33 - The Submission of Dharmañgada

Vasishtha said:

1. Thereafter, O king, Sandhyãvali clasped the feet of her husband. The gentle lady spoke these words about the (imminent) death of Dharmäñgada (at his hands).

Sandhyavali said:

2. “O king, just as by you, so also by me, this lady has been advised in many ways. But nothing else appeals to Mohini, the very embodiment of delusion.

3. She wants you to take food on the day of Vishnu or to kill your son. O lord striking the son down is better than violating the holy observance.

4. O king, the affliction of the father is not as severe as that of the mother in giving birth to the son.

5. Since the mother undergoes misery in holding the son in her womb, O king, her affection is excessive. O king, the affection of the father cannot be as much as that of the mother.

6. In the world, O leading king, the father is said to be the person who sows the seed, the mother is the person who holds it within her womb. In protecting and nourishing the child, the mother is superior to the father.

7. The affection of the mother is hundred times more than that of the father. It is in view of this abundance of love and affection that they recognise that the mother is greater.

8. In spite of that, I have become devoid of affection towards the son, O leading king, because of my desire to win the other world through the maintenance of the truth of the words uttered.

9. Eschewing all your affectionate feelings O king, kill your son. Do not transgress the truthfulness of the words uttered. On my very soul, you are bound by an oath.

10-14.  Hrushikesha will be the bestower of fruits (after testing persons) on touch-stones (of holy rites), if, after observing them, O king, no pain is felt in the body. There is no doubt about this that it is through Adharma that a man falls off from heaven. The man who takes off his life or that of his son or sacrifices his possessions O king, and follows fate, is sung about as a great man. O king, blessed are those adversities which make men truthful. In view of their purpose of keeping up truthfulness, they may be the bestowers of salvation on men. In order to spread and guard their fame, holy rites must always be performed by men in the manner mentioned in the scriptures, without being swayed either by love or by hatred. Hence, O king, enough of your distress and anguish. Keep up the truth.

15. O king, by keeping up the truth, a man becomes united with Vishnu’s person. This Mohini (enchantress) is a touchstone created by the Devas for you.

16. O king, I consider that she has been made your wife (for this purpose), but you do not understand that. By your act of killing your son, the Devas will hang down their heads (in shame).

17. Placing your foot on their heads, you will attain the highest region. The Devas are the antagonists of those who have devotion towards Vishnu.

18-19. What has been made clear is that there will be blindness in the world. O king, the Devas along with the deities are antagonistic to you. With their activities, they break (obstruct) your path towards salvation. They cause you to drop down your resolve. Hence, O king, be steady and firm. Kill your dear son.

20-21. Carry out the directions of Mohini by way of keeping up your own vow. O lord of kings, if the directives are unheeded, you will incur a terrible sin equal to that of Brähmana-slaughter. O ruler of the earth, you will be going to the world of Shamana (i.e. Yama) and there will be damage to your reputation on the earth.”

Vasishtha said:

22. O king, on hearing the words of his wife, the king Rukmäñgada spoke those words to Sandhyävali in the presence of Mohini: -

23. “O beloved wife, the slaughter of one’s own son is an exceedingly sinful act. It is worse than Bråhmana-slaughter. What will be my future destiny in the after killing my own son?

24. Wherefore did I go to the Mandara mountain? Wherefore did I meet with Mohinï? O gentle lady, this is veritable Kãla or god of death in the form of the beloved (Mohinï), for the destruction of Dharmâñgada.

25. What will be my future state by killing my son who is conversant with Dharma, who is endowed with humility, who reconciles and delights the people and who has no issue of his own?

26-31. O gentle lady, the father incurs great misery even by killing a vicious son. What then if he happens to be by nature righteous and rendering regular service to his elders? O fäir-complexioned lady, this continent of Jambüdvïpa alone is enjoyed by me. But all the seven continents are being enjoyed by your son now. O fair lady, he is a part of Vishnu. He will surely be superior to his father. O fair lady, this son of mine, Dharmäñgada who has been highly extolled in Purãnas by poets (O wise sages) is superior to all on this earth.

O lady of charming limbs, he is the bestower of honour on my family as well as on me. Alas! In this matter I am faced with a greater misery than even my son. O fair lady, with your auspicious utterances speak again to Mohinï who is deluded and so who gives me much grief.”

32. After saying thus to his beloved wife Sandhyävali, the king came near Mohini and spoke this: -

33-34. “O splendid lady, I will not take food on the day of Vishnu nor will I injure my son in any way. I would rather tear up my own self or the gentle lady Sandhyävali. At your behest, I may even do any other terrible deed. But, O lady of charming eyebrows, leave off your stubbornness in regard to my son.

35. What benefit will you attain by killing my son Dharmäñgada? What do you gain by compelling me to take food on the day of Vishnu? Tell me.

36. O fair-faced lady, I am your servant. I am your slave. I am subservient to you. O blessed lady request for some other boon, I submit to you.

37-40. O lady of beautiful limbs, your feet are equal to the red Ashoka flowers. I am absolutely obedient to you. I shall carry out some other purpose of yours.

I am subservient to you. O gentle lady, be pleased with me. Give me the alms in the form own son’s life. A virtuous son is very rare to be obtained. The day of Hari (Ekädašhi) is a rare day of holy rites. Rare indeed is the water of Gañgà. Rare is a beloved mother on the Earth. Rare is the birth in a noble family. Rare is the beloved wife born of a good family. Rare is the charitable gift of gold. Rare is the facility to worship Hari. Rare is the initiation pertaining to Vishnu. Rare is the collection of Smruti texts?

41-45A. Rare is the residence in the holy centre of Šhaukara.* Rare is the opportunity to meditate on Hari; rare is the holy rite of keeping awake on the day of Vishnu; rare is the purification of the self (or getting honour to oneself) ; rare is the attainment of the birth of a son; rare is the holy water of Pushkara; rare is the contact with virtuous eminent people; devotion is said to be rare; rare is the charitable gift of a Kapilâ (tawny) cow; rare is the (facility to) set a blue (calf) free. O fair-faced lady, rare is the Šhrâddha performed on Trayodašhi (Thirteenth day). Rare is the Earth (as an object of charitable gift). Rare is the observance of holy rite that destroys sins. O woman of sweet eyebrows, rare is the replica of cow made of gingelly seeds and given over to a Brâhmana. O fair lady, rare is the bath with the embylic myrobalan. Rare is the day of Hari.

*Mod. Soron on the Gañgä, 27 miles NE of Itah (U.P.). in the Sükara (Boar) form killed Hiranyaksha here-DE 195.

45B.-46. Rare indeed is bath in cold water at the auspicious time of the passage (Parva-kâla) of the moon, especially at the auspicious time of dawn in the month of Mägha. O queen, rare is the performance of a religious rite punctiliously in conformity to gastric injunctions.

47. Rare indeed is the wholesome diet and efficacious medicine that dispels sickness. Rare is the procedure along the path of scriptures.

48. Rare is the remembrance of Vishnu at the time of death, O fair-complexioned lady. Thus, O fair lady, carry out my words that protect Dharma.

49.O lady of beautiful limbs, of what advantage is the killing of my son to you? It behoves you to be pleased. The worldly pleasures have been duly enjoyed. The kingdom has been made free of thorns.

50A. I have placed my foot on the heads of those (i.e. surpassed those) who protect Devas, cows and Brähmanas.

50B-51. A. I will never injure with my hands my son who is the object of my destiny.”

Mohini said

52-53. Dharmäñgada is not my enemy, nor do I kill your son. I have told you at the outset, “Eat on the day of Hari”. O king, rule over the earth as you please, for many years. I do not kill your son. My object of accomplishment lies in your taking food. O king, I have no interest in the death of your son.

54. O king, if the son is dear to you, may the food be taken on the day of Hari. O king, of what avail are these laments which are beyond the pale of Dharma.

55-56. Keep the truth assiduously. Carry out my word. ‘‘Dharmäñgada who was standing in front, observed Mohinï, the lady with slender waist, speaking thus. After bowing to her he said. It is this (here). Take it. Do not entertain any fear or suspicion, O beautiful lady.

57-60. He drew out his stainless glistenting sword and placed it in front of the king. He placed himself too in front of the king and said with a steady resolve in truth and virtue.

Dharmangada requested:

“O my father, delay should not be made by you in striking me down. O king, make my mother’s words true. Keep up your promise. The Ätman should be protected even at the sacrifice of wealth, wives or sons.

To a king who is desirous of welfare, the progeny is for the purpose of preservation of Dharma. Death for your sake is the bestower of ever-lasting salvation on me. You too will attain the pure worlds in virtue of your keeping of your own promise.

61-62A. Eschew the deep overwhelming sorrow originating from killing your own son. O lord, (even if) this body is abandoned, it will lead to the creation of another body, that is devoid of all sorts of ailments and equal to that of Indra.

62B-64. Those who are killed for the cause of their fathers, or for their mothers, or for cows, Brãhmanas, young women, Earth, king, or the deities, or for the sake of their children or the handicapped, attain the excessively brilliant worlds. Hence enough of your worries and anxieties. Kill me with your excellent sword.

65. O leading king, stick to your vow. Do not take food on the day of Hari. O king, one may kill one’s own son or wife for the sake of Dharma.

66. It is heard in the Vedic texts: A person (i.e. a king) who sits consecrated for the performance of horse-sacrifice may kill his son in that excellent sacrifice and no sin is incurred thereby.

67. O king, whatever, Mohinï, my mother, says must be carried out unhesitatingly by you.

68. O leading king, be pleased. Carry out the suggestions made by me, in regard to my own death. O king you will then release yourself from the terrible utterance of falsehood through the interference of Mohini.

69. O king, as a result of the killing of your own son, your fame will be illuminated. Thanks to the splendour of your fame, your reputation and esteem will be very high and ever-lasting. O dear father, no doubt should be entertained in this matter.”