Chapter 8 - Restraining the Birds

Bhrgu said, “After Gujavardhana had spoken to you in such a pitiful way, he became quietly depressed. As you heard his speech, your heart was not softened at all. Could Brahma have made you any more hard-hearted? After killing living beings by the thousands, you became completely uncompromising and ungrateful. Then as unyielding as death, you spoke to him”.

Kamanda (King Somakanta) said, “Wicked man, it is useless to direct your collection of axioms at me. Appealing to the intellect of one who is not interested is like water in an overturned pot. Stupid man, on the one hand we have my disinterest! On the other hand, we have your advice! Just as a drunkard has no concern for the truth, your reasoning does not impress me. I am addicted to wealth and have absolutely no concern for my father’s family name. Overwhelmed with desire, I possess neither fear nor shame. Have you ever seen cleanliness in a crow, honesty in a gambler, courage in a eunuch, a woman without desire, or patience in a snake? Through the influence of fate, providence has sent you while I have nothing else to do. I will never release you”.

Bhrgu said, “After you had spoken, taking a sharp sword in your right hand, you cut off the Brahmin’s head, just as a cat does to a mouse. The number of murders you have committed against Brahmins cannot be calculated, nor, above all, the murder of other living beings, including women, children and the elderly. One who even thinks about a person like you were takes a share of the bad karma of those deeds himself.

After a long time had passed, as Kamanda, you became very old. You experienced tremors, hiccups, sweating, indolence and congestion. You were always very tired but your fatigue did not abate even when you were seated or asleep. Your sons, female servants, camel attendants, friends, bards, grandsons, and even your close friends, showed you no respect. There was only one Brahmin among them who was considered trustworthy, who could keep a secret, and who was free to move about unhindered. You sent him to invite all the sages dwelling in the forest. They came at the Brahmin’s request because they were afraid of you. After having paid obeisance to them, you said, ‘Please accept these gifts from me’! The sages said, ‘We will not accept your gifts because you are an evil man. One becomes contaminated by engaging in sacrificial offerings, teaching, birthing, associating with, talking, walking, or sitting and eating with such a person’ as yourself’. Alarming you with their words, the sages returned to their own hermitage, bathed completely, clothing and all, and then muttered Vedic hymns for purification. Then within your heart, Kamanda, there arose a sharp pain caused by your own contaminated condition, as well as from being left alone by your own family members, and from the Brahmins’ rejection.

After you had counted the amount of your vast wealth, which comprised precious metals, jewels and so forth, you developed a strong desire to restore an old temple. In this temple, in a small wooded area, the Brahmins, under your direction, placed a wonderful deity of Lord Ganesha, which was very beautiful. The temple was long, broad, and had four beautiful doorways, four entrances and was adorned with four pyramidal towers. It was inlaid with numerous columns, filled with many altars and contained a beautiful courtyard inlaid with jewels, corals, strings of pearls and other gems. It was laden with many flowering trees, decorated with fruit trees and glorious ponds of sweet water were located at the four directions.

Because you had renovated this temple, your wealth began to diminish, some of it having been taken by your wife, sons, friends and kinsmen. After a very short time you died, and Yama’s messengers bound and whipped you severely. Your whole body was pierced by thorns, crushed on a stone, and sunk in a ferocious hell of slime, blood and pus. In such a state these messengers led you into the presence of Yama and Citragupta. Yama asked, ‘In your next birth will you utilize your good or bad karma first’? You said, ‘Yama, born from the sun, I will utilize my previous good works’. Thereupon, you were appointed king in the country of Surastra. Relying upon the power I derived from austerities and because I feel compassion towards one who seeks my help, I have told you of your previous birth which caused this disease you are suffering from. Because you constructed that lovely temple for Lord Ganesha, you have become King

Somakanta, and you have a most charming consort who in loveliness is as beautiful as Indra’s wife”.

Suta Gosvami said, “That most wretched King, having heard what Bhrgu said, was beset with doubts about his story of Kamada, and became still as a stone. Because he doubted the word of the ascetic Bhrgu, who understands the meaning of the Sastras and who is omniscient, in less than a moment birds of many shapes and colors came forth viciously out of the sage’s body and attacked the King. Flying here and there, they pecked at the king’s chest with their hard, pointed beaks, cutting off bits of flesh, as they ate them near the sage. After this episode, the King took refuge of the sage, his body in terrible agony. In pitiful words he spoke to Bhrgu, the repository of austerity and knowledge”.

The King said, “How is it that in your forest there exists no enmity among species hostile by nature, but in your presence, they seek to kill me? I am a miserable leper who is devoted to your feet. You are the refuge for all living beings. I have come for shelter, so free me now, sage”.

Suta said, “Addressed in this way, Bhrgu, who is always affectionate towards the dejected, spoke again to the King. Brghu said, ‘This happened because you doubted my word but I have the antidote that will instantly help you. Merely at the sound of the transcendent sound hum, these birds will leave’. After the birds heard the sound hum from Bhrgu, they disappeared. The King, as well as his wife and ministers then became free from all worries”.

Thus ends the eighth chapter of Upasana Khanda of the glorious Ganesha Purana
called “Restraining the Birds”.