Chapter 39 - Añjanā’s Penance for Getting a Son

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Sūta said:

1-2. Formerly, Añjanā who had no son became distressed and therefore engaged herself in a penance. On seeing her Mataṅga, a tiger among sages and a devotee of Viṣṇu, spoke these words to (the lady) named Añjanā who was engaged in a very severe penance.

Mataṅga said:

3. Get up, O gentle lady Añjanā. Why are you engaged in penance? Tell me, O highly fortunate gentle lady of excellent countenance, your purpose and aim (of performing penance).

Añjanā replied:

4-7. O Mataṅga, O tiger among sages, listen to my words. My father, a Rākṣasa named Kesarī, is a devotee of Śiva. He performed a severe penance to please Śiva. It was a very difficult penance for the sake of a son. Accompanied by Pārvatī and seated on his Bull, Lord Śaṃbhu appeared before him and granted him an auspicious boon.

Śaṃbhu said:

Listen, O King, sonlessness in this birth has been ordained for you by your fate. Still I grant you another thing.

8. Your daughter will be well-known in all the worlds. Her son of great intelligence wilt cause delight unto you.

9-14a. After granting this boon to him, Hara vanished there itself.

On getting me (as a daughter), O Brāhmaṇa, my father became centented [contented?]. Then, after some time, O Brāhmaṇa, the great monkey named Kesarī^[1] requested my father to give me (in marriage) to him. Thereupon, my father gave me to him. As a wedding present he gave a hundred million cows and a hundred thousand elephants. (My father) of lofty mind gave a hundred million horses and an equal number of chariots. He gave garments and jewels in plenty and a thousand men and women servants. O highly intelligent one, along with me he gave many women to work in the inner apartment. They were experts in dance and music. He gave a thousand clothes too. For many years, O sage, I sported with my husband.

14b-18. I was extremely distressed, O Brāhmaṇa, because I had no son. There in the city of Kiṣkindhā many kinds of holy rites were performed by me. In the months of Māgha, Vāiśākha and Kārttika, O eminent Brāhmaṇa, holy ablutions, charitable gifts, holy rites etc. were performed. The holy observances extending over four months (in the rainy season) were performed. Prostrations as well as excellent circumambulations were performed, O Brāhmaṇa. Various kinds of charitable gifts were given, viz. gift of Śālagrāma, of food, lights, cows, gingelly-seeds, garments, O great sage, gift of land, water, flower etc. All the important holy rites pertaining to Viṣṇu were performed by me * with a desire for the benefit of (begetting) a good son.

19-23. The holy rites suggested by the noble-souled Brāhmaṇas to be performed in Śrāvaṇa and other months have been performed by me, O great Brāhmaṇa, for the propitiation of the Slayer of Madhu.

All the chief varieties of fruits of various kinds have been gifted by me with a desire for having a good son. Innumerable holy rites (observances) of various kinds have been performed by me. Still I did not get a son. I am distressed thereby. So I am engaged in a penance.

How will a son famous in the three worlds be born, O Brāhmaṇa, after bowing down in front of you. O excellent Sage, I request you. Do tell me, O tiger among sages, distressed that I am and engaged in the penance.

Śrī Sūta said:

24-28. As she said thus, Mataṅga the excellent sage spoke:

“Listen to my words, O gentle lady. (They are) conducive to the attainment of sons and grandsons. Ten Yojanas (i.e. 10 x 12 = 120 kilometres) to the southern side from here there is the residential abode (shrine) of Nṛsiṃha well-known as Ghanācala. There is the charming Brahmatīrtha in it, O lady of good fortune. Ten Yojanas to the east of the same is the most excellent river named Suvarṇamukharī. To the north of it there is a mountain named Vṛṣabhācala. On its summit there is a splendid lake called Svāmipuṣkariṇī After going there and seeing the auspicious waters your mind will become purified.

29-35. Take your holy bath there in accordance with the injunctions. Bow down to the deity Varāha (Boar). Then go ahead, O lady of excellent countenance, after bowing down to Veṅkaṭeśa. A Tīrtha well-known as Viyadgaṅgā shines on the northern side of Svāmitīrtha. It is a place full of lions and tigers. Different kinds of splendid trees of great merit are found there, such as mango, Punnāga, jack tree, Mimusops elengi, Embylic myrobalan, Sandal, Agallochum, margosa, palm trees, Hintāla trees, Butea frondosa, Feronia elephantum, holy fig tree, Marmelos and Iṅgudas (Terrainalia catappa).

O gentle lady Añjanā, take your holy bath there with all requisite preliminary rites of Saṅkalpa etc. After the bath drink the (water of the) auspicious Tīrtha. Standing facing the Tīrtha, O gentle lady of excellent countenance, perform a penance with the Wind-god as your object of worship. As a result of your penance, your son will be one who cannot be killed by Devas, Rākṣasas, Brāhmaṇas, human beings, excellent sages, black bees, birds, missiles and weapons of many splendid varieties.”

Śrī Sūta said:

36. On being told thus, the gentle lady Añjanā bowed down to him again and again- Accompanied by her husband she quickly went to (the mountain) named Veṅkaṭācala.

37. After reaching the Kapila Tīrtha and taking her holy bath with the mind free from impurities, she climbed the mountain Veṅkaṭa and went to Svāmipuṣkariṇī.

38. After bathing there and bowing down to the deities Varāha and Veṅkaṭeśa, she remembered frequently the words of Sage Mataṅga.

39. The sweet-voiced Añjanā hastened to Viyadgaṅgā. She took her bath and drank the holy water. She then performed penance by standing on its banks and facing it.

40. With the Vital Breath (Prāṇavāyu) as her object of worship the lady of holy observances began the penance. First she subsisted on fruits, then on water and then she abstained from taking any thing.

41. With her eyes fixed on the tip of her nose she performed penance for a thousand years. Her splendid friend named Vipulā rendered service to her.

42-44. At the end of a thousand years the Wind-god of great intelligence appeared before her. The highly intelligent one spoke to her, O excellent sages, when the Sun had his transit to the Zodiac Aries on the meritorious Full-Moon day in conjunction with the constellation Citrā:

Vāyu said:

I shall grant you what you desire, O lady of holy rites; choose your boon.

On hearing his words thus the chaste lady Añjanā said:

45. “O Lord, Wind-god of exalted magnificence, of great intelligence, grant me a son.”

On hearing her words the Wind-god said:

46. “I shall become your son. O lady of splendid countenance, I shall grant (bring to) you good reputation.”

After granting her the boon thus, the mighty one remained there itself.

47-49. Then all these came to see her engaged in penance; Brahmā and other Devas, the Guardians of the Quarters, Indra and others, noble-souled (sages) like Vasiṣṭha and others, Yogins like Sanaka, eminent Brāhmaṇas Vyāsa etc,, the Lord of the universe along with Lakṣmī, the wives of Devas and the wives of sages. Those noble-souled ones came there riding on their respective vehicles accompanied by wives, servants, sons and others.

50. Saying “Oh (How) wonderful! Oh wonderful!” all the groups of Devas, Brahmā and others stood far away in the firmament looking at her. All those (gods), the chiefs of whom were Brahmā and Maheśa, stood there looking from a distance.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Keasarī is the name of Añjanā’s Rākṣasa father and monkey husband.