Purushottam Maas Katha: Adhyaya 18 | पुरुषोत्तम मास कथा: अध्याय 18

Narada Ji heard the story of his previous birth from Dridhadhanva. Valmiki described the grief of a son, the glory of Purushottam month, and the grace of Shri Hari through the penance of a Brahmin.

Narada Ji said, 'O ascetic! After that, please tell me what Lord Valmiki Muni said to King Dridhadhanva.' Shri Narayan said, 'That Rajarshi Dridhadhanva, after hearing the account of his previous birth, asks the best of sages, Valmiki Muni, in amazement.

Dridhadhanva said, 'O Brahman! Even after repeatedly drinking your new, beautiful, nectar-like words, I am not satisfied. Therefore, please tell me the story after that.

Valmiki Muni said, 'O Lord of the world! While that Brahmin was lamenting in this way, a cloud came that echoed the ten directions with thunder, and a wind with sharp touches, like shaking the mountains, began to blow. And the lightning, shining brightly, filled the ten directions with its sound. In this way, it rained for a month, filling the earth with water, but the Brahmin, tormented by the heat of the fire of grief for his son, could not know anything.

He neither drank water nor ate food. Only saying, 'O son! O son!' the month that the Brahmin spent lamenting in this way was the Purushottam month dear to Shri Krishna Chandra! Without knowing it, that Brahmin observed Purushottam month. Being extremely pleased with the observance of that Purushottam month, Hari Bhagwan himself appeared, with a complexion like a new cloud, adorned with a garland of forest flowers.

When Hari Bhagwan, the Lord of the world, appeared, the clouds disappeared. That Brahmin saw Purushottam Shri Krishna Chandra. As soon as he saw him, he put the body of the son he was holding in his lap on the ground, and along with his wife, the Brahmin bowed down to Shri Krishna Bhagwan, and standing in front of Shri Krishna Bhagwan with folded hands, thinking that Shri Krishna Bhagwan is our protector, Bhagwan also, pleased with the service of Purushottam, spoke in an extremely sweet voice showering nectar.

Shri Hari Bhagwan said, 'O Sudeva! You are blessed, you are fortunate at this time, who is capable in the three worlds to describe your fortune? O son! O ascetic! We will tell you what is going to happen to you, listen.

O Brahmin! You will have a son with an age of twelve thousand years. After this, you have no doubt about the happiness you will get from your son. O best of the twice-born! I have given you this son with a happy heart. Seeing the happiness of your son, which will be due to our grace, O best of the twice-born! Gods, Gandharvas and humans will be desirous of son-happiness. In this matter, I will tell you an ancient history, which was earlier told by Markandeya Muni to King Raghu.

First, a great-minded sage named Dhanu, seeing the worlds burnt by the mental anxiety in the form of a son, became sad, and began to perform severe penance desiring an immortal son. After a thousand years had passed, the gods said to Dhanurmuni, 'O sage! We are all pleased with your difficult penance, therefore ask for the best boon according to your mind.

Shri Narayan said, 'Hearing this nectar-like speech of the gods, that ascetic Dhanurnamaka Muni asked for an intelligent and immortal son. The gods said to that Brahmin that there is no such son on earth. Then Dhanurmuni said to the gods that it is good to give such a son whose age is limited. The gods said, 'What kind of limit do you want? Tell us.' On this, that Muni also said that his age should be as long as this great mountain remains. 'So be it', saying this, Indra and other gods went to heaven. Dhanusharma soon obtained such a son.

That Muni's son began to grow in the sky like the moon. When he was sixteen years old, the sage said to his son, 'O son! These sages are never worthy of insult.' Even after giving such education, that son disrespected the sages. Intoxicated by the strength of the limit of his age, he insulted the Brahmins. Once, a very angry sage named Mahisha worshiped the Shalagrama stone, which gives auspicious results according to the rules. At the same time, that boy came there and quickly took the Shalagrama stone and threw it into a well full of water, laughing due to his restlessness.

Mahisha Muni, like another Kalarudra filled with anger, cursed that son of Dhanurmuni to die immediately. But not seeing him dead, he thought in his mind about the cause of death. The gods have made this son of Dhanurmuni with a conditional age. Thinking in this way, Mahisha Muni took a long breath. From which crores of Mahishas were born and those Mahishas broke the mountain into pieces. At the same time, the extremely arrogant boy of the Muni died.

Dhanurmuni lamented repeatedly with great sorrow. Later, after lamenting in many ways, he took the body of his son and, extremely afflicted by the sorrow of his son, entered the fire of the pyre. In this way, those who obtain a son by stubbornness never find happiness anywhere.

O ascetic! You will be a praiseworthy son in the world because of this son given by Garudaji. O sinless one! I have made this son long-lasting with pleasure from the greatness of Purushottam, he will give you happiness. After always enjoying the happiness of Grihasthashram with your son, you will go to Brahmaloka, there you will enjoy excellent happiness for a thousand years according to the gods, and then you will come to earth, O best of the twice-born! Here you will be a Chakravarti king. Famous by the name Dridhadhanva and equipped with army and vehicles, you will enjoy the happiness of the king of the earth for ten thousand years. You will have unbroken strength and opulence more than the position of Indra. At that time, this Gautami woman will be the chief queen. Always engaged in serving her husband and will be named Gunasundari. You, skilled in politics, will have four sons, and a daughter named Mahabhaga Sushila with a beautiful face.

O great one! After enjoying the pleasures of the world which are rare for gods and demons, when you forget Vishnu Bhagwan, who helps to cross the ocean of the world, then, O Vipra! At that time, this son of yours, becoming a Shuka bird, sitting on the Banyan tree, repeatedly reciting the verses that create detachment, will awaken you in this way. Hearing the words of the Shuka bird, you will come home with a sad heart. Leaving the worldly pleasures, immersed in the ocean of worry, O Bhusura! Valmiki Muni will come and give you knowledge. With his words, without any doubt, both you and your wife will leave your body and go to the abode of Hari Bhagwan, 'which is said to be free from coming and going.

When Mahavishnu said this, that Brahmin boy stood up. Both those men and women were overjoyed to see their Brahmin son standing up. All the gods were also satisfied and started showering flowers. Shukadeva also bowed to Shri Hari and his parents. Garudaji was also very pleased to see the Brahmin with his son.

At that time, astonished, the Brahmin bowed to Shri Hari Bhagwan and, joining his hands, spoke to Jagdishwar with a choked voice due to joy, to remove the doubt in his heart, 'O Hare! I performed extremely difficult penance continuously for four thousand years, at that time you came there and said harsh words to me that, O son! We have seen well. At this time, you certainly do not have a son. O Hare! What is the reason for violating that word and reviving my dead son? Please tell me.

Thus ends the eighteenth chapter in the Purushottammasmahatmya of Shri Brihannaradiya Purana ॥18॥