"Saying this to his charioteer and rinsing his mouth that powerful king of Dānavas, bent on going there, engaged in meditation and thought (89). Meditating for a moment he, by this knowledge, came to know that she was Ugrasena's wife and was highly pleased (90). Changing his form and assuming that of Ugrasena that large-armed king of Dānavas proceeded smilingly (91). O Kansa, thus proceeding gradually with smiles in his Ugrasena form that powerful (Dānava) caught hold of your mother and ravished her (92), On account of her exuberance of feelings that lady, devoted heart and soul to her husband, was united with her. Then perceiving the heaviness of his touch, she was filled with fear (93). Then rising up and terrified she said to him:—'Forsooth thou art not my husband. Who art thou that hast polluted me with thy impure conduct (94). By thee of mean habits, assuming the form of my husband, my vow, of devotion to one husband, has been spoliated (95). Alas, being enraged with me what will my kinsmen say to me who have brought disgrace on my family. And forsaken and censured by my husband's relatives where shall I live (96)? O thou born in a degraded race, thou art passionate and shorn of patience. Fie on thee! While thou hast begun to ravish other's wives, thou art not worthy of confidence and your lease of life has run out (97).'
"While the lady thus remonstrated with him that Dānava, filled with anger, said:—'I am Drumila, the king Soubha (98). O stupid woman vaunting of learning, being under the protection of a human husband subject to mean death, why art thou censuring me (99). O thou proud of thy womanly honour, eternal is not the understanding of a woman and therefore they are not (by coming in contact with a person like myself) visited by the sin of incontinence[263] (100). I have heard that by going astray many women have given birth to sons of unlimited prowess like unto the gods (101). Thou art a most chaste and devoted wife amongst women, and therefore art remonstrating with me, although I am sinless, and saying whatever thou dost like (102). O excellent woman, because thou hast addressed me as Kastham (who art thou) therefore thou shalt give birth to a son by name Kansa the destroyer of his enemies (103).'
"Hearing these words the queen was filled with anger and speaking ill of his boon she again, with a heart aching, said to that impudent Dānava (104). 'Fie on thy conduct, O highly wicked one. Thou art speaking against all women. But there are many amongst them who are chaste and many who are unchaste (105). O wretch of thy race, by Arundhati and other chaste ladies, of whom we hear, all these creatures and worlds are being upheld (106). I do not like the son that thou, hast given me—the destroyer of my vow. Hear what I say about it (107). O vile creature, the eternal Purusha, who will be born in the family of my husband, will be the destroyer of thyself and of the son given by thee (108).'
"Thus addressed and ascending the most excellent car of unobstructed course Drumila went away by the etherial way (109). And on that very day your mother too went to her city with a poor heart."
Having said this to me the divine Nārada, the foremost of sages burning in his ascetic energy like the very fire, playing on his flute of seven notes and singing, set out for the Brahma region to meet the Grand-Father. O Mahāmātra, you have listened to the words given vent to by me (110-112), Truth has been spoken out by the intelligent Nārada conversant with the knowledge of present, past and future. In strength, energy, humility, stature, heroism, manliness, truth, and liberality no man is like me (113-114). Seeing all these (accomplishments) in me I placed confidence in his words. O elephant-trainer, I am a Kshetraja[264] son of Ugrasena (115). If both my parents forsake, I shall be on the royal throne by my own power. I have been hated by them both and especially by my kinsmen (116). Having slain, through the elephant, first these two sinful cowherd boys I shall afterwards kill all the Yādavas belonging to Krishua's party (117). Riding your elephant with goads, swords and Tomaras, do you wait, O Mahāmātra, at the gate of the arena. Do not tarry (118).
| [261] | The city of Harishchandra suspended in mid-air. |
| [262] | This refers to Madana (Cupid). He is represented to carry a flowery bow and flowery shafts. |
| [263] | The purport is that women are mortal and so by living with immortals on immoral terms they commit no sin as they do when they mix with men. |
| [264] | Lit: produced in a field, born of the wife. A son, the offspring of the wife by a kinsman or person duly appointed to procreate issue to the husband. This is one of the twelve kinds of issue acknowledged by the old Hindu Law. |