Chapter 130 - Creation of Pañcapiṇḍā Cow

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sages said:

1. O Sūta, you have said about a son of Yājñavalkya. Who was his mother? Do speak everything in detail.

Sūta said:

2-3. He (Yājñavalkya) had two excellent wives endowed with all good qualities. One is gloriously mentioned as Maitreyī who had good qualities. She was the senior. The other one of good features (Kalyāṇī) was well known as Kātyāyanī Kātyāyana, the expounder of the meaning of the Vedas, was her son.

4. There are two holy pits of splendid features pertaining to them there. Men who take their holy baths therein, attain those worlds of great glory.

5. The excellent Tīrtha of the chaste lady Śāṇḍilī is another Tīrtha near Kātyāyanī Tīrtha.

6. Kātyāyanī who was distressed due to the (rivalry) of her co-wife, had great detachment and she became enlightened by Śāṇḍilī at that place.

7. A woman who takes her holy bath there on the third lunar day in the bright half of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa shall enjoy conjugal felicity.

8. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, a one-eyed woman, an aged woman, a dwarfish woman, and one overcome by misfortune becomes a desirable one by its power.

The sages said:

9. What sort of distress due to her co-wife assailed Kātyāyanī? O Sūta, how did she get spiritual instructions from Śāṇḍilī? What was it?

10. Do mention how Kātyāyanī obtained the instruction, which couldn’t have been ordinary as (it was) uttered by her (Śāṇḍilī).

Sūta said:

11. Once Kātyāyanī saw Yājñavalkya enamoured of and united with Maitreyī. Due to jealousy, she became very miserable and distressed.

12. She stopped taking bath and eating food. She never indulged in jokes and fun. She always heaved sighs and kept her eyes filled with tears.

13-14. Once she chanced to go out for gathering fruit. Then she saw Śāṇḍilī standing by the side of her husband. The chaste lady was standing very humbly with palms joined in reverence. The husband was lovingly looking at her face with eyes displaying pleasure.

15-16. He was eliciting facts regarding good and bad things and explaining them. On seeing the couple pleased with each other, she thought within herself, ‘This saintly lady is blessed. Her husband always looks up to her and expounds matters good and bad. He is full of love. He never has anything to do with other women.’

17. Brooding over it frequently, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, she went back to her hermitage censuring her own physical form.

18-22. Then once, O Brāhmaṇas, when Śāṇḍilī was sitting alone as her husband had gone out on some business Kātyāyanī approached her and respectfully asked her: “O fair lady! Can I have some instruction from you, which will lead to great prosperity? Please tell me.

I am extremely afflicted by the miseries caused by my husband, especially those caused through the co-wife. So do tell me how a husband can be turned into one always looking at the face of his wife. He should not disrespect her by means of offensive words, nor associate with other women even mentally.

Do tell me how your husband has come to be under your control and how he always accords you what you desire, not thinking of another women even mentally."

Śāṇḍilī said:

23. Listen, O chaste lady, I shall tell you an excellent secret as to how my husband looks only at me and is subject to my control.

24-25. Śāṇḍilya, the excellent sage of Kurukṣetra, is my father. He was in the stage of Vānaprastha when I was born as the sole child and daughter of that noble-souled one. I grew up gradually in that very hermitage.

26. I used to render him befitting service at the time of Homa. I used to fetch Nīvāra (wild rice) and other grain everyday.

27. Once the excellent Sage Nārada came to my father’s hermitage utterly tired.

28. At the behest of my father, I gave relief to him from weariness by fetching water for washing feet, toilet, bath etc., and by other services.

29. At the conclusion of meal, the sage was relaxing. Then, O lady of excellent complexion, he was asked politely by my mother.

30-32. “O tiger among sages, this is our only daughter born in our advanced age. She is dearer to us than our own very vital breath.

Therefore, quickly explain some easy means leading to her happy future, be it an observance (Vrata), regulation, Homa or some Mantra.

By resorting to that means, she should attain a husband of gentle manners and good features. He should speak pleasing words and always look at her only. He should be averse to other men’s wives.”

33. On hearing her words, the sage thought for a long time and spoke thus with a pleasant face:

Nārada said:

34. In the holy spot of Hāṭakeśvara, Gaurī has been installed as Pañcapiṇḍā (five lumps). The great goddess has been installed by Gaurī herself.

35. Let this (daughter of yours) worship her with great faith and devotion for a period of one year, particularly on the third lunar day.

36. At the conclusion of a year, she will attain a befitting husband. There is no doubt about it. He will be as handsome as she is beautiful.

37. O highly esteemed lady, formerly Gaurī had resorted to that place which, she knew, bestows success, after having been distressed due to her jealousy of Gaṅgā and having deserted Maheśvara (for that reason).

38-39. Then she had thought, ‘Which goddess should I worship? Other women of Suras worship me for the sake of conjugal felicity. Therefore, with great devotion and excessive enthusiasm I shall worship myself through my own self for achieving success.’

40. With great concentration, she joined together in one place five lumps of earth uttering the auspicious Atharvaveda Mantras referring to Prāṇāgnihotra.

41. She deposited in those lumps of earth the elements of Pṛthvī, Apaḥ, Tejas, Vāyu and Ākāśa.

42. Then the goddess observed the holy vow and worshipped these five elements with flowers, incense and unguents.

43. On coming to know that Girijā was engaged in penance there and his mind having been attracted by those Mantras, Bhava (Śiva) came there hurriedly.

44-45. He joyously said to her: “Why have you come here forsaking me, though I am free from faults and despite my being always devoted to you? I have been looking up at you always. Now be seated on the bull along with me and come to Kailāsa. Otherwise, if at all I have any fault tell me the reason for your coming away.”

Devī said:

46. You are holding on your head Jāhnavī, the personified form of the water from the feet (of Viṣṇu). Hence I will never go to your place at all.

47-49. I am not inclined to return unless you clearly repudiate her occupying the position of my co-wife. Further, O Bull-emblemed One, even while I look on you bow down to Sandhyā everyday. You are not ashamed of it, hence give up these shameful acts. Thereafter, if you call me, I will respond approvingly. Otherwise, I will not come to your place at all. After hearing this, O Bull-emblemed One, do what pleases you.

The Lord said:

50. O goddess of Suras, it is not for my pleasure that I hold Gaṅgā.

51. After performing severe penance for a period of a thousand years according to the divine reckoning I had been requested by King Bhagīratha on behalf of his ancestors:

52. “O Lord, do hold on your head Jāhnavī, so that after falling from Svarga she may not flow towards Pātāla. Do this at my request.”

53. I had promised to him, “I shall undoubtedly hold the rapid current of Jāhnavī falling on the earth from the firmament.”

54. Otherwise, she would have gone to Pātāla which is the matter of concern here. So I shall mention something important in this connection which you do listen with attention.

55. O lady of exquisite features, this Gaṅgā came out of my head (tresses of hair) and breaking on the Himalaya mountain she split into two.

56. The part named Sindhu flowed into the western ocean, O Parameśvarī, taking nine hundred rivers along with her.

57. The other part named Gaṅgā flowed into the eastern ocean, O Daughter of the Mountain, taking as many rivers with her.

58. Thus, O Daughter of the Mountain, these eithteen hundred rivers flow into the ocean everyday. Thereby it stands sustained.

59-60. Though the Vāḍava fire (submarine fire) dries it up (evaporates it) day and night, it is never exhausted.

Clouds take up the waters of the ocean and shower them on the world of mortals (i.e. earth). Thereby vegetation grows up. The world is sustained by the vegetation. This enables the performance of Makhas (sacrifices). Through getting their share in the Makhas all the Suras become satisfied.

61. It is for this reason, O fair lady, that I hold Gaṅgā and not through affection or lust. On account of this the world goes on.

62. If for any reason I were to let her off from my head, it would pierce, through the earth in full force and flow into Rasātala.

63. Then the Ocean, the Lord of Rivers, would get dried up on being drunk by Aurva (submarine fire). There will no longer be any shower. Absence of rain will lead to the ruin of the world. It is the truth that is uttered by me.

64. Thus, O goddess of Suras, everything has been (explained) to you in regard to Gaṅgā. Listen to another explanation of mine as to why I bow down to Sandhyā.

Other Purana Concepts:

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