Chapter 6 - Seven Previous Births of the Deer-faced Lady and King Bhoja

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. Now I shall speak (again). One should go to the West of (the holy place) Maṅgala. There one should see Siddheśvara, the giver of all prosperity.

2. Just there is Cakratīrtha giving a crore of fruits. (One should go to) Lokeśvara, self-originated and formerly (called) Indreśvara.

3. O Goddess, seeing it properly (one should) then go to Yakṣavana, in the Western region of Maṅgala where the Goddess herself dwells.

4. (She is) the illustrious Yajñeśvarī, giver of the desired object. Having worshipped her according to proper rules, one should again come to Vastrāpatha.

5. Having gone to Raivataka mountain one should do the pilgrimage properly. Just there are crores of holy places like Mṛgīkuṇḍa.

6. O Goddess, on the top of its limit is remembered to be Sīmāliṅga, O you of an excellent face, there are ten crores of holy places there.

7. There stay the illustrious Yādavas, who are of the form of intellect in the Kaliyuga. The Liṅga called Śata, Sahasrārbuda remains just there.

8. There is the foot (-print) of Gajendra. Just there are seven

water-wells. On that excellent Raivata mountain there are seven ponds.

9. Goddess Ambikā resides there; so also Pradyumna and Sāmba. On the mountain Liṅgākāra there are crores of holy places.

10. Mṛgīkuṇḍa is just there; so also Kālamegha. The great ocean remains there in the form of the guardian of the holy place. Dāmodara is just there; so also Bhava, the Lord of the universe.

Pārvatī spoke:

11-12. O Lord of gods, I heard about the holy places when you were describing them. I heard about (the holy rivers) like Gaṅgā, holy Sarasvatī, the great river Yamunā, Godāvarī and Gomatī, Tāpī and Narmadā, (so also) Sarayū, Svarṇarekhā, and Tamasā, the destroyer of sins.

13. I have heard about all sacred rivers joining the sea. (I have also heard about) forests (giving) salvation; so also divine, wonderful holy places whichever are there.

14. Through your favour I have learnt about cities giving liberation. There are many places of (i.e. sacred to) Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and others; so also of the Sun, the Moon, and Varuṇa.

15. There are many places of (i.e. sacred to) deities and sages. O Lord, you described to me the holy (place) Prabhāsa.

16. You (also) described to me the holy place, Vastrāpatha, superior to that (i.e. Prabhāsa). Formerly while listening to the account, I did not ask you about the cause (of the greatness of these holy places).

17. Now I have heard everything. I am composed. Tell me the cause. First tell me about the efficacy of the place and of Bhava also.

18. In which region is that holy place? For what reason did Śiva stay there? How (is it that) the Self-born Rudra himself stays there? O Lord, I have great curiosity. So (please) now tell it (to me).

The Lord said:

19. O you of charming face, first listen to the greatness of the holy place Vastrāpatha. Then listen to the greatness of Bhava.

20. In the great holy place Kānyakubja a well known religious king justly ruled his subjects formerly in the puṇya yuga (righteous age).

21. His eyes were broad, arms long; he was learned, was an orator, and spoke sweetly. He was full of all (auspicious) signs, and noticed many wonders.

22. Once the keeper of forests, approaching him said: “O Lord, while roaming in the forest now I saw a wonder.

23. “On the mountain, on an uneven part of land, crowded with great many trees I saw a damsel having a deer’s face in the herd of deer.

24. “That young girl jumps like a deer and is always seen at the same place.” Hearing these words the king was pleased, and gave him much wealth,

25. a swift, divine horse, two garments and a golden ornament, (and said to him:) “O chief of the army, now only I shall go with you.

26. “Let ten thousand horses, snares of various kinds, foot-soldiers go everywhere and surround the excellent mountain.

27. “No deer should be killed, and that female deer should be protected. A lady in a female’s garb, bceomes a female deer on the surface of the earth.

28-29a. “Harassed by my armies where will that poor one go?” In front of many hunters an army without arms, following the foot (steps) of the forest-keeper night and day reached the many men and hunters.

29b. Mounted on a horse, mighty king Bhoja, himself went (with the army).

30. The king moving without making the sound of his footsteps, and speaking in the language of signs, himself surrounded the mountain with snares.

31. With the protector of the forest he saw the herd. The female deer was among the male deer. She had a woman’s body and a female deer’s face. She acted like a girl and ran with male deer.

32. All the heads of the herds, being distressed on smelling the odour of the horses, being agitated and confused, that moment only, ran in (all) the ten directions.

33. That damsel, with the face of a female deer, jumping along with a few deer, fell into a trap (and became) unconscious.

34. She was gently caught along with the deer by the chief of the army. King Bhoja, surrounded by people, saw (that) great wonder.

35. Then a tumult, with a sound indicating great joy, was produced. The king brought the female deer along with the male deer to Kānyakubja.

36. The damsel, clad in divine garments, and adorned with celestial ornaments, seated in a vehicle drawn by men, and surrounded by male deer, entered (the city).

37a. With (the sound of) musical instruments and shouts of Brāhmaṇas, she was taken to the residence of the king.

37b-38. She, being taken at an auspicious time, to the king’s residence, was seen on the way by rustics and citizens, talking and wonderstruck.

39. The door-keeper warded off the people with words. The chief of the army, taking the army with him, went home.

40. The king too, going home, bathing and worshipping deities, got that female deer bathed, after applying celestial perfumes and anointing her with ointments.

41. The king, in private, spoke to her whose body was anointed with saffron, who was covered with divine garments, who was properly decorated at proper places with divine ornaments.

42a. In a lonely, unfrequented place the king spoke to the lady with charming eyes:

42b. “Who are you? Whose daughter are you? For what reason do you (roam with) the male deer?

43. “Why do you have the body like that of a woman and face like that of female deer? (Please) tell me all this; I have a great curiosity.”

44. Though spoken to like this, she said nothing. Like a dumb person, she did not know (anything); and the charming-eyed lady did not eat (anything).

45. The King (too) did not eat (anything), nor did he care much for his kingdom. He had nothing to do with his wife, nor did he have anything to do with horses, elephants and chariots.

46. That alone is the kingdom, that is the wife, those are the elephants, that alone is profuse wealth, when the mind is tinged with passion for women.

47-48. The king fascinated by her, calling the door-keeper, said to him: “Quickly call the chief priest, the preceptor, Brāhmaṇas, preceptors, so also astrologers, those skilled in spells, physicians and those who are well-versed in Tantra doctrines.” Thus ordered by the king, the door-keeper himself went (to execute the king’s order).

49. Speedily he came (back), bringing with him best Brāhmaṇas. He informed the king: “O Lord, the Brāhmaṇas have arrived.”

50. “Bring in the preceptor waiting at the door, and (the Brāhmaṇas) interested in my welfare.” Thus ordered by the king, the intelligent one (the door-keeper) did like that.

51. The king having got up (before them), having saluted and honoured them, the dieligent [diligent?] one in duty spoke to them, seated on the seats:

52. “This is just a wonder. How is it possible to communicate it? You yourselves (should) know it from (the ways of) the world or even from science.

53. “How is she born? Of which act is that (i.e. her birth) the fruit? In what way will her speech be human?

54. “How will she herself have human face? All the Brāhmaṇas should again be attentive and having thought over (the phenomenon) fully, should tell (me).”

The Brāhmaṇas said:

55. O Lord, at Kurukṣetra there was the best Brāhmaṇa Sārasvata by name. He, living in perpetual celibacy, and with his senses controlled, practised penance.

56-57. He will tell you everything. He himself had ordered the female deer.

Hearing these words the king went to the Brāhmaṇa Sārasvata, who had, in the morning, bathed in the water of Sarasvatī, and was engaged in meditation. Seeing him, the king went round him, and sat on the ground with folded hands, and senses controlled.

58. Hearing (the sound of) the movement of human steps, and knowing its cause, Sārasvata spoke to the king who was exclusively devoted to him.

Sārasvata said:

59. Welfare to you, O king Bhoja. I have come to know the cause. You have brought that woman with a deer’s face from the forest.

60. It is a great wonder that is in your mind. The young damsel commanded by me will tell you everything.

61. O great King, I know her life and (about) what kind of birth she has. It would be a great wonder in the world when it is narrated by herself.

62. Directing like this, he went in a chariot bright like the sun. Just after two days and nights he reached the king’s abode.

63. Entering he saw the female deeṇ when the lotus-eyed woman stood. She recognized Sārasvata, a Brāhmaṇa, who knew piety and was omniscient.

The Female Deer said:

64. This one knows everything - the cause and of what type it is. (He also knows) the present, the future and the past in the three worlds.

65. He knew my death in the former birth. He practised penance in the abode (temple) of Bhava in the great holy place Vastrāpatha.

66. Destroying all sins and producing knowledge carefully, he, freed from old age and death, acutally [actually?] saw Bhava.

67. God Bhava was pleased with him and the reason (for the visit to) the holy place was known. The cause of birth (as female deer) will have to be told by me when directed.

68. When she was thinking like this, the Brāhmaṇa came there. She intent on saluting him, fell down in swoon.

69-70. Due to his (superior) knowledge, he knew the reason. (He said:) “Brāhmaṇas should quickly bring a pitcher full of water, (and) all herbs, sprouts, dūrvā (grass), flowers and akṣatas (entire unhusked rice washed with water and used as an article for worship), incense, sandal, cow-dung, honey and clarified butter.”

71-72. The Brāhmaṇas thus ordered quickly brought (all the articles) by royal order. Having smeared with cow-dung a part of the ground, and having placed (i.e. drawn) a Svastika on it having offered oblations to fire, and placing the Vedas in a pitcher, having placed (image of) Indra in that, so also the (images of the) Guardians of the quarters in due order, and having offered (oblations) into the fire, he worshipped the Planets after making an oblation of boiled rice etc. to gods and manes.

73. Pouring water into golden pots, the preceptor himself put the pitchers. Then he bathed (her) at a time, desired by all.

74. She was bathed by him, was purified by the water (used) for bath. The young lady became conscious, and saw everything with her own eyes.

75. She heard (and understood) everything, and knew the acts of her former birth. The preceptor gave her the oblation of the size of a jujube fruit.

76. She ate it with effort. Then she cleansed herself. Then the preceptor himself gave her ears and understanding of human speech.

77-78a. Then that lady having a deer’s face, having given Dakṣiṇā to the preceptor, commenced to narrate whatever had happened from her childhood in the former birth.

78b. Having first saluted the preceptor, and then the Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas, the female deer said:

The female deer said:

79. O King, do not be dejected on hearing my account. You were the son of King Kaliṅga who existed in the seventh previous generation.

80. When your father died, your ministers consecrated you. (even though) you were a child. It is said, I was born as the daughter of the king of Vaṅga.

81. I was married to you. My father himself gave me (to you in marriage). O King, Since I was most beautiful among ladies you made me the principal queen.

82. Gradually you became a youth and hurtful and cruel. You were not proficient in the Vedas, and were pitiless.

83. You were greedy, proud, very wrathful, and bereft of good behaviour. Being of a wicked heart you knew not (i.e. did not care for) god, preceptor, Brāhmaṇas.

84. Your subjects were indifferent to you (as) you killed Brāhmaṇas. Your entire country was seized by neighbourhood kings. Taking your entire army (with you) you went to fight.

85. I too accompanied you. A battle took place with (those) kings. Your soldiers lost the battle. They went into the ten directions or perished.

86. You, the king, giving up your duty took to heals. You while (thus) going (away) were harassed by (your) enemies.

87. He, saying, ‘I am yours’, of a wicked nature, opposing the people, was killed. O best king, taking (with me) your (dead) body, I entered fire.

88-89. One that dies like this has no (other) course, (but) is roasted in hell. If his wife, taking (the dead body of) her husband, enters fire, she rescues him, the worst sinner, till the universal destruction. Having destroyed the sins here (i.e. in this world), he prospers in Heaven.

90. Therefore you were born as a Brāhmaṇa in Mālavaka country; O King, I was born just as his wife, a Brāhmaṇa lady.

91. He was rich with wealth and com, and had more wealth than required for living. His father died. His mother died. He was brotherless.

92. Though rich with wealth and com, he moved greedily on the earth. The Brāhmaṇa (i.e. you) was very irascible, and was without Vedic studies.

93. The deceitful one, without bath and prayers, solicits people. I was given to great devotion, and (so) he used to get angry with me.

94. He had no child. He was given to preserving wealth. He did not give (in charity); did not eat; did not offer an oblation to a deity; he (only) protected (money).

95. Due to extreme greed, that Brāhmaṇa did not make offering with sesamum seeds. Even when the month of Kārttika arrived he was without (i.e. did not perform) the worship of Viṣṇu.

96. The Brāhmaṇa did not regularly offer for one month a lamp to a deity. He did not eat vegetable leaf, and stuck continously to one (kind of) meal.

97. When the month of Bhādrapada arrived, and when it was the dark half (of the month), O best king, he did not perform a Śrāddha at his residence, and remained without a bath or making offerings to the manes.

98. He never thought the day or the fortnight sacred to the head ancestors. This Brāhmaṇa ate at other place (than his house) even when the loss of a lunar day (Kṣayāha) came.

99. When, on a Saṃkrānti day the Sun is in the Capricomus sign he does not offer rice and peas boiled together with a few spices. Nor does he offer sesamum seeds or an excellent garment or a fruit, or a vegetable leaf, a flower, so also fuel.

100. Also he does not at all give the (prescribed) daily measures of food to a cow. (Then) how will he be liberated? He does not seek Viṣṇu’s shelter when the winter solstice has come.

101. On the lunar or solar eclipse the Brāhmaṇa does not offer a cow (to a Brāhmaṇa).

102. One good milch cow, along with a garment, a bell, an ornament, is given along with her calf, gives final emancipation to the giver, and makes his family prosper.

103. He prospers for me, many years as the number of hair on her body. He, as lustrous as the sun, and surrounded by groups of Siddhas dwells in Brahmā’s abode.

104. He did not put up a temple, or dug a big or small well or (constructed) a lake or a pool. He does not arrange a just marriage, does not oblige a good person, nor does he construct a house for the good or for a Brāhmaṇa.

105. He always buries his wealth, and does not know the duties to his family. I followed him. How can I deceive my husband?

106. Being like this, he died. Due to greed for wealth, I avoided dying (after him), O Lord.

107. (My) relatives took all my stock of wealth while I was watching (i.e. under my very nose). O Lord, after a long time, I died in the house of the Brāhmaṇa.

108. O best king, my husband was born as a white serpent in that country. O king, I was born as a Brāhmaṇa’s daughter there only.

109. When the eighth year approached (i.e. when I entered the eighth year) I was married to a Brāhmaṇa. O king, the serpent lived in just that house, i.e. my house.

110. Thinking ‘This is my wife’, my husband, the great serpent, bit me at night. Though dead the serpent was struck with clubs by the Brāhmaṇas.

111. Giving me widowhood both the Brāhmaṇa and the serpent died. My mother and father grieved much and shaved my head.

112. Putting on a white garment and solely devoted to Viṣṇu, and engaged in a monthly fast (I visited) many times whatever holy places I could visit.

113. In Godāvarī, in the Śiva temple, the serpent was born as a crocodile. With my relatives I went to visit Lord Bhīṣmeśvara.

114. When, I, surrounded by all people, entered (the water), the crocodile saw me and recognized: ‘This is my dear wife.’ O king, the crocodile seized me to take me into (the water).

115. A loud cry of lamentation came up; on all sides people were agitated. Someone struck down the crocodile with the stroke of a lance.

116. I who remained in the mouth of the large fish, died, and was dragged out by people. Burning (my body), throwing the ash into water, the people went home.

117. Due to his murdering a woman he became a hunter, and a fish due to the prowess of the holy place. He secured birth as a human being in the same forest.

118. Those who get death due to fire, water, a serpent, an elephant, a lion, and even a bull, (so also) a big fish, or a tumour go to hell.

119. All those—who commit suicide, destroy an embryo, kill a woman or a Brāhmaṇa, give false testimony, so also those who sell their daughters, who take up a vow falsely,

120. (similarly) he who sells a sacrifice, a Brāhmaṇa who is a drunkard, one who deceives a king, one who steals gold, who gives up the profession of a Brāhmaṇa,

121. he who kills a cow, who deprived one of one’s deposit, who violates the boundary of the village (-land)—all these go to hell; so also a woman who deceives her husband.

122. O king, due to the effect of the fish’s death I was born as a female Krauñca bird. In the Godāvarī-forest a hunter wanders chasing the deer.

123-124. A Krauñca bird, that was passionate, was gladly eager to rouse passion in me. The wandering hunter saw me and drawing his bow, struck the Krauñca bird, that (afterwards) died; O king, I then fled from that spot. In that Godāvān-forest, I saw him of such a form.

125. Seeing the shameful deed a sage cursed the hunter: “Since you killed the Krauñca that had not executed the act due to passion, and that was eager to converse with his beloved, you will, therefore, be (born as) a lion.”

126. Due to his being modest, the sage became glad. In front of (i.e. to) him the sage said, “My words shall not be false.”

127. “For your liberation I shall do favour to you when Jupiter is in the Leo Constellation. On the Raivataka mountain in Surāṣṭra you will be (born as) a lion.”

128. “Your liberation is certainly decreed in the great holy place Vastrāpatha.” Speaking like this, the sage went to the deity Bhīmeśvara. Hearing the bad words (i.e. the curse) the hunter in due course died,

129. and the female Krauñca bird, due to her separation from the male Krauñca, went to another forest. She died, and due to (the power of) destiny was born as a female deer on the Raivataka mountain.

130. She, after having gone to the herd of deer was always agitated by ardent passion. The hunter was born as a lion in the great forest of that mountain.

131. The lion carefully saw the passionate female deer wandering (in the forest). Everyday the lion, so also the female deer, wandered there regularly.

132. The lion also, as destiny would have it, looked upon her as his (possession). But due to his cruel nature the lion set out to seize her.

133. Brahmā Himself has laid down the fickleness of the species of deer. She, of charming eyes, again went to the herd of deer, and sported.

134. On the western part (of the holy place) of Bhava, on the Raivataka mountain, the chief of the herd of deer, the lion, slowly followed (her). Then the lion jumped upon the top of the herd of deer.

135. The lion, looking at the female deer had nothing to do with the deer. The lion just went to the female deer wherever she went.

J36. In the forest when the female took up (greater) speed the lion was angry. The lion too caught (greater) speed and became speedier than the speed of the female deer.

137. When the lion reached the female deer, she took a leap, and fell into the water of the river in front of Bhava.

138. (The female deer speaks:) My body hung; my head was fastened to my braid. The lion fell with (me) and died in the water.

139. O Lord, that my body was shattered in the water of Svarṇarekhā; my face (however) did not fall (into the river) and remained on the top of tvaksāra (? bamboo?).

140. This is the account of what Sārasvata saw. Due to the power of the holy place you were born as a lion.

141. This is the seventh birth, the cause of the end of all sins. You were born as a very famous king in the great country Kānyakubja.

142. I was conceived in the womb of a female deer and was bora in a human form, (but) my face became like that of the female deer, since it did not fall into the water.