An Ancient Tale from The Ancient Hindu Literature

To nurse desire for a son is an ancient longing a man harbours, and for getting a son, he makes earnest efforts and genuinely tries to propitiate gods and goddesses. In the course of a long dialogue, monk Deval revealed to a vaishya the reasons as to why the lord did not bless him with a son. A rich businessperson Shiv Sharma told tale of previous birth with the grace of god. He remembered past because of the holy bath he took in the sacred rivers. He recalled past vividly and told that he was a rich man and father Sarabha was a famous person.

He thought for a long time and then, said, “Sarabha lived in Kanyakubjpura. He earned immense wealth in business. However, worries troubled him day and night. He always thought that whatever wealth he had accumulated would go waste because he had no son. Sarabha, the trader, once sat worried and disturbed.

One day, monk Deval arrived at his house while he was disillusioned and sad. Monk Deval knew about the world and the world hereafter. Observing an approaching sage, Sarabha got up, greeted the monk properly, extended courtesies modestly, and thus, pleased him.

After Deval settled comfortably on a seat, he asked humbly, “O the greatest among the monks, you wonder around and it is a sacred act that bestows happiness and pleasure to living beings like us, and it is the only purpose, for which you continue to go everywhere.  If you were not generous and kind, then, how men of the world occupied with the worries of household, would enjoy glimpses of holy people like you. People, who are devoted and keep eyes fixed at the feet of Sri Hari, nurse no desires. O monk, I know and still I am eager to know reasons of your arrival here.”

He heard vaishya Sarabha and said with an objective to know his mind, “O great man, you amassed money and revered and pursued principles of dharma and with the money you earned, you tried to perform various religious ceremonies and yajnas. Even then, I find you appear emaciated and pathetic. If it is a secret and you do not wish to share, you may think over, but undoubtedly, you can confide in me.”

Encouraging and soothing monk inspired Sarabha, “O great monk, what can I hide? Nothing can be secreted you know. With your grace and blessings, I enjoy various comforts and pleasures. Only one regret and anguish disturbs. Old age has come, and until now, the lord did not bless me with a son.  O monk, tell me a way out so that I am favoured with a son. I see nothing is impossible on earth for holy souls - mahatmas like you.”

Greatest among the vaishyas said humbly. Monk Deval listened to him, thought for a while, kept his mind steady, thought deep, closed eyes as if in meditation, and then, knew about reason proving an obstacle in the way of getting a son. With the help of the third eye, he learnt about past of the king and so he told Sarabha, “O great trader, it is an old story. Once, your wife nursed a desire in the heart. She went to the temple of goddess Parvati and prayed, ‘O beloved and holy consort of lord Shiva Gouri if am pregnant I shall offer and satisfy you with six kinds of juices and shall present delicious food.’

“Goddess was highly pleased. After she had offered prayers, goddess blessed the queen. She carried the seed of husband within a month from the day of worship.  One day, devoted queen heard friends’ entreaties, thought over, and came to you and requested, “O dear lord, I want to pray before goddess Parvati, who fulfills desires. Her blessings fulfilled my desires.”

He thought for a while and then told, “O Sarabha, you felt extremely happy to hear about the request of the queen, and therefore, arranged for everything - honey, grains, straw, milk fragrance etc. necessary for offering prayer and worship, and handed over everything to the beloved wife. Then, the queen called up friends and said, “O dear friends, I have got sacred material for prayer and worship. You take everything, pray on my behalf before goddess Parvati, and satisfy goddess. In the family of a pregnant woman never goes out, and therefore, it is not possible for to go and offer prayers. So, you go to pray before the goddess.”

Holy monk said further, “Lalita, wife of vaishya Sarabha gave her consent, and immediately, her friends went to the temple and offered prayers before goddess Ambika. They bowed before the goddess and said with devoted hearts, “O goddess of the world, we salute. O beloved of lord Shiva, bless us. Sarabha’s wife is pregnant because of your blessings and she sent us for prayers with the holy material of puja -worship. No woman from her family goes out when she carries a baby in the womb. Therefore, she did not come. O goddess, be happy and accept prayer on behalf of the great queen.” Thus, women offered prayers in right earnest.

Prayers do not give the right fruit as the woman asks friends to go to the temple with a strange ruse, suffers …for goddess is unhappy… and decides to terminate pregnancy    

Later on, friends of Lalita worshipped goddess Parvati properly took care to attend to each minute aspect of puja -prayer and worship but they did not get any answer from goddess Gouri.  They returned and told Lalita that goddess was not happy. It disturbed Lalita immensely. She was quite worried and perturbed. As she was unable to go to the temple, it was a great sin and crime. She thought and realized. She also felt assured that there could not be any other reason for the goddess to get angry with her. She could not change whatever had happened she knew.

“To get rid of pregnancy, I shall go to the temple of goddess Uma and worship her. I salute the consort of lord Shiva, Uma. Only she can bless me.”

Vaishya heard and was quite curious, as he did not expect. Probably, he was unaware of the truth. He said, “O holy monk, my wife offered prayers before goddess Parvati strictly in a religious spirit, even then goddess was unhappy. What is the reason of anger, I want to know.”

Monk Deval said, “O lord of vaishyas, please listen to the reason. When friends of Lalita returned after worship, then a friend of Uma, Vijaya asked out of curiosity, “O holy goddess of the mountain, friends of Lalita worshipped you with devotion, and still you are not pleased. Why?”

Parvati answered, “O Vijaya, I know wife of vaishya was unable to come out of the house, and therefore, she requested friends to offer prayers. However, a god or goddess does not accept prayer or worship from other’s hands. If Sarabha had come, I would have accepted prayers and blessed. If a wife is unable to perform certain prayers or worship, she can definitely get it done through husband, and nobody calls it a violation. She could have got it done with the help of a learned brahmin after she had got assent of her husband. She neither did puja nor got it performed through her husband. Therefore, she would suffer miscarriage and so efforts would prove futile. If husband and wife come and worship with devotion, I shall bless them with a son.”

“O Vaishya, because of the reason, the couple did not get a son, I told you. Even in ancient times, sage Vasistha had advised king Dilip to worship goddess Parvati for blessings. King Dilip had worshipped goddess Nandini for a long time and immensely pleased her when the goddess blessed him with a son. Therefore, I advise you to offer prayers and worship before goddess Parvati.  She would definitely bless you with a son.”

Monk Deval was quiet for some time and looked at the face of Vaishya, Sarabha, who it appeared, cherished a desire to get a son. Now, he learnt about many truths. Lack of proper devotion with some inherent inadequacy in prayers was unacceptable to goddess Uma.

Vaishya makes a request, agrees to prayer before the goddess, and learns about the tapa and prayers of King Dilip who also wants a son…

He sat calm and one could see a keen desire reflecting from the eyes. She thought seriously for some time. Vaishya looked at the holy man and asked, “O monk, who were King Dilip and cow Nandini whose worship blessed the king with a son. After I hear the sacred tale, we would worship and please goddess Parvati.”

Monk Deval said, “O wise man, Manu was a king in the dynasty of Manu. He was one of the greatest sons. He always adhered to principles of dharma and served public with virtuous qualities and characteristics of an ideal king, and thus, the entire populace was very happy with the king.   Princess of Magadh, Sudiksna was a beloved queen of king Dilip.  Even after a long time, she did not give birth to a child. It disturbed the king. He never committed a sin and revered the principles of dharma, artha and karma in the best way possible he thought long. Even then, she did not conceive, and so, the womb of queen Sudiksna was barren. He tried to find out the reasons but failed. He often asked many questions about failure to get a child but remained unsatisfied. He deliberated and then thought of family guru sage Vasistha. He wanted to know future. He thought and wanted to know reasons of a grave failure, and therefore, decided to go to him.  

He thought deep, took a decision, and after some time, with queen Sudiksna, he went to the hermitage of sage Vasistha. After the sage finished obligatory duties, evening prayers and worship, sage Vasistha sat in the ashrama. King and the queen reached and the sage obliged the royal couple with darshana. He bowed before sage Vasistha and Arundhati, the spouse of sage. The guru couple blessed the king and the queen. After greeting the king and the queen as expected from a guru, he asked the royal guest about the purpose of visit, which had brought the regal couple to the ashrama.

Later on, the sage with the divine power and yoga presented various delicious dishes to the royal couple. He offered celestial food to the king and queen, and similarly, Arundhati also served the queen reverentially, offered various dishes, and thus, pleased the queen of a legendry king. Thereafter, fully satisfied with greeting, and welcome granted to the royal couple, the sage, who was always steady and concentrated on the soul, held king’s hands warmly.

The holy man thought for some time smiles with extreme sense of humility. After a pause he said, “If seven organs of the state - the king, the minister, the kingdom, the fort, the treasury, the army and the friends of an empire are strong, full, rich, wise and competent,  go with one another and live in harmony, look sound and healthy, the state turns out an ideal empire. I consider it perfect. Where people carefully hold fast to the principles of respective dharma, and friends and relations are happy, I think it is a wonderful state of affairs.  Again, I consider it a perfect situation where ministers live and value spirit of love and happiness. If warriors of a country are adroit and swift in the use of astras-sastras and friends live in harmony, and enemies do not exist or have disappeared, then, such a country offers wonderful living. Further, if the people of the empire are devoted and are engaged in the worship of Supreme lord, such a kingdom is celestial and the king of such an empire is fortunate. Why should he ever aspire for the kingdom of heaven?” Holy sage said and then, looked at the face of the king. He understood that the sage had revealed a perennial truth.

People of every age aspire for such a country, land and king where justice, love, goodwill, peace, harmony, security and prosperity prevail, and where the king always thinks of subjects, for he knows, a king is an image of god. Is it possible now one wonders? Now, the rulers definitely not govern in the image of god but they are gods unto themselves and so are corrupt, greedy, selfish and self-centered sans sattvic qualities, and undoubtedly, they are not men of dharma one often thinks. However, people suffer and painfully aspire to have an ideal country. Though to expect perfection is not possible, for an ideal or perfect situation is impractical yet one can certainly make efforts to reach somewhere near such a state of life and living. If noble thoughts and feelings enter a man’s heart and mind, one can hope to have a purpose in life.

Such thoughts occupied the mind of the king and the sage, when the sage said again, “O king, every king in the dynasty of Ekaswaku, was a man of dharma and he often relinquished the burden of the empire after the son was ready to take control of the kingdom. Later, he preferred to go to the forest for tapa and penance. However, O king, you are still very young. You have not yet seen the face of a son. Therefore, you are not fit to undergo tapasya. Why did you come to the forest? It is not good to leave the country without the head. Who would look after a great empire?”

He heard, thought over and then, said modestly, “O holy brahmin, I did not come here to undergo tapa or penance. Childhood entered life and after a few years, youth arrived to thrill and excite, and in the same way, it will also go and old age will overpower. After old age, death is inevitable. O great guru, if I die without a son, I shall fail to bequeath a huge kingdom. Whom I should authorize so that he runs the country? O jewel of austere penance, what flaws exists in me that do not bless me. I want a son you know. O holy sage, please look deep into future and divulge truth.”

The holy man heard request, closed eyes, meditated for a while, and then, through the inner strength, knew facts and truth. He opened eyes, and said, “O greatest among the kings, long back you went and served lord Indra. After you devotedly served the lord, you hurriedly and excitedly, tried to return to the royal palace, and in anxiety, you did not care to pay obeisance to holy cow Kamadhenu, who stood under Kalpa tree, and at the same time, you did not worship it after going around the holy cow. Your act infuriated the holy cow and therefore, in anger, she said, “O king, until you serve with a pure mind and in devotion bow before the lord, the lord will not bless you with a son.”

He sat with a blissful and benign smile beholding the king. After a moment, he said, “O king, therefore, you and the queen offer prayers, and worship Nandini, the sacred cow and the little calf, and she would bless and fulfill innate desire.”

At this time, cow Nandini entered the hermitage. The sage was enormously pleased when he noticed the arrival of the cow. He pointed out and said, “Cow Nandini has come. O king, see a miracle. Look we thought and talked about the holy cow, and she, who blesses all, has come. Now, believe me, you will achieve the objective for which you arrived. While in the forest, you continue to follow and worship the holy cow, and when it returns to the ashrama, queen Sudiksna should devote time and energy in the service of the cow. Devotion and bhakti would gratify the holy cow and she will bless you. Please pick up bow and arrow in hand, keep cautious watch, and take her to the grazing ground of the forest so that no violent beast attacks.”  

One fine morning, when queen Sudiksna prayed with devotion before the cow and offered flowers etc with folded hands, then, the king took it to the forest. Cow moved ahead and continued to go around in search of green grass and the king followed the cow as if he a shadow. When it began grazing, the king also would eat fruit and roots to satisfy hunger.  When it sat under a tree to take rest, the king also took some rest, and when it took water, the king satisfied his thirst. At times, the king brought green grass for the cow, placed it before it, and then, scared away the flies and mosquitoes trying to bite the holy animal.  Thus, he continued to serve the cow devotedly. In the evening, the king returned to the ashrama with the cow and as its hooves raised dust, it purified the body of the king.

When the king and cow reached near hermitage, the queen, without loss of time, came forward, took Nandini graciously to the ashrama, offered prayers earnestly, also touched feet frequently, and thereafter, bowed at the feet of cow. She went round the cow as a mark of prayer and worship, and then, with folded hands stood in front of it and whispered hymns in praise. Sacred cow stood steady and accepted devotion and prayers the queen offered courteously, and then, they entered the ashrama. It was a regular practice and habit with the king and the queen, who were very cautious and honestly looked after the holy cow.

The royal couple, on the instructions of the holy man, looks after the cow, and serves devotedly and ultimately, the holy cow blesses…

In total earnestness, the royal couple resolutely adhered to the rigorous fast and tapa for twenty-one days. To test devotion and tapa of king, one day, the cow entered a deep and beautiful valley of green grass situated idyllically in great Himalaya. At that time, it did not nurse a grain of fear. Dilip looked at the beauty of peak of the Himalaya. At this moment, a lion suddenly appeared and pounced upon the cow and strongly clutched it in its sturdy paws. King was not aware of the lion. Nandini cried loudly and pathetically in the powerful clutches of the lion. Pitiable cries of the cow filled king Dilip with pity and empathy. He saw tears-filled eyes of cow as the lion of sharp and piercing jaws and paws held it stoutly. The king was extremely disturbed at the gruesome situation even as the cow tried hard to come out the clutches as if.

He was distressed to see Nandini in the strong paws of a lion. The king took out an arrow from quiver and putting it on bow, aimed at the lion, and then, pulled up the string to release it with terrific strength at the lion. Exactly, at the time, the lion saw the king, and the whole body of the king appeared paralyzed, almost lifeless it was. The king was stunned when he found no power left in the body, and therefore, could not release the arrow.

The lion found the king totally paralyzed, and he looked aghast and to the surprise of the king, he said in a human voice, “O king, I know you. You are king Dilip of Surya dynasty A paralyzed body should not surprise you because delusory potency of lord Sankara has engulfed Himalaya. It is difficult to attack me like any other lion because it is beyond your competence and power. You should know that when the great Vrishbh -bull, ascended his vehicle, lord Sankara puts his first step on my back and sits on the back of Vrishbh. Now, it is better you go back and try to protect your body, interests and virtues, and therefore, resort to available means. O brave king, the great god has sent this cow to me as food. I feel hungry.”

 An almost immobilized king heard heartening proposal from a strange lion, and thought to answer. He said, “O king of the lions, cow Nandini belongs to sage Vasistha, my guru and it fulfills all sage’s desires. I was very keen to get a son and so I went to the sage and made the wish known to him.  He heard my humble pleas, blessed me, and then handed over the cow and asked to worship and serve devotedly. Until now, I served and worshipped the cow properly. She is mother of a calf.  You caught hold of her in the deep valley of the mountain. You are also servant of lord Sankara. Therefore, it is not possible for me to free the cow from your strong hold. Now, the body looks smeared with dishonor and disgrace, as I failed to protect a holy cow. Therefore, O king of the lions, I offer my body to you, and instead, you free sage’s holy cow. It will not create any obstacle in the performance of sacred and obligatory duties of sage, and at the same time, you will not confront hunger for lack of food. On the other hand, for the protection of the holy cow, the offering of body will grant deliverance.”

The lion was silent when it heard the king. King Dilip, a man of dharma, stood still with bowed head. He waited for the dreadful attack and lethal pouncing of the lion. Exactly, at that moment, the lords of gods showered flowers on the great king.

He heard a voice, “O son, get up.”

The king stood still and looked up in the direction of the mild divine voice. He saw a mother like cow. It stood before him. Dreadful lion was not visible. The king was extremely surprised. Beholding the king in utter astonishment, Nandini, the holy cow said, “O king, I put you on test in the guise of a lion. Even the lord of death, Yama cannot think to hold or control me because of the influence of the divine powers of holy sage. I am happy that you were ready to protect me, and even offered your body to the lion. Therefore, I am very happy. You can ask the most coveted boon.”

The king was now highly pleased and felt relieved that devotion and service to a holy cow did not go waste. He said, “O mother, nothing is hidden from goddess like you, and you know and recognize whatever goes on in the hearts of people, who exist in physical frames on earth. You know the inner wish I treasure.  O holy goddess, give me a son, who continues the great dynasty.”

The holy cow fulfilled the inner desires of the gods, the pitres, the sages and the men on earth and others he knew. It heard modest request of the king and said, “O son, take a cup of leaves and fill it with my milk and drink. It will bless you with a son, who would be the knower of astra-sastras, and thus, continue the great dynasty.”

After listening to the blissful words, the king said to the granddaughter of Kamadhenu, Nandini, with a humble voice, “O mother, I am satisfied with nectar-like sweet words you said. Now, please come to the ashrama, and after I complete religious ceremonies, I will take milk, and then, accept divine offering.”

Nandini was very happy after she heard gratifying words from the mouth of a great king. She admired his wisdom and humility, and thereafter, went to the ashrama. As usual, on that day also, the queen appeared and worshipped the cow. Smiling face of king assured of the fulfillment of a great desire. With this belief, she understood that whatever efforts they made proved satisfying. They were convinced that the objective stood achieved. After she worshipped the cow as religious guidelines required, the royal couple appeared before the sage. When holy sage saw expression of joy and contentment on the faces of royal couple, he infused more cheers and said, “O king, I came to know that Nandini is happy with you because the luster on faces is extraordinary. O king, Kalpa tree and Kamadhenu fulfill inner desires of all and a great truth it is. Then, if you worship and serve offspring of Kamadhenu, it fulfills desires if prayers are genuine. It is not a matter of great surprise. The holy cow and the river of the gods Ganges fulfill inner wishes of those, who keep in mind, and worship goddesses even from a distance. When you are near the goddesses, the question of getting the desires fulfilled is beyond doubt. O king, worship the cow today and stay in the ashrama for a night with queen. Tomorrow, you complete fast and tapa, and after that, proceed to Ayodhyapuri.”

Royal couple served and worshipped the holy cow, and after they secured divine blessings, stayed at night in the ashrama. In the morning, they took permission of the sage and arrived at the capital. After some time, Dilip got a son, Raghu. Raghu was a famous king and because of him, the world came to know of Surya Dynasty and later, people called it Raghu dynasty. So, O dear Sarabha, if you wish to have a son, pray before goddess Parvati and worship her with beloved wife, and then, you will get a son, who would be pure, virtuous, and would carry the burden of a great family of fame.”

Sarabha did everything and later on, returned   home.

Vaishya realizes the significance of prayers and worship, and now in meticulous in prayers and so his spouse is…

Sarabha was now convinced of the necessity of praying and worshipping devotedly. Any laxity would invite a curse he knew. As guided, Sarabha came back and went to the temple with his wife, and after properly cleansing bodies and taking bath, prayed before goddess Parvati with flowers, aroma, incense, dhup with a burning earthen lamp etc.  They continued to worship for seven days with dedicated hearts.

After seven days, the goddess was pleased, and therefore, appeared before the couple and said, “O vaishya, I am happy with intense single-minded devotion. O noble souls, I bless you with a son for which you made earnest efforts. Now, you go to Khandava, a forest of lord Indra. Do not delay. You will find a great tirtha Indraprastha in the forest. Ages back, guru Brispathi established the holy temple in the forest, and soon it turned into a tirtha that bestows blessings on all. You should take bath with a wish for a son. Your wish will definitely be granted.”

Therefore, Sarabha arrived at the holy tirtha with his wife, took bath in the holy water and later on, gifted cows and many costly effects to brahmins. Then, they performed tarpan (shradhas) and various rites necessary to propitiate the dead souls and ancestors. They stayed at the holy place of worship for seven days and then, returned home. In the same month, Sarabha’s wife became pregnant.” He was quiet for some time.

After a thought, he said, “At the right time, I was born. When I was young, father thought to renounce the world. One day, he called, asked me to take control of the household and business, and expressed a desire to leave worldly enticements and pleasure, for he wanted to devote time to prayer and worship of Sri Hari. He wanted to go around holy tirthas, and wished to eliminate worldly diseases in the assembly of noble souls. Therefore, from that day onward, he began to speak in a judgmental language about worldly passions and talked well of Srimada Bhagavata and devotion toward Sri Hari. The love of god and the desire to abandon worldly pleasures reigned supreme in him.”

“I realized pious feelings and desires of my father. I requested him to live at the bank of Ganges that flowed nearby and discard the idea of going elsewhere. He agreed to the suggestion.  My father was a true devotee. He took bath in the holy Ganges thrice a day and listened to the tales of holy Puranas. Thus, his life was tapa and devotion. He forgot everything in the bhakti of Sri Hari, and was now lost in the eternal, educative and soul filling tales of Holy Scriptures. After some time, I learnt that he began suffering from a deadly disease. I went to the place. Unfortunately, when my father took a holy dip, and was half-immersed in water he collapsed. At that time, Sri Vishnu descended on earth, and took him to Vaikuntha.  I was also a devotee of the great god and so later on, with a wish to attain moksa began to live here.”

Karmas of man are significant. If a man devotes wholeheartedly to the service of god, and surrenders desires and worldly attachments at the feet of the great lord, salvation is possible.