Chapter
XLV.
Then, one
day, when king Chandraprabha was in the hall of assembly, and Súryaprabha was
there accompanied by all his ministers, they called to mind Maya à propos of a
remark made by Siddhártha, and suddenly the earth cleft open in the middle of
the assembly. Then first a loud-sounding fragrant breeze ascended from the
aperture in the earth, and afterwards the Asura Maya rose up from it, looking
like a mountain in the night, for his hair gleamed upon his black lofty head
like the potent herbs upon the mountain peaks, and his crimson robe resembled
the flowing streams of cinnabar. And the king of the Dánavas, after having been
duly honoured by king Chandraprabha, spake from his seat on a jewelled
throne—“You have enjoyed these delights of earth, and now it is time for you to
enjoy others; set yourselves now to prepare for acquiring them. Send out
ambassadors, and collect your subordinate kings, and your friends and connexions;
then we will unite with Sumeru, prince of the Vidyádharas, and we will conquer
Śrutaśarman, and win the sovereignty of the sky-goers. And Sumeru is our ally,
considering us as friends, for he received at the outset a command from Śiva,
to support Súryaprabha and give him his own daughter. When the Asura Maya said
this, Chandraprabha sent, as ambassadors to all the kings, Prahasta and the
other ministers that travelled through the air; and, by the advice of Maya,
Súryaprabha communicated the magic sciences to all his wives and ministers, on
whom they had not been bestowed already.
And while
they were thus engaged, the hermit Nárada arrived, descending from the sky,
illuminating the whole horizon with brightness. And after he had received the
argha, he sat down and said to Chandraprabha, “I am sent here by Indra, and he
sends this message to your Highness—‘I have learned that, by the instigation of
Śiva, you purpose, with the assistance of the Asura Maya, being all of you
deluded by ignorance, to obtain for this Súryaprabha, of mortal frame, the
great dignity of emperor of all the chiefs of the Vidyádharas: that is
improper, for I have conferred it on Śrutaśarman, and besides it is the
hereditary right of that moon of the sea of the Vidyádhara race. And as for
what you are doing in a spirit of opposition to me, and contrary to what is
right, it will certainly result in your destruction. Moreover, before, when
your Highness was offering a sacrifice to Rudra, I told you first to offer an
Aśvamedha sacrifice, but you did not do it. So the haughty enterprise you are
engaged in, without regard to the gods, relying upon Śiva alone, will not turn
out to your happiness.’” When Nárada had delivered in these words the message
of Indra, Maya laughed and said to him; “Great hermit, the king of gods has not
spoken well. For what he says about the fact of Súryaprabha being a mortal is
beside the point; for who was not aware of that fact, when he met Dámodara in
fight? For mortals who possess courage can obtain all powers. Did not Nahusha
and others of old time obtain the dignity of Indra? And as for his saying that
he bestowed the empire on Śrutaśarman, and that it is his hereditary right,
that also is absurd, for where Śiva is the giver, who has any authority? Besides,
did not he himself take away the sovereignty of the gods from Hiraṇyáksha,
though it descended to him as the elder? And as for his other remark about
opposition, and our acting contrary to what is right, that is false, for he
violently puts himself in opposition to us out of selfish motives, and wherein,
pray, are we acting contrary to what is right, for we are only striving to
conquer our rival, we are not carrying off a hermit’s wife, we are not killing
Bráhmans? And what he says about the necessity of first performing an Aśvamedha
sacrifice, and about contempt of the gods, is untrue, for when sacrifice to
Śiva has been performed, what need is there of other sacrifices? And when Śiva
the god of gods is worshipped, what god is not worshipped? And as for his
remark that exclusive attention to Rudra is not becoming, I answer—Of what
importance are the hosts of the other gods, where Śiva is in arms? When the sun
has risen, do the other luminaries give light? So you must tell all this to the
king of the gods, O hermit, and we shall continue to carry out what we are
engaged in, let him do what he can.” When the ṛishi Nárada had been thus
addressed by the Asura Maya, he said “I will do so,” and took back to the king
of the gods that answer to his message. When that hermit had departed, the
Asura Maya thus spake to king Chandraprabha, who was apprehensive on account of
the message of Indra, “You must not be afraid of Indra; even if he is on the
side of Śrutaśarman in fight, with the hosts of the gods, out of hostility to
us, still we Daityas and Dánavas are countless in number, and under the
leadership of Prahláda we are ranged together on your side. And if the
destroyer of Tripura favours us and is active on our side, what other miserable
creature in the three worlds has any power? So set about this expedition,
heroes.” When Maya said this, all those there were pleased, and considered that
it was as he said.
Then in
accordance with the messages carried by the ambassadors, in course of time all
the kings, Vírabhaṭa and the others, assembled there, and all the other friends
and relatives of Chandraprabha. When these kings with their armies had been
duly honoured, the Asura Maya again said to Chandraprabha, “Perform to-night, O
king, a great sacrifice in honour of Śiva; afterwards you shall do all as I
direct.” When he heard this speech of Maya’s, king Chandraprabha immediately
had preparations made for a sacrifice to Śiva. Then he went to the forest at
night, and under the instructions of Maya, himself performed devoutly a
sacrifice to Rudra. And while the king was engaged in the fire-offering, there
suddenly appeared there Nandin the prince of the host of Bhútas. He was
honoured duly by the delighted king, and said—“The god Śiva himself sends this
command by me, ‘Through my favour thou needst not fear even a hundred Indras;
Súryaprabha shall become emperor of the sky-goers.’” After he had delivered
this message, Nandin received a portion of the offering and disappeared with
the hosts of Bhútas. Then Chandraprabha became confident in the future
elevation of his son, and after completing the sacrifice, at the end of the
fire-offering, re-entered the city with Maya.
And the
next morning, when king Chandraprabha was sitting in secret conclave together
with the queen, his son, the kings and his ministers, the Asura Maya said to
him—“Listen, king, I will to-day tell you a secret long guarded; you are a
Dánava, Sunítha by name, my mighty son, and Súryaprabha is your younger
brother, named Sumundíka; after you were slain in the war of the gods, you were
born here as father and son. That Dánava body of yours has been preserved by me
skilfully embalmed with heavenly drugs and ghee. Therefore you must enter a
cavern and visit Pátála, and then return to your own body by a charm which I
will teach you. And when you have entered that body, you will be so much
superior in spirit and strength, that you will conquer in fight the wanderers
of the air. But Súryaprabha, who is an incarnation of Sumundíka, with this same
beautiful body which he now possesses, shall soon become lord of the sky-goers.
When king Chandraprabha heard this from Maya, he was delighted and agreed to
it, but Siddhártha said this—“O excellent Dánava, what ground of confidence
have we, if this doubt should arise, ‘Why has the king entered another body,
has he then died?’ And moreover will he forget us when he enters another body,
like a man gone to the other world? Who is he, and who are we?” When the Asura
Maya heard this speech of Siddhártha’s, he answered—“You yourselves must come
and see him with your own eyes entering another body, of his own free will, by
the employment of a charm. And hear the reason why he will not forget you. A
man, who does not die of his own free will, and is born in another womb, does
not remember anything, as his memory is destroyed by old age and other
afflictions, but whoever of his own free will enters another body, penetrating
by the employment of magic the internal organ and the senses, without his mind
and intellect being impaired, and passes, as it were, from one house to
another, that prince among Yogins has supernatural knowledge and remembers all.
So do not feel doubtful; so far from there being any reason for it, this king
will obtain a great divine body free from old age and sickness. Moreover you
are all Dánavas, and by merely entering Rasátala, and drinking nectar, you will
obtain divine bodies free from sickness.” When the ministers heard this speech
of Maya’s, they all said, “So be it,” and consented to his proposal, abandoning
their apprehensions out of the confidence they reposed in him. And by his
advice, Chandraprabha, with all the kings, went on the next day to the
confluence of the Chandrabhágá and the Airávatí. There Chandraprabha left the
kings outside, and committed to their care the wives of Súryaprabha, and then
he entered in company with Súryaprabha, the queen, and the ministers with
Siddhártha at their head, an opening in the water pointed out by Maya, and
after entering he travelled a long distance, and beheld a heavenly temple, and
entered it with all of them.
And in the
meanwhile the Vidyádharas descended with troops on those kings, who were
remaining there outside the opening; and paralyzing the kings by supernatural
arts, they carried off the wives of Súryaprabha, and immediately a voice was
heard from the sky—“Wicked Śrutaśarman, if you touch these wives of the
emperor, you shall immediately perish with your host. So guard them
respectfully, treating them like your mother; there is a reason for my not
immediately slaying you and setting them free; so let them remain as they are
at present.” And when the kings, Vírabhaṭa and the others, saw them carried
off, they prepared to die by fighting with one another. But a voice from heaven
forbade their attempt, saying, “No harm will befall these daughters of yours,
you shall obtain them again, so you must not act rashly, prosperity befall
you!” So the kings remained waiting there. In the meantime Chandraprabha was in
the temple in Pátála surrounded by all his companions, and there Maya said to
him, “King, listen attentively to this wonderful thing; I will shew you the
supernatural art of entering another body.” He said this, and recited the
Sánkhya and the Yoga doctrine with its secrets, and taught him the magic art of
entering another body; and that chief of Yogins said—“This is the famous
supernatural power, and the independence of knowledge, the dominion over matter
that is characterized by lightness and the other mystic properties. The chief
of the gods, possessing this power, do not long for liberation; in order to
obtain this power others endure the hardship of muttering prayers and
performing asceticism. Men of lofty soul do not love the pleasures of heaven
even when attained. And listen, I will tell you a story in illustration of
this.”
Story
of the Bráhman Kála.
In a former
Kalpa there was a certain Bráhman, of the name of Kála. He went to the holy
bathing-place Pushkara and muttered prayers day and night. While he was
muttering, two myriads of years of the gods passed away. Then there appeared a
great light inseparable from his head, which, streaming forth in the firmament
like ten thousand suns, impeded the movement of the Siddhas and others there,
and set the three worlds on fire. Then Brahmá, Indra and the other gods came to
him and said—“Bráhman, these worlds are on fire with your brightness. Receive
whatever boon you desire.” He answered them—“Let me have no other pleasure than
muttering prayers, this is my boon, I choose nothing else.” When they
importuned him, that mutterer of prayers went far off and remained on the north
side of the Himálayas, muttering prayers. When this extraordinary brightness of
his gradually became intolerable even there, Indra sent heavenly nymphs to
tempt him. That self-restrained man did not care a straw about them, when they
endeavoured to seduce him. Then the gods sent him Death as plenipotentiary. He
came to him and said—“Bráhman, mortals do not live so long, so abandon your
life; do not break the law of nature.” When the Bráhman heard this, he said—“If
the limit of my life is attained, why do you not take me? What are you waiting
for? But I will not of myself abandon my life, O thou god with the noose in
hand; indeed, if I were wilfully to abandon my life, I should be a
self-murderer.” When he said this, and Death found that he could not take him
on account of his power, he turned away from him and returned as he came. Then
Indra repenting seized that Kála, who had conquered Time the destroyer, in his
arms, and took him up to heaven by force. There he remained averse to the
sensual enjoyments of the place, and he did not cease from muttering prayers,
so the gods made him descend again, and he returned to the Himálayas. And while
all the gods were trying to induce him there to take a boon, the king Ikshváku
came that way. When he heard how affairs stood, he said to that mutterer of
prayers, “If you will not receive a boon from the gods, receive one from me.”
When the mutterer of prayers heard that, he laughed, and said to the king—“Are
you able to grant me a boon, when I will not receive one even from the gods?”
Thus he spoke, and Ikshváku answered the Bráhman—“If I am not able to grant you
a boon, you can grant me one; so grant me a boon.” Then the mutterer
said—“Choose whatever you desire, and I will grant it.” When the king heard
this, he reflected in his mind: “The appointed order is that I should give, and
that he should receive; this is an inversion of the due order, that I should
receive what he gives.” Whilst the king was delaying, as he pondered over this
difficulty, two Bráhmans came there disputing; when they saw the king they
appealed to him for a decision. The first said, “This Bráhman gave me a cow
with a sacrificial fee: why will he not receive it from my hand, when I offer
to give it back to him?” Then the other said, “I did not receive it first, and
I did not ask for it, then why does he wish to make me receive it by force?”
When the king heard this, he said—“This complainant is not in the right; why,
after receiving the cow, do you try to compel the man, who gave it, to take it
back from you?” When the king said this, Indra, having found his opportunity,
said to him—“King, if you hold this view of what is right, then, after you have
asked the Bráhman, who mutters prayers, for a boon, why do you not take it from
him when it is granted?” Then the king, being at a loss for an answer, said to
that muttering Bráhman—“Revered sir, give me the fruit of half your muttering
as a boon.” Then the muttering Bráhman said—“Very well, receive the fruit of
half my muttering,” and so he gave the king a boon. By means of that boon the
king obtained access to all the worlds, and that muttering Bráhman obtained the
world of the gods called Śivas. There he remained for many kalpas, and then
returned to earth, and by mystic contemplation obtained independence, and
gained everlasting supernatural power.
“Thus this
supernatural power is desired by wise men, who are averse to heaven and such
low enjoyments; and you have obtained it, O king, so, being independent, enter
your own body.” When Maya said this to king Chandraprabha, after communicating
to him the doctrine of mystic contemplation giving supernatural power, he and
his wife and his son and his ministers rejoiced exceedingly.
Then the
king, with his son and companions, was led by Maya to a second under-world, and
made to enter a splendid city. And there they saw a gigantic hero, reclining at
full length upon a beautiful couch, as if asleep, anointed with potent herbs
and ghee, awful from the ghastly transformation of his features, surrounded by
the daughters of the kings of the Daityas, with their lotus-faces full of
melancholy. Then Maya said to Chandraprabha:—“This is your body, surrounded by
your former brides, enter it.”—The king had recourse to the magic contemplation
taught by Maya, and entered the body of that hero, abandoning his own frame.
Then the hero yawned slowly, opened his eyes, and rose up from the bed, as if
awaking out of sleep. Then a shout arose from the delighted Asura brides,
“Happy are we, that our husband, the god Sunítha, is to-day restored to life.”
But Súryaprabha and the others were immediately despondent, beholding the body
of Chandraprabha lying lifeless. But Chandraprabha-Sunítha, appearing as if
risen from a refreshing sleep, saw Maya, and falling at his feet honoured his
father. That father too embraced him and asked him in the presence of all,—“Do
you remember both your lives, my son?” He said; “I do remember them,” and
related what had happened to him in his life as Chandraprabha, and also what
had happened to him in his life as Sunítha, and he comforted one by one
Súryaprabha and the others, and also his queens, mentioning each by name, and
also the Dánava ladies, his wives in his first life. And he preserved the body,
which he had as Chandraprabha, carefully laid by, embalmed by means of drugs
and ghee, saying, “It may possibly be useful to me.” Then Súryaprabha and the
others, tranquil now that they had gained confidence, bowed before him, and
joyfully congratulated him.
Then Maya,
having conducted all of them in high delight out of that city, led them to
another city adorned with gold and jewels. When they entered it, they beheld a
lake of the appearance of beryl, filled with nectar, and they all sat down on
the bank of it. And they drank that nectarous draught there, more excellent
than the water of life, in curiously ornamented cups formed of jewels, which
were brought to them by the wives of Sunítha. And by that draught they all rose
up, as from a sleep of intoxication, and became possessed of divine bodies, and
of great strength and courage.
Then the
Asura Maya said to Chandraprabha-Sunítha, “Come, my son, let us go, and see
your mother after so long a separation.” And Sunítha said “So be it,” and
prepared to go conducted by Maya, and so proceeded to the fourth under-world
with Súryaprabha and the others. There they beheld curious cities made of
various metals, and at last they all reached a city built entirely of gold.
There, on a pillar composed of jewels adorned with every luxury, they beheld
that mother of Sunítha, the wife of Maya, by name Lílávatí, surpassing in
beauty the nymphs of heaven, surrounded with Asura maidens, and adorned with
all ornaments. The moment she beheld that Sunítha, she rose up in a state of excitement,
and Sunítha, after saluting her, fell at her feet. Then she embraced with
gushing tears the son, whom she once more held in her arms after so long an
interval, and again praised her husband Maya, who was the cause of her
regaining him. Then Maya said—“Queen, your other son Sumundíka has been born
again as the son of your son, and here he is, Súryaprabha by name. He has been
appointed by the god Śiva the future emperor of the Vidyádharas, and is
destined to rule over them in the body which he now possesses.” When
Súryaprabha heard this, and saw her look at him with an eye of longing
affection, he and his ministers fell at her feet. And Lílávatí gave him her
blessing, and said to him—“My darling, you do not require the body of
Sumundíka, in this you are sufficiently glorious.” When his sons were thus
triumphant, Maya called to mind his daughter Mandodarí, and Vibhíshaṇa, and
when called to mind, they came. And Vibhíshaṇa, welcomed with triumphant
rejoicings, said to him—“O prince of the Dánavas, if you will listen to my
advice, I will give it you. You are among the Dánavas singularly virtuous and
prosperous, so you ought not to take up a causeless enmity against the gods.
For you will gain nothing but death from your hostility to them. For Asuras have
been slain in battle by the gods, but not gods by Asuras.” When Maya heard
this, he said—“We are not forcing on war, but if Indra violently makes war on
us, tell me, how can we remain passive? And as for those Asuras who were slain
by the gods, they were reckless, but did the gods slay Bali and others who were
not infatuated?” That king of the Rákshasas having, with his wife Mandodarí,
been addressed with these and similar speeches by Maya, took leave of him, and
went to his own dwelling.
Then
Sunítha, with Súryaprabha and the others, was conducted to the third
under-world to visit king Bali. In that world, which surpassed even heaven,
they all beheld Bali, adorned with chain and tiara, surrounded with Daityas and
Dánavas. Sunítha and his companions fell at his feet in due order, and he
honoured them with appropriate welcome. And Bali was delighted with the tidings
related by Maya, and he quickly had summoned Prahláda and the other Dánavas.
Sunítha and the others honoured them also by falling at their feet, and they,
being full of joy, congratulated them, as they bent before them. Then Bali
said, “Sunítha became Chandraprabha on the earth, and now is restored to life
for us by regaining his body. And we have also gained Súryaprabha, who is an
incarnation of Sumundíka. And he has been appointed by Śiva the future emperor
of the Vidyádharas: and by the power of the sacrifice offered by Chandraprabha
my bonds have been relaxed. So without doubt we have gained prosperity by
recovering these.” When Śukra, the spiritual adviser of the Dánavas, heard this
speech of Bali’s, he said, “In truth those who act according to right never
fail of prosperity in any matter; so act according to right, and do on this
occasion also what I bid you.” When the Dánavas, the princes of the seven
under-worlds, who were assembled there, heard that, they agreed to it and bound
themselves so to act. And Bali made a feast there, out of joy at the recovery
of Sunítha.
In the
meanwhile the hermit Nárada arrived there again, and after taking the argha, he
sat down, and said to those Dánavas, “I have been sent here by Indra, and he in
truth says this to you, ‘I am exceedingly delighted at the fact that Sunítha
has come back to life; so you must not take up a causeless enmity against me, and
you must not fight against my ally Śrutaśarman.’” When the hermit had thus
delivered Indra’s message, Prahláda said to him, “Of course Indra is pleased
that Sunítha has come back to life, how could it be otherwise? But we at any
rate are not taking up causeless hostility. This very day we all took an
engagement that we would not do so, in the presence of our spiritual adviser.
But if Indra makes himself a partizan of Śrutaśarman, and violently opposes us,
how are we to be blamed for it? For Súryaprabha’s ally, Śiva, the god of gods,
has long ago appointed him, because he propitiated him first. So what have we
to do with this matter which has been settled by the lord Śiva? It is clear
that this, which Indra says, is without cause, and not right.” When Prahláda,
the king of the Dánavas said this to Nárada, he blamed Indra by expressing his
agreement with it, and disappeared. When he had gone, Uśanas said to the kings
of the Dánavas—“Indra is evidently determined to oppose us in this matter. But,
as Śiva has decidedly girded up his loins to shew us favour, what is his power,
or what will his reliance upon Vishṇu do?” The Dánavas heard and approved this
speech of Śukra’s, and taking leave of Bali and Prahláda, went to their own
homes. Then Prahláda went to the fourth under-world, his habitation, and king
Bali, rising up from the assembly, retired within. And Maya and Sunítha and the
others, Súryaprabha and all, bowed before Bali, and went to their own
habitations. After they had eaten and drunk there sufficiently, Lílávatí, the
mother of Sunítha, came to him and said, “My son, you know that these wives of
yours are the daughters of mighty ones, Tejasvatí being the daughter of the god
of wealth, Mangalávatí of Tumburu; and as for Kírtimatí, that wife that you
married in your existence as Chandraprabha, her you know to be the daughter of
the Vasu Prabháva, so you must look upon these three with an equal eye, my
son.” After saying this, she commended to him his three principal wives. Then,
that night, Sunítha entered his sleeping apartment with the eldest, Tejasvatí.
But
Súryaprabha, in another chamber, with his ministers, reclined on a couch
without any of his wives that night. And the goddess of sleep did not come to
him, who remained continually alone, saying to herself, “What is the use of
this unloving man, who leaves his wives outside?” And she would not approach
Prahasta out of jealousy, as he was so exclusively in love with the cares of
his official duties, but the other ministers around Súryaprabha went to sleep
comfortably. In the meanwhile Súryaprabha and Prahasta beheld an incomparable
maiden entering, accompanied by a female friend. She was so beautiful that
Providence seemed, after creating her, to have placed her in the lower regions
in order that the nymphs of heaven, also his creation, might not be eclipsed by
her. And while Súryaprabha was debating who she might be, she approached each
of his friends, one by one, and looked at them; and as they did not possess the
distinguishing marks of emperors, she left them, and seeing that Súryaprabha
possessed them, she approached him, who was lying in the midst of them; and she
said to her friend—“Here he is, my friend; so touch him on the feet, wake him
up with those hands of yours cool as water.” When her friend heard that, she
did so, and Súryaprabha ceased to feign sleep, and opened his eyes, and
beholding those maidens, he said—“Who are you, and why do you come here?” When
the friend of the lady heard that, she said to him—“Listen, king, in the second
under-world there is a victorious king named Amíla, a chieftain of the Daityas,
the son of Hiraṇyáksha; this is his daughter Kalávatí whom he loves more than
life. Her father came back to-day from the court of Bali, and said—‘I am
fortunate in that I have to-day beheld Sunítha once more restored to life; and
I have also seen the young man Súryaprabha, an incarnation of Sumundíka, who
has been brought into the world by Śiva as the future emperor of the
Vidyádharas. So I will now offer a congratulatory tribute to Sunítha,——I will
give my daughter Kalávatí to Súryaprabha, for she cannot be given to Sunítha
because she belongs to the same family; but Súryaprabha is his son in his birth
as a king, not in his birth as an Asura, and any honour paid to his son will be
paid to him.’ When my friend heard this speech of her father’s, her mind being
attracted by your virtues, she came here out of a curiosity to see you.” When
that friend of the lady’s said this, Súryaprabha pretended to be asleep in
order to discover the real object of her wish. The maiden slowly approached the
sleepless Prahasta, and after telling him all by the mouth of her friend, went
out. And Prahasta advanced towards Súryaprabha and said—“King, are you awake or
not?” And he, opening his eyes, said to him, “My friend, I am awake, for how
could I sleep to-day being alone? But I will tell you a strange fact; listen,
for what can I hide from you? I saw a moment ago a maiden enter here with her
friend; her equal is not beheld in these three worlds. And she departed in a
moment, taking my heart with her. So look for her at once, for she must be
somewhere hereabout.” When Súryaprabha said this to him, Prahasta went out, and
seeing the maiden there with her friend, he said to her—“I, to please you, have
again woke up my master here, so you, to please me, must once more grant him an
interview. Behold once more his form that gives satisfaction to your eyes, and
let him, who was overpowered by you as soon as he saw you, behold you again.
For when he woke up, he said to me speaking of you, ‘Bring her from some place
or other, and shew her to me, otherwise I cannot survive.’ Then I came to you,
so come and behold him yourself.” When she was thus addressed by Prahasta, she
hesitated to go in boldly, owing to the modesty natural to a maiden, and
reflected, and then Prahasta, seizing her hand, led her into the presence of
Súryaprabha. And Súryaprabha, when he saw that Kalávatí had come near him,
said—“Fair one, was this right of you to come in to-day and steal away my
heart, as you did, when I was asleep? So, thief, I will not leave you
unpunished to-day.” When her sly friend heard this, she said to him; “Since her
father knew of it before, and determined to assign this thief to you for
punishment, who can forbid you to punish her. Why do you not inflict on her to
your heart’s content the punishment due for thieving?” When Súryaprabha heard
that, he wanted to embrace her, but Kalávatí being modest, said, “Do not, my
husband, I am a maiden.” Then Prahasta said to her; “Do not hesitate, my queen,
for the Gándharva marriage is the best of all marriages in the world.” When
Prahasta had said this, he went out with all the rest, and Súryaprabha that
very moment made Kalávatí, the maiden of the under-world, his wife.
And when
the night came to an end, Kalávatí went to her own dwelling, and Súryaprabha
went to Sunítha and Maya. They all assembled and went into the presence of
Prahláda, and he, seated in the hall of audience, after honouring them
appropriately, said to Maya: “We must do something to please Sunítha on this
day of rejoicing, so let us all feast together.” Maya said—“Let us do so, what
harm is there in this?” And then Prahláda invited by means of messengers the
chiefs of the Asuras, and they came there in order from all the under-worlds.
First came king Bali accompanied by innumerable great Asuras. Close behind him
came Amíla and the brave Durároha and Sumáya, and Tantukachchha, and Vikaṭáksha
and Prakampana, and Dhúmaketu and Mahámáya, and the other lords of the Asuras;
each of these came accompanied by a thousand feudal chiefs. The hall of
audience was filled with the heroes who saluted one another, and after they had
sat down in order of rank, Prahláda honoured them all. And when the time of
eating arrived, they all, with Maya and the others, after bathing in the
Ganges, went to a great hall to dine. It was a hundred yojanas wide, and had a
pavement of gold and jewels, and was adorned with jewelled pillars, and full of
curiously wrought jewelled vessels. There the Asuras, in the company of
Prahláda, and with Sunítha and Maya, and with Súryaprabha accompanied by his
ministers, ate heavenly food of various kinds, containing all the six flavours,
solid, liquid, and sweetmeats, and then drank the best of wine. And after they
had eaten and drunk, they all went to another hall, which was made of jewels,
and beheld the skilful dance of the Daitya and Dánava maidens. On that occasion
Súryaprabha beheld the daughter of Prahláda, named Mahalliká, who came forward
to dance by order of her father. She illuminated the world with her beauty,
rained nectar into his eyes, and seemed like the moon-goddess come to the
under-world out of curiosity. She had her forehead ornamented with a patch,
beautiful anklets on her feet, and a smiling face, and seemed as if all made of
dancing by the Creator. With her curling hair, her pointed teeth, and her
breasts that filled up the whole of her chest, she seemed as it were to be
creating a new style of dance. And that fair one, the moment she was beheld by
Súryaprabha, forcibly robbed him of his heart, though it was claimed by others.
Then she also beheld him from a distance, sitting among the Asura princes, like
a second god of Love made by the Creator, when the first god of love had been
burnt up by Śiva. And when she saw him, her mind was so absorbed in him, that
her skill in the expression of sentiments by gesture forsook her, as if in
anger at beholding her want of modesty. And the spectators beheld the emotion
of those two, and brought the spectacle to an end, saying, “The princess is
tired.” Then Mahalliká was dismissed by her father, looking askance at
Súryaprabha, and after she had bowed before the princes of the Daityas, she
went home. And the princes of the Daityas went to their respective houses, and
Súryaprabha too went to his dwelling at the close of day.
And when
the night came, Kalávatí again came to visit him, and he slept secretly within
with her, with all his followers sleeping outside. In the meanwhile Mahalliká
also came there, eager to see him, accompanied by two confidantes. Then a
minister of Súryaprabha’s, named Prajnáḍhya, who happened at that moment to
have his eyes forsaken by sleep, saw her attempting to enter. And he,
recognising her, rose up and said—“Princess, remain here a moment until I enter
and come out again.” She alarmed, said—“Why are we stopped, and why are you
outside?” Prajnáḍhya again said to her—“Why do you enter in this sudden way
when a man is sleeping at his ease? Besides, my lord sleeps alone to-night on
account of a vow.” Then the daughter of Prahláda, being ashamed, said, “So be
it, enter,” and Prajnáḍhya went inside. Seeing that Kalávatí was asleep, he
woke up Súryaprabha and himself told him that Mahalliká had arrived. And
Súryaprabha, hearing of it, gently rose up, and went out, and beholding
Mahalliká with two others, he said—“This person has been supremely blessed by
your arrival, let this place be blessed also, take a seat.” When Mahalliká
heard this, she sat down with her friends, and Súryaprabha also sat down, with
Prajnáḍhya by his side. And when he sat down, he said—“Fair one, although you
shewed contempt for me by seeming to look on others in the assembly with
respect, nevertheless, O rolling-eyed one, my eyes were blessed as soon as they
beheld your dancing as well as your beauty.” When Súryaprabha said this, the
daughter of Prahláda answered him—“This is not my fault, noble sir, he is in
fault, who made me ashamed in the hall of assembly by putting me beside my part
in the pantomime.” When Súryaprabha heard this, he laughed and said—“I am
conquered.” And then that prince seized her hand with his, and it perspired and
trembled, as if afraid of the rough seizure. And she said—“Let me go, noble
sir, I am a maiden under my father’s control,”—then Prajnáḍhya said to that
daughter of the chief of the Asuras, “Is not there not such a thing as the
Gándharva marriage of maidens? And your father, who has seen your heart, will
not give you to another, moreover he will certainly do some honour to this
prince here; so away with timidity! Let not such a meeting be thrown away!”
While Prajnáḍhya was saying this to Mahalliká, Kalávatí woke up within. And not
seeing Súryaprabha on the bed, after waiting a long time, she was terrified and
apprehensive and went out. And seeing her lover in the company of Mahalliká,
she was angry and ashamed and terrified. Mahalliká too, when she saw her, was
terrified and angry and ashamed, and Súryaprabha stood motionless like a
painted picture. Kalávatí came to his side, thinking—“Now that I have been
seen, how can I escape, shall I display shame or jealousy?” And she said with a
spiteful intonation to Mahalliká—“How are you, my friend, how comes it that you
have come here at night?” Then Mahalliká said—“This is my house; as you have
arrived here from another mansion of the under-world, you are to-day my guest
here.” When Kalávatí heard that, she laughed and said—“Yes, it is clearly the
case that you entertain with appropriate hospitality every guest, as soon as he
arrives here.” When Kalávatí said this, Mahalliká answered—“When I spoke to you
kindly, why do you answer in such an unkind and spiteful way, shameless girl?
Am I like you? Did I, without being bestowed in marriage by my parents, come
from a distance, and in a strange place sleep in the bed of a strange man alone
at night? I came to see my father’s guest, as he was going away, in accordance
with the duty of hospitality, a moment ago, accompanied by two female friends.
When this minister entered, after first reproaching me, I guessed the real
state of the case; you have now of yourself revealed it.” When thus addressed
by Mahalliká, Kalávatí departed, looking askance at her beloved with an eye red
with anger. Then Mahalliká too said to Súryaprabha in wrath, “Now I will
depart, man of many favourites,” and went away. And Súryaprabha remained in
heartless despondency, as was reasonable, for his heart, devoted to his loved
ones, went with them.
Then he
woke up his minister Prabhása, and sent him to discover what Kalávatí had done,
after she had separated from him in anger; and in the meanwhile he sent
Prahasta to find out about Mahalliká, and he remained with Prajnáḍhya awaiting
their report. Then Prabhása returned from investigating the proceedings of
Kalávatí, and being questioned, he said as follows: “From this place I went to
the private apartment of Kalávatí in the second under-world, concealing myself
by my science. And outside it I heard the conversation of two maids. The one
said, ‘My friend, why is Kalávatí distressed to-day?’ Then the second said—‘My
friend, hear the reason. There is at present in the fourth under-world an
incarnation of Sumundíka, named Súryaprabha, who in beauty surpasses the god of
Love; she went secretly and gave herself to him. And when she had repaired to
him to-day of her own accord at night-fall, Mahalliká, the daughter of
Prahláda, chose to come there too. Our mistress had a jealous quarrel with her,
and was in consequence preparing to slay herself, when, she was seen by her sister
Sukhávatí and saved. And then she went inside, and flinging herself down on a
bed, she remained with that sister, who was despondent when she had learnt by
enquiry what had taken place.’ When I had heard this conversation of the two
maids, I entered the apartment, and beheld Kalávatí and Sukhávatí, who resembled
one another exactly.”
While
Prabhása was saying this to Súryaprabha in private, Prahasta also came there,
and being questioned, he said as follows—“When I arrived from this place at the
private apartment of Mahalliká, she entered despondent with her two intimate
friends. And I entered also invisible by the employment of magic science, and I
saw there twelve friends like her; and they sat round Mahalliká, who reclined
on a sofa ornamented with splendid jewels; and then one said to her, ‘My
friend, why do you seem to be suddenly cast down to-day? What is the meaning of
this despondency when your marriage is about to come off?’ When the daughter of
Prahláda heard that, she answered her friend pensively, ‘What marriage for me?
To whom am I betrothed? Who told you?’ When she said that, they all exclaimed,
‘Surely your marriage will take place to-morrow, and you are betrothed, my
friend, to Súryaprabha. And your mother, the queen, told us to-day when you
were not present, and ordered us to decorate you for the marriage ceremony. So
you are fortunate, in that you will have Súryaprabha for a husband, through
admiration for whose beauty the ladies of this place cannot sleep at night. But
this is a source of despondency to us—What a gulf there will now be between you
and us! When you have obtained him for a husband, you will forget us.’ When
Mahalliká heard this from their mouth, she said, ‘Has he been seen by you, and
is your heart attached to him?’ When they heard that, they said to her—‘We saw
him from the top of the palace, and what woman is there that a sight of him
would not captivate?’ Then she said, ‘Then I will persuade my father to cause all
of you to be given to him. So we shall live together, and not be separated.’
When she said this, the maidens were shocked, and said to her, ‘Kind friend, do
not do so. It would not be proper, and would make us ashamed.’ When they said
this, the daughter of the king of the Asuras answered them, ‘Why is it not
proper? I am not to be his only wife: all the Daityas and Dánavas will give him
their daughters, and there are other princesses on the earth whom he has
married, and he will also marry many Vidyádhara maidens. What harm can it do to
me that you should be married among these? So far from it, we shall live
happily in mutual friendship; but what intercourse can I hold with those others
who will be my enemies? And why should you have any shame about the matter? I
will arrange it all.’ While these ladies were thus conversing, with hearts
devoted to you, I came out at my leisure and repaired to your presence.” When
Súryaprabha had heard this from the mouth of Prahasta, he passed that night in
happiness, though he remained sleepless in his bed.
In the
morning he went to the court of Prahláda, the king of the Asuras, with Sunítha
and Maya and his ministers, to visit him. Then Prahláda said to Sunítha after
showing him respect—“I will give to this Súryaprabha my daughter Mahalliká, for
I must shew him some hospitable entertainment which will be agreeable to you.”
Sunítha received with joy this speech of Prahláda’s. Then Prahláda made
Súryaprabha ascend an altar-platform, in the middle of which a fire was
burning, and which was adorned with lofty jewelled pillars illuminated by the
brightness of the flame, and there gave him his daughter, with splendour worthy
of the imperial throne of the Asuras. And he gave to his daughter and her
bridegroom heaps of valuable jewels, obtained by his triumph over the gods, resembling
the summit of mount Meru. And then Mahalliká boldly said to Prahláda—“Father,
give me also those twelve companions whom I love.” But he answered
her—“Daughter, they belong to my brother, for they were taken captive by him,
and I have no right to give them away.” And Súryaprabha, after the marriage
feast was ended, entered at night the bridal chamber with Mahalliká.
And the
next morning, when Prahláda had gone to the hall of assembly with his
followers, Amíla, the king of the Dánavas, said to Prahláda and the
others—“To-day you must all come to my house, for I intend to entertain there
this Súryaprabha, and I will give him my daughter Kalávatí, if you approve.”
This speech of his they all approved, saying, “So be it.” Then they all went in
a moment to the second under-world, where he dwelt, with Súryaprabha, Maya and
others. There Amíla gave by the usual ceremony to Súryaprabha his daughter, who
had previously given herself. Súryaprabha went through the marriage ceremony in
the house of Prahláda, and surrounded by the Asuras who had feasted, spent the
day in tasting the enjoyments which they provided for him.
On the next
day, Durároha, a prince of the Asuras, invited and conducted them all to his
own under-world, the fifth. There, by way of hospitality, he gave to
Súryaprabha his own daughter Kumudávatí, as the others had done, in the
prescribed manner. There Súryaprabha spent the day in enjoyment with all these
united. And at night he entered the apartment of Kumudávatí. There he spent
that night in the society of that lovely and loving woman, the beauty of the
three worlds.
And the
next morning, Tantukachchha invited and conducted him, surrounded with his
companions, headed by Prahláda, to his palace in the seventh under-world. There
that king of the Asuras gave him his daughter Manovatí, adorned with splendid
jewels, bright as molten gold. There Súryaprabha spent a highly agreeable day,
and passed the night in the society of Manovatí.
And the
next day, Sumáya, a prince of the Asuras, after presenting an invitation,
conducted him with all his friends to his under-world, the sixth; there he too
gave him his daughter by name Subhadrá, with body black as a stalk of durbá
grass, like a female incarnation of the god of Love; and Súryaprabha spent that
day with that black maiden, whose face was like a full moon.
And the
next day, king Bali, followed by the Asuras, in the same way led that
Súryaprabha to his own under-world, the third. There he gave him his own
daughter named Sundarí, with complexion lovely as a young shoot, and resembling
a cluster of mádhaví flowers. Súryaprabha then spent that day with that pearl
of women in heavenly enjoyment and splendour.
The next
day, Maya also in the same way re-conducted the prince, who was in the fourth
under-world, to his own palace, which possessed curiously adorned jewelled
terraces, was constructed by his own magic power, and on account of its
refulgent splendour seemed to be new every moment. There he gave him his own
daughter, named Sumáyá, whose beauty was the wonder of the world, who seemed to
be his own power incarnate, and he did not think that she ought to be withheld from
him on account of his being a mere mortal. The fortunate Súryaprabha remained
there with her. Then the prince divided his body by his magic science, and
lived at the same time with all those Asura ladies, but with his real body he
lived principally with his best beloved Mahalliká, the daughter of the Asura
Prahláda.
And one
night, when he was happy in her presence, he asked the noble Mahalliká in the
course of conversation—“My dear, those two female friends, who came with you,
where are they? I never see them. Who are they, and where have they gone?” Then
Mahalliká said—“You have done well to remind me. My female friends are not two
only, but twelve in number, and my father’s brother carried them off from
Indra’s heaven. The first is named Amṛitaprabhá, the second Keśiní, these are
the auspiciously marked daughters of the hermit Parvata. And the third is
Kálindí, and the fourth Bhadraká, and the fifth is the noble Kamalá with
beautiful eyes. These three are the daughters of the great hermit Devala. The sixth
is named Saudáminí and the seventh Ujjvalá, these are both of them daughters of
the Gandharva Háhá. The eighth is by name Pívará, the daughter of the Gandharva
Húhú. And the ninth is by name Anjaniká, the daughter of the mighty Kála. And
the tenth is Keśarávalí, sprung from the Gaṇa Pingala. And the eleventh is
Máliní by name, the daughter of Kambala, and the twelfth is Mandáramálá the
daughter of a Vasu. They are all heavenly nymphs, born from Apsarases, and,
when I was married, they were taken to the first under-world, and I must bestow
them on you, in order that I may be always with them. And this I promised them,
for I love them. I spoke too to my father, but he refused to give them, out of
regard for his brother.” When Súryaprabha heard this, he said to her with a
downcast expression—“My beloved, you are very magnanimous, but how can I do
this?” When Súryaprabha said this to her, Mahalliká said in anger—“In my
presence you marry others, but my friends you do not desire, separated from
whom I shall not be happy even for one moment.” When she said this to him,
Súryaprabha was pleased and consented to do it. Then that daughter of Prahláda
immediately took him to the first under-world and gave him those twelve
maidens. Then Súryaprabha married those heavenly nymphs in order, commencing
with Amṛitaprabhá. And after asking Mahalliká’s leave, he had them taken by
Prabhása to the fourth under-world and concealed there. And Súryaprabha himself
went there secretly with Mahalliká, but he went to the hall of Prahláda, as
before, to take his meals.
There the
king of the Asuras said to Sunítha and Maya—“Go all of you to visit the two
goddesses Diti and Danu.” They said “So be it,” and immediately Maya, Sunítha
and Súryaprabha left the lower world, accompanied by the Asuras in order of
precedence, and ascended the chariot Bhútásana, which came to them on being
thought of, and repaired to the hermitage of Kaśyapa situated on a ridge of
mount Sumeru. There they were announced by hermits who shewed them all courtesy,
and after entering they beheld in due order Diti and Danu together, and bowed
their heads at their feet. And those two mothers of the Asuras cast a
favourable look upon them and their followers, and after shedding tears and
kissing them joyfully upon their heads, and bestowing their blessing upon them,
said to Maya: “Our eyes are to-day blessed, having seen this thy son Sunítha
restored to life, and we consider thee one whose merits have procured him good
fortune. And beholding with heart-felt satisfaction this prosperous Sumundíka,
born again in the character of Súryaprabha, possessed of heavenly beauty and of
extraordinary virtue, destined to be successful and glorious, abounding in
unmistakeable marks of future greatness, we openly adore him here with our
bodies. Therefore rise up quickly, darlings, and visit Prajápati here, our
husband; from beholding him you shall obtain success in your objects, and his
advice will be helpful to you in your affairs.” When Maya and the others
received this order from the goddesses, they went as they were commanded, and
beheld the hermit Kaśyapa in a heavenly hermitage. He was like pure molten gold
in appearance, full of brightness, the refuge of the gods, wearing matted locks
yellow as flame, irresistible as fire. And approaching, they fell at his feet
with their followers, in order; then the hermit gave them the customary
blessing, and after making them sit down, out of delight at their arrival said
to them—“I am exceedingly glad that I have beheld all you my sons; thou art to
be praised, Maya, who, without diverging from the good path, art a
treasure-house of all sciences; and thou art fortunate, Sunítha, who hast
recovered thy life though lost, and thou, O Súryaprabha, art fortunate, who art
destined to be the king of the sky-goers. So you must all continue now in the
path of righteousness, and hearken to my word, by means of which you will
obtain the highest fortune, and taste perpetual joys, and by which you will not
again be conquered by your enemies; for it was those Asuras, that transgressed
law, that became a prey for the discus of the vanquisher of Mura. And those
Asuras, Sunítha, that were slain by the gods, are incarnate again as human
heroes. He who was thy younger brother Sumundíka, has been born indeed now as
Súryaprabha. And the other Asuras, who were your companions, have been born as
his friends; for instance, the great Asura, named Śambara, has been born as his
minister Prahasta. And the Asura, named Triśiras, has been born as his minister
named Siddhártha. And the Dánava, named Vátápi, is now his minister Prajnáḍhya.
And the Dánava, named Ulúka, is now his companion named Śubhankara, and his
present friend Vítabhíti was in a former birth a foe of the gods, named Kála.
And this Bhása, his minister, is an incarnation of a Daitya by name
Vishaparvan, and his minister Prabhása is an incarnation of a Daitya named
Prabala. He was a great-hearted Daitya with a frame composed of jewels, who,
when asked by the gods, though they were his enemies, hewed his body to pieces,
and so passed into another state of existence, and from that body of his all
the jewels in the world have originated. The goddess Durgá was so pleased at
that, that she granted him a boon accompanied by another body, by virtue of
which he has now been born as Prabhása, mighty, and hard to be overcome by his
enemies. And those Dánavas, who formerly existed under the names of Sunda and
Upasunda, have been born as his ministers Sarvadamana and Bhayankara. And the
two Asuras, who used to be called Vikaṭáksha and Hayagríva, have been born as
his two ministers here, Sthirabuddhi and Mahábuddhi. And the others connected
with him, these fathers-in-law, ministers and friends of his, are also
incarnations of Asuras, who have often vanquished Indra and his crew. So your
party has again gradually acquired strength. Be of good courage; if you do not
depart from the right, you shall obtain the highest prosperity.” While the ṛishi
Kaśyapa was saying this, all his wives, the daughters of Daksha, headed by
Aditi, arrived at the time of the mid-day sacrifice. When they had given their
blessing to Maya and the others, who bowed before them, and had performed their
husband’s orders for the day, Indra also came there with the Lokapálas to visit
the sage. And Indra, after saluting the feet of Kaśyapa and his wives and after
having been saluted by Maya and the others, looking angrily at Súryaprabha,
said to Maya,—“This is the boy, I suppose, that is desirous of becoming emperor
of the Vidyádharas; how is he satisfied with so very little, and why does he
not desire the throne of heaven?” When Maya heard this, he said, “The throne of
heaven was decreed to you by Śiva, and to him was appointed the sovereignty of
the sky-goers.” When Indra heard this, he said with an angry laugh—“This would
be but a small matter for this comely shape of a youth who is furnished with
such auspicious marks.” Then Maya answered him—“If Śrutaśarman deserves the
sovereignty of the Vidyádharas, then surely this shape of his deserves the throne
of heaven.” When Maya said this, Indra was angry, and rose and uplifted his
thunderbolt, and then the hermit Kaśyapa made a threatening noise of anger. And
Diti and the other wives became enraged, and their faces were red with anger,
and they loudly cried, “Shame!” Then Indra, afraid of being cursed, withdrew
his weapon, and sat down with bowed head. Then Indra fell at the feet of that
hermit Kaśyapa, the sire of gods and Asuras, who was surrounded by his wives,
and after striving to appease him, made the following representation with hands
folded in supplication: “O reverend one, this Súryaprabha is attempting to take
away from Śrutaśarman the sovereignty of the Vidyádharas, which I bestowed on
him. And Maya is exerting himself in every way to procure it for Súryaprabha.”
When Prajápati heard that, he said, seated with Diti and Danu,—“Thou lovest
Śrutaśarman, O Indra, but Śiva loves Súryaprabha, and his love cannot be
fruitless, and he long ago ordered Maya to do what he has done. So, what is all
this outcry that thou art making against Maya, what offence has he committed
herein? For he is one who abides in the path of right, wise, discreet,
submissive to his spiritual superior. The fire of my wrath would have reduced
thee to ashes, if thou hadst committed that sin, and thou hast no power against
him; dost thou not recognise his might?” When that hermit with his wives said
that, Indra was abashed with shame and fear, and Aditi said—“What is that
Śrutaśarman like? Let him be brought here and shown to us.” When Indra heard
this, he sent Mátali, and had brought there immediately that Śrutaśarman, the
prince of the sky-goers. The wives of Kaśyapa, when they had seen that
Śrutaśarman, who prostrated himself, looked at Súryaprabha and said to the
hermit Kaśyapa—“Which of these two is the richer in beauty and in auspicious
marks?” Then that chief of hermits said, “Śrutaśarman is not even equal to his
minister Prabhása, much less is he equal to that incomparable one. For this
Súryaprabha is furnished with various heavenly marks of such excellence, that,
if he were to make the attempt, he would find even the throne of Indra easy to
obtain.” When they heard that speech of Kaśyapa’s, all there approved it, and
said—“So it is.” Then the hermit gave Maya a boon in the hearing of great
Indra—“Because, my son, thou didst remain undaunted, even when Indra lifted up
his weapon to strike, therefore thou shalt remain unharmed by the plagues of
sickness and old age, which are strong as the thunderbolt. Moreover these two magnanimous
sons of thine, who resemble thee, shall always be invincible by all their
enemies. And this son of mine Suvásakumára, resembling in splendour the autumn
moon, shall come when thou thinkest of him, and assist thee in the night of
calamity. When the hermit had thus spoken, his wives and the ṛishis and the
Lokapálas in the same way gave boons to them, to Maya and the rest, in the
assembly. Then Aditi said to Indra—“Desist, Indra, from thy improper conduct,
conciliate Maya, for thou hast seen to-day the fruit of discreet conduct, in
that he has obtained boons from me.” When Indra heard that, he seized Maya by
the hand and propitiated him, and Śrutaśarman, eclipsed by Súryaprabha, was
like the moon in the day. Then the king of the gods immediately prostrated
himself before Kaśyapa his spiritual guide, and returned as he came,
accompanied by all the Lokapálas; and Maya and the others, by the order of that
excellent hermit, departed from his hermitage to meet success in their proposed
undertaking.
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