Chapter 138 - Origin of Dharmarājeśvara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sages said:

1. What penance, meditation etc. was performed by Dharmarāja in order to wipe out completely the curse of Māṇḍavya? Narrate it to us.

Sūta said:

2. On getting the curse of Māṇḍavya, Dharmarāja was extremely miserable. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, he settled in the same holy spot and performed a penance.

3. He constructed a palace unto Kapardin (Śiva), the Lord of Devas, and worshipped him unperturbedly with flowers, incense and unguents.

4. After the lapse of a great deal of time Maheśvara was pleased with him. He said, “I am the bestower of boons. Request for whatever is desired.”

Dharmarāja said:

5. O Lord, earlier I was cursed by the noble-souled Māṇḍavya although I was faultless and strictly adhering to my duty.

6-7. He had told me angrily, “You will be born of the womb of a Śūdra woman. There too you will experience great sorrow due to the death of kinsmen. As a result of my curse, you will soon attain the adverse effects due to your caste.”

8. Hence, O excellent one among Suras, save me from that (Śūdra) womb. How can I be born of that womb after being like this all along?

9. There too, the great misery of the death of kinsmen is to be borne. It was for this purpose that you have been propitiated by me.

Śrī Bhagavān said:

10. The utterance of that sage cannot be altered or invalidated. Yet, although you will be born a Śūdra, you will not beget a son.

11. Although you will witness complete destruction of kinsmen, you will not become miserable. Although you may forbid them, they will not pay heed to your words.

12. For this reason, O Dharmarāja, you will not suffer the sorrow arising from the kinsmen. The truth alone has been mentioned by me.

13. O wise one, you will live for a hundred years as a pious Śūdra. With a desire for the benefit of the kinsmen, you will offer them many instructions, although they may not have credence therein and they may be always sinful.

14. When hundred years are completed, you will take out your soul through Brahmadvāra (cerebral aperture) and attain salvation.

15. After speaking thus, the Lord vanished. Dharmarāja had to bear the effect of the curse of Māṇḍavya.

16. He took incarnation on the earth in the form of Vidura. The highly intelligent one made the statement of Māṇḍavya true.

17. He was born of Vyāsa, the holy sage of unmeasurable refulgence, the son of Parāśara. He was born from the womb of a woman-slave.

18. Thus everything connected with the story of Dharmarāja has been told to you all as I was requested for. This story is destructive of all sins.