Chapter 189 - The Antecedents of Audumbarī

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-3. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, after the Mothers had been cursed by Sāvitrī, Gandharvīs came to the place where she (Audumbarī) was present.

After bowing down to her, they spoke these piteous words: “O goddess, we came to your Makha thinking that with Audumbarī’s favour we shall get a share in the Yajña offerings. It was not known to us that Sāvitrī was present here.

4. She was much distressed by the misfortune and was surrounded by the Nāgara women.

It is a happy way with us to dance and to sing.

5. O foremost one among Gandharvīs, we were doing the very same at night and so were cursed: ‘All women become distressed on seeing the distress of fellow-women (but you were not distressed at my grief).’

6-7. You were delighted in the festival of my co-wife. You bowed down to her and adored her but did not even talk to me. You started unusual dancing and singing before me. Hence, you will not have the power to move through the sky.

8. Men will not adore you. You will remain in this spot perpetually distressed without a support (or roof over you).

9. In the rites connected with pilgrimage of the indigent and the distressed you will always remain, but men will not adore you.’ O goddess, those words of hers cannot become untrue.

10. (We thought) ‘Let us go to adore Audumbarī and tell her this incident. She will remove our misery certainly. She is indeed the bestower of all desires.’

11. Having lost our hope otherwise, we have therefore, come here suddenly.’

12. Hence, O lady granting welfare, do something so that we will have the power of movement. Your greatness will become enhanced in all the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile beings.”

Audumbarī said:

13. What power do we have to alter what is brought about by Sāvitrī even with the help of all Suras and Asuras?

14. Still I shall endeavour, O fair ladies, to the extent of my power for your welfare. You have been entrusted to the Brāhmaṇas of sixty-eight Gotras.

15. Pitāmaha who was pleased has done so and you will get due honour there. At night you can indicate the same by means of your laughter.

16-19. From now onwards you can become satisfied through the following means: If there is a grand festival (such as sacred thread ceremony or marriage etc.) in the house of any of the Nāgaras for which they will erect a pavilion, so also if women come to the city gate and offer Bali after due meditation without noticing (your) laughter, the satisfaction you thus receive will be like that of the Devas through Makhas.

If any women do not perform the adoration cited by me unto you all, in that city, their sons will perish. By insulting you, they will always be sickly.

20. Hence stay here itself for according protection to the city. Under the guise of a curse, this has become a boon unto you all.

21. In the meantime, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Devaśarman who came there along with his wife became the Gandharya named Parvata.

22. When Audumbarī had been cursed by the angry celestial sage Nārada saying “Be a human girl”, he was requested by her thus:

23-24a. “O father, become a human being for my sake along with her (my mother) and procreate me as a human girl so that I can avert (being within the human womb). The womb is defiled by faeces and urine. It is full of all defects.”

24b. Thereupon, out of pity, the excellent wife of Devaśarman (descended).

25. The Gandharva descended on the earth and was in the Vānaprastha stage (when Audumbarī was born).

Thus, O excellent ones, the fifth night of the Yajña passed off.

26-27a. There was charming festivity though there was a disturbance from Audumbarī. When it dawned and she was sent off, Audumbarī said to her father Parvata:

27b-30. “In the morning, there shall be the Avabhṛtha (valedictory bath) pertaining to the Yajña of Vidhi. There shall be the presence of all the Tīrthas therein. We can also have our bath therein. Then we shall go home along with all the Devas.

We three shall go in this serial chariot happily. Actually, the curse of Nārada has been a blessing to me. because I got a Devas. It was obtained on the full-moon day as offered by the womenfolk.”