CHAPTER – 113
Markandeya said: – Karusha had seven sons who were all called Karushas; they were heroic and brave, from them sprang seven hundred heroes and thousands of others. (1) Nabhaga was Dishthi’s son. When he set his foot on his first youth he saw a highly beautiful daughter of a Vaisya. (2) As soon as he saw her his mind was agitated by desire. The prince then began to sigh. (3) He, then approaching the father of the girl, prayed for her. The father then, with folded hands, said to the prince whose mind was possessed by desire and whose father he used to fear, words, bending low with humility: – (4-5) “You are kings, we are your servants and ryots. Why do you wish to have an alliance with us?” (6)
The prince said: – The equality of human bodies is rendered by desires, stupefaction etc. The human body is united with them in time. (7) They also lend to their benefaction. The pious, though they belong to different castes, depend on each other. (8) By the influence of time even the unworthy objects become worthy and worthy objects become unworthy – the worthiness is thus dependant on time. (9) The body is nourished by desirable edibles – thus it is nourished when food is taken in proper time. (10) Thus I have come to like your girl. Do you confer her on me or else my body will be destroyed. (11)
The Vaishya said: – Both of us are equally dependants; obtaining the permission of your father the king, do you take her and I shall give her away. (12)
The Prince said: – True, at all times, the people should obtain the permission of their elders; but in such unworthy actions the elders should not be consulted. (13) The talking of love affairs and the hearing of the elders are opposed to each other; the elders should be consulted by men in other matters. (14)
Vaishya said: – Of course, this will be a conversation of love for you to ask your father. I shall ask him, this is no love affair to me. (15)
Markandeya said: – Having been thus addressed the prince remained silent. He (the Vaishya) then communicated every thing duly unto the prince’s father. (16) Thereupon having sent for leading twice-born ones, the Richikas and others, as well as the prince he said every thing of what had been communicated (by the Vaisya). (17)
Thereupon communicating all he said: “I have been placed in this condition, tell me, O ye leading twice-born ones, what should be done in this.” (18)
The Rishi said: – O prince, if you have cherished attachment for this Vaisya girl it will be considered as morality; but this must be observed duly. (19) You must first espouse the daughter of the king Murdhabhishikta and then you must marry her. (20) If you enjoy her in this way there will be no sin, but if you carry her away stealthily you will be degraded from your most eminent caste. (21)
MARKANDEYA said: – Having been thus addressed and disregarding the words of those high-souled ones, coming out therefrom, taking her away and uplifting his weapons he said: ¬
(22) “I have taken the Vaisya girl under the Rakshasa form of marriage; whoever has the power let him come and release her.” (23) Thereupon beholding his daughter thus carried
away, the Vaisya, O twice-born one, speedily sought refuge with his father, saying “Save me”. (24) Thereupon being worked up with anger the king ordered his huge army saying, “kill, kill this wicked and sinful Nabhaga.” (25) Then the soldiers began to fight with the prince. By him too, who was an expert in the use of arms, many of them were killed. (26) Hearing of the destruction of the army by the prince, the king, encircled by his own soldiers, himself went out to fight with him. (27) Then there arose a great encounter between the king and his own son. The father was excelled by the prince in the use of arms. (28) Thereupon all on a sudden coming from the sky the ascetic Paribrata said to the king “Desist from the fight. (29) O great one, your son, high-souled as you are, has lost his caste. O king, it is not proper for you to fight with a Vaisya. (30) A Brahmana does not lose his caste, if after marrying first in the house of Brahmana, he takes wives from other castes. (31) Similarly O king, a Kshatriya does not lose his caste, if after first taking the hand of a Kshatriya girl he marries other caste girls.
(32) So a Vaisya is not excluded from his caste if he marries a Sudra girl after first taking a Vaisya wife. This is the due order. (33) O king, the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and Vaisyas lose their caste if they marry the girls of other castes before taking wives from their respective orders. (34) If persons, before taking wives from their own castes, marry in inferior races, they cannot enjoy their objects there. (35) This your sinful son has become a Vaisya. But you are a Kshatriya. He has no right to fight with you. O king, we do not know the cause which may sanction such an encounter; therefore desist from fight”. (36)