Section CXVIII

"Janamejaya said, 'O utterer of Brahma, you have recited (everything about) the extraordinary birth among men, of the sons of Dhritarashtra in consequence of the Rishi’s grace. You have also said what their names are, according to the order of their birth.

O Brahmana, I have heard all these from you.

But tell me now all about the Pandavas. While reciting the incarnations on earth of the celestial, the Asuras, and the beings of other classes, you saidst that the Pandavas were all illustrious and endued with the prowess of gods, and that they were incarnate portion of the celestials themselves. I desire, therefore, to hear all about those beings of extraordinary achievements beginning from the moment of their birth.

O Vaisampayana, recite you their achievements.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'O king, one day Pandu, while roaming about in the woods (on the southern slopes of the Himavat) that teemed with deer and wild animals of fierce disposition, saw a large deer, that seemed to be the leader of a herd, serving his mate. Beholding the animals, the monarch pierced them both with five of his sharp and swift arrows winged with golden feathers.

O monarch, that was no deer that Pandu struck at, but a Rishi’s son of great ascetic merit who was enjoying his mate in the form of a deer. Pierced by Pandu, while engaged in the act of intercourse, he fell down to the ground, uttering cries that were of a man and began to weep bitterly.

"The deer then addressed Pandu and said,

'O king, even men that are slaves to lust and wrath, and void of reason, and ever sinful, never commit such a cruel act as this. Individual judgment prevails not against the ordinance, the ordinance prevails against individual judgment. The wise never sanction anything discountenanced by the ordinance.

You are born, O Bharata, in a race that has ever been virtuous. How is it, therefore, that even you, suffering thyself to be overpowered by passion and wrath losest your reason?'

Hearing this, Pandu replied,

'O deer, kings behave in the matter of slaying animals of your species exactly as they do in the matter of slaying foes. It behoves you not, therefore, to reprove me thus from ignorance. Animals of your species are slain by open or covert means. This, indeed, is the practice of kings.

Then why dost you reprove me?

Formerly, the Rishi Agastya, while engaged in the performance of a grand sacrifice, chased the deer, and devoted every deer in the forest unto the gods in general. You have been slain, pursuant to the usage sanctioned by such precedent.

Wherefore reprovest us then?

For his especial sacrifices Agastya performed the homa with fat of the deer.'

"The deer then said,

'O king, men do not let fly their arrows at their enemies when the latter are unprepared. But there is a time for doing it (viz., after declaration of hostilities). Slaughter at such a time is not censurable.'

"Pandu replied,

'It is well-known that men slay deer by various effective means without regarding whether the animals are careful or careless. Therefore, O deer, why dost you reprove me?'

"The deer then said,

'O, king, I did not blame you for your having killed a deer, or for the injury you have done to me. But, instead of acting so cruelly, you should have waited till the completion of my act of intercourse. What man of wisdom and virtue is there that can kill a deer while engaged in such an act? The time of sexual intercourse is agreeable to every creature and productive of good to all.

O king, with this my mate I was engaged in the gratification of my sexual desire. But that effort of mine has been rendered futile by you.

O king of the Kurus, as you are born in the race of the Pauravas ever noted for white (virtuous) deeds, such an act has scarcely been worthy of you.

O Bharata, this act must be regarded as extremely cruel, deserving of universal execration, infamous, and sinful, and certainly leading to hell. You are acquainted with the pleasures of sexual intercourse. You are acquainted also with the teaching of morality and dictates of duty. Like unto a celestial as you are, it behoves you not to do such an act as leads to hell.

O best of kings, your duty is to chastise all who act cruelly, who are engaged in sinful practices and who have thrown to the winds religion, profit, and pleasure as explained in the scriptures. What hast you done, O best of men, in killing me who have given you no offence?

I am, O king, a Muni who lives on fruits and roots, though disguised as a deer. I was living in the woods in peace with all. Yet you have killed me, O king, for which I will curse you certainly. As you have been cruel unto a couple of opposite sexes, death shall certainly overtake you as soon as you feelest the influence of sexual desire.

I am a Muni of the name of Kindama, possessed of ascetic merit. I was engaged in sexual intercourse with this deer, because my feelings of modesty did not permit me to indulge in such an act in human society. In the form of a deer I rove in the deep woods in the company of other deer.

You have slain me without knowing that I am a Brahmana, the sin of having slain a Brahmana shall not, therefore, be thine. But senseless man, as you have killed me, disguised as a deer, at such a time, your fate shall certainly be even like mine.

When, approaching your wife lustfully, you will unite with her even as I had done with mine, in that very state shalt you have to go to the world of the spirits. And that wife of thine with whom you mayst be united in intercourse at the time of your death shall also follow you with affection and reverence to the domains of the king of the dead.

You have brought me grief when I was happy. So shall grief come to you when you are in happiness.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Saying this, that deer, afflicted with grief gave up the ghost; and Pandu also was plunged in woe at the sight.'"