Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.905

c5.905

From the next morning the King and queen began to offer their services to Nandini. The King followed her as her shadow. After twentyone days, one morning Nandini went to graze in a dense forest. As usual, the King also followed her. As they reached the middle of the woods, the King was enchanted for a moment by the charm of the Sylvan scenery. Just then, on turning round he saw a lion springing towards Nandini to prey upon her. Suddenly he took up his bow and aimed an arrow at the lion, but to his great amazement, his hands were paralysed. The lion spoke to him as follows:—“O King, you need not exert yourself in vain. I am the servant of Lord Śiva. This holy deodar tree which you see in front of us, was planted and tended by Pārvatī. My task is to protect this tree. Pārvatī and lord Śiva have authorized me to kill and eat the animals which come this way. Therefore this cow is my food."