Indian myths, p.22
Indian Myths, page 22
Savitri laid her head on his chest and said: “I have not been made weary by my fast. Indeed I am now stronger than before. I will not feel tired when you are by my side. I have resolved to go with you: therefore do not seek to stand in the wat of my wish – the wish and the longing of a faithful wife to be with her lord.”
Satyavan replied: “If it is your desire to accompany me I will allow it. But you must ask permission of my parents so that they do not find fault with me for taking you through the trackless jungle.”
Then Savitri spoke to the blind sage and her husband’s mother and said: “Satyavan is going towards the deep jungle to find fruits and herbs for me, and also fuel for the sacrificial fires. It is my heart’s wish to go too, for today I cannot endure to be parted from him.”
Dyumatsena said: “Since you have come to live with us in our hermitage you have not asked anything of us. So have your wish in this matter, but do not delay your husband in his duties.”
Having received permission to leave the hermitage, Savitri turned towards the jungle with Satyavan, her beloved lord. Smiles covered her face, but her heart was torn with secret sadness.
Peacocks fluttered in the green woodland through which they walked together, and the sun shone in all its splendour in the blue heaven.
In a sweet voice Satyavan said: “How beautiful are the bright streams and the blossoming trees!”
The heart of Savitri was divided into two parts: with one she talked with her husband while she watched his face and followed his moods; with the other she awaited the dreaded coming of Yama, but she never uttered her fears. Birds sang sweetly in the forest, but sweeter to Savitri was the voice of her beloved. It was very dear to her to walk on in silence, listening to his words.
Satyavan gathered fruits and stored them in his basket. Then he began to cut down the branches of trees. The sun was hot and he perspired. Suddenly he felt weary and he said: “My head aches; my senses are confused and my limbs have grown weak. A sickness has seized me. My body seems to be pierced by a hundred darts. I would gladly lie down and rest, my beloved; I would gladly sleep even now.”
Speechless and terror-stricken, the gentle Savitri wound her arms about her husband’s body; she sat on the ground and she pillowed his head on her lap. Remembering the words of Narada, she knew that the dreaded hour had come; the very moment of death was at hand. Gently she held her husband’s head with caressing hands; she kissed his panting lips; her heart was beating fast and loud. The forest grew dark and lonesome.
Suddenly an awful shape emerged from the shadows. He was of great stature; his clothing was blood-red; on his head he wore a gleaming crown; he had red eyes and was fearsome to look at; he carried a noose…. The shape was Yama, God of Death. He stood in silence, and gazed at the sleeping Satyavan.
Savitri looked up, and when she saw that a celestial had come near, her heart trembled with misery and with fear. She laid her husband’s head on the green grass and stood up quickly: then she spoke, saying, “Who are you, divine one, and what is your mission to me?”
Yama replied: “You do love your husband; you are endued also with ascetic merit. I will therefore speak with you. I am the Monarch of Death. The days of this man, your husband, are now spent, and I have come to bind him and take him away.”
Savitri responded by saying: “Wise sages have told me that your messengers carry mortals away. Why, then, mighty King, have you come here yourself?”
Yama replied: “This prince is of spotless heart; his virtues are without number; he is, indeed, an ocean of accomplishments. It would not be fitting to send messengers for him, so I have come here myself.”
The face of Satyavan had grown ashen. Yama cast his noose and tore out from the prince’s body the soul-form, which was no larger than a man’s thumb; it was tightly bound and subdued.
So Satyavan lost his life; he stopped breathing; his body became unsightly; it was robbed of its lustre and deprived of its power to move.
Yama fettered the soul with tightness, and turned abruptly towards the south; silently and speedily he went on his way. Savitri followed him. Her heart was drowned in grief. She could not desert her beloved lord. She followed Yama, the Monarch of Death.
Yama said to her: “Turn back, Savitri. Do not follow me. Perform the funeral rites of your lord. Your allegiance to Satyavan has now come to an end: you are free from all wifely duties. Dare not to proceed further on this path.”
But Savitri answered: “I must follow my husband whether he is carried or whether he goes of his own will. I have undergone great penance. I have observed my vow, and I cannot be turned back…. I have already walked with you seven paces, and the sages have declared that one who walks seven paces with another becomes a companion. I must converse with you, I must speak and you must listen…. I have attained the perfect life on earth by performing my vows and by reason of my devotion to my lord. It is not right that you should part me from my husband now, and prevent me from attaining bliss by saying that my allegiance to him has ended and another mode of life is opened to me.”
Yama responded: “Turn back now…. Your words are wise and pleasing; therefore, before you go, you can ask a favour of me and I will grant it. Except the soul of Satyavan, I will give you whatever you desire.”
Savitri said: “Because my husband’s father became blind, he was deprived of his kingdom. Restore his eyesight, mighty One.”
Yama agreed and said: “The wish is granted. I will restore the vision of your father-in-law…. But you have now grown faint on this difficult journey. Turn back, therefore, and your weariness will pass away.”
Savitri responded: “How can I be weary when I am with my husband? The fate of my husband will be my fate also; I will follow him even to the place where you carry him…. Hear me, mighty One, whose friendship I cherish! It is a blessed thing to see a celestial; still more blessed is it to converse with one; the friendship of a god must bear great fruit.”
Yama replied: “Your wisdom delights my heart. Therefore you can ask of me a second favour, except the life of your husband, and it will be granted to you.”
So Savitri said: “May my wise and saintly father-in-law regain the kingdom he has lost. May he once again become the protector of his people.”
Yama replied: “The wish is granted. The king will return to his people and be their wise protector…. Turn back now, princess; your desire is fulfilled.”
To this Savitri said: “All people must obey your decrees; you take away life in accordance with divine ordinances and not of your own will. Therefore you are called Yama – he that rules by decrees. Hear my words, divine One. It is the duty of celestials to love all creatures and to award them according to their merit. The wicked are without holiness and devotion, but the saintly protect all creatures and show mercy even to their enemies.”
Yama responded by saying: “Your wise words are like water to a thirsty soul. Therefore ask of me a third favour, except your husband’s life, and it will be granted to you.”
Savitri said: “My father, King Aswapati, has no son. Grant that a hundred sons may be born to him.”
Yama replied: “A hundred sons will be born to your royal father. Your wish is granted…. Now turn back, princess; you cannot come any further. Long is the path you have already travelled.”
But Savitri would not give up. She said: “I have followed my husband and the way has not seemed long. Indeed, my heart desires to go on much further. Hear my words, Yama, as you proceed on your journey. You are great and wise and powerful; you deal equally with all human creatures; you are the lord of justice…. One cannot trust oneself as one can trust a celestial; therefore, one seeks to win the friendship of a celestial. It is proper that one who seeks the friendship of a celestial should make answer to his words.”
Yama responded: “No mortal has ever spoken to me as you have spoken. Indeed your words are pleasing, princess. I will grant you a fourth wish, except your husband’s life, before you go.”
Savitri said: “May a century of sons be born to my husband and me so that our race may endure. Grant me this, the fourth favour, Mighty One.”
Then Yama said: “I grant to you a century of sons, princess; they will be wise and powerful and your race will endure…. Be without weariness now, and turn back; you have come too far already.”
Savitri replied: “Those who are pious must practise eternal morality, Yama. The pious uphold the universe. The pious hold communion with the pious only, and are never weary; the pious do good to others without ever expecting any reward. A good deed done to the righteous is never thrown away; such an act does not entail loss of dignity nor is any interest impaired. Indeed, the doing of good is the chief office of the righteous, and the righteous therefore are the true protectors of all.”
To this Yama said: “The more you speak, the more I respect you, princess. You, who are so deeply devoted to your husband, you can now ask of me some incomparable favour.”
So Savitri said: “Mighty One, bestower of favours, you have already promised what cannot be fulfilled unless my husband is restored to me; you have promised me a century of sons. Therefore, I ask you, Yama, to give me back Satyavan, my beloved, my lord. Without him, I am like one who is dead; without him, I have no desire for happiness; without him I have no longing even for Heaven; I will have no desire to prosper if my lord is snatched away; I cannot live without Satyavan. You have promised me sons, Yama, yet you take away my husband from my arms. Hear me and grant this favour: Let Satyavan be restored to life so that your decree may be fulfilled.”
Eventually Yama replied: “So be it. With cheerful heart I now unbind your husband. He is free…. Disease cannot afflict him again and he will prosper. Together you will both have a long life; you will live for four hundred years; you will have a century of sons and they will be kings, and their sons will be kings too.”
Yama, the lord of death, then departed. And Savitri returned to the forest where her husband’s body lay cold and pale; she sat on the ground and pillowed his head on her lap. Then Satyavan was given back his life…. He looked at Savitri with eyes of love; he was like one who had returned from a long journey in a strange land. He said: “My sleep was long; why did you not wake me, my beloved?… Where is that dark One who dragged me away?”
Savitri replied: “Yama has come and gone, and you have slept long, resting your head on my lap, and are now refreshed, blessed one. If you can rise up, let us now leave because the night is already dark….”
Satyavan rose up refreshed and strong. He looked round about and saw that he was in the middle of the forest.
Then he said: “Oh fair one, I came here to gather fruit for you, and while I cut down branches from the trees a pain afflicted me. I grew faint, I sank to the ground, I laid my head on your lap and fell into a deep sleep even whilst you embraced me. Then it seemed to me that I was enveloped in darkness, and that I saw someone…. Was this a vision or a reality?”
Savitri responded: “The darkness deepens…. I will tell you everything tomorrow…. Now let us find our parents. The beasts of the night are coming; I hear their awesome voices; they tread the forest in glee; the howl of the jackal makes my heart afraid.”
Satyavan said: “Darkness has covered the forest with fear; we cannot find the path by which to return home.”
So Savitri said: “I will gather sticks and make a fire and we will wait here until daylight comes.”
Satyavan replied: “My sickness has gone and I would gladly see my parents again. I have never before spent a night away from the hermitage. My mother and father are old, and I am their crutch. They will be afflicted with sorrow because we have not returned.”
Satyavan lifted up his arms and wept, but Savitri dried his tears and said: “I have performed penances, I have given away in charity, I have offered up sacrifices, I have never uttered a falsehood. May your parents be protected by virtue of the power which I have obtained, and may you, my husband, be protected too.”
Satyavan replied: “Beautiful one, let us now return to the hermitage.”
Savitri raised up her despairing husband. Then she placed his left arm on her left shoulder and wound her right arm around his body, and they walked on together…. After some time the moon came out and shone on their path.
Meanwhile Dyumatsena, the father of Satyavan, had regained his sight, and he went with his wife to search for his lost son, but had to return to the hermitage in despair. The sages comforted the weeping parents and said: “Savitri has practised great austerities, and there can be no doubt that Satyavan is still alive.”
Finally Satyavan and Savitri reached the hermitage, and their own hearts and the hearts of their parents were freed from sorrow.
Then Savitri told of all that had taken place, and the sages said: “Oh chaste and illustrious lady, you have rescued the race of Dyumatsena, the foremost of kings, from the ocean of darkness.”
The following morning messengers came to Dyumatsena and told him that the king who had deprived him of his kingdom was now dead, having fallen by the hand of his chief minister. All the people clamoured for their legitimate ruler. “Chariots are waiting for you, king. Therefore return to your kingdom,” said the messengers.
So the king was restored to his kingdom, in accordance with the favour Savitri had obtained from Yama. And in time sons were born to her father. The gentle Savitri, because of her great devotion, had raised the family of her husband and her own father from misery to high fortune. She was the rescuer of all; the bringer of happiness and prosperity…. He who hears the story of Savitri will never endure misery again.
Tales of Heaven
In that fair domain it is neither too hot nor too cold. Life there is devoid of sorrow; age does not bring frailties, and no one is ever hungry or thirsty; it is without wretchedness, or fatigue, or evil feelings. Everything, whether celestial or human, that the heart seeks after is found there. Sweet are the juicy fruits, delicious the fragrance of flowers and tree blossoms, and waters are there, both cold and hot, to give refreshment and comfort. Nymphs dance and sing to the piping of celestial elves, and merry laughter always blends with the strains of alluring music.
The Assembly House of Yama, which was made by Twashtri, has splendour equal to the sun; it shines like burnished gold. There the servants of the Lord of Justice measure out the allotted days of mortals. Great rishis and ancestors wait on Yama, King of the Pitris (fathers), and adore him. Sanctified by holiness, their shining bodies are dressed in swan-white garments, and decked with many-coloured bracelets and golden earrings. Sweet sounds, alluring perfumes, and brilliant flower garlands make that building eternally pleasant and supremely blessed. Hundreds of thousands of saintly beings worship the illustrious King of the Pitris.
The heaven of Indra was constructed by the great artisan-god himself. Like a chariot it can be moved anywhere at will. The Assembly House has many rooms and seats, and is adorned by celestial trees. Indra sits there with his beautiful queen, wearing his crown, with gleaming bracelets on his upper arms; he is decked with flowers, and dressed in white garments. He is waited on by brilliant Maruts, and all the gods and the rishis and saints, whose sins have been washed off their pure souls, which are as resplendent as fire. There is no sorrow, or fear, or suffering in Indra’s home, which is inhabited by the spirits of wind and thunder, fire and water, plants and clouds, and planets and stars, and also the spirits of Prosperity, Religion, Joy, Faith, and Intelligence. Fairies and elves (Apsaras and Gandharvas) dance and sing to sweet music; feats of skill are performed by celestial battle heroes; auspicious rites are also practised. Divine messengers come and go in celestial chariots, looking as bright as Soma himself.
The heaven of Varuna was built by Vishwakarman (Twashtri) within the sea. Its walls and arches are pure white, and they are surrounded by celestial trees, made of sparkling jewels, which always blossom and always bear fruit. In the many-coloured bowers beautiful and variegated birds sing delightful melodies. In the Assembly House, which is also pure white, there are many rooms and many seats. Varuna, richly decked with jewels and golden ornaments and flowers, is throned there with his queen. Adityas wait on the lord of the waters, as also do hooded snakes (Nagas) with human heads and arms, and Daityas and Danavas (giants and demons) who have taken vows and have been rewarded with immortality. All the holy spirits of rivers and oceans are there, and the holy spirits of lakes and springs and pools, and the personified forms of the points of the heavens, the ends of the earth, and the great mountains. Music and dances provide entertainment, while sacred hymns are sung in praise of Varuna.
Legends of Krishna
Krishna was originally the hero of the Mahabharata, a destructive, evil and immoral warrior who was known for his cunning and martial skills.
Later, as Krishna became associated with Vishnu – his third human incarnation – his evil deeds were explained philosophically, and all manner of excuses was devised to explain his previous acts. The murders he had committed were to rid the earth of demons; his forays with women, and their subsequent search for him, have been explained in a metaphor of a worshipper seeking his god. Indeed, he came to represent the doctrine that devotion is a way to salvation.
Krishna was a popular god, and the late addition of the Bhagavadgita to the Mahabharata presents him, alongside work and knowledge, as the means by which believers can be saved. But it is his childhood pranks that have come to characterize Krishna, and it is some of these which follows.
Krishna’s Birth
There once was a king of Mathura, named Ugrasena, who had a beautiful wife. Now his wife was barren, a fact which dismayed them both and caused her to hold her head down in shame. One day, when walking in the wood, she lost her companions and found herself in the company of a demon who assumed her husband’s form. Knowing not the difference between this man and the man who was her husband, she allowed him to lie with her and the product of this liaison was a long-awaited son, who they named Kansa.
