177 - Consecration of Surya by Samba

Varaha said:

1. O fair goddess, now listen to another deed of Lord Krishna when while living in Dvaraka, (his son) Samba got a curse.

2. When Krishna was living there with his wives and sons, once Narada stepped in.

3. Krishna offered him padya, arghya, asana, madhuparka and cow according to the usual etiquette (in receiving a distinguished guest) and began to converse with him.

4. But Narada took Krishna aside and spoke to him in private.

5. “I have to tell you something in secret. Please listen. Your son Samba is young, eloquent and handsome and is longed by all the women here.

6. The Supreme God gave you these sixteen hundred divine women for your pleasure.

7. Their minds get agitated (with love) when they see Samba, and this (scandal) has spread even in Brahmaloka.

8. O great god, I have come here to apprise you of this. Dvaipayana (Vyasa) has a significant verse relevant here, namely,

9-10. “By (proper) deeds one gets residence in heaven, and by its reverse residence hell; the result of meritorious actions spreads all over the earth and the doer becomes the Purusha indestructible, unchanging and eternal and the opposite of this puts him in hell, so say the wise.”

11-12. By calling Samba and all this multitude of women and seating them here, I shall show you whether what I say is true or false.

13. Then seats were spread for all of them and they were called and seated in groups.

14. Then Samba entered with folded hands and waited to know the command (of Krishna).

15. Seeing the exceptionally handsome Samba, all those noble women felt agitated in mind even when was watching them.

16. Then Krishna asked these beloved women of his to get up and go to their homes and they did so. 

17. Samba stood there shivering with folded hands. Looking at Narada, Krishna bent down his face in shame.

18. He then told Narada in detail about the nature of women and their conduct leading to sin.

19. “They have no consideration of time, of secrecy of what they do. Still they pass to be virtuous.

20-21. Women irrespective of their age, whether they be girls, teenagers, middle-aged or advanced in age, get their passion excited at the sight of a handsome man. O great sage, this is natural to them.

22. As for Samba, he is dignified, bright, virtuous and good. His excitement is only because of his beauty.”

23. Narada fully agreed with Krishna in what he said, but knowing more about the working of the mind, made a remark that led to the curse of Samba.

24. “A chariot does not move,” (he said), “with a single wheel alone. It is only with the response of men do women get excited with passion. They get gratified by the looks of men.

25. Seeing (your other son) Pradyumna, they become highly shy.

26. But by seeing Samba, they become stricken with passion and the sandal paste and such other things (on his body) act as additional excitants.

27. So Samba must be held responsible for ruining your women and you cannot obliterate the scandal that has reached even Satyaloka.

28. I hear again and again from the people and the sages (the opinion) that you should give up Samba to save you from the ignominy affecting your family.

29. O great Lord, I have told you what is good for you”. After saying so, Narada remained quiet.

30. Krishna then cursed Samba to become ugly and immediately he became a leper.

 31. Foul-smelling blood began to ooze from his body which became full of wounds.

32. Then Narada spoke of the means of redemption from the curse also namely the worship of the Sun.

33-34. “O Samba, son of Jambavati, listen to me. Prostrate before the Sun uttering Vedas, Upanishads and the like when he rises in the eastern mountain. The Sun will be pleased in this way (and get you out of this curse), not otherwise.”

Samba said:

35. “O sage, how can the Sun-god become pleased with a person who has committed a prohibited sexual contact?”

Narada said:

36. By your discussion of this, there will arise a Purana by name Bhavishya. I will read this in Brahmaloka before Brahma himself, and Sumantu will impart it to Manu in the world of mortals. 

Samba said:

37. You have suggested a remedy for my present distress, but how can I go to the eastern mountain when I am reduced to the state of a mere mass of flesh?

Narada said:

38. The result that is obtained by worshipping the Sun-god at the eastern mountain is obtained by worshipping him at Shatsurya in Mathura.

39-40. Worshipping him there in the noon and evening confers even a kingdom.

41. Reciting the mantras of the Sun in the morning, noon and evening at Mathura, one gets all sins removed.

42. By worshipping the Sun after bathing in Krishnaganga all sins disappear and so also all diseases like leprosy.  

Varaha said:

43. Then at the bidding of Krishna, Samba went to the city of Mathura which brings about salvation, for worshipping the Sun. 

44. He worshipped the rising sun at Shatsurya according to the rules given by Narada.

45. Then, by yogic power, the Sun appeared before Samba and asked him to seek a boon for his good and for the establishment of the Suryavrata.

46. “Recite before me the fifty shlokas strung with expressions from the Vedas with which I was propitiated by Narada. I am pleased by your worshipping me”.

47. He was then touched by the Sun-god and soon he regained his wellshapcd form and appeared like another Sun-god.

48. The Sun then taught Samba the sacrifice of Yajnavalkya called ‘Madhyandiniyaka’ to be performed at noon whence he is Madhyandina.

49. There is the tirtha Madhyandiniyaka on the western side of Vaikuntha (tirtha). To bathe there and see Madhyandina is to get free from all sins.

50. The all-pervading Sun remained with Samba in the morning and evening, and in the evening, he stood on the southern side of Krishnaganga.

51. To see the Sun there in the morning and evening is to get removed of all sins and to attain Brahman.

52. Thus appearing before Samba by splitting himself by the power of yoga from the sky, the Sun removed leprosy which was afflicting him.

53-54. Samba disappeared in the tirtha, but was riding with the Sun in his chariot day and night and asking him about the Purana spoken by him. 

55. He then propagated this Purana known as Bhavishya.

56. He then consecrated Surya in the rising form at Udayachala to the south of Yamuna, in the fully brilliant form at noon at Kalapriya and in the setting form at Astamanachala in Mulasthana.

57. Thus he consecrated Surya in his three forms pertaining to morning, noon and evening.

58. O Earth, in Mathura too he established a place known after his name as Sambapura, according to Puranic rites.

59. He arranged there (the festival of) Rathayatra as suggested by the Sun.

60. On the Saptami day in the month of Magha people conduct Rathayatra there, giving up all opposites in their nature.

61. They go to the abode of peace in the regions of the Sun.

62. I have thus told you the sacred story relating to Samba’s curse and release, which removes all sins.