A Woman Should Never Desert Her Husband

1. That religious king, the wealthy Sibi, having heard those words of the sage Narada, was pleased in his mind, and (thus) spoke to the best one: Sibi said:

2-3. O sage, you have properly described the greatness of this excellent holy place Nigamodbodhaka. I have heard it; that removes sins. O sage, there are hundreds of holy places in this Indraprastha. Tell me the greatness of some other holy place, if there is any. Narada said:

4-17. O king, I shall tell you what formerly took place in this Dvaraka which is situated within Indraprastha. Listen to it from me. In Kampilya there was a certain brahmana, Cupid embodied as it were. He attracted the hearts of all women with his excellent amorous actions. He was skilled in the science of music. His voice was sweet like that of a cuckoo. Once, that very intelligent one, holding a lute in his hand, repeatedly playing upon it, singing, without an equal, with voice sweet like that of a cukoo, moved in the city. Having heard the sound of his song, full of melody and protracted tones, the wives of citizens abandoned their domestic work and went (to him). Fascinated by his handsome form, they could not bear the force of lust. Hearing the song actually they were disturbed. What other selfcontrolled and wise person than the two (viz. Brahma and Shiva) is able to conquer Cupid who created a longing for Sarasvati in the mind of Brahma, or who made half of Shiva's body to be given to Parvati? And women are fickle by nature. Even the chaste ones were unable to put up with the excitement caused by Cupid. What could be said, O king? Cupid is difficult to be conquered in the world. They went everywhere he, singing with his throat and lute and fascinating with his tone, went. Their husbands, sons, brothers and fathers came there, and threatening them, took them (back) to their own homes, O king. When they again looking for him, approached him, the citizens told the account to their king. The king too called the best brahmana and asked him in private: "O best brahmana, tell me by means of which charm you fascinated the women in the city. I shall give you much wealth. Othewise I shall drive you out of my kingdom. There is no doubt about it." Narada said:

18. Hearing these words of the king, the best brahmana, the ocean of handsomeness and virtues, spoke to him true words. The Brahmana said:

19-21. O king, I, a beggar, have neither a charm nor a herb; but all the women in your city have no control over their senses. O king, the women in your city cannot put up with the force of lust on seeing my handsome form and hearing the sound of my songs. O great king, what can I do? O lord, what is my fault? The order of the king, like (the fruits of) former acts, can never be resisted. Narada said:

22. O king Usinara-Sibi, when the brahmana was telling like this all citizents, coming together, spoke thus to the king: The citizens said:

23-27. O king, this brahmana has fascinated the wives of the citizens. They do not remain in their houses. They cannot be stopped by us. O lord, if this one who infatuates the women lives in the city, then today (only) we shall go to other countries. Our bull-god of the nature of havyaand kavya (oblations to gods and dead ancestors) has gone(?). They have started going after him like a cow from the field of sinners. Olord of men, we, abandoned by glory, have no other shelter to seek. They will follow him as the female elephants follow their lord. How can Lakshmi (wealth) remain in a vacant house? Since these three, viz. piety, worldly riches and house, depend upon the wife, one that depends upon the wife's piety and wealth cannot remain, when the two are lost. Narada said:

28. When the citizens were speaking like this, their wives came to the king, sat there, and thus spoke to one another: The wives of the citizens said:

29-31a. Our minds open excessively on seeing this brahmana of a charming form as lotuses in the water do on seeing the lord of the day and they close in his absence as the white lotuses close without the moon: come, together we shall seize (and take) him before the king. He is not fit to be killed, nor are we. What will the king do? Narada said:

31b-33. Saying so, they hurriedly seized the best brahmana, when their own husbands were watching and in front of the king himself; and they said to him: "O lord of our minds, come to our house, and quickly pacify (the agony) tormenting our hearts. Today we cannot remain (i.e. live) without you." Hearing these words of them, the brahmana replied: The brahmana said:

34-40. I am your son; you are my mothers. Leaving your houses, why are you wandering? Propitiate your own lords, since, when the husbands are propitiated, wives certainly (enjoy) the two worlds, and Vishnu, the lord of gods, is pleased. (And) when he is pleased, what is difficult to be obtained? That woman who, forsaking her own husband, resorts to another (man) with a desire for enjoyment, invites censure and goes to a fearful hell. She, the deceiver of her husband, lives there till the end of the kalpa. Again having moved out of it, she reaches the state of an inanimate object. Even from there, she obtains beasthood for many existences. Then freed from that (stock) she is born as a crippled one. Knowing the sinful course to be like this, turn away from Cupid. Otherwise at the end (i.e. fall) of your body, you will go to a very fearful hell. You will not have the pleasure that you desire to get from me. It is your sin, since it is a fall of a human being.

41-43. Having heard his words like these, and seeing the faces of their husbands, they hung down their faces through shame like creepers struck by a (stormy) wind. The very terrible fire of lust of the women in the city went out due to the cold water in the form of the words of the chap. O king, all of them, condemning Cupid as one that fascinates even gods like Brahma, Indra, got up, and walked (away). The women said:

44-52. Fie upon this, committing sinful acts, an axe to the wood in the form of good character! He who has struck Cupid for the happiness of passionate beautiful women, is blessed. What should we say to Rukmini, venerable to the world, who carried in her womb this Rahu, named Pradyumna, eating the Moon of the good character of women? If that mean god comes within the range of our sight again, we shall throw him into the fire of the eye of the lord (Shiva) by meditating upon him. He, the sinful one, whom Vishnu, delighted in self, created, made Vishnu dear to (or the lover of) sixteen thousand women. Then what can be said about us? Having thus censured that Cupid, the women praised that best brahmana who preserved his own character and that of them also, O king. 'Blessed is that mother of this (best brahmana) who gave, birth to this excellent brahmana who vanquished Cupid and preserved the virtue of others! Fie upon us who were laughed at by the king's men, who were vanquished by Cupid, and by whom great sin was committed through speech and mind!' All the women who were thus thinking, who were of the same view, being admonished by the brahmana's words, went to their respective houses. Then king Kampilya also, having honoured that brahmana with garments and ornaments, sent him to the house of that good man.

53-63. As time went on, the powerful lord of Karusa besieged lord of Kampilya and his city with armies (i.e. a large army). A great war took place between the two. He (i.e. Karusa king) got him killed. He plundered the entire city and the brave ones were killed everywhere. Those women eating (i.e. drinking) Kalakuta (poison) died. They had not made any atonement for that sin. Due to that sin all those were born as demonesses with huge bodies and causing fear in the city of the demon called Bhlsana. All the women in the city were killed by Hanumat, occupying the banner of the chariot of Vishnu relishing sacrifices. The same were again born as demonesses on the path to Maru. They were oppressed by hunger and thirst, and caused fear at their sight. Thus due to the sin committed by means of speech and mind, they obtained two existences, mixed with (i.e. along with) the existence as demonesses. Due to their sin the two cities along with their kings were destroyed. Therefore, O lord, women, fearing sin, should never resort to another lover even through speech or mind. Women desiring salvation should not desert their husband even though he is diseased, dull, poor or blind. O Shibi, I have told you in great detail about the sin produced through devotion to another lover by means of speech or mind, so also the fruit of it obtained by these (women). By the drops (of water) of the pious Dvaraka, seen by those going to Indraprastha, falling on their bodies, the women in the city reached heaven after abandoning the severe condition of corpse-eaters, which they had reached due to their having resorted to another lover, and obtained the form of divine ladies delighting gods.

1. O son of Dharma, having heard these words of that noble Narada, king abi politely spoke these (words): Sibi said:

2. O best sage, how did those demonesses, moving on the path to Maru, get the water from this Dvaraka?

3-9. O king, listen to the story, pure and destroying sin, of a brahmana named Vimala, living in the valley of the Himalaya (mountain). In the Himalayan valley lived a brahmana by name Vimala. He honoured gods, sages, his dead ancestors, and guests. He was engrossed in worshipping Vishnu's feet. He knew the Vedas, the Vedaiigas and religious practices. His mind was (devoted to) listening to the Purana containing the hosts of Vishnu's virtues. In his old age a son was bom to him due to Vishnu's grace. The father then named him Haridatta (literally, given by Vishnu). He duly performed his (sacraments like) shaving etc. Haridatta received (the knowledge of) the Vedas from his teacher. Having duly studied the Vedas, having paid the fee of the teacher, he, being detached, took to renunciation, (having) completely (dropped) the two stages (viz. the second and the third) of human life. On coming to know that act of him, his mother who loved her son, bathing (i.e. making wet) her pair of breasts with tears due to separation from her son, wept. The mother said:

10-16. O dear one, like a bee abandoning coarse grass, where are you going, leaving me who am helpless, and your father stricken with old age? Due to service of the feet of Vishnu, I got you in my old age. You have resorted to his feet for salvation after having abandoned me. O dear one, I was certainly a fool, since having propitiated that eternal Vishnu I longed for you, the unsteady one, for getting happiness. O child, you are intelligent since you are resorting to Vishnu, the all-in-all. You too are looking upon this transient world as permanent. What should I do? Where should I go? Maya cuts off my understanding, as a strong person having a weapon cuts off a plantain tree producing good fruits (right) from its roots. Blessed was king Dasaratha who died due to agony (caused by separation) from Rama. Fie upon me who am (still) sustaining my life (even) after separation from my son! Come, appear before me, emancipate me. O dear one, O ocean of virtues, speak to your father words consisting of (the words from) the Vedas.

17-20a. Weeping like this, O king, the mother fell on the ground like a digit of the moon due to its bsing cut off (from other digits) given to Rahu. O best king, thebrahmana sage came there. Seeing her fallen on the ground, he said: "What is this? Why has she, with her hair dishevelled and garments and ornaments disordered, fallen on the ground? Is Haridatta well?" All those her friends said to that Vimala, O king: The friends said:

20b-21. Your son, Haridatta, having studied the Vedas, having paid the teacher's fee, and being highly devoted to Vishnu, has renounced the world. Due to the grief caused by separation from him she has fallen on the ground. Narada said:

22. Having heard these words of them, the very wise Vimala roused his wife with this nectar of his words. Vimala said:

23-26. O (my) wife, get up. Listen to the words spoken by me. Why have you fallen down and are dejected? Your son who, knowing this (world to be) transient, has resorted to Vishnu's foliage-like feet, is blessed. You too, his mother, whose son has served the feet of Vishnu, are blessed. He will also undoubtedly emancipate me, (our) family, and men born in our family, O auspicious one. What a lot of difference is there between this unsteady world, and the service of Vishnu's feet, giving an eternal world! Thinking like this kings like Bharata resorted to Vishnu. So (has) your son (done), O chaste one. Unless a wise man, free from lust, resorts to the foliage-like feet of Vishnu, in every existence (of him) his wife, wealth, house, body, relatives cause grief to him. Narada said:

27. Thus admonished by him, the wise one, she got up from the ground, and with a piteous voice spoke to her husband:

28-31. O darling, I understand all that you have said well. I am very much tormented since I do not see a leader for our family. What is the use of service to Vishnu, when there is the great holy place in the form of a son? Even if we meet with death in our house only, we shall have (the fruit of) both the worlds then (i.e. when we have a son). Men indeed should try to beget a good son; since sons emancipate their ancestors from the ocean of the mundane existence. Oyou very intelligent one, if you desire a son, the foremost in the family, then, with a desire to have a son, resort to the creator and supporter of all beings. Narada said:

32-36. Hearing these words of her Vimala, the brahmana, said: "With a desire to have a son, I shall go to Brahmaksetra Prayaga." Saying so, the brahmana set out and went to Haridvara. Having duly bathed there, he then went to Indraprastha after a few days. O brave one, having bathed there (at the holy place) giving (whatever is desired) to everyone that solicits, in the evening, and having eaten (food) he slept at night on the bank of Yamuna. Near that Vimala sleeping at night, the lord of gods along with all holy places quickly came after having mounted on a swan. Having come he raised Vimala, desiring a son; and the best got spoke sweet words. Brahma said:

37-43. I know the desire hidden in your mind. Since there is no way to fulfil it, listen to the reason. Once all gods, led by me and Shiva, gathered on the peak of Meru, and praised Vishnu for success. Being praised by gods like me lord Vishnu was pleased then, and said: "Choose (a boon)." Thus addressed by Vishnu, all gods, having received (from him) a boon as desired, went to their respective houses. I said: "O lord of gods, give me an excellent boon. May my holy place, Prayaga, give all the desired objects. May another holy place of me at Indraprastha be a hundredfold (meritorious). O sinless one, I have properly chosen it from you." Having heard these words of me, the lord then said to me: "Let it be so," and again spoke (certain) words. Listen to (those) words.

44-56a. In Indra's Khandava forest there is an auspicious holv place on the bank of Yamuna, called Indraprastha. Those who die there are equal to me. O Brahman, my own city of Dvaraka is a hundredfold more meritorious than when formerly it was at the shore of the ocean. A man who, having ignored it, resorts to another holy place, does not obtain the fruit of (a visit to) the holy place. This statement is not false. A man would obtain the merit said to be accruing from all holy places. The city of Dvaraka preserves another illusory holy place. He who, having bathed at other holy places, and having performed various rites, will come here, will certainly get the fruit of those holy places. O best brahmana, having spoken these words, Vishnu disappeared. I too went to my world situated below Vaikuntha. Kasi is said to be a hundredfold more meritorious than Prayaga, my holy place. Similarly the hilly place Nigamodbodhaka is a hundredfold more meritorious than Kasi. This group of seven holy places is said to havs the fruit equal to the three. O brahmana, to him who goes to Prayaga without ignoring these three, I give his desired objects. Not otherwise. Some sages say that the seven, Ayodhya etc., are equal in merit. Indraprastha is said to be hundredfold superior to those. O brahmana, having come to that holy place Shri Dvaraka, which gives all the desired fruits, bathe there with the desire for a son. When the hundred names are uttered, unlimited religious merit accrues from them. This holy place will give you a son, the foremost in your family; and due to your bathing here, Vishnu will be pleased. Narada said:

56b-58. Speaking like this, Brahma, the lord of the chief of gods, vanished. Vimala also then bathed, and offered oblations to gods etc. Thus said the pious one: "O Dvaraka, dear toKrishna, give me a son, your devotee. Salutation to you." When the brahmana spoke like this, there was (heard) a divine voice. The divine voice said:

59-60a. Due to the favour of this holy place, the crest-jewel of all holy places, you will have a son, knowing the truth of religious practices and continuing your family. Go home; do not delay. The bath is well done. Narada said:

60b-69. Having heard that (divine) voice, he, trusting in the birth of a son (i.e. trusting he will have a son), took water of Dvaraka in a water-pot, and left (the place). On the way he met his friend living on the Malaya mountain. He was going (back) home after having visited all holy places. He told him all the account consisting of his dialogue with Brahma. He too was amazed on hearing what had taken place at the holy place of Dvaraka. The pious one said: "O friend, listen to my words. I desire to visit all those holy places that are fashioned in Bharata. O friend, take me to that holy place, granting all desired objects and show it to me. On the earth those friends who oblige their friends are excellent. In the world none is like them — (even) the father, the mother, or the son. All relatives desert a poor man. But friends, afflicted by his grief, do not leave the friend. A friend emancipates his friends plunged into the ocean of mundane existence. Having taught me the devotion to Vishnu, capable of destroying existences, you have become my best friend. O oblige me. O brahmana, show me the best holy place called Dvaraka."

1. Taking the brahmana (with him) Vimala came here to Dvaraka. And the two wise ones with a desire for devotion for Vishnu bathed there. In the sky there was again heard the divine voice, deep like that of clouds. The divine voice said:

2. Listen, O best brahmanas, this is Vishnu's holy place. You will have, due to the grace of this holy place, devotion for Vishnu, due to which people abandon the strong infatuation due to Maya. Narada said:

3-4. The two best brahmanas having heard the incorporeal speech, said to each other: "This is Vishnu's favour." The two, having duly bathed there and obtained great devotion for Vishnu, saluting him and talking to each other walked. The brahmanas said:

5-7a. As we two, walking on the path came in contact with each other, as on the earth contact with a house and wife etc. takes place, so the future separation of us, being on the way, is (but) proper. So is (the contact and separation from) the wife, son etc. being in the mouth of tiger in the form of Death. That man who realising the contact with wife and sons to be transient, would ever resort to and worship Vishnu, is blessed. Narada said:

7b-lla. "(Please) remember me. I am your servant, resorting to your feet. You may send me a message." Saying like this, they went home. O king, listen, how that friend of Vimala, going along the path, brought about the liberation of the demonesses. The brahmana, while going, reached that place void of water, where the demonesses scorched by sins stood oppressed by hunger and thirst. Then they, seeing from a distance that brahmana with a pot containing water in his hand, said to one another: The demonesses said: llb-13a. Some traveller, holding a pot of water in his hand is coming. Our hunger and thiist will be at least partially satisfied. We shall eat him up and drink the water in the pot in his hand. We are oppressed by hunger and thirst for a hundred years. NSrada said:

13b-21. One said: "Having first eaten his hot liver, then having drunk his blood, I shall gain life." The other said: "How much material does he have, O Gajanana? Even for me, Vyaghranana, it is not seen to be enough for drinking." Another one called Rathacakra, (said): "Hear my words. From one I shall fashion an ear-ring, and a girdle from (other) intestine."Another one said: "I, skilled in gambling, will play dice in the gambling hall with his sixteen teeth, made black from one side." All of them, thus speaking among themselves, ran to the brahmana, with their mouths opened, tongues lolling and bright great arms. Seeing them coming, the brahmana was overcome by fear. O king, he protected himself all round, as told in the Vedas. The demonesses of fierce valour having come (to him), stood away from him. O king, they were repelled by his lustre and hymns. And they said: "Tell us, who are you? Wherefrom have you come? Seeing you our mind is delighted. O brahmana, what will be the fruit of touching your feet? Therefore, place your lotus-like feet on our heads." Narada said:

22a. Hearing their words Haridattaja (Haridatta's son?) said: The brahmana said:

22b-23. I am a brahmana who has come after visiting holy places. Now I am going to Puskara. What do you desire? Since, if I am able to give it, I shall do so. The demonesses said:

24. O brahmana, tell us in which holy places you bathed. All those are meritorious. Liberate us from this bad existence, giving terrible agony due to great hunger and thirst. The brahmana said:

25-38. From my hermitage I went first to Haripura, Avanti. From there I went to Dvaraka. Having bathed in the water of Somodbhava, I went to the holy place Prabhasa situated on the shore of the sea. Then I bathed at the highly purifying Setunibandha. From there I came to the very holy Kiskindha where Rama had killed Valin, the lord of the host of monkeys. From there I came to the SarasvatI temple situated on the bank of Narmada where SarasvatI, served by all, dwells. Then I reached VenI, saluted her and saw the two cities ShivakaiicI and Vishnukaiici in the southern part of India, due to having died where a man becomes Shiva and Vishnu. From there I reached Utkala where lord Vishnu, actually giving the four ends of human life and the desired objects to his devotees dwells. Having duly worshipped him, and eaten the eatables offered to him, I went to Gangasagara which was his favour only. Then having duly gratified gods, sages and (my) dead ancestors, I came to that place where Ganga had a hundred faces (i.e. flew in a hundred courses). Then having gone to Gaya and having duly offered pinda, endowed with TulasI blossoms, sandal and water to the dead ancestors, I came to Kosala, to Sarayu which by means of her touch cloudy due to the water, had purified all people. There is a holy place called Gopratara difficult to be reached (even) by gods. O demonesses, there I did the acts like bathing etc. From there I reached Kasi, the capital of the lord of Uma. Having saluted god Visvesvara, so also Bindumadhava, I devoutly bathed in the Jnanavapi at Manikarnika. Having stayed there for three nights, I again came to Prayaga where actually Brahma (lives) on the fourteenth day of the bright half of Pausa.

39-49. At a dawn of Magha. having bathed there, again from there I came to Naimisa on the bank of Gomati, where all holy places, with their enchantment dwell. From there I reached Mathura where there is the holy place called Visranti. Near it is a holy, excellent pool called Asikunda. There very holy Yamuna giving everything and having the holy places of Krishnaganga, Dhruva, Krurakesi, Kali exists. On both her banks are forests shining with splendour and producing allholy places. Having bathed in them and drunk (their water) a man is not born again. From there I came to the holy, excellent city of Hastinapura. There is the best river Ganga that rose from lotus-like feet of Vishnu. Then coming to the place of Narayana situated in the Himalayan region and seeing Madhava (there), I came to Kedara. Having worshipped Visvesa (there) and having drunk the water of Hamsa (lake), I came to the very holy Haridvara, on the bank of Ganga. Having bathed there and having gratified gods, sages and (my) dead ancestors, I came to Kuruksetra where there is PracI Sarasvati. There too, I with my senses controlled, performed all rites, and having worshipped Vishnu's lotus-like feet I went to Puskara. On the way my friend named Vimala, going from the holy place Indraprastha, met me.

50-60. O demonesses, the brahmana, causing me to return, took me to the holy place Sakra-(i.e. Indra-)prastha, giving all (desired) objects. There is holy Dvaraka fashioned by Vishnu himself. There I actually saw Vishnu, not in form but through words. There he and I bathed to obtain devotion for Vishnu. Vishnu, of the form of Krishna, gave it to him and me. We heard Vishnu's words, but did not see his form. We secured devotion for him. From that place I came to Puskara. O demonesses, I tell you that this water in the water-pot is from that holy place called Dvaraka, the chief among holy places. I have told you what you had asked me. Seeing this bad plight of you, compassion is produced in my heart. Tell me what I should do. I am at your disposal. Let knowledge come to you. Saying so, he sprinkled them with (that) water. Due to the touch of that water they remembered all the acts in their (various) existences, and gave up their powerful demonish bodies. Obtaining divine bodies, and turning into celestial nymphs, they got into an aeroplane that had come from heaven, and saluted the brahmana. And they said: "O best brahmana, due to contact with the water from Dvaraka we are freed from demonhood, and are (now) going to heaven. O brahmana, there is no other better holy place giving all desired objects than this Dvaraka situated in Indraprastha." Narada said:

61-68. Speaking like this, O king, they got into the aeroplanes. And ordered by the brahmana, they went by that (aeroplane) to the eastern direction. A man, hearing the greatness of this Dvaraka situated on the bank of Yamuna, is freed from sins, Oking. The same fruit as is had by giving meals to a hundred brahmanas as desired by them, is produced by listening to this greatness. O king, as happiness is experienced on worshipping Vishnu, similarly (it is had) by listening to the greatness of this Dvaraka. That fruit which is got by giving twenty palas of gold (to a brahmana) at the time of the solar eclipse and the lunar eclipse, is obtained by one hearing the greatness of this (Dvaraka). Having heard (the account of) the acquisition of a son by Vimala, (a man) obtains a son; and hearing (the account of) the acquisition of his friend's devotion (a man) secures the best devotion. He who, endowed with devotion, listens to (the account of) the liberation of the demonesses, goes like them in an aeroplane to heaven. O best king, I have described to you the greatness of Dvaraka that should be resorted by men in the three worlds and that is situated at Sakratirtha. Tell me, what other (account) more meritorious than this, I should relate to you. No delay should be done in (securing) one's bliss.

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