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BIRTH OF RÁMA, KRSNA, AND ARIŞTANEMI 155 remained a moment and flew up to go elsewhere. For he always roams as he likes: Asked by Kansa, “Who is he?” the king said:
.: “In the past there was an ascetic, Yajñayaśas, outside the city. His wife was Yajñadattā and his son, Sumitra. Sumitra's wife was Somayaśas. A god fell from the Jşmbhakas 167 at the expiration of his life (as god), entered the womb of Somayaśas and Nārada here was born. When the ascetics had fasted for one day, they always broke fast on the next day by gleaning, going to a forest.
One day they went to gather food and left Nārada in the shade of an aśoka. The Jşmbhakas saw the child who had unusual light. Knowing by clairvoyance that Nārada was a friend in a former birth, they transfixed the shade of the aśoka above him. Then they went away on their own business but returned, after finishing it. Seeing him, they took him away from affection and took him to Mt. Vaitādhya. Because its shade had been transfixed by the gods, the aśoka became known all over the world as chāyāvýkșa 168 (Shade-tree) from that time.
The child was guarded by the Jļmbhakas in a cave in Mt. Vaitāļhya and, when he was eight years old, he was taught the magic arts, Prajñaptikā, et cetera. Going through the air by means of them, he is the ninth Muni Nārada in this avasarpiņi with his last body (before mokşa). This birthstory of Muni Nārada was related to me by Muni Supratistha who has knowledge of the three periods of time. Fond of quarreling by nature, he becomes angry if treated disrespectfully. He is honored everywhere, as he does not stay in one place.”
Marriage with Devaki (43–70) One day summoned by Kansa from affection, Anakadundubhi (Vasudeva) went to the city Mathurā with the
167 33. Servants of Kubera.
168 38. As a matter of fact, this name for the aśoka is not well-known. I can not find it cited anywhere else.
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