rule



 

 

Canto 11

Kabe Ha'be

 




Chapter 26: The Song of Purūravā

(1) The Supreme Lord said: 'Having acquired this human body that is My characteristic, one achieves, being situated in My dharma, Me, the Supreme Soul of Spiritual Happiness situated in the heart. (2) Someone who, fixed in spiritual knowledge, has become free from the cause of material life based on the products of the modes, does not get entangled in their illusory qualities despite of being surrounded by them; although present before his eyes they are insubstantial and nothing but illusion to him. (3) One should never at any time seek the company of materialists devoted to the gratification of their genitals and bellies, for they who follow such people will fall into the darkest pit, like a blind man following another one. (4) The descendant of Ilā [called Aila or Purūravā, see also 9.14: 15-16], the well-known great emperor, sang the following mighty song when he, bewildered being separated from Urvas'ī, in resignation managed to restrain his grief. (5) The moment she abandoned him and left, he like a madman naked and crying ran after her calling out: 'Oh my wife, oh you terrible woman, please stop!' (6) With his mind possessed by Urvas'ī he, after years of insignificantly gratifying his lusts, was not satisfied and did not notice the nights coming and going.'

(7) Purūravā said: 'Just see how bewildered I got! With my consciousness contaminated by lust I, in the embrace of this goddess, did not notice my life time passing. (8) Captivated by her I had no idea whether the sun was rising or setting and have thus alas, for many years, spent my days. (9) Oh what a pity this total bewilderment of mine because of which the body of this mighty emperor, this crown jewel of kings, became a toy animal for women! (10) When she abandoned me, the mighty controller, together with all of my kingdom as if I were a blade of grass, I ran crying naked like a madman after the woman. (11) Where is now the influence, strength and sovereignty of the person I am? I ran after this woman leaving me, just like an ass being kicked with the hoof for punishment! (12) What is the use of knowledge, austerities, renunciation, the scriptures, or of solitude and silence, for the one whose mind is stolen by women? (13) To hell with the fool I am unaware of what is good for him; I who thought to be a scholar in achieving the position of a lord and controller but who, just like a bullock or ass, was conquered by women! (14) For so many years serving Urvas'ī's lips, I, with the lust born from my mind, never got enough of the nectar, just like a fire one can never satisfy with oblations. (15) Who else but the Innerly Satisfied Lord of the Sages, the Supreme Lord Beyond the Senses, can free someone who lost his mind with a courtesan? (16) Out of control with myself being dull-minded, I saw no end to my confusion, even though the goddess [Urvas'ī] eloquently gave me advice [see 9.14: 20-22]. (17) What would she have done wrong to a 'seer' like me who, taking a rope for a snake, has no notion of his real nature [his svarūpa]? I am the one out of control with his senses is it not? (18) What does this filthy body have to offer, unclean and full of bad odors; what are those 'pleasing [feminine] qualities' and so on anyway? They constitute an influence rooting in ignorance! (19-20) One can never tell whether this body belongs to one's parents, wife or employer, to [the funeral] fire, the dogs and jackals or to the [indwelling] soul or one's fr iends. One gets attached to this unholy matter and praises it, in case of a woman, for having such a cute nose, beautiful smile and face, but one heads with it for the lowest destination [of decay]. (21) In what sense would one differ from worms when one enjoys that what is composed of skin, flesh, blood, muscle, fat, marrow and bone, urine, stool and pus? (22) A man understanding what is best for him, should never run after women or associate with men thus engaged, for the sole reason that the mind, united with the senses, reaches for sense objects and thus gets agitated [compare 5.5: 2, 7.12: 9, 9.19: 17, 9.14: 36]. (23) [Because] a thing not heard or seen gives no rise to mental agitation, the mind of someone not engaging his senses calms down and finds peace. (24) When not even wise men can rely on the six enemies [lust, anger, greed, bewilderment, intoxication and envy; the shath-varga], then what about persons like me? One therefore should not get sensorily attached to women or to men attached to women [see also yoshita].'

(25) The Supreme Lord said: 'He, the worshipable lord of gods and men, who thus sang his song [of lamentation], then gave up the world of Urvas'ī. Realizing Me, the Supersoul in his heart, he by the transcendental knowledge found peace within himself and ended his illusion. (26) An intelligent person having abandoned bad association therefore should be fixed on devotees, for only by their words he can cut with the deep attachment of his mind. (27) Devotees with their minds fixed on Me do not depend [on lusts] and are, with an equal minded vision, completely peaceful and free from possessiveness, false ego, dualities and greed. (28) Oh most fortunate one, these greatly fortunate souls are constantly discussing My stories that have the power to completely eradicate the sins of anyone choosing for them. (29) They who, faithfully dedicated to Me, hear, chant and respectfully take them [My stories] to heart, will attain My bhakti. (30)
What else would there remain [to be accomplished] for a devotee once he has achieved devotional service unto Me, the Absolute Truth  of Countless Qualities, comprising the experience of spiritual happiness? (31) Just as cold, fear and darkness will dissipate for the one who resorts to the supreme grace of fire [Agni], similarly dullness, apprehension and ignorance will dissolve for someone who serves the devotees. (32) For those who submerge and again rise in the fearful ocean of material life, the saintly devotees, peacefu l in understanding the Absolute, constitute a supreme shelter as good as a life boat for people drowning in the water [compare 11.23: 28 and 11.17: 44]. (33) Just as food is there to grant the living beings their life, just as I exist as the shelter for the distressed and dharma is there as the wealth of the deceased, so my devotees constitute the refuge of those afraid to fall down. (34) The devotees grant you the [divine] eyes while the sun [only] shows the external world after having risen; they are the worshipable ones, one's [true] relatives, they are one's actual self and Me as well [see also e.g. 1.1: 15, 3.5: 47, 3.6: 28, 11.2: 6]. (35) He [Purūravā] who for that reason no longer desired the world of Urvas'ī, thus liberated from all attachment, innerly satisfied wandered this earth.'

 

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   Third revised edition, loaded July 31, 2022.

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

The Supreme Lord said: 'Having acquired this human body that is My characteristic, one achieves, being situated in My dharma, Me, the Supreme Soul of Spiritual Happiness situated in the heart.
The Supreme Lord said: 'Having acquired this human body one achieves, situated in My dharma under My direction, the Supreme Soul of Spiritual Happiness, Me who is situated in the heart. (Vedabase)

  

Text 2

Someone who, fixed in spiritual knowledge, has become free from the cause of material life based on the products of the modes, does not get entangled in their illusory qualities despite of being surrounded by them; although present before his eyes they are insubstantial and nothing but illusion to him.

The soul who by devotedly keeping to the knowledge of self-realisation was completely liberated from that what set him apart materially [his identification], does not get entangled in the midst of the material products of the modes of nature that, temporary as they are, constitute nothing essential despite the fact that they before his eyes here and now appear as something real. (Vedabase)


 Text 3

One should never at any time seek the company of materialists devoted to the gratification of their genitals and bellies, for they who follow such people will fall into the darkest pit, like a blind man following another one.

One should never at any time seek the company of materialists devoted to the gratification of their genitals and bellies because they who follow such people, just like a blind man following a blind man, will fall into the darkest pit. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 4

The descendant of Ilā [called Aila or Purūravā, see also 9.14: 15-16], the well-known great emperor, sang the following mighty song when he, bewildered being separated from Urvas'ī, in resignation managed to restrain his grief.

The descendant of Ilā [Aila or Purūravā, see also 9.14: 15-16], the well-known great emperor, sang the following mighty song when he managed to put an end to his bewilderment by taking heart in the detachment he felt in his separation from Urvas'ī. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

The moment she abandoned him and left, he like a madman naked and crying ran after her calling out: 'Oh my wife, oh you terrible woman, please stop!'

When she abandoned him he ran after her naked crying out to her like a madman as she left: 'O my wife, o you terrible woman, please stop!' (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

With his mind possessed by Urvas'ī he, after years of insignificantly gratifying his lusts, was not satisfied and did not notice the nights coming and going.'

After all the years of gratifying his insignificant lusts still not being satisfied, he, whose mind was possessed by Urvas'ī, didn't realize how many nights and days had passed that way. (Vedabase)


Text 7

Purūravā said: 'Just see how bewildered I got! With my consciousness contaminated by lust I, in the embrace of this goddess, did not notice my life time passing.

Aila said: 'How regrettable is the extent of my delusion! With my consciousness contaminated by lust I, by this goddess being seized by the neck, didn't notice the passing of my life time. (Vedabase)


Text 8

Captivated by her I had no idea whether the sun was rising or setting and have thus alas, for many years, spent my days.

Under her spell I had, alas, for so many years comprising so many days, really no idea whether the sun was rising or setting. (Vedabase)


Text 9

Oh what a pity this total bewilderment of mine because of which the body of this mighty emperor, this crown jewel of kings, became a toy animal for women!

How unfortunate is that total bewilderment of mine because of which the body of this mighty emperor, this crown jewel of kings, became a cuddly toy for women! (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

When she abandoned me, the mighty controller, together with all of my kingdom as if I were a blade of grass, I ran crying naked like a madman after the woman.

When she abandoned me, the mighty controller, with all of my kingdom as if I were a blade of grass, I ran, crying out like a madman, naked after the woman. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 11

Where is now the influence, strength and sovereignty of the person I am? I ran after this woman leaving me, just like an ass being kicked with the hoof for punishment!

Where now is the influence, strength, sovereignty of the person who I am? I ran after this woman leaving me, just like an ass that with a hoof is being kicked in the face for punishment! (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

What is the use of knowledge, austerities, renunciation, the scriptures, or of solitude and silence, for the one whose mind is stolen by women?

What's the use of knowledge, austerities and renunciation, of listening to the scriptures, of solitude and silence for him whose mind is stolen by women? (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

To hell with the fool I am unaware of what is good for him; I who thought to be a scholar in achieving the position of a lord and controller but who, just like a bullock or ass, was conquered by women!

To hell with the fool I am who doesn't know his own best interest, I who thought he was a scholar in achieving the position of lord and controller, but just like a bullock or ass was conquered by women! (Vedabase)

  

Text 14

For so many years serving Urvas'ī's lips, I, with the lust born from my mind, never got enough of the nectar, just like a fire one can never satisfy with oblations.

For so many years serving Urvas'ī's lips I, with the lust born from my mind, never got enough of the nectar, just like a fire that is never satisfied by oblations. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

Who else but the Innerly Satisfied Lord of the Sages, the Supreme Lord Beyond the Senses, can free someone who lost his mind with a courtesan?

Who else but the Lord of the Sages Satisfied Within, the Supreme Lord Beyond the Senses, would be capable of freeing someone else who lost his mind with a woman of pleasure? (Vedabase)

 

 Text 16

Out of control with myself being dull-minded, I saw no end to my confusion, even though the goddess [Urvas'ī] eloquently gave me advice [see 9.14: 20-22].

Out of control with myself I, dull-minded, saw no end to my confusion, even though the goddess eloquently gave me advice [see 9.14: 20-22]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

What would she have done wrong to a 'seer' like me who, taking a rope for a snake, has no notion of his real nature [his svarūpa]? I am the one out of control with his senses is it not?

What would she have done wrong to a 'seer' like me who, taking a rope for a snake has no idea what he's really dealing with? I'm the one out of control with his senses isn't it? (Vedabase)

  

 Text 18

What does this filthy body have to offer, unclean and full of bad odors; what are those 'pleasing [feminine] qualities' and so on anyway? They constitute an influence rooting in ignorance!

What does this filthy body, unclean, full of bad odors, have to offer, what are those 'blossoming qualities' and so on anyway, they are clearly a false appearance sprouting from ignorance! (Vedabase)

 

 Text 19-20

One can never tell whether this body belongs to one's parents, wife or employer, to [the funeral] fire, the dogs and jackals or to the [indwelling] soul or one's friends. One gets attached to this unholy matter and praises it, in case of a woman, for having such a cute nose, beautiful smile and face, but one heads with it for the lowest destination [of decay].

One can never decide whether this body is the property of one's parents, wife, employer, fire, the dogs and jackals, the soul or one's friends. One gets [nevertheless] attached to this abominable matter and praises it in case of a woman for having such a cute nose, beautiful smile and face, but one heads with it for the lowest destination. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

In what sense would one differ from worms when one enjoys that what is composed of skin, flesh, blood, muscle, fat, marrow and bone, urine, stool and pus?

In what sense would one differ from worms when one enjoys that what is composed of skin, flesh, blood, muscle, fat, marrow and bone, urine, stool and pus? (Vedabase)

 

 Text 22

A man understanding what is best for him, should never run after women or associate with men thus engaged, for the sole reason that the mind, united with the senses, reaches for sense objects and thus gets agitated [compare 5.5: 2, 7.12: 9, 9.19: 17, 9.14: 36].

A man understanding what's best for him, should never even think to run after women or associate with men who chase women, this for the sole reason that the mind united with the senses reaches for sense-objects and thus gets agitated [compare 5.5: 2, 7.12: 9, 9.19: 17, 9.14: 36]. (Vedabase)

  

Text 23

[Because] a thing not heard or seen gives no rise to mental agitation, the mind of someone not engaging his senses calms down and finds peace.

A thing not heard or seen gives no rise to mental agitation, for someone who is not using his senses becomes pacified, he has his mind under control. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

When not even wise men can rely on the six enemies [lust, anger, greed, bewilderment, intoxication and envy; the shath-varga], then what about persons like me? One therefore should not get sensorily attached to women or to men attached to women [see also yoshita].'

When the senses, with the six enemies of the spirit [shath-varga], cannot even by wise men be trusted, then what to say of persons like me? That's why one shouldn't get attached to women or seek the company of men attached to women [see also yoshita].' (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

The Supreme Lord said: 'He, the worshipable lord of gods and men, who thus sang his song [of lamentation], then gave up the world of Urvas'i. Realizing Me, the Supersoul in his heart, he by the transcendental knowledge found peace within himself and ended his illusion.

The Supreme Lord said: 'He who as the god of gods and men thus sang his song [of complaint], then gave up the world of Urvas'i. With realizing Me, the Supersoul, in his heart, he found peace while the transcendental knowledge put an end to his illusion. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

An intelligent person having abandoned bad association therefore should be fixed on devotees, for only by their words he can cut with the deep attachment of his mind.

Someone intelligent therefore does away with bad association. He better gets attached to devotees, because one only with the words of the saintly cuts with the deep attachment of one's mind. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

Devotees with their minds fixed on Me do not depend [on lusts] and are, with an equal minded vision, completely peaceful and free from possessiveness, false ego, dualities and greed.

The devoted with their minds fixed on Me do not depend [on lusts] and are with an equal minded vision completely peaceful and free from possessiveness, false ego, the dualities and greed. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

Oh most fortunate one, these greatly fortunate souls are constantly discussing My stories that have the power to completely eradicate the sins of anyone choosing for them.

O most fortunate one, these greatly fortunate souls are constantly discussing My stories, and these discussions have the power to completely eradicate the sins of anyone participating in them. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

They who, faithfully dedicated to Me, hear, chant and respectfully take them [My stories] to heart, will attain My bhakti.

They who hear, chant and respectfully take them to heart, the faithful ones of that resolve, reach My devotional service. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

What else would there remain [to be accomplished] for a devotee once he has achieved devotional service unto Me, the Absolute Truth  of Countless Qualities, comprising the experience of spiritual happiness?

What else would there remain [to be accomplished] for a devotee who has achieved My devotional service, the service of Me, the One of Countless Qualities who is the Absolute Truth Comprising the Experience of Spiritual Happiness. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

Just as cold, fear and darkness will dissipate for the one who resorts to the supreme grace of fire [Agni], similarly dullness, apprehension and ignorance will dissolve for someone who serves the devotees.

The way cold, fear and darkness will dissolve for the one who resorts to the supreme grace of fire [viz. Agni], are similarly the dullness, sense of danger and ignorance removed of someone who serves the saintly. (Vedabase)

 

Text 32

For those who submerge and again rise in the fearful ocean of material life, the saintly devotees, peaceful in understanding the Absolute, constitute a supreme shelter as good as a life boat for people drowning in the water [compare 11.23: 28 and 11.17: 44].

For those whor submerge and rise up again in the fearful ocean of material life are the saintly devotees, who are so peaceful in understanding the Absolute, a supreme shelter as good as a strong boat in the water for the drowning [compare 11.23: 28 and 11.17: 44]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

Just as food is there to grant the living beings their life, just as I exist as the shelter for the distressed and dharma is there as the wealth of the deceased, so my devotees constitute the refuge of those afraid to fall down.

With food as that what gives life to the living entities, with Me as the shelter of the distressed and the religion as the asset for men passing away, are the devotees the refuge for those in fear of falling down. (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

The devotees grant you the [divine] eyes while the sun [only] shows the external world after having risen; they are the worshipable ones, one's [true] relatives, they are one's actual self and Me as well [see also e.g. 1.1: 15, 3.5: 47, 3.6: 28, 11.2: 6].

The devotees offer one one's eyes while the sun shows the outer world after having risen; the devotees are the ones worshipable, they are one's [true] relatives, just as they are one's very soul and represent Me as well [see e.g. 1.1: 15, 3.5: 47, 3.6: 28, 11.2: 6]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 35

He [Purūravā] who for that reason no longer desired the world of Urvas'ī, thus liberated from all attachment, innerly satisfied wandered this earth.'

He [Purūravā] who for that reason had surrendered himself to the Supreme, thus freed from desiring after the world of Urvas'ī, traveled, liberated from all attachment, truly satisfied within himself this earth.' (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                          Commons License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License
.

The painting on this page is of Khitindra Nāth Mazumdar.
Source: 'Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists', Ballantine Press, Oct. 1913.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


 

 

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