The Markandeya Purana by Bibek Debroy

Author:Bibek Debroy
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789353056711
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
Published: 2019-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 59

‘Markandeya continued, “While he was speaking in this way, the garhapatya fire entered the body of the son of a brahmana and established itself there. Since he was possessed by it, in the midst of that circle of radiance, he was like the personified form of the bearer of oblations and illuminated that region. The celestial lady saw the brahmana in that fierce and radiant form and her mind was suffused with even greater love. As soon as the bearer of oblations was established in him, the descendant of the brahmana lineage was again able to move, as he had been able to do earlier. While the slender-limbed one looked on, he swiftly departed and she was no longer able to see him. She sighed deeply and her body trembled. In an instant, the best among brahmanas reached his own home and completed all the rites that have been mentioned.

‘“She was beautiful in her limbs and her mind was still attracted to him. She sighed throughout the rest of the day and the night. Unblemished in her limbs, she repeatedly sighed, lamented and wept. The one with the maddening eyes censured her own ill fortune. She found no pleasure in walking, eating, the pleasant forest or the beautiful mountain. On seeing a couple of chakravaka birds, she was smitten by desire. However, left alone, the beautiful lady censured her own youth. ‘Drawn by the power of evil fate, why did I come to this mountain? Why did a man like him come within the range of my vision? Since that immensely fortunate one did not wish to have intercourse with me, this fire of desire is impossible to withstand and will certainly consume me. The call of the male cuckoo used to sound pleasant. But separated from him, it is harming and burning me now.’ O supreme among sages! She wandered around in this way, overwhelmed by desire. At every instant, her love for him waxed.

‘“There was a gandharva named Kali. He was in love with her, but had been refused by her earlier. He saw her in that state and wondered, ‘What has now happened to the one whose stride is like that of a she-elephant? She is sighing and wandering around on this mountain, faded. Is this the same Varuthini? Has she been cursed by a sage? Has someone dishonoured her? Her distraught face is awash with floods of tears.’ Filled with curiosity, Kali thought about this for a very long time. Through the powers of meditation, he got to know the truth. Having got to know about the sage, 687 Kali started to think again. ‘This good fortune has resulted from my having done something good earlier. Filled with love, I entreated her several times, but she refused me. I will now be able to obtain her. Since she is in love with a man, I will assume his form and unsuspecting, she will enjoy herself with me. Without any delay, that is what I must do.

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