Dhaumya, Upamanyu, Vatsa, and other sages, [along with] the daughters of sages, / came to the blessed hermitage of Viśvānara to pacify that [influence].

4.11.47

Brahmā accompanied by Bṛhaspati, the god whose vehicle is Garuḍa,

4.11.48

the bull-bannered [Śiva] accompanied by Nandī and Bhṛṅgin, together with Gaurī,

4.11.49

the gods headed by Mahendra, the nāgas residing in Pātāla,

4.11.50

and the great oceans, accompanied by rivers, bringing abundant gems—

4.11.51

stationary beings, assuming moving forms, arrived by the thousands.

4.11.52

In that grand festival, an untimely moonlight [celebration] burst forth.

4.11.53

The god, the Grandfather [Brahmā], performed his birth-rite himself.

4.11.54

Considering the Vedic text that corresponded to his nature: "This one is Gṛhapati by name,"

4.11.55

he gave him that name to be given on the eleventh day,

4.11.56

uttering the Vedic text for that purpose according to the rule for the naming ceremony:

4.11.57

"This Agni, the master of the house, the domestic fire, is the greatest finder of wealth for his offspring.

4.11.58

O Agni, master of the house, grant us radiant splendor and strength."

4.11.59

Indicating also his supreme state through [the phrase] "O Agni, master of the house,"

4.11.60

and blessing him with the blessings spoken in the mantras of the four Vedas,

4.11.61

and performing the protective rites appropriate for an infant along with Hara and Hari,

4.11.62

the Great-Grandfather of all mounted his swan and departed.

4.11.63

"Oh, what form! Oh, what fiery energy! Oh, the marks on all his limbs!

4.11.64

Oh, the fortune of Śuciṣmatī, [for] Hara himself has become manifest!

4.11.65

Or rather, what wonder is this among the devotees of Śarva?

4.11.66

Rudra himself would become manifest, for those who worship him are Rudras."

4.11.67

Praising one another in this way, they all went back the way they came,

4.11.68

taking leave of Viśvānara, their bodily hairs thrilling with joy.

4.11.69

Therefore, those dwelling in the householder's stage of life desire a son;

4.11.70

"Through a son, one conquers worlds"—this is the eternal Vedic revelation.

4.11.71

Empty is the home of one without a son; vain is the wealth gained by one without a son;

4.11.72

broken is the lineage of one without a son, and indeed nothing is more impure than [being] childless.

4.11.73

There is no gain higher than a son; there is no happiness higher than a son;

4.11.74

there is no friend higher than a son anywhere, in this world or the next.

4.11.75

The biological son, the wife's son [by another], the bought, the given, the found, the daughter's son,

4.11.76

and another rescued from misfortune: seven kinds of sons are proclaimed here.

4.11.77

A wise householder must obtain any one among these;

4.11.78

each preceding son is superior, and each subsequent one is inferior.

4.11.79

The two Gaṇas said:

4.11.80

Then, in his fourth month, his first outing from the house was performed by his father;

4.11.81

first feeding of solid food at half a year, and the tonsure at one year was properly performed.

4.11.82

Then, having performed the ear-piercing under the asterism Śravaṇa, knowing the rites,

4.11.83

he imparted the vow [of initiation] in the fifth year for the increase of brahminical splendor.

4.11.84

Then, having performed the Upākarma, the wise father taught him the Vedas;

4.11.85

in three years he studied the Vedas according to rule, together with their auxiliary limbs, pada, and krama texts.

4.11.86

And the whole collection of branches of knowledge, merely observed from the mouth of his guru,

4.11.87

the capable boy grasped, manifesting virtues such as humility.

4.11.88

Then, in the ninth year, seeing Gṛhapati, the son of Viśvānara,

4.11.89

delighting in the service of his parents, the sage who travels at will,

4.11.90

the celestial seer Nārada, the wise, reached the hermitage of Viśvānara.

4.11.91

Having accepted the seat and water of hospitality, he duly inquired after their welfare there.

4.11.92

Nārada said:

4.11.93

"O fortunate Viśvānara! O Śuciṣmatī of auspicious vows!

4.11.94

Does this child Gṛhapati obey the words of you both?

4.11.95

There is no other sacred ford, nor god, nor teacher, nor good deed;

4.11.96

setting aside the command of parents, there is indeed no other duty for a son.

4.11.97

Nothing in the three worlds is superior to parents for a son;

4.11.98

through bearing the womb and nourishing, the mother is weightier than the father.

4.11.99

Being sprinkled with the waters flowing from a mother's feet,

4.11.100

one would attain a purity greater than [that from] the waters purified by the celestial river [Gaṅgā].

4.11.101

Even a wandering ascetic who has renounced all ritual actions must be saluted by his father;

4.11.102

[yet] by an ascetic who is worthy of salutation by all, the mother must be saluted with great care.

4.11.103

This alone is the most severe austerity; this alone is the supreme vow;

4.11.104

this alone is the highest duty: that which pleases the parents.

4.11.105

I consider that he would not respect another, a lowly person, as he does the two of you.

4.11.106

Of this well-mannered child, Gṛhapati, charming in appearance, I [shall speak]:

4.11.107

"O son of Viśvānara, come here! Sit on my lap, child!

4.11.108

I shall examine your bodily signs; show me your right hand."

4.11.109

Addressed thus by the sage, the boy, having obtained his parents' permission,

4.11.110

bowed down to Nārada, and, glorious, sat humbly with devotion.

4.11.111

Then, having inspected all his limbs, his palate, tongue, and teeth too,

4.11.112

and having brought a three-stranded thread reddened with saffron,

4.11.113

recalling the two Śivas and the lord of the gaṇas, with the boy standing upright and facing north,

4.11.114

the sage measured the child from the soles of his feet to his head.

4.11.115

"He whose span across matches his height, measuring one hundred and eight finger-breadths,

4.11.116

shall become a ruler of the earth, just like this boy of yours, O brahmin.

4.11.117

Five subtle parts, five long parts, seven red parts, six elevated parts,

4.11.118

three broad parts, small and deep, he possesses thirty-two bodily signs.

4.11.119

His five long parts are praised, indicating long life for him:

4.11.120

his two arms, two eyes, chin, knees, and nose, of this son of yours.

4.11.121

He is praised as short in three: the neck, the shanks, and the male organ;

4.11.122

this auspicious child is deep in three: in his voice, his temperament, and his navel.

4.11.123

The skin, the hair, the fingers, the teeth, and also the finger-joints—

4.11.124

these five subtle features he has indicate that he will attain the station of a guardian of the directions.

4.11.125

Chest, belly, locks of hair, shoulders, hand, and face are the six elevated parts;

4.11.126

thus it is seen in this child that he will possess great sovereignty.

4.11.127

The palms of the two hands, the corners of the eyes, the palate, the tongue, the lower lip,

4.11.128

along with the nails, are the seven reddish parts on him that bestow the happiness of kingship.

4.11.129

Since he is broad in three—by his forehead, waist, and chest—

4.11.130

he will attain sovereignty eclipsing all splendour; it will not be otherwise.

4.11.131

His two hands, hard like the back of a tortoise and unaccustomed to menial labor,

4.11.132

are causes of kingship for this child, and his feet, tender when walking [likewise].

4.11.133

An unbroken line is seen on him, extending to the forefinger,

4.11.134

originating from behind the little finger, such as would grant a long life.

4.11.135

His feet are well-fleshed, reddish, even, delicate, very beautiful,

4.11.136

with even ankles, free of sweat, and glossy, indicating sovereign power.

4.11.137

With few and reddish lines on his hands, he will be ever happy;

4.11.138

with a slender and short organ, he will become a king of kings.

4.11.139

His throat, hips, ankles, buttocks, and his navel are rounded;

4.11.140

turned to the right and reddish, [the navel] indicates great sovereignty.

4.11.141

If a single stream turns clockwise when he urinates,

4.11.142

and if his semen has the fragrance of fish and honey, then he is a king.

4.11.143

His buttocks are broad, fleshy, and smooth, suited for happiness;

4.11.144

his two arms, turned counter-clockwise and hanging long, are fit for protecting the directions.

4.11.145

He bears [marks of] the śrīvatsa, thunderbolt, discus, lotus, fish, bow, and staff;

4.11.146

the lines on his hand are such that he could be the lord of heaven.

4.11.147

He has thirty-two teeth, and a neck shaped like a conch with rings;

4.11.148

with a voice like a curlew, drum, swan, or cloud, he surpasses all lords.

4.11.149

Having eyes tawny as honey, good fortune will never abandon him;

4.11.150

he has five lines on his forehead, and his belly is auspicious like a lion's.

4.11.151

His feet are marked with upward lines; his breath smells of lotus;

4.11.152

his hands have no gaps [between fingers]; he has beautiful nails; he possesses great auspicious marks.

4.11.153

However, even one endowed with all virtues and marked with all auspicious signs,

4.11.154

complete with all spotless arts, fate may strike down, just like the moon.

4.11.155

Therefore, with every effort, this child must be protected;

4.11.156

even a virtue turns into a fault when the Creator becomes adverse.

4.11.157

I fear an obstacle to his life in his twelfth year, from lightning or fire."

4.11.158

Having spoken thus, the wise Nārada went away as he had come.

4.11.159

Viśvānara, together with his wife, hearing that speech of Nārada,

4.11.160

felt right then as if struck by a terrible thunderbolt.

4.11.161

"Alas, I am ruined!" with these words he beat his chest;

4.11.162

distraught with grief for his son, he fell into a deep faint.

4.11.163

Śuciṣmatī also, stricken with sorrow, wept intolerably,

4.11.164

with a plaintive voice and cries of "Alas!", her senses utterly agitated.

4.11.165

"Alas, child! Alas, treasure of virtues! Alas, obedient to your father's word!

4.11.166

Alas, why did you enter into the womb of an unfortunate woman like me? 82.

4.11.167

Alas, little son, who will save me here formerly having you as my only son,

4.11.168

fallen without you into the ocean of sorrow overflowing with the waves of your virtues? 83.

4.11.169

Alas, boy! Alas, pure one! Alas, wide-lotus-eyed one! Alas, moon to the cakora birds of people's eyes!

4.11.170

Alas, child! Child, garland of sunrays to your father's lotus-eyes, sole cause of joy in thousands of festivals for your mother! 84.

4.11.171

Alas, full-moon-faced one! Alas, one with beautiful nails and fingers! Alas, flood of the waves of nectar in charming speech!

4.11.172

Alas, through how many sorrows did you become attained by me, Gṛhapati? What indeed was not done by me to attain you? 85.

4.11.173

To which deities were offerings of food not scattered by me? Which sacred fords, dear child, were not frequented by me? 86.

4.11.174

What vows, medicines, mantras, and yantras were not accomplished by me for your sake, you who are attainable only through good merit? 86.

4.11.175

O ship on the ocean of worldly existence, remove this burden of sorrow! Ocean of happiness, show the essence of the moon of your face!

4.11.176

Revive your father with the sprinklings of the nectar of your speech from the submarine fire in the fierce ocean of the hell named Put! 87.

4.11.177

Did all the deities, having known the future, gather together at once on the great festival of his birth,

4.11.178

filled with joy from examining the collection of beauty and auspicious marks, the host of virtues, conduct, and arts united in one person? 88.

4.11.179

O Śambhu, great lord, compassionate one, spear in hand! The knowers of the Veda declare that you are the conqueror of death.

4.11.180

If Time, the ender, comes upon a boy-son given by you, tell me: whose fall would not occur here? 89.

4.11.181

Alas, alas! Creator, why was this boy, who removes the torment of worldly existence, created by you here with many efforts,

4.11.182

having placed by his side the whole essence of good jewels, a fathomless middle in a vast ocean of virtues? 90.

4.11.183

Alas, death! Did not the moon-face of this boy's son, possessed of a mother, steal away your deathliness?

4.11.184

He whose playful limbs are tender like a lotus stalk, [destroyed by] one whose fangs are a thunderbolt-stiff and cruel axe! 91.

4.11.185

Having lamented thus repeatedly, with high-surging waves like a hundred rivers born from the stream of tears from her eyes,

4.11.186

she, scorched by the heat of the fire generated by grief for her child, sighing long, heavy, and hot, withered away. 92.

4.11.187

Hearing those piteous laments, the trees and creepers, with showers of tear-flowers,

4.11.188

seemed to weep through the distressed cries of singing birds, repeatedly shaking their heads under the guise of the wind. 93.

4.11.189

Indeed, she wept so loudly with open throat and distressed cries that, under the guise of an echo,

4.11.190

from her sorrow, all directions through the mouths of mountain caves wept along with her, the approach of birds and beasts arrested. 94.

4.11.191

Hearing this distressed cry, Viśvanara too, casting off his faint, arose, saying, 'What is this? But what? What, what is this?'

4.11.192

Calling loudly, 'Where is Gṛhapati, my breath of life standing outside, residing as the inner self, lord of all senses?' 95.

4.11.193

Agastya said:

4.11.194

Then, seeing both his parents enveloped in great grief,

4.11.195

he smiled and said, 'Mother, whence indeed is such fear for both of you? 96.

4.11.196

When my body has been shielded by the dust of your feet,

4.11.197

neither Death nor that wretched, unsteady, diminutive [lightning] is able to seize me. 97.

4.11.198

Hear my vow, dear parents: if I am indeed your son,

4.11.199

I shall act in such a way that the lightning will be afraid of me. 98.

4.11.200

Having worshipped the Conqueror of Death, the omniscient one who grants all to the virtuous,

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Linked texts (1)

Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit