CHAPTER – 106
Markandeya said: – Thereupon propitiating and saluting him the Patriarch Viswakarma conferred on Vivaswan his daughter Sajna. (1) Vivaswan begat on her Manu Vaivaswata. I have already described to you in full his true form etc. (2) The lord of rays begat on her three children – two great sons and the daughter Jamuna, O Muni. (3) Sraddhadeva – the Patriarch Manu Vaivaswata was the eldest – there were born the twins Yama and Yami. (4) The effulgent Martanda, with his growing lustre, greatly distressed the three worlds, mobile and immobile. (5) Beholding the circular form of Vivaswan and unable to bear his rays, Sajna, addressing her own Shadow, said: -(6) “May good betide thee. I am going to my father’s house. O auspicious dame, at my command, thou shouldst live near the sun without being agitated. (7) Thou shouldst with care bring up these my two sons and the most beautiful daughter. Thou shouldst never communicate this unto the Divine Sun.” (8)
THE SHADOW said: – O goddess, as long as the sun will not take me by the hair or imprecate a curse on me so long I shall not communicate any thing unto him. Go wherever thou wishest.” (9) Thus addressed by her Shadow Sajna, repaired to her father’s house; and that one, of auspicious eyes, lived there for some time. (10) And thereafter when she was repeatedly requested by her father to go to her husband she assumed the form of a mare and repaired to Uttarakuru. (11) O great Muni, that chaste damsel, abstaining from food, began to carry on devout penances. (12) After she had gone to her father’s abode, she, the Shadow, assuming the form of Sajna and intent on carrying on her words, appeared before Bhaskara. (13) Taking her as Sajna the Divine Sun too begat on her two sons and a daughter.
(14) O foremost of the twice-born, the first born of the two, Savarni (by name) was equal to the preceding Manus (in prowess). (15) The second one became the planet Shani; and the daughter was named Tapati whom the king Samvarana espoused. (16) The shadow of Sajna did not show that affection towards the first born children as she did towards her own. (17) Manu forgave her for this but Yama could not do so, and therefore he was repeatedly solicited by his father’s wife. (18) Thereupon out of anger, childishness and the force of future incidents Yama raised up his foot, O Muni, to strike her; she too, greatly revengeful, imprecated a curse an Yama. (19)
SAJNA said: – “I am thy father’s wife and therefore thy superior; and since thou hast threatened me with that foot, undoubtedly it shall fall off”. (20) Having his mind greatly agitated by that curse the high-souled Yama, along with Manu, communicated all unto their sire. (21)
Yama said: – “O lord, our mother does not treat us all equally. Leaving us who are elders she always seeks to rear up the younger ones. (22) I raised up my foot against her but it did not fall on her body. If it be either out of childishness or ignorance it behoves thee to forgive me.
(23) O father, I am her son and still I have been imprecated by the mother. Therefore, O foremost of the ascetics, I do not consider her as our mother. (24) O father, a mother does never become hostile towards the sons even when they become so. Then how can she say to her son, “your leg shall fall off”. (25) O lord, O divine sun, do thou think of a measure by which, by thy grace, my foot may not fall off on account of the imprecation of the mother.” (26)
THE Sun said: – Since thou, O son, truthful and pious as thou art, didst come by anger, undoubtedly there is some cause of it. (27) There is a remedy for every curse but there is none such for the imprecation of a mother. (28) Therefore I am unable to undo the words of thy mother but I shall show thee some favour out of my fatherly love. (29) Taking flesh from thy foot the worms shall fall down on the earth. By this her words will be verified and thou shalt be saved. (30)
Markandeya said: – Then the Sun said to the shadow of Sajna: – “All the sons are equal, therefore, why dost thou show partiality towards one? (31) How can a mother curse her sons
even when they grow disobedient? Forsooth thou art not their mother – but some body else come to me. (32) To evade (an answer) she did not say anything to the Sun. Then concentrating his own self he saw every thing in its true form. (33) Observing him on the point of uttering a curse, O Brahmana, the shadow of Sajna, trembling, communicated every thing truly to the Sun. (34) Hearing all and getting angry the Sun went to his father-in-law. Then consoling and adoring him who was desirous of consuming all in anger (Vishwakarma) of good vows said: -(35) “The whole universe has been overspread by thy great effulgence. Unable to bear thy form which is so greatly hard to bear Sajna is carrying on devout penances in the forest. (36) Thou shalt behold to-day thy own pious wife carrying on hard penances in the forest for thy form1. (37) I remember the words of Brahma; O god, O lord of the day, if it pleases thee I shall make thy form charming”. (38) Formerly the form of the Sun was circular; therefore the Divine Sun said to the (celestial Architect) Tastri “So be it”. (39) Having obtained the command and engaged the Sun to travel in the insular continent of Shaka Vishwakarma set himself to chiselling his effulgence. (40) When the Sun, the navel of the endless world, began to roam, the earth, with its seas, mountains and forest, got up to the sky. (41) O Brahmana, along with it the sky, with the moon, planets and stars, came down, O great one, and became greatly agitated . (42) The waters of the oceans became all agitated
– the great mountains were rent asunder and their summits were shattered. (43) The huge clouds, driven hither and thither by the velocity of the sun’s motion, moving with great sounds, were all dispersed. (45) O foremost of Munis, agitated by the motion of the sun, the earth, sky, Rasatala and universe were sent out of their places. (46) All the three worlds, O Vipra, thus revolving, the celestial saints and the gods along with Brahma eulogised the Sun:
(47) “Thou art the Prime Deity; this is truly known to the gods. Thou dost exist in thy threefold forms at the time of creation, preservation and destruction. (48) May good betide thee, O lord of the universe. O thou the mine of heat, rains and dews, O god of gods, O maker of the day, do thou bring peace unto mankind.” (49) Indra too, coming there, chanted the glories of the revolving Sun: – “Salutation unto the god who is manifest all over the universe. May thou be victorious, O lord of the universe.” (50) The seven Rishis too, headed by Vashistha and Atri, saying: “May good betide thee! may good betide thee!!” pleased him with the chanting of various hymns. (51) The Balakhilyas too, filled with delight, pleased the revolving Sun, by reciting the prime and most excellent Riks recorded in the Vedas: (52) “Thou art, O lord, the beatitude of those who have obtained it, thou art the object of the meditation of those who engage in it. Thou art the refuge of all creatures engaged in action. (53) Thou art the lord of the gods, may good betide the creatures through thy mercy; thou art the lord of the universe; mayst thou encompass our happiness, peace and well-being. May good betide us all always who are two-legged as well as all those that are quadrupeds.” (54) Thereupon the Vidyadharas, Rakshasas, Yakshas and Pannagas, with folded hands and heads bending low, began to address the Sun with the following words delightful to the mind and the ears: “Thou art the protector of creatures, may they bear thy effulgence.” (55-56) Thereupon Hahahuhu, Narada, and Tumvura, versed in Sharaja, Madhyama, Grandhara and the three Talas as well as the other arts of Gandharvas, began to sing delightful tunes with the accompaniment of Murchana, Prayoga and time. (57-58) Vishwachi, Ghritachi, Urvashi, Tilottama, Menaka, Sahajanaya, Rambha and other leading Apsaras, displaying gestures and various other charming gaits, began to dance at the time of the revolving of the sun. (59¬60) At that time hundreds and thousands of flutes, Vinas, Darduras, Panavas, Pushkaras, Mridangas, Patahas, Anakas, celestial bugles and conches were sounded. (61) When the Gandharvas sang, Apsaras danced and cymbals and other musical instruments were struck all was filled with noise. (62) Thereupon with folded hands and with heads bending down with reverence all the deities bowed unto the revolving sun of a thousand rays. (63) When there arose a great tumult on account of the gathering of all the celestials Vishwakarma gradually cut off his effulgence. (64) Thus the Divine Sun is the source of summer, rains, and dews. Hari, Hara, and Brahma too chant his glories. One, by listening to the story of lessening his effulgence, attains to the solar region after his death. (65)
1 The fierceness of the Sun may he lessened and he may assume a milder form.