Chapter 139 - Greatness of Dharmarājeśvara (Dharmarāja-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Chapters 138-140 tell that Māṇḍavya cursed Yamadharma to be a sonless Śūdra for the disproportionate punishment given by him. Yamadharma became Vidura, Dharmarājeśvara blessed him with a son (Yudhiṣṭhira) from Pāṇḍu’s wife.

Sūta said:

1-2. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, I shall narrate unto you all the greatness of Dharmarājeśvara that was heard by me earlier from my father. Listen to that meritorious narrative with great concentration. It is well known in all the three worlds. It is destructive of all sins.

3. Formerly, there was a Brāhmaṇa hailing from the family of Kaśyapa in that holy spot. He was well-known as Upādhyāya. He was devoted to the Vedic lore.

4. He begot a son later in his advancing age even as he strictly adhered to regular study of the Vedas. He acquired ample wealth.

5. When only five years old that son expired causing great sorrow to his father and mother.

6. On knowing that his son had gone to the abode of Dharmarāja, the Brāhmaṇa became angry with Vaivasvata (Dharmarāja).

7. In his height of grief, he took some water in his hand. With mental concentration and personal cleanliness, he then pronounced a terrible curse on Dharmarāja.

8-10. “Since I have been made a sonless person by that wicked-souled one, Yama, of defiled soul, he will also become sonless.

Further people in this world will not perform worship to him nor glorify his name as in the case of other heaven-dwellers.

If anyone gets up early in the morning and recalls his name, there shall be obstacle in his auspicious activity.”

11. On hearing the highly terrible curse of the Brāhmaṇa, though he had been abiding by his duties, Yama became grief-stricken.

12. In the meantime Yama went to the abode of Brahmā. With palms joined in reverence, Yama said to Pitāmaha:

13-15. “See, O Lord of Devas, although I am faultless and I have been abiding by my duty, I have been cursed by the twice-born one as though I am like any other vulgar person.

I have been frightened by the curse of the Brāhmaṇa, O Pitāmaha. I shall give up your assignment. I have told you the truth.

Formerly, O excellent one, I was made to be born in a Śūdra womb by the curse of Māṇḍavya. Now I have been rendered devoid of adoration and of any son!”

Sūta said:

16. On hearing these pitiable words of Vaivasvata, Śatakratu himself said these words befitting that occasion:

17-20. “O Lotus-born One, O Lord of Suras, quite reasonable word (appeal) has been uttered by this Dharmarāja who is working as per your command.

O Pitāmaha, there is no doubt about this that in the mortal world, men as per rule should be withdrawn in childhood, youth or old age, but never prematurely (when not due).

This excellent name Dharmarāja has been given by you to that noble-souled one who sees friends and foes alike.

Therefore, after due consideration let some means be resorted to whereby a person who carries out your order should be immune from fault or sin.”

Brahmā said:

21. O Lord of Devas, I cannot alter the curse of a Brāhmaṇa. I shall employ some other remedy.

22. Then, for that purpose, in front of all the Devas, Brahmā, the grandfather of all the worlds, began to meditate.

23. Even as he was engaged in meditation the personified forms of one hundred eight ailments with Vāta (Wind), Pitta (Bile) and Kapha (phlegm) as their causes appeared before him and respectfully said to him:

The Ailments said:

24. O Lord of the chiefs of Devas, why have we been created? Let the order be given quickly. May this favour be done.

Brahmā said:

25. At my behest, go quickly to the earth. At the behest of Yama, You must move about unhesitatingly among human beings.

26. After saying thus to those Ailments, Pitāmaha spoke to Dharmarāja who was standing nearby with downcast face in his great distress:

27-30. “O Yama, all these Ailments have been employed by me. They will always render help to you in all matters. Now if anyone reaches the end of his life-span these should be sent always by you to take his life. Thereby, the ignominy arising from the death of people shall devolve upon these alone on the earth and not on you. Therefore, at my behest, go to your own abode and be engaged in your duty. Undoubtedly, you will never incur a fault (sin).”

31. Then the Son of Ravi took all those Ailments to his world and spoke to them respectfully:

32-34. “You shall regularly ask Citragupta and go to the earth for taking away the life of people when the proper time arrives.

But there is an excellent Liṅga installed by me there in Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra. It is destructive of all sins.

A man who gets up early in the morning and visits it with good devotion, shall always be avoided by you from afar, at my behest:”

35. After saying thus to those Ailments, Vaivasvata assumed the guise of a Brāhmaṇa, took the (recently dead) son of the Brāhmaṇa and went to his beautiful abode.

36-37. On seeing his own son coming to the house along with the wise Dharmarāja in the form of a Brāhmaṇa he went to them face-to face with a delighted heart accompanied by his wife, saying “My son! My son!”

38. He embraced him repeatedly and sniffed at his head. With tears agitating his eyes he spoke these words:

The Brāhmaṇa said:

39. O my son, how have you come back from that abode of Yama, from where not even a powerful person can return after going?

40. Is this some sort of jugglery happening near me? Is this a dream? Is this a perversion of my vision?

41. Who is this Brāhmaṇa standing by your side, dear son. He is endowed with divine refulgence. O my son, bow down to him.

The son said:

42. This is Yama himself who has come in the form of a Brāhmaṇa. Knowing that you are grief-stricken, he has become sympathetic and he has come for taking me with him.

43. Hence, father, let him withdraw the curse of you consider me your darling. He has come to your house with great friendliness.

44. Then the excellent Brāhmaṇa bowed down to him and remained with face turned downwards due to shame. Then he spoke respectfully:

The Brāhmaṇa said:

45. Today my life has become fruitful. My life has become excellent, since I have regained my son who had gone to the abode of Yama.

The son said:

46. O father, you have become extremely glad on account of your son. Hence see that he also has a son.

The Brāhmaṇa said:

47. O my son, my utterance can never be untrue even if it is jokingly made. It is all the more so if uttered by a grief-stricken one.

48. Hence, O wise one, he will not get a son from the divine womb due to my curse.

49. He will have another son born of the womb of a human female by means of Rājasūya and Aśvamedha. He will redeem him.

50. Of what avail is a son born to one if he is not capable of redeeming the members of his father’s family by performing excellent rites on the earth?

51. As regards the curse uttered by me in regard to his worship earlier, O dear son, listen to what I say:

52. His worship with various kinds of Mantras mentioned in the Vedas will not find a place on the earth at all, dear son.

53. His worship shall be with Mantras composed by humans. It will be different from that of the other Devas. It is the truth that has been uttered by me.

The son said:

54. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, I shall install him on the earth and propitiate him perfectly. Of what avail are the other Devas to me?

55. Hence, O my ancestor (father), I shall adopt human Mantras and procedure for worship, with your favour.

56. Then he composed the Mantra beginning with “sugaṃ naḥ panthāḥ” and performed the worship even as Dharmarāja was listening.

57. On hearing it, Yama was pleased in his mind. He spoke loudly to the Brāhmaṇa in words choked with delight:

Yama said:

58. O leading Brāhmaṇa, my vision (Darśana) can never be in vain like that of Devas. So request for what is desired.

The Brāhmaṇa said:

59-60. If any Brāhmaṇa worships uttering this Mantra, the idol of yours which this son of mine has installed on the fifth lunar day, let him have the benefit for the period of a year. Let him not have the grief due to the loss of a son in this world on any account.

Sūta said:

61. He promised “Let it be so.” Then Yama joyously went to his world and resumed his duty.

62. That son of the Brāhmaṇa erected an excellent palace. In the centre, he installed the idol with great devotion by means of the Mantra uttered by his father and duly propitiated Yama.

63. He begot sons and grandsons in plenty. He lived on the earth for a long time and then passed away.

64. Thus what was heard by me from the Purāṇa has been narrated to you. One who recites this on the fifth lunar day with devotion shall never die prematurely. He will never suffer grief due to the loss of a son.