CHAPTER – 131
Markandeya said: – He saw his son with a most excellent bow, his fierce weapon spreading its fire upon all the quarters, vomitting forth great fire burning down the entire earth and reaching the heart of Patala, irrepressible and dreadful. (1-2) Beholding the frowning face of the king, he said: – “You should not be angry, O Marutta; take away your weapon. (3) Intelligent greatly (as you are) you have carelessly broken down the order of creatures.” Hearing the words of his father and looking at him repeatedly, he with his bow, saluting him
reverentially said: – “O father, the serpents have greatly offended me. (4-5) During my rule they, disregarding my prowess and coming to Saptasrama, (hermitage) have bitten the ascetic boys. (6) O king, during my regime, these wicked (serpents) have spoiled the Havis kept in the hermitages of the ascetics. (7) They all have also spoiled the tanks. For this, O father, you should not speak any thing. You should not stop me from slaying these serpents, the killers of Brahmanas. (8)
Avikshita said: – If they have killed the Vipras they will go to hell after death. Now obey my words and restrain your weapon. (9)
Marutta said: – I too shall also go to hell if I do not try to bring the wicked to bay. Do not prevent me therefore, O father. (10)
Avikshita said: – All these serpents have sought refuge with me. Out of honour to me do you withhold your weapon. What is the use of being angry, O king? (11)
Marutta said: – I shall never forgive these wicked fellows who have committed a great iniquity; disregarding my own duty how can I satisfy your words? (12) A king, who punishes those who deserve punishment and protects those who are good, attains to sacred regions. One, who neglects this duty, goes to hell. (13)
Markandeya said: – Although he was thus repeatedly prevented by his father the son did not withhold his weapon. He then again said: -(14) “Although prevented by me you are still bent upon killing the serpents, who in fear have sought refuge with me. I shall then adopt the remedial measure. (15) I have also learnt the use of arms; it is not you alone who are an expert in it. O wicked one, what is your prowess before me? (16)
MARKANDEYA said: – O foremost of Munis, thereupon Avikshita, with his eyes reddened with rage, took up the weapons of Kala. (17) He then set to the bow the highly powerful and most excellent weapon of Kala capable of burning down the enemies. (18) Assailed by Samvarta weapon the earth was agitated. And when the Kala weapon was taken up all the mountains were agitated. (19) Beholding the deadly weapon uplifted by his father Marutta said aloud: – “I have taken up this weapon for punishing the wicked and not for killing you. Why do you therefore discharge the deadly weapon at me, your son, observant of his own duties and always obedient to you? (20-21) O great one, my duty is to protect my subjects; for whose destruction have you taken up this weapon?” (22)
Avikshita said: – I have made this exertion for protecting them who have sought my shelter. Thou art their destroyer; do not save me. (23) Either having slain me with the power of your weapon do thou kill the wicked serpents, or having slain thee with the strength of my arms I shall protect the great serpents. (24) O fie on the life of that man who does not help him who seeks his shelter even if he be one of the enemies. (25) I am a Kshatriya and they in fear have sought my shelter; thou art their enemy. Why shouldst thou not be slain by me? (26)
Marutta said: – He, who puts in impediments in the way of governing the subjects, be he a friend, a relative, a father or the preceptor, should be slain by the king. (27) I shall therefore strike thee, O father. Do not be offended. I am observing my own duty and am not angry with thee. (28)
Markandeya said: – Thereupon beholding them both bent upon killing one another all the Munis, Bhargavas and others came there. (29)
They said to them: – “You should not discharge your weapon at your father and you should not also kill your son of illustrious deeds”. (30)
Marutta said: – The wicked should be slain by me and the earth should be protected. These are wicked serpents. Where is my folly, O ye twice-born ones? (31)
Avikshita said: – My duty also it to protect them who have sought refuge with me. O ye Vipras, my son has committed an offence for he is about to kill my dependants. (32)
The Rishis said: – Tell these serpents whose eyes are rolling with terror that we shall revive the Vipras who have been bitten by the wicked serpents. (33) No use therefore of fighting, O
ye foremost of kings. Be reconciled. Both of you are of firm promises and are conversant with your duties. (34)
Markandeya said: – Then Veera, approaching her grand-son, said: – “O child, at my words you have addressed yourself for destroying these serpents. (35) My object has been accomplished, for the Brahmanas, who were dead, have regained their lives. You should therefore save them who have sought your protection. (36)
Bhamini said: – I was formerly welcomed by them living in Patala and therefore my husband was engaged in this work by myself. (37) Therefore, O worshipful one, it is proper that there should be an end of fight between my husband and son, your grand-son and son. (38)
Markandeya said: – Thereupon with heavenly medicine and by taking away their poison the serpents revived those Vipras. (39) Thereupon the king Marutta saluted the feet of his sire. He too embracing him said: -(40) “Vanquish your enemies and govern for long the earth. Enjoy with your sons and grandsons and may you have no enemies”. (41) Thereupon commanded by the twice born and Veera those two kings, riding their own cars and Bhamini repaired to their own city. (42) And Veera too, the foremost of the pious ladies, carrying on hard austerities, great and chaste as she was, attained to the same region with her husband. (43) The king Marutta too governed the earth righteously, vanquished his six classes of enemies and enjoyed diverse pleasures. (44) The great Prabhavati, the daughter of Bidarbha king and Souviri, the daughter of Suvira became his wives. (45) Sukeshi, the daughter of Ketuvirjja, the king of Magadha, became his wife as well as Kaikeyi, the daughter of Sindhuvirjja the king of Madra, (46) Sourindhri of Kekaya country, Vapushmati, the daughter of Sindhu, king and the beautiful daughter of the king of Chedis became his wives. (47) O twice-born one, the king begat on them eighteen sons. The foremost and the eldest of them was Narishwanta. (48) Of such energy was the highly powerful king Marutta that his wheel was unobstructed in the seven insular continents. (49) Like that royal saint of incomparable energy and prowess there had been no king in the past nor will be any in future. (50) Hearing the account of this high-souled Marutta, O foremost of the twice born, one gets the best birth and is freed from all sins. (51)