Chapter 101 - Greatness of Sāṃbāditya (Sāṃba-āditya)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. At this very juncture (came) venerable sage Nārada, the mental son of Brahmā, who was proud that he could wander all over the three worlds. Though young, he was bowed to by all Devas. In the course of his wandering at will, he always used to come to Dvārāvatī to pay a visit to Vāsudeva. That excellent sage came furiously along with other sages.

4. As he came on quickly all the Yādava youths beginning with Pradyumna remained with their heads (politely) bent down.

5-6. Only there was neither Arghya nor Pādya, but they honoured him all round, but Sāṃba due to the inevitability of the curse, slighted the noble-souled Nārada as usual.

Being very proud of his youth and handsome features he was forever indulgent in sexual dalliance and liquor.

7. On seeing him impolite and rude, Nārada thought thus: ‘Today I shall try to curb this impolite one and make him adopt auspicious (behaviour of) humility.’

8-10a. After thinking thus, he spoke to Vāsudeva: “O most excellent one among Devas, here there are sixteen thousand women. O my Lord,their emotional fondness for Sāṃba is much. No doubt, Sāṃba is unrivalled in all the worlds consisting of mobile and immobile beings. Further, those good women do deservingly need to see him always.”

10b. On hearing these words from Nārada, Keśava began to think.

11. ‘What has thus been mentioned by Nārada may have some truth in it. Moreover this is often heard (as being) said that there is fickleness in women. These two verses have been recited formerly by Brāhmaṇas well aware of the workings of the minds of women:

12-13. Though guarded vigilantly, they act unfaithfully to their husbands and betray their husbands due to their innate ignorance, fickleness and womanly incontinence. They never care to examine handsomeness. Nor do they resort to youthful charms alone. A man may be handsome or ugly, they enjoy him merely because he is a man.’

Īśvara said:

14. After thinking thus in his mind, Kṛṣṇa spoke to Nārada: “I do not believe in this ancient saying.”

15. When the Lord said thus, Nārada replied “I shall so manage everything as to convince you.”

16. After saying thus, Nārada went away as he came. A few days thereafter, he returned to Dvārakā.

17. On that day the Lord was engaged in drinking liquor after enjoying aquatic sports along with all the members of his Antaḥpura (inner apartment). They were in a secluded place.

18-21. It was in the beautiful Raivataka park embellished with different kinds of trees and rendered fragrant and charming to all by means of the flowers of all the seasons.

Large lakes abounding in different kinds of lotuses in full bloom added to its beauty. Warbling swans and Sārasa (ducks) birds and ruddy geese increased its splendour. The Lord was sporting about there surrounded by women fully bedecked in necklaces, anklets, armlets, girdles and other ornaments. The excellent maidens had some jewels on every limb. Staying there the Lord drank the liquor of great auspicious flavour.

22-24. In the meantime, fully aware that the women were inebriated due to liquor, Nārada spoke to Sāṃba: “O princely youth, do come and stand here. The Lord calls you. It is not proper on my part to stay on there.”

Urged by Nārada but not realizing the implication of Nārada’s utterance, Śāṃba entered quickly and bowed down to his father. He took the seat pointed out by Viṣṇu with natural feeling.

25. In the meantime those women there who were deficient in self-control became highly agitated as soon as they saw Sāṃba.

26-27. As they were staying within the Antaḥpura so long, they had not seen him before. The liquor had its own effect in making them forget everything. Further they were naturally devoid of self-control. Hence their loins became moistened. Moreover this verse is heard everywhere on the earth as proclaimed in the Purāṇas:

28.^[1] “On seeing an excellent man, the excellent organ of generation of women becomes moistened and dump even if they are observing celibacy or are Yoginīs”.

29. Such things are seen in the world: By taking in liquor even bashful women discard shame and become unsuspecting.

30. Kāma (passion) becomes clearly manifest in women due to tasty, delicious foodstuffs containing meat as well as beverages of Sīdhu, Surā and Āsava (different varieties of liquor) and fascinating scents and garments.

31. Too much of liquor should not be given to them by a sensible man, because women are naturally already inebriated with wantonly sexual desires.

32. After sending Sāṃba in, Nārada also came hurriedly closely on the heels of Sāṃba.

33. On seeing the sage coming with pleasant manners, all those women suddenly got up; they were tipsy.

34-35. Even as Vāsudeva was watching, when they got up suddenly their valuable garments got torn and fell down into the pots (of liquor). The clothes clinging to their loins (underwear) also fell separately. On seeing it Hari became angry. He cursed those women:

36-37. “O women, since your minds strayed elsewhere unmindful of me, you will not get into the regions occupied by your husband at the close of your life.

Slipping down from the world of your husband as well as from the path of heaven, you will have no refuge and will fall into the clutches of robbers.”

38. As a result of this defect and curse, those women, at the time of Kṛṣṇa’s heavenward departure, were abducted by robbers belonging to Pañcanaḍa even as Arjuna was looking on.

39-40. Those women who were deficient in inherent moral strength and grit became defiled, O my beloved, But Rukmiṇī, Satyavatī and Jāmbavatī did not fall into the hands of the robbers^[2].

They were protected by their own intrinsic power.

After cursing the women Kṛṣṇa cursed Sāṃba too:

41. “Since, on perceiving your extremely attractive features all these women became agitated, you do be afflicted by the disease of leprosy.”

42. On hearing his words Sāṃba became ashamed. Remembering the earlier words of the excellent sage he said with a subdued smile:

43. “O my father, I was devoid of impure emotion yet I have been cursed (by you) without any reason. How could the angry Durvāsas have said otherwise?”

44-45. After having said thus to the lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa Sāṃba was overcome with anxiety and grief. He was disgusted with everything. He then went to the Prabhāsa Kṣetra that destroys all sins. After reaching that holy place, he practised a very severe penance.

46. He installed Lord Sun, the thousand-rayed deity, who destroys sins. Then he propitiated it fully conforming to the (prescribed) rules and restrictions.

47. He worshipped the Lord thrice a day during the three junctions (morning, midday and dusk) by means of divine scents and unguents. He used to eulogize the Lord of day everyday by means of this prayer:

Sāṃba said:

48. Obeisance to the light of the three worlds. O destroyer of darkness, obeisance to you. Obeisance to the Lord of lotuses: obeisance to the enemy of Kumuda (lily, night-lotus)

49. Obeisance to the firm base of the universe, Obeisance to thee, the creator of the universe. O Lord of Devas, I bow down to Sūrya, the illuminator of the three worlds.

50. “Having the complexion of Āditya, he is the protector of the universe. He is unprecedented, the foremost one of all Suras. He is the being with the golden womb. He is spoken as being the noble-souled one beyond all darkness.”

51. On being eulogized thus, Sūrya became manifest to him and said to Sāṃba, the son of Jāṃbavatī, with a highly delighted heart:

52. “O Sāṃba, O mighty-armed Sāṃba, O son of Govinda, listen. I am delighted with this prayer. Tell me the boon desired by you (to be granted).

Sāṃba said:

53. O most excellent one among Suras, I have been cursed by Kṛṣṇa. I am a sinner with a defiled mind; O Lord, if you are pleased with me, heal completely the fell disease of leprosy.

Śrī Bhānu said:

54. O highly fortunate one, you shall be free from ailments, once again, with my favour you will be in the same form as you were in before.

55. From now onwards, those wives of Viṣṇu should not at all be looked at by you, O scion of the family of Yadu. You should never stay within the range of their vision.

56. O excellent Yādava, you had to contract leprosy transmitted to you by the noble-souled, all powerful Viṣṇu who was overpowered by jealous feelings for them.

57. If anyone comes here and eulogizes me with this prayer, no one born of his family will be a leper.

58. Understand perfectly the twelve names of Āditya. I shall tell you another set of twelve names fully.

59-61. They are: Āditya, Savitṛ, Sūrya, Mihira, Arka, Pratapana, Mārtaṇḍa, Bhāskara, Bhānu, Citrabhānu, Divākara and Ravi. These twelve names should be known along with the general names which are: Viṣṇu, Dhātṛ, Bhaga, Pūṣan, Mitra, Aṃśu, Varuṇa, Aryaman, Indra, Vivasvat, Tvaṣṭṛ and Parjanya remembered as the twelfth. Thus the twelve Ādityas have been enumerated severally.

62. They rise up always along with the twelve months in due order. Viṣṇu blazes in Caitra, Aryaman in Vaiśākha always.

65-65. Vivasvat (blazes) in the month of Jyeṣṭha, and Aṃśvmat [Aṃśumat?] in Āṣāḍha, Parjanya in the month of Śrāvaṇa and Varuṇa in the month called Proṣṭhapada (Bhādrapada). Indra in the month of Aśvayuja and Dhātṛ blazes in Kārttika. Mitra blazes in Mārgaśīrṣa; the Āditya Pūṣan in the month of Pauṣa. Bhaga should be known (blazing) in the month of Māgha. Tvaṣṭṛ blazes in Phālguna. Viṣṇu blazes always with twelve hundreds of rays.

66. Aryaman blazes with one thousand three hundred rays; Vivasvat with twice seven hundred rays; Aṃśumān with eight hundred rays.

67. Parjanya is like Vivasvat. Varuṇa is like Aryaman. Indra shines with twice six and eleven hundred.

68. Bhaga and Tvaṣṭṛ with a thousand and one hundred (rays). During the northern transit, the rays of the Sun increase always. During the southern transit, the rays of the Sun decrease.

69-73. Thus I take up twelve Mūrtis at the centre of Prabhāsa Kṣetra. I am well-known as Sāṃbāditya and will stay thus in another Manvantara. O most excellent one among the descendants of Yadu, on the fifth lunar day in the bright half of Māgha, taking Ekabhakta (a single meal) is recommended; taking food at night is cited for the sixth lunar day. On the seventh lunar day a devotee fasts in the presence of Sāṃbārka. The devotee of great vows offers Karavīra flowers mixed with red sandal.

A sensible man should offer Kundaraka incense and worship Bhāskara. He should feed Brāhmaṇas with divine foods in accordance with his financial capacity. He who performs duly the adoration of Sāṃbāditya with great faith, obtains the entire benefit.

Īśvara said:

74-75. After saying thus, the Thousand-rayed One vanished there itself. Sāṃba became rid of his ailments and returned to Dvārakā. Thus, O goddess, the great deliverance of Sāṃbāditya has been narrated. On being listened to it dispels sins and accords health.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

In the text, the number wrongly printed as 27.

[2]:

According to Mbh. Mausala 7.73-74; Satyavatī (Bhāmā) performed pen ance and Rukmiṇī and Jāṃbavatī entered fire after Kṛṣṇa’s death.