Chapter LXXXVI - The production of the pot (or the embryonic cell)

Argument:—The birth of the Brahman boy from the seed of Narada, preserved in a pot whereby he was called the pot-born, and his education.

Chudala continues said:—

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It is the nature of everything in the extensive world to be born in its own kind (i.e. the similar only springs from the similar and nothing of a dissimilar kind). All persons and things continue to go on in it by their desires and tendencies, whether it be in the directions of virtue or vice or good or evil. (Nature is the invariable quiddity of a thing; but its desire or inclination is a variable property or quality of it).

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When this desire or want of the mind of a man is either diminished or brought under his control, he is no longer subject to the acts of goodness or vice but becomes exempt both from merit and demerit; and their consequences of reiterated births and deaths by the utter indifference. (Neutrality in action is the way to one's inanity in both worlds. This is not a right rule since the commission of a good action is as commendable, as an omission in the discharge of duty is held culpable in law and morality).

Sikhidvaja rejoined:—

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O eloquent speaker! your words are as full of sense as they are of great import to me, they bespeak your great penetration into the depths of wisdom.

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My audience of the sweet exultance of your speech has given me a satisfaction, equal to that of my draught of a large dose of the ambrosial water.

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Now be pleased to give me a brief narration of the story of your birth and pedigree, and I will hear with all my attention your words of sound sense and wisdom.

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Please sir to relate unto me, what the son of lotus-Brahma—the venerable sage Narada, did with the seminal strength, which unconsciously fell from him on the ground.

Chudala related:—

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The muni then curbed back the infuriate elephant of his beastly mind by the strong bridle of prudence; and bound it fast in the iron chain of the great intelligence.

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His virile strength which was as hot as fire, resembled the molten moon melted down by the flame of the final conflagration; and as liquified as the fluid quick-silver or other metallic solution.

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The sage who had a water-pot of crystal stone fast by his side, laid hold of the same and put the fluid semen in it, in the manner of his depositing the liquid moon-beams in the disc of the moon.

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There was on one side of the mount of Meru, a projected rock with a deep cavern in it; the passage of which was not obstructed by the heaps of stones which lay before it.

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The muni placed the pot inside that cave as the embryo is situated in the belly, and he filled the pot with milk which he produced by his will; as the lord of creation has filled the milky ocean with its watery milk. (The sages are said to have miraculous powers by force of their yoga).

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The muni neglected his sacred offering and brooded over the pot, as a bird hatches over its egg; and it was in a course of a month that the foetus grew up in the pot of milk, as the reflection of the crescent moon increases in the bosom of the milky ocean.

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At the end of the month the pot bore a full formed foetus, as the orb of the moon becomes full in the course of a month;and as the season of spring produces the lotus bud with its blushing petals.

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The foetus came out in the fullness of its time, and with the full possession of all the members of its body; as the full moon rises from the milky ocean without diminution of any of its digits.

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The body became fully developed in time, and the limbs were as beautiful as the horns of the moon shine brightly in the lighted fortnight.

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After performance of the initiatory ceremonies (of tonsure and investiture of the sacred thread); and the sage instructed him in whatever he knew, as one pours out the contents of one vessel into another.

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In course of a short time the boy became acquainted with all the oral instructions (Vangmaya) of his father, and became an exact ectype of the venerable sage. (The best son likens his father).

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The old sage became as illustrious with his brilliant boy, as the orb of the moon shines brightly with its train of resplendent stars.

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Once on a time the sage Narada went to the empyrean of his father Brahma accompanied by his young progeny, and there made his obeisance to the prime progenitor of mankind.

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The boy also bowed down before his grandsire, who knowing him to be versed in the vedas and sciences; took him up and set him on his lap.

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The lord Brahma pronounced his blessings on the boy, and knowing him to be born of the pot and acquainted with the vedas; gave him the name of Kumbha or the pot.

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Know me O hermit! to be the son of the sage Narada, and grand son of the great lotus-born Brahma himself; and know by the appellation of Kumbha from my birth into the pot.

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I have the four vedas for my companions and playmates, and I always delighted with their company; in the heavenly abode of my lotus-born grandsire—the Divine Brahma.

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Know the Goddess Sarasvati to be my mother, and the Gayatri hymn as my maternal aunt; my habitation is in the heaven of Brahma where I dwell as the grand-child of the lord of creatures.

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I wonder at my pleasure, throughout the wide extended world; I rove about with a soul full of felicity, and not on any errand or business whatever.

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I walk over the earth without touching it with my feet, and its flying dust do not approach my person; nor is my body ever fatigued in all its rambles. (The spiritual body is intangible and unwearied).

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It happened this day, that I came to behold thy hermitage in the course of my etherial journey; and so directed my course this way, to see thee in this place. (This is the substance of my life, as I have now related unto thee).

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Thus O forester! I have given you the whole account of my life as you have heard just now; because it is a pleasure to good people, to hold conversation with the good and wise.

Valmiki said:—

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As they were talking in this manner the day past away to its evening service, and the sun set down below the horizon; the court broke and every one repaired to his evening ablution, and met again with the rising sun on the next morning.