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Library: Sage Narada narrates the story of King Sṛñjaya and his son, providing the context for the teachings given by Krishna.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Pāṇḍu, addressed Nārada: "O revered one, I wish to hear about the origin of the golden anthill."
Thus addressed by Dharmarāja, the sage Nārada explained what had happened regarding the golden spittoon.
O great king, it is just as Keśava has spoken. But as you are asking, I shall tell you what remains to be done in this task.
I and Parvata, my maternal cousin and the great sage, both desiring something, approached Sṛñjaya, the best among the victorious.
There, having been duly honored by him according to prescribed rites and with all desires fulfilled, let us reside in his house.
When the years had passed and it was time to depart, the mountain spoke these meaningful words to me.
We two have been greatly honored and have stayed in this king's house; O Brahman, let us now consider what should be done here at this time.
Then I said, O king, "This auspicious-looking mountain and everything here is fitting for you, O mighty one, O son of a sister."
Let the king be gratified by a boon and obtain whatever he wishes. If you think fit, let him attain success by our austerity.
Then Parvata, the eminent sage, called King Sṛñjaya, who was of auspicious appearance, and spoke to Anumata.
O best of kings, in affection, with honors of your own, indeed accompanied by sincerity, you have been permitted by both of us; consider a boon.
O great king, whatever among the non-injurious offerings to the gods is suitable for a human, please accept that; you are considered by us as worthy of worship.
Sṛñjaya said:
If you both are affectionate to me, then by this alone my purpose is fulfilled; this indeed is the greatest gain and the highest fruit for me.
Nārada said:
The mountain again spoke to him who had spoken thus: "O king, choose the wish that has long remained in your heart."
Sṛñjaya said:
I wish for a son who is heroic, strong, resolute in his vows, long-lived, greatly fortunate, and radiant like Indra, the king of the gods.
The mountain said:
Your desire will be fulfilled, but you will not live long. Indeed, this resolve to conquer Indra is in your heart.
From the spitting of gold, golden spittle will be produced. He, protected by the king of gods, will possess a brilliance equal to that of the king of gods.
Nārada said:
Having heard this, Sṛñjaya, hearing the words of the great-souled Parvata, then sought to appease him, saying, "It should not be so."
O sage, may I have a long-lived son by your austerity; but the mountain, out of respect for Indra, did not say anything to him.
I spoke again to the distressed king, saying, "O great king, I must be remembered; I will show myself to you when remembered."
O king of the earth, do not grieve. I will restore your beloved son, who has gone under the control of the king of the dead, to his former form again.
After thus addressing the king, they departed as they wished to their respective places. Sṛñjaya also entered his own palace as he desired.
Then, at a certain time in the course of events, a son of great strength, shining with brilliance as if ablaze, was born to Sṛñjaya, the royal sage.
He grew in due course like a great lotus in a lake. He became known as the 'golden lizard'; that was truly his name.
O best of Kurus, that most wonderful event became famous in the world. Indra, the lord of the gods, also understood the boon granted to the great souls.
Then, being afraid of being overpowered, Indra, following Bṛhaspati's counsel, stood watching the prince intently, becoming inwardly observant.
He incited the Vajra, the divine weapon established in form. Then, having assumed the form of a tiger, you should slay this prince, O lord.
He has grown strong indeed and will overpower me. Vajra, the son of Sṛñjaya, was given to him just as the mountain bestowed him.
Thus, when Śakra spoke, Vajra, the conqueror of enemy cities, who always observed the prince within, indeed followed.
Sṛñjaya, too, after obtaining a son as radiant as the king of the gods, joyfully, along with his household, became devoted to life in the forest at that time.
Once, on the bank of the Bhagirathi, by a forest stream, the boy, accompanied by his nurse, ran about in play.
The five-year-old boy, endowed with the courage of the king of serpents and great strength, suddenly confronted the leaping tiger.
Crushed by him and trembling, the prince fell lifeless to the ground; then the nurse wailed.
After killing the prince, he disappeared on the spot. The tiger, through the illusion of the king of the gods, vanished at that moment.
But when the king himself heard the nurse's loud cry, as she wept in utter distress, he immediately ran to that place.
He saw the prince lying lifeless, his blood drained, joy gone, like the fallen moon.
He placed his son, who was sprinkled with blood, on his lap, his chest greatly afflicted, and, distressed, he lamented.
Then those mothers of his, weeping and worn by grief, rushed to the place where King Sṛñjaya was.
Then the king, reflecting inwardly, remembered me. Knowing his thought, I went to meet him.
He, overwhelmed with grief, was made to hear these words by me—words that were spoken to you by the hero of the Yadus, O king.
He was revived by me at that time with Indra's consent; what must happen must happen thus, and it cannot be otherwise.
After that, the powerful prince, the golden spittoon-bearer of great fame, pleased the minds of his father and mother.
When his father passed away, he, the mighty one of terrible prowess, ruled the kingdom for one hundred thousand years.
Then the greatly resplendent one, having performed great sacrifices with many abundant gifts, satisfied both the gods and the ancestors.
O king, after producing many sons who continued the family line, in due course of great time, he met his destined end (death).
O king, dispel this sorrow that has arisen, as Keśava and the greatly austere Vyāsa have instructed you.
O bearer of heavy burdens, after assuming the ancestral kingdom and performing great meritorious sacrifices, you will attain the desired worlds.
