Chapter 64 - Grant of boons by Pulastya

The sages said:

1. O Sūta, O best speaker, it behoves you to recount how Śakti the son of Vasiṣṭha was devoured by a demon along with his younger brothers.

Sūta said:

2-3. The demon Rudhira^[1] devoured Śakti the son of Vasiṣṭha along with his younger brothers due to a curse by Śakti on king Kalmāṣapāda. O leading brahmins, urged by Viśvāmitra, Rudhira haunted the king Kalmāṣapāda for whom a sacrifice was being performed by Vasiṣṭha and swallowed Śakti.

4-5. On hearing that the most powerful Śakti had been devoured by that demon along with his brothers, Vasiṣṭha repeatedly lamented “hā (my) son, hā (my) son”. The wailing sage fell down on the ground along with Arundhatī.

6-10. Remembering his hundred sons, the eldest of whom was Śakti, and knowing that the family was extinct, the powerful sage decided to die. Coming to this conclusion that he will not remain alive without his sons, he felt all the more miserable. Vasiṣṭha the son of Brahmā, the knower of everything, the self-possessed sage who had realized the Ātman, climbed to the top of a mountain along with his wife. With tears welling up in the eyes he suddenly fell down on the ground. As he fell down on the ground, the earth (assuming the form of a lady) who had a wonderful necklace and the sportive gait of an elephant, caught him up with her lotus-like hands and as he cried she too bewailed with him. At that time, his daughter-in-law, the wife of Śakti, cried in great fright and spoke thus to Vasiṣṭha, the great sage and the best among the eloquent sages.

11. “O lord, O excellent brahmin, O powerful sage, preserve this excellent body of yours to see your grandson, that is my son.

12. O leading brahmin, this splendid body should not be discarded by you, since the child that is born of Śakti and that is bound to be one who realises all objects, is within my womb.”

13-14. After saying thus, that lady who was conversant with Dharma and whose eyes resembled lotus flowers lifted up her father-in-law by her hands and wiped his eyes with water. Although she was herself miserable she requested the dejected Arundhati to save her father-in-law.

15-16. On hearing the words of his daughter-in-law Vasiṣṭha got up from the ground after regaining consciousness. Arundhatī embraced him in great distress and fell down. The leading sage touched Arundhati, in whose eyes tears had welled up and cried along with her.

17-18. Thereafter the son seated in the couch of the womb of his mother, like the four-faced lord Brahmā in the umbilical lotus of Viṣṇu repeated a sacred verse. The holy sage Vasiṣṭha listened enthusiastically to the sacred verse wondering, by whom could it have been repeated. He then meditated with great concentration.

19. Thereupon Viṣṇu whose eyes resemble the lotus petals, who had been stationed in the courtyard of the firmament, who is the soul of the universe and who is the storehouse of mercy spoke to Vasiṣṭha mercifully.

20. O dear one, O dear one, O Vasiṣṭha the leading brahmin, fond of his son, this sacred verse has emanated from the lotuslike face of your grandson.

21. O sage, this grandson of yours, the powerful one born of Śakti is on a par with me. Hence, O most excellent sage and son of Brahmā, discard your grief and rise up.

22. The child in the womb is a devotee of Rudra. He is engaged in the worship of Rudra. Thanks to the power of Rudra he will redeem your family.

23. After saying thus to Vasiṣṭha, the leading Brahmin sage, the merciful lord vanished there itself.

24. Vasiṣṭha of great splendour bowed his head to the lotuseyed lord and then stroked the belly of Adṛśyantī with great respect.

25-27. O brahmins, he cried out “hā my son, hā my son”, and fell down extremely depressed. Glancing at Arundhati who was also crying and remembering his own son he cried out in misery—“O son, come again, come again. O Śakti, after the birth of your son who will sustain this family. I shall undoubtedly come near you along with your mother”.

Sūta said:

After saying this, the crying brahmin embraced Arundhati, Beating her belly she was about to fall.

28-32. The auspicious lady Adṛśyantī who was distressed beat her belly—the abode of the child in womb. She cried out in distress and fell down. Arundhatī and Vasiṣṭha, both of them were extremely frightened. They lifted up the young woman their daughter-in-law and said thus:—

“O silly woman, tell us how you have attempted to destroy the family of Vasiṣṭha by striking at the region of womb. For seeing your son, the child born to Śakti and for tasting the nectar of the boyish face of the noble son, the leading sage has decided to preserve his body. Hence protect your body”.

Sūta said:

33-34. After pulling up her daughter-in-law and the sage, Arundhatī the wife of Vasiṣṭha stood up and said though highly distressed and agitated.

“O lady of good holy rites, since the life of this sage, and that of mine depend on you, you should preserve your life. As a nurse do what is beneficial to us.”

Adṛśyantī said:

35. “If the excellent sage has decided to preserve his life I shall somehow preserve my body pure or impure.

36-37. It is because of my sin that I have to bear the sorrow of separation from my husband. O sage, I am burnt with grief, even though I am your daughter-in-law, O sage. Alas, a miracle has been seen by me. O lord, I am the victim of grief. O brahmin, be my saviour from misery, O son of Brahmā, O preceptor of the universe.

38. Still, a woman without a husband shall be miserable. O noble lord (sage), save me from that situation.

39. The father, mother, sons, grandsons, even the father-in-law, all are helpless to such a woman. None of them can be a real kinsman unto women. It is the husband alone who is her real kinsman, her greatest salvation.

40. What has been mentioned by the learned men.! viz. the wife is half of the husband, has turned out to be not true in my case. Śakti has gone. But I still survive.

41. O leading sage, alas! the hardness of my mind! even after leaving off my husband who is like my own vital breath, I could live for even a moment.

42. O Vasiṣṭha, just as a creeper climbing on the holy fig tree, survives even after being cut off from its roots, I too survive even after I have become miserable on being abandoned by my husband”.

43. On hearing these words of his daughter-in-law, the intelligent Vasiṣṭha who observed the duties of his stage of life decided to go to his hermitage along with his wife.

44. The meritorious-souled holy lord Vasiṣṭha though suffering badly, entered his hermitage quickly, accompanied by his wife and Adṛśyantī, and began to ponder.

45. O leading sages, that chaste wife of Śakti preserved the child in the womb with great difficulty for the continuity of the family line.

46. In the tenth month the wife of Śakti gave birth to a lustrous son in the same manner as Arundhatī had previously given birth to Śakti.

47. Śakti’s wife gave birth to Parāśara like Aditi who gave birth to Viṣṇu, like Svāhā who gave birth to Guha and like Araṇi who gave birth to Agni.

48. When the son of Śakti incarnated on the earth, Śakti, abandoned his sorrow and attained equality with the Pitṛs.

49. O leading sages, that meritorious son of Vasiṣṭha, stationed in the world of the Pitṛs along with his brothers shone like the sun along with the Adityas.

50. O leading brahmins, when Parāśara incarnated, the departed father sang, the grand-fathers and great-grand-fathers danced.

51. The Pitṛs who previously expounded the Brahman on the earth and the deities in heaven danced. Puṣkara and others moved about in the firmament showering flowers.

52. O brahmins, in the cities of the Rākṣasas there were odd and painful shouts. The sages in their hermitage applauded continuously with delightful experiences.

53. Just as the four-faced lord incarnated from the Cosmic Egg, just as the sun emerges from the clusters of clouds, so also Parāśara was born of Adṛśyantī.

54. On seeing the son and remembering her husband, O brahmins, even Adṛśyantī felt both joy and grief. So was the case with Arundhatī and sage Vasiṣṭha.

55. On seeing her son, the highly refulgent Parāśara, the agitated lady lamented. With her throat choked she fell down.

56. Even as her sinless son adored by the groups of Devas and Dānavas, was born the mother realized that he was highly intelligent. With tears in her eyes she lamented.

57. “Hā, son of Vasiṣṭha, you have gone somewhere after abandoning me whose wretchedness is visible in the face. You have left me in the middle of the forest as one desirous of seeing her son. O lord, you too, see your bosom-born, sinless son.

58. O Śakti, with his delight evident in his face Maheśvara saw his six-faced son along with his Gaṇas. Similarly, you too see your son in. the company of your brothers”.

59. On hearing her lamentation, the excellent sage Vasiṣṭha became miserable and said to his daughter-in-law, “Do not cry.”

60. At the behest of Vasiṣṭha, that noble lady eschewed her sorrow. That lady with roving eyes like the fawn nursed and nurtured her son.

61. On seeing his chaste mother as a weak lady, devoid of ornaments, sitting down dejectedly, with tears agitating the eyes, the boy said to her.

Śakti’s son said:

62. “O mother, O sinless one, your slender body does not appear to be splendid without ornaments. It is like the night bereft of the disc of the moon.

63. O my mother, O my mother, O splendid lady, it behoves you to recount to me why you are sitting here setting aside your auspicious marks as a woman without her husband.”

64. On hearing the words of her son, Adṛśyantī did not tell her son anything, good or bad.

65. The son of Śakti said to Adṛśyantī again, “O mother where is my holy father of great refulgence? Tell me, tell me.”

66. On hearing the words of her son, she became extremely agitated and wept. Saying “your father was devoured by a Rākṣasa” she fell down unconscious.

67. On hearing the words of his grandson, the kind-hearted Vasiṣṭha cried and fell down. So also Arundhatī and the leading sages, the residents of the hermitage.

68. On hearing directly from his mother—“Your father was devoured by a demon”, the intelligent Parāśara spoke thus with his eyes dimmed and darkened by tears.

Parāśara said:

69. O mother. I think I will be able to show my father in a moment by worshipping the lord of the chiefs of Devas and of the three worlds including the mobile and immobile beings.^[2]

70. On hearing these splendid words she was surprised. Smilingly she looked at him and said:—“O son, this is true. Worship the lord.”

71. On understanding the proposal and decision of the son of Śakti, Vasiṣṭha the holy lord, the intelligent leading sage, and the storehouse of mercy, spoke to his grandson as follows:—

72-74. “O my grandson, O excellent sage of good holy rites, your proposal is proper and suitable. Still, listen, it does not behove you to destroy the world. You can worship the lord for exterminating Rākṣasas. But, O son of Śakti, what is the harm done to you by the world that you need destroy it?”

Thereafter at the behest of the Vasiṣṭha the extremely intelligent son of Śakti directed his mind towards the extermination of Rākṣasas.

75-78. Parāśara bowed down to Adṛśyantī, Vasiṣṭha and Arundhatī. In the presence of the sage he made a single Liṅga, in a trice, out of dust. Repeating the following Mantras from the Vedas he worshipped it. The mantras were Śivasūkta, Tryambakasūkta, Tvaritarudra, Śiva Saṅkalpa, Nīlarudra, Rudra, Vāmīya, Pavamāna, Pañca Brahman, Hotṛsūkta, Liṅgasūkta and Atharvaśiras. After worshipping duly he offered the eightfold Arghya to Rudra.

Parāśara said:—

79. “O lord Rudra, O Śaṅkara, my father of great refulgence was swallowed by the demon Rudhira along with his brothers.

80-81. O lord, I wish to see my father along with his brothers.”

Submitting thus he bowed down to the Liṅga again and again, cried “ha Rudra, ha Rudra” and prostrated before him.

On seeing him, lord Rudra said to the goddess.

82. “O highly blessed lady, see this boy whose eyes are dimmed and darkened with tears. He is engaged in propitiating me.”

83-84. The spotless great goddess saw Parāśara, his eyes dimmed and his body drenched by tears due to misery. He was interested only in the act of worshipping the Liṅga. He repeated the names “Hara”, “Rudra” etc. Umā then spoke to Śiva her husband and the lord of the worlds.

85-86. O supreme lord, be pleased, grant him all his desires. On hearing her words, Śaṅkara Parameśvara, the swallower of halāhala poison, spoke to his noble consort Umā—“I shall save this brahmin boy whose eyes resemble full blown blue lotus.

87-88. I shall give him divine vision and enable him to see my form.” After saying this, lord Nīlalohita, Parameśvara, surrounded by the divine Gaṇas—Brahmā, Indra, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and others granted vision to that intelligent son of the sage.

89. On seeing Mahādeva, his eyes became dimmed with tears of delight. Delighted in his heart he fell at his feet with great respect.

90. Thereafter he grasped the feet of Umā and the noble Nandin and then spoke to Brahmā, and others—“My life is fruitful today.

91. Today the crescent moon-bedecked deity has come for my protection. Who else can compare with me in this world, whether a Deva or a Dānava?”

92. Thereafter in a moment, Parāśara the son of Śakti saw his father standing in heaven along with his brothers.

93. On seeing him accompanied by his brothers in an aerial chariot that resembled the solar sphere and was open on all sides, he was delighted. He bowed down to his father.

94. Then the bull-bannered lord who was accompanied by his wife and the leading Gaṇas spoke thus to Śakti, the son of Vasiṣṭha who was eager to see his son.

The glorious lord said:—

95-96. O Śakti, see your son, the boy whose eyes are dimmed with tears of delight. O leading brahmin, see Adṛśyantī, Vasiṣṭha your father, Arundhatī your mother, the highly blessed auspicious lady comparable to goddess. O highly intelligent one, make obeisance to both your father and your mother.

97-98. At the behest of Śaṅkara, Śakti immediately, at first, bowed down to the lord of Devas and to Umā. He then bowed to the excellent Vasiṣṭha and to Arundhatī his highly blessed mother, the auspicious lady who considered her husband her god. At the behest of the lord of the Universe the powerful Śakti said:—

The son of Vasiṣṭha said:—

99. O dear son, O leading brahmin, Parāśara of great refulgence, I have been saved by you who had been in the womb when I died and who are a noble soul.

100-101. O dear son, Parāśara th attributes and the prosperities Aṇimā^[3] etc. have been attained by me, on seeing your face today. O dear one, of great intellect, at my behest^[4] protect Adṛśyantī the highly blessed lady and Arundhatī, as also my father Vasiṣṭha.

102. O dear son, our entire family has been redeemed by you. This has always^[5] been said by the learned that one conquers the worlds through one’s son,

103. Choose the desired^[6] boon from the lord who is source of origin of the worlds. After bowing down to the lord I shall go along with my brothers.

104-106. Thus taking leave of his son after bowing down to Maheśvara and after seeing his wife in the assembly, the sage of perfect control over the senses went away to his father-land. On seeing his father gone after worshipping the lord, the son of Śakti eulogised him with pleasing words. Thereafter the delighted Mahādeva, the suppressor of the Cupid and of Andhaka, blessed the son of Śakti and vanished there itself.

107. After Maheśvara had gone away accompanied by Umā, the son of Śakti, the knower of charms, burned the race of Rākṣasas by means of Mantras.

108. Then Vasiṣṭha the knower of Dharma, surrounded by the sages, said to his grandson, “O dear son, stop this excess of fury. Eschew your anger.

109. The Rākṣasas are not guilty. It had been so ordained^[7] in your father’s case. Anger provokes only the fools and not the intelligent people.

110-111. O dear son, who is killed by whom? Man is but the partaker of fruits of his own activities.

O dear son, fury is but the destroyer of fame and penance which men accumulate after a great deal of stress and strain. Enough of these Rājasaic activities of burning innocent people.

112-113. Let your sacrifice cease. Indeed, good men have forbearance as their strong point.” Thus at the instance of Vasiṣṭha, the leading sage, the son of Śakti wound up his sacrifice immediately after giving due deference to his words. Therefore holy lord Vasiṣṭha, the excellent sage was delighted.

114-117. Pulastya the son of Brahmā had attended the Satra. Vasiṣṭha duly offered him worship and the sage Pulastya was duly honoured. He then spoke to Parāśara who was standing by after due obeisance.

“In the course of this great enmity you have adopted forbearance at the instance of your preceptor. Hence, you will understand all the scriptural texts. My line of descendants has not been broken by you even though you were infuriated. Hence, O blessed one, I am giving you another great boon. O dear one, you will be the compiler of the Purāṇa Saṃhitā (the compendium of ancient lore).

118-119a. You will understand precisely the real nature of the deities.^[8] Due to my blessing your intellect will be devoid of impurities of activities, whether of active or absentious type and free from doubts.”

119b-120a. Thereafter the holy sage Vasiṣṭha the most excellent of all eloquent ones said:—“Whatever has been said by Pulastya will take place wholly.”

120b-121. Then by the grace of Pulastya and the intelligent Vasiṣṭha, Parāśara composed the Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa. By means of six modes^[9] (i.e.parts) it expounds all the topics. It is a mine of knowledge.

122-123. It extends to six thousand verses, and contains Vedic topics. It is the fourth^[10] among the Purāṇa collections and a splendid one. Thus O leading sages, the origin of the descendants of Vasiṣṭha and the prowess of the son of Śakti has been succinctly recounted to you.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

There are different versions of this legend in the Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata and Viṣṇupurāṇa. According to Mahābhārata. Kalmāṣapāda, king of the solar race, was the son of Sudās and a descendant of Ikṣvāku. While he was out hunting in the forest he met Śakti, the eldest son of Vasiṣṭha. Since Śakti refused to get out of his way, Kalmāṣapāda was enraged. He then struck Śakti with the whip. Thereupon, Śakti cursed him to become a rākṣasa. Thus, Kalmāṣapāda was turned into a rākṣasa Rudhira by name and he devoured Śakti together with his brothers. But according to Liṅga, the rākṣasa Rudhira entered the body of King Kalmāṣapāda when the latter was engaged in sacrifice, under the leadership of Vasiṣṭha. Instigated by Viśvāmitra, who was a rival priest, Rudhira devoured Śakti as well as his ninety-nine brothers.—Liṅga refers to the legend of Viśvāmitra. According to Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa, Śakti was cursed by Viśvāmitra in the context of king Triśaṅku’s sacrifice.

[2]:

trailokyaṃ sacarācaram: Change the accusative case into the genitive case and supply ‘īśam’ to obtain the required meaning. The expression ‘trailokyasya sacarācarasya īśam’ would mean ‘lord of the three worlds including the mobile and immobile beings’. Śivatoṣiṇī. is not in favour of this change. It supplies ‘dagdhvā’ which it construes with ‘trailokyam sacarācaram’; i.e. ‘having burnt the three worlds including the mobile and immobile beings’.

[3]:

See P 134 note 241

[4]:

Construe ‘mamājnayā’ (v-100) with ‘adṛśyantīṃ rakṣa’ (v-101), i.e. ‘at my behest you shall take care of Adṛśyantī.’

[5]:

sadaiva—always, or read sadeva—ucitam eva Śivatoṣiṇī: ‘it is proper or truthful that............’

[6]:

īpsitaṃ varay eśānam: take recourse to Śiva for obtaining your desire, viz, the destruction of Rākṣasas.

[7]:

vihita [vihitam]—destined.

[8]:

devatā-paramārtha [paramārtham]—vāstava-svarūpam Śivatoṣiṇī. i.e. facts.

[9]:

ṣaḍprakāra [ṣaḍ-prakāram]—ṣaḍaṃśarūpa [ṣaḍ-aṃśarūpam] ‘consisting of six parts’.

[10]:

caturtha [caturtham]. But according to the serial order (of. Liṅga 39.61-63) Śiva, and not Viṣṇu, is the fourth.