Anaranya's Conduct

Vasishtha said

King Anaranya, lord of men, sprang from the line of the fourteenth Manu, Indra Savarni. Best of kings, he ruled the seven dvipas. Powerful, son of Mangalaranya, he was especially devoted to Shambhu. With Bhrigu as priest he performed a hundred sacrifices, and though the gods offered him the rank of Indra he refused it. Himalaya, he had a hundred sons, and a beautiful daughter named Padma, who resembled the lotus-dwelling goddess herself. He loved his hundred sons, but loved his daughter more. The king had five beloved queens, dearer than life, all blessed with every good fortune. In her father's house the daughter reached the bloom of youth, and the king sent letters out in search of an excellent groom for her.

Once the rishi Pippalada, on his way back to his hermitage through a lonely place of austerity, saw a gandharva with his wife, absorbed in the ocean of love and amusing himself, skilled in the science of desire. Seeing it, the tiger among sages was seized by desire; his mind lost interest in austerity and turned to getting a wife. Some time passed with his mind still churned by longing. Once the lord among sages went to bathe in the river Pushpabhadra and saw the maiden Padma, as lovely as Padma herself. He asked the people nearby who she was. Afraid of being cursed, they bowed and told him: "She is Anaranya's daughter, named Padma, a second Rama. This beautiful lady is a store of virtues, and the best of kings have sought her." The sage heard the people speak the truth, his mind was shaken and he wanted her. After bathing he worshipped his chosen deity Shiva by the rules, and, longing for her, went to Anaranya's court to ask for alms. Seeing the sage, the king was greatly afraid, bowed, offered madhuparka and other honours and worshipped him devotedly. In his desire the sage took it all and asked for the maiden. The lord of the earth fell silent, unable to speak. The sage said: "Lord among kings, give me this maiden, or in an instant I will turn everything to ashes." All the attendants were overcome by the sage's energy. The king and his people looked at the brahmana, weak with age, and wept. Hearing him and unable to decide what to do, all the queens wept, and the chief queen, the maiden's mother, lost her senses in grief. The sons' minds too were filled with sorrow, and everyone near the king grieved.

Then a wise brahmana, the best of gurus, came before the king with his shrewd priest. The king bowed to them, weeping, told them everything and quickly asked what to do. The king's guru and the learned priest both knew the texts on good policy, and they helped the king, the grieving queens and the maiden understand. They advised what would benefit all: "Wise king, hear our helpful words and do not grieve. With your family, turn your minds to the sacred texts. King, today or at a year's end the maiden must be given to a worthy groom, a brahmana or some other distinguished man. We see no recipient in the three worlds as worthy as a brahmana. Give your daughter to the sage and save all your prosperity. King, if all prosperity is to be lost for one person, one should give that person up and save the rest, unless that person has sought one's protection." Hearing the wise, the king lamented again and again, but he gave his adorned daughter to that Indra among sages. Mountain, by the marriage rules the sage accepted Padma, who was like Padma herself, and went happily to his own abode. Having given his daughter to an old man, the king gave up everything. His mind was full of distress, but he collected himself and went to the forest to do austerities. Mountain, when her beloved husband left for the forest, the beautiful chief queen grieved over her husband and daughter and gave up her life. Without the king, the revered sons and the servants lost their senses, and everyone, thinking him dead, grieved. Anaranya went to the forest and did austerity for Shankara. Having worshipped him devotedly he went to Shiva's world, freed of all ailments. The king's eldest son, Kirtimat, was devoted to dharma, ruled the kingdom and protected the subjects as if they were his sons. Mountain, I have told you Anaranya's auspicious story. He gave his daughter, saved his line and gained all riches. King of mountains, you too should give your daughter to Shiva, save your whole family and bring all the gods under your control.