“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Pandu, possessed of great
energy, then devoted himself to Tapas. Within a short time, he became the
favourite of the whole body of the Siddhas and Charanas residing there. O
Bharata (Janamejaya), devoted to the service of his spiritual masters, free from ego, with
mind under complete control and the passions fully subdued, the prince (Pandu), becoming fit to enter heaven by his own
energy, attained to great (Tapas) capability.
Some of the Rishis would call him brother, some friend, while others cherished
him as their son. O bull of Bharata's race (Janamejaya), having acquired after a long time great Tapas merit coupled with
complete singleness, Pandu became like a Brahmarshi (though he was a
Kshatriya by birth).
“On a certain day of the new moon, the Maharishis of
rigid vows (Vrata in Sanskrit) assembled together, and desirous of seeing (Lord) Brahma were on the point of starting on
their expedition. Seeing them about to start, Pandu asked those Rishis, saying,
‘O first of men of fluency, where shall we go?’
“The Rishis answered, ‘There will be a great gathering
today, in Brahmaloka, of Devas, Rishis and Pitris. Desirous of seeing the Swayambu
(Lord Brahma)
we shall go there today.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing this, Pandu rose
up suddenly, desirous of visiting heaven along with the Maharishis. Accompanied
by his two wives, when he was on the point of following the Rishis in the
northerly direction from the mountain of hundred peaks (Shata-Sringa), those Rishis
addressed him saying, ‘In our northward march, while gradually ascending the
king of mountains (Himalayas), we
have seen on its delightful chest many regions inaccessible to ordinary
mortals; also retreats of Devas, Gandharvas and Apsaras, with palace-resembling
mansions by hundreds clustering thick around and resounding with the sweet
notes of divine music, the gardens of Kubera laid out on even and uneven
grounds, banks of mighty rivers, and deep tunnels. There are many regions also
on those heights that are covered with everlasting snow and are utterly without
vegetable and animal existence. In some places the downpour of rain is so heavy
that they are perfectly inaccessible and incapable of being utilised for
habitation. Not to speak of other animals, even winged creatures (birds) cannot cross them. The only thing that can
go there is air, and the only beings, Siddhas and Maharishis. How shall these
princesses ascend those heights of the king of mountains? Unaccustomed to pain,
shall they not fall in pain? Therefore, come not with us, O bull of Bharata's
race (Pandu)!’
“Pandu replied, ‘O fortunate ones (Maharishis), it is said that for the sonless there is no admittance into
heaven. I am sonless! In pain I speak to you! I am pained because I have
not been able to discharge the debt I owe to my ancestors. It is certain that
with the dissolution of this my body my ancestors perish! Men are born on this earth with four debts – those due to the
(deceased) ancestors, the Devas, the Rishis, and other men. In justice these must be discharged. The wise have declared that no regions of joy exist for them
that neglect to pay these debts in due time. The Devas are paid (gratified) by yagnas;
the Rishis – by study, meditation, and Tapas; the (deceased) ancestors – by fathering children and
offering Sraddha, and lastly other men – by leading a humane and inoffensive
life. I have justly
discharged my obligations to the Rishis, the Devas, and other men. But those
others than these three are sure to perish with the dissolution of my body! O Rishis,
I am not yet freed from the debt I owe to my (deceased) ancestors. The best of men are born in this world to father children
for discharging that debt. I would ask you, should children be fathered in my
soil (upon my wives) as I myself was
fathered in the soil (wife) of my
father by the eminent Rishi (Vyasa)?’
“The Rishis said, ‘O king of Dharmaatma (Pandu), there is children in
store for you, that is sinless and blessed with good fortune and like to Devas.
We see it all with our divine eyes. Therefore, O tiger among men (Pandu), accomplish by your own acts that which
destiny points at. Men of intelligence, acting with thought,
always obtain good fruits; it is your duty, therefore, O king, to act yourself.
The fruits you would obtain are distinctly visible. You would really obtain
accomplished and agreeable children.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of the
Rishis, Pandu, remembering the loss of his procreative powers owing to the
curse of the deer, began to think deeply. Calling his wedded wife, the
excellent Kunti, to him, he told her in private, ‘You strive to raise offspring
at this time of distress. O Kunti, the wise detailers
of the eternal Dharma declare that a son is the cause of virtuous fame in the
three worlds. It is said that yagnas, charitable gifts, ascetic penances, and
vows observed most carefully, do not confer merit of Dharma on a sonless man.
O you of sweet smiles, knowing all this, I am certain that as I am sonless, I
shall not obtain regions of true happiness. O faint-hearted one, I was a wretch
and addicted to cruel deeds, as a consequence of the polluted life I led, my
power of reproduction has been destroyed by the curse of the deer.
“The institutes of Dharma mention six kinds of sons
that are heirs and relatives, and six other kinds that are not heirs but relatives.
I shall speak of them presently. O Pritha (Kunti), listen to me. They are:
1st, the son fathered
by one's own self upon his wedded wife;
2nd, the son fathered upon one's wife by an
accomplished person from motives of kindness;
3rd, the son fathered upon one's wife by a person for financial
consideration;
4th, the son fathered upon the wife after the
husband's death;
5th, the unwed-born son;
6th, the son born of an unchaste (Apatni) wife;
7th, the son given;
8th, the son bought for a (financial)
consideration;
9th, a person by his own will becoming one’s son;
10th, the son received with a pregnant bride;
11th, the brother's son; and
12th, the son fathered upon a wife of lower varna.
“On
failure of offspring of a prior class, the mother should desire to have
offspring of the next class. In times of distress, men request offspring from
accomplished younger brothers. The self-born Manu has said that men failing to
have legitimate offspring of their own may have offspring fathered upon their
wives by others, for sons confer the highest merit of Dharma. Therefore, O
Kunti, being in lack of myself of the power of reproduction, I command you to
raise good offspring through some person who is either equal or superior to me.
O Kunti, listen to the history of the daughter of Shaaradandaayani who was appointed
by her lord to raise offspring. That veera patni, when her monthly season
arrived, bathed duly and in the night went out and waited on a spot where four
roads met. She did not wait long when a Brahmana crowned with success of Tapas came
there. Shaaradandaayani requested him for offspring. After pouring offerings of
clarified butter on the fire (in
the performance of the yagna known by the name of Punsavana) she brought forth three sons that were
mighty chariots-warriors and of whom Durjaya was the eldest, fathered upon her
by that Brahmana. O you of good fortune, you do follow that veera patni’s
example at my command, and speedily raise offspring out of the seed of some Brahmana
of high merit of Tapas.’”
No comments:
Post a Comment