Canto 14 - Legacy of Vastupala

[Full title: English translation of the Vasantavilasa, Canto 14: Legacy of Vastupala]

(This is the last Canto of the poem. In this fourteenth Canto we are told that Minister Vastupala built innumerable temples, pilgrim-resorts, rest-houses, and tanks at various towns, villages and mountains. Life span of Vastupala was nearing to an end. The poet describes the last days through an allegory: "Once the old age the messenger of Dharma came to Vastupala and reported that Dharma's daughter Sadgari (Felicity) was longing to join him; and her parents had decided to give her in marriage to him. On listening to this report and seeing her picture Vastupala became enamoured of her. He began to think only of her, so much so, that he was attacked with love-fever and decided to go to Mount Strunjaya to marry her. Dharma, father of Sadgasi, came to know of this resolve of Vastupala through his servant by name

201 Ayurbandha (limit of life). Dharma was pleased to know that Vastupala was ready to marry his daughter Sadgati. He fixed the date and time of marriage of Vastupala and Sadgati on Mount Satrunjaya. It was the morning of Sunday, the fifth day of the bright half of Magha-month of Samvat 1296. Accordingly Dharma sent his messenger Sadbodha (good knowledge) to Vastupala. On getting the message, Vastupala sent for his wife Lalitadevi, his brother Tejapala and his son Jaitrasimha. When they arrived he gave them due instructions about their respective duties and functions after his departure. Then after seeing the King, he went to Mt. Satrunjaya. He ascended the mountain and became ready to marry Sadgati. On the day of the marriage the temple was profusely decorated. Dharma was pleased to give his daughter Sadgari in marriage to Vastupala. After the marriage, Dharma took him to heaven, where he was welcomed with a grand reception." Thus Minister Vastupala went to heaven after ending his earthly career) Minister Vastupala had heard that Dharma or Righteousness is the support of the happiness of human beings and that it is the scorching fire for wicked deeds. Hence he constructed rows of Dharmasthanas or religious places promoting righteousness throughout the country in towns, in mountains, in villages and in forests 197. Thereby it become possible for his fame which was wandeing continuously to take rest at those places. 198

202 Throughout the country there were high mansions. It appeared as if they were the fingers of the Directions pointing at Vastupala saying "There was none like Vastupala before, there is none now and there will be none in future". 199 That great Minister, the merciful built water-tanks in every town, on every mountain, at very place and at every resting-place. The water therein everywhere was superior to nectar. Having drunk that water the travellers we're singing the glories of Vastupala. 200 They were all exclaiming: What ? we are removed of all our fatigue of the journey. In this country Minister Vastupala built so many Dharmasthanas which had been destroyed by our enemies. It is not possible to count them like counting stars in the sky.Even those poets who are capable of composing several works in a day are not able to enumerate them.201 . As days passed, once Jara or the Old Age, as a striking messenger approached his ears in the guise of white hair and began to address him as follows:-202 "O Great Minister ! there is none equal to you in this universe in charity and liberality. Can we compare you with Kamadhenu, the divine cow milching all our desires? Impossible; because you are a man possessing Viveka or discrimination; whereas that is a mere Pasu or animal unable to think and discriminate. Can we compare you to the divine Cintamani or desire yielding jewel? No you are full of unbreakable intellect; that is a mere breakable stone. Can we compare you to Kalpadruma or the desire - yielding divine tree?

203 ? No; you are the crest-jewel of the sentient beings; but that is an insentient 203 tree. Thus there cannot be any liberal being like you. "O Lord of Ministers, Vastupala, due to the fire of your terrible prowess even the vast waters of the deep ocean get dried up quickly. Then how could clouds get water to pour over these worlds, if you had not filled them with your Dana-jala or waters of charity ?204 "Your white and brilliant fame has reached even the royal assembly of King of heaven. It was heard by Sadgati the daughter Sri Dharmadeva. She developed a passion for you and is now hating even the sight of other men. She wants to hold your hand and detests even the rays of the Moon. She desires your arms round her neck and so does not tolerate any necklace round her neck. Her ears want to listen to only your words and hence do not desire to here even the sweet notes of a lute. Her body longs to lie on your broad chest and as such she does not sleep over the soft cotton-bed. O Lord I being separated from you, her longing has become frightening. She avoids the sight of the Moon. But when she enters her chamber, she visualises the reflection of her own moon-like face in the jewelled walls and out of fear longs to enter your mind. Being unable, the poor girl simply weeps. 205 Her mother is Sraddha. Sadgati narrated her egony very often to her mother. She did not desire to drink nectar. Her only prayer was "Mother, feed me Vastupala". At the end of these words she cursed her being divine; because remaining divine she cannot unite with Vastupala, a human being. Overcome by grief she swooned and swooned. 206

204 "Then Sraddha, her mother held her close to her bosom and consoled her: "Daughter, do not grieve; I will fulfill your desires every early.' Having thus consoled the daughter with sweet and affectionate words, Sraddha approached her husband Dharma and reported the unbearable egony of their daughter in detail."207 "Dharma heard the account given by his wife Sraddha about their daughter Sadgari and became pleased. He said :"Darling! our daughter is really superior in intelligence. She is loving a very worthy person. Because Sri Vastupala is the foremost among the meritorious. Earth is because of him, Ratnaprasuh or deliverer of human jewels. He is worthy of praise. Among great persons he is the most virtuous. 208 He renovated old temples; he built temples a new. He constructed innumerable water-reservoirs. He overcame the evil effects of Kaliyuga and celebrated many festivals. To him I will present as a gift my daughter Sadgan."209 Jara, Dharma's messenger, continued: "Great Minister Vastupala, now I have been sent by Dharma to you with this picture of his daughter Sadgati, so that on seeing it you will seek her hand from my master, Dharma. Because the father of a daughter desires that his daughter's hand should be sought by a worthy youth. Hence please look at this picture of Sadgari, the daughter of my master Dharma 210 Sadgari has also sent this message to you: "The Cupid is killing me who have resorted to you

205 alone for protection. In this world you alone are the killer of the Cupid. Both these are facts. Still my mind is engrossed only in you and you alone."211 Having heard all that, Vastupala became pleased. His eyes were attracted by the picture of Sadgan. His mind was charmed by the words of Jara. Having repeatedly seen the beauty of Sadgati in that picture, he became averse even towards the administration of the kingdom. He could not get rest anywhere: he will lie down for a moment on the soft bed; but will get up and stroll in the pleasure- garden - that too for only a moment; then he will go to pleasure - lake, that too for only a moment; then he will try to spend time in the assembly of scholars; there too he could sit only for a moment. Thus he could not get peace of mind anywhere because of his intense attachment to Sadgasi. 212 He began to distribute wealth with his own right hand. Of course, there was no wonder regrading this. But there was surprise that burning fever was stealthily increasing in his body without anybody's knowledge. 213 He was annointed by cool sandal paste; he was fanned with fresh banana-leaves; he was made to lie on beds of just plucked flowers; he was covered with green sprouts. But there was no cooling effect on his body. He began to say - "My body cannot get coolness without the union with Sadgari." Thus he said repeatedly to all the servants who tried to cool down the burning fever of his 214 body.

206 His burning fever became unbearable for him. He resolved to end his life on Mt. Satrunjaya. Having known this resolve of Vastupala, Dharma fixed the auspicious moment of the marriage of Sadgari and Vastupala and sent his door-keeper Sadbodha with the following massage to Vastupala : "Lord of Ministers ! many where born in the past in this world; many are now being born; and many will be born in the future. But there was none equal in greatness to you. Hence Dharma desires to give Sadgari in marriage to you. And has invited you Mt. Satrunjaya to celebrate the marriage ceremony. He has even fixed the auspicious day and time of the marriage ceremony. It is the morning of Sunday the fifth day of the Magha - month of the Vikrama Saka one thousand two hundred ninety-six. Hence please hurry up to Mt. Satrunjaya". 215 Vastupala here all this from Sadbodha. He called his son Jaitrsimha and handed over the charge of the kingdom with due instructions. He also consoled his wife Lalitadevi. With tears in her eyes she gave a bold reply to him: "Lord! do whatever is beneficial to you. I will not come in your way of marrying Sadgari, the daughter of Dharma. Noble ladies are always pleased to identify their pleasure with the pleasure of their husbands. "216 Then Vastupala gave instructions to his younger brother Tejapala also. And taking the leave of all the people who were weeping on his departure he

207 ascended the carriage for his journey to Mt. Satrunjaya. Within a short period he reached the mountain, the abode of Lord Adinatha. There in front of Lord Adinatha, Minister Vastupala held the hand of Sadgati, the daughter of Dharma. Thus came the end of the great Minister Vastupala. The poet concludes : - Moon-like Minister Vastupala began to listen to his fame being sung by Kinnaras throughout the heaven. He was taken by Dharma to Indra, the Lord of the heaven and being received by Indra, Vastupala entered the divine city with his newly-wed wife Sadgati."217

Footnotes for Canto 14:

197) dharmah sarmanibandhanam tanumatam dharmah kukarmadruma- plose tatksanamasusuksamiriti srutva gurunam girah | tattasya stitaye vasantasacivah prathvyamathakaraya- ddharmasthanatatim puresu girisu gramesvaranyesu ca | 1 1 || 198) pratyadri pratipattanam pratipuram srivastupalah krti 199) 200) dharmasthanaparasparam yadakarottadyuktamuhamahe | yenaitaddhavajahastasatakamarudvicim bina kah ksama- statkirte bhuvanabhrama sramamapakartum samantadapi || 2 || nasinnasti na va bhavisyati bhuvi brahmanvasanto yatha tvadvijnanasilakika yadi punanesnoyame eeee nadham ( ? ) 1 ityakhyatumivai tadahitamahaprasadamalamisa- dangulyo'tra suparvarajikalitah digbhih samuttambhitah | | 4 | | mantrinduh karunaparah pratipuram pratyadvitirtham prati- gramam capratimah pratisthalamayam tattavyatiprantaram | ambhahsatramasutrayangitasudhasaram yadiyam payah payampayamamusya gayati yaso vidhisu pantho janah || 6 ||

263 201) 202) kim brumahsramanihsaha vayamami srivastupalo'vani dharmasthanaparamparam vyadhita yamujjasitarivrjah | tamakhyatumapi ksama na kavayo vyomniva taravali - mekenaiva dinena ye kavayitum saktah prabandhanapi || 10 || cetascitrapate'nubhavalikhitam tatkalamenidrsah kasyascitapratirupamasya dhisanadrggocaram tanvati | ekasminsamaye samethya palitavyajena tatkarnayo - racakhyau suvicaksana kila jaretyahantrika dutika || 11 || 203) tvam visve'tra vivekavanasi pasuh kamarjuni sa puna- stvam durbhedavido dhiyah padamasi grava tu cintamanih | tvam cidrupa siromanih paramacidrupah sakalpadruma - stanmantrisavadanya ! kah kila bhavettulyo badanyastava || 12 || 204) strimantri vasantapala ! bhavatah praudhapratapanala 205). jvalabhirjaladhava godhasalile'pyasmin bhrsam susyati | adasyan bhuvanopakarakarane nirani meghah kuto danin ! danajalairamum yadi bhavannapurayisyatpunah || 13 || phullatkairava bhairavaprahasitam tvadiyam yasah srutva svarnagarinarendrasadasi sridharmadevangaja | namna sadgatirudgatanyapurusadvesa kimacaksyate deva ! tvayanuraginicchati disamisana kisaniva || 15 ||

206) 264 kankanti bhavatah karagragamiyam dvestindumapyanvaham tvaddhoh slesamana na haramapi sa kanthe samalambate | sa te suktisu sadara na kurute vinakvane'pi srutim tvadvaksahsayanarthini subhama ! sa sete na tulisvapi || 16 || deva ! tvadviraholvana ranarananabhibhrati vimbyati candradyati sakhirapasyabhuvanotsange kurangeksana | tatrapi smitaralabhittisu nijasyendupraticchandakat trastatvanmanasi pravestumabala sa kevalam roditi || 17 || taduhkhani tadiyamatari muhuh sraddhabhidhayam bhrsam jnipsayantyamata vipralambhatarala piyusayancapade matah payaya vastupalamiti vakprante'nimesaksatam nindanti hrdi sa trapanatamukhi nihsvasya moham gata || 18 || krodikrtya nijangajamatha jagi sraddhapi ma khidyatha vetse sarvamatah param dhutamabhipretam karisyami te | ityetamanusasya kantavacanairekantametyatmanah kantayasvasutakhatamakathayaddharmaya sarmatmane || 16 || 208) dharmo'piti nisamparamyacaritaprito jagada priye ! stritvatitamatih suta krtavati stane'nuragam tava | ganyah punyavatamayam dhuri ghara'nenaiva ratnaprasuh lagyo'sau mahatamayam gunamayah srivastupalo yatah 20||

209) 210) 265 jirnanuddharata navan racayata devalayastanvata yenanupanipanaku pasarasisatraprapa bhurisah | bhupithe paribhuya duryugakalamullasitam manmaha - 1 stasmai samprati paritosikamaham dasye sutam sadgatim || 24 || kincaitavyatirupadarsanavasadasmanimam karhicit yacetaisa visesatastaducitam putripitrnam tu nah | ityalocya taya samam dayitaya dharmena dhimannaham tvatparsve prahitasmi tatparatikrtim caitam bhavaniksatam ||25 || 211) samdistam bhavatasca kincana taya yattvam mayasi srutah kirtestam ca bhavanavakiradaho nirdhutadosamapi | kamo hanti janam tvadekasaranam tvam kamahanta'canava 212) yadyetaddivatayam tathapi hi mama tvayyeva linam manah || 26 || darsandarsamimamananyalalanarupam tadiyasprha - sanjatajvaradambarah paramayam rajye'pi vairagyavan | sayyayam ksanatah ksanadupavane kridasarasyam ksana- dvidvatparsadica ksanadupavisanbheje ratim na kvacit || 28 || 213) patrebhyah svayameva daksinakarenadatta laksmimiyam samvarddhata vivarddhatam sthitiriyam tatrasti citram na me | etatkim punaratmanaiva sujanai racchidyamanopyasi mantrisasya bhrasayate sma nibhrtam dehe'sya dahajvarah || 26 ||

266 214) 215) 216) srikandavasecanai ralamalam kelidalodvijanaih puspastrastarakairalam putakinipatranchanairapyam | saityam sadgatisangamamrtamrte me kalpate napare - rityaha jvaradahayukparijanam srivastupalo' nvaham || 30 || jatah ke na bhavanti ke na bhuvane ke no bhavisyanti ca srimantrisvara ! tavakastu mahima na kvapi samdasyate | yasmadvisvasubhah pradatumacirad dharmah sutam sadgatim sri satrunjayasailamaulivalaye tvamahvayatyanjasa | | 36 | | varse harsanisannasannavatike srivikramorvibhrtah kaladdavadasasamkhyahayanasatat mase'tra maghaye | pancamyam ca tithau dinadisamaye vare ca bhanostavo - dvodhum sadgatimasti lagnamasamam tattvaryatam tvaryatam ||37 || ityukta dayitena tena nipatatpitasruna caksusa pasayanti svapadangulirabhidadhe sapiti samismita | svaminsadhaya karyamatmanihitam natrantarayibhava- myadvaite hi sukhe priyasya muditadhinah kulinah striyah || 46 | | mantrindurnijakirtimambarasaritiradrumalitala- kridatra kinnaragiyamanavibhavam srnvansamantadapi | 217) dharmenatha puraskrtah satamakhenabhyetya sapritikam sadgatya samamutsavena mahata pravesyata svahpurim | | 53 | | 53||