VISHNU PURANA. BOOK IV. CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VI.
Kings of the lunar
dynasty. Origin of Soma, or the moon: he carries off Tara, the wife of
Vrihaspati: war between the gods and Asuras in consequence: appeased by Brahma.
Birth of Budha: married to Ila, daughter of Vaivaswata. Legend of his son
Pururavas, and the nymph Urvas'i: the former institutes offerings with fire:
ascends to the sphere of the Gandharbas.
MAITREYA.--You have
given me, reverend preceptor, an account of the kings of the dynasty of the
sun: I am now desirous to hear a description of the princes who trace their
lineage from the moon, and whose race is still celebrated for glorious deeds.
Thou art able to relate it to me, Brahman, if thou wilt so favour me.
PARAS'ARA.--You shall
hear from me, Maitreya, an account of the illustrious family of the moon, which
has produced many celebrated rulers of the earth; a race adorned by the regal
qualities of strength, valour, magnificence, prudence, and activity; and
enumerating amongst its monarchs Nahusha, Yayati, Kartaviryarjuna, and others
equally renowned. That race will I describe to you: do you attend.
Atri was the son of
Brahma, the creator of the universe, who sprang from the lotus that grew from
the navel of Narayana. The son of Atri was Soma (the moon), whom Brahma
installed as the sovereign of plants, of Brahmans, and of the stars. Soma
celebrated the Rajasuya sacrifice, and from the glory thence acquired, and the
extensive dominion with which he had been invested, he became arrogant and
licentious, and carried off Tara, the wife of Vrihaspati, the preceptor of the
gods. In vain Vrihaspati sought to recover his bride; in vain Brahma commanded,
and the holy sages remonstrated; Soma refused to relinquish her. Us'anas, out
of enmity to Vrihaspati, took part with Soma. Rudra, who had studied under
Angiras, the father of Vrihaspati, befriended his fellow-student. In
consequence of Us'anas, their preceptor, joining Soma, Jambha, Kujambha, and
all the Daityas, Danavas, and other foes of the gods, came also to his
assistance; whilst Indra and all the gods were the allies of Vrihaspati.
Then there ensued a
fierce contest, which, being on account of Taraka (or Tara), was termed the
Tarakamaya or Taraka war. In this the gods, led by Rudra, hurled their missiles
on the enemy; and the Daityas with equal determination assailed the gods.
Earth, shaken to her centre by the struggle between such foes, had recourse to
Brahma for protection; on which he interposed, and commanding Us'anas with the
demons and Rudra with the deities to desist from strife, compelled Soma to
restore Tara to her husband. Finding that she was pregnant, Vrihaspati desired
her no longer to retain her burden; and in obedience to his orders she was
delivered of a son, whom she deposited in a clump of long Munja grass. The
child, from the moment of its birth, was endued with a splendour that dimmed
the radiance of every other divinity, and both Vrihaspati and Soma, fascinated
by his beauty, claimed him as their child. The gods, in order to settle the
dispute, appealed to Tara; but she was ashamed, and would make no answer. As
she still continued mute to their repeated applications, the child became
incensed, and was about to curse her, saying, "Unless, vile woman, you
immediately declare who is my father, I will sentence you to such a fate as
shall deter every female in future from hesitating to speak the truth." On
this, Brahma again interfered, and pacified the child; and then, addressing
Tara, said, "Tell me, daughter, is this the child of Vrihaspati, or of
Soma?" "Of Soma," said Tara, blushing. As soon as she had
spoken, the lord of the constellations, his countenance bright, and expanding
with rapture, embraced his son, and said, "Well done, my boy; verily thou
art wise:" and hence his name was Budha.
It has already been
related how Budha begot Pururavas by Ila. Pururavas was a prince renowned for
liberality, devotion, magnificence, and love of truth, and for personal beauty.
Urvas'i having incurred the imprecation of Mitra and Varuna, determined to take
up her abode in the world of mortals; and descending accordingly, beheld
Pururavas. As soon as she saw him she forgot all reserve, and disregarding the
delights of Swarga, became deeply enamoured of the prince. Beholding her
infinitely superior to all other females in grace, elegance, symmetry,
delicacy, and beauty, Pururavas was equally fascinated by Urvas'i: both were
inspired by similar sentiments, and mutually feeling that each was everything
to the other, thought no more of any other object. Confiding in his merits,
Pururavas addressed the nymph, and said, "Fair creature, I love you; have
compassion on me, and return my affection." Urvas'i, half averting her
face through modesty, replied, "I will do so, if you will observe the conditions
I have to propose." "What are they?" inquired the prince;
"declare them." "I have two rams," said the nymph,
"which I love as children; they must be kept near my bedside, and never
suffered to be carried away: you must also take care never to he seen by me
undressed; and clarified butter alone must be my food." To these terms the
king readily gave assent.
After this, Pururavas
and Urvas'i dwelt together in Alaka, sporting amidst the groves and
lotus-crowned lakes of Chaitraratha, and the other forests there situated, for
sixty-one thousand years. The love of Pururavas for his bride increased every
day of its duration; and the affection of Urvas'i augmenting equally in
fervour, she never called to recollection residence amongst the immortals. Not
so with the attendant spirits at the court of Indra; and nymphs, genii, and
quiristers, found heaven itself but dull whilst Urvas'i was away. Knowing the
agreement that Urvas'i had made with the king, Vis'wavasu was appointed by the
Gandharbas to effect its violation; and he, coming by night to the chamber
where they slept, carried off one of the rams. Urvas'i was awakened by its
cries, and exclaimed, Ah me! who has stolen one of my children? Had I a
husband, this would not have happened! To whom shall I apply for aid?" The
Raja overheard her lamentation, but recollecting that he was undressed, and
that Urvas'i might see him in that state, did not move from the couch. Then the
Gandharbas came and stole the other ram; and Urvas'i, hearing it bleat, cried
out that a woman had no protector who was the bride of a prince so dastardly as
to submit to this outrage. This incensed Pururavas highly, and trusting that
the nymph would not see his person, as it was dark, he rose, and took his
sword, and pursued the robbers, calling upon them to stop, and receive their
punishment. At that moment the Gandharbas caused a flash of brilliant lightning
to play upon the chamber, and Urvas'i beheld the king undressed: the compact
was violated, and the nymph immediately disappeared. The Gandharbas, abandoning
the rams, departed to the region of the gods.
Having recovered the
animals, the king returned delighted to his couch, but there he beheld no
Urvas'i; and not finding her anywhere, he wandered naked over the world, like
one insane. At length coming to Kurukshetra, he saw Urvas'i sporting with four
other nymphs of heaven in a lake beautified with lotuses, and he ran to her,
and called her his wife, and wildly implored her to return. "Mighty
monarch," said the nymph, "refrain from this extravagance. I am now
pregnant: depart at present, and come hither again at the end of a year, when I
will deliver to you a son, and remain with you for one night." Pururavas,
thus comforted, returned to his capital. Urvas'i said to her companions,
"This prince is a most excellent mortal: I lived with him long and
affectionately united." "It was well done of you," they replied;
"he is indeed of comely appearance, and one with whom we could live
happily for ever."
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