The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.116

v1.c10.116

'The king, sorely afflicted with grief, picked up the pitcher which had been filled up by Sāma, and, taking the path which had been directed, reached the humble cottage of the blind pair, who sat anxiously watching the return of their son. They now heard the sound of advancing footsteps, but, knowing that they were not those of their son, inquired, "who approached the door?" The stranger announced that he was Piliyuk, the king of Banaras, and entered with them into a conversation, in the course of which he delicately disclosed their son's fate and the particulars connected with it, offering at the same time to succour them through life. Unbounded was now the grief of the hapless parents, to which they gave utterance in the language of despair, falling down, and each bitterly crying, "Oh son Sāma, from the day I have lost my sight, have I, by thy unceasing attentions, felt that I have acquired divine eyes. Where hast thou now gone? How shall I henceforth live? Son, thou hast never done nor conceived any evil towards us, or any other being. Thou hast never uttered a falsehood. [ 91 ] Thou hast never committed life-slaughter; ever hast thou maintained the observance of the *pañcaśīla*". The king tried his utmost to console them, but without success. Afterwards, turning to the king, the blind parents addressed him, saying, that they had no faith in his proferred protection, and that all the favour they desired was to be led to the place where Sāma lay. The king complied by leading the point of a stick which the blind ones held in their hands. When they reached their destination, the bereaved parents again gave vent to their feelings by much weeping, and praying to the titular gods. The mother, on examination, finding that all signs of life had vanished, gave utterance to the following *Satya Kiriyā*:—"If it be true that my son Sāma unceasingly devoted himself to the duties of *Brahmacariya*, and that he has ever maintained the ordinances of the *Aṭṭha śīla*; and if it be also true that I have entertained no other faith except Buddhism, and that I have ever performed *tilakunu Bhavana*, may, by the power of those truths, my son receive life”. By the influence of this *Satya Kiriyā*, and by the might of the gods, Sāma moved from one side to another. When the father had also uttered a similar *Satya Kiriyā*, Sāma again moved to a side; and by the power of the goddess already named, he revived, and the parents received their lost sight. Instantly the morning sun arose, and Sāma dismissed the astonished king, after preaching to him on the merits of nourishing one’s parents, and above all of leading a religious life, as they were testified to by his miraculous restoration to life’.72