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2024-03-29, 8:30 PM |
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Chapter
26: King
Purañjana Goes Hunting and Finds his
Morose Wife
(1-3) Nârada said: 'Once upon a time he [King
Purañjana] went to the forest called Pañca-prastha ['the
five destinations'] carrying his bow, golden armor and inexhaustible
quiver. He traveled on the two wheels and one axle of a swift chariot
with golden ornaments that, being drawn by five horses, had one sitting
place, seven
armor
plates,
three
flags
and
two posts for his harnesses. He carried five weapons and
two special arrows. Together with his eleventh commander and his one
chariot driver who held one set of reins, he knew five objectives and five different ways of
approach.
(4) Having taken up his bow and
arrows he was very proud of having left his wife behind, for that was a
thing next to impossible for him. [But] inspired by the evil thought of hunting
he went
there to kill animals. (5) With the demoniac darkness of
a lack of enlightenment in his heart he had taken to the horrible
practice of mercilessly with sharp arrows killing the animals in the
forests. (6) A
king in his greed [for flesh] may, as is regulated by the directions of
the
Vedas, kill in
the
forest as
many
animals
fit
for
sacrifices
in
holy
places
as
are
needed and not more than that. (7) Oh King, any man of
learning
who must do his job the way it is regulated, will by
[the
power
of]
that
spiritual
knowledge
never
be
affected
by
such activities. (8) Or else he by
his karmic actions will get entangled in a notion of false
prestige and
thus, having fallen under the influence of the natural
modes, bereft
of
all
knowledge
be going downhill.
(9) Because of the destruction of
the animal
bodies that were pierced by the arrows which had different kinds of
feathers, there was great sadness, it was a distress unbearable for
compassionate souls. (10) From
killing
game
like
rabbits,
buffaloes,
bison,
black
deer,
porcupines
and
various
other
kinds
he
got very tired. (11) When he was done he
arrived
thirsty and exhausted back home to take a bath, have a proper meal and
rest to find his peace back. (12) After he
[some day] as should had perfumed and smeared his body with sandalwood
pulp, he, nicely garlanded and beautifully ornamented, wanted to pay attention to his
queen. (13) Satisfied,
joyous
and
very
proud
as
well
he
had
his
mind
on
Cupid
and
didn't aim
at a higher consciousness with his wife who maintained him with her
royal household. (14) Oh dear King,
worried a little he asked the maids of the household: 'Oh my beauties,
is everything okay with you and your mistress? (15)
All
the matters at home at the moment appear to be not as
attractive as before. To have no mother or wife at home
devotedly welcoming her husband is like having a chariot
without wheels. What man of learning would sit on such a poor thing? (16)
Where is she now, that
intelligent woman who delivers me from
drowning in an ocean of worries and inspires me at every step?'
(17) The women answered: 'Oh King go and see how your beloved
one lies on the bare floor oh
killer of the enemies. We have no idea why she has taken to this kind of
behavior!'
(18) Nârada
said:
'When
he
saw
his
queen
lying
on
the
ground
as
if
she
were a
mendicant, Purañjana racking his brains over the scene, was most
bewildered. (19) Pacifying her with
sweet words and a heart full of regrets, he couldn't notice any sign of
anger that would prove any love from the side of his sweetheart. (20) Gradually first touching her feet and then embracing her on
his lap, the hero experienced in flattery began to appease her. (21)
Purañjana said: 'Masters unto servants who acting out of line committed an offense oh auspicious one, are with
those whom they accepted as their subjects of no instruction if they
wouldn't reprimand them. (22) The punishment
by the
master meted out to the servants constitutes the greatest favor. A fool
doesn't know oh slender maiden, that to be angry is the duty of a
friend! (23) That face of yours that with
its beautiful teeth and eyebrows fills me with attachment and
now so gloomy is hanging down, you together with your sweet voice, like
a bee should lift up to me
shining, smiling and glancing from under its bluish hair so beautiful
to your straight nose. Please oh thoughtful
one, I'm
all
yours. (24)
Except
for
when
he
belongs
to
the
school
of
the
enlightened
souls on this earth, I am willing to punish him who
wronged you oh wife of this hero. As far as I am concerned he will
not live without fear and anxiety in the three worlds or anywhere else,
when he is anyone else but a servant of Vishnu ['the enemy of
Mura']! (25) Your face was never without its
decorations nor have I ever before seen you that dirty, morose,
upset and without
your luster and affection. Never I saw your nice breasts wet
with tears or your lips not red of kunkum. (26) My most intimate
friend, be kind to this man who did the wrong thing because he went
hunting on his own accord. What
woman who with her great beauty controls the lusty desires of
her husband wouldn't
dutifully
embrace
him being
lost
in
impatience
and
pierced
by
the
arrows
of Cupid?'
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