35 - Mohini incurs a cause

Yama said:

1. “O lord of the Devas; O lord of the universe! O lord and preceptor of the mobile and immobile beings Mohinï has become unsuccessful like a barren woman in the matter of giving birth (to children).

2. O Kuga-emblemed one the entire world goes to Vaikuntha along the path advocated by Rukmäñgada. No one comes to me.

3. Although the lord of kings entered the body of the discus-bearing lord (Vishnu), the mind of all the living beings has not changed.

4. O grand-sire of the universe, after observing fast on the day of all men including young children, go to the greatest world with their sins dispelled.

5. Your daughter, Mohini, the gentle lady is ashamed and has been in She is not coming near you because she is despised by the world. She does not even take food.

6. I have become jobless, what am I to do? Guide me.” On hearing the words of Yama the lotus-seated deity said:

7-8A “We all shall go together to bring Mohini to consciousness. After she has got up (regained normalcy) O son of the sun, we shall perform your task. There is no doubt about it. May excitement agitation be eschewed.

8B-9. Then all the groups of Devas led by Indra and others accompanied by Brahma, came down to the Earth in their aerial chariots as refulgent as the sun, in to order to rouse that woman to consciousness O king (Mändhätä).

10-23. With their aerial chariots they surrounded the auspicious (beautiful) -faced lady (who was in a then). She was devoid of brilliance and bliss. She resembled (the following) a river the water of which had dried up, the night without the moon, a holy rite Without the Rutvik priest, a man who is defeated in a battle, a flower that has faded, the dais where-from the celebration of the festival has ceased, the coral that has become white and colourless, the grain-field from where the grains have removed, the light that is dim, the churning rod O king, when the butter is taken out, * the speech that is not refined, the army that has been crushed (severely defeated) , a young woman whose husband has been killed, the subjects deprived of food grains, the sacred-rite without Mantras, the war waged in violation of ig prescribed code and without mercy, the Earth without a king, the king without a minister, O excellent king, the house devoid of wealth and food-grains, the pot without water, the lordly bull stuck in mire, the householder without his the king banished from his kingdom; the physician whose medical treat treatment failed, the tree whose branches have been cut, the house without fire, the cloud without water, the fire with plenty of smoke, the sun without his rays, the man who has gone out of his senses, the man who indulges in sexual intercourse on Parvan days (the new moon, the full moon days etc) , a lover who is not satisfied with his beloved, (or with no favourable response from his beloved), the serpent deprived of its poison, the bird whose wings have been clipped, the Bråhmana who has no means of sustenance; the garland that has been dropped down from the head, the mountain without metals and minerals, the scriptural text the script of which is distorted, the Ruk and Yajus Mantra that is recited in wrong notes, the Saman verse recited with a discordant note, a lake devoid of lotuses, the pathway overgrown with grasses, the lotus devoid of petals knowledge (vitiated) by the feelings of egotism, the Purusha without Prakruti, the Säñkhya philosophy minus the Tattvas (principles ) , and the Dharma (Virtue, piety) (tarnished ) with arrogance, thus the heaven-dwellers saw Mohini devoid of brilliance.

*Here the text is defective.

24-25. The Devas, on arrival, spoke to that fierce lady who was meditating (brooding) and lacking in enthusiasm; who was viewed by the people as one with (the stigma of) the murder of her son; who was criticised in cruel rebuking terms as a woman of bad conduct; who had been abandoned by the virtuous people; who had been stubborn in clinging to her own words and had been defrauded by those very words (?)

26. “O fair lady, do not feel aggrieved; you have put in manly efforts. Indeed, there is no question of wounded prestige in regard to the devotees of Vishnu.

27. O fawn- eyed lady, it is for the fulfilment of the work of the Devas that you have come (here). O fair lady, that is not fulfilled, now that he (king Rukmäñgada) has attained absence of birth (i.e. salvation).

28-29. (Defective) O Mohini, the Ekädašhi in the bright half of the month of Vaišhäkha has been previously observed by Rukmäñgada (as a day of fast). It destroys all obstacles, and it is highly meritorious. O lady of large eyes, he observed the rite continuously for a year with very great strain. The fact that he did not swerve from truth is an act without a parallel.

30-31. A woman is described as the queen of obstacles (except in your case). The king decided on killing his son without reservation in mind, thought or speech. He cast off his affection and lifted his sword. The lord observed that (the king’s steadfastness had been proved) on that touch-stone.

32-33. For he was prepared to kill his son but he would not take food on the day of Hari. Hari (Vishnu) saw the real feelings of the king, his wife and his son. He was extremely pleased (with them) and so all the three were taken to his own abode along with their physical bodies like coals deposited (ignited) with fire. as their Karmans were exhausted.

34. O blessed and gentle lady, if the work is begun in earnest and performed assiduously but the fruit is not derived, what is your fault in it now?

35. For this reason, O splendid lady, Devas have come as granters of boon. Whether it fructifies or not, one should engage oneself in an activity. One must not remain idle.

36-38. All his attendants must be properly maintained by a king, who wishes for piety. If, even after an honest effort, the servant is not able to accomplish the task, at least the remuneration must be paid. There may not be any gratuity. If a man (i.e. the master) does not give the living sustenance, he attains the sin of a cow-slaughter. There is no doubt about this. Hence, O fair lady, O excellently beautiful woman, what is desired by you must be given.

39-40A. (Defective) the task of heaven-dwellers had been to create the obstacle. Since you have endeavoured with sincerity what is it that the Devas will not do. But O fairfaced lady, along with you, they too have been frustrated by the brilliance of fast which they call the destroyer of obstacles.”

40B-41. On being told thus by the Devas, Mohinï the enchantress of the worlds, who was bereft of her husband and so was cheerless and extremely distressed, spoke thus: - “Fie upon this life of mine, inasmuch as the entrusted work was not achieved.

42-43. O lords of the immortal beings, the path of the world of Yama has not been rendered thronging with people. The vow of the day of Hari was not violated. Food was not taken by that king. His own son was executed by that hero joyously. After placing his foot on my head, Rukmangada has attained Vishnu.

44-47. He has attained Vishnu of immeasurable attributes, who is free from impurities, who is the support of pure ones, who is called Hamsa, Šhuchipäda (of pure region), Vyoman (firmament) , Pranaava (OM) the imperishable seed; who is formless, without any appearances ; transcendental to the universe; perfectly pure and unsullied and of the nature of void (firmament), who is worthy of being meditated upon; who is beyond contemplation; whom they call both the Existent and the non-existent, who is neither far off nor close by; who is the great splendour and capable of being grasped only by the mind ; who is identical with the universe and is called Purusha; who is abiding in the lotus of the heart; who is the embodiment of splendour and eternal. When the king has already dissolved himself in the lord, what benefit do I derive from life?

48. The man who accepts his salary when the (appointed) work is not accomplished, goes definitely to the hell leaving off his master.

49. O heaven-dwellers, the servants who do not accomplish the tasks of their masters but still enjoy the salary, are reborn in the Earth as horses.

50. I am the destroyer of my husband as well as of my son. I am not successful in accomplishing the task. How can I accept the boon from you, the dwellers of Heaven?”

The Devas Promised:

51. “Speak out, O Mohini, I [we] shall give what is desired by you in your heart of hearts. After helping you, we shall free ourselves from indebtedness to you.

52. O gentle lady, endeavour has been made by you in motivating the king to take food. O gentle lady, when such task has been accomplished, you deserve a share in the benefit.”

53. O king (Mändhätä)! When the Devas were speaking thus, the priest of the king (Rukmäñgada) resplendent like fire, arrived there.

54. The sage who had been engaged in Pränäyäma, had been living under water. When the twelve-year-period of this penance was completed, he came out of the water.

55. O king (Mändhätä), as soon as he came out of water, the actions of Mohinï were heard by him. The infuriated prominent sage approached that group of the Devas.

56. He condemned all those Devas who were about to grant boons to Mohinï. “Fie upon this (woman)? Fie upon this group of Devas! Fie upon this action that should be called a sin.

57. The boon that is desired by Mohinï and that you are about to give her is detrimental to your very existence (or feeling of devotion about you) and promotes that growth of Purushärtha* (Kama?).

*The text Purushartha-Prarohakam is obscure as pra-rohaka means ‘causing to grow’ (MW. p. 689). How could the boon to Mohini promote the germination of any Purushärtha except Kama?

58. She who has killed the son of her husband (and her husband as well) is no better than one who has killed ten thousand persons. She is like a man-eating ogress of the meanest conduct (?). O Devas, even by immolating herself into a well-kindled fire, she cannot gain in purity.

59. These three have been considered equal to one-another by the ancient excellent Brâhmanas, Viz. Killing ten thousand persons; slaughter of the husband, and the slaughter committed without any purpose. O Devas, even by falling into a well-kindled fire, she cannot purify herself. She had with her nectar-like sweet words deluded Rukmäñgada, and Dharmäñgada. Rukmäñgada killed his son and attained salvation accompanied by his beloved wife. She (Mohini) has made the Earth bereft of its rulers, the protectors of men.

60. She cannot have her residence even in the hells, O Devas. How can she, who is intellectually deficient (and perverse) stay in heaven? O Devas, nor can she stay near the king; she may not attain the eternal region of Vishnu.

61. Nowhere in the worlds can she have her residence since she has been defiled (and condemned) by the public censure. Fie upon the life of this lady of despicable activities who was always indulging in sinful actions, O Devas.

62. After killing her husband, after taking away the life of her son, after murdering her co-wife who was just like a mother unto her and after destroying the entire Earth, O Devas, what sort of existence or fate will she attain?

63-64A. (Defective) O Devas, this lady is a greater sinner (than others). She has destroyed the holy observances of Hari. She always advocated ‘‘May food be taken on the day of Hari.” Downfall is suffered even by those who take food (to relish it and not) for the sustenance of life. (?)

64B-65. How can one get residence in heaven by propagating “May food be eaten on the Ekãdašhi day. May a cow be killed along with Brähmanas. May undrinkable liquors be drunk”. Such is spoken by the ignorant. This is not the decision of the learned.

66. If out of ignorance the statement viž: — “May the food be taken on the day of Hari” is made, there is an expiation for it with a hundred Pränäyämas.

67-68A. O heaven-dwellers, they can atone for it by observing fast on the Ekädašhi day, or by taking a bath in the lake Pushkara when the star under which one is born is associated with it (?), or by touching the Deity (Vishnu) in the Boar form or by the worship of God.

68B-69A. This expiation has been recounted by the Brähmanas if the words are uttered (as mentioned before This lady was ruthlessly engaged in sin. She insisted on food being taken on the day of Vishnu which is difficult of performance to sinners.

69B-70. She did not pay heed to the words of her husband. She got the favourite son killed—the son who knew the fitting words, who abided by the advice (of elders) and who was engaged in activities beneficial to his mothers. This woman has violated the Dharma of Vishnu. She is burdened with many sins.

71. O lords of the Devas, - she is not worthy of even being touched. How then can you bestow boons on her? Indeed, your excellencies are interested in Persons endowed with the qualities and of justice and piety.

72. Heaven-dwellers do not accord protection to sinners. Devas are remembered as the supporters of Virtue. And Virtue (Dharma) is enshrined in the Vedas.

73. Service unto the husband is glorified as the duty of woman by the Vedas. Whatever the husband says must be carried out unhesitatingly by her.

74. If the husband says that anything is white she must also say that it is white. If he says that it is black, she must also say that it is black. This is to be known as real Shušhrüsha (service) and mere menial action of attendance is not Shušhrüshä.

75-77. O Devas, her husband’s orders were disobeyed by her with a view of her desire to establish her own command. Hence there is no doubt that Mohini is the most sinful of all women. In order to achieve truthfulness, the king, who had been restrained by imprecations, said different kinds of words (i.e. offered various proposals). But this lady, the murdress of her son, did not like them. Hence the king relegated the sins to her and attained salvation. Thus she is indeed a woman of sinful physical body responsible for ten thousand murders.

78-83. This woman of evil activities had repudiated the king who was the donor of various charitable gifts; who was a patron of Bràhmanas; whose deity was Hari; who invariably delighted his subjects; who regularly observed fasts on the days of Hari; who cherished no indecent Love towards the wives of others; who had no desire for worldly pleasures; who eschewed his passionate love for the sake of others; who always performed sacrifices; who continuously maintained the suppression of the wicked ones on the Earth, and who was never overwhelmed by the seven terrible vices. How can she be worthy of being granted the boons? O excellent Devas within a trice I shall reduce to ashes the person who is likely to side with her, whether he is a Deva or Dänava. O gods, if anyone endeavours to protect Mohini, he incurs that sin which is fixed in Mohini”.

84. O king (Mändhätä), after saying this and taking up water in his hand, the eminent Brähmana furiously looked at the daughter of Brahmä and violently hurled it on her head. The water then shone like fire.

85. O king, no sooner was the water cast on her, her body blazed like a bundle of straw licked up by the flames of fire, even as the residents of heaven were (helplessly) looking on.

86. “O Lord, check your anger; check your anger,” even as these words of the Devas rose up in the sky, that (violent) fire created by the utterance of the Brähmana reduced that young woman to ashes.