11 - Conversation between Saturn and Parvati

Narayana said - Lord Vishnu occupied the gem studded lion-throne after offering his blessing to the child. Shiva took his seat to his right side and Brahma was seated to his left. The religious Dharma also was present there. О Brahmana, Surya, Indra, the moon, the gods, the sages, the mountains were also seated close to him. 

The apsaras were dancing while the Gandharvas and Kinnaras started singing from the Vedas, eulogising lord Vishnu, which was quite pleasant for the ear. In the meantime, at the sight of Ganesha, the son of Surya also arrived there. He was looking downwards with half open eyes and was reciting the name of lord Krishna outside as well as inside. 

He was quite illustrious who could enjoy the reward of the tapas, was like the burning flameand was clad in a beautiful yellow lower garment, he bowed in reverence to Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva, Dharma, Surya and other gods and thereafter he went to have a look at the child. 

On reaching the main-gate Saturn spoke to the gate-keeper, who had broad eyes and was valorous like Shiva. 

Saturn said - О servant of Shiva, with the permission of Vishnu, Shiva and other gods, I am going to have a look at the child. 

Therefore, О intelligent one, you kindly permit me to go to Parvati. I shall come back soon after looking at the child because my mind always remains engrossed in worldly affairs. 

Vishalaksha said - 1 am neither the servant of the gods nor am I the servant of Shiva. I will not permit you to get in without the permission of my mother. 

Thus speaking he entered the house of with the permission of Parvati; he admitted Vishalaksha inside the chamber. 

Reaching inside he found Parvati moving her shoulders and smiling at the same time. He then bowed in reverence to her, who was seated on the gem-studded throne. 

Five of her maid-friends were swinging the white fly-whisks and serving Parvati. Parvati on her part was delightfully chewing the betel offered to her by her maid-friends. She was clad in garments purified by fire and adorned with all the ornaments. She held the child in her lap and was witnessing the dance by apsaras. 

Finding Saturn standing there, casting his gaze downwards, she blessed him and enquired of his welfare. 

Parvati said - О noble person, О lord of the planets, why are you casting your eyes downwards? I would like to listen. Why don’t you look at my son? 

Sani said - О chaste lady, all the people have to face the result of their deeds. Whatever good or bad deeds are done, they cannot be washed away even after completion of crores of kalpas.

The Jiva is born as Brahma, Indra and Surya because of his deeds and also is reborn as an animal because of his deeds. 

One achieves hell because of his deeds an also Vaikuntha because of the same. He becomes the great king because of his own deeds and an ordinary servant because of his own deeds. 

He is born beautiful because of his own deeds and he becomes sick the same way. О mother, because of his own deeds he indulges into vices and by his own deeds he becomes detached from the world. 

The people become rich because of their own deeds and because of their own deeds they become pauper and miserable. Because of the deeds one achieves high family and because of his own deeds one gets the brother who always indulges in pinpricks for him. 

Because of his own deeds one gets the best wife and best son and he enjoys pleasure because of his own deeds. Because of his own deeds he remains without a son, gets a wicked wife or remains without a wife. О beloved of Shiva, I tell you a secret story. Because of it being shameful, it is not appropriate to be told to the mother. 

In my childhood I was a great devotee of lord Krishna and I was always devoted to him. I always recited his name and was also indulging in all types of vices. My father married me to the daughter of Chitraratha but I was always devoted to tapas. 

Once after having a bath, after her period, she beautifully adorned herself. After adorning herself with all the ornaments, she became attractive and could attract the mind of the sages. 

Wearing a serene smile on her face, she with an unstable gaze came to me and asked me to look at her. At that point of time my mind was engrossed in meditation and I was unaware of what was happening outside. Therefore, instead of looking at her I kept on performing the tapas. At this neglect, she became annoyed and feeling that her bath after the period has become infructuous, she pronounced a curse on me, "O foolish fellow you have not cared to look at me at this moment and you have not obliged me; therefore, wherever you cast your glance it would be destroyed." 

Thereafter, getting relieved of the meditation I satisfied the chaste lady but she was unable to relieve me of the curse. She, therefore, repented in her mind of the same. 

О mother, because of this I cannot cast my gaze at anything and in order to save the creatures from destruction I always cast my glance downwards. 

O sage, on hearing the words of Saturn, Parvati laughed and all the damsels also followed suit.