(Pauloma Parva)
' , the , versed in the Puranas, while present in the forest of Naimisha, at the twelve years' sacrifice of , surnamed , stood before the Rishis in attendance. Having studied Puranas with meticulous devotion and thus being thoroughly acquainted with them, he addressed them with joined hands thus, 'I have graphically described to you the history of which is one of the causes of King 's Snake-sacrifice. What, revered Sirs, do ye you wish to hear now? What shall I relate to you?' The holy men replied, 'O , we shall ask thee you about what we are anxious to hear and thou you wilt will recount the tales one by one. , our revered master, is at present attending the apartment of the holy fire. He is acquainted with those divine stories which relate to the gods and asuras. He adequately knoweth knows the histories of men, serpents, and Gandharvas. Further, O , in this sacrifice that learned Brahmana is the chief. He is able, faithful to his vows, wise, a master of the Sastras and the Aranyaka, a speaker of truth, a lover of peace, a mortifier of the flesh, and an observer of the penances according to the authoritative decrees. He is respected by us all. It behoveth behooves us therefore to wait for him. And when he is seated on his highly respected seat, thou you wilt will answer what that best of Dwijas shall ask of thee you.'
" said, 'Be it so. And when the high-souled master hath has been seated I shall narrate, questioned by him, sacred stories on a variety of subjects." After a while that excellent Brahmana () having duly finished all his duties, and having propitiated the gods with prayers and the manes with oblations of water, came back to the place of sacrifice, where with seated before was the assembly of saints of rigid vows sitting at ease. And when was seated in the midst of the Ritwiks and Sadhyas, who were also in their seats, he spake spoke as followeth follows."
(Pauloma Parva continued)
" said, 'Child, thy your father formerly read the whole of the Puranas, O , and the Bharata with . Hast have thou you also made them thy your study? In those ancient records are chronicled interesting stories and the history of the first generations of the wise men, all of which we heard being rehearsed by thy your sire. In the first place, I am desirous of hearing the history of the race of . Recount thou you that history, we shall attentively listen to thee you."
" answered, 'By me hath has been acquired all that was formerly studied by the high-souled Brahmanas including and repeated by them; by me hath has been acquired all that had been studied by my father. O descendant of the race, attend then to so much as relateth relates to the exalted race of , revered by and all the gods, by the tribes of Rishis and Maruts (Winds). O great Muni, I shall first properly recount the story of this family, as told in the Puranas.
"The great and blessed saint , we are informed, was produced by the self-existing from the fire at the sacrifice of . And had a son, named , whom he dearly loved. And to was born a virtuous son called Pramati. And Pramati had a son named by Ghritachi (the celestial dancer). And to also by his wife , was born a son, whose name was Sunaka. He was, O , thy your great ancestor exceedingly virtuous in his ways. He was devoted to asceticism, of great reputation, proficient in law, and eminent among those having a knowledge of the Vedas. He was virtuous, truthful, and of well-regulated fare.'
" said, 'O son of Suta, I ask thee you why the illustrious son of was named . Do tell me all.'
" replied, ' had a wife named Puloma whom he dearly loved. She became big with child by . And one day while the virtuous continent Puloma was in that condition, , great among those that are true to their religion, leaving her at home went out to perform his ablutions. It was then that the Rakshasa called Puloma came to 's abode. And entering the Rishi's abode, the Rakshasa saw the wife of , irreproachable in everything. And seeing her he became filled with lust and lost his senses. The beautiful Puloma entertained the Rakshasa thus arrived, with roots and fruits of the forest. And the Rakshasa who burnt with desire upon seeing her, became very much delighted and resolved, O good sage, to carry her away who was so blameless in every respect.
'My design is accomplished,' said the Rakshasa, and so seizing that beautiful matron he carried her away. And, indeed, she of agreeable smiles, had been betrothed by her father himself, to him, although the former subsequently bestowed her, according to due rites, on . O thou you of the race, this wound rankled deep in the Rakshasa's mind and he thought the present moment very opportune for carrying the lady away.
"And the Rakshasa saw the apartment in which the sacrificial fire was kept burning brightly. The Rakshasa then asked the flaming element 'Tell me, O , whose wife this woman rightfully is. Thou you art the mouth of gods; therefore thou you art bound to answer my question. This lady of superior complexion had been first accepted by me as wife, but her father subsequently bestowed her on the false . Tell me truly if this fair one can be regarded as the wife of , for having found her alone, I have resolved to take her away by force from the hermitage. My heart burneth burns with rage when I reflect that hath has got possession of this woman of slender waist, first betrothed to me.'"
" continued, 'In this manner the Rakshasa asked the flaming again and again whether the lady was 's wife. And the god was afraid to return an answer. 'Thou you, O ,' said he, residest constantly within every creature, as witness of her or his merits and demerits. O thou you respected one, then answer my question truly. Has not appropriated her who was chosen by me as my wife? Thou you shouldst should declare truly whether, therefore, she is my wife by first choice. After thy your answer as to whether she is the wife of , I will bear her away from this hermitage even in sight of thee you. Therefore answer thou you truly.'"
" continued, 'The Seven flamed god having heard these words of the Rakshasa became exceedingly distressed, being afraid of telling a falsehood and equally afraid of 's curse. And the god at length made answer in words that came out slowly. 'This Puloma was, indeed, first chosen by thee you, O Rakshasa, but she was not taken by thee you with holy rites and invocations. But this far-famed lady was bestowed by her father on as a gift from desire of blessing. She was not bestowed on thee you O Rakshasa, this lady was duly made by the Rishi his wife with Vedic rites in my presence. This is she--I know her. I dare not speak a falsehood. O thou you best of the Rakshasas, falsehood is never respected in this world.'"
(Pauloma Parva continued)
" said, 'O Brahmana, having heard these words from the , the Rakshasa assumed the form of a boar, and seizing the lady carried her away with the speed of the wind--even of thought. Then the child of lying in her body enraged at such violence, dropped from his mother's womb, for which he obtained the name of . And the Rakshasa perceiving the infant drop from the mother's womb, shining like the sun, quitted his grasp of the woman, fell down and was instantly converted into ashes. And the beautiful Pauloma, distracted with grief, O Brahmana of the race, took up her offspring , the son of and walked away. And , the Grandfather of all, himself saw her, the faultless wife of his son, weeping. And the Grandfather of all comforted her who was attached to her son. And the drops of tears which rolled down her eyes formed a great river. And that river began to follow the foot-steps of the wife of the great ascetic . And the Grandfather of the worlds seeing that river follow the path of his son's wife gave it a name himself, and he called it Vadhusara. And it passeth passes by the hermitage of . And in this manner was born of great ascetic power, the son of .
"And saw his child and its beautiful mother. And the Rishi in a rage asked her, 'By whom wast was thou you made known to that Rakshasa who resolved to carry thee you away? O thou you of agreeable smiles, the Rakshasa could not know thee you as my wile. Therefore tell me who it was that told the Rakshasa so, in order that I may curse him through anger.' And Pauloma replied, 'O possessor of the six attributes! I was identified to the Rakshasa by (the ). And he (the Rakshasa) bore me away, who cried like the Kurari (female osprey). And it was only by the ardent splendour of this thy your son that I was rescued, for the Rakshasa (seeing this infant) let me go and himself falling to the ground was turned into ashes.'
" continued, ', upon hearing this account from Pauloma, became exceedingly enraged. And in excess of passion the Rishi cursed , saying, 'Thou you shalt shall eat of all things.'"
So ends the sixth section called "the curse on " in the Adi Parva.