Chapter 21 - Vṛndā’s Self-immolation

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Nārada said:

1. Viṣṇu went to Jalandhara, the city of that Daitya. He resolved to violate the chastity of Vṛndā.

2. In the meantime, the queen Vṛndārakā (Vṛndā) saw in a dream her husband seated on a buffalo.^[1] He was anointed with oil. He was stark naked.

3-6. He wore black flowers and ornaments. He was attended upon by carnivorous animals and demons. His head was completely shaven and he was proceeding towards the southern direction. She saw her own city enveloped in darkness and immersed in the sea suddenly along with herself. Then that young woman woke up pondering over that dream. She saw the rising sun with a hole in the middle without any lustre and saw this frequently.

Thinking that it foreboded evil, she began to cry. She was excessively frightened. She did not get happiness or mental peace anywhere in the ornamental arched gateways, attics, terraces etc. Then, accompanied by two friends, she went to the city park.

7. There also the young woman wandered but did not get happiness anywhere. She went from forest to forest without being aware of it herself.

8. While wandering thus she saw two Rākṣasas who were extremely terrifying.^[2] They had leonine faces, extremely terrible on account of the curved teeth.

9. On seeing them she became much afflicted and ready to flee from there. She then saw a calm and tranquil ascetic who had resorted to the vow of silence. He had a disciple too.

10. Out of fear she put her tender arms round his neck and said: “O sage, protect me. I have sought refuge in you.”

11. On seeing her agitated and closely pursued by the Rākṣasas, he angrily made a loud hum sound whereby he turned back those terrible demons.

12. On seeing them turned and gone due to the fear of that hum sound, Vṛndā prostrated before the sage like a rod on the ground and spoke these words:

Vṛndā said:

13-14. O holy one, storehouse of mercy, I have been protected by you from this terrible fear. I wish to submit to you something. Kindly listen to it.

Jalandhara is my husband. O holy lord, he has gone to fight with Rudra. How does he fare in that battle? O holy lord of good holy rites, tell me.

Nārada said:

15. On hearing her words, the sage kindly looked up. By that time two monkeys came there, bowed down to him and stood by.

16. Directed by the gesture from his eyebrows they went up into the sky. Within half a moment they came back, bowed to him and stood in front of him. They were holding a pair of hands, a head and a headless trunk.

17. On noticing that the head, the trunk and the hands were those of the son of the Ocean (Jalandhara), she fell on the ground unconscious, miserable due to the distress of her husband.

18. After sprinkling her with the waters from his water pot the sage consoled her. Placing her forehead upon the forehead of her husband, she cried piteously.

Vṛndā said:

19. O my lord, formerly during our happy dialogue you used to humour me and delight me. I am your beloved and innocent wife. Why don’t you speak to me now?

20. You were the conqueror of the three worlds. Devas and Gandharvas along with Viṣṇu have been defeated by you. How did it happen that you have now been killed by a mere ascetic?

Nārada said:

21-22. After lamenting thus, Vṛndā spoke these words to the sage:

Vṛndā said:

O excellent sage, O storehouse of mercy, resuscitate this my lover and lord. You alone are capable of bringing him back to life, O sage, I believe.

Nārada said:

On hearing these words of hers, the sage said with a smile:

The sage said:

23. He has been killed in battle by Rudra. He cannot be made alive once again. Still, out of sympathy for you, I shall make him alive.

Nārada said:

24. After saying this, the Brāhmaṇa vanished. By that time, the son of the Ocean embraced Vṛndā and kissed her face with great mental pleasure and satisfaction.

25. Vṛndā too was extremely delighted in her mind on seeing her husband once again. Staying within the forest in his company for many days, she sported about.

26. Once at the conclusion of the sexual intercourse, she saw him in the form of Viṣṇu. Rebuking him angrily Vṛndā spoke these words:

Vṛndā said:

27. Fie upon your conduct, O Hari, you commit adultery! I know now well that you are a fake ascetic.^[3]

28. The two, your own gatekeepers, who were shown to me by you by means of Māyā will be born as Rākṣasas. They will abduct your wife.

29. You will wander in forest, miserable due to the separation from your wife. Do wander along with this Lord of serpents, who has now been your disciple.

30. After saying this, Vṛndā entered fire, though Viṣṇu whose mind was attached to her, tried to prevent her.

31. Hari frequently remembered her. He was covered with the ashes to which Vṛndā was reduced. He stood there itself. Though he was pacified and advised by the groups of Suras and Siddhas, he did not get peace of mind.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VV 2-6 describe ill-omens indicating Jalandhara’s death.

[2]:

VV 8 ff describe how Viṣṇu deluded Vṛndā by his Māyā power and violated her chastity.

[3]:

Abduction of Sītā and such other events are shown to be the consequences of the curse given by Vṛndā.