and bills, who went out of the Manasa (lake). Tell it to me, O father, what they will be (i.e. turn into). How again, had the (white) swans become black? How did they become white again (just) at that moment only? O father, why did those females die? Such a doubt has arisen in my mind. Being favourable to me, you, who are clear-sighted, please remove, today only, the doubt of me who am always humble."

51. Speaking thus to his father, Samujjvala (or Ujjvala) ceased speaking. Then that parrot, named Kufljala, started speaking.

 

CHAPTER NINETY

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