Saturday, 6 August 2016

(25) Great king Vikramaaditya


 STORY TWENTY FIVE

King VikramaSena carried the corpse on his shoulder and went to the fig tree in the cremation ground where the mendicant ShaantiSheela was waiting for him on that new moon night.
The mendicant was seated inside a circle on the ground built of white bones; blood had been sprinkled all over the ground; pots were kept filled with blood; huge lamps burnt brightly filled with oil; fire for ‘Homa’ was burning in the center. Other ingredients were arranged in the due manner. The desired deity was getting worshipped.

The mendicant got up as soon as he saw the King. He said-
“King! You have done a great service to me not possible for anyone else on this earth. Who can equal you?
What sort of a great task this is!
What sort of a time and place this is!
It is true indeed when they praise you as the greatest among kings! Who else will neglect one’s own comforts and do service to others? This is greatness of the great men that they do not swerve from completing the intended task even at the cost of their own lives.”

The mendicant was happy that his wish was getting fulfilled. He got the corpse on the shoulder of the king down on to the ground. He bathed the corpse; garlanded it; and placed it inside the circle. He then applied ashes all over his body; wore a sacred thread made of hair; covered himself with the cloth which was on the corpse.
Then by the power of meditation, the mendicant worshipped the spirit inside the corpse in the due manner. He offered Arghya (water) from the skull-bowl; flower from the clean new teeth; application of fragrant paste with blood;  fragrant smoke from human eye; flesh as food; finished the worship and said to the King who was seated nearby-

“King! Salute this great king of Magical hymns who has manifested in this corpse by falling fully in the ground with all your eight limbs touching the ground. He will give you any boon you desire.”

The King remembered the warning of Vetaala and said-
“Bhagavan! I do not know how to salute in that manner. You please show me how to do it. Then I will do exactly as you said.”

The mendicant showed him the method by himself lying on the ground, prostrate. The King immediately sliced off his head with the sword; tore open his chest and took out the heart-lotus and offered the head and the heart-lotus to the Vetaala.

All the dead spirits praised him with good words.
Vetaala was pleased by the king’s action. It spoke to him through the corpse-
“King! This mendicant wanted the emperorship of Vidyaadharas. You will get the same after the end of your life as a king on this earth.”

The King said-
“Yogeendra! If you are pleased, what boon will not be possible for me? Yet I ask you this boon; I know your words will not fail.
Let these twenty four pleasant stories with questions and answers complete with the twenty-fifth one which you told me become famous in the world and become praiseworthy.”

Thus prayed by the King, Vetaala said-
“King! Let it be so! I will tell you more! Listen!
He who tells and listens to these ‘twenty four stories previously told and the last one which fulfills the desires’, with sincerity will be freed of sins. Where these stories are praised, there the Yakshas, Raakshasas, Daakinis, Vetaalas, Kooshmaandas, and BrahmaRaakshasas will not trouble.”

Vetaala said this much; came out of the corpse and went back to its abode through
Yoga-Maayaa.

Lord Shiva appeared there along with his groups of Gods pleased by all this. The king saluted him with devotion.
Lord Shiva said-
“Well-done my child! You have killed the deceitful ascetic who wanted to attain the emperorship of Vidyaadharas through ‘HataYoga’. You Vikramaaditya have been created with my essence to subdue the demons who have taken birth on this earth as lowly beings and for controlling the arrogant wicked men. Therefore you will keep in control the entire earth with its islands and nether worlds; later become the emperor of Vidyaadharas. There you will enjoy the pleasures of that world for long and renounce them by your own will and will get absorbed in me at the end. Accept this sword named ‘Aparaajita (unconquerable)’. With the help of this sword you will be able to accomplish whatever I told you.

Lord Shiva gave him the sword. The king offered him flowers of hymns.
Lord Shiva disappeared along with the Gods.

EPILOGUE

After all the work was completed, and the night disappeared, the King entered his city in the morning. The people of his city welcomed him with festivities. He spent the day taking bath; charity; worship of Shiva; music and songs.
Within few days, by the grace of Lord Shiva he brought under control the entire earth with the islands and nether worlds. He ruled the kingdom without any problems. Later he attained the great emperorship of the Vidyaadharas; enjoyed the pleasures for long; and got absorbed in Lord Shiva at the end.


TWENTY FIVE STORIES OF VETAALA ARE COMPLETE



(24) Story of the mother and daughter



STORY TWENTY FOUR

The king ignoring the terrifying Night-demoness with the eyes of the cremation fires and dark hued because of the darkness; went near the Shimshapaa tree in that terrifying cremation ground; placed the Vetaala on the shoulder and started to walk.
Vetaala said to the silent king-
“Hey King! I am tired of going to and fro like this; but you do not appear to be so.
So I have got one question to ask. Listen!”

In the past, in the southern region there was a Mandaleshvara (Ruler of twelve kings) named Dharma, the foremost among the noble and with many families. He had a wife named Chandraavatee born of Maalava country. They had a daughter.
When she attained the age of marriage, a calamity happened.

The king was overthrown by his relatives who plotted against him. The king escaped from his city along with his beautiful wife and daughter with a store of diamonds. They were on their way to Maalava, the wife’s father’s place. They reached the outskirts of the Vindhya forest on the way. Since his wife and daughter were tired, he spent the night in that wilderness itself distressed and worried.

In the morning Lord Vibhaavasu (Sun) ascended the eastern direction spreading out his hands (rays) which seemed to block the king saying-“Do not enter this forest, the abode of thieves!”

The king, his wife and daughter walked on the forest paths, getting their feet wounded by thorns and stones.  They entered a village in that forest which was peopled with Bhillas (hunter-clan) and cruel men who would kill any one for meager gains. The village had no good men even for namesake. The thieves saw from a distance the king wearing expensive garments and ornaments; and rushed towards him to rob him of his belongings. The king saw them and said to his wife and daughter-
“Let these lowly beings not touch you. Escape into the deep forest.”

The frightened queen took her pretty daughter’s hand and entered the deep forest as instructed by her husband. The king who had a shield and sword bravely attacked the hunters who shot arrows at him and killed many. Then by the order of the chief all those men got together and fell on the king; hit him all over; and killed him. They took away the ornaments concealed in his garment and went away. The queen who was hiding inside a bush with her daughter saw her husband getting killed. Grieving for the dead king yet intent on protecting her daughter she ran with her and entered the deep forest.

The sun was n the center of the sky. All the birds and animals were hiding in the shade by the heat of the Sun. Queen Chandraavatee with her daughter Laavanyavati soon reached a lotus-lake. They both tired and exhausted sat under an Ashoka tree near the lake.

 At that time, some prominent man named ChandaSimha (Valorous lion) came to that forest along with his son to hunt in that forest. He saw the foot-prints of the queen and her daughter and said to his son SimhaParaakrama (valorous like the lion)-
“Son! If we follow these beautiful foot prints we will soon reach two ladies. Then you can choose one of them whomever you like (and marry her).”

SimhaParaakrama said-
“Father! The one with smaller foot prints looks like my wife. You can take the other one with bigger foot-prints who seems to be older.”

ChandaSimha said-
“What are you saying? Your mother departed for the other world in front of our eyes. When I have lost such a good wife, what desire do I have for other women?”

SimhaParaakrama then said-
“Father! Do not say like that! Without a wife, the householder’s house is empty.
And did you not hear what MoolaDeva has said?
Where there is no wife with huge breasts and hips waiting for your arrival, which fool will enter that dungeon without chains wastefully called a house?
Therefore father, I vow on my life if you do not accept the other one as your wife.”

ChandaSimha agreed to his words.
They both followed the foot prints seated on their horses. Soon they saw the beautiful queen and her daughter sitting under the Ashoka tree. They both approached the ladies. The queen stood up in fear thinking them to be thieves. But the daughter removed her apprehension by saying-“Let us not be frightened. These two do not look like thieves. They are well-dressed and appear to be peaceful. They might have come to this forest to hunt animals.”

ChandaSimha climbed down from the horse and said to her-
“Beautiful lady! Enough of apprehension! We have come here to hunt. Talk to us freely.
You both look like Rati (attraction) and Preeti (love) the two wives of Manmatha sheltering in the forest when Manmatha was burnt by the fire of Shiva’s eyes!
Why have you come to this desolate forest?
Your bodies are to be sheltered in bejeweled mansions. Why do your feet deserving to tread the court-yards covered with flowers, walking on this thorn-filled forest terrain?
It is strange indeed that the dust falling on your faces by the wind taint our faces instead; the hot rays of the Sun falling on your limbs burn us instead.
So please tell us about you both. Our hearts are distressed by seeing you both in this condition. We are not able to bear the distress of seeing you both in this forest filled with wild animals.”

The queen sighed and feeling shy and saddened at heart slowly related al the events of their life. ChandaSimha understood her to be without her husband. He consoled her with sweet words and promised to take care of her along with her daughter. 

He along with his son took the queen along with her daughter to his city prosperous like the city of Kubera, the God of wealth. 
The queen felt as if she had got another birth; feeling helpless and orphaned and in dire circumstances accepted his words. What can the poor woman (widow) do?
The queen was found to have smaller feet and the daughter had bigger feet.
So as previously agreed, SimhaParaakrama took Chandraavatee the queen as his wife and her daughter Laavanyavati became the wife of ChandaSimha.

Who can break the promise made previously?

Because of the foot-steps being different, the mother and daughter married the son and the father respectively and the daughter became the mother-in law of her mother.

In course of time both had many sons and daughters by their husbands.


END


Vetaala finished the story and said-
“King! The mother and daughter got children from the son and the father. What will be the relationship of these children to each other?
If you know and do not answer remember the curse will take effect.”

The King thought for some time but was not able to answer the question. He walked silently.
Vetaala understood that he had no answer for that question and laughed in its mind thinking-
‘This king cannot answer this question. That is why he is walking silently. He cannot be cheating me because my curse is powerful. I am pleased with the noble characters of this great king. Therefore I will cheat that deceitful mendicant and bestow the Siddhi (result) of this task to this king for the good of the world.’

So thinking, Vetaala said to the king-
“King! Though exhausted by walking to and fro in this cremation ground in this terrifying dark night, you look happy only. You do not feel disturbed in any way.
I am amazed at your determination. I am pleased also by your courage.
You take this corpse and go. I will also leave. But follow my instructions carefully.
That mendicant for whose sake you are taking this corpse is a wicked man.
Tonight he will invite me to manifest in this corpse and will worship me. He will want to offer you to me by killing you. He will ask you to lie down on the ground prostrate and salute the deity. Great King! At that time you tell that wicked man-“I do not know how to salute. Please show me how to do it.”
When he is prostrate on the ground and shows you how to do it, you take your sword and slice off his head.

The emperorship of Vidyaadharas desiring which he is doing all these efforts will then belong to you. Otherwise this mendicant will kill you and fulfill his desire.
That is why I delayed you all this time breaking you silence again and again.
May you succeed! Go now!”

Vetaala left the corpse on his shoulder and vanished.

The king understood by the words of Vetaala, the wicked nature of the mendicant and his evil plan to kill him to get his desire fulfilled. Pleased at heart by the Vetaala’s timely advice, he walked towards the fig tree ready to face the evil mendicant.



(23) Story of the ascetic



STORY TWENTY THREE


The king again climbed the Shimshapaa tree and brought down the Vetaala; placed it on his shoulders even as it was making lots of weird noises and gestures; and started to walk silently. Vetaala spoke to him from the shoulder-
“King! You are obstinately clinging on to this task which cannot be completed. Anyhow to relax your mind let me tell you a story.”


There is a city named Shobhaavatee in the country of Kalinga. Meritorious souls lived there as if in heaven. Well-known for wealth and valor like Pradyumna (Vishnu or son of Krishna), a king named Pradyumna ruled that city prescribing proper rules of conduct for everyone.

In that king-
pulling of Guna (string) गुणापकर्ष​ was in the bow but not गुणापकर्ष​ decline of character in people;
beating with hand कराहति was in drums but not कराहति  taxes levied on people;
Kali was in Yugas but not Kali (deceit) among people;
sharpness तीक्श्णता was in intelligence but not in the words.

The king had constructed a Brahmin’s colony named YajnaSthala in his city in some corner for sheltering the Brahmins. There lived a Brahmin named YajnaSoma who had mastered the Vedas; who was very rich; who worshipped Sacred Fire; and who worshipped guests.
When he was old, he got a son through his devoted wife. The boy named DevaSoma grew well under the care of the father; was endowed with all good qualities and was very much loved by his parents.
When he was sixteen years of age, that boy who was loved by all because of his learning, politeness and other qualities was stuck by fever and died. YajnaSoma saw the dead body of the son; embraced him and cried “Ha1 Ha!”
He did not allow the body to be cremated in fire.

The elder Brahmins advised him-
“Brahman! You are learned in all scriptures. Don’t you know that the world is like the illusory city created by Gandharvas?
Even those kings who parade on the earth believing themselves to be immortal, each one of them have climbed the cremation fire carried as a corpse (Preta) followed by the crying people in the cremation grounds; have been burnt by the flesh-burning fire; have been consumed by wild animals or by Time; no one was able to prevent their ends; what to say of ordinary people?
Hey learned man! What will you get by holding on to this corpse? Tell us!”

Somehow they were able to remove him from the boy’s dead body. They took the body on a cot and took it to the cremation ground accompanied by drums etc.

There lived some ascetic in that cremation ground. He followed the disciplines of Paashupata cult; lived in a hut; had a body emaciated by excessive age and penance; held fast by nerves which were afraid of breaking as if; wearing matted brown locks; appearing like a second Shiva. He had a disciple who was very rude and arrogant in behavior but helped in begging alms.

When the old ascetic heard the drum noise in the cremation ground, he said to the disciple who was having the food-
“Son! What is the sound outside? Go out and find out the cause of the noise and quickly come back. Why so much noise which has never been heard in the past so far?” 

The disciple rudely retorted-
“I am not going! You can go yourself!  I have to eat my food now.”

Guru said-
“You Fool! Fie on you! Glutton! When only half the hour has passed in the day, what urgency is there for you to eat now?”

The disciple said with anger-
“Fie on you, you old idiot!
I am no more your disciple; you are no more my Guru. I will go elsewhere.
You can carry this bowl yourself.”

He threw the begging bowl and the stick in front of the Guru and ran away.
The ascetic just laughed and came out of the hut.
At that time the dead body of the boy was brought there. The ascetic saw the people crying and weeping for the young boy. He decided to discard his old body and enter the boy’s young body. He went to some solitary place; wept aloud; danced shaking his limbs in various ways. Then the next moment the ascetic desirous of enjoying a youthful body discarded his old emaciated body and entered the dead body of the young Brahmin boy.  Next instant, the boy got up alive from the pyre which was about to be lit.
All the people were amazed by the sight and happily shouted-
“The boy is alive! Alive! By Good fortune he lives!”

The Yogeshvara who was in that body told them-
“When I went to the other world, Lord Shiva gave me new life and ordered–
‘You must follow the disciplines of the Paashupata cult’.
So I have to leave now and live accordingly performing penance. Otherwise I cannot remain alive.
You people go home. I will go from here.”


He took leave of them all who were happy and sad at the same time; with a determined mind sent them all off them back home. He threw his old body into a hole; and went away to continue his ascetic life.


END

Vetaala asked the king-
“King! Tell me why the great ascetic cried before entering the other young body?
Why did he dance? I am very curious to know the answer.”

The King said-
“Listen Vetaala! As his original body was loved and cared for by his parents from birth and as it had helped him attain many Siddhis, he cried because of his attachment to the body. Later he danced in joy because he could perform more penance through the other young body.”

Vetaala heard his words and flew back to the Shimshipaa tree. The king without getting distressed followed it with a determined mind.


(22) Story of the four brothers


 STORY TWENTY TWO

The King climbed the Shimshapaa tree again; placed the Vetaala on his shoulder and started walking silently. Vetaala again spoke-
“King! Well-done! You have a steady mind! Let me tell you another strange story-


There is this city of KusumaPura. It was ruled by a king named DharaneeVaraaha. His kingdom sheltered many Brahmins. There was a Brahmin’s colony there named BrahmaSthala. There lived a Brahmin named VishnuSwaamy. He had a wife named Svaahaa like the God of Fire (having a wife Svaahaa). He had four sons. 

VishnuSwaamy died. All his wealth was taken away by his relatives. Then these four sons discussed with each other their future course of action.
“There is nothing here for us. Let us go out of this place.”

Having made a decision like this, they travelled for many days and reached a village named YajnaSthala where their maternal grandfather had lived. But as he was not there, their uncles had to care for them. The boy continued their studies in that place. But as days went by they were disregarded by their uncles and were neglected in the matters of food clothing etc.
Humiliated by the disregard of their relatives they met at night to discuss their plight.
The eldest of them said-
“Brothers! What to do?
Know everything to be the play of fate!
In this world no one can do anything for anyone.
Today I was wandering in the forest worried about all this. There I happened to see a dead man with all his limbs loose and spread out. I wished for such a freedom and thought-
‘This fellow is blessed indeed. He has nothing more to worry about anything.’
I decided to end my life there itself; tied a cloth to the branch of the tree; tied the other end to my neck like a noose; and hung myself. The cloth tore off and I fell on the ground unconscious but not dead. When I woke up I saw some kind man fanning me and sprinkling water on my face to revive me.
He told me-
“Friend! Tell me! You look like an educated person! Why do you grieve and for whose sake? A man who does good actions gets happiness; a man who does bad actions gets pain; that is all. If you are trying to kill yourself due to some suffering, then do good actions. Why do you want to kill yourself and live in the hell after death?”
He consoled me like this and went away. I decided not to give up my life and came here. If the fate decides so, one cannot even die.
Now I will perform penance in some sacred place and burn the body through penance so that I will not be tormented by poverty again.”

His younger brothers said-
“Aarya! Why should learned men suffer without money?
Is it not a well-known fact that the wealth is as fickle as the autumn cloud? Though stored and well-protected with effort, it will perish.
Friendship with wicked, love of a prostitute and wealth never last long.
So a man who is capable of sincere effort should acquire some talent by which the deer called wealth is caught forcefully and tied to the stake brings forth happiness.”

The eldest felt reassured by their talk and said-
“What is such a talent which will get us wealth?”

They all debated for some time and not able to come to a decision said-
“Let us wander all over the earth and learn something good.”

All of them decided to go in different directions in search of some learning which could earn them wealth. They fixed a place for meeting and all four of them went off in four directions.

Many days passed. All of them returned and joined together at the place decided for the meeting. They asked each other “What has been learnt by whom?”

One of them said-
“I have mastered a learning by which if bones of any animal could be collected, I can make it get filled up with flesh and blood.”

Second one said-
“I have mastered a learning by which I can produce the skin and hair of the body of an animal which has just flesh and bones.”

Third one said-
“I have mastered such a learning by which I can produce sense organs like eye etc and also other limbs in any animal which has just bones, flesh, blood, skin and hair.”

Fourth one said-
“I have mastered such a learning by which I can produce life in an animal with limbs.”

All four decided to test their talents. They searched allover the forest and found the bones of a dead lion. They did not know that the bones belonged to a lion.

One of them collected the bones and filled it with blood and flesh; next one produced the skin and the hair; third one filled it up with all limbs; fourth one gave life to that form of the lion.

Immediately a terrifying lion stood there with a huge mane, sharp teeth and sharp nails.
It killed instantly all four of them who had made it alive; and ran off inside the forest.


In this manner, the Brahmin boys died by making a lion alive. Who will get any happiness by making alive a wicked animal?
If the fate is contradictory, even talents earned with effort do not help in gaining wealth but lead towards destruction only.
If the divinity which rules all is supportive, the tree of effort  पौरुष​ sprinkled by the water of learning प्रज्ना ; with the base surrounded by the water pit of ‘Good morals’ नय​ may result in  good fruits.

END


Vetaala finished the story and asked the king-
“King! Remember the curse and tell me; who has done the worst mistake in making the lion alive?”

The King thought silently-
‘This Vetaala is going to fly off again. Let it go! I will bring it back again.’

He said-
“He who filled life into the lion’s body is the worst sinner.
The others did not know what animal it was and filled it up with blood, flesh, skin, hair and limbs. They cannot be blamed. But the last one, though knowing that it was the body of a lion was intent only on showing off his talent without bothering about the consequences.
He is the cause of all other Brahmin boys getting killed and incurs the sin of BrahmaHatyaa (Brahmin’s murder).”

Hearing his words, Vetaala flew back to the tree. The king again went back to the Shimshipaa tree to bring it.




(21) Story of beautiful AnangaManjari



STORY TWENTY ONE

The king again went to the shimshapaa tree; placed the Vetaala on his shoulder and started to move. Vetaala said to the king-
“King! I will tell you a story provoking passion! Listen!”


There is a city named Vishaalaa like another Amaraavati (Indra’s city) created by Lord Brahma for those meritorious ones who fell on the earth from heaven when their merits ended.
There lived a king named PadmaNaabha श्रीमान् सच्च​क्रनन्दनः आक्रान्तबलिराजकः
(Lord of Shree; holding the discus and pleasing all; who had subdued king Bali)
very wealthy; pleasing the circle of virtuous people; who had subdued all powerful kings.

In that city of the king lived a wealthy merchant who had surpassed the Lord of wealth Kubera by his riches, named ArthaDatta.

He had a daughter named AnangaManjaree (blossoms of Manmatha) through whom the Creator revealed to the earth how an apsaraa would look like.

That merchant offered his daughter in marriage to a merchant named ManiVarman of TaamaraLipti city. But being extremely attached to his married daughter, the father did not part with his daughter to send her to her husband’s room. Like a diseased man hates the bitter sour medicine, AnangaManjaree hated her husband. But her husband loved her more than his life like a miserly man loves his wealth-collection.

ManiVarman once felt like seeing his parents and went to the city of TaamaraLipti.
Many days passed by.
Summer season arrived blocking the paths of the travelers with the sharp arrows shot by the Sun.
The winds blew carrying the fragrance of jasmine and red (paatala) flowers as if the directions were sighing by the separation of the Vasanta, the spring.
The days were moving slowly like the ‘travelers seeking the shades of the trees scorched by the heat of the Sun’ (and delaying their journeys).
The nights also became emaciated missing the deep embrace of the ‘Hemanta (Snow season) which shone forth white with the rays of the moon’.

On one of these days, AnangaManjaree was seated near the window of her house with her body covered by sandal paste and wearing a light garment. She at that time chanced to see the son of the royal priest named Kamalaakara (collection of lotuses) who appeared like a newly born Manmatha wandering along with his close friend desirous of a girl’s company. Kamalaakara also saw her at the terrace window like a moon in person; felt happy and attained the state of the collection of night lotuses. (Kumudaakara) (happy)

Their looking at each other made their minds attached to each other by the order of Guru Manmatha without the actual use of glue. Kamalaakara filled with passion at her very sight returned home somehow with the help of his friend. AnangaManjaree also feeling attracted towards him found out about him from her friend and entered her room thinking about him only. Wallowing in the bed in his thoughts, stuck by the fever of passion, she never saw anything; nor heard anything.

Two three days passed by.
AnangaManjaree’s condition worsened. She was feeling embarrassed; frightened; paled out by the pangs of separation; and lost hope of ever meeting her lover.
One night, as if pulled by the rays of the moon seen from the window, she came out of the house when all the people in the house were asleep; decided to give up her life; reached the garden-well under a tree. There was a statue of Chandi, the Goddess of the family installed there by her father. She saluted the Goddess; recited hymns and said-
“Devi! In this birth I could not get Kamalaakara as my husband. At least make him my husband in the next birth.”

After praying like this, in the presence of the Goddess, she tied one end of her upper garment to the branch of the Ashoka tree and tied the other end around her neck like a noose. By that time her friend woke up; did not see AnangaManjaree in the room; searched for her; fortunately found her in the garden; ran towards her shouting “Don’t! Don’t!” and cut off the noose. With the noose suddenly cut, AnangaManjaree fell on the ground distressed and disappointed.

The friend helped her get up; consoled her and asked her why she wanted to give up her life.
AnangaManjaree said-
“Friend Maalati! I cannot ever unite with my lover. I am under the control of my father. There is nothing that will give me more happiness than death.”

As she was talking, burning in the fire of arrows of Manmatha and certain about her desires never getting fulfilled, she fainted.

“Ha! The difficulty! The command of Manmatha can never be disobeyed. That is why she has come to this condition.”
Lamenting like this, her friend Maalati sprinkled some cold water on her face; made a bed of lotus leaves to cool her burning body; placed a garland of ice-cold flowers on her neck.

Slowly AnangaManjaree came to her senses and shedding tears said-
“Friend! These garlands and other things are not going to reduce my inner fire. If you want to see me alive, then do something and make me meet my lover.”

Maalati feeling worried about her friend’s condition said-
“Friend! The night is almost gone now. I will go in the early morning itself and bring your lover by hinting about you to him. Now take courage and go back to your room.”

AnangaManjaree was pleased by her friend’s assuring words and gifted her a necklace, removing it her from her own neck.
“We will go home now. Tomorrow you must do what you promised.” She told her friend and returned home.

In the early morning, Malatikaa went out unseen by anyone searching for Kamalaakara’s house; saw Kamalaakara under a tree in the garden, burning in the fire of passion, lying on a bed made of lotus petals dampened by sandal paste and his close friend fanning him with plantain leaves.

She thought-“Is he suffering for the company of my mistress or not?”
To find out the truth, she hid there behind a tree unable to make a decision.

Then Kamalaakara’s friend said to him-
“Friend! Just for a second look around you; see the beautiful garden and feel relaxed.
Do not suffer so much like this.”

Kamalaakara said to his friend-
“My mind is stolen by AnangaManjaree. This body now has no mind at all. How can I enjoy anything? I now have an empty heart because of Manmatha and pierced all over by his arrows. Do something so I can meet my Goddess of the heart.”

Maalati now had no doubt; was happy; came out of her hiding; showed herself to him and   said-
“Good man! I have been sent to you by AnangaManjaree. I will give you the message sent by her.
‘Is this the befitting conduct of a noble man to suddenly enter the heart and steal away an innocent girl’s heart?  It is strange; even then that girl of pretty eyes wants to offer her body also along with her lives to you the handsome one. She breathes out hot
smoke-filled air rising out of the passion fire burning day and night in the heart. 
The tear drops darkened by collirium of the eyes fall continuously like the bees attracted towards the fragrance of the lotus-face.’
So if you want, I will suggest something that will help both of you.”

Kamalaakara said-
“Good lady! Your words which reveal the suffering and love of my beloved frighten me and soothe me also. You alone can help us. Tell me what I should do.”

Maalati said-
“I will bring AnangaManjaree secretly to her garden at night. You be waiting outside.
 I will somehow get you inside the garden. In this manner you both can meet.”

Kamalaakara felt relieved and happy by her words. Maalati went back and reported everything to her friend.

As the Lord of the day filled with love for the twilight (Sandhyaa) went off with the day;
as the eastern direction where Indra resides (Vaasavaashayaa) decorated herself with the Tilak of Chandra (Moon); as the grove of night lotuses (Kumudaakara) smiled with the face fully blossoming in the joy thinking that ‘the Goddess of beauty has discarded the grove of lotuses and has come to me’; that passionate Kamalaakara decorated himself well, and with all excitement arrived at the garden gate of his beloved carefully unseen by others.

Maalati brought AnangaManjaree who had passed the day with much difficulty, to the garden behind the house; made her sit under the mango tree; went out and brought Kamalaakara inside. He entered and saw that AnangaManjaree like a traveler looking at the shade of a huge tree covered fully with leaves growing on the roadside.

As soon as he was seen, AnangaManjaree overcome by passion rushed towards him and embraced him by the neck losing all her shyness.
“Where were you? My mind-thief! I have at last got you”

As she was blabbering such love-filled words, her breath getting choked by the extreme emotion of joy at the lover’s sight, she died and fell on the ground like a creeper hit by the storm.
विचित्रं बत कामस्य विषमः क्रमः ॥
The ways of Passion are indeed strange!

Shocked as if stuck by lightning, Kamalaakara cried-
“Ha! Ha! What is this?!” and fainted on the ground.

Next moment, he woke up; placed his beloved’s body on his lap; embraced her; kissed her again and again; wept aloud; suffering uncontrollably died of broken heart due to excessive grief.
Rajanee (Night), looking at both of them, got emaciated due to embarrassment and fear.

The garden keepers saw the dead bodies in the morning and informed the respective families. Filled with embarrassment, surprise, grief and confusion, all of them came there and stood dumbstruck in front of the dead bodies unable to do anything.

हा। कष्टं कुयोषितः कुलखलीकारहेतवः॥
Alas! Wayward women indeed cause dishonor to their families!

At that time AnangaManjaree’s husband ManiVarman arrived there from his father’s house at TaamraLipti, eager to meet his wife. He went to his in-law’s house; was informed of his wife’s death; came to the garden profusely shedding tears; saw his
wife’s dead body in the embrace of some other man; and immediately died burnt by the fire of grief.

As the weeping and lamenting went on, all the citizens came there to see them.

AnangaManjaree’s father fell at the feet of Goddess Chandi in that garden, along with his family and prayed-
“Mother! This ArthaDatta has installed you here and has always worshipped you with devotion. Please show your compassion now and save me.”

Shankaree the compassionate Goddess ordered-
“Let all three wake up alive with their passions subsided.”

By the grace of the Goddess all the three became alive. They were freed of the torment of passion also. All the people assembled there felt happy by seeing all this. Kamalaakara returned home feeling embarrassed and bending his head.
ArthaDatta brought his daughter AnangaManjaree who was feeling embarrassed and shy back to his house along with her husband.


END


After relating this story, Vetaala questioned the king in that night-
“King! Who crosses the limit of foolishness in these deaths due to love? If you know the answer and do not speak, the curse will take effect as I had previously mentioned.”

The King replied-
“Yogeshvara! ManiVarman is the most foolish of all.  Though seeing his wife dead in the embrace of another person, instead of getting angry, he was overcome by grief being infatuated with her; and died.”

Vetaala heard his answer and flew off to its abode on the tree. The king ran after it as us usual.




(20) The boy who was to be killed



STORY TWENTY

The king again walked up to the Shimshapaa tree; placed the corpse with the spirit on his shoulder and started walking silently. Vetaala spoke to the silent king-
“King! Why are so adamant? Go home. Have a nice sleep. It is not proper for you to take me to that wicked mendicant. If you are still stuck to that task only, then listen to this story.

There is a city named ChitraKoota.  It was ruled by a king named Chandraaloka (Light of the Moon), the crest-jewel of all kings bathing all the people who loved him with the shower of nectar.
The learned spoke of him as the stake which held the elephant of valor; the source-house of charity; the sporting ground of beauty.
Though endowed with all riches, he was apprehensive in his mind because he did not have a wife equaling his greatness.

The king once went to the forest along with his retinue of horses and soldiers to relax his mind. He wandered continuously tearing open the groups of dark boar with his arrows like the Sun tearing open the all the darkness with his rays; making the arrogant fighters namely the lions lie on the arrow-bed; making the young elephants looking like mountains to fall down by hitting them with the spears sharp like Indra’s thunderbolt (Vajra). (Indra had once cut off the wings of the Mountains by hitting them with his thunder-bolt weapon and made them fall on the ground.)

As he hunted vigorously, he hit the horse he was sitting on with his heels too many times in his excitement and whipped it hard. The horse got excited and ran exceeding the speed of the wind ignoring the harshness of the land. It crossed the forest and traversed ten Yojanas in a second.

The king lost his whereabouts and became tired and exhausted. He wandered here and there and at last found a lake. He got down there; unleashed the horse; bathed it; made it drink water; fed it fresh grass; took bath himself; drank the water; rested for a while.
As he moved in that area trying to know his whereabouts, he saw under an Ashoka tree an ascetic girl who was bereft of any ornaments or flower decorations; wearing bark garments; with matted locks; extremely beautiful; and accompanied by a friend of hers.
He started wondering-
“Who is this girl?  Is it Saavitri who has come here to bathe in this lake? Or is it Gouri separated from her spouse doing penance? I will approach her and find out.”

She also saw him; was attracted by his handsome form; stopped the weaving of the flower garland she had started; and thought-
“Who is this in this forest? Is he a Vidyaadhara? My eyes feel fulfilled today by his sight!”

Thus thinking, glancing at him slightly with shyness she got up; and though her hips were unmoving like pillars, tried to get away from that place.
The king approached her and said-
“Beautiful lady! Leave out the hospitality to be offered to the guest who has arrived from quite far and seen for the first time and whose only purpose now is to see you; but what
rule is followed by the person belonging to the hermitage, that you start to run away from here?”

Hearing the words of the king, the other girl made him sit comfortably there and welcomed him.

The king then asked her with politeness-
“Good lady! Which meritorious family is adorned by this friend of yours? What are the letters of her name which will please the ears like nectar? How is it that her body delicate like the flower is made to suffer like this taking the vow of asceticism in this tender age?”

The friend replied-
“Honorable man! This girl is named IndeevaraPrabhaa (beautiful like the night-lotus) born of the divine damsel Menakaa; brought up by Sage Kanva as a daughter. She came to this lake to take bath. The hermitage of her father is just nearby.”  

The king was pleased by this news; climbed his horse; and went to the hermitage of the Sage to ask her hand in marriage; tied up the horse outside; entered the hut in a humble manner.

The king saw there Sage Kanva surrounded by other ascetics like trees wearing matted locks and bark garments; gladdening every heart by his luster like a moon.

The Sage welcomed him; offered him the due hospitality due to a guest. After he rested he spoke to the king-
“Child! Chandraaloka! Listen to my advice which is conducive to your welfare.
I know what is the ‘fear of death’ experienced by the people in this world. Then why do you hurt these animals for no reason?
The weapon in the hand of a Kshatriya (warrior class) was created by Brahma only for protecting those that are frightened. Therefore protect the people through righteousness. Uproot the thorns in their life.
Try to conquer the restless Goddess of wealth through means like elephants and chariots. Enjoy the bliss of your royal status.
Give charity.
Spread your fame in all directions.
Renounce this deadly sport of hunting animals where the killed and the killer both are in danger. Why should you engage in such a dangerous sport?
Haven’t you heard of King Paandu’s story?”


(King Paandu while engaged in hunting killed a pair of mating deer which were actually a Sage couple and so got cursed that he will die if he ever sought the company of his wife and died when he was with his wife Maadri.)

The king who knew ‘what had to be done when’ apologized and said-
“Bhagavan! I have been properly instructed. A great blessing has been bestowed on me through these instructions. From today onwards I will retire from hunting. Let the animals move in the forest without any fear.”

Sage Kanva said-
“I am pleased by your giving protection to all animals. Ask for any boon you want.”

The king who knew ‘what had to be said when’, said-
“Bhagavan! If you are pleased with me, then give your daughter IndeevaraPrabhaa to me in marriage.”

The Sage consented. IndeevaraPrabhaa, the daughter of the Apsaraa returned after bathing in the lake. He offered her to the king.
The king married her; was adorned by the auspicious bracelet of marriage; took his wife IndeevaraPrabhaa who was decorated well by the ascetic ladies. IndeevaraPrabhaa took leave of all the ascetics who tearfully bid farewell to her and accompanied her till the border of the hermitage. The king climbed the horse with her and returned to his capital.

Meanwhile looking at the king who was tired by the long journey, Lord of the thousand rays (Sun) became distressed as it were and sat off on the peak of the western Mountain.
The night-lady like a girl eager to meet her lover appeared with eyes like deer (with stars named Mrgashira etc); with increasing passion (increases passion in all); covered by a dark garment at night (darkness covering all over).

The king saw on the bank of a small pool an Ashvattha tree which had covered the grass filled dark green ground with its leaves from the branches; and decided –
“I will stay here this night.”

He got down from the horse; fed the horse with grass; made it drink water; drank some water along with his wife and rested.

At that time Moon with the mark of the rabbit शशलाञ्छन filled with love सराग​(slightly reddish in color) tearing away the screen of the darkness kissed the face of the eastern direction.

All the directions shone forth without leaving any gap (losing their shyness) pleased by the embrace of the Moon’s hands (rays).

In the meantime, the base of the tree shone forth brightly like the shine of jewel-lamps by the moon rays piercing through the gaps in the groves of the creepers.

The king embraced IndeevaraPrabhaa who was filled with the joy of the new experience of love, and made love to her; loosened the knot tied to her waist-garment like her shyness; bit off her lips like her innocence with his teeth; decorated her breasts like the head-regions of the youthful elephants with his nail wounds as if by a garland of stars made of excellent gems; again and again kissed her cheeks and eyes as if drinking the nectar of charm oozing out of all her limbs.
In this manner that night was spent by the king as if in a minute by having amorous sports with his wife.

In the morning, he got up; performed the twilight rites; and started to leave that place along with his wife wanting to find his lost retinue of soldiers and horses.

Vivasvaan (sun) –
who wanted to kill the ‘Lord of the night (Moon) with his lost luster  hiding in the cave of the Astaachala (Western Mountain) feeling guilty of making the lotus pale away at night’-
extended his arms throwing afar the sphere of the moon, with his reddish rays spreading out all over because of his anger.

{Dawn appeared; Moon set; lotuses bloomed.}

At that time, suddenly there appeared a terrifying BrahmaRaakshasa. He had glittering reddish brown locks; was as black in hue as the collirium; was like a dark cloud descended on earth; wore a garland made of intestines on his shoulders; wore the sacred thread made of hairs; was eating human flesh; was drinking blood from his bowl made of skull.

He laughed boisterously. Then as if spitting the fire of anger addressed the king and spoke in a reproaching manner-
“You sinner!
Know me to be a BrahmaRaakshasa named ‘JwaalaaMukhi’ (splitter of flames)!
This Ashvattha tree is my abode. Even gods do not trespass here. And you have dared to
enter this place with your wife and polluted it by having her company.
You have acted wrongly you wicked one!
You will experience the result of your wicked action now.
I will now tear apart your heart blinded by passion and devour it!
I will drink your blood.”

The king heard what he said and looking at that huge terrifying form of the Raakshasa understood that he could not be vanquished. He saw the fear filled face of his beloved and replied politely showing fear-
“I have done this mistake unknowingly. Forgive me. I am a guest seeking shelter in your hermitage. I will give you whatever you want to eat, either a man or an animal to satiate your hunger. Please grace me. Do not be angry.”

 BrahmaRaakshasa was pacified by the king’s words and said-
“King! If a seven year old Brahmin boy of noble characters and learned should offer himself to you for your sake; if  when he is getting killed his mother holds the hands, and father holds the legs and press him hard  to the ground; if within seven days you bring such a person and kill him with your sword yourself and offer him to me to be devoured; then I will  forgive the insult you have rendered to this place. Otherwise I will kill you along with your wife.”

The king said with fear- “I will do whatever you say.”

BrahmaRaakshasa vanished the very next moment.

King Chandraaloka climbed the horse along with his wife IndeevaraPrabhaa and feeling very much distressed wandered here and there searching for his retinue.

“Alas! I was deluded ‘by the craze for hunting’ and ‘by the God of passion’ and have ruined my life like Paandu who died before he completed his life. Where will I get such a food for this Raakshasa? Now I will first reach the capital and see what could be done!”

He searched for long and collected his people together and returned his city ChitraKoota.
All the people were happy by the arrival of such a bride of extraordinary beauty and character. Festivities were conducted in all grandeur all over the city, yet the king was very much distressed inside his mind and grieved much unknown to others. Next day he called for all the ministers and told them about the BrahmaRaakshasa and his demands.
One of the ministers named Sumati said-
“Lord! Do not worry!
I will search everywhere and find such a food demanded by the Raakshasa.
This world is indeed a strange place!”

After consoling the king, the minister got made a golden statue of a seven-year old child studded with diamonds all over.
He sent drummers again and again thousands of times on the roads along with that golden statue and got the announcement made like this-
“Whoever gives his seven year old Brahmin son of all good characters permitted by the    parents to be offered as food to be devoured by the BrahmaRaakshasa; he who gets his hands and feet pressed to the ground by his parents when getting killed; for such parents the king will offer this golden statue studded with diamonds along with hundred villages.”

In the Brahmin’s colony there was one child of seven years, very brave, very good-looking, always interested in the good of others, a personification as if of all the merits of all the people. He said to the drummers-
“Good men! I will give myself to you for your purpose. Wait here! I will get the permission of my parents and come.”

 Permitted by them, he went inside, folding his hands said to his parents-
“Mother! Father!
I will offer this ephemeral body for the good of all the people. Please give your permission. I will give you the golden statue studded with diamonds along with hundred villages and leave along with the king’s men.
In this manner I would have fulfilled my obligations to you as the son and will reach higher worlds after death. You both will be never be poor again and would be able to get many more sons.”

The parents objected immediately saying-
“Son! What are you saying?
Are you ill by any chance? Or some planetary constellation has deluded you?
Why then are you talking like this?
Who will kill a child to obtain wealth?
And which child can bear the pain of getting killed?”

The child answered-
“I am not deluded in any way. Listen to my sensible words.
This body is the field of pains; is a disgusting thing being filled with unspeakable dirt; it will perish some day or other.
If by this essenceless thing some good thing happens, then that is the fulfillment of life, so say the wise.
What is better than helping all the beings of the world?
Even in such a case, if one serves the parents also, then what more can be achieved by this body?”

The brave child fully determined to offer his body for the good of the world, made his parents agree to his words; went to the king’s men and with their help gave the golden statue to them.
Later he followed the king’s men and accompanied by his parents started towards the city of ChitraKoota.
Seeing the boy filled with extraordinary luster, the king felt very happy as if seeing a gem created for his protection.

The boy was decorated with fine garments; applied fragrant pastes all over; garlanded with beautiful flowers; was made to sit on an elephant. The king took him along with his parents to the place where BrahmaRaakshasa lived. Next to the Ashvattha tree an auspicious place was selected; the priest performed worship of the deity; and the sacred fire was lit.
Immediately the BrahmaRaakshasa appeared there.
JwaalaaMukhi, the Brahma Raakshasa was laughing boisterously. He was reciting the Vedic hymns. He was hopping here and there. He was drunk by drinking blood. He was breathing heavily. He was yawning repeatedly. His eyes were emitting fire. He was darkening the entire area by his shadow. He was extremely terrifying to look at.

 The king politely saluted him and said-
“Bhagavan!
 I have brought the food you ordered to be devoured by you. Today is the seventh day as you prescribed. Please be graceful and accept this offering as you deem fit.”

The BrahmaRaakshasa licking his saliva examined the Brahmin boy who was ready to become his food.
At that moment the boy of noble characters thought-
‘With whatever merit I will get by offering this body today, let me not get the heaven or the wasteful liberation. Let me get a body in every birth which will be useful to others.’

As he was thinking like this, gods showered flowers on him seated in their air-vehicles in the sky.

The boy was placed in front of the BrahmaRaakshasa. His parents held his hands and feet pressed to the ground. The king took his sword and got ready to cut his head.
At that moment the boy laughed so much that all the people there including the BrahmaRaakshasa stopped whatever they were doing; looked at his face; saluted him and became happy.

END

After relating this strange story, Vetaala asked the king-
“King! Why did the boy laugh at the time of losing his life? I am very eager to know the answer. If you do not answer even when you know the answer, then your head will burst into hundred pieces.”

The King said-
“The reason behind the boy’s laughter is this.
Any weak person when he is stuck by fear takes shelter in the father or mother or if they are not there with the king to save his lives. This is the rule ordained by Lord Brahma.
If none of them are there, he takes shelter in a god.
One of them surely will protect him.
But in his case everything went astray.
The parents held his hands and feet by their desire for wealth.
King was ready to kill a child to save himself.
The BrahmaRaakshasa though a supernatural deity was ready to devour him.
All these actions were done by these idiots just to protect the impermanent body which had no essence and which had to die some day or other.
When even Brahma, Vishnu and Rudras are sure to perish in the end, these beings with such perishable bodies were so much attached to it!
What a strange thing it is! 
Observing the strange ways of delusion, and feeling the fulfillment of his own wish, the boy was moved by the emotions of surprise and happiness both at the same time and laughed aloud.”

{The king did not kill the boy; the parents left the feet and leg; BrahmaRaakshasa did not devour the boy or any one else. They all understood their folly and were ashamed of their own actions.}

Hearing the king’s answer Vetaala flew away from his shoulder to its own abode on the tree. The king determined to complete his task followed it.


अम्भोनिधीनामिव सतां हृदयमक्शोभ्यं हि ॥

Like the deep oceans filled with waters,
 the minds of the great are always immovable.





(19) King ChandraPrabha and the thief



STORY NINETEEN


The king again went to the Shimshapaa tree; placed the Vetaala on his shoulder and started to walk. Vetaala again said to him-
“Listen I will tell you an interesting story.

There is a city named Vakrolaka equaling the heavenly city of Amaraavati. The city was ruled by a king named SooryaPrabha equaling Indra.
Like Hari who lifted the earth in the form of the boar सौकर्योद्य​तया मूर्त्या and gave happiness to all, the king also held the city on his shoulders with a form risen to give comforts to the people सौकर्योद्य​तया मूर्त्या to give happiness to all.
In his country-
Shedding of tears अश्रुपात​  (through eye-irritation) was there- only when smoke rose up in sacrificial rites ( not अश्रुपात​  shedding of tears due to tragic circumstances).
The talk of ‘Maara’ मार​(Manmatha) was there only when engaged in love-making (not the ‘Maara’ मार​– ‘beating up’ anywhere).
Golden-clubs हेमदण्ड​ were there only in the hands of door-guards (not the हेमदण्ड levying of ​fine of gold in the people).

The king had all the wealth in the world; but only one thing was lacking; though he had many queens, he had no offspring.

Meanwhile there lived a merchant named DhanaPaala in the city of TaamaraLiptaa
A daughter named Dhanavati beautiful like a curse-bearing apsaraa fallen on earth, was born to him. When she reached her youth, the merchant died.  All his wealth was taken away by the relatives with the help of law.
Then, the merchant’s widow named Hiranyavati took some hidden jewels kept with her secretly; and escaped from her home at night along with her daughter Dhanavati afraid of her relatives robbing of her meager wealth.
Filled with darkness inside and outside, holding the hands of her daughter she somehow managed to get out of her city.
As fate would have it, as she was slowly walking in the blinding darkness, she happened to push with her shoulder, a thief who had been punished by getting stuck on the spear.

That thief screamed in pain and said-
“Ha! Who pushed me? I am already hurt. I am more hurt now by your pushing. Who poured salt on my wounds?”

Frightened, the merchant’s wife asked-
“Who are you?”

The thief replied-
“I am a thief. Even now, though stuck on the spear, the lives have not departed from this sinful soul. It is alright, good lady! Tell me who you are! Where are you going in this dark night?”

The merchant’s wife told him her story.  By that time the Sun lighted up the face of the eastern direction.

When the directions were filled with light, the thief saw the merchant’s daughter Dhanavati. He said the merchant’s wife-
“Mother!  I have one request to make. I will give you thousand gold coins. Give your daughter in marriage to me.”

“What do you gain by that?” asked the lady with a smile.

The thief again said-
“I will be dead soon. But I have no son. A person without a son will not attain higher worlds. If this girl gets any child anywhere else with my permission, he will be my son born in another ‘field’. That is why I made this request mother. Please fulfill my request.”

Greedy for his money, the merchant’s wife agreed to his proposal; brought some water from somewhere and sprinkled water on his hand and said-
This daughter has been given to you.”

The thief gave permission to the daughter to have a child through another man as he intended and said to the merchant’s wife-
“Go mother! Dig under the fig tree nearby and take the thousand gold coins buried there by me. When I die, perform proper funeral rites for me; deposit my bones in some sacred river; go to the city of Vakrolaka; live there in that city without any apprehensions under the care of the good king SooryaPrabha along with other people who are happy under his  ruler ship”.

He felt thirsty and asked for some water. After swallowing a few drops of water he died by the pain of the spear struck to his body.

The merchant’s wife took the gold coins buried under the fig tree as he had said and went to the house of one of the close friends of her husband along with her daughter. With his help she got the thief‘s body cremated and deposited his bones in a sacred river.

Then along with her daughter she started for the city of Vakrolaka with hidden money. Soon they reached the city. She bought a house from a merchant named VasuDatta and started to live in that house along with her rich daughter.

 In that city there lived a teacher named VishnuSwaamy. He had a disciple named ManahSwaamy who was very handsome. He was well-educated; yet sought the company of a coquettish girl named Hamsaavali in that city. She daily took from him five hundred coins as her wages. Not able to afford so much money, the Brahmin youth became emaciated in the body and worried always.

One day the daughter of the merchant saw that emaciated yet handsome youth from her house-terrace. She was attracted by him. She remembered the words of the thief and said to her mother-
“Mother! Look at that handsome young Brahmin youth and get your eyes bathed in nectar.”

The merchant’s wife understood that her daughter was attracted by that boy and thought-
‘As per the order of my daughter’s husband, she has to marry someone or other to get a child. Then why not request this youth?’

She immediately sent a maid to fetch him. The maid took him to a lonely place and gave him the message of the merchant’s wife (about wanting to get a child by him).
The pleasure loving youth said to her-
“If your mistress can offer me fiver hundred coins, then I will spend one night with her.”

The maid reported back to her mistress what the youth demanded. The merchant’s wife sent the required money through the maid to ManahSwaamy. He went to the merchant’s daughter’s house as promised and felt happy by seeing her like a chakora bird by the sight of the moon. He spent the night happily in her company and left their house in the morning and went away. Soon the merchant’s daughter became pregnant.

In course of time, she gave birth to a beautiful son. She was very happy by getting that son. At night when she was sleeping Lord Shiva appeared in her dream and said-
“Along with thousand golden coins take this child to King SooryaPrabha’s palace and leave it in a cradle on the threshold and come off. This will be for your good only.”

The daughter related the dream to her mother in the morning. They both took the child as ordered by the God to the palace and left him there at the gate in a cradle along with thousand gold coins.

Lord Shiva appeared in the dream of King SooryaPrabha also and said-
“King! Get up! Somebody has left a beautiful child in a cradle along with gold on the threshold of your ‘Lion-Gate’. Quickly take him.”

In the morning the door-keepers informed about the child left at the gate to the king. The king immediately went there and saw the child which had the auspicious marks of umbrella and flag on the palms and under-feet.

‘This is the child given by Lord Shiva’ – so thinking, the king took the child in his hands himself and went to the harem. He arranged for great celebrations and on the twelfth day got the child named ChandraPrabha in an auspicious ceremony.

ChandraPrabha as he grew physically made everyone happy by developing good qualities also. He soon entered the youthful state; was loved by all for his valor and learning; became fit enough to bear the burden of the kingdom.

The old king SooryaPrabha consecrated him on the throne and went off to Vaaraanasee.
As his son ruled the country in the righteous manner, the king performed penance vigorously and gave up his life. ChandraPrabha the noble son of the king heard about the death of the king; performed all the due rites and said to his ministers-
“I cannot ever do anything to the king to free myself of the obligation for bringing me up. Yet I would like to do as much as possible to fulfill my duties towards him. I will take the bones to the River Ganges and deposit them in the river. I will go to Gaya and offer
rice-balls (Pinda) to all my ancestors. In this way I will be visiting many holy places also.”

The ministers then said to him-
“Lord!  You should not do this now. The kingdom is having many problems. Even a priest can perform all the rites; the pilgrimage is not going to serve any greater purpose than caring for the kingdom.
Where is the tour filled with difficulties; where is the safety of a king’s position?”

ChandraPrabha said-
“Do not stop me from going. I have to do this definitely for my father’s sake. I should visit the holy places when I can. Who knows what will happen tomorrow to this ephemeral body? You people take care of the kingdom till I return.”

The ministers kept silent. The king prepared himself for the journey.

On an auspicious day, the king took bath; performed the fire-rites; worshipped the Brahmins; ascended a well-equipped chariot; abstained from all pleasures; moved slowly; requested with consoling words all the subordinate kings, princes and people who were following him to return; left the city along with some Brahmins and the chief priest seated on the chariot along with him.

He crossed through many lands, getting entertained by the variety of cultures and languages of various countries. After many days he reached the banks of River Gangaa who was constructing a staircase to ascend the heaven for the Jeevas with her rows of constantly rising waves; who descended from the Himavaan; who had grasped the locks of Lord Shiva being envious of Goddess Gouri; who was worshipped by hosts of Sages and Gods.

 The king got down from the chariot; took the holy bath; deposited his father’s bones inside the waters of Gangaa. He offered abundant charity to one and all; performed the ‘Shraaddha; ceremony conducted for the dead; climbed the chariot; and reached the holy place named ‘Prayaaga Teertha’.

There again he performed holy bath; rites; charity and went to Vaaraanasee.
He spent three days there; worshiped Lord Shiva and started towards Gaya.
Crossing over many forests and mountains he reached the place called ‘Gaya-shira’. There also he offered charity to all the Brahmins; performed the ‘Shraaddha ceremony’ and offered ‘Pinda’ at the Gaya-well.

Instantly, three human hands extended to receive the ‘Pinda’ offered by him for the
dead father. The king was surprised. He asked the Brahmins there as to whom he should offer the ‘Pinda’.
They said-
“Lord! One hand seems to belong to a thief for it holds an iron spike used for digging. The second hand belongs to a Brahmin which holds the sacred grass; the third one belongs to the king wearing the royal ring and bears the Kshatriya characteristics. So we do not know to which hand you should offer the ‘Pinda’.”

The king was not able to decide also.

END


After relating this strange story, Vetaala on his shoulder asked-
“King! Remember my curse and tell me which hand deserves the ‘Pinda’?

The King said-
“Vetaala! This king ChandraPrabha was born in the ‘Kshetra (field)’ belonging to the thief. He is the son of the thief only not any other’s.
He cannot be the son of the Brahmin ManahSwaamy also because that Brahmin was purchased for one night by offering money.
He would have been the son of King SooryaPrabha because he brought him up, spent money on him, and educated him but only if he had not taken the gold coins kept along with the baby in the cradle. King SooryaPrabha used up the gold coins for such expenses.

He in whose hand his mother was offered;
by whose order ChandraPrabha had his birth;
whose entire money was given to the mother;
by which money the Brahmin’s seed was bought;
that man who rightfully owned the ‘Kshetra’ of the girl;
is the thief and he is the true father of King ChandraPrabha.

Therefore he alone deserves the Pinda offered by ChandraPrabha.

{A woman’s womb is considered as the ‘Kshetra’ (‘Field’) where the seed of the man is sown and the child is born.
A man who takes her hand through proper fire-rites is usually the owner of the wife’s ‘Kshetra’.

But if a girl or her family pays him any money or material for his companionship or the ‘seed’ he sows, then he is not considered a husband and is not the rightful owner of the ‘Kshetra. He does not get the higher worlds through the so-called son. He is like the Brahmin youth ManahSwaamy who got paid for his services.

A man who pays instead money or material to the girl, owns the ‘Kshetra’.
As he cares for her maintenance and the child’s maintenance, he becomes the true owner of the ‘Kshetra’. He alone gets the higher worlds through his son born in the ‘Kshetra’ belonging to him.

The thief offered whatever wealth he owned to the girl and owned that ‘field’. Whoever sows the seed in a field, the owner only gets the benefit of the crop.

A man who takes care of his wife or child by taking money from others also is not the owner of the field. He is just a care-taker and has no rights over the crop. If the king had given off the money in charity or discarded it, he could have become the true father.

Therefore the thief alone is the rightful receiver of the ‘Pinda’ offered by ChandraPrabha.

{If the justice of King Vikramaaditya is to be trusted, a man who takes money from either the girl to be married or her family or from others is not considered as the husband of the girl; nor does the child becomes his. He is never eligible for the higher worlds ordained for a man through progeny.}