Chapter 57 - The Śabara Goes to Svarga

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-8. After feeding Brāhmaṇas, Bhānumatī ate what was left after feeding them. After eating she took rest with pleasure, while the food got digested. On the Madanākhyā Trayodaśī day (thirteenth of the bright half named Madana), she took bath in the Hrada (whirlpool) of Mārkaṇḍa and adored Lord Guhāśaya (Śiva) (stationed in a cave as abode). She observed fast as enjoined. She bathed Maheśvara with Pañcāmṛta and sweet scents. Incense, lamps, Naivedyas were offered. She adored (the Lord) with different kinds of flowers and excellent Naivedyas. She kept awake in the night hearing Purāṇic stories and witnessing dances and hearing songs and prayers. She meditated upon Lord Maheśvara. The entire quantity of cooked food was duly spread in front of the Lord. All the people belonging to all the four castes were fed along with their attendants.

On the fourteenth day the whole day was spent in worshipping the Bull-emblemed Lord. She kept awake in the night keeping conchs blowing and drums and other instruments continuously being played. The sound of Paṭahas echoed everywhere. Many devotees thronged there. Then the whole night was spent in dancing and singing songs and prayers. At dawn the Brāhmaṇas were fed with milk-puddings, honey and ghee.

9-16. Gifts were made to Brāhmaṇas in accordance with own capacity as well as the qualifications of the ones. The Lord was adored with sweet-smelling flowers such as Madana and the like, and clothed all round with delicate clothes of various colours. Many garlands were kept hanging down and many lamps were kept blazing. There were various kinds of sweet cooked foods such as Modakas etc., round in shape.

Then all those Brāhmaṇas engrossed in the study of the Vedas glorified that Parva by the name Padmaka. Today is the day of the Sun (Sunday). The Tithi (lunar day) is fifteenth. The constellation is that pertaining to Tvaṣṭṛ. Today is the day of the transit of the Sun, the equinoctial time. Vyatīpāta is the Yoga and Viṣṭi is the Karaṇa. This Parva named Padmaka has four times more benefit than that of Ayana etc. Whatever is offered, consigned to the sacred fire, or repeated as Japa becomes everlasting.

Those Brāhmaṇas went to Śūlabheda along with Bhānumatī. They saw the Śabara standing at the Kuṇḍa along with his wife. O king, the Śabara went in the north-eastern direction. He climbed on to the Bhṛgu mountain along with his wife in order to leap down therefrom.

Bhānumatī said:

17-23. O noble-minded one, stop, stop. Listen to my words. Why do you give up your life? You are still a youth. What is your distress? What is the cause of your dejection? What is your misery? What is your ailment? You seem to be a child now. Pray, let the reason be mentioned.

Śabara said:

I have no reason to offer. I have no sorrow. I am afraid of the worldly existence and my intellect does not intend to do anything else. It is with very great difficulty that one fortunately obtains human birth. If, even after getting the human birth, one does not practise piety, O beautiful lady, one definitely falls into a terrible hell solely due to one’s own defect. Hence I wish to hurl myself down into this Tīrtha that is destructive of sins.

The queen said:

You have yet ample time to acquire piety. Whether one has done one’s duty well or ill, one becomes pure through Vrata and Dāna. I shall give you food-grain or clothes or adequate cash. Perform righteous actions always. Always meditate upon Maheśvara.

Śabara said:

24-31. I desire no money, no food-grains, no garments. If anyone accepts food from another, he accepts his sins as well.

The queen said:

One who has bulbous roots, roots and fruits for food, or wanders begging for excellent alms or takes the holy- bath in the excellent Tīrthas, is rid of all sins. Whatever the pure man does, he shall be free from sins. You will become pure through your holy rites and will certainly attain beatitude.

Śabara said:

Intake of food has been abandoned by me today, but I will not eschew Satya (Truth) which is greater even than my vital airs. O fair lady, do this favour to me. Excuse me.

After saying this the Śabara bound himself with half of his upper cloth, meditated upon Hari and fell down along with his wife.

When he fall down from the top of the mountain, O king, he died. They were seen smashed to smithereens over the Kuṇḍa. Within a period of three Muhūrtas the Śabara climbed on to an aerial chariot along with his wife and attained the excellent state (i.e. beatitude).