Chapter 14 : Parashuraam's Pilgrimage Adventure

Raam very happy to have his father's boon,

To have his mother back from death so soon,

Hastily went to keep his weapons,

Rest at home after long beckons.

His axe got stuck in his hand,

Throughout his body ran ailment grand.

Problem in breathing and chest-pain,

Mother's murder's sin his gain.

Parashuraam could not understand a thing,

Why miserable feeling filled his being.

The weight of axe weighed on him,

Great uneasiness to the brim.

His soul tormented for reason unknown,

All peace of mind at once blown.

His anxiety to Jamadagni he reported.

"Mother-murder sin made your body raid.

This sin doesn't go that easily,

You are in a big fix really.

This is a matter of great concern,

Abiding my order your sin you earn.

You will be living dead,

Nothing will come to your aid.

I don't know it's remedy,

For tough life be ready.

Have meal once a day,

Keep bad thoughts at bay.

Control your body and mind,

Peace in heart you will find.

Live likewise throughout a year,

Till that long meekness you bear.

Quit demand for respect,

Quit ego and it's aspect.

Wear matted hair on head,

Visit all holy places made.

Then visit Koshal, my son,

Vishnujashaa you call on.

He is a braahman, very famous,

He will help you to come out of fuss."

Parashuraam did not delay,

For pilgrimage went away.

Gayaa-Gangaa-Vaaraanasee he visited,

To do away the great sin prohibited.

Then he visited Pravaas the holy place,

To make his downed spirit raise.

Then visited Haridwaar the great heart,

With the suffocation ready to part.

Quickly moved to Badarikaashram,

Maan-Lake he went wherefrom.

At Bindukshetra Bindusar he travelled,

Along the way, always, his heart wailed.

For all the holy places falling in North

Bhaargav rapidly paced forth.

Daawarakaa and others in the West

To God he became his bequest.

Walking clockwise temples around,

With full devotion body on ground,

He offered pranaam to deities he revered,

With earnest mind his grief bared.

South is full of sacred places,

Uncountable, as many one guesses.

Lake Indradyumna Kushaarikaa and

Godaavaree Vaitaranee Rebaa River his land.

One after other holy places his find,

Father's sayings came to mind.

Quickly went to Koshal city,

To meet Vishnujashaa, show his pity.

Raam the good braahman saw

As dangerous looking, generating awe.

Weapon in hand, very thoughtful,

Depressed face unready to pull.

As sunrays covered by clouds dark,

Straight line of beauty made an arc.

Great body dried up, dark-coloured skin,

Strong muscles all loosened had been.

Vishnujashaa asked the reason, concerned,

Raam began to tell why his heart burned.

Parashuraam to braahman confided all.

Listening, the braahman, in wonder did appall.

Had a thought, then said he,

"Weapon will fall, listen carefully.

In Brahma Hrad take a dip,

Mother-killing sin to make strip.

Listen to the tale of Brahma Lake-

Of strange structure, Brahmaa's make.

Circular round water, and the wind,

Whoever goes to bathe they bind.

In seeing, the water ferociously turns,

To drown the incoming violent it runs.

Only the sacred soul comes out living,

That's why it is unvisited by any being.

Of Brahmahrad there is a history,

I learnt from Naarad its fantastic mystery.

Brahmarshi Sutapaa, powerful, innocent,

To Brahmalok to visit he went.

All prajaapatis in meeting present,

Sutapaa got distracted in Menakaa's advent.

The apsaraa beautiful flied in void,

Prajaapatis downed their heads to avoid.

Extremely beautiful, three worlds mesmerising,

No man beholding can control rising.

Sutapaa's sexual desire overcame,

His urge in being he could not tame.

He went on looking her face, her breast,

How she was very minimally dressed."

Parashuraam asked, "How Menakaa Brahmalok reached?

How this very high level she breached?"

"Menakaa's goddess, though of lower caste,

A god can reach higher level fast.

They have greater renunciation,

They have greater appreciation

Of God, so it's no wonder,

Their strength in heart roaringly thunder.

Women, too, can reach any level,

Going anywhere, they can revel.

About Brahmabaadinees you have heard,

Teller of Brahma, Brahma-bard."

"How did wrishi Sutapaa in mind fall,

Great power and concentration as he had all?"

Vishnujashaa replied, "With great power,

You reach any level at any hour.

But you may fall using your great strength,

With over-confidence down to any length.

Without fear, you forget the danger,

What will be brought by this game-changer.

You have reached high level by your wish,

With the same you fall from Bliss.

Don't wish, give your mind to God,

He will destine you from fraud."

Raam, thoughtful, said, "What happens

If a soul downgrading gains?"

Vishnujashaa said, "Vishnu takes care

Of his yog and well-being, where

He is uplifted in life or after,

Situations change to take him faster.

Wrishi Sutapaa very well fares

In asceticism, as his name bears.

Could not, but behold

Menakaa's waist ring, made of gold,

Covering her groin and cleavage,

Fiery passion made to rage

In his whole body and soul,

In a second he fell in deep hole.

Brahmaa, knowing, became very enraged,

In punishing Sutapaa he thoroughly engaged.

"Blasphemy you do in my realm!

Be a crocodile, lead a life of blame.

Fall into the depths of lake of me,

Released after many years you will be.

Raam will go to be free of sin

Of killing his mother pious therein.

So long you will be inside Lake.

When he will gate its break

By his axe, do bathing,

You will find back your being.

Your eyes will be blind for bad karma,

Animal-like sex will be your dharma."

Instantly he fell, in the lake,

The valiant ascetic waiting to wake.

Travel there quickly,

Will go your sin sickly."

Hearing this Bhriguraam fast paced

Brahmalake-shore hurriedly braced.

Seeing Bhriguveer the water rose,

Mountainous wave broke to dispose.

Drier Mantra Bhaargavbar recited,

Destroyed wave, bold, unexcited.

By axe with great shot,

Open Lake gate he brought.

Then Raam, perspiring, bathed in Lake,

Its water in hands he did take

As anjali, then tarpan he offered

To ensure ancestors do not get barred

From going to heaven. Weapon fell,

Great joy in his heart did bell.

Suddenly the crocodile dangerous very

Gripped on Raam's foot in a hurry.

In two hands Raam separated jaws,

Pulled it up, heavy it was.

Threw it to the bank, rocks against,

Death is near, the creature sensed.

Taking up the axe, in water drowned,

Jewel among Bhaargavs went bank bound.

With his axe he cracked a heavy blow,

Crocodile's intestine out did show.

Sutapaa's soul came out, up flew,

Seeing, Raam's surprise grew.

He returned home after pilgrimage,

Paying all deities his homage

In Sanaatan Bhoomi, Eternal Land,

Where gold produces each droplet of sand.

Ancient wisdom is waves of elixir,

Adharma goes, afterlife fixer.