Śoṇa and Kalā

This is the account of the brāhmaṇa Śoṇa and his faithful wife Kalā, a pativratā (a wife wholly devoted to her husband). Kalā was killed by the rākshasa Mārīca, who took the form of Śoṇa to lure her away. At the moment of death she said “Hara”, a name of Śiva, and went straight to the abode of Śiva.

Śoṇa then travelled to Kailāsa. There he learned why Kalā had died early, and he saw Bhagavān Śiva and Bhagavān Vishṇu test Pārvatī together in disguise. The account is told in the Pātāla Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa.

The silver pitcher

Śoṇa and Kalā found a silver pitcher full of treasure on the bank of the Gaṅgā. Before Śoṇa could decide what to do with it, Kalā made a long speech about why women in general cannot be trusted and why Śoṇa should not tell her where the treasure lay. She spoke with deliberate humility. She put it as a general rule and not as a charge against herself.

Śoṇa took this unusual advice from his own wife. He hid the treasure and did not tell her where it was. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 112)

Mārīca’s trick

The rākshasa Mārīca, Rāvaṇa’s uncle, was known for his mastery of illusion and for his part in the Rāmāyaṇa. He saw Kalā alone and took the exact form of Śoṇa. In that disguise he came to her as if he were her husband and led her away from home into the forest.

In the forest Mārīca showed who he really was and moved to attack her. Kalā saw through the trick at once. She did not panic. She used the power of her pātivrā-dharma (the duty of a faithful wife) and made a covering of stone around herself as a shield. Mārīca could not break through it, and he killed her. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 112)

Kalā reaches Kailāsa

At the moment of her death Kalā said “Hara”, the name of Śiva. Śiva’s messengers came at once. They took her ātmā (soul) straight to the abode of Śiva, without passing through Yama’s court.

In Kailāsa, Umā-Pārvatī received Kalā herself and honoured her. She recognised Kalā’s pātivrā-dharma as among the highest ever shown. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 112)

Śoṇa’s journey to Kailāsa

Śoṇa was heartbroken at losing Kalā. He set out for Kailāsa with the ṛshis Viśvāmitra, Vasishṭha and Devarāta. Bhagavān Śiva received the party and explained what had happened.

Kalā’s life had one hundred more years in it, so she had not died at her appointed time. But she had said “Hara” at the moment of death, and so she came to Śiva’s abode before her time. The power of Śiva’s name overrides even the order of destiny. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 112)

The test of Pārvatī

During this visit an old brāhmaṇa with a badly deformed body came to Pārvatī’s dwelling. With him was a young woman of great beauty. The sight of an ancient, ugly brāhmaṇa beside a radiant young wife was meant to shock.

It was a test of Pārvatī. She honoured the couple with no sign of surprise, scorn or judgment. She stayed calm and respectful.

Then the disguises fell away. The deformed old brāhmaṇa was Bhagavān Śiva himself, and the beautiful young woman was Bhagavān Vishṇu in the form of a woman. Śiva and Vishṇu showed themselves in their full divine forms to the whole gathering. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 112)

What Pārvatī gave Śoṇa

Pārvatī did not give Kalā back to Śoṇa in this world. Instead she gave Śoṇa:

  • A new wife
  • A vara (a boon) of great prosperity
  • A kingdom
  • Firm and unshaken devotion to Śiva (Śiva-bhakti)

Śoṇa returned to the world and lived this second part of his life in blessing. At his death he lay in sacred ash (bhasma) and recited the Rudra stotra. He reached the abode of Śiva and there, at last, was united with Kalā. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 112)

Sources

  • Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 112