Asokasundarl Is Saved and Ayu Gets Boon

Kunjala said:

1-2. At that time Asokasundarl was born as the best woman. She, of a charming smile, skilled in singing and dancing and enjoying all pleasures along with the very beautiful daughters of gods sported in the excellent, meritorious Nandana endowed with all desired objects.

3-4. Vipracitti's son Hunda, who was always violent, impetuous and very lustful entered Nandana. After seeing Asokasundarl, endowed with all ornaments, he was, at her sight, piereed by the arrows of Cupid.

5. He, of a huge body said to her: " O auspicious one, who are you? To whom do you belong? For what reason have you come to this excellent Nandana (garden)? " Asokasundarl said:

6. Now listen. I am the daughter of the very meritorious Shiva. I am the sister of Kartikeya and the Mountain's Daughter (i.e. Parvati) is my mother.

7. Due to childhood (i.e. being a child) I have playfully reached the Nandana grove. Who are you? Why are you asking me like this? Hunda said:

8-11. I am Vipracitti's son, endowed with good qualities and characteristics. I am well-known as Hunda, haughty due to might and power. O you of a beautiful face, even among the demons I am the best, and there is no other demon like me among gods, in human worlds or in other worlds (like that) of serpents in respect of penance, glory in the family, or wealth and pleasures. O you of large eyes, on seeing you I have been struck by the arrows of Cupid. I have sought your refuge. Be pleased to favour me. Be my dear wife, dear to me like my own life. Asokasundari said:

12-20. Listen, I shall tell you the cause of all contacts between well-born men and women; so listen, O Hunda, it is the way of the world in this mundane existence that the husband of a woman would be suitable to her in respect of virtues. There is a reason why I shall not be your worthy wife. O lord of the demonkings, listen with a subdued mind. When I was born from the lord of trees, I was thought of by Parvati, after properly grasping Shiva's mind. With the god's consent, the goddess also produced my husband. He will be (born) in the lunar dynasty. He will be very intelligent and religious-minded. He will be a conqueror, and will resemble Jisnu of (i.e. Vishnu or Arjuna) in valour, and will be like fire in brilliance. He will be omniscient, veracious, and will resemble Kubera in (point of) charity. He will be a sacrificer, a lord of charity (i.e. a great donor), and will be like Cupid in handsomeness. He will be named Nahusa, will be righteous and a great treasure of virtues and good character. He is given to me by the goddess (Parvati) and the god (Shiva). My husband will be famous. From him I shall obtain a handsome son, endowed with all good qualities. Due to the grace of Shiva, I shall obtain from him a son (named) Yayati, resembling Indra and Vishnu, and dear to people in the world, and brave in battle.

21. O brave Hunda, I am a loyal wife, and am especially the wife of someone else. Therefore, completely give up the wrong notion and go (away) from here.

22a. He just laughed and said (these) word to Asokasundari. Hunda said:

22b-30a. What you said (that) the goddess and the god (have given Nahusa as your husband) is not proper. That righteous one, named Nahusa will be (born) in the lunar dynasty. You are senior in age, so he who is younger is not fit (to be your husband). A younger woman is commended (to be the wife), and not a younger man (to be the husband). O good lady, when will that man be your husband? Freshness and youth will certainly perish. O you of an excellent complexion, beautiful women always become dear to men on the strength of their youth. O you of a beautiful face, youth is the great capital of women. Supported by it they enjoy pleasure and objects as desired by them. O good lady, when will that son of Ayu come to you? Listen to me. Youth exists just (for) today. It will be useless (later). Listen, he will have to pass through conditions ^like living in the womb, childhood and adolescence. When will he be endowed with the splendour of youth and be fit for you? O you of large eyes, with the splendour of youth, drink an intoxicating drink. Enjoy happily with me.

3Ob-38. Hearing the words of Hunda, Shiva's daughter, full of fright, again spoke to that lord of demons: " When the twentieth yuga called Dvapara will come, the righteous Bala (i.e. Balarama), the incrarnation of Sheshaand son of Vasudeva, will take the divine daughter of Revata as his wife. O illustrious one, she is already born in the best yuga called Krta. She is older than he by the measure of three yugas. That Revati has become dear to Bala (rama) like his own life. When the future Dvapara (yuga) will come, she will be born here. Formerly shewas born as Mayavati, an excellent daughter of a gandharva. The best demon Sambara kidnapped and confined her. In that yuga, the best hero Pradyumna, the son of Madhava, the lord of, Yadavas, is declared to be her husband. He will be her husband. \ This future (event) is seen by ancient illustrious and noble ' (sages) like Vyasa. Such are the words uttered about me by thegoddess, the mother of the world, and the daughter of Himalaya, at that time, O demon.

39-42. And you, covetous through greed and passion are talking (words) which are wicked, full of sin, and without (i.e. not supported by) the Vedas and religious treatises. Whatever, ' good or bad is firmly ordained in the case of a person according to his former deeds, takes place in his case. If the words (that are) in the mouth of gods and brahmanas come out and are true, they shall never be otherwise. This is ordained due to my destiny, and that of that Nahusa. Having thought of the union (of us two) like this only the goddess and Shiva also said (like that).

43-44. Realising this, be calm and give up the wrong notion haunting your mind. O demon, you shall certainly not be able to lead away my mind. I am a loyal wife, firm in mind; who can lead me away? I shall burn you with a great curse. O great demon, go from here."

45-48. Hearing these words of her, the mighty demon Hundathought in his mind (i.e. to himself): 'How would this one be my wife? 'Thinking like this, the deceitful Hunda vanished. Then leaving her and speedily going out from that place, the next day he came there fashioning illusion full of sin. O my son, the demon having taken up a divine, illusive form of a woman, became of the form of (i.e. turned himself into) a lady through illusion. That very beautiful young lady took up an illusory form. Engaged in laughing and sports she went to that place, where Shiva's daughter (i.e. Asokasundari) stayed.

49-50. As if affectionate (towards her) she said (these) words to Asokasundari: " O you blessed one, who are you? To whom do you belong? O young lady, why do you stay in the penancegrove and practise the penance drying up your passion? Tell me, 0 very fortunate one, for what reason (you are practising the penance) very difficult to practice."

51-53. Hearing those auspicious words uttered by the demon of an illusory form who had concealed his original form and who had a longing (for her), that lady, who was very much afflicted, quickly told him the account of her creation as it had formerly taken place, and also all the reason for (taking up) the penance. (She) also (told him about) the harassment done by that wicked demon. She did not recognize his illusory form, and (so) through affection she told him (everything). Hunda said:

54-57a. O respectable lady, you are a loyal wife, you are engaged in good vows. Your character and behaviour are good, your actions are pious, and you are a very chaste lady. O good lady, I am a loyal wife, and am devoted to my husband. I, a great chaste woman, am practising penance for my husband. That wicked Hunda also killed my husband. For his destruction I am practising great (i.e. severe) penance. Come to my holy hermitage.

1 stay on the bank of the Ganges.

57b-62. That daughter of ava was addressed by her (i.e, Hunda) with other charming and convincing words, and Hunda, through friendly feeling, deluded her. Deluded through folly she was very speedily attracted by him. He brought her to his divine, matchless and very beautiful house. O son, on the peak of Meru there is an excellent city, known as Vaidurya, full of all good qualities, very auspicious and named Kaiicana. The entire city of the demon was thronged with tall palaces, with pitchers, staffs and chowries. It was full of dark-blue groves resembling clouds, and full of various trees, also with wells, pools and lakes and with rivers and reservoirs. It shone with great jewels and with ramparts furnished with gold, and rich in objects satisfying all desires.

63. That Asokasundarl then saw that beautiful city. " Q' friend, rell me to which deity this place belongs."

64-65a. He said: " It belongs to that lord of demons whom you have seen before. It is the place of that demon. O illustrious one, I am that best demon. O you of an excellent complexion, through illusion (i.e. by deceiving you) I have brought you (here).

65b-67. (Thus) speaking to her hetook her to his golden palace, full of many mansions, and resembling the peak of Kailasa. He, oppressed by passion, seated that beautiful lady on a swing, took up his original form, and then the lord of the demons, afflicted by the arrows of Cupid, joined the palms of his hands, and said (these) words to her:

68-70. " O good lady, there is no doubt that I shall give you whatever you desire. Resort to me who, being oppressed by passion, am attached to you, O you of large eyes. The respectable lady (i.e. Asokasundarl) said: O lord of demons, you cannot at all lead me astray. Do not even entertain in your mind the delusion about me that has come (to you). I am difficult to be secured by mean demons who are great sinners. There is no doubt about this. Do not talk (like this) again and again.

71-72a. That goddess, born after (i.e. younger sister of) Skanda, endowed with penance, burning with great rage, desiring to destroy that demon, and throbbing like the tongue of Death again spoke to that mean demon:

72b-79a. " O sinner, you have done a fierce deed for (i.e. leading to) the destruction of yourself, for (i.e. bringing about) the destruction of your family and these your kinsmen. You have brought a burning, bright flame of fire to your house. As an inauspicious, deceitful bird, risen with all (kinds of) misery, brings about the destruction of the house of one whose house it enters, as that bird would desire the destruction of (the man's) kinsmen, all wealth and family also and (then) enter (the man's) house, in the same way, I, desiring your destruction, have come to your house. Undoubtedly I shall now destroy everything belonging to you — your wealth, grain, family, life, sons and grandsons etc. O demon, since you brought me who was practising a great (i.e. severe) penance, and who, longing for a husband, was desiring (to marry) Ayu's son, Nahusa, my husband will destroy you.

79b-88. Formerly (only) the god had (fore) seen this remedy in my case. This popular verse, (which) the wise sing, is true. It is actually observed in the world; the wicked-minded do not realize it. There is no doutthat one who is to experience pain, pleasure etc. from one does experience it from that very person. You will go to (man). With one's finger-tip one touches a very sharp, fine-edged, good sword. Now know (that touching) me like that would cause anger (in me). Who, being rash and going to a lion who is angry and roaring loudly, would clip the hair from his face? He, who longs for death, desires to enjoy me, who am of a truthful conduct, restrained and remaining in (i.e. practising) penance. He, now, since he is prompted by Death, desires to seize the gem of a black, living cobra; and you, deluded by Death, are sent by Death, O fool. Therefore such wicked thought is produced (in your mind). Do you not realise it? Except the son of Ayu, who looks (i.e. would look at me)? Any other (man than Ayu's son) will die by looking at my form."

89-92. She, who was a chaste lady, who was grieved, who was disturbed with distress, who was controlled, and was observing a religious vow, spoke like this and went to the bank of the Ganges. " Formerly, I, who had practised a severe penance with a desire for (obtaining) a groom, will again, desiring your destruction, practise a hard penance. I shall then go to my husband, when I shall see you, killed by the magnanimous

1292 Padma Purana Nahusa with sharp arrows like thunderbolt and resembling serpents, (and see you) the sinner, fallen on the battlefield, with your hair loose, and with blood (oozing from your body)."

93-94. Having made such a great vow for the destruction of Hunda, that firm daughter of Shiva resorted to the excellent bank of the Ganges. As bright, burning flame of fire, full of brilliance would burn the great worlds, the daughter of the lord of gods, burning with rage, practised, on the bank of Ganges, a penance difficult to practise. Kunjala said;

95-96. O noble one, having thus spoken, Shiva's daughter, having bathed in the water of the Ganges, went to her own city, called Kaficana. That young Asokasundari, of a slim body, and endowed with truthfulness, practised penance to bring about the death of Hunda.

97-98. Hunda also, with his heart burnt by the curse became afflicted, and, being very much tormented by the fire of words, thought. Having called his minister named Kampana, he said to him. He told him the important news of her curse:

99-100. " I have been cursed by Asokasundari, the good daughter of Shiva: 'You will die at the hands of my husband, Nahusa.' That child is not (as yet) born; but Ayu's wife is carrying. Act in such a way that the curse would be false." Kampana said:

101-104. Having kidnapped the wife of Ayu bring her (here). In this way your enemy will not be born. Or, with strong (medicines) cause her abortion. In this way also your enemy will not be born. Mark the time of the birth of that wicked Nahusa. Having carried him away, bring him (here) and kill him of a sinful mind. Having thus held consultation with that Kampana, the demon (Hunda) exerted himself to destroy Nahusa. Vishnu said:

105-108. The glorious, righteous son of Aila, named Ayu, the ornament of the Soma family, the best king and the sovereign emperor knowing all practices, engaged in the vow of truthfulness, resembling Indra and Vishnu, ruled under one umbrella (i.e. ruled as the universal sovereign) by means of penance, glory, might, charity, sacrifices, meritorious acts and restraint on the earth. The king (Ayu) did not have a son. So he was unhappy. The righteous one thought: 'How can a son be born to me (i.e. How can I have a son)? '

109. Ayu, the lord of the earth, entertained such a thought. Being composed, he made a great effort for getting a son.

110-113. Atri's son Dattatreya, the high-souled brahmana, the great sage, with his eyes red due to (having drunk) spirituous liquor, was sporting with a woman. The virtuous one, intoxicated by wine, having seated a young, auspicious woman, best of all women, on his lap, sang, danced and heavily drank liquor. The best among the great meditating saints, the best sage, (who was) without a sacred thread, (and) with his body smeared with sandal and aloe wood paste, shone with divine garlands of flowers and appendages of pearl-necklaces.

114-118. The king, having gone to his hermitage, and seeing the best brahmana and being well-composed saluted him with his head (bent down), and falling prostrate before him. That pious son of Atri having seen that best king who had come before him with devotion, resorted to meditation. O best one, the king passed a hundred years like this. Having called him who was steady and calm and greatly devoted, he said these (words): " O king, why do you torment yourself? I am void of brahmanic practices. I never had brahmanahood. I am greedy of wine and flesh, and always attached to women. I do not have power to give a boon. (Please) serve (some) other brahmana." Ayu said:

119-123. O glorious one, there is no other best brahmana like you, who grants all desired objects and are the greatest lord in the three worlds. O you illustrious one, you are Vishnu, the Garuda-bannered one, the highest lord, (born) in the family of Atri in the form of a brahmana. O chief of the lords of gods, O highest lord, I salute you. O you who are affectionate to those who submit themselves to you, I have sought your refuge. O Hrsikesa, emancipate me. You stay (i.e. take pleasure in) causing illusion. I know you to be one who knows the beings living in the universe, who is the chief of the universe, who is the lord of the world and the killer of (the demon) Madhu. O Govinda, 0 you of a universal form, protect me only. My salutation to you. Kuiijala said:

124-128. When a long time of many days passed, Dattatreya, in an intoxicated condition, said to the best king: " Do as I tell you. Give me wine in a cup; and the meal of flesh that is got cooked." Hearing those words of him, that Ayu, the lord of the earth, being eager, speedily got wine in a cup, and quickly cut off well-cooked flesh with his hand, and, O best one, the best king gave these to Dattatreya. That best sage became happy in mind. Seeing (Ayu's) devotion, prowess and great service to the preceptor, he spoke to that humble Ayu, the lord of kings:

129. " Well-being to you, O king, ask for a boon that is difficult to be obtained on the earth. I shall now give you everything that you desire."

The king said:

130-135. O best sage, through pity for me you are truly granting (me) a boon. Give me a son endowed with virtues, omniscient, possessed of good qualities, having the might of gods, and unconquerable by gods and demons, ksatriyas, giants, fierce demons and kinnaras. (He should be) devoted to gods and brahmanas, and (he should) especially look after his subjects. (He should be) sacrificer, lord of charity (i.e. the best donor), brave, affectionate to those who seek his refuge, a donor, an enjoyer, magnanimous and learned in Vedas and sacred treatises, skilled in Dhanurveda (i.e. archery), and well-versed in sacred precepts. His intellect (should be) unbeaten; he (should be) brave and undefeated in battles. He should possess such qualities, be handsome and one from whom the race would come forth. O illustrious one, give me (such) a son sustaining my family, if you, through grace, want to give me another boon, Olord..

Dattatreya said:

136-138. Let it be so, O glorious one. You will have a son, in your mansion, who will be meritorious, will perpetuate your race and show compassion to all living beings. He will be endowed with these virtues, and with a portion of Vishnu. He, the lord of men, will be a sovereign emperor, comparable to Indra. Having thus given him a boon, the great meditating saint gave the king an excellent fruit and said to him: " Give this to your wife." Saying so, and dismissing that Ayu, who had bent before him, after having congratulated him with blessings, he disappeared."

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FOUR

IndumatVs Dream

Kunjala said:

1-4. When that illustrious great sage Dattatreya had left, that great king Ayu came (back) to his own city. Being delighted, he entered Indumati's house endowed with glory, rich with all desired objects and resembling Indra's house. O bestbrahmana, like Indra in heaven, the intelligent one ruled with Indumati, the daughter of Svarbhanu, over his kingdom. By the words of Dattatreya, that queen Indumati conceived a child endowed with divine lustre as a result of eating the fruit.

5-14. O illustrious one, Indumati saw, at night accompanied by day (i.e. in the early morning), an excellent dream giving many auspicious objects. (She saw in the dream) a man, who was a brahmana, resembling the sun, endowed with necklace of pearls, and adorned with a white garment, entering her house. A garland fashioned with white flowers shone round his neck. His body looked charming with all ornaments, and was besmeared with divine sandal (-paste). He had four hands, he had a conch in his hand, and held a mace, a disc and a sword. He, of a great lustre, adorned with divine ornaments, shone with an umbrella, resembling the orb of the moon, which was held (over him). He appeared handsome with a necklace, bracelets, armlets and anklets. He (also) shone with ear-rings resembling the orb of the moon. A very wise man like this came (there). Having called Indumati, he repeatedly bathed the beautiful lady with milk, with (i.e. from) a conch full of milk and having the colour like that of the moon and decked with gems and gold. He threw (i.e. put) into her mouth a white, beautiful snake, covered with a thousand hoods, endowed with a gem and full of bright flames. On her neck he also put a pearl. That very glorious lord of gods then gave a lotus into Indumati's hand and went to his own place.

15. Like this she saw a great dream and the best son. The illustrious one narrated it to Ayu, the lord of kings.

16-17a. Having heard it, the great king thought again. Then having called his preceptor Shaunaka, the very glorious, omniscient and best among the learned, narrated the best dream to him. The king said:

17b-18a. O illustrious one, O best brahmana, today, (late) in the night, my wife saw (in a dream) a brahmana entering the house. What is the meaning of this dream? Shaunaka said:

18b-23. Formerly intelligent Dattatreya gave you a boon; and directed (you to give) a very effective fruit to the queen for (obtaining) a son. What have you done with the fruit, O king? To whom have you given it? Having heard the words uttered by the king, viz. " I have given it to my good wife, " the very intelligent, best brahmana Shaunaka said: " There is no doubt that, due to Dattatreya's grace, the best son, possessed of a portion of Vishnu will be born in your house. O king, I have told you this meaning of the dream. A son of a divine power, and resembling Indra and Vishnu will be born (in your house). Your son will be the soul of all good practices and will perpetuate the lunar dynasty. He will be proficient in the science of archery and the (Rg-) Veda (etc.)".

24. Having spoken thus to the king, Shaunaka went home. The king, with his wife, was full of great joy.

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIVE

Nahusa is Bom

Kunjala said:

1-3a. With her friends she went to Nandana garden to sport (there). There she heard significant words, not wholesome to her father, of the bards and siddhas talking delightfully, viz. 'In the house of Ayu, the best son, of great might, resembling Vishnu in valour will be born; he will kill Hunda'.

3b-4. Having heard such significant, unwholesome, painful words, she went (to her father) and told the painful words to her father in brief.

5-14. She narrated them to her father. The father, hearing them, was amazed. He remembered the curse of Asokasundari, given by her formerly. For this that Asokasundari practised penance. That demon who is wicked, who is dragged by Death, who is sinful, looking out for a flaw, always exerted to destroy the embryo of Indumatl. O noble one, when he saw the queen endowed with beauty and generosity, possessed of divine lustre, protected by Vishnu's lustre, having divine brilliance and resembling the sun's orb, he always remained by her side to watch her. From a distance the wicked demon showed her many spells and very fearful terrors and scares. She, endowed with the lustre of the child in the womb, was (thus) protected by Vishnu's lustre. Never again fear arose in her mind. The demon became ineffectual, and his exertion was useless. The desired object of the wicked Hunda never came about. A hundred years thus passed while he was watching. That daughter of Svarbhanu gave birth to a son. At night only a son was born to her, O best son. Like the sun in the sky he very much shone with brilliance. Suta said:

15-18a. There was a very wicked maid in the lying-inchamber. She was of a wicked behaviour and talked very inauspicious words. Knowing everything about her the mean demon Hunda entered her body and then got into the house of Ayu. When the multitude of men, very much deluded by sleep, was asleep, he kidnapped that son, resembling a child of a god, and went out. The mean demon reached his own city called Kancana.

18b-20. Having called his wife Vipula, he said (these) words to her: " Kill this very sinful child, my enemy. Then hand it over to the cook for (cooking) a meal. Get it carefully cooked in many kinds and varieties. Later I shall undoubtedly eat it from the hand of (i.e. served by) the cook."

21-22. Having heard (these) words of her husband, Vipula was wonderstruck. 'Why does my very rough husband become so cruel? Whose boy, endowed with all good marks, and resembling a god's child, should he, bereft of forgiveness and full of cruelty, eat, and for what reason? '

23-24. She, full of pity, thought like this, she again asked her husband, " Why do you (want to) eat the boy? Why do you become so much angry and shameless? O lord of demons, tell me in truth the entire motive."

25-27. That wicked Hunda told her in brief his own fault, the account, and (about) the curse of Asokasundari. She understood the full motive of the demon. 'This boy must be killed, otherwise my husband will die'. Thinking like this, Vipula, overcome with anger, called her female-attendant Mekala, and said to her:

28-33. " Mekala, today kill this very wicked child in the kitchen; (and) hand it over to the cook, (to cook it) for the meal of Hunda". Mekala took the child, and calling the cook, said to him: " Obey the order of the king. Today cook this child." The noble cook heard like this and taking the child in his hand became ready, raising a weapon (to kill the child). This child, the son of Ayu, was protected by the lustre of Dattatreya, the god of gods. He again and again laughed. Seeing him laughing the cook was full of compassion. The female attendant also was full of pity and said to the cook: " O you very intelligent cook, do not at all kill this child. In whose good family is he, endowed with divine marks, born? ' The cook said:

34-42a. O you good one, you have spoken the truth, full of pity. Whose is this child, endowed with royal marks? Why will that wicked-minded, mean demon, Hunda eat him? He, who has protected his family by means of good deeds in calamities, would live even in difficult (circumstances). This cannot be otherwise. He who is assisted by his deeds would undoubtedly live even if he is carried by the force (of the stream) of a great river or even if he has been in fire. Therefore, deeds united with piety and merit are performed. Due to that men having a long life, call it happiness. (One's) deed is one's savior and guardian. It protects and is awake. It always gives salvation and an occasion for friendship. There is no doubt that a deed always protects him only, who does a propitious deed connected with charity and merit, accompanied by agreeable words, and full of obligation. Urged by his own deed he goes to (i.e. is born in) another stock. What can a father do or what can a mother or other kinsmen and relatives do? They cannot protect him who is struck down by his deed. Suta said;

42b-48a. By that deed only, by which the son of Ayu was protected, the cook, being under the influence of fate, became full of pity. Urged by his deed that female attendant also became like that. Both of them protected Ayu's son of good marks. That female servant of meritorious deeds took him from that house to Vasishtha's holy hermitage that night only. Placing the excellent child (there), she then went (back) to her house. Having killed a black antelope the cook cooked (its) flesh. The lord of demons, Hunda, after eating deemed the curse of Asokasundarl to be fruitless. That lord of demons, Hunda, was then full of great joy. Kuiijala said:

48b-54. When it was the bright morning, the best religiousminded sage, Vasishtha, went out of the door of his hut made of leaves, and seeing the whole, beautiful child, endowed with divine marks, like the full moon, and of charming eyes, Vasishtha said: All you sages should come and see the child. Whose (child) is it? Who brought it to the courtyard at my door at night?

The sages may see the child, resembling a child of a god or of a gandharva, and resembling crores of Cupids. All those best brahmanas full of great curiosity and delighted, saw that son of that noble Ayu. That pious Vasishtha, seeing the son of the noble Ayu, knew through his (supernatural) knowledge, the boy to be the son of the magnanimous Ayu, and endowed with (good) conduct and also knew the account of that wicked and evil-minded Hunda.

55-60a. When that best brahmana, Brahma's son, picked up the boy with his hands through pity (for him), gods showered flowers on the boy. Gandharvas and kinnaras sang charmingly and melodiously. Sages praised that king's son with Vedic hymns. Seeing him, Vasishtha granted him a boon at that time. " Your name will be famous in the world as Nahusa. Due to your childlike feelings, you were not destroyed by him. Therefore your name will be Nahusa, and you will be honoured1 by gods." The best brahmana (i.e. Vasishtha) performed the ceremony at his birth, and taught him vows, charity and sent him away as a pupil to the teacher.

60b-64. Having fully studied as a student the Vedas with the six limbs and with the pada and krama2 (ways of reciting them), having studied all the sacred books from Vasishtha, the best brahmana, archery with its secrets, and (the use of) divine weapons and missiles, along with the manner in which they are held and released, and the excellences like various branches of knowledge, science of logic, politics that handsome and devoted son of Ayu thus became fully accomplished. Due to the grace of Vasishtha, he became the holder of (i.e. skilful in using) a bow and arrows.

1. Husita — The word is not clar.

2. Padakrama — Pada is the detachment of the Vedic words from one another and Krama is the particular manner of reciting Vedic text. II.106.1-15

 

HAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIX

Indumati`s Lamentations on the Loss of Her Child

Kunjala said:

1-2. The glorious wife of Ayu, Svarbhanu's daughter of an excellent complexion, not seeing that excellent, matchless child, resembling a god, wept, making a loud wailing: " Who has taken away may son of excellent marks, endowed with good characteristics.

3-4. I had obtained the son by penance, charity, sacrifices, and vows difficult to practise, and with hard efforts. Who has kidnapped the son given to me by the magnanimous, pious Dattatraya, (after) being pleased." (Thus) she wept piteously.

5-9. " O son, O child, O dear child, O habitation of virtues, where are you? Who has taken you away? Talk to me. You are undoubtedly the ornament of the entire lunar dynasty. Who has taken you away, you united with my life? Who has today kidnapped my son, full of divine, good marks of a king and having lotus-like eyes? What shall I do? Where shall I go? I distinctly know the deed I did in the previous existence: I (must) have repudiated a deposit; therefore my son is kidnapped. Or did I, a sinner, cheat someone in the former existence? I am suffering a calamity due to that deed only, and not otherwise (i.e. not due to anything else).

10. I had become the snatcher of a gem. (Therefore) the gem in the form of my divine son, the mine of matchless virtues, is snatched away by destiny.

11. Or did I argue with a brahmana? (And) is it the fruit, attended by the great grief for my son, of that act, that I have undoubtedly got?

12. Or did I obstruct a child in my previous existence? Am I getting such a fruit of that sinful deed?

13. Or did I not give the food before the rite of the offering of food to all gods accompanied by the (seven) sacred utterances, to one who had asked for it? "

14-15. Thus, O noble one, Svarbhanu's daughter Indumati full of tenderness due to grief, being perturbed and heaving sighs like a cow bereft of her calf, fainted.

16. That king Ayu (also) was full of great grief and sorrow. Hearing that the boy was kidnapped the king gave up courage.

17. 'There is certainly no fruit of penance, nor is there the fruit of giving gifts, since my son has been thus kidnapped.

18-19. Through grace, Dattatreya formerly gave me a boon (in the form) of an unconquerable son, endowed with success and all virtues. How is that grant of boon impeded? ' Engrossed in thought like these, the king who was distressed, wept very much.

 

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