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Then Chudalai re-assumed the form of Kumbha-Muni, and descending in that form before her husband, appear ed with a dejected countenance. As soon as this Muni, whose THE STORY OF s'lKHIDWAJA. 363 mind was (really) free from all pains, appeared before the King with a downcast rnien and overcast face, like a lotus enveloped with snow, the latter was startled to see the Muni thus, and rising- up at once besought him with these words : ' 0 my father, you seem to be like one afflicted with pains — what are they ? May you destroy them ! Never will persons of true Jnana succumb to despondency or joy. Will water floating on a lotus leaf ever affect it ? At these words of the King, Kumbha-Muni related the following amusing anecdote of himself in tones as musical as the Vina. Persons of firm and equal vision as regards all things will never constitute Jnanis (the wise), unless they commingle with the actions of the Indriyas (^organs), so long as they possess a body. Otherwise, such persons are only impostors. Those who are so ignorant as not to perform the existing Karmas and think of mastering them through their avoidance, will only generate fresh ones and suffer therefrom ; i. e., like the oil which is inseparable from the gingelly seed, the differ, ent Avasthas (states) of pains will exist so long as there is the body. Those who try to sever themselves from these states, in order to do away with affection, &c., are, O King, like one endeavouring to rend asunder the immeasurable Akasa with a sword. If the inevitable pains of this impure body be sought to be averted by the control of the organs of action (Karmendriyas), will the bliss arising therefrom compare in any way with that generated by the renunciation of bodily pains through the path of Jnana ? Even in the case of Brahma and others, who have Karmendriyas (organs of action) on one side and Jnanendriyas (organs of sense) on the other side of the body, the certain dictates of the imperishable Law demand that they cannot rise above the Avasthas incidental to their body, even though they are illumined in mind. As both Ajnanis and Jnanis are exposed to the visible objects of the world, they both move only in consonance with the universal Law, like the waters in an ocean. Daily do Jnanis, through the certainty of their intelligence, looking equally upon all, perform unruffled their duties so long as they are relieved from their bodies. But Ajnanis are ever agitated by and drowned in pains and pleasures. They are born in 304 YOGA-VA'SISHTA, different bodies and follow the laws regulating them. This have I described to you in extenso. Now I shall describe to you the pains I underwent in iny path. Are not pains which are like unto a grinding saw, re lieved when revealed to those we love ? After I gave the bunch of flowers to you, and rose up in the Akasa, 1 went to my all-truthful father in Devaloka, and attended the court of Indra, the Lord of Devas. Then, having in mind to return to this place from there, I descended through the Akasa and was in the act of coming over to this earth, through the spatial Vayu path (viz., North-west of Surya-Mandala, ie., the Sun's sphere), when I saw before me the Rishi Durvasa journeying on in the region of clouds. Having prostrated my self before his venerable feet, I addressed him thus — 'Thou art clad in dark clothes* and art beginning to act like an ill-famed woman longing for her paramour.' Whereupon the omniscient Rishi became incensed at me and with fury cursed me for my impertinent words to be transformed every night into a female wearing beautiful ornaments. Hearing these words, I cried aloud and having contemplated the lotus feet of the Rishi, was going to beg pardon of him, when all at once he disappeared. With this thought afflicting me very much, I have now come here to you. I shall hereafter every night have to submit myself to this process of transformation into a female f How can I, without being ashamed, be a female every night, moving as I do in the company of my Gurus, Devas, Munis and hosts of others r'* But the King solaced him thus : — ' Please, 0 god, do not be afraid. What is the use of giving way to grief? Let come what may through the dire force of the irresistible Law. This womanhood of thine will, I think, not attach itself to the Eqfo within, but only to the body without. It behoves thee not thus to give way to grief, thou who art replete with Jnfina. It is only the ignorant that are afflicted in mind ' Then the sun began to set as if to hasten on the wise Kumbha-Muni to assume a female form. With the coming of twilight they performed all their daily religious Karmas. Then the Muni looked into the face of the King, who was sitting before him, and * Durvasa is lit : ill-clad. f This is to try the King, being the first trial. THE STORY OF s'lKHIDWAjA. 305 remarked thus in a plaintive tone : — 'To my great shame, be it spoken, 0 King, a female form is enveloping me and my present form is disintegrating- itself. The significant marks of a female are developing themselves in me. Behold my waist forming itself, the female dress gradually covering my body, and the remainder of the female form appearing in all its entirety.' Thus did the quiescent Kumbha-Muni deliver himself, as if in terms of grief. The King beholding his des pondent Guru, thus said : — ' As a Jnani you have known well the true path of Law. While so, do not be afflicted through events which will inevitably come to pass.' To which Kumbha- Muni said thus : — 4 There is nothing to be done now. Who can thwart the insurmountable Law ? Every night will but entail on me a female form.' So saying, both quietly slept. With early dawn she re sumed her Kumbha-Muni form. Thus did Chudalai pass some time, the days in the form of Kumbha-Muni and the nights in the form of a female ; and yet she preserved her virginity. One noon Chudalai in the guise of Kumbha-Muni addressed thus the King — " Oh King, how long am I to remain in a state of virginity without tasting the pleasures inci dental to the female sex ? Therefore I wish to get at a lord for myself. In all the three worlds, 1 cannot pitch upon a more affectionate husband than thyself. Thou shalt accept me as thy spouse overnights. If so, thou shalt have the fear of neither heaven nor hell." To which the King nodded assent. Whereupon the Muni remarked — :" To-day is a very propitious day for marriage, it being the month of Simha (August — September). At moon-rise we shall perform the marriage rites." Then the beautiful-eyed King fetched from Mahameru rare gems and sandals, bathed in the holy waters and made prostrations to Devas, Munis and Pitris according to Vedic injunctions. Then both these individuals clad themselves in white silken robes yielded by the Kalpa tree. The sun having set, the resplendent moon began to shed its silvery rays when the king, after performing the Sandhya rites, cele brated the marriage on Mandhara hills. Then they roved over hills and dales enjoying themselves but yet without the least clinging towards such an enjoyment, 39 306 YOCSA-VA'SISHTA. Every three days, while the King was asleep, Chudalai would regularly go to her husband's realm and administer justice there and then would return to her husband's side, as if she had not parted from him. Then this lady Chudalai, who now passed under her new marriage pseudonym, viz.) Mad- hanika, lived with her husband for some time and reflected thus within herself : — The king will never hereafter centre his desires on worldly enjoyments. Therefore I shall test his mind in the enjoyments of Devaloka. I shall, by the force of my yoga practice, through which I have developed AnimA and other psychic powers, create a Mayavic (illusory) pana- roma in this forest, wherein Devas will appear with their Lord Devendra at their head. Accordingly, when Indra ap peared before the king, the latter saluted the former, and having paid him all the necessary respects, said — ' O Chief of Devas, I do not know what good Karmas I have per formed to merit this visit of yours to me.' To which Indra replied in terms of affection thus : * Attracted by the force of your good qualities, I. have come here along with my reti nues of Devas. The Devaloka is a fit abode for you alone. The Deva maidens are awaiting your arrival there.