Chapter 198

Vaisampayana said, “The sons of Pandu and those Rishis then askedMarkandeya, ‘Is there anybody that is blessed with longer life thanthou?’ And Markandeya answered them, saying, ‘There is without doubt, aroyal sage of the name of Indradyumna and his virtue having diminished,he fell from heaven, crying, ‘My achievements are lost!’ And he came untome and asked, ‘Dost thou know me?’ And I answered him, saying, ‘From ouranxiety to acquire religious merit we do not confine ourselves to anyhome. We live but for a night in the same village or town. A person likeus, therefore, cannot possibly know thy pursuits. The fasts and vows weobserve render us weak in body and unable to follow any worldly pursuitson our own behalf. Hence, one like us cannot possibly know thee.’ He thenasked me, ‘Is there any one who is longerlived than thou’? I answeredhim, saying, ‘There liveth on the Himavat an owl of the name ofPravarakarna. He is older than I. He may know thee. The part of theHimavat where he dwelleth is far off from here.’ And at this Indradyumnabecame a horse and carried me to where that owl lived and the king askedthe owl, saying, ‘Dost thou know me?’ And the owl seemed to reflect for amoment and then said unto the king, ‘I do not know thee.’ And the royalsage Indradyumna thereupon asked the owl, ‘Is there any one who is olderthan thou?’ And thus asked the owl answered, saying, There is a lake ofthe name of Indradyumna. In that lake dwelleth a crane of the name ofNadijangha. He is older than we. Ask thou him.’ And at this kingIndradyumna taking both myself and the owl went to that lake where thecrane Nadijangha dwelt. And that crane was asked by us, ‘Dost thou knowthe king Indradyumna?’ And the crane thereupon seemed to reflect a littleand then said, ‘I do not know king Indradyumna.’ And the crane was askedby us, ‘Is there any one who is older than thou?’ And he answered us,saying, ‘There dwelleth in this very lake a tortoise of the name ofAkupara. He is older than I. He may know something of this king.Therefore, enquire ye of Akupara. And then that crane gave information tothe tortoise, saying, ‘It is intended by us to ask thee something. Pleasecome to us.’ And hearing this the tortoise came out of the lake to thatpart of the bank where we all were and as he came there we asked him,saying, ‘Dost thou know this king Indradyumna?’ And the tortoisereflected for a moment. And his eyes were filled with tears and his heartwas much moved and he trembled all over and was nearly deprived of hissenses. And he said with joined hands, ‘Alas, do I not know this one? Hehad planted the sacrificial stake a thousand times at the time ofkindling the sacrificial fire. This lake was excavated by the feet of thecows given away by this king unto the Brahmanas on the completion of thesacrifice. I have lived here ever since.’ And after the tortoise had saidall this, there came from the celestial regions a car. And an aerialvoice was heard which said, addressing Indradyumna, ‘Come thou and obtainthe place thou deservest in heaven! Thy achievements are great! Come thoucheerfully to thy place! Here also are certain slokas: The report ofvirtuous deeds spreadeth over the earth and ascendeth to heaven. As longas that report lasts, so long is the doer said to be in heaven. The manwhose evil deeds are bruited about, is said to fall down and live, aslong as that evil report lasts in the lower regions. Therefore should manbe virtuous in his acts if he is to gain Heaven. And he should seekrefuge in virtue, abandoning a sinful heart.’

“And hearing these words, the king said, ‘Let the car stay here as longas I do not take these old persons to the places whence I brought them.And having brought me and the owl Pravarakarna to our respective places,he went away, riding on that car, to the place that was fit for him.Being longlived, I witness all this.”

Vaisampayana continued, “It was thus that Markandeya narrated all thisunto the son of Pandu. And after Markandeya finished, the sons of Pandusaid, ‘Blessed be thou! Thou hadst acted properly in causing kingIndradyumna who had fallen from Heaven to regain his sphere!’ AndMarkandeya answered them, saying, ‘Devaki’s son, Krishna, also had thusraised the royal sage Nriga who had sunk in hell and caused him to regainHeaven!'”