Downfall of Naradji and Parvat due to association with women.
Downfall of Naradji and Parvat due to association with women.
Narayan muni said:-
Even after reaching the Siddha, i.e. higher Yogic status, a liberated man should harbor fear from the company of female; lest he falls even from that exalted position. 1.
Also, one who claims that he does not differentiate between male, female beings, can himself get defiled by female contact, as sage Rishyashringa (Ekalashringa). 2
His tale has already been heard by all; therefore, caution in conduct should be exercised by aspirants and liberated individuals alike. Neither by my order if ever so given, nor even for protects of religion should even a liberated visionary ever have contact with a woman. 3-4.
Now, wise men should even avoid looking at female body-parts, knowing that too as the cause of collapse from on already attained status for those dwelling in constant realization of the self. 5.
In this connection, listen carefully, all of you, to ancient history, as to how both Narada and Parvata, although liberated, got into trouble in past. The two, related to each other as maternal uncle and nephew respectively, were both avowed celibate sages, of old, who used to go around together, to holy places. 6-7.
In the course of one such pilgrimage, they arrived at the palace of king Ambarisha, a devotee of Lord Vishnu. 8.
He welcomed them at his residence, decorated with various gems and honoured them through various service-courses. He served them with high-class food. Satisfied with all that, they sat there comfortably. 9.
Ambarisha had a marriageable daughter, Jayanti by name, having charming eyes and unparalleled appearance. She also possessed auspicious astronomical signs and good character. In order to enquire about suitable husband for her, the king made her pay respects to the sages by bowing down, then sit down before them. 10-11.
The King said:-
He there upon addressed them thus, sincere in celibacy and rich in austerities, both of you are learned too. Since you keep wandering over all the three worlds, you are conversant with all quarries. So please listen to the question I put before you, think over it and only then give a reply. 12-13.
This my daughter, Jayanti by name, possesses all good qualities of a good wife; but I am unable to decide upon a suitable match for her. Since you two know everything and can bestow all pleasure on anyone you please, kindly do me this favour of suggesting a proper husband for her and remove my a anxious concern. 14-15.
On being addressed that way, both the ascetics, infatuated immediately upon seeing her attractive body and charming manners began to covet her for themselves. 16.
Confounded by lust, they cast off all shame and entreated the king, give her to both of us; and be blessed. 17.
Astonished on hearing such words from them, the emperor pondered a while and then said to them. 18.
The King said:-
Both of your are famed as sincere celibates, confirmed avowed bachelors. Your words about marrying my daughter must be in joke ; or do you really mean to do so ? 19.
The two ascetics gave a clever reply:- Whatever the life-state of a celibate or a house-holder, or a forest-dweller, none of these pleases the Lord if lacking in firm devotion towards Him. His glory is to be sung by them if they aspire for liberation. Thereby Lord Vishnu is pleased. 20.
He is satisfied if seekers of salvation sing His glory remaining in any one of the life-stages. 21.
Thus far, we have been narrating God’s glory through a life of celibacy: hence forth, we shall do the same as house-holders. 22.
Therefore, O Emperor, know for certain that our desire to take your daughter in marriage is genuine. Give her to us both and live happily without worrying about her any more. 23.
The king got upset with anxiety on hearing such talk of the two ascetics whose intellect had been totally confounded by lust. Yet, fearing about their curse and being worried he replied : 24.
King said:-
I have only one daughter; and she is being solicited by both of you! How can I give her away, against scriptural convention and worldly norms? Two wives of one man are seen in society, but never one common wife for two husbands. Therefore, my daughter must get a chance to prefer one husband of her choice. I shall surely arrange for her Svayamvara tomorrow morning. Both of you may come there as suitors. 25-27.
On being told so, Narada and Parvata got out of there, although contemplating on nothing but Jayanti in their hearts. And the emperor immediately started arrangements for the mate self selection meet. 28.
Considering the popular saying that a bride selects man as husband, with handsome appearance and personality; nothing else, the two ascetics craved for beautiful physical form, deformed through penance. 29.
Profound mutual rivalry arose between both coveting hearts, at the idea that the bride would select only one of them, if at all, and not both. 30.
But they did not disclose to each other their mutual secret desire that his own form should become attractive and the other’s ugly. 31.
And with that intention, each one stealthily speed to Vaikuntha without the knowledge of the other. Seeking the favour of Lord Vishnu, the bestower of desired fruits for His devotees. 32.
Narad was the first to reach their briskly. He bowed before Acyuta; and concealing his wife-seeking desire, even from the omniscient Lord, he said, tomorrow there will be svyamvara of the daughter of king Ambarish. I want to go there for fun on that occasion. I have come to ask a favour from you, O Lord! Let my form become attractive for females today, and my body, emaciated through penance, look strong and well-nourished. 33-35.
Also, O Hari, from the time of the Svayamvara, my companion Parvata’s appearance should look deformed with a monkey-face. 36.
Be it so, said the Lord; and Narada, immediately obtaining form as attractive as cupid, returned to the earth. 37.
Soon, Parvata too arrived there and made a similar request to the Lord: a handsome form for himself and a monkey-face for the divine sage Narada, from the commencement of the Svayamvara. 38.
To him too, Acyuta said, be it so, laughing there upon; because He, the ocean of mercy, wished that neither of those two devotees should get ensnared by being bonded with female. 39.
So, even Parvat instantaneously obtained a wonderful form and caught up with Narad on earth, who was engrossed in contemplating upon Jayanti. 40.
Concealing their secret intentions from each other, both of them told each other, you look so handsome now! The bride will surely select only you. 41.
Talking like this out worldly, both tried to pass the night with great difficulty; that night of Vaishakha month appeared endless to them, like the night of a whole era. 42.
Throughout that night, they kept singing to each other praises of the princess, what a well-formed body! How charming is her youth! How delicate her creeper-like arms! Her modst smile so enchanting! Her sweet words so pearl-like! 43-44.
Parvat asked Narad, how did you find her beautiful face? Like a blooming lotus ? or like a full moon ? 45.
Narad replied, How can the moon with a black stain, stand in comparison with her face from any blemish ? And what is the inert lotus before her lively looks? 46.
Such an infatuated state was reached by both seers upon merely viewing a female’s body-parts. At down itself, they came to the city of Ambarisha and waited for the appointed hour of the Svayamvara. 47.
The handsome bodies of the both attracted women of the town; all the men too stood in groups, staring at them in surprise. 49.
Both the lusty ascetics, eager to get the bride at the earliest, sat near the gate for her entrance. 50.
The host king Ambarish welcomed all those who had come to the marriage hall, bowing respectfully and offering seat to each of them. On seeing the two ascetics totally transformed, he was astounded. 51.
All the rulers seated in the hall too, gazed at them in sheer bewilderment, losing all hope of winning the heart of Jayanti. They began wondering, instead, which of the two would be the bride’s cho- ice, since both possessed a form as attractive as that of cupid. 52-53.
Finally, princess Jayanti arrived, holding a garland for the bridegroom in her hands. She entered the hall, enchanting the minds and hearts of all the men. 54.
That very moment, O listeners! both the ascetics became monkey-faced, unaware of own deformity, each one felt very happy on seeing the other like that. 55.
Narada thought in his mind: The bride will not select Parvata ; and Parvata felt sure that she will not choose Narad. 56.
But the bride got taken aback on seeing both of them. She fled from the scene and refused to return to the hall, despite being informed by her father that the two odd figures were the ascetics she had met previously. 57.
Thereupon, Ambarisha approached them and said, O sages, frightened at seeing you both, my daughter cannot come here. Kindly therefore, leave this hall immediately. 58.
Each of the two, unaware of his own deformity, felt disheartened at this; and considering it as his wily move, chastised him as follows: 59.
We can see through your crafty game. Haughty with the pride of your royal exuberance, you do not wish to bequeath your daughter to us, knowing that we are penniless practitioners of penance. 60.
You are insulting sages, priding yourself as a knower of the self, but O stupid man! you shall henceforth consider the body itself as the soul like any beast. No doubt about the efficacy of this curse of ours. 61.
Thus did the two ascetics curse the innocent king, who was dear to Lord Vishnu, being devoted to Him and got out angrily. 62.
He, however, was saved from the impact of their curse by the Sudarshana chakra placed in that hall by Lord Vishnu for protecting his devotee. 63.
That divine disc reverted that curse from Ambarisha’s place and directed it to chase those two monks, funning with the fury of lust, and itself followed them . 64.
Suddenly, both saw their own curse of black colour following them, like a heap of smoke; and were taken aback. 65.
Behind it, they also spotted the Sudarshana disc, ferocious with profuse flames, just like the fire of cosmic dissolution; and both began to run. 66.
Thus everyone saw on the road, two monkey-faced men fleeing in front, chased by a blazing disc, with a very dark curse in between. 67.
With pale, withered faces and bodies drenched in sweat, both monks kept running, due to their sin against the Lord’s devotee Ambarisha. 68.
Pleading, save us, save us, they had to keep running from house to house, one village and region to another, all around the each. 69.
The disc briskly followed, wherever they went fleeing, having lost all their pride, honour and shame. 70.
On seeing two monkey-faced Brahmins being scorched by a disc, people felt astounded, but did not utter a word, not knowing what it was all about. 71.
Afflicted by that severe pain, neither seen nor heard of before, the two sages began to run around in the nether worlds too. 72.
Not finding any saviour there to, they ascended to the heavenly regions, crying aloud profusely for help and protection. 73.
They went in all the eight directions, starting from the east, presided over by Indra, Agni (Fire), Yama, Nirruti,Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, and Isha (-Shiva). But none of those deities helped them either ; despite viewing their pitiable plight with wonder, due to fear of the chasing divine disc. 74-75.
The two ascetics went prostrating before all the gods including Brahma and Shankara, but found no saviour in them either. 76.
Finally, they reached Vaikuntha from afar beginning save us, O Hari. They prostrated before Vishnu, the eternal Lord. 77.
Thereupon, the merciful Lord saved them from His disc and took upon Himself their curse to his devotee king Ambarisha. 78.
Thus, O devotees, sages, Narada and Parvata had to undergo incomparable suffering on account of just one gaze at a female form. 79.
Therefore it is, that I keep telling, none of my devotees, whether aspiring for liberation or the accomplished one, should have any contact with women anywhere, for his own good in all ways. 80.
So too, gazing at lower animals engaged in co-habitation should be avoided even by a liberate; more so by an aspirant. Because, in the past, the sincerely celibate sage Saubhari, a liberated man with full control over his organs, still fell from his long standing vow, by merely viewing the sexual act of fish while bathing in a river. 81-82.
Thus, anyone acting wantonly, transgressing my orders of avoiding female contact in any form, by the power of his knowledge or devotion, shall become love- born; and conceited. 83.
Thus ends the sixtieth chapter entitled, ‘Narration of suffering experienced by Narada and Parvata due to association with women,’ in the third prakaran of Satsangi Jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra. (the rules of the code of conduct). 60