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[ 136 ) by their rebirths for one hundred years as mouse, followed by twelve years as serpents. After this they are reborn as animal for thousand tiines. Then they are reborn as trees for one hundred years. Ultimately they are born as lower animals after which they are reborn as human beings. As men they become cāņqalas for seven births. Then they take sixteen births as Sudras, one birth as Vaisya, one birth as Ksatriya. During this time, they are tormented very much by powerful people. Ultimately they are born as children of poor Brāhmaṇas. In this connection this Purāņa2 adds that gifts and other deeds sometimes help in destroying several lives in succession.
It is said in Śiva Purāņa3 in praise of Jyotirlinga, that being horn in an infcrior birth if any-body sees Jyotirlinga after death, he is reborn as an owner of abundant wealth and in that birth doing good deeds, he is able to attain emancipation. Born in the Mleccha Yoni or in the Yoni of Antyaja, if any one sees Sivalinga, he is able to be reborn as Brāhmana. One who is born as an impotent, or is devoid of any Aśrama, he, by seeing Sivalinga is reborn as Brāhmana.1
SECTION IV THE SPIRITUAL STATUS OF A SELF-TORGETFUL
PERSON TAKING REBIRTH In the story of Nárada, we have found that Närada was originally Devarsi and the mental son of Brahmā. He had to be rcborn under the curse of Brahma and due to his own sexual passion in the family of Gandharva; because it was in this family that one could enjoy carnal pleasures in the utmost fashion. After this birth as a Gandharva, he was born as the son of a maid servant as stated in the Brahmavaivarta Purāna. Brahma 1. N alya P'tirano XIV, 81.80. 2. Avracija Purina XIII. 3. Siva l'usine, 38. 27-29 ( Jayasthila )' 4. Biabım vziv.:Ili Pwina, Bralımakhands, Chapier VIII. S. Brahm sivaria Puāna, Brahmakhana, Chapter VIII.
