30 - Rambha's curse on Ashtavakra 

Narada said- what type of astonishing secret relates to the sage? After the death of the sage, what did Krishna do, who always showers his grace on his devotees? 

Narayana said- Finding the sage dead before him Sri Krishna got ready to cremate his body. Carrying his body on his chest, Krishna started crying aloud like and ordinary person. He held that body in his arms tightly, as a result of which the ashes emerged from the body. 

The body of the sage was devoid of the blood flesh and bones. О great sage, sage Ashtavakra performed tapas for sixty thousand years while fasting, as a result of which all his blood, flesh and bones were burnt out by the fire of the stomach. He neglecting the out-world knowledge always devoted his mind at the lotus-like feet of the lord. 

Thereafter lord Madhusudana made a pier of sandal-wood and cremated his body. Expressing his grief Madhusudana placed the body of the sage on the pier and after that the wood was also placed over the body. Thereafter the pier was lit. When the pair went in flames, the lord fainted for a while. When the body of the sage was burnt out, the musical instruments and the big drums were sounded in the heaven. At the same time the flowers were rained from the sky. At that point of time a beautiful chariot arrived from Goloka which was inlaid with-the best of gems and could move with the speed of mind and was decorated with the garlands of flowers and other costumes. It had a number of attendant who resembled the form of lord Krishna. The attendant of the lord, immediately descended from the chariot who resembled the form of Krishna. All of them bowed in reverence to Krishna and Radhika and also the sage who was in ethereal form. Thereafter the sage was made to board the chariot and was than carried to Goloka. 

After the departure of Ashtavakra, the great sage to Goloka, Radhika the goddess of Vrundavana felt surprised and asked the lord of the universe. 

Radhika said- She one who was the beat of the sages why were his limb deformed? He was quite dwarfish and had a black complexion of the body. He looked quite horrible but still he was quite illustrious. 

How could they astonishing ashes emerge from his body any could the divine lustre possessed by the sage in his body merger in your lotus-like feet. Thereafter the auspicious soul was mounted over the chariot and went to Goloka and with the influence of that you could not help crying. О lord you had welcomed him with your eyes filled with tears; therefore, you tell me the entire story in detail. 

On hearing the words of Radhika, Madhusudana smiled or a moment and started narrating the story which related to many previous yugas. 

Lord Krishna said- The secret of Ashtavakra is quite well- known in some subsequent contexts. You will listen the same from the mouth of the learned people. 

The sage Ashtavakra was well-known in the three worlds. О mother of the universe, his (glory was spread over the three worlds.) 

On hearing the words of Krishna, the face of Radhika faded away and her throat, lips and palate dried up. Thereafter with great efforts she spoke sweet words. 

Radhika said- "The thirsty person who could not quench his thirst with the ocean of nectar could he be satisfied with the water stored in the place measuring the hoof of a cow. You happen to be the creator of the Vedas and post-Vedic literature and you happen to be the lord of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Therefore, who else could be superior to you.".

On hearing the words of Radhika, Krishna felt delighted and therefore revealing the astonishing and inaccessible secret to her he spoke. 

Sri Krishna said- О any beloved, you listen to me I will narrate to you an ancient story, with the hearing or reciting or which all the sins vanish. 

After the submerging of the three worlds in the water Brahma who happens to be my own ams’ha emerged from the navel of Mahavishnu from my rays. 

In the earlier times he had four mind bom sons who were devoted to Narayana and illumined with the divine lustre. 

They were intellectuals and always remained like the five-year-old children roaming about naked devoid of the knowledge of Brahman but were well-versed in Brahmatattva. They were known as Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanatkumara. 

Brahma said to them, "O sons you engage yourself in the creation of the universe." But all of them disregarding the words of their father went for performing tapas. After the departure of his sons, Brahma felt sad because if the sons do not listen to his father, it becomes quite painful to the father. 

Thereafter, with his divine knowledge he created several sons out of his limbs, who were well-versed in tapas. and well-versed in the Vedic and post-Vedic literature, illumining with the divine lustre. 

These included Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Marichi, Bhrugu, Angira, Kratu, Vasistha, Vodhu, Kapila, Asuri, Kavi, Shanku, Panchasikha and Pracheta. All of them got ready to increase the universe, remaining with their wives, all the sages produced many children and grand children. The story relating to the tradition of the race of sages is quite lengthy and bestows merit. Therefore, it should be left out; now we shall talk on the subject relating to the present context. 

Pracheta had two sons named Sriman and Asita who happened to be the best of the sages, as it performed tapas for a divine thousand years with his wife. 

But could not get a son. Then they were getting ready to end their lives. At that point of time a divine voice was heard saying, О sage why are you ending your life? You go to Shiva and receive a mantra from him, which should be recited by you. 

The great goddess of the mantra would surely appear before you and with the boon of the same goddess, you would surely beget a son. 

Hearing this the sage went to Shiva who is beyond the reach of the yogis. The sage arrived at Shivaloka with his wife and with his mind filled with devotion, bowing in reverence to him, offered prayer to Shiva who happens to be the lord of the yogis. 

Asita said- О teacher of the universe, I offer my salutation to you. You are the form of welfare and bestow welfare, you are best among the yogis and happen to be the teacher of the teachers. I offer my salutation to you.

Taking to the form of death, you even destroy the death. You are the lord of death, the cause of death and are the one who has over-powered death. I bow in reverence to you. 

О great lord, you are the form of Kala and the aim of those who count the time. You happen to be the death for the Kala, the lord and the cause of the death. You are the death for the Kala, I offer my salutation to you. 

You are beyond the qualities, the base of qualities, the cause of qualities, the lord of qualities, the seed of the virtuous people, you are the teacher of virtuous people. I offer my salutation to you. 

You are the form of Brahman, well-versed in the Brahman, thinker of Brahman and the form of Brahman as well as the seed of the Vedas, I offer my salutation to you. 

After offering the prayer to Shiva, he stood before him like a helpless person and started dropping tears from his eyes. His entire body was filled with sensation. 

The one who recites the stotra of Shiva composed by Asita regularly for a year and also consumer havisya food with devotion, he achieves a Vaishnava and intelligent son having long life. 

The pauper achieves riches the dumb person becomes intelligent and the person without a wife achieves a chaste wife. He after enjoying all the riches in the universe ultimately reaches the abode of Shiva. 

In the earlier times this stotra was handed down by Brahma to Pracheta who intum handed it down to his son Asita. 

Krishna said- On hearing the stotra from the sage, lord Shiva who is always graceful to his devotees, said to the son of Brahma. 

Shiva said- О best of the sages, be patient. I am well-aware of your desire. You will achieve a son from my amsa, who will equate me. This is true. 

I will bestow a beautiful mantra to you which is beyond the reach of all the people. Thus speaking Shiva bestowed on the sage your sixteen letter mantra, stotra method of adoration and the method of its completion. He also bestowed on him, the kavacha which made the devotees victorious on the universe and said to the Brahmanas. The goddess will appear before you for bestowing the boons on you. Thus speaking Rudra kept quiet and the Brahman bowing in reverence to him left the place. Thereafter the sage Asita recited the mantra, for a hundred years. Thereafter you appeared before hire in earlier times and granted him a boon saying, "You will beget a most illustrious son. This is the truth." Thus pronouncing the boon on the Brahmana, you returned, to Goloka and joined me. 

In due course of time Asita had a son named Devala from the amsa of Shiva who was denoted to Brahman and was as beautiful as the god of love. He was married to the daughter of Suyajna named Ratnamalavati who was quite charming and beautiful. 

The sage Devala who was well-versed in the art of making love, enjoyed the company with Ratnamalavati for a hundred years roaming about in several secluded places. 

In due course of time a sense of detachment developed in the mind of Devala, after which he is discarded everything and devoted his mind to lord Hari once during the night he got up from the bad and went to a cave in the Gandhamadana mountain for performing tapas. 

When his wife woke up he found her husband missing and burning with the pangs of separation, she started lamenting filled with grief. 

Sometimes she got up and sometimes she fell down. Thus Ratnamalavati started crying aloud again and again, her mind was facing the same condition as the paddy faces while it is poured in the burning vase. The beautiful damsel stopped taking food and ultimately she met with her end. After her death her son cremated her, performing all the last rites. 

The sage who was self-controlled and was my devotee performed tapas in the cave at Gandhamadana mountain for a thousand divine years. As a move of destiny in the meantime, the extremely passionate Rambha looked at the sage who was quite beautiful, peaceful and was as charming as the god of love.

Rambha who could attract, three worlds to herself appeared in the secluded place before the sage and said. 

Rambha said- О ascetic, you listen to the charming words of damsel like me. Discarding this hard tapas, you enjoy my company with pleasure in the secluded place. 

Because you are the best among the best and I happen to be the best of the apsaras and quite beautiful. It is really difficult for a competent person to have a union with a competent damsel. 

О sage, the kings of the land of Bharata performed yajnas for achieving the heaven, the pleasures of the heaven are available on earth. 

Who will not achieve pleasure by enjoying my breasts, the thighs, the beautiful face like the lotus flower and the smile on my face. 

Because out of all the pleasures, the pleasure of the company of a damsel is desired even by the great sages. It is very difficult to get the pleasure of enjoying the company of a beautiful damsel in a lonely place. 

The gods, the humans, Gandharvas and the demons getting deprived of the love sports of Rambha should be treated like those who are unaware of the pleasure of the company of the ladies. 

Such of the self-controlled person who does not enjoy the company of the damsel who appears before him in a secluded place, he falls into the kumbhipaka hell and has to remain their till the number of years equivalent to the number hair oil one’s body. 

He earns the sin of killing the damsel and is also destroyed with the same sin. Brahma became unadorable because of the curse of Mohini. 

The one who disowns a loose woman, she looks at him with such a great anger with which she never looks at her husband, son father and the her other relatives. 

The loose woman is considered by men to be more loveable. Therefore, if anyone disowns a loose woman he appears like killing himself. 

The loose woman becomes more dangerous than the wild animal who attacks in rage and she always become heartless and at is the cause of the miseries.

O best of the sages you disown your tapas and enjoy my company for long in the secluded places, earning the reward of your tapas.

On hearing the words of Rambha, the sage felt panicky and he spoke the words which were beneficial, truthful, appropriate and could result in achieving pleasure. 

Devala said- О Rambha listen to me, I am going to tell you the essence of the Vedas which is truthful and is appropriate to the one who is bom in the race of Brahmanas. 

It has been prescribed that a Brahmanas should enjoy the company of his wife at the appropriate time. Such a Brahmana is adored in this as well as in this future birth. 

Such of the Brahmana or Ksatriya or Vaisya who always indulges in the worldly pleasure with his wife, he becomes unadorable and the goddess of riches getting annoyed, leaves this place. 

He is denounced in this world getting discarded from his race and is not considered suitable for performing any good deeds. After his death, he falls into the andhakupa hell where he has to stay for a hundred years. 

Therefore, it could be proper for a house holder to except a woman who approaches him but no for an ascetic. Only a house-holder earns a sin by disregarding the damsels. It is he, who gets entitled for a curse or a sin. 

Lord Brahma the creator of the universe also has a wife and has not become an ascetic. Therefore, the ascetic who has already disowned the damsel can earn no sin by discarding a loose woman. 

The one who accepts another damsel by disowning his own wife, he is treated as dead while still being alive. All his glory, fortune and age are destroyed. 

The one who does not achieve glory on earth, his life is of no consequence. The ascetic remains unconcerned with the riches, the kingdom and other worldly pleasure.

О mother, what purpose would be served by your accepting an ascetic person like me. О beautiful one, you search for some others youthful person who should be beautiful. 

On hearing the words of the sage, the apsara was enraged. Her lips started fluttering and getting panicky, she spoke to Devala. 

Hi Rambha said- You have a complexion like beautiful moon and the flowers, you are beautiful like the god of love, as a result of tapas you have attained great glory and your physique has attracted a damsel.

Whom shall I approach after leaving you, who else is a better person like you? which one of the loose women getting infested with passion can remain alive disowning you. 

Therefore, О best of the Brahmanas, I am burning with passion and you enjoy my company. I am getting destroyed by your neglect as the trunk of the banana tree gets destroyed when trampled upon by the intoxicated elephant.

О best of those well-versed in the Vedas in case you do not agreed to my words I am sure to pronounce a curse on you. Now you accept a terrific curse which is going to pronounced by me. 

My mind, my life and my soul are burning at the moment. They are desirous of enjoying the nectar of new found love, which can only pacify me. 

The one who pronoimces a curse whose soul is hurt, the curse of such a person cannot be negativated even by Brahma the lord of the universe. 

On hearing the words of Rambha, the Brahmana started performing tapas and uttered no words. At this, Rambha was enraged and she pronounced a curse on the sage saying, "O Brahmana, having a wicked mind your body will get deformed and all your limbs will have to face deformity. Your body will become black like collyrium and you will be deprived of youthfulness. Your form should become completely deformed which, should be denounced by everyone. And the tapas performed by you till now should become fruitless." 

Thus speaking the loose women getting infested with passion left for the abode of the god of love. Thereafter the sage could not achieve an audience with the lord. 

With the separation of his mind from the lotus like feet of the lord, the sage was upset. With the loss of all tapas and the merits, he was filled with grief and finding all his limbs deformed, he tried to enter into the fire altar, with the intention putting an end to his life-In the meantime, I saw the sage, blessed him and bestowed the divine knowledge on him. 

I assured him lovingly as a result of which, the sage became peaceful. Finding that all the eight limbs of his body had been deformed. 1 playfully gave him the name of Ashtavakra. Thereafter at my advice, he went to Malayachala and he performed tapas for sixty thousand years. О dear one, at the end of the tapas I release my devotees. 

At the time of dissolution when every thing is destroyed my devotee remain unaffected. He performed tapas without consuming anything for a long time. The fire of his stomach consumed everything within the body and the sage reducing the same to the ashes. О dear, I had arrived in the valley of Malaya mountain for the sake of this sage. There have been no other devotees of mine great or than Ashtavakra nor shall there be anyone in future. The great grandson of Brahma had beei -such a great ascetic, but with the curse of that loose women, he was deprived of everything as Brahma became unadorable in the earlier times. Thus I have narrated to you the entire secret story of the sage which was quite pleasant and bestows merit. What else do you want to listen from me.