SECTION CXVIII
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Janamejaya said, 'O utterer of Brahma, thou
hast recited (everything about) the extraordinary birth among men, of the sons
of Dhritarashtra in consequence of the Rishi's grace. Thou hast also said what
their names are, according to the order of their birth. O Brahmana, I have
heard all these from thee. But tell me now all about the Pandavas. While
reciting the incarnations on earth of the celestial, the Asuras, and the beings
of other classes, thou saidst that the Pandavas were all illustrious and endued
with the prowess of gods, and that they were incarnate portion of the celestials
themselves. I desire, therefore, to hear all about those beings of
extraordinary achievements beginning from the moment of their birth. O
Vaisampayana, recite thou their achievements.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'O king, one day Pandu,
while roaming about in the woods (on the southern slopes of the Himavat) that
teemed with deer and wild animals of fierce disposition, saw a large deer, that
seemed to be the leader of a herd, serving his mate. Beholding the animals, the
monarch pierced them both with five of his sharp and swift arrows winged with
golden feathers. O monarch, that was no deer that Pandu struck at, but a
Rishi's son of great ascetic merit who was enjoying his mate in the form of a
deer. Pierced by Pandu, while engaged in the act of intercourse, he fell down
to the ground, uttering cries that were of a man and began to weep bitterly.
"The deer then addressed Pandu and said, 'O
king, even men that are slaves to lust and wrath, and void of reason, and ever
sinful, never commit such a cruel act as this. Individual judgment prevaileth
not against the ordinance, the ordinance prevaileth against individual
judgment. The wise never sanction anything discountenanced by the ordinance.
Thou art born, O Bharata, in a race that hath ever been virtuous. How is it,
therefore, that even thou, suffering thyself to be overpowered by passion and
wrath losest thy reason?' Hearing this, Pandu replied, 'O deer, kings behave in
the matter of slaying animals of thy species exactly as they do in the matter
of slaying foes. It behoveth thee not, therefore, to reprove me thus from
ignorance. Animals of thy species are slain by open or covert means. This,
indeed, is the practice of kings. Then why dost thou reprove me? Formerly, the
Rishi Agastya, while engaged in the performance of a grand sacrifice, chased
the deer, and devoted every deer in the forest unto the gods in general. Thou
hast been slain, pursuant to the usage sanctioned by such precedent. Wherefore
reprovest us then? For his especial sacrifices Agastya performed the homa with
fat of the deer.'
"The deer then said, 'O king, men do not let
fly their arrows at their enemies when the latter are unprepared. But there is
a time for doing it (viz., after declaration of hostilities). Slaughter at such
a time is not censurable.'
"Pandu replied, 'It is well-known that men
slay deer by various effective means without regarding whether the animals are
careful or careless. Therefore, O deer, why dost thou reprove me?'
"The deer then said, 'O, king, I did not
blame thee for thy having killed a deer, or for the injury thou hast done to
me. But, instead of acting so cruelly, thou shouldst have waited till the
completion of my act of intercourse. What man of wisdom and virtue is there
that can kill a deer while engaged in such an act? The time of sexual
intercourse is agreeable to every creature and productive of good to all. O
king, with this my mate I was engaged in the gratification of my sexual desire.
But that effort of mine hath been rendered futile by thee. O king of the Kurus,
as thou art born in the race of the Pauravas ever noted for white (virtuous)
deeds, such an act hath scarcely been worthy of thee. O Bharata, this act must
be regarded as extremely cruel, deserving of universal execration, infamous,
and sinful, and certainly leading to hell. Thou art acquainted with the
pleasures of sexual intercourse. Thou art acquainted also with the teaching of
morality and dictates of duty. Like unto a celestial as thou art, it behoveth
thee not to do such an act as leadeth to hell. O best of kings, thy duty is to
chastise all who act cruelly, who are engaged in sinful practices and who have
thrown to the winds religion, profit, and pleasure as explained in the
scriptures. What hast thou done, O best of men, in killing me who have given
thee no offence? I am, O king, a Muni who liveth on fruits and roots, though
disguised as a deer. I was living in the woods in peace with all. Yet thou hast
killed me, O king, for which I will curse thee certainly. As thou hast been cruel
unto a couple of opposite sexes, death shall certainly overtake thee as soon as
thou feelest the influence of sexual desire. I am a Muni of the name of
Kindama, possessed of ascetic merit. I was engaged in sexual intercourse with
this deer, because my feelings of modesty did not permit me to indulge in such
an act in human society. In the form of a deer I rove in the deep woods in the
company of other deer. Thou hast slain me without knowing that I am a Brahmana,
the sin of having slain a Brahmana shall not, therefore, be thine. But
senseless man, as you have killed me, disguised as a deer, at such a time, thy
fate shall certainly be even like mine. When, approaching thy wife lustfully,
thou wilt unite with her even as I had done with mine, in that very state shalt
thou have to go to the world of the spirits. And that wife of thine with whom
thou mayst be united in intercourse at the time of thy death shall also follow
thee with affection and reverence to the domains of the king of the dead. Thou
hast brought me grief when I was happy. So shall grief come to thee when thou
art in happiness.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Saying this, that
deer, afflicted with grief gave up the ghost; and Pandu also was plunged in woe
at the sight.'"
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