Skandha 2 (contd.)
Parikshit
After the Pandavas ascended to heaven, Parikshit assumed the throne at the age of 36. He ruled according to the Dharma. Once, he went hunting, became lonely, and unable to bear the thirst, he went to the sage Sameeka in the forest and asked for water. When the sage, who was meditating, did not answer, Parikshit became angry, picked up a dead snake lying by his side, put it around the sage’s neck and returned to the palace. Hearing this incident, the sage’s son Shrungi became very angry and cursed that the person who had committed such a great sin would be bitten by the snake Takshaka and die in seven days. The details of this curse were conveyed to Parikshit through the sage’s disciples. Immediately Parikshit realized that the curse was inevitable and decided to save his life at any cost. He used all the tricks, such as gems, mantras, and medicines (mani, mantra, oushadham). He built a seven-story building on a single pillar (as per the Mahabharata), and King Parikshit was on the top floor. He strengthened the security so that no one could see the king and not even wind could enter. On the seventh day, when Takshaka, disguised as a brahmana, approached the king’s palace with his associate serpents (also in disguise), he saw a great brahmana named Kashyapa also rushing to the king’s residence. On inquiry, it was found that he was rushing to save the king with very powerful mantras. Takshaka revealed his true form and in order to test the power of Kashyapa, he asked him to restore a huge banyan tree to its former glory after he had burnt it down in a second. The banyan tree, which had been reduced to ashes by Takshaka, immediately sprouted from the ashes by the magic power of Kashyapa and became a huge tree with branches and fronds as before. Takshaka trembled; for he feared that if Kashyapa brought the king, who had died from snakebite, back to life, his purpose would be ruined and he would also have to pay the penalty for not fulfilling the sage’s curse. Somehow, he spoke cleverly, gave Kashyapa double the amount of money as the reward he would receive from the king and sent him back. Since Kashyapa was also an expert in astrology, he decided that the king’s death was certain that day, received the money and returned. The story of Kashyapa is not told further in Devi Bhagavatam.
But Vyasa Bhagavan, in the Skanda Purana, Brahma Khanda, Sethu Mahatmya, tells the rest of Kashyapa’s story. Kashyapa directly told his guru, Sage Sakalya, what had happened and regretted his conduct. Sakalya severely rebuked Kashyapa. He said: “If a physician, despite his skill, does not save the patient, it is equivalent to the sin of Brahmahatya. Even if the patient’s life-breath reaches up to the neck, it is his duty to treat him; the course of destiny cannot be determined by anyone.”
यावत्कण्ठगताः प्राणाः मुमूर्षॊर्मानवस्य हि ।
तावच्चिकित्सा कर्तव्या कालस्य कुटिला गतिः ॥
He said that there is no atonement for Kashyapa’s sin. Then, realizing the virtue of Kashyapa, Sakalya, out of mercy, sent him to the south to do penance at the Gayatri and Savitri Tirthas on the Gandhamadana mountain. Kashyapa went there and stayed for a mandala (48 days), and was absolved of his sins by religiously undertaking bath, Japa, Vrata and darshan.
Takshaka sent Kashyapa back and was worried about how he would break the guard and enter the palace of Parikshit and complete the task. He thought it was strange that this foolish king would try his best to protect himself without engaging in any auspicious activities such as giving Danam (religious charity). On reaching the palace, he transformed himself into a small worm and entered one of the fruits kept by his friends, the serpent-brahmanas. The guards who received the plate of fruits that the brahmanas had given as Prasadam, took it to the king. It was dusk, and Parikshit, thinking that he was no longer in danger, took a fruit and cut it open, and saw a small black worm inside. Time was against him; he took the worm without fear of what this little worm would do and placed it around his neck. The next moment, while everyone was watching, the worm transformed into Takshaka, lifted Parikshit’s body with a huge form, bit him; and the king’s body dropped down in the form of ashes. The grief of the subjects was immeasurable.
Janamejaya
Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, who was a small boy, was soon made king. Janamejaya, who learnt the Vedas and the Dhanurveda thoroughly, was married to the daughter of the king of Kashi in due course. The kingdom he ruled was as righteous as the kingdom of Dharmaputra of old. A sage named Utthanka had personal enmity with Takshaka. He said to Janamejaya, ‘Although it is true that your father died due to the sage’s curse, the main reason was that Takshaka sent Kashyapa back with money; therefore, you must avenge Takshaka. Perform a Sarpayajna in which many serpents, including Takshaka, should be sacrificed.’ Accordingly, the king arranged for a Sarpayajna in the newly built Sathastambha (100 pillared) Mandapam on the banks of river Ganga. Utthanka himself conducted the Sarpasatram as the Hota. Many serpents died in the fire. Utthanka called Takshaka, but Takshaka surrendered to Indra, and Utthanka, in great anger, called Indra also to sacrifice him as well. Takshaka and Indra remembered Aastika, the son of the sage Jaratkaru, who immediately came to the yajna hall, accepted the offerings of Janamejaya, and ordered him to stop the yajna immediately. Janamejaya, who could not decline the words of the great and wise Maharshi Aastika, stopped the yajna. Then Vyasa came there. For the peace of mind of Janamejaya, Vyasa taught him the Mahabharata through his disciple Vaishampayana. This is how we got the Mahabharata. After listening to the entire Mahabharata, Janamejaya could not find peace in his heart, so he prayed to Vyasa, who then taught him the Devi Bhagavatam himself. This is how we got the Devi Bhagavatam.
Vyasa then told Janamejaya, “You listened to Mahabharata; you gave Danam; you worshipped the sages. However, your father did not attain the destination of the virtuous. He died a bad death and is hanging in the intermediate Space. Therefore, what you should do is build a temple for Devi, worship Devi, perform the Devi Pooja and Yajna, and listen to the Devi Bhagavatam” and he himself duly bestowed Devi Bhagavatam on him. He said: “There is no better Purana than the Devi Bhagavatam, which is full of various flavors and helps one to cross the ocean of samsara. Those in whose mind the Devi resides with great love, are the fortunate ones and have attained knowledge.”
ते सभाग्याः कृतप्रज्ञा धन्यास्ते नृपसत्तम ।
यॆषां चित्ते सदा दॆवी वसति प्रेमसंकुले ॥
Aastika
A sage named Jaratkaru was adamant that he would not marry; he was an ascetic wedded to the path of Jnana. Once, hearing the cries of his ancestors coming from a deserted well, he agreed to marry at their insistence; otherwise, he would suffer the sin of not raising his ancestors from distress. He imposed a condition for the marriage. The woman should bear his name, Jaratkaru. He also said that after the birth of a son, he would leave his family and go to the forest to do penance. His marriage took place with Jaratkaru, the sister of Vasuki (the serpent). Lord Brahma blessed them with a son, Asthika, who would bring good fortune to the serpents. One day in the Grihastha ashram, while the sage Jaratkaru was sleeping with his head on his wife’s lap, the evening twilight hour was approaching. Now the wife was in a state of confusion related to dharma. It is a great sin to wake up a sleeping husband; it is also a great sin to let him sleep without performing the evening Sandhya worship. The wife, troubled as to what to do now, thought:
धर्मनाशाद्वरं त्यागः तथापि मरणं ध्रुवम् ।
धर्महानिर्नराणां हि नरकाय भवेत्पुनः ॥
It is better for my husband to get angry and sacrifice me than to destroy the dharma by missing the evening Sandhya worship. Because death is certain for everyone. If you violate dharma, you will surely go to hell. After thinking about it in many ways, she finally made a decision and woke up her husband. Her husband became very angry. When he was told the reason, he asked if the Sun had the courage to set while he was sleeping. He was such an ascetic of power. Brahma, the Sun, and all the Devatas gathered there to pacify him who was agitated. Sage Jaratkaru firmly said that he would leave his family and go to the forest. Brahma reminded him of his vow that he would go to the forest only if a son was born; Jaratkaru said ‘Asti’, his son was there in his wife’s womb and left abruptly for his penance.
After he said ‘Asti’, his son who was born was ‘Aastika’. His mother Jaratkaru was not an ordinary woman. She was Manasa Devi, who was an incarnation of Devi Parashakti. The mother took the child directly to Kailas. Lord Shiva taught all the Vedas to the child himself. That was the glory of the child Aastika who later shone as a great ascetic. We remember his glory in the mantra that we recite facing the north during the Sandhyavandanam that we perform three times every day.
जरत्कारोर्जरत्कार्वां समुत्पन्नो महायशाः ।
अस्तीक सत्यसन्धॊ मां पन्नगेभ्यो अभिरक्षतु ॥
“May the most famous Aastika, wedded to truth, born of Jaratkaru to Jaratkaru, protect me from snakes.”
Skandha 3
Devi’s Grace to the Trimurthis
When Janamejaya asked about the glory of Devi, Vyasa narrated the story that Brahma had already told Narada and Narada had in turn told Vyasa. Vyasa prayed to Narada:
त्राहि संसारवार्धेस्त्वं ज्ञानपोतेन मां मुने ।
मज्जन्तं चोत्पतन्तं च मग्नं मोहजलाविले ॥
“O sage, save me from the ocean of samsara with the boat of Jnana; I am drowning and rising repeatedly in the ocean of delusion.” This is what Narada said at that time.
After the Pralaya (Great Deluge), Brahma saw that he was sitting on the lotus, and seeing no one, he travelled inside the lotus stem in confusion. Nothing was visible. He searched for the earth for 1000 years and found nothing. Then, hearing the Devi’s voice telling him to do penance, Brahma performed penance for 1000 years while remaining on the lotus. Then, there was incorporeal voice asking him to do the work of creation. Immediately, the Asuras Madhu and Kaitapa appeared, and Vishnu, by the grace of Devi, killed them. Then, Rudra also arrived there. Devi instructed the three Devas to perform their respective tasks. Brahma said: “The earth is not visible. There are no Panchabhutas (five elements – earth, water, wind, fire, space). How can we create? We are powerless.” Immediately, the Goddess took the three of them on a plane, and the plane flew at high speed. Then the three of them were stunned by the sights they saw below.
First, the earth, the king and the subjects were seen on it. “We have just said that the earth is not visible; the earth already exists; and the creation has taken place.” Brahma’s surprise was immense when he learned that. After that, they saw Swargaloka, Indra and the Devas, and the lords of the worlds. After a little more journey, they saw another Brahma and the Brahmaloka; similarly, Kailasa with Shiva and Parvati, and Vaikuntham with Lakshmi and Vishnu. The three in the plane were amazed beyond measure. After that, when the plane stopped, they got down and saw that the place was the abode of the Devi in Manidvipa in the middle of the Ocean of Amrita. The three of them automatically took the form of women. There, they had a vision of Bhuvaneswari sitting on the couch formed of Shiva in Mani Mandapam and attained extraordinary bliss. Vishnu said that they must have done good penance before; this uncommon vision was the result of that. He realized that this Devi was none other than his mother who had given him a vision when she was the Vatapatrasayi in the floodwaters. They were amazed to see all the worlds at the toe-nails of Bhagavati, including Kailasa, Vaikuntha, and Brahmaloka; the lotus of Brahma, Vishnu, and the Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha. First, Vishnu praised Devi in a detailed hymn: “We have seen many worlds, many Brahmas, Vishnus, and Shivas. You are the root cause and source of everything. You are the one who performs the five functions of creation, sustenance, dissolution, concealment, and grace. Does anyone know your pastimes and glories? You are the embodiment of all knowledge, qualities, and power. Your earlier darshan (before the killing of Madhu and Kaitabha), my tamo guna (lethargy) was removed. You created the universe and granted life to living beings like the waves of the ocean, out of your supreme mercy, so that somehow they might attain salvation. I bow down to your feet. I pray that the light of knowledge may always be clear to me.”
नमो देवि महाविद्ये नमामि चरणौ तव ।
सदा ज्ञानप्रकाशं मे देहि सर्वार्थदे शिवे ॥
Vishnu’s prayer shows the path of knowledge to liberation.
Next, Shiva praised in his Stotra: “You are the mother of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. You are the real doer of all activities. Serving your feet with a feminine form is better than rulership of the three worlds.
सकललोकसिसृक्षुरहं हरिः कमलभूश्च भवाम यदाऽम्बिके ।
तवपदांबुजपांसुपरिग्रहं समधिगम्य तदा ननु चक्रिम ॥
Only by wearing the dust of your feet on our heads will we – Brahma, Hari and I – attain the power of performing the tasks of creation, sustenance, and dissolution. Liberation cannot be attained through tapas, samadhi, etc.; only the dust of your feet can grant liberation. The Navakshari mantra that you taught long ago is not clear now. Teach it again.” (The Navakshari mantra is: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे. Such mantras should be chanted only after receiving initiation from a Guru.) After receiving the mantra, Shiva sat there and chanted. The main act of wearing the dust of feet of Devi is the Karma, prominently mentioned in Shiva’s prayer. It shows the path of Karma to liberation.
In the next hymn of Brahma, he said, “The Vedas praise you as Svaha (the Devata of worship of Devas) and Svadha (the Devata of worship of Pitrus).
याचे त्वां भवभीतिनाशचतुरां मुक्तिप्रदां चेश्वरीं
हित्वा मोहकृतं महार्तिनिगडं त्वद्भक्तियुक्तं कुरु ॥
May our devotion to the Devi, who is the source of liberation, not to be trapped in the samsara full of delusion and dismay, and to dispel the fear of samsara, always remain.” In Brahma’s prayer, he clearly shows the path of devotion to salvation. The hymns of the Trinity are beautiful. They can be recited to develop our bhakti.
Brahma now asked the Devi for clarification of a doubt. “The Upanishads describe Brahman as formless and attributeless. They also declare that Brahman is the only Truth. Is that Brahman the same as yourself?” Devi clarified: “Brahman and I are not different. Like the reflection in a mirror, like the coolness in water and the heat in fire, they are inseparable. I, Brahman, who is neither male nor female, take on a form at the time of creation. There is no other object in the universe except Me. I am the Shakti in the world. When someone is tired and unable to work, does he say, ‘I am Arudra or Avishnu?’ He says, ‘I am Ashakta. I myself bestow the power to perform actions on everyone.
धरा स्थिरा तदा धर्तुं शक्तियुक्ता यदा भवेत् ।
अन्यथा चेदशक्ता स्यात्परमाणोश्च धारणे ॥
“By the grace of Shakti, the earth is able to bear the burden and remain stable. Otherwise, the earth will not be able to bear even a small atom,” she said.
Devi bestowed on Brahma Mahat tatva, Ahankara and the ability to create. She bestowed Mahasaraswati, the Rajoguna Devata as her aspect on Brahma, taught him the Navakshari mantra, and asked him to proceed to Satya Loka. Similarly, she bestowed Mahalakshmi, the Satvaguna Devata on Vishnu, solemnly declaring that there is no difference between Shiva and Vishnu, and asked him to chant the four-letter mantra. (The four-letter mantra is: Om Aim Hrim Klim). She ordered Vishnu to reside in Vaikuntha. She bestowed Mahagauri on Shiva and gave him the principles of Ahankara, Mahat, Tanmatras etc., and told him to take his residence in Kailasa. Principles such as Mahat were bestowed upon Brahma to transform the subtle into the substantial during creation. Similarly, it can be said that the same principles were given to Shiva to transform the substantial into the subtle during the Samhara period and make them attain Laya. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, along with the three Devis, returned in a vimana to the place where the Madhu Kaitabha Vadha had taken place. From there, they went to their respective places and fulfilled their tasks.
(to be continued)
