STORY SIXTEEN
The King was
walking taking the Vetaala with him. Vetaala spoke to him.
“King! Listen to a wonderful story now.”
There is this king
of mountains named Himavaan, a store-house of all gems. He was the source of
both Gangaa and Gouri, the two spouses of Shiva. He is the foremost among the ‘Kula Mountains
There is a city named KaanchanaPura (Golden city) on its
summit shining like the heap of rays collected by Sun. The king of Vidyaadharas
named JeemootaKetu lived there like Indra on the Meru Mountain
He entered the youthful state in course of time. Advised by
his ministers, the king consecrated his son of noble character on the throne as
the prince.
Once all the well wishers and ministers approached prince
JeemootaVaahana and said-
“Prince! This Kalpa tree in our garden fulfills all the
desires of everyone who approach it with devotion. You should worship it
always. If the tree is pleased, even Indra cannot attack us; who else then can
harm us?”
JeemootaVaahana heard this and thought like this-
“Ah ! Wonderful! Even owning such a heavenly tree, my
ancestors never obtained any great benefit out of it. Being narrow minded some have only begged for
some material gains. They made a mockery of their own status and the divine
tree. I will ask for some better thing from this tree.”
He approached his father. He saluted his father and when
both were seated comfortably, he said to his father-
“Father! You already know that in this ocean of worldly
existence all the possessions including the body are ephemeral like the momentarily
appearing waves.
Goddess Lakshmi never stays at one place; runs away as
soon as she is obtained; is as unstable as the lightning streak.
Only the action of ‘Helping others’ will remain forever
for many ‘Yugas’, bestowing fame and merit. Therefore when everything exists
only for so little a time, why should we protect this tree for ourselves?
Those who held on to it saying ‘mine’ ‘mine’, where are
they now? Who owns it? Who are they to it?
If you permit me, I will worship this wish fulfilling
Kalpa tree and pray for the good of all beings.”
The king agreed to his words.
JeemootaVaahana went near the Kalpa tree and said-
“Lord! You have fulfilled the wishes of all my ancestors.
Now I ask you for one thing which no one has desired so far. Please grant that
too. Lord! Make the entire earth free of poverty. May auspiciousness accompany
you. I have given you off to the world to fulfill the wishes of all needy.”
JeemootaVaahana saluted the tree with reverence.
“You have renounced me. I am leaving” – these words
emanated from the tree. The tree immediately rose up high in the sky; poured as
rain all over the earth. The land was freed of famine everywhere.
JeemootaVaahana became renowned in all the three worlds for
his compassion towards all the beings of the earth.
All his relatives meanwhile who always envied their good
fortune of owning the Kalpa tree now plotted against JeemootaVaahana and his
father. They thought that the father and son would easily be defeated as the
divine tree was not there to protect them. They all decided to attack
JeemootaKetu’s kingdom.
JeemootaVaahana came to know of this.
He said to his father-
“Father! If you raise the sword no one has the power to
face you in the battle.
But which man will be so wicked as to kill the relatives
for the sake of the impermanent wretched body and own a kingdom?
What use is this kingdom for us?
We will renounce everything; go elsewhere and live a life
of Dharma. We will then obtain the best of both worlds (living/after death).
Let these relatives who are too much attached to material wealth, enjoy the kingdom.”
JeemootaKetu said-
“Son! I want this kingdom for your sake alone. If you not
want it, then what should an old man like me do with it?”
JeemootaVaahana thus permitted by his parent, renounced the
kingdom; left along with his father and mother; reached the Malaya Mountain
In one of his wanderings there he met Mitraavasu, son of the
Siddha KingVishvaavasu who lived there and became a close friend of his.
Once, JeemootaVaahana saw a temple of Gouri
She- was playing the Veenaa;
was surrounded by her maid-friends;
had come there to worship the daughter of Himavaan;
the deer there were standing still and absorbed in hearing
the music flowing from her hands, as if embarrassed by the beauty of the
charming (deer-like) eyes;
she- moving her pupils तारका (weapon) was destroying कर्णमूलां the army led by Karna
(the stagnancy of the ear by touching the deeper portion of the ear), like the Paandava
army पाण्डवचमू (whites of the eye) with कृष्णां Lord Krishna as support
(by the application of black collirium) {her eyes had collirium applied on
them; her white of the eye were looking charming where the pupils were moving
restlessly; eyes were elongated touching the ears ends};
was endowed with huge breasts which having not had enough of
the sight of her face, were rubbing against each other in their eagerness to
have a glimpse of her moon-face;
was emaciated at the waist which bore the finger marks
(triple hair-lines) of the Creator when he made her waist-region holding it
within his fist (had thin waist).
As she entered inside him through the eyes, JeemootaVaahana
lost his heart to that beautiful girl.
She also saw him - who was adorning that garden; whose
youthful looks incited passion; who appeared like the spring season taking
shelter in that forest developing dispassion due to Kaama Deva getting burnt
(by Shiva’s third-eye); and instantly fell in love with him; and looked so
woe-begone that her maids became apprehensive about her condition.
Then JeemootaVaahana asked the maid there-
“Good lady! What is the blessed name of your friend?
Which family is adorned by her birth?”
The maid answered-
“Good man! This girl’s name is Malayavati. She is the
sister of Mitraavasu and daughter of the Siddha King.”
The maid understanding his plight enquired the ascetic boy
who had accompanied JeemootaVaahana about his Master’s name and family and
briefly informed Malayavati about him, with a smile.
“Friend! Will you not offer any hospitality to this king
of Vidyaadharas? This guest is indeed worthy of worship by the whole world!”
The daughter of Siddha king was overcome by shyness and
remained silent with her head bent.
Then the maid said-
“This girl is very shy. Accept the offering through me.”
She offered JeemootaVaahana, a garland along with the Arghya
(getting him seated; washing the feet etc). JeemootaVaahana melting in love put
that garland on the neck of Malayavati.
Malayavati threw a glance at him for a second filled with
love and garlanded him as it were with a garland of blue lotuses. (Her looks
were like the garland of blue lotuses.)
As they were standing there gazing at each other performing
a silent ‘Svayamvara’ (selection of bride and briefed groom by one’s own
choice), a maid approached the daughter of SiddhaRaaja and said-
“Princess! Your mother is calling you. Come quickly.”
Hearing this, the princess somehow with great difficulty
pulled her love-lorn glance stuck through the arrow of Kaama Deva to the
lover’s face, and returned home.
JeemootaVaahana also returned to his hermitage with his soul
gone behind her.
Malayavati met her mother and tormented by the pangs of
separation being away from her Love-Lord, went to her bed-room and collapsed on
the bed.
The fire of passion inside was blazing high, tainting her
eyes;
limbs were getting scorched by distress;
eyes were watering continuously;
was applied sandal paste all over the body by her maids;
was fanned by fans made of lotus petals;
yet she could not rest peacefully on the bed; or on the lap
of her friend; or on the ground.
{Night came :}
Sandhyaa (twilight) infatuated to the Vaasara (day-time) had
gone off with him somewhere; Chandra (Moon) had taken the laughing face of
Praachee (eastern direction) in his hand and kissing. Malayavati though ‘filled
completely’ with ‘Smara’ (passion) was ‘completely devoid of’ ‘desire to live’;
could not send a messenger to her lover being overcome by shyness; and spent
the night with great difficulty.
JeemootaVaahana also suffering the pangs of separation of
his beloved, though lying on the bed, had fallen off into the hands of Kaama
(passion); though shining with the newly risen Raaga (attraction/color) was
giving out only white shine (had become pale);
though dumbstruck by shyness was
prattling about the pains of un-satiated passion; and spent the night with
great difficulty.
In the morning he got up and eager to see his beloved rushed
to the same temple
of Gouri
She did not see her lover sitting behind the tree.
Crying profusely she pleaded with the Goddess-
“Devi! If I do not get JeemootaVaahana as my husband in
this life by your grace, bless me that he should alone become my husband in the
next birth at least.”
Having said this much, she tied her upper garment to the
branch of the Ashoka tree and crying in front of the statue of the Goddess –
“Hey my Lord! JeemootaVaahana! Though you are
compassionate towards the whole world, why I am not rescued by you?’
She was about to tie the other end of the garment to her
neck; then an invisible voice rose from the sky-
“Daughter! Do not be hasty in your actions.
JeemootaVaahana the future emperor of the Vidyaadhara alone will be your
husband.”
JeemootaVaahana also heard the divine prediction; saw his
beloved trying to kill herself; rushed towards Malayavati with his friend. His
friend consoled her saying that the prediction uttered by the divine voice was
true. JeemootaVaahana consoled her with affectionate words and removed the
noose from her neck.
Malayavati again overcome by shyness stood there writing
circles on the ground with her foot with her head bent. Her friend who had come
there by chance to pluck flowers saw all this and came near the princess and
said-
“Friend! By the grace of the Goddess your wish is
fulfilled.
Only this morning, your father King Vishvaavasu was
talking to his son Mitraavasu in my presence-
‘Son! JeemootaVaahana the son of the Vidyaadhara king is
greatly honored in the world. He has given away the Kalpa tree itself for the
good of the world. He has come to our place. He is fit to be worshipped by us
as a guest. There is no one equal to him to adorn the status of our son-in-law.
Let us offer him worship by offering Malayavati, gem of a girl to him’.
I heard all this myself being there.
Now your brother Mitraavasu has gone to the hermitage of
this great man to fulfill the words of your father. Soon you will be married
off to him.
Return home now. Let this great man go back to his
hermitage.”
JeemootaVaahana came to the hermitage; heard the request of
Mitraavasu; accepted his proposal; told him all the details of his past life. Mitraavasu
felt happy by all this; got the permission of his parents also for the
marriage; went home; reported everything to his parents; they also felt very
happy.
On that very day he brought JeemootaVaahana to his home. He
arranged for all festivities and on an auspicious day conducted the marriage of
the Vidyaadhara prince and Malayavati. JeemootaVaahana had his desire fulfilled
and lived there itself happily in the company of the newly wed Malayavati.
Once, as JeemootaVaahana wandered along with Mitraavasu in the
hilly regions of Malaya
Mountain
“To which animal do these bones belong?”
His brother-in-law Vishvaavasu said to the compassionate
JeemootaVaahana -
“Friend! I will tell you about all this.
Long ago, Kadru, the mother of serpents deceitfully made
Vinataa, the mother of Garuda her slave. Though Garuda later freed his mother
from slavery he retained his hatred for serpents in his mind. He entered the
nether-world and started to kill Kadru’s sons, the serpents (Naagas) and ate
them; sometimes just killing them for pure revenge. The Naaga population
started diminishing. Worried, the Naaga king Vaasuki made an agreement with
Garuda-
‘King of birds! I
will daily send one Naaga to the shores of the southern ocean. Please do not
ever enter this netherworld. What purpose gets served for you by killing Naagas
all at once?’
Garuda agreed to his proposal as he would daily get some
food without much effort. From that day onwards, Garuda eats daily a Naaga sent
by Vaasuki on the sandy shore of this ocean. In course of time all the bones
have collected together like this having the appearance of a hillock made of
bones.”
JeemootaVaahana was very mush distressed by what he heard.
He said-
“Friend! That king Vaasuki indeed is to be condemned, for
he offers his own people to the enemy to get killed. He has thousand faces. But
is not one face of the cowardly king able to say-‘Hey Garuda! Eat me first!’?
How could he be so cruel to allow Garuda to kill his own people? How can
Garuda, being the son of Sage Kapila, being the vehicle for Krishna ,
do such sinful acts? Alas! Delusion dominates every one!!”
That great man JeemootaVaahana decided within himself-
‘This body has no
essence. Let me save one Naaga at least by sacrificing this body.’
At that time a messenger of the king approached them and
told them that the king wanted to meet them both urgently.
JeemootaVaahana said to Mitraavasu- “You go first! I will
follow you!” and sent him away. He stood there itself. After Mitraavasu
left, JeemootaVaahana slowly wandered all over the place searching for the Naaga
who would be killed that day. He suddenly heard someone crying at a
distance. He walked a few steps and saw
a sad and handsome youth getting dragged by soldiers and left near a highly
risen rock. The soldiers were gone the next moment. But the old woman who had
followed the youth was crying loudly. That young man was pleading with her to
go away and leave him alone. Curious to find out about them, compassionate
JeemootaVaahana hid himself behind a rock and watched them both.
That old lady was weighed down by sorrow and started
lamenting-
“Ha! ShankaChuda! Ha!
I brought you up bearing so many difficulties! Ha! Good child! Ha! The
one and only string left of the family! Son! When will I see you again? Child!
If your moon-face sets, how will your father survive
after falling into the dark pit of sorrow? Even the rays of the Sun will hurt
you; how can you bear the pain of getting eaten by Garuda? The Naaga world is
so huge; yet I am truly stuck by misfortune that the Creator and the Naaga king
had to choose you, my only son to get killed today!
What do they get out of it?”
The young Naaga consoled the lamenting mother and said-
“Mother! I am already distressed! Why do you make me
sadder? Return home!
This is my final salutation to you. It is already time
for Garuda to arrive here.”
The old lady immediately looked in all the directions and
cried loudly-
“Ha! I am ruined!
Who will save my son?”
JeemootaVaahana who had the essence of Bodhisattva heard all
this. He was moved by pity. He thought-
‘Alas! This is the Naaga named ShankaChuda sent by
Vaasuki to be eaten by Garuda. This mother is attached to her only son and so
is crying pathetically. If I do not save him by offering my body which will
some day or other perish, then fie on my wasteful birth!
He came out of the hiding place approached the old mother
and said-
“Mother of Naaga! I will save your son. Do not cry1”
That old lady mistook him for Garuda and said-
“Taarkshya
(Tormenter of Naagas)! Eat me!”
ShankaChuda said-
“Mother! This is not Taarkshya. Do not worry.
Where is this man who fills nectar in the heart by his
very sight? Where is Taarkshya who beings fear?”
JeemootaVaahana said-
“Mother! I am a Vidyaadhara. I have come here to save
your son. I will cover this body with the garment worn by your son and offer it
to the hungry Garuda. You take your son and go away.”
ShankaChuda’s mother said-
“No No Never! You are another son of mine! You are so
kind to us.”
JeemootaVaahana again said-
“Mother! You cannot stop me from doing what I want!”
ShankaChuda said to JeemootaVaahana who was forcing them to
go away-
“Great man! You have truly shown what compassion is. But
I do not want to save my body by yours. Who will lose a gem to save a stone?
People like me who only care for themselves abound in
this world. People like you who show kindness to the world are very rare.
Hey Good man! I do not want to taint the family of
ShankaPaala like the taint of the moon.”
“Mother! Go away
from this deserted place. Don’t you see
the killing-rock of Garuda dampened by the blood of Naagas which is the
terrifying sporting ground of Yama?
I will now go to the temple of Shiva
He took his mother’s permission and went off to the temple
to offer his salutations to Lord Gokarna.
JeemootaVaahana thought – “If Taarkshya comes no, my
desire would be fulfilled.”
At that time trees started to shake as if avoiding the storm
created by the wings of Garuda. JeemootaVaahana understood that Garuda was
coming there, and quickly climbed the killing-rock with the purpose of saving
ShankaChuda’s life.
Immediately Garuda pounced on him; made him fall on the
rock; took hold of him by his beak; quickly carried the bleeding king to the
Peak of Malaya Mountain and started to peck him and eat. On the way, the jewel
which adorned his head fell off.
“Let my body get used for others in every birth of mine.
A man who does not help others will never attain heaven or liberation.”
As JeemootaVaahana thought like this when getting eaten by
Garuda, flowers showered over the Vidyaadhara king from the heavens.
Meanwhile the blood-smeared jewel belonging to
JeemootaVaahana fell in front of Malayavati. She recognized it as belonging to
her husband.
Grief stricken and shedding tears she showed it to her
in-laws. They also were shocked to see the jewel and were surprised.
JeemootaKetu understood what had happened through his divine learning; and started
towards the Malaya
Mountain
Meanwhile ShankaChuda came back after worshipping Gokarna.
He saw the killing-rock wet with fresh blood. Immediately he cried out-
“Ha! I am ruined! I am a great sinner! Indeed that
compassionate man has sacrificed himself to Garuda for my sake. I will search
where he has been taken by the bird now. If I find him alive, then I will not
sink in the mire of ill-fame.”
Meanwhile Garuda observed JeemootaVaahana while he was
pecking him and thought-
‘Aha! This person is indeed a rare personality! He seems
to be happy while getting killed. He is not dying also. He is getting
horripilations in the left-over limbs when I eat him.
He looks at me as if grateful for my act. This one is not
a Naaga. He must be some great soul. I will ask him and will not eat him any
more.’
As he was thinking like this, JeemootaVaahana spoke to
Garuda-
“Hey King of Birds! Why have you stopped? I still have
got flesh and blood in my body.
I do not see you satiated still. Eat your fill.”
The king birds was surprised by his words and said-
“Great man! You are not a Naaga! Tell me who you are!”
JeemootaVaahana said-
“I am a Naaga! Why do you ask such a question? Act
according to your nature. Which fool will act against his nature?”
By that time ShankaChuda came running there. From far itself
he shouted-
“Hey Son of Vinataa! Do not incur a great sin like this.
Why are you making a mistake?
He is not a Naaga. I am the Naaga!”
He came running and stood in-between them and said to the
confused Taarkshya-
“Garuda? What is
this delusion in you? Don’t you see my
hood and my two tongues? Don’t you see his calm disposition?”
By that time Malayavati along with her in-laws arrived
there.
Seeing the wounded body of JeemootaVaahana, his parents
lamented-
“Ha! Son! Ha! JeemootaVaahana! Ha! Compassionate one! Ha
child! Ha!
You have sacrificed your body for another one! Ha
Vainateya!
How could you do such an act without thinking?”
They lamented like this and cried uncontrollably.
Taarkshya began to feel guilty and thought-
“Ha! How was this great man with the essence of Bodhisattva
eaten by me foolishly like this? He is that JeemootaVaahana who gives
life to all others; who is praised all over the world! If he is dead, I will
have to enter the fire to compensate for my sin.
Will ever the fruit of the tree of Adharma taste good?”
As he was thinking like this, JeemootaVaahana saw all his
relatives who had come there; fell down wounded and bleeding all over; and
died.
His parents saw this and started screaming and weeping-“Ha!
Ha!”
ShankaChuda started blaming himself (for leaving
JeemootaVaahana alone on the shore and going to the temple.)
Malayavati with a choking voice looked up at the sky; called
for the Goddess who was already pleased with her; and addressing her as
‘Ambikaa’ prayed-
“Mother! You yourself promised that the Emperor of
Vidyaadharas will be my husband. But look at my ill fortune now. Your words
have proved false.”
Goddess Gouri appeared before her and said-“Daughter! My
words are never false”.
So saying the goddess sprinkled a few drops of nectar taken
from her ‘Kamandalu’ (water-pot) on JeemootaVaahana.
Instantly JeemootaVaahana stood up unhurt and shining more lustrous
than ever.
Everyone saluted the Goddess. JeemootaVaahana also saluted
her.
Goddess addressed him and said-
“Son! I am pleased by your sacrifice of the body for
another one. I will now consecrate you as the sole emperor of Vidyaadharas, by my
own hands.”
Goddess Gouri sprinkled some water from her Kamandalu on his
head.
JeemootaVaahana praised her with many hymns. Goddess Gouri
vanished after blessing him. Flowers showered on him from heavens. The sound
from the divine drums echoed in all directions.
JeemootaVaahana saluted Garuda.
Garuda said to him-
“Emperor! I am pleased by you who are a man of extraordinary
nobility. You have embedded this event in the wall of the Cosmic egg (Brahmaanda)
amazing all the three worlds by your overly compassionate act. So order
anything.
Whatever boon you want I will bestow on you.”
That great emperor said to Garuda-
“Garuda! Repenting for your actions, please do not kill
the Naagas anymore and eat them. Let all those who were eaten by you in the
past become alive.”
Garuda said-
“Let it be so! I will not eat the Naagas any more.
Whoever has been eaten by me in the past will become
alive once again.”
By his boon, all the Naagas who were only bones lying on the
sea-shore got up alive and unhurt.
All the gods, Naagas, Sages assembled there making that Malaya Mountain
By the grace of Goddess Gouri all the Vidyaadhara kings came
to know of JeemootaVaahana’s glorious act. They all came there and saluted him
who was surrounded by his joyous relatives and who had been consecrated by Goddess
Gouri herself. They all took him to the Himalayas .
JeemootaVaahana lived happily for ever as the emperor of
Vidyaadharas, along with his wife Malayavati, his parents, his friend
Mitraavasu; shining with many noble acts; his court filled with many gem-like
personalities equaling ShankaChuda.
END
After narrating this wonderful story, Vetaala asked the
king-
“King! Tell me!
Who is great ShankaChuda or JeemootaVaahana?
If you know the answer and yet do not speak, you will
know what will happen!”
The King replied-
“JeemootaVaahana was noble because of the merits of many
births. So it is not something really great.
ShankaChuda alone is praiseworthy because though he was
already freed from the danger of death, he ran towards the enemy who was eating
some one else on the peak of the mountain and offered his body.”
As the king broke his silence, Vetaala flew back to the
Shimshapaa tree. The king again walked towards the tree to bring him back.
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