Chapter 27: Candavega Attacks the City of King Purañjana; the Character of Kâlakanyâ

(1) Nârada said: 'Purañjana's wife by means of these love games completely bringing her husband under her control oh great King, thus enjoyed all the satisfaction she gave him. (2) Oh King, the queen perfectly happy welcomed the king who with his attractive face had approached her nicely bathed and fully decorated. (3) Intimately making fun she embraced him as he held her in his arms. Thus being captivated by the woman he lost his keenness and wasn't quite aware of how day and night the insurmountable time was passing. (4) Lying down on the precious bedstead of the queen, the hero, despite of his advanced consciousness, became increasingly illusioned and having his wife's arms for his pillow he, overwhelmed by ignorance considering it to be the highest attainment, didn't realize what self-realization and the Supreme actually meant. (5) Oh best of Kings, this way lustily enjoying with an impure heart, his newly won life passed in half a moment. (6) Purañjana oh King, spending half his life that way, begot in his wife eleven sons and hundreds [of grandsons]. (7) He also had over ten daughters and a hundred [granddaughters], and all those daughters of Purañjana, oh founding father, were just as famous as their parents because of their good conduct, magnanimity and [other] qualities. (8) He the King of Pañcâla for expanding his line married his sons with the best of wives and his daughters to equally qualified husbands. (9) Also the hundreds of sons of the [grand]sons all produced hundreds and hundreds of other descendants because of which Purañjana's family increased immensely in the land of Pañcâla. (10) Because of his deep rooted attachment to material enjoyment he became fully subservient to his descendants who heavily plundered his home and treasury. (11) He, so full of desires, just like you conducted sacrifices out of respect for the forefathers, the gods and the great ones in society. But they were all equally ghastly inspired by the killing of poor animals. (12) Thus wantonly involved with a heart enslaved by kith and kin, one day the time [of old age] arrived that is not very loved by those who are fond of women.

(13) Oh King, there is a king belonging to the heavenly kingdom [Gandharvaloka] who is called Candavega ['the impetuously streaming time']. He has the lead over threehundred and sixty very powerful other Gandharvas. (14) There are also an equal amount of black and white heavenly women of Candavega [the light and dark periods of the month, see 3.11: 10]. They all surrounded the city to plunder the amenities for sensual pleasure. (15) When all the followers of Candavega began to plunder the city of Purañjana, they met with the big serpent present there for its defense [his five hoods stand for the five kinds of life air: prana, apâna, vyâna, udâna and samâna; see 4.25: 35 and list]. (16) Single-handedly he for a hundred years as the guardian of Purañjana's city valiantly fought the seven hundred and twenty Gandharvas. (17) Becoming weak all alone fighting so many warriors, his intimate friend[, the ruler] of the city state along with all his friends and relatives, got very anxious and sad. (18) He who within the city [of the five senses] Pañcâla enjoyed the sweetest love and together with his associates collected the necessary means for it, as a hen-pecked husband couldn't understand though what kind of fear he actually dealt with [the fear of death].

(19) [All of this happened during the time that] the daughter of the Almighty Time [called Kâlakanyâ] traveled the three worlds desiring someone for a husband oh King Prâcînabarhi, but there was never anyone who accepted her proposal. (20) Unhappy about it she was known in the world as Durbhagâ ['ill-fated'], but because she once had pleased a wise king who had accepted her [called Jayâti who by S'ukrâcârya had been cursed with premature old age], she granted Pûru [the son faithfull to Jayâti] a boon [viz. to inherit the kingdom. See also 9.18]. (21) Once when I myself was traveling around she descended to earth from her heavenly abode [Brahmaloka] and, illusioned by lust, proposed to me while I was a vowed celibate. (22) [After I turned her down] she out of illusion having become very angry with me, cursed me saying: 'Having turned down my request thou sage, you will never be able to remain at one place.' (23) After that frustration of her plans, she on my instigation approached the ruler of the Yavanas [the untouchables also called mlecchas or meat-eaters] named Bhaya ['fear'] to accept him as her husband. (24) She said to him: 'Oh great hero, you as the best of the untouchables I accept as the husband of my desire. No one will ever see the plans foiled he made with you. (25) The following two kinds of people are of lamentation: the ignorant not following the path of charity and the foolish who never wish to accept what according to custom and the scriptures is brought about by God's grace. (26) Therefore accept me oh gentleman, I am willing to serve. Have mercy with me, for every man it is a matter of principle to be of compassion for people in distress.'

(27) When the king of the Yavanas heard the daughter of Time express herself in these words, he, according to the will of God prepared to do his duty in the private sphere, addressed her with a smile: (28) 'For being unacceptable because of the inauspiciousness you stand for you are never welcome to considerate souls. I've thought about this matter and ascertained that you must have a husband. (29) Please, oh you who move about imperceptibly, enjoy this world that is built upon karma, upon fruitive action. With the help of my soldiers you will unhindered be able to guide the people to their death. (30) I give you my brother Prajvâra ['the fever of Vishnu'] and thus you become my sister. Together with the two of you and my fearsome soldiers, I will roam about unseen in this world.'