When the resentful daughter of Satrajit, influenced by jealousy had thus spoken, the god-like Krishna consoling her addressed her in the following manner (27). "Say not so, O lotus-eyed one, thou dearest ruler of my heart! what shall I tell thee more my darling;—know me to be thine entirely (28). There is no doubt that in order to please me the sage Narada of unimpeachable deeds gave that Parijata flower to her (Rukshmini) in my presence, merely out of generous feelings or regard for her; (but I did not give it with my own hands). O thou of pure smiles, be consoled; forgive me this my first and only transgression (29-30). If thou desirest to have Parijata flowers, O resentful darling, I promise, O thou of delicate waist, to give it to thee—this I speak in all earnestness (31). (What to speak of a single flower), I shall fetch that best of all trees namely the Parijata tree itself, from the gardens of paradise, and keep it in thy mansion as long as thou chosest (33)."
Thus spoken to by Hari, that lady so deeply attached to him said:—"O infallible one, if thou canst bring that tree down here, my resentment shall leave me,—and it shall then be to my great gratification. O Adhokshaja, for then I shall be the head and the best-honored among all thy wives" (33–34). The divine slayer of Madhu—that incomparable being, the origin of the world, beyond the reach of decay, then said to her:—"so be it, then; this shall be my foremost concern" (35).
Vaishampāyana said:—O victor of large armies, thus spoken to by the auspicious Krishna, Satyabhama, who was held in high esteem by the pious and who was deeply attached to the slayer of Kansa, became highly gratified (36). The lord of the world, the the lord of all, the protector of all things, and the bestower of all desires on the good, then bathed himself and discharged all his necessary duties (37). O king that lord then remembered that best of sages namely Narada who, as soon as he was remembered, came there having performed his ablutions in the waters of the mighty main (38). O ruler of men! then that refuge of the pious, Krishna, attended by Satyabhama, duly worshipped Narada who had reached there (according to a fiat of his will) (39). The daughter of Satrajit herself washed the feet of that sage; and the lord Krishna himself then poured the water from a golden pitcher (40). When the sage had seated himself comfortably, that preceptor of the worlds the high-souled Keshava offered him with all respect and carefulness a dish of rice boiled in milk (or delicious edibles) (41). The highly intelligent sage, that best of all orators then partook of the dish with great regard and relish thus hospitably offered him by the creator of the worlds (42). O lord! satisfied with the hearty meal, Narada having rinsed his mouth, bestowed many a blessing on Keshava, who also accepted them with much gratification of the mind (43). Thereafter Narada stretching his wet right hand thus spoke to the divinely beautiful daughter of Satrajit, who was then bowing down to him (44):—"Be thou as faithful and devoted to thy husband, for all future periods, as thou art even now, O queen! Be thou also attended with special good fortune in future through the powers of my religious observances" (45). Thus spoken to by that foremost of sages, that most beloved wife of Hari, Satyabhama rose up, O king (from her bending attitude) filled with immense delight (46).
Thereafter Krishna that most intelligent personage of immeasurable powers, ate the remnants of the sage's dish having at first obtained his permission (47). O Bharata, Satyabhama also finishing there all necessary rites gladly entered her inner appartments with the permission of her illustrious husband (48). Then after a while at the command of Krishna she again came out, and having saluted the high-souled sage with her head, seated herself by Krishna's side (49). Thus having (comfortably) sat for a while, Narada said to Krishna:—"O Adhokshaja, with thy leave I now intend to go to the regions of Sakra (50). The gods, the Gandharbhas and the Apsaras there will this day sing songs of praise to that primary divinity Ishana, having at first bowed down to him in homage true (51). In the residence of Indra, O lord, every month there take place such worship and homage-giving to that god of gods (Siva), and Gandharbha dances in his honor (52). That god of gods accompanied by his wife Uma, and attended by his followers, witnesseth unseen those festivities celebrated with much reverence by that foremost of immortals, the destroyer of mountains (53). I was invited there yesterday; I only came here, O highly effulgent one, to present thee with that flower of the beautiful Parijata, that king of all trees (54). This flower of that best of all trees, though it is a luxury to be enjoyed only by the gods, I brought it, O lord, for thy enjoyment only (55). O lotus-eyed one! that tree is very dear to Sachi (Indra's wife), and duly worshipped by her every day, it brings her a chain of (unending) prosperity (56). Pleased with the religious observances of Aditi, the illustrious Kasyapa created the great Parijata tree in order to enable her to accomplish the vow known as Punyaka (57). In days gone by the highly powerful Kasyapa that receptacle of all powers begot by austerities, having been much gratified with the services of Aditi, desired to bestow a boon on her (58). Thereupon that very fortunate lady said:—'O foremost of sages, confer on me such a boon by virtue of which I may be decorated with all kinds of ornaments at my will, that I may have the qualities of singing and dancing at my command and that, O mighty possessor of ascetic wealth, I may ever remain youthful; confer on me the boon that I may be always free from all impurities and sorrow, and that I may be ever devoted to my husband and to the performance of religious deeds (59-61)'.
"Thereupon for pleasing his wife Aditi, he created the Parijata tree covered with ever-fragrant flowers capable of bestowing all desires (62). The tree had three branches to be always seen and it gladdened the heart of all onlookers. All sorts of flowers are to be seen on this mighty tree (63). Some beautiful damsels deck themselves with flowers like these; some again beautify themselves with parti-coloured ones, and others with jems and jewels (that also grow on this tree) (64). Taking out the essense of the Mandara tree, Kasyapa created this one; and therefore this best of trees has reached the height of excellence (has been reckoned as the foremost of all trees) (65). The blessed Aditi then binding Kasyapa to that tree gave him over to me, in order to accomplish the Punyaka vow and earn prosperity and good fortune therefrom (66). Aditi gave Kasyapa over to me with his neck bound to the Parijata tree with a garland of flowers, for the fulfilment of her Punyaka vow (67). That possessor of ascetic wealth was afterwards released by me on payment of proper ransom. Similarly Indra was given to me by his wife for the furtherance of her prosperity (68). In this way Soma was given away by Rohini, and Kuvera, the lord of wealth by Riddhi. Thus there is no doubt that the Parijata tree is capable of conferring much prosperity (69). It is called Parijata as it grows on the other side (Para) of the river Vishnupadi—and this is styled the Mandara for it bears the Mandara flower (70). As men did say—'What tree is this?'—not exactly knowing what it was, this mighty tree is called Kobidara (71). The excellent tree that produces this excellent flower is known by the several names, Mandara, Kobidara and Parijata".
| [283] | The white lily withers away with the dawn of day, when the beams of the moon cease fall on it. Kumadbati may have another meaning. There was a queen of a certain king Aja of that name, who died before her husband. |
| [284] | Another interpretation has been put on this part of the Sloka, namely, "who would remain by me when I am gone—!" This seems to be far fetched. |
| [285] | An attempt has been made in the commentary of Sridhara to attribute an allegorical meaning to this Sloka, which tries to establish the identity of Krishna with the God-head. This though ingeneous, is not suited to the context. |
CHAPTER CXXV. THE HISTORY OF THE PARIJATA TREE THE COLOQUY BETWEEN KRISHNA AND NARADA.
Vaishampāyana said:—The almighty Vishnu, that possessor of immeasurable powers then finding that the sage Nārada was desirous of departing, spoke to him thus (1):—"O sinless and mighty sage, conversant with the truth of all religions, having repaired to heaven and there interviewed the courtiers of that intelligent slayer of Tripura (2), remind Pakasasana of all our ancient brotherly love that thou knowest—inform him not as my command but as my request, (3) that the Pārijāta tree which the illustrious and virtuous Kasyapa that foremost of sages created in days gone by for the sake of Aditi's happiness, (4) that most excellent of all trees that bestows religious merit, and unbounded prosperity, that tree that was given to thee away as a gift by the very virtuous goddesses in fulfilment of their vows for the furtherance of their religious merits—inform him that my wives also hearing of the presentation of that tree, desire to give it away, O lord, for earning virtue and religious merit consequent on munificent deeds and also, for my gratification. Ask him therefore to send down to Dwarvati that best of all trees the Pārijāta; and it shall be restored to heaven after the ceremony of presentation is over. The almighty God the slayer of Vala should thus be spoken to by thee (5-8). O foremost of sages thou shalt also so put forth thy endeavours that the lord of the immortals be persuaded to give over the excellent Parijata tree (9), O possessor of ascetic wealth, this will also bring into prominence what ambassadorial abilities thou dost possess; I know that it is possible for all thine acts to be attended with success" (20).