The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 118

Section CXVIII. *( Sambhava Parva continued. )* Janamejaya said, "O thou utterer of Brahma, thou hast recited (everything about) the extraordinary births, among men, of the sons of Dhrita-rashtra in consequence of the Rishi's grace, Thou hast also said what their names were, according to the order of birth. O Brahmana, I have heard all these from thee, But tell me now all about the Pandavas, While reciting the incarnations on earth of the celestials, the Asuras, and beings of other classes, thou saidst that the Pandavas were all illustrious and endued with the prowess of gods, and that they were incarnate portions of the celestials themselves, I desire, therefore, to hear all about those beings of extraordinary achievements, beginning from the moment of their births. O Vaisampayana, recite thou their achievements." Vaisampayana said, "O king, one day Pandu, while roaming in the woods (on the southern slopes of Himavat) that teemed with deer and wild animals of fierce disposition, saw a large deer that seemed to be the leader of a herd coupling with its mate. Beholding the animals, the monarch pierced them both with five of his sharp and swift arrows winged with golden feathers. O monarch, that was no deer that Pandu struck at, but a Rishi's son of great ascetic merit who was coupling with his mate in the form of a deer. Pierced by Pandu while engaged in the act of intercourse, he fell down on the earth uttering cries that were human and began to weep bitterly. "The deer then addressed Pandu and said, 'O king, even men that are slaves of lust and wrath, and void of reason, and ever sinful, never commit such a cruel act as this! Individual judgment prevaileth not against the ordinance, the ordinance prevaileth against individual judgment. The wise never sanction anything discountenanced by the ordinance. Thou art born, O Bharata, in a race that has ever been virtuous, How is it, therefore, that even thou, suffering thyself to be overpowered by passion and wrath, losest thy reason?' Hearing this, Pandu replied, 'O deer, kings behave in the matter of slaying animals of thy species exactly as they do in the matter of slaying foes. It behoveth thee not, therefore, to reprove me thus from ignorance? Animals of thy species are slain by open or covert means. This, indeed, is the practice of kings. Then why dost thou reprove me? Formerly, the Rishi Agastya, while engaged in the performance of a grand sacrifice, chased the deer, and devoted every deer of the forest unto the gods in general. Thou hast been slain pursuant to usage sanctioned by such precedent, Wherefore reprovest us then? For his especial sacrifices Agastya performed the *homa* with fat of the deer.' "The deer then said, 'O king, men do not let fly their arrows at even their enemies when the latter are unprepared, But there is a time for doing it (*viz*, after declaration of hostilities). Slaughter at such a time is not censurable.' "Pandu replied, 'It is well-known that men slay deer by various effective means, without regarding whether the animals are careful or careless. Therefore, O deer, why reprovest thou me?' "The deer then said, 'O king, I do. not blame thee for thy having killed a deer, or for the injury thou hast done to me! But, instead of acting so cruelly, thou shouldst have waited for the completion of my act of intercourse. What man of wisdom and virtue is there that can kill a deer while engaged in such an act? The time of sexual intercourse is agreeable to every creature and productive of good to all. O king, upon this my mate I was engaged in the gratification of my sexual desire. But that effort of mine hath been rendered futile by thee! O king of the Kurus, born as thou art in the race of the Pandavas ever noted for white (virtuous) deeds, such an act hath scarcely been fit for thee! O Bharata, this act must be regarded as extremely cruel, deserving of universal execration, infamous, and sinful, and certainly leading to hell, Thou art acquainted with the pleasures of sexual intercourse, Thou art acquainted also with the teachings of morality and the dictates of duty. Like unto a celestial as thou art, it behoved thee not to do such an act as leadeth to hell! O thou best of kings, thy duty is to chastise all who act cruelly, who are engaged in sinful practices, and all who have taken leave of religion, profit, and pleasure, as explained in the *Shastras*. What hast thou done, O best of men, in killing me who have done thee no offence! I am, O king, a Muni that liveth on fruits and roots, though disguised as a deer! I was living in the woods in peace with all. Thou hast killed me yet, O king, for which I will curse thee certainly. Cruel as thou hast been unto a couple of opposite sexes, death shall certainly overtake thee as soon as thou feelest the influence of desire. I am a Muni of name Kimindama, possessed of ascetic merit. I was engaged in sexual intercourse with this deer because my feelings of modesty do not permit me to indulge in such an actin human society. In the form of a deer I rove in the deep woods in the company of other deer. Thou hast slain me without knowing that I am a Brahmana. The sin of having slain a Brahmana shall not, therefore, be thine. But, senseless man, having killed me, disguised as a deer, at such a time, thy fate shall certainly be even like mine! When, having approached thy wife lustfully, thou art united with her even as I had been with mine, in that very state thou shalt have to go to the world of spirits. And that wife of thine with whom thou mayst be united in intercourse at the time of thy death shall also follow thee with affection and reverence to the domains of the king of the dead which no one can avoid. Thou hast brought me grief while I was happy. So shall grief come to thee while thou art in happiness.'" Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, that deer, afflicted with grief, gave up life; and Pandu also was plunged in woe at the sight." Thus ends the hundred and eighteenth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.