“Janamejaya said, ‘O utterer of Brahma (Rishi Vaishampaayana), you
have recited (everything about) the
extraordinary birth among men, of the sons of Dhritarashtra in consequence of
the Rishi's (Vyasa’s) grace. You have
also said what their names are, according to the order of their birth. O
Brahmana (Rishi Vaishampaayana), I
have heard all these from you. But tell me now all about the Pandavas. While
reciting the incarnations on earth of Devas, Asuras, and the beings of other
classes, you said that the Pandavas were all distinguished and endued with the capability
of Devas, and that they were incarnate portion of Devas themselves. I desire,
therefore, to hear all about those beings of extraordinary achievements
beginning from the moment of their birth. O Vaishampaayana, you recite their
achievements.’
“Vaishampaayana said, ‘O king (Janamejaya), one day (King)
Pandu, while roaming about in the forest
(on the southern slopes of Himalayas)
that was filled with deer and wild animals of fierce nature, saw a large deer,
that seemed to be the leader of a herd, serving (physically) his mate. Looking the animals, the monarch
(Pandu) pierced them both with five
of his sharp and swift arrows winged with golden feathers. O monarch (Janamejaya), that was no deer that Pandu struck at,
but a Rishi's son of great Tapas merit who was enjoying his mate in the form of
a deer. Pierced by Pandu, while engaged in the act of (physical) intercourse, he (the Rishi’s son in the
form of deer) 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 (Pandu), even men that are
slaves to kaamaa and anger, and empty of reason, and always sinful, never
commit such a cruel act as this. Individual judgment do
not prevail not against the Shaastraas, the Shaastraas prevail against
individual judgment. The wise never sanction anything unacceptable by the Shaastraas.
O Bharata (Pandu), you are born in a
race that has always been Dharmic. How is it, therefore, that you, suffering yourself
to be overpowered by kaamaa and anger lose your reason?’
“Hearing this, Pandu replied, ‘O deer, kings behave in
the matter of slaying animals of your (deer) species exactly as they do in the matter
of slaying enemies. Therefore, it is your duty not to scold me thus from
ignorance. Animals of your species are slain by open or secret means. This,
indeed, is the practice of kings. Then why do you scold me? Formerly, the Rishi
Agastya, while engaged in the performance of a grand yagna, chased the deer,
and devoted every deer in the forest to Devas in general. You have been slain, in
accordance to the usage sanctioned by such earlier events. For what reason, scold
us then? For his special yagnas, Agastya performed the homa with fat of the
deer.’
“The deer then said, ‘O king (Pandu), 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 approvable.’
“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 do you criticise me?’
“The deer then said, ‘O king (Pandu), I did not blame you
for you having killed a deer, or for the injury you have done to me. But,
instead of acting so cruelly, you should have waited till the completion of my
act of (physical) intercourse (with
my mate). What man of wisdom and character
is there that can kill a deer while engaged in such an act (of mating)? The time of physical
intercourse is agreeable to every creature and productive of good to all.
O king (Pandu), with this my mate I
was engaged in the satisfaction of my desire of kaamaa. But that effort of mine
has been made fruitless by you. O king of the Kurus (Pandu), as you are born in the race of the
Pauravas ever noted for white (Dharmic)
activities, such an act has little been worthy of you. O Bharata (Pandu), this act must be regarded as extremely
cruel, deserving of universal curse, infamous, and sinful, and certainly
leading to hell. You are familiar with the pleasures of kaamaa. You are familiar
also with the teaching of Shaastraas and dictates of Dharma. Like to a Deva as you
are, it is your duty not to do such an act as leads to hell. O best of kings (Pandu), your duty is to punish all who act
cruelly, who are engaged in sinful practices and who have thrown to the winds Dharma,
Arthaa, and Kaamaa as explained in the Shaastraas. What have you done, O best
of men (Pandu), in killing me who
have given you no offence? I am, O king (Pandu), a Muni who lives on fruits and roots, though in the form a deer. I
was living in the forest in peace with all. Yet you have killed me, O king (Pandu), for which I will curse you certainly. As you
have been cruel to a couple of opposite gender, death shall certainly overtake you
as soon as you feel the influence of kaamaa. I am a Muni of the name of
Kindama, possessed of Tapas merit. I was engaged in physical 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 roam in the deep forest in
the company of other deer. You have slain me without knowing that I am a
Brahmana, the sin of having slain a Brahmana shall not, therefore, be yours.
But senseless man, as you have killed me, disguised as a deer, at such a time (of
physical intercourse), your fate shall
certainly be like mine. When, approaching your wife with kaamaa, you will unite
with her even as I had done with mine, in that very state you shall have to go
to Pitruloka (the region of deceased).
That wife of yours with whom you may be united in intercourse at the time of your
death shall also follow you with affection and respect to the domains of the
king of the dead (Yama). You have
brought me grief when I was happy. So shall grief come to you when you are in
happiness.’
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