Canto
4
Chapter 26: King Purañjana Goes Hunting and Finds His Morose Wife.
(1-3) Nârada said: 'Once upon a time he [King Purañjana] went to the forest called Pañcha Prastha ['the five destinations'] carrying his bow, golden armor and inexhaustible quiver, going very swiftly there on the two wheels and one axle of a golden chariot drawn by five horses, carrying two special arrows and three flags. Together with his eleven commanders and his one chariot driver who held one rein, he, from his one sitting place and two posts for his harnesses, met with five obstacles as he was holding his five weapons, with his seven coverings and five styles of approach. (4) But inspired by the evil thought of hunting he, having taken up his bow and arrows went there to kill animals very proud of having left his wife behind, which was next to impossible for him. (5) With the darkness of the unenlightened in his heart he had taken to the horrible practice of merciless killing the forest animals out there with sharp arrows. (6) Going to the forest can a king driven by greed, as it is regulated, according to the directions of the Vedas, kill as many animals as are required for the sacrifices in holy places and not more than that. (7) Any man of learning who does his work as regulated [in the niyama of yoga] will, following the spiritual knowledge, never be involved in such activities. (8) Otherwise will one, engaged in fruitive action, become entangled under the influence of false prestige and, fallen under the influence of the modes of nature and being bereft of all knowledge, thus be going down.
(9) From the destruction of the animal bodies pierced by the arrows with different kinds of feathers, there was great sadness, unbearable as that was for compassionate souls. (10) From killing the animals of game like rabbits, buffaloes, bison, black deer, porcupines and various others he got very tired. (11) After having stopped he came thirsty and exhausted back home to take a bath, have a proper meal and take rest to find his peace back. (12) When he as it should had perfumed and smeared his body with sandalwood pulp, wanted he, saintly garlanded and all over beautifully ornamented, to pay attention to his queen. (13) Satisfied, joyous and very proud as well he had his mind on Cupid and aimed he not at a higher consciousness with the wife that kept him in her household. (14) O dear King, the maids of the household he asked a little concerned: 'O my beauties, is everything as it was with you and your mistress? (15) All the things at home are not as attractive to me as they were before. To have no mother or wife at home meeting her husband as her god is like having a chariot without wheels; what man of learning indeed would ride such a poor thing? (16) Where now is she, that woman of good intelligence, enlightening at every step, who would deliver me from drowning in that ocean of danger?'
(17) The women answered: 'O King we have no idea why she has taken to this behavior, just go and see how your beloved lies on the floor without bedding, o killer of the enemies!'
(18) Nârada said: 'After seeing his queen lying on the ground as if she were a mendicant, got Purañjana, from the scene racking his brains, highly bewildered. (19) Pacifying her with sweet words and a heart full of regrets, succeeded he from his affection not in arousing any symptom of anger from the part of his beloved. (20) Slowly, as an expert in flattery, the hero began to compliment her, touching both her feet and spoke he to her, embracing her on his lap. (21) Purañjana said: 'For sure are masters unto their servants who acted out of line in committing an offense, o auspicious one, unto those they accepted as their subjects, of no instruction if they do not reprimand them. (22) The punishment by the master meted out to the servants is the greatest favor; being foolish one doesn't know that, o slender maiden, to be angry is the duty of a friend! (23) That face of yours with its beautiful teeth and eyebrows, which fills me with attachment and now so gloomy is hanging down, you should, like a bee, lift up to me shining, smiling and glancing from under its bluish hair so beautiful with your straight nose; I am all yours, please prove me, o thoughtful one, your sweetest word. (24) Except for when he belongs to the school of the enlightened on this earth, am I prepared to punish him who wronged you, o wife of this hero; he, as far as I am concerned, will not live without fear and anxiety in the three worlds or anywhere else, for sure as I am the servant of Murâri! [Krishna as the enemy of Mura]. (25) Never was your face without its decorations and have I seen you that morose, with anger and without your luster and affection; nor have I ever seen your nice breasts wet with tears and your lips without the red of kunkum. (26) Therefore my most intimate friend, be kind to this sinner who on his own went out to hunt; what woman with the control of her great beauty over the lusty desires of her husband lost in impatience and pierced by the arrows of Cupid, wouldn't dutifully embrace him?
Source texts:
King Purañjana Goes to the Forest to Hunt
Nârada said: 'Once upon a time he [King Purañjana] went to the forest called Pañcha Prastha ['the five destinations'] carrying his bow, golden armor and inexhaustible quiver, going very swiftly there on the two wheels and one axle of a golden chariot drawn by five horses, carrying two special arrows and three flags. Together with his eleven commanders and his one chariot driver who held one rein, he, from his one sitting place and two posts for his harnesses, met with five obstacles as he was holding his five weapons, with his seven coverings and five styles of approach.The great sage Nârada continued: My dear King, once upon a time King Purañjana took up his great bow, and equipped with golden armor and a quiver of unlimited arrows and accompanied by eleven commanders, he sat on his chariot driven by five swift horses and went to the forest named Pañca-prastha. He took with him in that chariot two explosive arrows. The chariot itself was situated on two wheels and one revolving axle. On the chariot were three flags, one rein, one chariot driver, one sitting place, two poles to which the harness was fixed, five weapons and seven coverings. The chariot moved in five different styles, and five obstacles lay before it. All the decorations of the chariot were made of gold. (Vedabase)
But inspired by the evil thought of hunting he, having taken up his bow and arrows went there to kill animals very proud of having left his wife behind, which was next to impossible for him.
It was almost impossible for King Purañjana to give up the company of his Queen even for a moment. Nonetheless, on that day, being very much inspired by the desire to hunt, he took up his bow and arrow with great pride and went to the forest, not caring for his wife. (Vedabase)
With the darkness of the unenlightened in his heart he had taken to the horrible practice of merciless killing the forest animals out there with sharp arrows.
At that time King Purañjana was very much influenced by demoniac propensities. Because of this, his heart became very hard and merciless, and with sharp arrows he killed many innocent animals in the forest, taking no consideration. (Vedabase)
Going to the forest can a king driven by greed, as it is regulated, according to the directions of the Vedas, kill as many animals as are required for the sacrifices in holy places and not more than that.
If a king is too attracted to eating flesh, he may, according to the directions of the revealed scriptures on sacrificial performances, go to the forest and kill some animals that are recommended for killing. One is not allowed to kill animals unnecessarily or without restrictions. The Vedas regulate animal-killing to stop the extravagance of foolish men influenced by the modes of passion and ignorance. (Vedabase)
Any man of learning who does his work as regulated [in the niyama of yoga] will, following the spiritual knowledge, never be involved in such activities.
Nârada Muni continued to speak to King Prâcînabarhishat: My dear King, any person who works according to the directions of the Vedic scriptures does not become involved in fruitive activities. (Vedabase)
Otherwise will one, engaged in fruitive action, become entangled under the influence of false prestige and, fallen under the influence of the modes of nature and being bereft of all knowledge, thus be going down.
Otherwise, a person who acts whimsically falls down due to false prestige. Thus he becomes involved in the laws of nature, which are composed of the three qualities [goodness, passion and ignorance]. In this way a living entity becomes devoid of his real intelligence and becomes perpetually lost in the cycle of birth and death. Thus he goes up and down from a microbe in stool to a high position in the Brahmaloka planet. (Vedabase)
From the destruction of the animal bodies of the different birds that got pierced by the arrows, there was great sadness, unbearable as that was for compassionate souls.
When King Purañjana was hunting in this way, many animals within the forest lost their lives with great pain, being pierced by the sharp arrowheads. Upon seeing these devastating, ghastly activities performed by the King, all the people who were merciful by nature became very unhappy. Such merciful persons could not tolerate seeing all this killing. (Vedabase)
From killing the animals of game like rabbits, buffaloes, bison, black deer, porcupines and various others he got very tired.
In this way King Purañjana killed many animals, including rabbits, boars, buffalo, bison, black deer, porcupines and other game animals. After killing and killing, the King became very tired. (Vedabase)
After having stopped he came thirsty and exhausted back home to take a bath, have a proper meal and take rest to find his peace back.
After this, the King, very much fatigued, hungry and thirsty, returned to his royal palace. After returning, he took a bath and had an appropriate dinner. Then he took rest and thus became freed from all restlessness. (Vedabase)
When he as it should had perfumed and smeared his body with sandalwood pulp, wanted he, saintly garlanded and all over beautifully ornamented, to pay attention to his queen.
After this, King Purañjana decorated his body with suitable ornaments. He also smeared scented sandalwood pulp over his body and put on flower garlands. In this way he became completely refreshed. After this, he began to search out his Queen. (Vedabase)
Satisfied, joyous and very proud as well he had his mind on Cupid and aimed he not at a higher consciousness with the wife that kept him in her household.
After taking his dinner and having his thirst and hunger satisfied, King Purañjana felt some joy within his heart. Instead of being elevated to a higher consciousness, he became captivated by Cupid, and was moved by a desire to find his wife, who kept him satisfied in his household life. (Vedabase)
O dear King, the maids of the household he asked a little concerned: 'O my beauties, is everything as it was with you and your mistress?
At that time King Purañjana was a little anxious, and he inquired from the household women: My dear beautiful women, are you and your mistress all very happy like before, or not? (Vedabase)
All the things at home are not as attractive to me as they were before. To have no mother or wife at home meeting her husband as her god is like having a chariot without wheels; what man of learning indeed would ride such a poor thing?
King Purañjana said: I do not understand why my household paraphernalia does not attract me as before. I think that if there is neither a mother nor devoted wife at home, the home is like a chariot without wheels. Where is the fool who will sit down on such an unworkable chariot? (Vedabase)
Where now is she, that woman of good intelligence, enlightening at every step, who would deliver me from drowning in that ocean of danger?'
Kindly let me know the whereabouts of that beautiful woman who always saves me when I am drowning in the ocean of danger. By giving me good intelligence at every step, she always saves me. (Vedabase)
The women answered: 'O King we have no idea why she has taken to this behavior, just go and see how your beloved lies on the floor without bedding, o killer of the enemies!'
All the women addressed the King: O master of the citizens, we do not know why your dear wife has taken on this sort of existence. O killer of enemies, kindly look! She is lying on the ground without bedding. We cannot understand why she is acting this way. (Vedabase)
Nârada said: 'After seeing his queen lying on the ground as if she were a mendicant, got Purañjana, from the scene racking his brains, highly bewildered.
The great sage Nârada continued: My dear King Prâcînabarhi, as soon as King Purañjana saw his Queen lying on the ground, appearing like a mendicant, he immediately became bewildered. (Vedabase)Text 19:
Pacifying her with sweet words and a heart full of regrets, succeeded he from his affection not in arousing any symptom of anger from the part of his beloved.
The King, with aggrieved mind, began to speak to his wife with very pleasing words. Although he was filled with regret and tried to pacify her, he could not see any symptom of anger caused by love within the heart of his beloved wife. (Vedabase)
Slowly, as an expert in flattery, the hero began to compliment her, touching both her feet and spoke he to her, embracing her on his lap.
Because the King was very expert in flattery, he began to pacify his Queen very slowly. First he touched her two feet, then embraced her nicely, seating her on his lap, and began to speak as follows. (Vedabase)
Purañjana said: 'For sure are masters unto their servants who acted out of line in committing an offense, o auspicious one, unto those they accepted as their subjects, of no instruction if they do not reprimand them.
King Purañjana said: My dear beautiful wife, when a master accepts a servant as his own man, but does not punish him for his offenses, the servant must be considered unfortunate. (Vedabase)
The punishment by the master meted out to the servants is the greatest favor; being foolish one doesn't know that, o slender maiden, to be angry is the duty of a friend!
My dear slender maiden, when a master chastises his servant, the servant should accept this as great mercy. One who becomes angry must be very foolish not to know that such is the duty of his friend. (Vedabase)
That face of yours with its beautiful teeth and eyebrows, which fills me with attachment and now so gloomy is hanging down, you should, like a bee, lift up to me shining, smiling and glancing from under its bluish hair so beautiful with your straight nose; I am all yours, please prove me, o thoughtful one, your sweetest word.
My dear wife, your teeth are very beautifully set, and your attractive features make you appear very thoughtful. Kindly give up your anger, be merciful upon me, and please smile upon me with loving attachment. When I see a smile on your beautiful face, and when I see your hair, which is as beautiful as the color blue, and see your raised nose and hear your sweet talk, you will become more beautiful to me and thus attract me and oblige me. You are my most respected mistress. (Vedabase)
Except for when he belongs to the school of the enlightened on this earth, am I prepared to punish him who wronged you, o wife of this hero; he, as far as I am concerned, will not live without fear and anxiety in the three worlds or anywhere else, for sure as I am the servant of Murâri! [Krishna as the enemy of Mura].
O hero's wife, kindly tell me if someone has offended you. I am prepared to give such a person punishment as long as he does not belong to the brâhmana caste. But for the servant of Muraripu [Krishna], I excuse no one within or beyond these three worlds. No one can freely move after offending you, for I am prepared to punish him. (Vedabase)
Never was your face without its decorations and have I seen you that morose, with anger and without your luster and affection, nor have I ever seen your nice breasts wet with tears and your lips without the red of kunkum.
My dear wife, until this day I have never seen your face without tilaka decorations, nor have I seen you so morose and without luster or affection. Nor have I seen your two nice breasts wet with tears from your eyes. Nor have I ever before seen your lips, which are ordinarily as red as the bimba fruit, without their reddish hue. (Vedabase)
Therefore my most intimate friend, be kind to this sinner who on his own went out to hunt; what woman with the control of her great beauty over the lusty desires of her husband lost in impatience and pierced by the arrows of Cupid, wouldn't dutifully embrace him?
My dear Queen, due to my sinful desires I went to the forest to hunt without asking you. Therefore I must admit that I have offended you. Nonetheless, thinking of me as your most intimate subordinate, you should still be very much pleased with me. Factually I am very much bereaved, but being pierced by the arrow of Cupid, I am feeling lusty. But where is the beautiful woman who would give up her lusty husband and refuse to unite with him? (Vedabase)
For
this original translation a one-volume printed copy
has been used with an extensive commentary.
ISBN: o-91277-27-7
See the
S'rîmad Bhâgavatam
links-page
for this and more books of Prabhupâda.
Production: Filognostic
Association
of The
Order of Time
Feed-back | Links | Downloads | Music | Pictures | What's New | Search | Donations
