Upabrmhana and Rgveda Interpretation

Author(s): T G Manikar
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 54

The Hymn of Agastya and Lopamudrā (1. 179)
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Agastya promised them to do the needful in the matter and finally while looking out for a suitable bride asked the hand of Lopāmudrā who was the daughter of the King of the Vidarbha country. The King was unwilling but the fair Lopamudrā persuaded him to grant to wishes of Agastya. After the marriage at the words of Agastya, Lopamudrā discarded her costly dress and ornaments and wearing bark garments accompanied him to his place to follow the holy life. We are told of this couple:
tataḥ cirāni jagraha valkalani ajinānica / samanavratacar ya ca babhūva ayatalocuna // gangūdvaram athāgamya bhagavon rșisattama! / ugram ütişthata tapaḥ saha palnya anukülayā' // (97.10-11)
It was once when Agastya saw his wife pure and holy, after her bath shining with a rare lustre and beauty, that he invited her for the pleasure of love.
tato bahutithe kale lopamudra visāmpate / ta pasa dyotitam snatam dadarśa bhagavān rșih 11 (97.13)
and then
sa tasyah paricärena śaucena ca damena ca/ śriyä rūpeṇa ca prito maithunaya ajuhāva tām // (97.14)
To this invitation of Agastya, Lopamudrā gave a 'no' and asked the sage to work for securing wealth. She granted that the husband and wife came together to procreate; but added that she would not accept his invitation and approach him while he continued to remain void of wealth. She observed :
'icchami tvam sragviņam ca bhüşanaih ca vibhuşitam / upasartum yathakamam divyabharaṇabhușita 11 (97.18)
On Agastya's pleading that an effort to secure wealth would mean loss of 'lapas', his penance Lopāmudrā observes :
'na ca anytha aham icchami tvam upaitum kathañcana na ca api dharmam icchumi viloptum te kathañcana // evam tu me yathökumam sampadayitum arhasi' (97.23b, 24)
Agastya consents to collect wealth and proceeds to do so and meets Śrutarvarn, Bradhnaśva, Trasadasyu and finally Ilvala and collects wealth. He destroys Ilvala. On his return Lopamudrā consents to their union. She observes :
'krtavunasi tat sarvam bhagarun mama känkṣitam
utpadaya sakınmahyam apatyam viryavattaram // (99.19) and to them is born Drdhasyu, who in his turn begets Idhmavāba. Such is the Mahābhārata account of the Agastya-Lopamudrä episode. Here