"Markandeya continued, 'The virtuous fowler, having introduced his
(both) parents to that Brahmana as his highest _gurus_, again spoke to
him as follows, "Mark thou the power of this virtue of mine, by which my
inner spiritual vision is extended. For this, thou wast told by that
self-restrained, truthful lady, devoted to her husband, 'Hie thee to
Mithila; for there lives a fowler who will explain to thee, the
mysteries of religion.'" The Brahmana said, "O pious man, so constant in
fulfilling thy religious obligations, bethinking myself of what that
truthful good-natured lady so true to her husband, hath said, I am
convinced that thou art really endowed with every high quality." The
fowler replied, "I have no doubt, my lord, that what that lady, so
faithful to her husband, said to thee about me, was said with full
knowledge of the facts. I have, O Brahmana, explained to thee all this
as a matter of favour. And now, good sir, listen to me. I shall explain
what is good for thee. O good Brahmana, of irreproachable character,
thou hast wronged thy father and thy mother, for thou hast left home
without their permission, for the purpose of learning the _Vedas_. Thou
hast not acted properly in this matter, for thy ascetic and aged parents
have become entirely blind from grief at thy loss. Do thou return home
to console them. May this virtue never forsake thee. Thou art
high-minded, of ascetic merit, and always devoted to thy religion but
all these have become useless to thee. Do thou without delay return to
console thy parents. Do have some regard for my words and not act
otherwise; I tell thee what is good for thee, O Brahmana _Rishi_. Do
thou return home this very day." The Brahmana replied, "This that thou
hast said, is undoubtedly true; mayst thou, O pious man, attain
prosperity; I am much pleased with thee." The fowler said, "O Brahmana,
as thou practisest with assiduousness those divine, ancient, and eternal
virtues which are so difficult of attainment even by pure-minded
persons, thou appearest (to me) like a divine being. Return to the side
of thy father and mother and be quick and diligent in honouring thy
parents; for, I do not know if there is any virtue higher than this."
The Brahmana replied, "By a piece of singular good luck have I arrived
here, and by a piece of similar good luck have I thus been associated
with thee. It is very difficult to find out, in our midst, a person who
can so well expound the mysteries of religion; there is scarcely one man
among thousands, who is well versed in the science of religion. I am
very glad, O great man, to have secured thy friendship; mayst thou be
prosperous. I was on the point of falling into hell, but was extricated
by thee. It was destined to be so, for thou didst (unexpectedly) come in
my way. And, O great man, as the fallen King Yayati was saved by his
virtuous grandsons (daughter's sons), so have I know been saved by thee.
According to thy advice, I shall honour my father and my mother; for a
man with an impure heart can never expound the mysteries of sin and
righteousness. As it is very difficult for a person born in the Sudra
class to learn the mysteries of the eternal religion, I do not consider
thee to be a Sudra. There must surely be some mystery in connection with
this matter. Thou must have attained the Sudra's estate by reason of the
fruition of thine own past _karma_. O magnanimous man, I long to know
the truth about this matter. Do thou tell it to me with attention and
according to thy own inclination."
"'The fowler replied, "O good Brahmana, Brahmanas are worthy of all
respect from me. Listen, O sinless one, to this story of a previous
existence of mine. O son of an excellent Brahmana, I was formerly a
Brahmana, well-read in the _Vedas_, and an accomplished student of the
_Vedangas_. Through my own fault I have been degraded to my present
state. A certain king, accomplished in the science of _dhanurveda_
(science of archery), was my friend; and from his companionship, O
Brahmana, I, too became skilled in archery; and one day the king, in
company with his ministers and followed by his best warriors, went out
on a hunting expedition. He killed a large number of deer near a
hermitage. I, too, O good Brahmana, discharged a terrible arrow. And a
_rishi_ was wounded by that arrow with its head bent out. He fell down
upon the ground, and screaming loudly said, 'I have harmed no one, what
sinful man has done this?' And, my lord, taking him for a deer, I went
up to him and found that he was pierced through the body by my arrow. On
account of my wicked deed I was sorely grieved (in mind). And then I
said to that _rishi_ of severe ascetic merit, who was loudly crying,
lying upon the ground, 'I have done this unwittingly, O _rishi_.' And
also this I said to the _muni_: 'Do thou think it proper to pardon all
this transgression.' But, O Brahmana, the _rishi_, lashing himself into
a fury, said to me, 'Thou shalt be born as a cruel fowler in the Sudra
class.'"'"