Purushottam Maas Katha: Adhyaya 13 | पुरुषोत्तम मास कथा: अध्याय 13

In this excerpt, the sage narrates the story of King Dridhadhanva, who, contemplating his prosperity, experiences a transformation through divine teachings to attain spiritual knowledge.

The sages said, 'O Suta! O great one! O Suta! O best among speakers! How did King Dridhadhanva, by serving Purushottam, obtain a beautiful kingdom, sons, and a virtuous wife, and how did he attain the abode of the Lord, which is even rare for yogis? O father! We, who repeatedly listen to the essence of the story from your lotus-like mouth, are not satisfied with drinking the nectar of the story, just like those who drink nectar. Therefore, tell this ancient history in detail. It is by the strength of our fortune that Brahma has shown you to us.

Suta said, 'O Brahmins! The eternal sage Narayana narrated this ancient history to Narada, and I am now telling the same history to you. I have read the sin-destroying character of King Dridhadhanva from the mouth of my guru, and all the sages should listen to it.'

Shri Narayana said, 'O Brahman! Narada! Listen. I will tell the beautiful and ancient story of King Dridhadhanva, which is as purifying as the Ganges.

There was a king named Chitradharma, the protector of the Haihaya country, who was glorious, intelligent, and truthful in valor. He had a son named Dridhadhanva, who was very radiant, possessed all virtues, spoke the truth, was righteous, and had a pure conduct. With long eyes reaching to his ears, a broad chest, large arms, and great radiance, King Dridhadhanva grew up with a collection of excellent qualities.

That clever King Dridhadhanva, with joy, studied the four Vedas along with the six limbs of grammar, etc., from the mouth of his guru, as if he had read them before, and after giving Dakshina to the guru and worshiping him properly, the intelligent king went to the city of his father Chitradharma by the order of the guru.

He delighted the eyes of the citizens residing in his city. King Chitradharma was also extremely pleased to see his son. What is more meaningless in this world than having a son who is young, knows all the Dharma, and is capable of protecting the subjects? That is, there is nothing.

Now I worship Shri Krishna Chandra, who has two arms, holds a flute, has a cheerful face, is peaceful, and gives fearlessness to his devotees.

Just as Dhruva, Ambarisha, Shardhati, Yayati, and other prominent kings, and Shivi, Rantideva, Shashabindu, Bhagiratha, Bhishma, Vidura, Dushyanta, and Bharata, Prithu, Uttanapada, Prahlada, Vibhishana. All these kings and other kings also, abandoning many people, worshiped Lord Purushottam with this impermanent body and went to the eternal (everlasting) abode of Vishnu. Similarly, it is our duty to break the affectionate bonds in wife, house, son, etc., go to the forest, and serve Hari.

Having decided this in his mind, he handed over the burden of the kingdom to the capable King Dridhadhanva, became detached himself, and quickly went to the hermitage of Rishi Pulaha. Going there, he became indifferent to all desires and, giving up food, began to perform penance, constantly remembering Shri Krishna Chandra in his mind. After performing penance for some time, that King Chitravarna went to the supreme abode of Lord Hari. King Dridhadhanva also heard about the Vaishnavi state of his father.

At that time, King Dridhadhanva, filled with joy and sorrow due to the departure of his father to the supreme abode, became situated in the words of the scholars due to his devotion to his father and began to perform the afterlife rituals.

King Dridhadhanva, who was an expert in political science, began to rule in the extremely beautiful and sacred city of Pushkaravartaka. His wife, the daughter of the King of Vidarbha, was named Gunasundari, and there was no other woman on earth equal to her in beauty. That Gunasundari gave birth to four sons who were beautiful, clever, and of auspicious conduct, and she gave birth to a daughter named Charumati, who was endowed with all the auspicious signs. All those great, brave, and respected sons named Chitravak, Chitravaha, Maniman, and Chitrakundala became famous separately by their respective names.

King Dridhadhanva was virtuous in every way, famous, peaceful, self-controlled, firm in his resolve, handsome, virtuous, brave, glorious, naturally beautiful, knowledgeable in the four Vedas and the six limbs of grammar, eloquent, skilled in archery, conqueror of the six enemies (lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride, and envy), destroyer of the enemy forces, equal to the earth in forgiveness, equal to the ocean in depth, equal to the grandfather (Brahma) in equanimity, equal to Shankar in happiness, observing the vow of having one wife (monogamy) like another Ramachandra, and extremely fierce and powerful like another Kartavirya (Sahastrarjuna).

Narayana said, 'One time, while sleeping at night, King Dridhadhanva became worried, "Oh! By what great merit have we obtained this wealth (prosperity)? I have neither performed penance, nor given charity, nor performed any Havan anywhere. From whom should I ask the reason for this rise in fortune?"

While thinking in this way, the night of King Dridhadhanva passed. In the morning, at Brahmamuhurta, he got up, took a bath according to the rules, worshiped Suryanarayana who had attained sunrise, worshiped the art of God, that is, went to the temples and worshiped the deity, gave charity to the Brahmins and bowed to them, and then mounted his horse. After that, with the desire to hunt, he quickly went to the forest and hunted many deer, boars, lions, and gayals (chँvari cows).

At the same time, a deer, wounded by the arrow of King Dridhadhanva, quickly went from one forest to another with the arrow. The king also followed the deer along the path where blood had fallen. But the deer hid somewhere in the bushes, and the king kept searching for it in that forest.

The king, who was afflicted with thirst, saw a pond like the ocean. He quickly went there, drank water, and came to the bank. There he saw a huge banyan tree with dense shade. He tied his horse to the roots of that tree and sat down there. At the same time, a very beautiful parrot came there, speaking incomparable human words that captivated the king. Seeing only the king sitting there, it addressed him and repeatedly recited the same verse: "Seeing the immense happiness existing on this earth, if you do not contemplate the essence (soul), then how will you cross this world?"

It repeatedly recited this verse in front of King Dridhadhanva. The king was pleased to hear its words and was fascinated by it, thinking, "What did this parrot say, repeatedly reciting the same verse, which is difficult to understand, like the inaccessible coconut fruit filled with essence?"

Is this not Shukadeva, the best son of Krishna Dwaipayana (Vedavyasa)? Seeing me, a servant of Shri Krishna Chandra, as foolish and drowned in the ocean of the world, has he come to me with the desire to rescue me, just as he did with King Parikshit? While thinking in this way, the army of King Dridhadhanva came near.

The parrot gave advice to the king and disappeared (became invisible). Remembering the words of that parrot, the king came to his city and did not speak even when called, and without sleep, he had also given up food. Then, in solitude, his queen came and asked the king.

Gunasundari said, 'O best among men! Why is there sadness in your mind? O protector of the earth! O king! Get up, get up. Enjoy the pleasures and speak.'

Remembering the true words of that parrot, which are difficult to understand even for the gods, King Dridhadhanva did not speak even when Queen Gunasundari pleaded. The queen, who was extremely distressed by her husband's sorrow, took a long breath and could not understand the intense cause of her husband's worry.

In this way, much time passed while the king was absorbed in worry, but he could not see any reason to cross the ocean of doubt.

Narada said, 'O sage! Tell me what happened to King Dridhadhanva, the lord of the earth, who was worrying in this way. Because, O sage! Even a little of the pure Vaishnava character, if heard, destroys sins.

Thus ends the thirteenth chapter in the Purushottam Maas Mahatmya of the Shri Brihannaradiya Purana ॥13॥