Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 5

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 91

CHAPTER TWO
beautiful daughter to the Rși Nārada.64 From his line there is a Brāhman in this village, the village-head, Suradeva. By his wife Kșatriyā he has a daughter, Somaśrī, learned in the Vedas. Questioned by her father about a husband for her, the astrologer Karāla said, 'Whoever defeats her in the Vedas will marry her.' In order to defeat her, these people are constantly engaged in the study of the Vedas and Brahmadatta is the teacher of the Vedas here.” Yādava became a Brāhman in appearance and said to the teacher of the Vedas, “I am a Brāhman, Skandila, of the Gautama gotra. I wish to study the Vedas under you.” He agreed and Yādava studied the Vedas under him, defeated Somaśrī in the Vedas, and married her.
Tricked by a sorcerer (346–352) One day while amusing himself with her he went to a garden and he saw there a sorcerer, Indraśarman. When he had seen his magic art performing miracles, Sauri asked for it. He said: “ Take this magic art which deludes the mind. This magic art, undertaken in the evening, is successful; but at sunrise it causes many calamities. Procure some friend.”
“A foreigner, I have no friend."
“ Brother, I am the friend of you, a brother, and (so is) my wife, Vanamālikā.”
Being told this, Sauri took the magic charm, whispering it properly, and was taken away by the magician Indraśarman in a litter. Reflecting on the calamity, Sauri whispered the magic charm at dawn and, having recognized the trick, got out of the litter. Yādava outstripped Indraśarman and the others running after him and at the end of the day reached a hamlet, Tļņaśoşaka.
64 340. This contradicts the description of Nārada as a celibate. Cf. IV, p. 151. Perhaps this Rși Nārada is an entirely different person from the wellknown Nārada who is so prominent in the Trişaşți.° Or perhaps the prāyeņa in 7.2.514 means that generally Nārada was an ascetic, but not always. There were 9 Näradas..