Purushottam Maas Katha: Adhyaya 17 | पुरुषोत्तम मास कथा: अध्याय 17

After listening to the story of his previous birth, King Dridhadhanva expressed his desire to hear more from Valmiki. Valmiki narrated the story of Sudeva Sharma's grief over his son, in which the parents lamented greatly after the death of their son Shukadeva. They continued to pray to Lord Krishna for relief from the pain of separation from their son.

Naradji said - O ocean of grace! What happened to that awakened King Dridhadhanva after that? Tell me that, by listening to which the destruction of sins is said to be achieved.

Narayanji said - Hearing about his past life's character, King Dridhadhanva, filled with wonder and desiring to hear more, was then addressed again by Rishi Valmiki.

Valmiki Muni said - Hearing such soothing words from his wife, Sudeva Sharma, holding patience, fixing his mind on Lord Hari, taking a long breath, with a sad face, Sudeva Sharma, thinking that what is to happen will happen, went to the forest for flowers, firewood, etc.

In this way, some time passed for that Sudeva Sharma. Later, one day, he went to the forest to collect firewood, Kusha grass, fruits, flowers, etc. Going there, Sudeva Sharma began to meditate on the lotus feet of Lord Hari with his mind. On the same day, his son Shukadeva went to the well with his friends. Entering the well, he started playing with water jets with his peers, throwing water and laughing repeatedly. He felt joyful playing in the water repeatedly during the summer season. While playing with all the children immersed in love, that Shukadeva stood in the deep water and, troubled by his friend children, wanting to escape from the fear of his friend group, and driven by fate, holding his breath, wanting to deceive his friends, dived into the deep water there. But, agitated in that water, wanting to come out of it, suddenly that boy died in that deep water.

Not seeing the boy coming out of the water, all those peer friends were surprised and ran very fast, crying out in despair, and those children, overwhelmed with extreme sorrow, went to his mother Gautami and spoke. Hearing those extremely unpleasant, thunderbolt-like words from the children, that Gautami, loving her son, immediately fell to the ground. At the same time, Sudeva Sharma came from the forest. Hearing about the death of his son, he fell to the ground like a cut tree.

Later, both the Brahmin husband and wife got up and went to the well. Going there, embracing the dead son, taking his body in his lap, Sudeva Sharma started kissing his son's face repeatedly. Looking at his dead son lying in his lap again and again, crying and lamenting, he spoke in a choked voice.

Sudeva Sharma said - O son! Speak words that destroy my sorrow, that are cool, beautiful, and auspicious. O child! Please my mind. You are not worthy of leaving your elderly parents. O child! Your best friend is calling you for the study of the Vedas, and the teacher is calling you to teach with great joy. O son! Get up quickly. Why are you sleeping at this time?

I will not go home leaving you. What is my work at home? At this time, my home has become like an empty forest without you. If fruits and roots are dear to you, then get up in front of me. If you do not get up, then I will not go to the forest either. What is the use of the forest?

I have not done any reprehensible deed, nor have I committed the sin of killing a Brahmin, then as a result of which deed has my son died? Alas! Brahma! What great fruit have you obtained by doing this? O merciless one! Taking away my old, poor eye, the wealth of the poor, and the support of both husband and wife, this son, do you not feel ashamed? Why not? You are compassionate everywhere, but you have become merciless towards me, why? Alas! It is surprising. How has this turned upside down due to my fate? Where shall I search for a son who is beautiful by nature at this time? O son! Where will I see your face and beautiful eyes?

The cloud rains water. The earth produces grain. The mountains give gems, and the sea gives pearls and jewels. But I do not see that country where a dead son is found. By embracing whose body, one leaves the heat of the heart.

O child! Speak a word quickly once and have mercy. Your mother, leaving aside shame, is lamenting greatly like a kite. O son! Why do you not feel compassion after seeing her? You never went anywhere without the permission of your parents. O son! Have you gone on a distant path without asking us both? At this time, whose excellent words of Vedic study will I hear? O child! Today, remembering you and your charming, sweet words, my heart is not breaking into hundreds of pieces. Because my heart is like iron.

O Koshalendra! King Dasharatha! We consider you blessed because, scorched by the heat of his son going to the forest, he could not keep his life. But shame on me who is still alive even after the death of my son.

O Govinda! O Vishnu! O Yadunath! O Nath! O Lord of the life of Shri Rukmini! O Murare! O compassionate one to the poor! O merciful one! Protect me, tormented by the heat of the fire in the form of a son.

O God of Gods! O Lord of all the worlds! O Gopal! O Gopish! O holder of the Chakra in your hand! O remover of the poison-defect of the Yamuna! Protect me, tormented by the heat of the fire in the form of a son.

O Vishnu, resident of Vaikuntha! O destroyer of Narakasura! O basis of the animate and inanimate! O ship in the form of crossing the ocean of the world! That is, O one who ferries across the ocean of the world! O one whose footstool is worshiped by Brahma and other gods! Protect me, tormented by the heat of the fire in the form of a son.

There is no other rogue like us who, having violated the words of Devakiputra Shri Krishna Chandra, had a false hope in a son. Which unfortunate man can obtain an object that is not in his destiny?

Thus ends the seventeenth chapter in the Shri Brihannaradiya Purana, Purushottam Maas Mahatmya. ॥17॥