Chapter 14 - Nārada Consoles Indradyumna

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Summary: Nārada Consoles Indradyumna and Urges Him to Perform Horse-sacrifices.

The sages asked:

1. When they got into the chariot and proceeded ahead, where did Nārada and the king go? What did they do? Describe it to us, O great sage.

Jaimini said:

2. Along with Vidyāpati, the younger brother of the priest, they came near the boundary of the holy place of Nīlakaṇṭha.

3-4. There appeared bad omens on the way. The left eye and the left arm of the king who was going ahead, began to throb and tremble frequently. On seeing them the tiger among kings became dejected. He asked the sage who was a storehouse of all knowledge, the reason thereof

5-7. “My empire is unassailed. This excellent holy spot has been reached. Our pilgrimage to Mādhava is conducive to auspiciousness. What ominous thing can happen to me today? O sage, tell me truthfully. My left eye throbs and the left arm trembles frequently.”

On hearing it Nārada spoke indicating the future task and telling the king the words of welfare and happiness uttered by the Lotus-born Lord.

Nārada said:

8-10. O king, do not get dejected. Generally all auspicious things are impeded by obstacles. When the obstacles are removed, O king, everything shall be splendid in the case of fortunate persons. It is true that you are an emperor. This holy spot is verily the physical body of Viṣṇu. But the deity for whom you have undertaken this pilgrimage has vanished. It was covered up with golden sands in the evening on the day next to that when this Brāhmaṇa Vidyāpati visited it. The deity has gone to his abode in Pātāla and has become very difficult of access in the human world.”

Jaimini said:

11. On hearing this dreadful utterance that was as bad as the fall of the thunderbolt, the king fell on the ground unconscious, O excellent Brāhmaṇas.

12. On seeing him fallen thus all the friendly assistants and comrades with the priest as their leader rushed towards him crying out “Alas! Alas!”

13. They frequently sprinkled on his face cold water mixed with camphor. They smeared all his body with sandal paste, agallochum and camphor.

14-15. They quickly fanned him with chowries and fans. Nārada too became bewildered. Performing the yogic process of Dhāraṇā (‘Retention’) he saved the life of the king knowing that the future good lay therein. After a long time the king regained consciousness by their excellent efforts.

16-19. He got up and fell down at the feet of Nārada, O Brāhmaṇas (and said): “What sin have I committed in a previous birth? It is certainly on account of its ripening that this terrible misery has befallen. O great sage, even in dream no offence has been committed by me mentally, physically or verbally against Brāhmaṇas and cows. O tiger among sages, no holy rite, whether Nitya, Naimittika or Kāmya, prescribed for kings has been omitted by me. O great sage, no insult has been perpetrated by me towards deities, guests, servants, manes, dependents and kinsmen.

20-24. There are fifty (possible) offences against Viṣṇu, O leading Vaiṣṇava; all of them have been avoided by me like huge, furious serpents.

What lucky (and meritorious) act has been done by that younger brother of my priest? He has been able to see Lord Nīlamādhava with the physical eye.

What for did you cause the loss of the kingdom deliberately, even when you knew about this? How is that this was not declared at the time when we set out on the journey?

Why was the abode of Brāhmaṇas well-versed in the Vedas uprooted by me? Why were the lands excellently maintained for a long time abandoned by these people? Ever since the inception of their families the subjects had pursued certain vocations for their livelihood. For my sake they have (now) abandoned them. How will they maintain themselves now?

25. If I do not see Hari, I will put an end to my life. This is my resolve, O Brāhmaṇa. If I die what will be of the subjects?

26. O sage, you are always kind. You advise me as regards the auspicious and inauspicious. Take my son to Mālava and crown him there.

27-29. Let him protect the land with justice. Let not these subjects be subjected to grief. Let all those kings who have come here at my behest return and carry out the directions of my son. I will remain in this holy spot contemplating on Nīlamādhava, I will observe a fast unto death and make the remaining part of my life fruitful.”

Jaimini said:

30. As King Indradyumna was lamenting thus, the son of Brahmā made him rise up. Consoling him with kind and gentle words he spoke thus:

Nārada said:

31-35. O king, you are at the head of learned men. You are a Vaiṣṇava and an ocean of courage. How is it that you do not realize that (spiritual) welfare is always attended with obstacles?

This is the greatest good of man that can be acquired only in the course of a hundred births, that one can see with his physical eye the Club-bearing Lord in physical form.

Hari’s sportive activity is unrestrained. By whom can it be understood completely? Though I am a living-liberated soul, O king, I do not go beyond his Līlā (sportive activity).

I am a staunch devotee. I stay near the Lord. Still have I not been deceived by him many times? Even by many hundreds of births one cannot resist his Māyā. This endless Māyā of his cannot be comprehended even by the Lotus-born Lord who occupies the lotus coming out of the navel (of the Lord), even though he is in the habit of eulogizing him always.

36. The nature of the master of Māyā has been spoken to you thus, O king. Now I shall tell you especially that you are the most excellent one among fortunate persons.

37-41. All the three forms of his are inclined to bless you.

The creator of the mobile and immobile beings (god Brahmā), the grandfather himself of all the worlds told me thus: “You do go quickly near Indradyumna. He will go to Nīla mountain desirous of seeing Nīlamādhava. After being requested by Yama the Lord has vanished. He must not grieve over it. This (disappearance) cannot be made otherwise. That king, the fifth one in my line, should be spoken to in my words (i.e. conveyed my message) that for his sake I will propitiate Puruṣottama, the Supreme Soul, and will bring him from Śveta island^[1] at the end of the thousandth horse-sacrifice. Let that king Indradyumna worship Viṣṇu by means of a thousand horse-sacrifices and stay now in the holy spot of Śrī Puruṣottama.

42-45. At the end, he will see with his (physical) eye Lord Viṣṇu of wooden form. That incarnation of Hari will become famous through him. At that time the bodies (i.e. idols) of Viṣṇu are to be certainly installed by me.

Formerly Lord Hari of bejewelled idol had been in four different forms. The king’s priest had seen the Lord and informed the king directly.

The Lord of divine wooden form will incarnate in four forms. Hence, O leading king, do not be grieved. Your desire will certainly be fruitful. There is no doubt about it. Stay here without any worry.”

Jaimini said:

46. Thus, O Brāhmaṇas, Nārada consoled the king and restored his confidence. Thereafter he spoke to him once again.

Nārada said:

47. Accompanied by Durgā the Blue-throated Lord (Śiva) is present at the tip of the excellent holy spot having the form of a conch-shell.^[2] We shall go there. That is a flat land suitable for horse-sacrifice.

48. In it we shall build a very good structure that will stay firm for a thousand years, for the purpose of the horse-sacrifice. By visiting the Nṛsiṃha idol of the Lord residing on Nīla mountain we shall make our life contented and blessed.

49. At the end of the sacrifice we shall, for the purpose of destroying all obstacles and for increasing the benefit, install an idol worthy of being worshipped by you always.

50. Through excellent sages we shall begin the excellent sacrifice in a suitable manner. Delaying is not conducive to welfare. Such is the advice of Brahmā.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Śvetadvīpa: The abode of Viṣṇu. It is supposed to be in the Milk Ocean.

[2]:

Śaṅkha-Kṣetra: Puruṣottama Kṣetra is conceived to be conch-shaped.