॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Saturday, 19 November 2022 IV.26 - King Puranjana returns after a gruesome hunting of wild animals, and has to beg his wife for pardon as he went without her permission.
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Trust Sage Narada to spin a story with such gruesome detail that King Prachinabarhi is left in no doubt about the slippery slope of man's degradation from the wanton pursuit of violent activities and lusty pleasures.
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On a bright day, Puranjana was in the mood to go hunting. Taking up his great bow, wearing his golden armour and carrying an inexhaustible quiver of arrows, he proceeded in his splendid chariot followed by eleven commanders. It is highly allegorical that his chariot was driven by five swift horses (senses), and he entered the forest called Panchaprastha (the world of five elements.) Many more such allegories are offered by Narada in the description of the hunt.
It was almost impossible for King Puranjana to leave the company of his queen even for a moment. Nonetheless, on that day, being carried away by his mood for hunting, he went without thinking of his wife.
His demoniac appetite for hunting meant that Puranjana killed recklessly a large number of wild animals, with scant thought for their suffering or the extent of his excesses.
Scriptures allow some hunting for kings who are fond of meat, but there are tenets to avoid unnecessary slaughter. यावदर्थमलं लुब्धो हन्यादिति नियम्यते T: "Hunt in moderation, not in wanton greed", it is stated.
Narada pauses to let the story and its import sink into Prachinabarhi. He says,
य एवं कर्म नियतं विद्वान् कुर्वीत मानव: । कर्मणा तेन राजेन्द्र ज्ञानेन न स लिप्यते ॥
T: "Oh King, a wise man does not transgress Vedic injunctions in any activity. He moderates it out of his wisdom."
"A sure way to be lost in the world of Gunas and fall in the creation hierarchy that perpetuates the birth-death cycle of bondage is being too much engaged in activities and rituals as they boost one's arrogance and destroy one's wisdom."
Helpless wild animals- boars, deer, wild cattle, bisons, rabbits, porcupines - all fell prey to Puranjana's violence, causing great anguish in those (mostly sages and forest dwellers) who could not stomach his reckless killing spree.
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After the hunt, the king, very much fatigued, hungry and thirsty, returned to his palace. He had a bath followed by a good dinner. After he was sufficiently rested, Puranjana decorated his body with suitable ornaments. He also smeared sandalwood paste over his body and put on flower garlands. In this way, he was refreshed and ready for his queen.
His thirst and hunger satisfied, King Puranjana was in a lustful mood. Instead of being elevated to higher consciousness, he became captivated by Cupid, and wanted to mate with his wife.
Puranjana searched for his queen in vain and became anxious. He told her maids how she was his comfort, the sole source of advice and indeed his everything. The word जोरु क गुलाम् comes to mind.
The maids complimented the king for his deeds of valour (hunting!) and took him to his queen who was lying dishevelled and sad on the bare ground eschewing royal pleasure as distasteful. She was throwing a big tantrum.
Puranjana went to comfort and placate the queen.
अनुनिन्येऽथ शनकैर्वीरोऽनुनयकोविद: । पस्पर्श पादयुगलमाह चोत्सङ्गलालिताम् ॥
T: Good at flattery, the king gently and slowly approached the woman. He first touched her feet, then gently lifted her to his lap, and embraced her. He said, "Lady, when a master is upset with his slave but does not say why he is upset nor readily punish him, isn't the slave doubly unfortunate? Pray tell me what made you angry! Has anyone offended you? I shall put him to death!"
"My dear wife, your teeth are very beautifully set, and your features have a sober charm. Kindly give up your anger, be merciful upon me! When I see a smile on your beautiful face, and when I see your hair is dark and beautiful, your nose is so shapely, and your talk is so sweet, I am simply swept away. Be merciful to me! You are my dearest mistress!"
"My dear wife, until today I have never seen your face without the tilaka mark, nor have I seen you so morose, lustreless and lacking affection. I see your breasts are wet from tears, your lips lack their ruddy charm."
तन्मे प्रसीद सुहृद: कृतकिल्बिषस्य स्वैरं गतस्य मृगयां व्यसनातुरस्य ।
का देवरं वशगतं कुसुमास्त्रवेगविस्रस्तपौंस्नमुशती न भजेत कृत्ये ॥
T: "I apologise for my unpardonable act of going hunting without your permission! Please forgive me! I am so victimised by Cupid right now that I am losing my mind in lust! Would any beautiful woman deny the advances of her amorous man!? Please!"
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
