SECTION CXIX
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'After the death of that
deer, king Pandu with his wives was deeply afflicted and wept bitterly. And he
exclaimed, 'The wicked, even if born in virtuous families, deluded by their own
passions, become overwhelmed with misery as the fruit of their own deeds. I
have heard that my father, though begotten by Santanu of virtuous soul, was cut
off while still a youth, only because he had become a slave to his lust. In the
soil of that lustful king, the illustrious Rishi Krishna-Dwaipayana himself, of
truthful speech, begot me. A son though I am of such a being, with my wicked
heart wedded to vice, I am yet leading a wandering life in the woods in the
chase of the deer. Oh, the very gods have forsaken me! I shall seek salvation
now. The great impediments to salvation are the desire to beget children, and
other concerns of the world. I shall now adopt the Brahmacharya mode of life
and follow in the imperishable wake of my father. I shall certainly bring my
passions under complete control by severe ascetic penances. Forsaking my wives
and other relatives and shaving my head, alone shall I wander over the earth,
begging for my subsistence from each of these trees standing here. Forsaking
every object of affection and aversion, and covering my body with dust, I shall
make the shelter of trees or deserted houses my home. I shall never yield to
influence of sorrow or joy, and I shall regard slander and eulogy in the same
light. I shall not seek benedictions or bows. I shall be at peace with all, and
shall not accept gifts. I shall not mock anybody, nor shall I knit my brows at
any one, but shall be ever cheerful and devoted to the good of all creatures. I
shall not harm any of the four orders of life gifted with power of locomotion
or otherwise, viz., oviparous and viviparous creatures and worms and vegetables.
But on the contrary, preserve an equality of behaviour towards all, as if they
were, my own children. Once a day shall I beg of five or ten families at the
most, and if I do not succeed in obtaining alms, I shall then go without food.
I shall rather stint myself than beg more than once of the same person. If I do
not obtain anything after completing my round of seven or ten houses, moved by
covetousness, I shall not enlarge my round. Whether I obtain or fail to obtain
alms. I shall be equally unmoved like a great ascetic. One lopping off an arm
of mine with a hatchet, and one smearing another arm with sandal-paste, shall
be regarded by me equally. I shall not wish prosperity to the one or misery to
the other. I shall not be pleased with life or displeased with death. I shall
neither desire to live nor to die. Washing my heart of all sins, I shall
certainly transcend those sacred rites productive of happiness, that men
perform in auspicious moments, days, and periods. I shall also abstain from all
acts of religion and profit and also those that lead to the gratification of
the senses. Freed from all sins and snares of the world, I shall be like the
wind subject to none. Following the path of fearlessness and bearing myself in
this way I shall at last lay down my life. Destitute of the power of begetting
children, firmly adhering to the line of duty I shall not certainly deviate
therefrom in order to tread in the vile path of the world that is so full of
misery. Whether respected or disrespected in the world that man who from
covetousness casteth on others a begging look, certainly behaveth like a dog.
(Destitute as I am of the power of procreation, I should not certainly, from
desire of offspring, solicit others to give me children).'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'The king, having
thus wept in sorrow, with a sigh looked at his two wives Kunti and Madri, and
addressing them said, 'Let the princess of Kosala (my mother), Vidura, the king
with our friends, the venerable Satyavati, Bhishma, the priests of our family,
illustrious Soma-drinking Brahmanas of rigid vows and all elderly citizens
depending on us be informed, after being prepared for it, that Pandu hath
retired into the woods to lead a life of asceticism.' Hearing these words of
their lord who had set his heart on a life of asceticism in the woods, both
Kunti and Madri addressed him in these proper words, 'O bull of Bharata's race,
there are many other modes of life which thou canst adopt and in which thou
canst undergo the severest penances along with us, thy wedded wives--in which
for the salvation of thy body (freedom from re-birth), thou mayest obtain
heaven. We also, in the company of our lord, and for his benefit, controlling
our passions and bidding adieu to all luxuries, shall subject ourselves to the
severest austerities. O king, O thou of great wisdom, if thou abandonest us, we
shall then this very day truly depart from this world.'
Pandu replied, 'If, indeed, this your resolve
springeth from virtue, then with you both I shall follow the imperishable path
of my fathers. Abandoning the luxuries of cities and towns, clad in barks of
trees, and living on fruits and roots, I shall wander in deep woods, practising
the severest penances. Bathing morning and evening, I shall perform the homa. I
shall reduce my body by eating very sparingly and shall wear rags and skins and
knotted locks on my head. Exposing myself to heat and cold and disregarding
hunger and thirst, I shall reduce my body by severe ascetic penances, I shall
live in solitude and I shall give myself up to contemplation; I shall eat
fruit, ripe or green, that I may find. I shall offer oblations to the Pitris
(manes) and the gods with speech, water and the fruits of the wilderness. I
shall not see, far less harm, any of the denizens of the woods, or any of my
relatives, or any of the residents of cities and towns. Until I lay down this
body, I shall thus practise the severe ordinances of the Vanaprastha
scriptures, always searching for severer ones that they may contain.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'The Kuru king,
having said this unto his wives, gave away to Brahmanas the big jewel in his
diadem, his necklace of precious gold, his bracelets, his large ear-rings, his
valuable robes and all the ornaments of his wives. Then summoning his
attendants, he commended them, saying, 'Return ye to Hastinapura and proclaim
unto all that Pandu with his wives hath gone into the woods, foregoing wealth,
desire, happiness, and even sexual appetite.' Then those followers and
attendants, hearing these and other soft words of the king, set up a loud wail,
uttering, 'Oh, we are undone!' Then with hot tears trickling down their cheeks
they left the monarch and returned to Hastinapura with speed carrying that
wealth with them (that was to be distributed in charity). Then Dhritarashtra,
that first of men, hearing from them everything that had happened in the woods,
wept for his brother. He brooded over his affliction continually, little
relishing the comfort of beds and seats and dishes.
"Meanwhile, the Kuru prince Pandu (after
sending away his attendants) accompanied by his two wives and eating fruits and
roots went to the mountains of Nagasata. He next went to Chaitraratha, and then
crossed the Kalakuta, and finally, crossing the Himavat, he arrived at Gandhamadana.
Protected by Mahabhutas, Siddhas, and great Rishis, Pandu lived, O king,
sometimes on level ground and sometimes on mountain slopes. He then journeyed
on to the lake of Indradyumna, whence crossing the mountains of Hansakuta, he
went to the mountain of hundred peaks (Sata-sringa) and there continued to
practise ascetic austerities.'"
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