SECTION CXXV
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, "Beholding his five
handsome sons growing up before him in that great forest on the charming
mountain slope, Pandu felt the last might of his arms revive once more. One day
in the season of spring which maddens every creature the king accompanied by
his wife (Madri), began to rove in the woods where every tree had put forth new
blossoms. He beheld all around Palasas and Tilakas and Mangoes and Champakas
and Parihadrakas and Karnikaras, Asokas and Kesaras and Atimuktas and Kuruvakas
with swarms of maddened bees sweetly humming about. And there were flowers of
blossoming Parijatas with the Kokilas pouring forth their melodies from under
every twig echoing with the sweet hums of the black bees. And he beheld also
various other kinds of trees bent down with the weight of their flowers and
fruits. And there were also many fine pools of water overgrown with hundreds of
fragrant lotuses. Beholding all these, Pandu felt the soft influence of desire.
Roving like a celestial with a light heart amidst such scenery, Pandu was alone
with his wife Madri in semi-transparent attire. And beholding the youthful
Madri thus attired, the king's desire flamed up like a forest-fire. And
ill-able to suppress his desire thus kindled at the sight of his wife of eyes
like lotus-petals, he was completely overpowered. The king then seized her
against her will, but Madri trembling in fear resisted him to the best of her
might. Consumed by desire, he forgot everything about his misfortune. And, O
thou of Kuru's race unrestrained by the fear of (the Rishi's) curse and
impelled by fate, the monarch, overpowered by passion, forcibly sought the
embraces of Madri, as if he wished to put an end to his own life. His reason,
thus beguiled by the great Destroyer himself by intoxicating his senses, was
itself lost with his life. And the Kuru king Pandu, of virtuous soul, thus
succumbed to the inevitable influence of Time, while united in intercourse with
his wife.
"Then Madri, clasping the body of her
senseless lord, began to weep aloud. And Kunti with her sons and the twins of
Madri, hearing those cries of grief, came to the spot where the king lay in
that state. Then, O king, Madri addressing Kunti in a piteous voice, said,
'Come hither alone, O Kunti, and let the children stay there.' Hearing these
words, Kunti, bidding the children stay, ran with speed, exclaiming, 'Woe to
me!' And beholding both Pandu and Madri lying prostrate on the ground she went
in grief and affliction, saying, 'Of passions under complete control, this
hero, O Madri, had all along been watched by me with care. How did he then
forgetting the Rishi's curse, approach thee with enkindled desire? O Madri,
this foremost of men should have been protected by thee. Why didst thou tempt
him into solitude? Always melancholy at the thought of the Rishi's curse, how
came he to be merry with thee in solitude? O princess of Valhika, more
fortunate than myself, thou art really to be envied, for thou hast seen the
face of our lord suffused with gladness and joy.'
"Madri then replied, saying, 'Revered
sister, with tears in my eyes, I resisted the king, but he could not control
himself, bent on, as it were making the Rishi's curse true.'
"Kunti then said, 'I am the older of his
wedded wives; the chief religious merit must be mine. Therefore, O Madri,
prevent me not from achieving that which must be achieved. I must follow our
lord to the region of the dead. Rise up, O Madri, and yield me his body. Rear
thou these children.' Madri replied, saying, 'I do clasp our lord yet, and have
not allowed him to depart; therefore, I shall follow him. My appetite hath not
been appeased. Thou art my older sister, O let me have thy sanction. This
foremost one of the Bharata princes had approached me, desiring to have intercourse.
His appetite unsatiated, shall I not follow him in the region of Yama to
gratify him? O revered one, if I survive thee, it is certain I shall not be
able to rear thy children as if they were mine. Will not sin touch me on that
account? But, thou, O Kunti, shall be able to bring my sons up as if they were
thine. The king, in seeking me wishfully, hath gone to the region of spirits;
therefore, my body should be burnt with his. O revered sister, withhold not thy
sanction to this which is agreeable to me. Thou wilt certainly bring up the
children carefully. That indeed, would be very agreeable to me. I have no other
direction to give!'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said this,
the daughter of the king of Madras, the wedded wife of Pandu, ascended the funeral
pyre of her lord, that bull among men.'"
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