CHAPTER – 61
KRAUSTUKI said: – O Mahamuni, what I asked thee has been duly described by thee, – namely the positions of the land and the waters and likewise their measurements and the stars; and their position and measure, and also of the three lokas, Bhu &c, and all the nether worlds, – and likewise has the Manwantara of the Swayambhuba Muni, been described to me
– O Muni, I desire to hear now of the other Manwantaras with the masters of those Manwantaras, and the gods, the Rishis, and the sons of the Manus and the kings. (1-3)
MARKANDEYA said: – After that Manwantara called the Swayambhuba, which has been described to you by me, there was another Manwantara, called the Sanchisha Manwantara, hear of that from me. (4) A certain superior person among the twice-born castes lived in the town of Arunaspeda, on the banks of the river Baruna, O Brahman, who was in beauty even as the twins the Aswinis. (5) He was of a mild disposition, living by righteous occupation and learnt the Vedas and the Vedangas in all their entirety, a lover of guests, and the shelter of persons coming to his house after night fall. (6) But he had this idea, “I shall see the whole world, which contains most pleasant forests and gardens, and is adorned with many cities.”
(7) Then once upon a time came a guest to his house, who knew of the virtues of many herbs, and was an expert in magical formulas. (8) This (guest) having been served by him with a mind purified by reverence, told him of many countries, and beautiful cities, and forests, and rivers, sacred and extensive, and mountains. He then being possessed with admiration addressed that most superior among twice-born persons (thus). (9-10) “Thou must be overtaken by extreme fatigue for having seen many places, but thou art not very old, nor hast thou gone very far away from youth, O thou twice-born one, how dost thou in this short period travel all over this world?” (11)
The Brahmana said: – O Brahman, by the power of a herb sanctified by magic formulas with unobstructed movement, I walk a thousand Yojana in half a day. (12)
Markandeya said: – Then that Brahman again spoke to him thus with due respect, being possessed by unshaken faith in his words. (13) “Grant me this favour, O thou possessor of the six great qualities the Bhagas, of the power born of magic or mystic formulas. I have got a very great desire to see this world.” (14) That Brahman, of a generous mind, gave to him the feet-salve and also influenced the quarters named by him by the power of mystic formulas with great care. (15) Then, O thou most superior among twice born persons, that twice born one, having covered his feet with that salve, with a view to see it, went to the Himalaya that have many springs, – thinking that while I shall go a thousand Yojana in half a day in the other half I shall return (home). (16-17) Having found the top (lit the back) of the Himalayas without getting any bodily fatigue the twice born one then walked there, the top of the mountain covered by snow. (18) Then of him thus walking the feet salve, produced by superior herbs dissolved by the snow, was washed away. (19) Then his movement being made slow, he walking here and there saw many most pleasant table-lands of the Himalaya mountain.
(20) Seeing these table-lands inhabited by Sidhas and Gandharbas, and enjoyed by the Kinnaras, and which was pleasant on account of there being held the play grounds and promenades of the gods -, and crowded by hundreds of heavenly Apsaras, this person, most superior among the twice born, O Muni, though full of delight, was not however satiated. (21¬22) Some place was pleasant because of the falling of water from some springs; another place was resounded by the sound of the dancing peacocks. (23) Some place was full of most pleasant looking Datyahoka, Yastika and other birds, and of the notes of the blackbirds that run away with the hearing of people. (24) He, full of rapture, saw the great Mountain Himalaya which is fanned by wind scented by the smell of flowering trees. (25) Having seen this great Mountain Himalaya, this son of the twice-born person, thought “I shall see it again,” and turned his mind towards his home. (26) Then with his feet salve dropped off, and with his movement gradually becoming slow, he began to think, “what is this that has been done by me through ignorance? (27) My salve has been destroyed, having been dissolved by the
waters of the snow, and this mountain is also very difficult to walk, and I am come here a great way off from my home. (28) I shall, consequently, be subject to loss of the daily sacrificial rites as the keeping up of the fire at the family altar; what shall I do here, in the face of this great difficulty. (29) In this superior mountain, crying this is beautiful, this is beautiful, I shall tnever, with my eye thus attached to it, find satiation or satisfaction in a hundred years.
(30) From all sides the songs of the Kinnaras attract the ear, and the smell of flowering trees attracts the sense of the smell. (31) Similarly the breeze here is pleasant to the skin, and the fruits are full of flavour and the lakes, that are beautiful to the mind, rob the heart per force.
(32) Under these circumstance if I can see some jewel of a hermit, he will instruct me in the means by which I can go home.” (33)
Markandeya said: – That Brahman, thus thinking, walked about on the Himalayas, having been exceedingly distracted owing to the loss of the power of the mystic feet-salve. (34) Baruthini, the daughter of Maula, a most superior Apsara, possessed of great beauty, and possessed of the eight qualities, namely, kindness, &c, said to that superior Muni thus walking on the Himalayas. (35) Then seeing that superior twice-born person, Baruthini, immediately being moved by love, her heart drawn by Cupid, began to think, “who is this man, with most beautiful features? My birth shall be full of fruit if he does not reject me. O the sweetness of the beauty of this person! O the graceful movement of this person! I have seen gods and likewise Asuras and Siddhas and Gandharbas, and Pannagas, but there has not been a single one equal in beauty to this great souled one. Should he be as full of love to me as I am to him, then shall I know that I had accumulated a mass of virtue. If he should cast to-day affectionate and loving glance on me, then what woman in the three worlds is more endowed with the fruits of virtue than myself.” (36-42)
Markandeya said: – That ethereal woman, stricken by Cupid, thus thinking showed herself of most lovely figure, (to the Brahman). That son of the twice-born person seeing Baruthini of most superior beauty, approaching her with due respect, spoke these words. (43) “Who art thou, the glow of whose face is of that of the unfolding lotus? Whose art thou? What art thou staying here for? I am a Brahmana who have come here from the city called Arunaspada. (44) Dissolved by the waters of the snow my feet-salve has been destroyed, by virtue of which I had come here, O thou whose eyes are like the rapturous Khanjana bird.” (45)
BARUTHINI said: – I am the daughter of Muleya, am the possessor of the eight qualities of kindness &c, known by the name of Baruthini. I always rove about this beautiful great mountain. (46) Such am I; now, O Brahmana, seeing you, I have been stricken by lust. Order whatever you want, that shall be done by me, I am subject to thy will. (47)
The Brahmana said: – O thou whose smile is pure, tell me by what means I may get to my home. O thou auspicious one, all my sacrificial works are being neglected; and the non-performance of the daily and the periodical sacrifices is the greatest loss to twice-born persons. Therefore O gentle one, do thou deliver me from the Himalayas. (48-49) Living away from their homes is never permitted to the Brahmanas; neither have I any fault, O thou timid one, except the curiosity to see strange countries. (50) Always in the house of superior twice-born persons, there is the performance of all sacrificial works; and there is non-performance (a loss) of both the daily and the periodical sacrifices of the Brahman who lives away from his home. (51) What more shall I say, do, O thou of good name, that by which I may see my own home before the setting of the sun. (52)
Baruthini said: – Do not say thus, O thou possesser of the good eight qualities of kindness, &c. May that day never be to me when leaving me thou shalt repair to thy own house. (53) O thou son of a twice-born person, even heaven itself is not more beautiful than this Himalaya. Therefore, we live here leaving the city of the gods. (54) Therefore O my love, by roving about this lovely snow-peaked mountain, with me, thou shalt not recollect thy earthly friends. (55) I, who have been subject to thee by cupid and whose heart has been robbed by thee, shall give thee here garlands, and wearing apparel and ornaments, and food, and objects of enjoyment, and scents and anointments. (56) The music Vika and Vena, and songs of the Kinnaras that please the mind, the breeze that delights the limbs, warm rice, and pure water;
(57) bed after thy mind, and sweet-scented annointments, – all these are to be constantly had
here, O thou possesser of the eight good qualities of kindness, &c, what more is there in thy own home. (58) Living here, old age shall never be thine, this land of the inhabitants of Tridasha, the country of the gods, is the giver of every thing that keeps up the youth. (59) Thus saying she, whose eyes are like lotus, – saying this, “O thou favour me” – intent on enjoying him, all of a sudden, embraced him full of love. (60)
The Brahmana said: – O thou vile one, touch me not, go to others who are of thy class and nature. By one art thou sought for one thing, and thou seekest me for another thing. By performing sacrifice with sacrificial offerings morning and evening men go to the eternal abode of bliss. O thou fool, all these three worlds are established on the sacrificial offerings. Therefore tell me of that by which I may swiftly go to my own house. (61-62)
Baruthini said: – Why, O Brahmana, am I not dear to thee? Is not this mountain pleasant? Leaving the Gandharbas and Kinnaras, who can be the object of thy desire. There is no doubt of it that thou, O reverend one, shalt go from here. For a little while do thou enjoy that pleasure with me which is difficult of attainment. (64)
The Brahmana said: – The three sacrificial fires, Garhapatya and others are the objects of my desires, the place for the sacrificial fires is most pleasant of all places to me, and the goddess Bistarani is my love. (65)
Baruthini said: – O thou twice-born one, those that are the eight virtues of the spirit, of them the first is mercy; O thou observer of the right law, why dost thou not perform that (mercy) to me. (56) I am so full of love for thee that forsaken by thee I shall not live. This what I say is not false, therefore be kind to me, O thou the gladdener of thy clan. (67)
The Brahmana said: – If thou art really full of love, and if thou dost not say so to me merely from courtesy, then explain to me the means by which I shall be able to reach my own home.
(68)
Baruthini said: – Thou, O revered one, shalt without doubt go from here to thy own home; only for a little while enjoy with me those pleasures that are difficult of attainment. (69)
The Brahmana said: – O Baruthini, nothing is permitted to the Brahman to be done for the sake of enjoyment. All the works on earth of the Brahmanas, are for pain, but they bear fruit in the world to come. (70)
Baruthini said: – By working the salvation of me who is dying the fruit of thy meritorious action shall be assured in the next world, as also enjoyment in another birth. In this case, thus these two are causes of thy advancement. By thy rejection I shall find death and thou shalt attain, sin. (71-72)
The Brahmana said: – A strange woman shall not be desired, so said my preceptors (gurus, meaning both father, mother, the teacher of the Vedas and the spiritual preceptor). Therefore I do not desire thy love, however much thou mayest lament or grieve. (73)
Markandeya said: – So saying that possessor of the eight good qualities of kindness &c, having touched water, being calm and subdued in mind, and pure, having saluted the Garhapatya Agni, said this in such a way that none might hear it: – Thou revered Garhapatya Agni! thou art the root of all sacrifices; from thee have sprung the Ahavanya Agni, and the Dakshina Agni, not from any one else; through thy satisfaction do the gods become the cause of rain and harvest, and from that harvest, the whole exists, not from any thing else. In this way by the power of truth by which from thee all these worlds grow, similarly (by thy power) may I see my own home to-day when the sun is still (on the firmament). As by me the Vedic rites have never been neglected in their due time, by the power of that truth may I see the sun while stationed in my own house. As I never had a desire for other’s riches or other’s wives, by virtue of that may the desire of mine find fulfilment. (74-79)