CHAPTER XXIV
(BRAHMADATTA RETIRES FROM THE WORLD)
Markandeya said:—One of (those ganders) Vaibhrāja, an ascetic and anchorite as he was, was born as the son of Brahmadatta by name Viswaksena (1). Once on a time Brahmadatta was sporting delightedly in a forest in the company of his wife like Indra in the company of Sachi (2). Thereupon the king heard the noise made by an ant who was soliciting a female-ant and displaying his displeasure (3). Hearing that the poor female ant was expressing her disgust at the request of her husband Brahmadatta laughed aloud (4). Thereat his wife Saunati was stricken with sorrow and shame. That beautiful damsel had been abstaining from food for a long time (5). When her husband attempted to please her, that one of pure smiles said "O king, while you laughed at me I do not like to live" (6). The king however communicated to her the cause of his laughter but she placed no confidence in his words but rather said in anger "This is not within the power of a man (7). What man can decipher the sound of an ant save by the favour of the Providence or by the good deeds of his pristine birth (8)? O king, if by virtue of Tapas or any other knowledge you have acquired the power of understanding the sound of animals, then by some means create confidence in me by which I may know it. Otherwise, O king, I shall renounce my life. I do swear truly" (9-10).
Hearing those harsh words of the queen the highly illustrious king Brahmadatta was greatly distressed. He then reverentially sought the protection of the Omnipotent Nārāyana, the lord of all the worlds. Having controlled his senses and abstaining from food the highly illustrious king, within six nights, saw the Omnipotent Deity Nārāyana. The Lord, compassionate unto all creatures, said to him (11-13). "O Brahmadatta, after the night has passed away you will attain to well-being." Having said this the lord disappeared there from (#4). Having learnt a Sloka from his sons the father, of those four high-souled Brāhmanas, considered himself blessed (15). He then desired to go to the King and his Minister. Going there, he however found no opportunity of reciting the sloka to them (16).
Thereupon having bathed in the tank and obtained the boon from Nārāyana, he, delightedly ascending a golden chariot, entered the city (17). Kandarikā, the foremost of the twice-born, acted as his charioteer and Pānchala held the chowries (18). Considering that to be a favourable moment the Brāhmana recited the sloka before the King and the two ministers (19).
"Having been born as seven hunters in the Province of Dashārna they were, in their next birth, born as deer on the Kalanjara mountain,—and then they were born as Chakravākas in the island of Shara. Then they were born as ganders in the Mānasa lake. And at last they were born in Kurukshetra as Brāhmanas well read in the Vedas. Amongst them the four, that where born of a good family, have gone to a distant region. You, deviating from the path of Yoga, are sinking" (20–21). O descendant of Bharata, hearing this the king Brahmadatta was stupified, and the reins of the horses and chowries slipped off respectively from the hands of Kandarika and Pānchāla. Seeing this the citizens and friends were all greatly agitated (22–23). Having waited for a moment with his two ministers on the car the king, after regaining his consciousness, returned to the palace (24).
Thereupon recollecting the tank mentioned and regaining the Yoga power practised in the previous birth he honored the Brāhmana with various enjoyable things and chariots (25). Then placing on the throne his son Viswaksena, the subduer of enemies, Brahmadatta retired to a forest with his wife (26). After the king had gone to the forest for practising Yoga Devala's daughter, the good-natured Sunnati said with great delight to the king (27):—"O monarch, you can understand the sound of the ants and still you are addicted to sexual desires; therefore in great anger I wanted to work you up (28). From this birth we must attain to the most excellent state. You had deviated from the practice of Yoga and accordingly I reminded you of it" (29). Hearing the words of his wife the king was highly pleased. And having acquired Yoga power he attained to a state which it is very difficult to obtain (30). Having purified himself by his own actions and acquired the most excellent Sankhya Yoga he attained to a consummate state (31). Having instituted only Sikshā and laid down the order of the Vedas the great ascetic Pānchālya acquired renown and the status of a Yoga preceptor (32). O son of Gangā, all this happened in the days of yore before my very eyes. Meditate on this and you will meet with well-being (23). Others also, who will meditate on this most excellent account, will never be visited by inferior births (34). O descendant of Bharata, listening to this highly momentous history, one has his mind always bent on practising Yoga (35). He, who will meditate on this, shall always enjoy peace and gradually attain to the pure state of a Yogin which it is difficult to acquire in this world (36). Vaishampāyana said:—In order to propagate the practice of Yoga the intelligent Mārkandeya thus spoke in the days of yore by way of describing the fruits of a Srāddha (37). The Divine Soma confers nourishment on all creatures. Therefore hear from me an account of the lunar family while describing the family of Vrishnis (38).
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