Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! the works of Bhugwut are
wonderful; every one knows this, whoever worships Huri will be poor;
and by serving other gods, a man will be rich. Compare the state and
habits of Huri and Muhadeo; one is the husband of Luchmee, the other
of Devee; the one wears a garland of flowers, the other, a necklace of
skulls; the former has a quoit in his hand, the latter a trident; one
supports the earth; the other, the Ganges; one plays upon a pipe, the
other, upon a cow’s horn; one is lord of the celestial paradise, the
other, an inhabitant of Keilas, the former besmears his body with
sandal, the latter rubs ashes on it; one wears cloth, the other, a
tiger’s skin; one reads the Vedas, the other, the science of
Astrology; one rides upon the sovereign of the feathered race, the
other, upon the bull Nundee; one dwells among cowherds’ children, the
other, amongst ghosts and goblins. The habits and nature of each of
the two lords are the reverse of those of the other. Fix your
affections on either of the two according to the nature of your
desires.
Having recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O
great king! Shree Krishnù said to the Raja Joodisthur,--“O
Joodisthur! I destroy by degrees all the wealth of him, to whom I show
favour: because brothers, wives, sons and relations abandon the poor,
and then a spirit of devotion springs up in their minds; and, from
being occupied in religious devotion, they, having abandoned the
fascinations of riches and the world, become free from all
attachments, and worship me with zealous attention, and through the
glory of their adoration, obtain an everlasting emancipation from
matter, and a reunion with the deity.” After having thus spoken,
Shookdeo Jee added,--O great king! by worshipping other gods, the
desires of the mind are fulfilled, but final salvation is not
obtained.
After having related this story, the sage said to Raja Pureechit,--O
great king! on one occasion as Bikasoor, the son of Kusyp, came out of
his house, desiring to perform penance, he met Narud, the sage, on the
road. On seeing Narud Jee he made a salutation; and, standing before
him with joined hands, enquired, with the utmost humility, “O great
king! which of the three deities Bruhmù, Vishnù or Muhadeo grants
boons most quickly, do me the kindness to say, in order that I may
practice devout austerities in his honour?” Narud Jee
replied,--“Listen Bikasoor! amongst these three deities, Muhadeo is
the greatest granter of boons, he neither loves delay, nor is he
easily angry. Behold! Shivù Jee, being delighted at the performance
on his part of a slight penance, gave a thousand arms to
Suhusrajooraun, and destroyed him, being enraged at a slight fault he
had committed.”
Narud, the sage, having thus spoken went away; and Bikasoor began,
when he came home, to perform severe penance and offer up sacrifice in
honour of Muhadeo. In the course of seven days, he cut off with a
knife, and offered as a burnt offering all the flesh of his body; on
the eighth day, when he resolved to cut off his head, Bholanath came,
and having laid hold of his hand said,--“I have been highly pleased
with thee, ask from me whatever boon thou desirest, and I will now
grant it to thee.” When Shivù Jee had thus spoken, Bikasoor, with
joined hands, replied,--“Be pleased, O lord! to take compassion upon
me, and now grant me this boon, that on whose head soever I may place
my hand, he may be reduced to ashes instantaneously.” On his uttering
these words, Muhadeo Jee granted him the boon he had asked; which when
he had obtained, he went to put his hand upon Shivù’s head; Muhadeo
was alarmed, and quitted his seat and fled, and the demon also ran
after him, and carried on a close pursuit of Sudashivù. At length
Muhadeo went in a state of very great agitation to Vishnù’s heaven;
seeing, that he was greatly afflicted, Shree Moorari, the friend of
his worshippers, the lord of paradise, the abode of mercy, took
compassion upon him, and assuming the appearance of a brahmin went
before Bikasoor and said, “O prince of demons! explain to me why you
toil in pursuit of Shivù?” On hearing this question, Bikasoor
explained all that had occurred, then Bhugwan said, “O chief of
demons! it is very strange that an intelligent person like you should
commit error, who believes any thing to be true, which this naked, mad
jogee says, who eats bhang and thornapple; he constantly dwells in
cemeteries, rubbing his body with ashes, and having snakes twisted
round him; assuming a terrifying appearance, and accompanied by ghosts
and goblins, who will believe what he says?” Shree Narayun proceeded
to say, “O chief of demons! if you think that what I have said is
untrue, place your hand on your own head and see.”
O great king! on hearing the lord speak thus, when Bikasoor, who was
deprived of sense through the influence of the delusive power, placed
his hand upon his own head, he was burnt up, and became a heap of
ashes; there were musical rejoicings in the capital of Indrù on the
death of the demon; and the gods, raising shouts of victory and
exultation, began to rain down flowers; the celestial dancers,
musicians and choristers celebrated in songs the excellent attributes
of Huri, who, having at that time, greatly glorified Muhadeo, allowed
him to take leave, and granted Bikasoor salvation.
Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! whosoever shall hear or recite
this story, shall doubtlessly obtain beatitude by the favour of Huri
and Muhadeo.