Part 12: The childhood of Suprabha and Puruṣottama

Wearing blue and yellow garments, with palm tree-and garuḍa-banners, long-armed, companions from affection, they looked like twins. By means of a teacher, they grasped all the arts. This is the power of former births of such noble persons. Other soldiers could not endure even a playful blow from them. An elephant kills just by touch, a serpent just by smelling.^[1] They, resembling the wind in strength, gradually attained youth, like the pleasure-grove of Śrīs, purifying the body. The jewels, which produce victory, were given by the gods to the men-jewels: the plough, et cetera, to the elder; Śārṅga, et cetera, to the younger.^[2]

When he had seen Bala and Hari exceedingly strong, Nārada, eager for strife, jumped up and went to the house of Madhu, the Prativiṣṇu. Knowing what was fitting, Madhu received him respectfully, bowed and said to him: “Welcome, great muni. By good fortune you have come within my sight. All the kings in this half of Bharata are my servants and also the gods—the lords of Māgadha, Varadāman, and Prabhāsa. Tell fearlessly what your purpose is, with reference to any object or any place here, that I may grant it, Nārada.”

Nārada said: “I came here for amusement. I have no motive concerning any object or place. You are vainly commended as ‘Lord of half of Bharata.’ Every one talks like a panegyrist. Is there a truthful person anywhere? On the contrary, an intelligent man must be ashamed at being praised by beggars from avariciousness and certainly must not believe them. Among the strong even there are the most strong, and the most great among the great. In this world the earth is seen to have many jewels.”

Madhu, with inner rage like the śamī^[3] with fire inside, at once biting his lip, said to Nārada: “What river, pray, in this half of Bharata is greater than the Gaṅgā, what mountain is greater than Vaitāḍhya, and who more powerful than I? Name him whom you think more powerful than I, that I may show you his strength instantly, like a śarabha that of a young elephant. Have you been insulted by some one, drunk or crazy, whose slaughter you wish to cause today under the pretext of praise, Brahman?”

Then Nārada said, “I do not go near drunk or crazy men. How, pray, could they have insulted me? You said today in your council, ‘I am lord of half of Bharata.’ Do not say that again. For it is laughable. O king, have you never heard, even by hearsay from the people, of the two sons, Suprabha and Puruṣottama, of Soma in Dvārakā? Very strong, long-armed, full of affection for each other, hard to endure, like wind and fire incarnate, with one arm they lift up the earth with oceans and mountains, like Śakra and Īśāna descended here from heaven from curiosity. While Bharata is occupied by them, like a forest by a lion, why do you trumpet from ignorance, like an elephant blind from rutting?”

Both of his eyes red from anger, as if he wished a battle instantly, grinding teeth against teeth, King Madhu said: “If what you said is true, then Yama is invited by me to play at will today, as well as you to see a battle. Look! As a surety of battle, I shall make the kingdom of Dvārakā bereft of Soma, bereft of Suprabha, bereft of Puruṣottama.”

Dismissing Muni Nārada with these words, he sent a messenger with secret instructions to Soma and Soma’s sons. He, powerful—for messengers, though powerless, become powerful by their masters’ power—went quickly to Soma and his sons and said:

“The destroyer of the pride of the proud, gentle to the well-behaved, victorious by the cruel strength of his arm, rich in warrior-practices, his lotus-feet attended by haṃsa-kings sprung from noble families in the southern half of Bharata, like slaves; taking tribute also from the Vaitāḍhya-kings of the southern row on Vaitāḍhya; with cruel commands like another Ākhaṇḍala, Ardhacakradhara Madhu, spring to the garden of half of Bharata, sends me to give you orders. So listen, O king. ‘We know that you have shown devotion in the past. We hear from people that you have now changed because of the power of your sons. If you are the same as before and there is no change, send tribute to the master, including the key of the treasun.’^[4] By the lord’s favor everything will be yours again. The water that the sun takes up, it gives back to the earth.^[5] By his disfavor your wealth, even what is in existence, wall go. For when the master is angry, wealth does not remain, as if from fear. If the master is opposed, how will you have wife, children, friends, et cetera, and life, to say nothing of wealth? After executing the master’s command, rule your country according to custom. Let the words of your slanderers, resembling dogs, prove false.”

Then Puruṣottama said harshly from rising anger: “Because you are a messenger, you may not be killed. For that reason you said this, contemptible creature! Are you crazy, or drunk, or careless, or have you the mind of a Piśāca that you say such a thing, and is your master (the same) that he has such a thing said? Just as a child plays the part of a king at will in childish plays, so he, himself, deluded, plays the part of master. When was he, arrogant, endowed by us with lordship? If desire is measured by speech, why does he not become Indra? He, ignorant, has attacked me now with great royal power. Doubtless he will die like a fish (cast) on a bank by the tide. Go! Bring to battle your master who seeks tribute. I shall take by force his wealth like a slave, together with his life.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Nāgas are supposed to have poisonous breath. Crooke, p. 387; Indian Serpent Lore, p. 15 et passim.

[2]:

Śārṅga was the name of Vāsudeva's bow. See above, p. 44.

[3]:

One of the two trees used to kindle the sacred fire.

[4]:

Maryādīkṛtya kuñcikām (?). See App. I.

[5]:

See I, n. 171.