13  - The Fascination of Mohini

Vasishtha said:

1.Lifting up the king, Mohini spoke these words: O leading king, do        not entertain any doubt. Know me to be a virgin without sins.

2-3a. O king, marry me in accordance with the injunctions laid down in the Gruhyasutras. If an unmarried virgin becomes pregnant, she delivers of a son of ill fame who will be despised by the people of all castes.

3b-4. In the Purana, the wise know (i.e. say) that there are three types of Chandalas. One is the child born of an unmarried virgin; the second type is the progeny of Sagotra marriage (i.e. marriage between a man and a woman of the same Gotra or lineage). O leading king, the third type of Chandala is the progeny of a Brahmana lady begot by a Shudra.¹

1.    Cf Veda-Vyasa Smruti I. 9-IO

Kumari-Sambhavas tvekah sagotrayam dvitiyakah|

Brahmanyam Shudra-janitash chandalas trividhah  smrutah||

5-6a. For this reason, O king marry me a virgin.” Thereafter, King Rukmangada married that lady of tremulous side-glances, on that mountain itself, in accordance with the (Gruhya-sutra) injunctions. United with her the king said smilingly:

The king said:

6b- 7a. O fair-faced lady, attainment of heaven is not as much conducive to happiness as winning you, O gentle lady, on this Mandara mountain. It does not please me so much as this meeting with you.

7b-8. O gentle lady, even though I am on this Earth I consider myself superior to Purandara (god Indra) since I have obtained O fair-eyed lady, you, the most beautiful lady in the three worlds as my wife. Hence I shall do whatever is favourable to you. Command me.

9. Tell me whether you wish to sport about here itself, O young lady, or in my palace or on the Malaya mountain or on the top of the Meru or in the Nandana park.

10. On hearing the words of the king that were indicative of his close attachment to her, Mohini spoke these sweet words that increased the pleasure of the king: -

11. O king, in your capital city I shall be the victim of wounding side-glances of my co-wives. How can I, therefore, go over to your city?

12. Let there not be, in the whole of the Earth, any woman who will be facing the misery originating from co-wives, throughout her life (till death).

13. O king, I have been obtained by you. From the bottom of my heart, I am subservient to you. It was after understanding that there would be the misery from co-wives that you have been wooed as my husband by me.

14. I will be able to reside on the excellent mountain that contains many miraculous features. But, O leading king the only thing is you cannot stay anywhere without Sandhyavali.

15. On being separated from her and her son, you will be definitely unhappy. Your sadness, O king, will increase my sorrow.

16. I shall establish myself soundly wherever you will derive sufficient happiness. O king, where you are happily diverted, I shall also be happy, feeling that your place of residence is mount Mandara to me.

17. The wife must live in the place where her husband stays, even if it is not an affluent one. They say (i.e. wise people say) that, in the proximity of her husband that place is the veritable mountain Meru of gold.

18. O Lord, where you feel happy is surely my Meru, the place of my desire. Staying in the place of one’s father after eschewing that of one’s husband, is to be avoided.

19. A woman interested in staying permanently in the abode of her father sinks in darkness of hell. All her holy rites shall be fruitless and she shall be born as a sow.

20. I know such evil consequences. How, then can I stay on in the Mandara mountain? I will go along with you. You are the Lord of my happiness and misery.”

21. On hearing the words of Mohini, the king was delighted in his mind. After embracing the beautiful, lady, he spoke these words: -

22. You will be above all my wives. O lady of beautiful thighs, do not have any doubt that you will have to face misery!

23. O lady of beautiful eyebrows, in my house you will be far superior to my own life. O lady of slender frame, come on. We shall proceed to the city for our mutual happiness.

24. O my beloved wife, staying there, enjoy freely all the worldly pleasures along with me.

25. It was eventually for his own destruction that Rukmangada told her thus. Mohini whose face was as white and fair as the moon, started from there producing the tinkling sound of her anklets. It seemed that she even dragged the beauty of the mountain too after her.