Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 4 Chapter 28:31-48

Book 4: Chapter 28

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 28: Verses 31-48
Puranjana is reborn as a woman and attains liberation through the teaching of his friend, Avijnata

A hundred million sons were born to each one of these latter, by whose descendants the earth will be ruled over for a whole Manvantara and (even) beyond it. Agastya married the first-born daughter (of Malayadhwaja), constant in virtue; of her was born the sage Drdhacyuta, who (in his turn) had a son, Idhmavaha by name. Having divided the earth among his (seven) sons, that royal sage, Malayadhwaja, betook himself to the Kulacala mountain, eager to worship Lord Sri Krsna. Abandoning her house, sons and luxuries, the lovely eyed daughter of the king of Vidarbha followed the lord of the Pandyas, even as moonlight follows the moon. (Three) rivers, Candravasa, Tamraparni, and Vatodaka by name, flow in that region. Cleansing the impurities of both his body and mind with their holy waters everyday, and subsisting on bulbs and seeds, roots and fruits, flowers and leaves, as well as on blades of grass and water, he practised austerities, which gradually emaciated his body. He triumphed over pairs of opposites such as heat and cold, storm and rain, hunger and thirst, the agreeable and the disagreeable, pleasure and pain, viewing all with the same eye. With his latent desires eradicated through asceticism and worship, and having controlled his senses, breath and mind through the religious vows (of purity--both internal and external, muttering the divine name and sacred texts) etc., and the various forms of self-discipline (viz., non-violence, truthfulness etc.), he united (identified) his self with Brahma (the Infinite). He sat motionless like a stump at one place for a hundred celestial years. (And) having found (supreme) delight in Lord Vasudeva, he ceased to be conscious of everything else. With the light of pure wisdom imparted by the divine Sri Hari Himself as a preceptor, which shed lustre all round in his heart, 0 king he perceived the Self, who is the witness even of the activities of the mind, as illumining the body etc., and (therefore quite) distinct from them-even as a man sees himself apart from his severed head etc., in a dream-and verily grew indifferent to everything else. He realized himself as one with the transcendent Brahma and the transcendent Brahma as identical with himself and (then), giving up even this consciousness, actually rose above (quitted) this world. Renouncing (all) sensuous enjoyments, the aforesaid Vaidarbhi (the daughter of the king of Vidarbha), who looked upon her husband as a veritable god, lovingly waited upon her spouse, Malayadhwaja, who was conscious of his paramount duty (viz., that of propitiating the Lord). Clad in tatters, and emaciated through fasting and other vows, her hair stuck together in knots, she shone beside her husband like a subdued flame by the side of a flameless fire (live coals). Going up to her most beloved spouse, who was seated in a steady posture even when he had expired, the lady waited upon him as before, little knowing that he was dead. When (however) she did not feel any warmth in the feet of her husband while serving them, she was much perturbed at heart like a doe that had strayed away from its herd. Lamenting her lot as she was now friendless and miserable, she felt greatly alarmed and wept loudly in that forest, bathing her breasts in tears. "Arise, stand up, 0 royal sage ! Be pleased to protect this earth, girt by the ocean, (terribly) afraid as she is of robbers and renegade Ksatriyas."

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