Chapter 35

Janamejaya said, “On the eve of the great battle (between the Kurus andthe Pandus), the lord Rama, with Keshava’s leave, had gone away (fromDwaraka) accompanied by many of the Vrishnis. He had said unto Keshava,’I will render aid neither unto the son of Dhritarashtra nor unto thesons of Pandu, but will go whithersoever I like!’ Having said thesewords, Rama, that resister of foes, had gone away. It behoveth thee, OBrahmana, to tell me everything about his return! Tell me in detail howRama came to that spot, how he witnessed the battle. In my opinion thouart well-skilled in narration!”

Vaishampayana said, “After the high-souled Pandavas had taken up theirpost at Upaplavya, they despatched the slayer of Madhu to Dhritarashtra’spresence, for the object of peace, O mighty-armed one, and for the goodof all creatures. Having gone to Hastinapura and met Dhritarashtra,Keshava spoke words of true and especially beneficial import. The king,however, as I have told thee before, listened not to those counsels.Unable to obtain peace, the mighty-armed Krishna, that foremost of men,came back, O monarch, to Upaplavya. Dismissed by Dhritarashtra’s son,Krishna returned (to the Pandava camp), and upon the failure of hismission, O tiger among kings, said these words unto the Pandavas, ‘Urgedby Fate, the Kauravas are for disregarding my words! Come, ye sons ofPandu, with me (to the field of battle), setting out under theconstellation Pushya!’ After this, while the troops (of both sides) werebeing mustered and arrayed, the high-souled son of Rohini, that foremostof all persons endued with might, addressed his brother Krishna, saying,’O mighty-armed one, O slayer of Madhu, let us render assistance to theKurus!’ Krishna, however, did not listen to those words of his. Withheart filled with rage (at this), that illustrious son of Yadu’s race,the wielder of the plough then set out on a pilgrimage to the Sarasvati.Accompanied by all the Yadavas, he set out under the conjunction of theasterism called Maitra. The Bhoja chief (Kritavarma), however, adoptedthe side of Duryodhana. Accompanied by Yuyudhana, Vasudeva adopted thatof the Pandavas. After the heroic son of Rohini had set out under theconstellation Pushya, the slayer of Madhu, placing the Pandavas in hisvan, proceeded against the Kurus. While proceeding, Rama ordered hisservants on the way, saying, ‘Bring all things that are necessary for apilgrimage, that is, every article of use! Bring the (sacred) fire thatis at Dwaraka, and our priests. Bring gold, silver, kine, robes, steeds,elephants, cars, mules, camels, and other draft cattle! Bring all thesenecessaries for a trip to the sacred waters, and proceed with great speedtowards the Sarasvati! Bring also some priests to be especially employed,and hundreds of foremost of Brahmanas!’ Having given these orders to theservants, the mighty Valadeva set out on a pilgrimage at that time ofgreat calamity to the Kurus. Setting out towards the Sarasvati, hevisited all the sacred places along her course, accompanied by priests,friends, and many foremost of Brahmanas, as also with cars and elephantsand steeds and servants, O bull of Bharata’s race, and with many vehiclesdrawn by kine and mules and camels. Diverse kinds of necessaries of lifewere given away in large measure and in diverse countries unto the wearyand worn, children and the old, in response, O king, to solicitations.Everywhere, O king, Brahmanas were promptly gratified with whateverviands they desired. At the command of Rohini’s son, men at differentstages of the journey stored food and drink in large quantities. Costlygarments and bedsteads and coverlets were given for the gratification ofBrahmanas, desirous of ease and comfort. Whatever Brahmana or Kshatriyasolicited whatever thing, that O Bharata, it was seen to be ungrudginglygiven to him. All who formed the party proceeded with great happiness andlived happily. The people (of Valarama’s train) gave away vehicles topersons desirous of making journeys, drinks to them that were thirsty,and savoury viands to them that were hungry, as also robes and ornaments,O bull of Bharata’s race, to many! The road, O king, along which theparty proceeded, looked resplendent, O hero, and was highly comfortablefor all, and resembled heaven itself. There were rejoicings everywhereupon it, and savoury viands were procurable everywhere. There were shopsand stalls and diverse objects exposed for sale. The whole way was,besides, crowded with human beings. And it was adorned with various kindsof trees and creatures, and various kinds of gems. The high-souledValadeva, observant of rigid vows, gave away unto the Brahmanas muchwealth and plentiful sacrificial presents, O king, in diverse sacredspots. That chief of Yadu’s race also gave away thousands of milch kinecovered with excellent cloths and having their horns cased in gold, manysteeds belonging to different countries, many vehicles, and manybeautiful slaves. Even thus did the high-souled Rama give away wealth indiverse excellent tirthas on the Sarasvati. In course of his wanderings,that hero of unrivalled power and magnanimous conduct at last came toKurukshetra.”

Janamejaya said, “Tell me, O foremost of men, the features, the origin,and the merits of the several tirthas on the Sarasvati and the ordinancesto be observed while sojourning there! Tell me these, in their order, Oillustrious one! My curiosity is irrepressible, O foremost of all personsacquainted with Brahma!”

Vaishampayana said, “The subject of the features and origin of all thesetirthas, O king, is very large. I shall, however, describe them to thee.Listen to that sacred account in its entirety, O king! Accompanied by hispriests and friends, Valadeva first proceeded to the tirtha calledPrabhasa. There, the Lord of the constellations (Soma), who had beenaffected with phthisis, became freed from his curse. Regaining energythere, O king, he now illuminates the universe. And because that foremostof tirthas on earth had formerly contributed to invest Soma withsplendour (after he had lost it), it is, therefore, called Prabhasa.”

Janamejaya said, “For what reason was the adorable Soma afflicted withphthisis? How also did he bathe in that tirtha? How did he, having bathedin that sacred water, regain his energy? Tell me all this in detail, Ogreat Muni!”

Vaishampayana said, “Daksha had seven and twenty daughters, O king! Thesehe bestowed (in marriage) upon Soma. Connected with the severalconstellations, those wives, O king, of Soma of auspicious deeds, servedto help men in calculating time. Possessed of large eyes, all of themwere unrivalled in beauty in the world. In wealth of beauty, however,Rohini was the foremost of them all. The adorable Soma took great delightin her. She became very agreeable to him, and therefore, he enjoyed thepleasures of her company (exclusively). In those days of yore, O monarch,Soma lived long with Rohini (exclusively). For this, those other wives ofhis, they that were called the constellations, became displeased withthat high-souled one. Repairing speedily to their sire (Daksha), thatLord of creation, they said unto him, ‘Soma doth not live with us! Healways payeth court to Rohini only! All of us, therefore, O Lord ofcreatures, shall dwell by thy side, on regulated diet and observant ofaustere penances!’ Hearing these words of theirs, Daksha (saw Soma and)said unto him, ‘Behave equally towards all thy wives! Let not a great sinstain thee!’ And Daksha then said unto those daughters of his, ‘Go, allof you, to the presence of Sasin. At my command, he, (otherwise called)Candramas, will behave equally towards all of you!’ Dismissed by him,they then proceeded to the abode of him having cool rays. Still theadorable Soma, O lord of earth, continued to act as before, for pleasedwith Rohini alone, he continued to live with her exclusively. His otherwives then once more came together to their sire and said unto him,’Employed in serving thee, we will dwell in thy asylum! Soma does notlive with us and is unmindful of thy commands!’ Hearing these words oftheirs, Daksha once more said unto Soma, ‘Behave equally towards all thywives! Let me not, O Virochana, curse thee!’ Disregarding, however, thesewords of Daksha, the adorable Soma continued to live with Rohini alone.At this, his other wives became once more angry. Repairing to their sire,they bowed unto him by lowering their heads, and said, ‘Soma doth notlive with us! Give us thy protection! The adorable Candramas always liveswith Rohini exclusively! He sets no importance to thy words, and does notwish to show us any affection! Therefore, save us so that Soma may acceptus all!’ Hearing these words, the adorable Daksha, O king, became angryand in consequence thereof hurled the curse of phthisis upon Soma. Thusdid that disease overtake the Lord of the stars. Afflicted with phthisis,Sasin began to waste away day by day. He made many endeavours for freeinghimself from that disease by performing diverse sacrifices, O monarch!The maker of night, however, could not free himself from that curse. Onthe other hand, he continued to endure waste and emaciation. Inconsequence, however, of the wasting of Soma, the deciduous herbs failedto grow. Their juices dried up and they became tasteless, and all of thembecame deprived of their virtues. And, in consequence of this decadenceof the deciduous herbs, living creatures also began to decay. Indeed,owing to the wasting of Soma, all creatures began to be emaciated. Thenall the celestials, coming to Soma, O king, asked him, saying, ‘Why is itthat thy form is not so beautiful and resplendent (as before)? Tell usthe reason whence hath proceeded this great calamity! Hearing thy answer,we shall do what is needed for dispelling thy fear!’ Thus addressed, thegod having the hare for his mark, replied unto them and informed them ofthe cause of the curse and the phthisis with which he was afflicted. Thegods then, having heard those words, repaired to Daksha and said, ‘Begratified, O adorable one, with Soma! Let this curse of thine bewithdrawn! Candramas is very emaciated! Only a small portion of him maybe seen! In consequence of his wasting, O Lord of the celestials, allcreatures also are wasting! Creepers and herbs of diverse kinds are alsowasting! In their waste we ourselves also are suffering emaciation!Without us, what will this universe be? Knowing this, O master of theuniverse, it behoveth thee to be gratified (with Soma)!’ Thus addressed(Daksha), that Lord of creatures, said these words unto the celestials,’It is impossible to make my words become otherwise! By some contrivance,however, ye blessed ones, my words may be withdrawn! Let Sasin alwaysbehave equally towards all his wives! Having bathed also in that foremostof tirthas on the Sarasvati, the god having the hare for his mark shall,ye gods, grow once more! These words of mine are true! For half the monthSoma shall wane every day, and for half the month (following) he will waxevery day! These words of mine are true! Proceeding to the western Oceanat the spot where the Sarasvati mingles with the Ocean, that vastreceptacle of waters, let him adore that God of gods (Mahadeva) there! Hewill then regain his form and beauty!’ At this command of the (celestial)Rishi (Daksha), Soma then proceeded to the Sarasvati. He arrived at thatforemost of tirthas called Prabhasa belonging to the Sarasvati. Bathingthere on the day of the new moon, that god of great energy and greateffulgence got back his cool rays and continued once more to illumine theworlds. All the creatures also, O monarch, having repaired to Prabhasa,returned with Soma amongst them to the place where Daksha was. (Receivingthem duly) that Lord of creatures then dismissed them. Pleased with Soma,the adorable Daksha once more addressed him, saying, ‘Do not, O son,disregard women, and never disregard Brahmanas! Go and attentively obeymy commands!’ Dismissed by him, Soma came back to his own abode. Allcreatures, filled with joy, continued to live as before. I have thus toldthee everything about how the maker of the night had been cursed, and,how also Prabhasa became the foremost of all tirthas. On every recurringday of the new moon, O monarch, the god having the hare for his markbathes in the excellent tirtha of Prabhasa and regains his form andbeauty. It is for this reason, O lord of earth, that that tirtha is knownby the name of Prabhasa, since bathing there, Candramas regained hisgreat (Prabha) effulgence. After this, the mighty Baladeva of undecayingglory proceeded to Chamasodbheda, that is, to that tirtha which is calledby that name. Giving away many costly gifts at that place, the herohaving the plough for his weapon passed one night there and performed hisablutions duly. The elder brother of Keshava then proceeded quickly toUdapana. Although the Sarasvati seems to be lost there, yet personscrowned with ascetic success, in consequence of their obtaining greatmerits and great blessedness at that spot, and owing also to the coolnessof the herbs and of the land there, know that the river has an invisiblecurrent, O monarch, through the bowels of the earth there.”