Section CCXIV

"Markandeya continued,

'The virtuous fowler, having introduced his (both) parents to that Brahmana as his highest gurus, again spoke to him as follows,

'Mark you the power of this virtue of mine, by which my inner spiritual vision is extended. For this, you wast told by that self-restrained, truthful lady, devoted to her husband, 'Hie you to Mithila; for there lives a fowler who will explain to you, the mysteries of religion.'

The Brahmana said,

'O pious man, so constant in fulfilling your religious obligations, bethinking myself of what that truthful good-natured lady so true to her husband, has said, I am convinced that you are really endowed with every high quality.'

The fowler replied,

'I have no doubt, my lord, that what that lady, so faithful to her husband, said to you about me, was said with full knowledge of the facts. I have, O Brahmana, explained to you all this as a matter of favour. And now, good sir, listen to me. I shall explain what is good for you.

O good Brahmana, of irreproachable character, you have wronged your father and your mother, for you have left home without their permission, for the purpose of learning the Vedas. You have not acted properly in this matter, for your ascetic and aged parents have become entirely blind from grief at your loss.

Do you return home to console them. May this virtue never forsake you You are high-minded, of ascetic merit, and always devoted to your religion but all these have become useless to you. Do you without delay return to console your parents. Do have some regard for my words and not act otherwise; I tell you what is good for you, O Brahmana Rishi, Do you return home this very day.'

The Brahmana replied,

'This that you have said, is undoubtedly true; mayst you, O pious man, attain prosperity; I am much pleased with you.'

The fowler said,

'O Brahmana, as you practisest with assiduousness those divine, ancient, and eternal virtues which are so difficult of attainment even by pure-minded persons, you appearest (to me) like a divine being. Return to the side of your father and mother and be quick and diligent in honouring your parents; for, I do not know if there is any virtue higher than this.'

The Brahmana replied,

'By a piece of singular good luck have I arrived here, and by a piece of similar good luck have I thus been associated with you. It is very difficult to find out, in our midst, a person who can so well expound the mysteries of religion; there is scarcely one man among thousands, who is well versed in the science of religion. I am very glad, O great man, to have secured your friendship; mayst you be prosperous. I was on the point of falling into hell, but was extricated by you. It was destined to be so, for you didst (unexpectedly) come in my way.

And, O great man, as the fallen King Yayati was saved by his virtuous grandsons (daughter’s sons), so, have I know been saved by you. According to your advice, I shall honour my father and my mother; for a man with an impure heart can never expound the mysteries of sin and righteousness. As it is very difficult for a person born in the Sudra class to learn the mysteries of the eternal religion, I do not consider you to be a Sudra.

There must surely be some mystery in connection with this matter. You must have attained the Sudra’s estate by reason of the fruition of thine own past karma. O magnanimous man, I long to know the truth about this matter. Do you tell it to me with attention and according to your own inclination.'

"The fowler replied,

'O good Brahmana, Brahmanas are worthy of all respect from me. Listen, O sinless one, to this story of a previous existence of mine. O son of an excellent Brahmana, I was formerly a Brahmana, well-read in the Vedas, and an accomplished student of the Vedangas. Through my own fault I have been degraded to my present state.

A certain king, accomplished in the science of dhanurveda (science of archery), was my friend; and from his companionship, O Brahmana, I, too became skilled in archery; and one day the king, in company with his ministers and followed by his best warriors, went out on a hunting expedition. He killed a large number of deer near a hermitage. I, too, O good Brahmana, discharged a terrible arrow.

And a rishi was wounded by that arrow with its head bent out. He fell down upon the ground, and screaming loudly said,

'I have harmed no one, what sinful man has done this?'

And, my lord, taking him for a deer, I went up to him and found that he was pierced through the body by my arrow. On account of my wicked deed I was sorely grieved (in mind). And then I said to that rishi of severe ascetic merit, who was loudly crying, lying upon the ground,

'I have done this unwittingly, O rishi.'

And also this I said to the muni:

'Do you think it proper to pardon all this transgression.'

But, O Brahmana, the rishi, lashing himself into a fury, said to me,

'You shalt be born as a cruel fowler in the Sudra class."