by Bibek Debroy
Chapter 57
‘Markandeya said, “O brahmana! I will tell you about Kimpurusha-varsha. There, the healthy men have a lifespan of ten thousand years. The men and women there do not suffer from any disease and do not face any grief. The extremely large plaksha tree in that region is said to be Nandana’s equal. The men always drink the juice from the fruits. The women possess perpetual youth and have the fragrance of lotuses. After Kimpurusha-varsha, I will tell you about Hari-varsha. The men born there possess the complexion of gold. All of them are those who have been dislodged from the world of the gods and all of them are like gods. All the men in Hari-varsha drink auspicious sugar cane juice. They do not face the impediment of old age, nor do they decay. As long as they are alive, they do not suffer from any disease. I have spoken about Meru, which is in the centre of Ilavrita-varsha. The sun does not scorch there and men do not decay. They do not strive after their own gains. The light from the sun, the moon, nakshatras and planets does not provide any radiance there. The supreme illumination is from Meru. The men born there possess the complexion of lotuses and have the fragrance of lotuses. They subsist on the juice of jambu fruit. Their eyes are as broad as lotus leaves. The lifespan there is thirteen thousand years. Meru is in the middle of Ilavrita and is shaped like a cup. Meru is said to be the great mountain in Ilavrita. I will now tell you about Ramyaka-varsha. Listen. There is an extremely tall nyagrodha tree there and its leaves are green. Those who subsist there drink the juice of its fruit. Men enjoy its fruits and live for ten thousand years. They sparkle and are addicted to sexual intercourse. They do not suffer from old age or bad odour. The varsha that is to the north of this is known by the name of Hiranmaya. The river there is Hiranvati and it is radiant with many lotuses. The men born there possess great strength and energy. They are gigantic in size and great in spirit. They are handsome to behold and possess riches.”’
Chapter 58
‘Kroushtuki asked, “O great sage! You have properly described everything I asked you about—the location of the earth, the oceans and mountains, their dimensions and measurements, the locations of the planets and bhuloka and the worlds. O sage! You have also described Svayambhuva manvantara to me. After this, I wish to hear about the other manvantaras. Who were the lords of these manvantaras? Who were the gods, rishis and their sons? Who were the kings?”
‘Markandeya replied, “I have spoken to you about Svayambhuva manvantara. After that, there was the one known as Svarochisha manvantara. Hear about it. There was a foremost brahmana who lived in the city of Arunaspada, on the banks of the Varuna. This brahmana surpassed the Ashvins in his beauty. He was mild in nature and his conduct was good. He was accomplished in the Vedas and the Vedangas. He loved guests and was a refuge for those who arrived in the night. However, he had a thought. ‘I will see the entire earth, with its extremely beautiful gardens and groves, ornamented with many cities.’ On one occasion, a guest arrived in his house and this guest knew about the powers of many herbs. He was accomplished in the knowledge of mantras. With his mind purified with devotion, he served this guest, who told him the news about beautiful cities, rivers, groves and mountains, sacred and extensive. Extremely astounded, he spoke to that excellent brahmana. ‘Having seen many countries, you must be extremely exhausted. But you are not too old in age. You are not much older than a youth. O brahmana! How have you travelled the earth in such a short span of time?’ The brahmana replied, ‘O brahmana! Because of the power of mantras and herbs, my movement is unimpeded. In half a day, I can travel one thousand yojanas.’ He trusted the words of that learned brahmana and spoke respectfully to the brahmana again. ‘O illustrious one! Show me your favours and grant me the power of the mantras. I have this desire to see the world.’ The generous brahmana pronounced mantras over some paste and smeared his feet with it. He carefully described the directions to him.
‘“O supreme brahmana! His feet smeared with the paste, the brahmana wished to go and see the Himalayas, full of many springs. He thought, ‘I will travel one thousand yojanas in one half of a day and return in the other half of the day.’ Though he reached the slopes of the Himalayas, the brahmana’s body was not excessively exhausted. He roamed around there, on the ground under the snow-covered mountain. The power of the excellent herbs was in the paste smeared on his feet and when the melting snow touched his feet, it washed the paste away. Though his movements became slow, he roamed around here and there. He saw the agreeable summits and slopes of the Himalayas. These were the sporting grounds of large numbers of Siddhas, gandharvas and kinnaras. Here and there, there were beautiful pleasure grounds of gods and others. He saw that the place was populated by hundreds of divine apsaras. O sage! The brahmana’s body hair stood up in delight, but he was still not satisfied. Some places were beautiful because of the water that descended from springs. There were other places that resounded with the calls of dancing peacocks. Some places were pleasant because of datyuhas, koyashtikas 684 and other birds. There were the pleasant sounds of male cuckoos warbling. The breeze that blew was fragrant with the scent of blossoming trees. Filled with delight, he saw the giant mountain, the Himalayas. The son of a brahmana saw the Himalayas, the lofty mountain, and thought, ‘I will examine it tomorrow.’ He made up his mind to return home. However, the paste had been washed away and before long, he found it difficult to move. He thought, ‘What have I done in my ignorance? The melting snow and water has washed the paste away. This mountain is extremely difficult to traverse and I have come a long distance away. How will I observe rites like tending to the fire? Now that I face this great calamity, what will I do? This mountain is supremely beautiful. Nevertheless, even if my sight is attracted to it, I will not obtain satisfaction in hundreds of years. The conversation of kinnaras enchants the ear in every direction. I have been greatly satisfied by the fragrant scent of blossoming trees. The breeze is pleasant to the touch and the fruits are succulent. The beautiful lakes forcefully attract the mind. That being the state I am in, if I see some store of austerities, he may instruct me about the path I should follow to return home,’ Thinking in this way, the brahmana wandered around in the Himalayas. With the great strength of the paste having been washed away, he was filled with great lassitude.
‘“Varuthini saw that best among sages wandering around. The immensely fortunate apsara was Muli’s daughter and she was beautiful. As soon as Varuthini saw that noble brahmana, goaded by Madana, her mind was instantly filled with desire. She thought, ‘Who is this extremely handsome person? If he does not disregard me, my birth will be successful. How wonderful is his beauty and sweetness! How wonderful is his graceful gait! How profound is his gaze! Where is his equal on earth? I have seen gods, daityas, Siddhas, gandharvas and pannagas. But there is not a single one who is the great-souled one’s equal in beauty. If he is as attracted towards me as I am towards him, I will then indeed have accumulated merits from good deeds. If he glances gently at me now, I will then think that no other woman in the three worlds has undertaken as much of good deeds.’ Smitten by love, the celestial lady thought in this way. She approached him with gifts and addressed him in these words. ‘Who are you, with a complexion like the cup of a lotus? Whom do you belong to? Why are you here?’ ‘I am a brahmana. I have come here from the city of Arunaspada. Washed away by the melting snow and water, the paste on my feet has been destroyed. O one with the maddening eyes! Using their powers, I had come here.’ Varuthini replied, ‘I am the immensely fortunate daughter of Muli and I am known by the name of Varuthini. I always roam around on this beautiful and great mountain. O brahmana! Having seen you today, I have been smitten by desire and am helpless. I have now been conquered by you. Instruct me about what I should do.’ The brahmana replied, ‘O one with the sweet smiles! What means can I use to return to my own home? O fortunate one! Tell me that. All my rites are suffering. If the nitya and naimittika rites are not performed, that causes great harm to brahmanas. O fortunate one! You should save me from the Himalayas. For brahmanas, residing
away from home is never praised. O timid one! Curious to see countries, I have committed a crime. Foremost brahmanas must perform all the rites in their homes. When they reside elsewhere, nitya and naimittika rites suffer. What is the need to speak a lot? O illustrious one! Act so that I can see my own home before the sun has set.’ Varuthini said, ‘O immensely fortunate one! Let the day when you forsake me and return to your own home never come. O son of a brahmana! Heaven is not more beautiful than this spot. That is the reason we give up the abode of the gods and reside here. O beloved! When you sport in this beautiful snow-covered region with me, you will not remember your mortal relatives. Because of love, I am under your control and here, I will give you garlands, garments, ornaments, food, unguents and objects for enjoyment. There will be the melodious sounds of veenas and flutes and the sweet songs of kinnaras. The breeze will cause delight. The food will be warm and the water will be pure. There are beds that the mind desires and fragrant unguents. O immensely fortunate one! What exists in your home that is superior to this? No one suffers from old age here. This is the land of the gods and it yields perpetual youth.’ Having said this, the lotus-eyed one’s mind was filled with love. She said, ‘Show me your favours,’ and suddenly embraced him. The brahmana replied, ‘O wicked one! Do not touch me. Go to those who are like you. I asked you for something, but you have approached me in a completely different way. Through offering oblations in the morning and the evening, one obtains the eternal worlds. O foolish one! The three worlds, and everything, are established in oblations. Tell me of a means whereby I can return to my own house.’ Varuthini said, ‘O brahmana! Do you not love me? Aren’t these mountains beautiful? Giving up the gandharvas, kinnaras and others, whom else do you desire? It is undoubtedly true that you will return to your own home. But spend a little bit of time with me and enjoy these extremely rare objects of pleasure.’ The brahmana replied, ‘The three fires, garhapatya and the others, are what I always desire. I find the altar for the fire to be beautiful. Vishtarini 685 is my beloved.’ Varuthini said, ‘O brahmana! Among the eight qualities, compassion comes first. If you are a person who follows true dharma, why are you not exhibiting that towards me? I have fallen in love with you and, separated from you, I shall not live. O delight of your lineage! I do not utter a lie. Show me your favours.’ The brahmana replied, ‘If you are in love with me and if you truly do not lie, then tell me about a means whereby I can return to my own home.’ Varuthini said, ‘It is undoubtedly true that you will return to your own home. But spend a little bit of time with me and enjoy these extremely rare objects of pleasure.’ 686 The brahmana replied, ‘O Varuthini! A brahmana’s pursuit of enjoyment is not praised. A brahmana faces hardships in this world, but his efforts yield fruits after death.’ Varuthini said, ‘I am about to die. If you save me, you will obtain auspicious fruits in the world hereafter and enjoy objects of pleasure in another birth. Both of these will be reasons for your advancement. However, if you refuse me, I will die and you will reap the fruits of that sin.’ The brahmana replied, ‘My guru has told me that I should not desire another person’s wife. Therefore, whether you lament or shrivel up, I do not desire you.’ Having said this, the immensely fortunate one controlled himself and purified himself by touching water. He prostrated himself before the garhapatya fire and meditated in these words. ‘O illustrious garhapatya fire! You are the seed of all rites. The ahavaniya fire and dakshinagni fire spring from you and not from anywhere else. When you are satisfied, the gods yield rain and crops. The entire universe is established on crops and not on anything else. Everything is established in you and the universe is established in truth. By virtue of that truth, let me see my home today, while the sun is still in the firmament. While the sun is still in the firmament, let me see my own house, so that I am able to perform the rites mentioned in the Vedas at the right time. I have never desired another person’s objects. My mind has never turned towards another person’s wife. By virtue of that truth, let my wishes be met.’”’
Chapter 59
‘Markandeya continued, “While he was speaking in this way, the garhapatya fire entered the body of the son of a brahmana and established itself there. Since he was possessed by it, in the midst of that circle of radiance, he was like the personified form of the bearer of oblations and illuminated that region. The celestial lady saw the brahmana in that fierce and radiant form and her mind was suffused with even greater love. As soon as the bearer of oblations was established in him, the descendant of the brahmana lineage was again able to move, as he had been able to do earlier. While the slender-limbed one looked on, he swiftly departed and she was no longer able to see him. She sighed deeply and her body trembled. In an instant, the best among brahmanas reached his own home and completed all the rites that have been mentioned.
‘“She was beautiful in her limbs and her mind was still attracted to him. She sighed throughout the rest of the day and the night. Unblemished in her limbs, she repeatedly sighed, lamented and wept. The one with the maddening eyes censured her own ill fortune. She found no pleasure in walking, eating, the pleasant forest or the beautiful mountain. On seeing a couple of chakravaka birds, she was smitten by desire. However, left alone, the beautiful lady censured her own youth. ‘Drawn by the power of evil fate, why did I come to this mountain? Why did a man like him come within the range of my vision? Since that immensely fortunate one did not wish to have intercourse with me, this fire of desire is impossible to withstand and will certainly consume me. The call of the male cuckoo used to sound pleasant. But separated from him, it is harming and burning me now.’ O supreme among sages! She wandered around in this way, overwhelmed by desire. At every instant, her love for him waxed.
‘“There was a gandharva named Kali. He was in love with her, but had been refused by her earlier. He saw her in that state and wondered, ‘What has now happened to the one whose stride is like that of a she-elephant? She is sighing and wandering around on this mountain, faded. Is this the same Varuthini? Has she been cursed by a sage? Has someone dishonoured her? Her distraught face is awash with floods of tears.’ Filled with curiosity, Kali thought about this for a very long time. Through the powers of meditation, he got to know the truth. Having got to know about the sage, 687 Kali started to think again. ‘This good fortune has resulted from my having done something good earlier. Filled with love, I entreated her several times, but she refused me. I will now be able to obtain her. Since she is in love with a man, I will assume his form and unsuspecting, she will enjoy herself with me. Without any delay, that is what I must do.’ Using his own powers, he assumed the brahmana’s form. Having done this, he sauntered over to the place where Varuthini was seated. On seeing him, the beautiful lady’s eyes were delighted and opened a little. The slender-limbed one approached him and repeatedly entreated, ‘Please show me your favours. Having been abandoned by you, there is no doubt that I would have given up my life. That adharma would have been greater than the adharma that results from your rites being destroyed. With me, find your pleasure in this great and beautiful mountain and valley. Having saved me, there is no doubt that you will accomplish dharma. O immensely wise one! There is no doubt that my lifespan still remains. That is indeed the reason why you have caused pleasure to my heart and have returned.’ Kali replied, ‘What can I possibly do? If I remain here, my rites will be destroyed. O slender-waisted one! However, you have addressed me in such words. That is the reason I face a dilemma. I will do what you ask me to. I will agree to have intercourse with you only if you say so, not otherwise.’ Varuthini said, ‘Show me your favours. I will do whatever you wish. This is true. Tell me without any hesitation and I will immediately act accordingly.’ Kali replied, ‘O one with the excellent eyebrows! When we have intercourse in this forest now, I must not be seen. Therefore, while you have intercourse with me, you must keep your eyes closed.’ Varuthini said, ‘O fortunate one! It shall be as you wish. It shall be that way. In every possible way, I am under you control now.’”’
Chapter 60
‘Markandeya continued, “He found pleasure with her on the slopes of the mountain, the delightful flowering groves, the pleasant lakes, the beautiful valleys and banks of rivers and other agreeable spots. O brahmana! He was delighted. At the time of intercourse, with her eyes closed, she thought of the energetic brahmana’s form, with the fire established in him. O supreme among sages! After some time, she conceived. Though the seed was the gandharva’s, she thought of the brahmana in her mind. When she was pregnant, in the form of the brahmana, he happily comforted her and took his leave of her. She gave birth to a son who was as radiant as the blazing fire. Like the sun illuminates everything with its own rays, he illuminated all the directions. Since the child made everything radiant with his own light, he came to be known by the name of Svarochisha. 688 From one day to another day, the immensely fortunate one grew in age. As the kalas 689 of the moon develop, the child’s store of qualities grew. In due order, the immensely fortunate one learnt dhanurveda, the Vedas and all the other kinds of knowledge. He thus became a young man.
