Padma and Pippalada

Narada said

Father, after hearing of Anaranya's conduct and how he gave his daughter, what did the excellent mountain do? Tell me.

Brahma replied

The lord of mountains heard how Anaranya had acted and how he gave his daughter. Joining his hands, he questioned Vasishtha again.

The lord of mountains said

Vasishtha, tiger among sages, son of Brahma, ocean of compassion, you have told me Anaranya's wonderful story. Anaranya's daughter got the sage Pippalada for husband. Her conduct brings delight. What did she do afterward?

Vasishtha said

Pippalada was supreme among sages but very old. He went back to his hermitage with Anaranya's daughter. The ascetic lived there very happily, not unduly given to pleasure. Supreme among mountains, in that forest he always followed his own dharma. Anaranya's daughter also served the sage faithfully in thought, word and deed, as Lakshmi serves Narayana.

Once the sweet-smiling lady was on her way to the heavenly river to bathe. On the road she saw Dharma, who had used his maya to take a man's form. He rode a jewelled chariot and was adorned with many ornaments, handsome, young, radiant as Kamadeva. Seeing beautiful Padma, the lord Vrisha spoke to her, wishing to learn the sage's wife's inner thoughts.

Dharma said

Beautiful one, you are as lovely as Lakshmi and deserve a king. You are young and fair, and youth is fixed in you. The sage Pippalada is old and worn by age. Fair-limbed one, I tell you truly, he lacks any radiance beside you. The brahmana is absorbed in austerity, has no pity, and wishes to die. Leave him and look at me. I am an Indra among kings and skilled in love, tormented by Smara. Beautiful one, a lady gets this auspicious beauty as a result of her past life, and all of it succeeds only when she embraces a man of taste. A thousand beautiful women love me, and I am versed in the science of desire. Beloved, leave your husband and make me your servant. Enjoy yourself with me in secluded groves, on beautiful mountains and river banks. Make your birth a success.

Vasishtha said

Having said this, he got down from his chariot, eager to take her hand. The lady, devoted to her husband, answered him.

Padma said

Go far away, wicked king, go far away. If you look at me with eyes of desire you will be destroyed at once. Pippalada is the best of sages and his body is purified by austerity. How could I leave him to serve someone lustful, addicted to desire and conquered by women? If one touches a man conquered by women all one's merit is destroyed. A man conquered by women is very wicked, and his very sight is sinful. Even if he constantly performs virtuous rites, if women rule him he stays impure. All the ancestors, gods and humans condemn him. If a person's mind is fixed on women, what use are knowledge, great austerities, offerings, worship, learning and gifts to him? You should have felt toward me as toward a mother, but you have spoken to me as to a wife. By my curse you will be destroyed in a short while.

Vasishtha said

Hearing the virtuous lady's curse, Dharma gave up his royal form. The lord of the gods took his own shape and spoke, trembling.

Dharma said

Mother, know that I am Dharma, guru of all gurus who have knowledge. My mind always sees another's wife as a mother. Wanting to learn your inner thoughts I came to you. I knew what was in your mind, but destiny urged me on. Virtuous one, in trying to punish me you have done nothing wrong. Ishvara has decided that those who stray from the right path must be punished. He is the supreme one who alone can bestow joy and misery on all, responsible for prosperity and adversity. I bow to that Shiva. He decides friendship, enmity, love and quarrels. He is the creator and destroyer of this creation. I bow to that Shiva. In ancient times he made milk white, water cool and gave fire the power to burn. I bow to that Shiva. He first created Prakriti, Mahat and the rest, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha. I bow to that Shiva.

Vasishtha said

Having said this, Dharma, guru of the universe, stood before her, satisfied by her devotion to her husband, but said nothing more.

Mountain, Padma, the virtuous lady and king's daughter, beloved of Pippalada, was surprised to learn that this was Dharma.

Padma said

Dharma, you witness all deeds done. Lord, why did you use deception to learn my mind? Brahmana, no crime attaches to me for all I have done. Vrisha, because of my woman's nature and because I did not know, I cursed you in vain. I am thinking what can be done now. When my mind settles it may come to me. Sky, directions and winds can be destroyed, but a virtuous woman's curse is never destroyed. King of the gods, in satya yuga you shone at all times, day and night, on all four legs, like the full moon at night. Best of gods, in treta yuga one foot will be lost. Lord, in dvapara yuga you will lose a second and in kali yuga a third; at the end of kali yuga all your legs will be gone. When satya yuga returns you will be whole again. In satya yuga you will be everywhere, in the others only in part. These will be the arrangements in the yugas. Let my words be true and bring you pleasure. Lord, I will go to serve my husband. You should go home.

Vasishtha said

Hearing her, Vrisha was satisfied and spoke to the virtuous lady who had addressed him.

Dharma said

By your devotion to your husband you are blessed. Chaste lady, may you be well. To save your husband accept this boon. Let your husband become young, devoted to dharma and skilled in love. Let him have all the qualities and be handsome and eloquent, his youth always steady. Let him live forever, longer than Markandeya, with greater riches than Kubera and greater prosperity than Shakra. Let him be Shiva's devotee, equal to Hari himself, a greater siddha than Kapila, equal to Brihaspati in intelligence and to Vidhatri in serenity. As long as you live you will share your husband's good fortune. Lady, you will be fortunate so and your youth will be steady. You will have ten sons with these qualities, long-lived, surpassing their father, without doubt. Virtuous lady, your home will have every prosperity and always shine, surpassing Kubera's.

Vasishtha said

Supreme among mountains, Dharma said this and stood there. She circled him, bowed and returned home. Pronouncing blessings on her, Dharma went to his own house, praising Padma in every assembly he entered. In private she always played with her husband, now young. Later she bore sons who exceeded her husband in qualities. The couple gained every kind of happiness, and peace, in this world and the next, and every joy grew. Indra among mountains, this ancient history of the couple has been told to you, and you have heard it with love and affection. Use your intelligence and give your daughter Parvati to Ishvara. Indra among mountains, with your wife Mena, shed the wicked feeling. In a week there will be an extremely auspicious, rare moment: the lord of the lagna will be in his own lagna; Chandra and his son will be in a happy conjunction with Rohini nakshatra; the moon and stars will be in pure states. Monday in the month of Margashirsha will be free of all faults. All the good planets will be auspicious and the bad ones will cast no inauspicious glance. If she is given to a good husband at this time, her husband will live long and she will have good fortune. Mountain, your daughter Girija is Jagadamba Ishvari, the original Prakriti. Give her to the father of the universe and succeed in your aim.

Brahma said

Tiger among sages, Vasishtha, supreme among the knowledgeable, said this and stopped, remembering Shiva, lord of many pastimes.