SECTION 125
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, "Beholding his five handsome sons
growing up before him in that great forest on the charming mountain slope,
Pandu felt the last might of his arms revive once more. One day in the season
of spring which maddens every creature the king accompanied by his wife
(Madri), began to rove in the woods where every tree had put forth new
blossoms. He beheld all around Palasas and Tilakas and Mangoes and Champakas
and Parihadrakas and Karnikaras, Asokas and Kesaras and Atimuktas and KuruBakas
with swarms of maddened bees sweetly humming about. And there were flowers of
blossoming Parijatas with the Kokilas pouring forth their melodies from under
every twig echoing with the sweet hums of the black bees. And he beheld also
various other kinds of trees bent down with the weight of their flowers and
fruits. And there were also many fine pools of water overgrown with hundreds of
fragrant lotuses. Beholding all these, Pandu felt the soft influence of desire.
Roving like a celestial with a light heart amidst such scenery, Pandu was alone
with his wife Madri in semi-transparent attire. And beholding the youthful
Madri thus attired, the king's desire flamed up like a forest-fire. And
ill-able to suppress his desire thus kindled at the sight of his wife of eyes
like lotus-petals, he was completely overpowered. The king then seized her against
her will, but Madri trembling in fear resisted him to the best of her might.
Consumed by desire, he forgot everything about his misfortune. And, unrestrained
by the fear of (the Rishi's) curse and impelled by fate, the monarch, overpowered
by passion, forcibly sought the embraces of Madri, as if he wished to put an
end to his own life. His reason, thus beguiled by the great Destroyer himself
by intoxicating his senses, was itself lost with his life. And the Kuru king Pandu,
of virtuous soul, thus succumbed to the inevitable influence of Time, while
united in intercourse with his wife.
"Then Madri, clasping the body of her senseless lord, began
to weep aloud. And Kunti with her sons and the twins of Madri, hearing those cries
of grief, came to the spot where the king lay in that state. Then, O king,
Madri addressing Kunti in a piteous voice, said, 'Come hither alone, O Kunti,
and let the children stay there.' Hearing these words, Kunti, bidding the
children stay, ran with speed, exclaiming, 'Woe to me!' And beholding both
Pandu and Madri lying prostrate on the ground she went in grief and affliction,
saying, 'Of passions under complete control, this hero, O Madri, had all along
been watched by me with care. How did he then forgetting the Rishi's curse,
approach thee with enkindled desire? O Madri, this foremost of men should have
been protected by thee. Why didst thou tempt him into solitude? Always melancholy
at the thought of the Rishi's curse, how came he to be merry with thee in solitude?
O princess of Valhika, more fortunate than myself, thou art really to be
envied, for thou hast seen the face of our lord suffused with gladness and
joy.'
"Madri then replied, saying, 'Revered sister, with tears in
my eyes, I resisted the king, but he could not control himself, bent on, as it
were making the Rishi's curse true.'
"Kunti then said, 'I am the older of his wedded wives; the
chief religious merit must be mine. Therefore, O Madri, prevent me not from achieving
that which must be achieved. I must follow our lord to the region of the dead.
Rise up, O Madri, and yield me his body. Rear thou these children.' Madri
replied, saying, 'I do clasp our lord yet, and have not allowed him to depart;
therefore, I shall follow him. My appetite hath not been appeased. Thou art my
older sister, O let me have thy sanction. This foremost one of the Bharata
princes had approached me, desiring to have intercourse. His appetite
unsatiated, shall I not follow him in the region of Yama to gratify him? If I
survive thee, it is certain I shall not be able to rear thy children as if they
were mine. Will not sin touch me on that account? But, thou, O Kunti, shall be
able to bring my sons up as if they were thine. The king, in seeking me
wishfully, hath gone to the region of spirits; therefore, my body should be
burnt with his. O revered sister, withhold not thy sanction to this which is
agreeable to me. Thou wilt certainly bring up the children carefully. That
indeed, would be very agreeable to me. I have no other direction to give!'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said this, the daughter of
the king o Madras, the wedded wife of Pandu, ascended the funeral pyre of her
lord, that bull among men.'"
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