122 - The greatness of Kokämukha - the story of the fish and cricket

Varäha said:

1. “O Earth, listen to the secret of secrets by which even those that have become animals are cleared of all their sins.

2. He who maintains continence on the eighth and fourteenth days of each lunar fortnight, he who, having taken the food offered by another, does not speak ill of it.

3. Who even from childhood is devoted to me, who is happy with whatever he gets, who honours his parents.

4. He who does not live in strain, who is virtuous and discreet, liberal in gifts, enjoys life, restrained but independent in all actions.

5. Who, even in his youth, does not do anything prohibited, who is kind towards all beings, and is full of energy.

6. Who is of desireless mind and never covets another’s wealth, such a person reaches my world.

7. O lovely damsel, this is a secret which is not easily comprehended even by gods. Listen to what I say further.

8. He who is sympathetic and docs not harm any being and he who gives up life at Kokämukha, becomes dear to me and he does not swerve even in mind”.

9. Hearing these ‘Words of Vishnu, the saintly Earth asked the Lord who was in the form of a boar.

Earth said:

10. “O Mädhava, I am your disciple, servant and devotee. I deserve to be told the great secret.

11-12. Leaving out Chakra, Varanasi, Attahäsa, Naimisha and Bhadrakarna, why do you praise Koka.

13. Again, leaving out Dviranda, Mandalešhvara and Kedära, why do you praise Kokä?

14. So too while there are Devadäruvana, Jälešhvara and Durga, why do you praise Kokä?

15. Similarly, when there are Gokarna, Jälmešhvara and Ekaliñga, why do you praise Kokä?”

16. Thus asked in great reverence, the Lord in the form of the boar replied:

Varäha said:

17. What you say is true. I shall, therefore, tell you about the special nature of Kokämukha.

18. All the places mentioned by you pertain to Rudra and they are resorted to by the Päšhupatas. But Kokå pertains to the Bhägavatas. 

19. I shall tell you what happened in this Kokämukha of mine.

20. A hungry hunter was once wandering about in this Kokä country.

21. He saw in a shallow pond a fish and caught it in his net. But the mighty fish escaped from his hand. 

22. Immediately a vulture saw it. It swooped down, caught it and swiftly flew away.

23. But the vulture was unable to carry it far, and the fish fell down at Kokämukha. By the special power of that place, it   became a handsome prince (in Shaka kingdom).

24. After a long time, the wife of this hunter happened to pass by there with meat in her hand.

25. A female cricket, desirous of the meat, hopped on it again and again and annoyed her.

26. She struck it with an arrow and hurled it down on the ground.

27. The cricket fell before me in Kokä, and she was born as a beautiful princess in Chandrapura.

28. She duly grew up and mastered all the sixty-four arts, but developed an aversion for men.

29-30. She disliked even a man who was highly virtuous, quite handsome and brave in war.

31. After a long time, however, she married a young Šhaka.

32. Having thus got each other in wedlock, they lived a happy and virtuous life.

33. He never parted company with her and she never parted company with him. They never wasted even a minute.

34. A long time they spent in mutual love. She served him with humility and regard.

35. He too (enjoyed himself) in the same way.

36. Once, in the afternoon, the Shaka prince became afflicted by severe headache.

37. All the expert physicians tried their best with all their recipes, but the headache did not subside.

38. For a long time he was unable to know himself being deluded by the mäyä of

39. The period (of their transformation into human form) was drawing to a close.

40. Still they were strongly attached to each other, and neither left the other even for a moment.

41. Then the beautiful princess asked her husband: “Are you doing well? How is it that you are having this headache?

42. Please tell me the truth, if you have any consideration for me.

43. Numerous expert physicians are treating you, but the headache still remains”.

Thus asked by his wife, he said:

44. ‘‘Have you forgotten that the human life we are having now is a mixture of pleasure and pain.

45. You should not ask this question now that we are in the ocean of samsära”. So was that young lady spoken to by her husband.

46. After a long time, when both were sleeping, she again asked him:

47. “O my lord, please give me an answer to what I asked you long ago.

48. Is there anything to be hidden (from me)? Otherwise why do you hide facts. You should certainly tell me if I am your beloved”.

49. Pressed thus, the Saka prince told her out of love and regard:

50. “Give up this human form and remember what you were formerly. If you are interested in knowing about your previous life.

51. Please go to my parents and propitiate them. They are honourable and my mother kept me in her womb.

52. After honouring them and getting their consent, we will go to Kokämukha and there I shall tell you the whole thing.

53. Although it is difficult even for gods to know about the previous life, I shall tell you about it there”.

54. Then that beautiful damsel went to her parents-in-law and prostrated at their feet. She-then told them:

55. “Please listen, I have a submission to make before you. With your permission, both of us wish to go to the holy Kokämukha.

56. Since the purpose is serious, you should not object to this.

57. So far we have not asked of you anything. Therefore, it behoves you to grant the present request.

58. Your son is suffering from an incurable headache and at noon he becomes practically lifeless.

59. Because of this he has to forego all pleasures. There is no remedy for this other than going to Kokämukha.

60. This secret has never been told to you. I wish to go quickly to that supreme abode of Vishnu. Contemplation by the husband and wife is always efficacious”.

61. Then the great king of the Shakas, held his daughter-in-law by the hand and told his son:

62. ‘‘Why do you think of going to Kokämukha?

63. You have got here elephants, horses, chariots and other vehicles and women beautiful like Apsarases. This country with all its seven constituents like treasury and fort is all for you.

64. So too our friends and this throne. O son, take all this. My life rests in you, so too progeny”.

65. Hearing these words of the father, the prince held his feet and spoke in humility.

66. “Enough of the kingdom, treasury, vehicles and army. I wish to go to Kokämukha quickly.

67. Only if I survive after this terrible headache that has caught hold of me, can this kingdom, army and treasury be of any avail to me.

68. By going there my headache will surely disappear”.

69. At these words of the son, the king of Shakas gave permission for him to go to Kokämukha and blessed him.

 70. The citizens, traders, beautiful ladies and courtesans followed him to Kokamukha.

71 When they reached Kokämukha, the princess asked her husband:

72. “Be pleased to tell me now what you promised to  me at Kokamukha, now that we have reached that place”.

73. O Earth, when asked thus by the beloved, the prince laughed and embracing her said:

74. “Now night has fallen and let us sleep well. I shall tell you tomorrow all that is in my mind”.

75. At daybreak both of them had their bath. They put on silk garments and bowed to Lord Vishnu. He then held her by the hand.

76. And pointed out at the north-east part the remains of some bones and said:

77. “These are the bones of my former body. I was then a fish moving about in the pond in this Koka country.

78. I was caught in a net by a hunter, but I slipped out of his hand and fell down on the ground.

79. I was then caught by a vulture and torn by its nails. But when I was being carried away by it, I slipped again and fell down here.

         1. The seven constituents (saptanga) are the king, minister, kingdom, forts, treasury, army and friends.

80. My head hit the ground and thus developed this headache of mine. I alone know this and none else.

81. I have now told you what you asked. You may now go wherever you please”.

82. Then that lady of faultless limbs and of a hue like the red lotus spoke to the husband again in a piteous tone:

83. “In order to know this, I did not disclose what I was in my former birth. Now I shall tell you that, please listen.

84. I was a cricket flying in the sky. Once overcome with hunger and thirst I was sitting on the branch of a tree thinking of my food. 

85. Just then there came a hunter with a big mass of flesh of the many animals he had killed that day.

86. Placing the mass of flesh near his Wife, he went to fetch firewood for cooking the flesh, as he was hungry.

87. When he kindled fire (and began cooking a part of the flesh), I swiftly flew there and began to cut the flesh (left with his wife).

88. But it was too heavy for me to carry away and so I remained there itself.

89. After eating the (cooked) flesh, the hunter was much pleased, but, not seeing the mass of flesh, looked for it everywhere.

90. Then he saw me eating the mass of flesh. At once he took his bow and discharged an arrow towards me.

91. The arrow hit me and hurled me down from the mass of flesh I was eating.

92. Then I moved about here and there practically dead.

93. But by the power of this holy place, I was born a princess and became your beloved with the memory of my former life.

94. Sec here the remains of the bones of my former body”. She told her husband again:

95. “O blessed soul, you have been brought to this Kokämukha.

96. By the power of this place even animals get birth as human beings and in high families.

97. O famous prince, whatever dharma is there spoken by Vishnu, I follow, because that gives us supreme joy in the world of Vishnu”.

98. At this narration, the prince was wonderstruck remembering the previous birth.

99. The princess, fully knowing what was to be done in that place, herself did certain rites fully devoted to her husband.

100. Hearing this, others also performed whatever prescribed rite that was to their liking.

101. Then the couple gave gifts of food and gems in great delight to deserving Brahmins.

102. Others who were given presents, also gave them to Brahmins because of their devotion to Vishnu.

103. Remaining there steadfast in devotion they went to Shvetadvipa (the white island).

104. The prince also, following the tenets of my worship, cast off his human form and reached Shvetadvipa. All the people there realise their own selves.

 105. They are all clad in white, adorned with divine jewels, effulgent, tall and fine-looking.

106. The women also have divine jewels, are resplendent and pure, and absorbed in contemplating on me.

107. Thus have I told you about the matchless Kokämukha where the fish and the cricket attained each other.

108. Some may perform the Chändräyana ceremony, some may live on water alone. But every Brahmin shall follow the dharma laid down by Vishnu.

109. Even those couples who have a lot of grain and gems, perform the rites laid down by me for my devotees.

110-111. All those who move about serving me, go to the Shvetadvipa after death by the power of the place, the power of their deeds and my own power.

112. So it was that the prince also went there after giving up his human form.

113. Even his servants who were devoted to me cast off their mortal frame and reached my world.

114. There all are resplendent and every one realises the self.

115. All the women there have the smell of the lotus, are free from mäyä and in the company of their beloved persons. They reach Shvetadvipa due to my blessing.

116. This is virtue, this is fame, this is power, this is renown.

117. This is the greatest of actions, the highest of penances, the best of narratives and the worthiest of deeds.

118. I have now told you about the highest of dharmas. This should not be told to a choleric, a fool or a jealous person.

119. Nor should it be told to a non-devotee, the unlistening or the arrogant. It should be imparted only to the calm and the initiated.

120. It should not be imparted to the disputing man even if he is learned.

  121. He who remembers this at the time of death, gets removed of all sins and never takes birth again.

122. I have thus told you, O Earth, this great and invigorating story. Those who go to Kokämukha attain supreme bliss as did the fish and the cricket.