Chapter 143 - Provocation of Jābāli

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Chapters 143-146 describe the greatness of Amareśvara Liṅga and the Kuṇḍa in front of it.—Jābāli beats his daughter practically to death for her immoral act. She does not die due to the power of Amareśvara Liṅga before which she was beaten. Śiva elevated her to Yogiṇī-ship.—The spirited dialogue between Jābāli and his daughter, a feminist of that age, is worth reading in original (in Chapter 144).

Sūta said:

1. Further, O Brāhmanas, there is another deity there named Citreśvara. It is situated in the middle of Citrapītha and grants diverse kinds of pleasures unto men.

2. By visiting that deity, adoring it or bathing it a man is rid of major and minor sins arising from close intimacy with other men’s wives.

3. One who ravishes the wife of the preceptor or a girl of one’s own family, a girl of a low family or a woman who has adopted Vratas, with the mind overpowered by lust, gets rid of the sin.

4. A man who worships that deity on the fourteenth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Caitra eradicates the sin thereof and goes to Svarga quickly.

5-6. Further there is King Citraṅgada accompanied by Sage Jābāli. He is also accompanied by a girl born of the sage, a naked girl who has not yet attained the age of menstruation (Nagnikā). He stands before him having been cursed by Jābāli already. One who offers libations to all the three (on that day) obtains a woman loved by him as well as Siddhi sought by him.

The sages said:

7-8. Why was the youth Citrāṅgada cursed formerly by Jābāli? Why does his daughter stand stripped of her clothes? Why has she adopted this contrary form causing derision of the people? O Sūta, describe this to us.

Sūta said:

9. Formerly there was a well-known sage named Jābāli. He performed penances always with celibacy, ever since his child-hood.

10. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, even in his childhood he came to the holy spot of Hāṭakeśvara and began a great penance.

11. He was gradually performing Paraka, Kṛcchra, Cāndrāyaṇa and other rites. Thereby he made Devas highly frightened.

12. Śakra and other Devas who were afraid met together on the peak of Meru and consulted one another for the purpose of causing obstacles to him.

13-15. “If there is to be increase of his penance everyday thus, he will certainly destabilize Śatakratu and make him fall from his heavenly kingdom. Therefore let the foremost among the Apsarās named Raṃbhā go to him to cause destruction of the celibacy of that sage of sanctified soul.

Celibacy is the root cause of penance. It has been glorified thus by Brāhmaṇas. The loss of it causes great difficulty. Simply there will not be any fruit resulting from the Vrata.”

16. After deciding thus all the Devas together with Mahendra summoned Raṃbhā and spoke to her respectfully:

17-18. “O highly esteemed lady, go quickly to the place where Jābāli is present in the holy spot of Hāṭakeśvara for the purpose of disturbing his penance. All emotional coquetries and charmingly eloquent speechess and tales should be employed by you exciting unrestricted lust in his mind.”

Raṃbhā said:

19. O Lord of Suras, that sage does not know the art of love-play. O Lord, how can I convert a man devoid of fascination and charm into one of lascivious proclivity?

Indra said:

20. At my bidding this Vasanta shall go near him. Merely by his sight, he will become swayed by love.

21. Hence, O lady of excellent countenance, go there quickly along with him so that there shall be quick accomplishment of the tasks of Devas.

22. Thereupon, she bowed down to him elaborately and went along with Vasanta to the place where Jābāli was staying.

23. Then, all of a sudden, Aśoka became fully blossomed; bunches of flowers appeared on Tilaka and mango trees.

24. Even in the winter lotuses bloomed. A fragrant southern wind blew satisfying all desires.

25. In the meantime, Raṃbhā, the excellent Apsarā, reached the bank of the water-pond where Jābāli was present.

26. After offering the desired (i.e. requisite) oblation to Pitṛs with faith, he was uttering Mantras many times with the rosary of beads held in his hand.

27. Then even as he was looking on, the excellent Apsarā stripped herself of all garments and entered the water for taking bath.

28. Seeing her in the prime of youth but stripped of her garments, and being swayed by the southern wind, he became a victim of Kāma, under his full control.

29. The excellent sage experienced a tremor at the instant. The rosary fell down on the ground from his hand.

30. There was horripilation in all his limbs. It had terrific result. Slightly warm tears fell down drenching the ground.

31. On knowing that he had become excited the excellent Apsarā conversant with the mental predilection came out of water and wore the garments again.

32. She went near him, bowed down with great respect and spoke these sweet words increasing his lovelorn state:

33. “O holy Sir, I hope everytinhg is quite good in your hermitage. O wise Sage, I hope your study of the Vedas goes on smoothly; O Sage, I hope your disciples and the birds and animals here are also quite all right.”

The sage said:

34. O beautiful lady, everything everywhere is quite all right in regard to me. Particularly, since you have come—you who are marked with all the characteristics.

35. O highly esteemed one, tell me who you are. You enhance love in me. Are you a Devī or an Asura lady, a serpent lady or a human one?

36. Tell me, don’t you notice a tremor in my body? There is unrestricted flow of tears from the eyes, and the bristling of the bairs [hairs] all over the body.

Raṃbhā said:

37. I don't see any normalcy in the state of your body. Are these aberrations in your body natural to it? Or are they caused by ailments?

The sage said:

38. O lady of excellent eyes, this is neither natural to my body, nor is it caused by ailments. Listen to the whole cause whereby the body has come to this plight.

39. As long as I continue to set my eyes on you, this state of the body persists.

40. That means, O splendid lady, I have been overwhelmed with love (passion) on seeing you. Though I am devoted to celibacy, though I have adopted great vows, this is my present condition.

Raṃbhā said:

41. If that is so, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, do comfortably resort to me. No harm can result from it because I am only a common courtesan.

42. O Brāhmaṇa, we have been created by the Self-born Lord as common for all the people especially for twice-born ones.

43. On seeing you, O sage, I too have been struck by the sharp arrows of Kāma, since you are on a par with Kāma. I don't feel inclined to go elsewhere.

44. Earlier Suras, Yakṣas, Vidyādharas, Siddhas, Kinnaras, Nāgas, Guhyakas and even human beings have been seen by me.

45. But, O tiger among Brāhmaṇas, such an exquisite form as this has never been seen amongst them, Hence do resort to me, your devotee.

46. A foolish person who avoids a woman distressed by love, who herself approaches him, is cooked in terrible Naraka for all years to come (i.e. a pretty long period).

47. After saying thus, she embraced the great sage. He showed unwillingness in speech, though he was desirous of it in his heart.

48. She then took the sage to the bower of creepers and made him sport about with artificial and coquetish behaviour as laid down in erotic science.

49. Thus till the end of the day, he remained with her eagerly engaged in erotic activities. He discarded all other holy rites.

50. Thereby he satisfied his lustful desire (but) became ashamed thereafter. He dismissed Raṃbhā and then washed himself clean.

51. On being dismissed by him the contented lady of graceful charms became glad. She joyously went to the place where Devas including Vāsava were present.