The display of the might by the Brahmanas
Brahmana said—О chaste lady, you tell us the disease which resulted into the death of your husband? I am a physician and I am well aware of the treatment of all diseases.
O chaste lady, in case anyone becomes like that by any ailment or in case it so happens within a week, then I can extend treatment with my great knowledge, can revive him to life in the twinkling of an eye.
I can capture old age, death, Yama, time and ailment and can produce them before you, like a hunter captures animal and produces it before you.
О beautiful one, I am well aware of the means by which to relieve a human being of the ailment of the body and for relieving the body of an ailment.
According to the theory of the scriptures I also know the means by which the seeds of ailments would never sprout in a human body.
Whosoever may have ended his life by yogic practices or in any other way, I am well aware of the means to revive him back to life with the influence of my yogic knowledge.”
On hearing the words of the Brahmana, Malavati felt immensely pleased and with her mind filled with delight, she said.
Malavati said—what a surprising talk am I listening to from the mouth of the Brahmana boy? Compared to his age, he looks like a child, but his knowledge in the Yoga, exceeds that of everyone.
О lord you have taken a resolve to revive my husband back to life. These words cannot be changed. I, therefore, at once believe that my husband will come to life again.
You are the best among those well-versed in the Vedas. You bring my husband back to life but I am putting you some questions because of certain doubts in my mind. You kindly clarify them.
Because I shall not be able to ask you any questions when my husband comes back to life, as he is of harsh temperament. Those in the assembly of the Gods, including Brahma and others, are present besides you are well-versed in the Vedas; but none of them is my husband.
In case a lady is protected by her husband, then no one can contradict her. In case he disciplines his wife or punishes her then no one on earth can provide protection to her.
Thus all the Vedas, Indra, Brahma and Rudra also have no competence to protect her. The men and the women have the relationship of husband and wife.
The husband is performer, extractor, preserver, protector, family God and is adored by the lady. There is no better guru for a lady than her husband alone.
The girl who is born in a high family always remains dependent upon her husband. But those who get independent, become wicked and degraded as well.
Those of the wicked ladies, who take interest in others, are considered to be degraded ones and denounce their husbands. Such girls belong to the lower caste.
I am wife of Upabarhana and the daughter of Citraratha. О Brahmana, I am a chaste woman and the daughter-in-law of the king of Gandharvas.
О great Brahmana you are competent enough to summon them all here. Therefore you summon here Yama and Mrtyukanya.
On hearing the words of Malavati, the Brahmana who was well versed in the Vedas called all of them and made them stand there. First of all the chaste Malavati looked at Mrtyukanya who was of dark complexion and was quite horrible to look at.
She was clad in red garments and she wore a serene smile on her face. She had six arms. She was peaceful, compassionate and extremely chaste. She was standing there with her sixty-four sons.
Thereafter, she had a look at Narayana who appeared a personified God of Death. He had a terrific appearance, looked like the sun of the winter season; he had six faces, sixteen arms, twenty four eyes and six feet.
He was of dark complexion and was clad in red garments. He was the God of Gods and was terrific in appearance who could destroy anyone and was respected even by the God of death, Lord of all and was the eternal Lord.
He was wearing a pleasant and serene smile on his face. He was holding a rosary and was reciting the name of Lord Krishna.
Thereafter the chaste Malavati found before her all groups of ailment or diseases which were pretty old but, looked like children who encircle their mothers’ breasts.
Thereafter Malavati found Yama, the son of Surya who was of black colour and had firm feet. The religious-minded son of Surya was Parabrahma and was reciting the name of Lord Krishna.
He was well aware of the difference between dharma and adharma, the form of the best of Dharma and was the ruler of sinners. Looking at him the chaste Malavati with the delightful eyes doubtlessly questioned Yama.
Malavati said—“O Yama, you are devoted to the religious scriptures and are quite a religious one also. О Dharmaraja, О Lord, how are you carrying my husband with you in utter disregard of the time?”
Yama said—О chaste lady, in this universe no one dies ahead of his time or without the permission of the Lord. I do not carry away anyone unless he meets with his death.
I myself, called Kala, the death and all the diseases take away the people after death with the permission of the Lord. The far sighted Mrtyukanya, after the birth of a person, when she reaches someone, he alone is carried by me. Therefore you better ask her as to why she goes to anyone.
Malavati said—О Mrtyukanya, my dear friend, you are also a woman and are well aware of the pain caused with separation of a husband from a wife. Then why are you taking my husband away when I am still alive?”
Mrtyukanya (death) said—In earlier times Brahma, the creator of the universe, also created me and entrusted this duty upon me. О chaste lady, I am unable to get rid of this duty even after performing great tapas.
In case anyone of the chaste ladies in the universe can reduce me to ashes by pronouncing a curse, then, О beautiful one, I would have been relieved of this ugly job. After me, whatever has to happen with my husband and the sons, it could happen.
Influenced by Kala, I alone perform the duty with the help of my son. It is, therefore, evident that myself and my son are not at all responsible for all this.
О lady, in this assembly of the religious minded souls, you can ask the question from Kala who happens to be a great soul. Thereafter you can do whatever you think best.
Malavati said addressing Kala, “O Kala, you are the witness of all the actions of the people; you are eternal lord and are a part of Narayana. Therefore I bow in reverence to a Lord like you.
O Lord, О compassionate one, you possess all knowledge and are well aware of all miseries. Therefore, Lord, “Why do you intend to take away my husband from me when I am still alive?
Kalapurusha said— Who am I? Thereafter the death, Yama, Mrtyukanya and all the diseases are of no consequence. All of us always obey the command of the Lord roaming about everywhere.
He is the same lord from whom, nature, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva and other Gods, the sages, the Manus, the humans and all the creatures have emerged. All yogis and mendicants always adore at his feet. The intellectuals always recite the name of the lord regularly.
At whose command, the wind blows, the sun emits heat and following whose command even Brahma indulges in creation and Vishnu preserves it.
At the command of whom Siva destroys the universe and we become the witness of the deeds of the people at the command of that lord.
At the command of whom all the stars, the planets and the constellation move on. Basing to the command of whom, the Dikpalas, lords of directions transact their business.
О chaste Malavati, at the command of whom the trees bear timely flowers and fruits.
At the command of whom the earth is formed of the waters and comprises of all movable and immovable things. Getting afraid of whom even the earth, sometimes, shakes.
With the illusion of whom even the illusion is influenced and at the command of whom nature who happens to be the creator of everyone feels panicky and performs the job.
Even the Vedas who were aware of the prowess of everyone, are unable to recite about his glory and the Puranas always offer prayers to them.
By reciting of whose name the illustrious omnipresent lord appears in his sixteen rays in the form of Brahma, Vishnu, Siva and the Virat (universal) form.
He is the lord of all, Kala for the Kala, death for the death, best of all the best people; therefore for the removal of all doubts, you adore at the feet of lord Krishna.
He alone can fulfil all your desires besides reviving your husband back to life. All these Gods are influenced by him alone, therefore he is the one, who can bestow all the riches.
О Saunaka, Kala kept quiet after speaking all this. Thereafter the Brahmana boy started speaking.
