Anushasanika Parva — The history of king Negra

Bhishma said Regarding it, O perpetuator of Kuru race, is recited by the righteous the narrative of the great calamity that befell king Nriga on account of his taking what had belonged to a Brahmana.

Sometime before, certain youths of Yudu's race, while searching for water, came to a large well covered with grass and creepers.

Desirous of drawing water from it, they worked hard for removing the creepers they covered its mouth. After the mouth had been cleaned, they saw within the well a very large lizard living within it. The youths nade strong and repeated efforts for rescuing the lizard from that plight.

Resembling a very hill in size, the lizard was sought to be freed by cords and leather tongs. Not succeeding in their attempts, the youths then went to Janardana.

Addressing him they said— Covering the entire space of a well, there is a very large lizard to be seen. Despite our best efforts we have not succeeded in rescuing it from that plight. This was what they said to Krishna.

Madhava spoke Vasudeva then went there and took out the lizard and questioned it as who it was. The lizard said that it was the soul of king Nriga who had flourished in days of yore and who had celebrated many sacrifices.

To the lizard that said those words "You had done many pious deeds. You committed no sin. Why then, O king, have you come by such a distressful end? Do you explain what is this and why has it been caused?"

We have heared that you did repeatedly make gifts to the Brahmanas numerable kine. Why, therefore, have you come by this end.

Nriga then replied to Krishna, saying, On one occasion a cow belonging to a Brahmana who regularly adored his domestic fire, escaping from the owner's house while he was absent from home, entered my flock.

The keepers of my cattle included that cow in their list of a thousand. In time that cow was given away by me to a Brahmana, wishing for liappiness in heaven.

The true owner, returning home, sought for his lost cow and at last found it in the house of another. Finding her, the owner said, “This cow is mine."

The other person contested his claim, till both, growing wroth came to me. Addressing me, one of them said, You gave this cow. The other one said You have robbed me of this cow because she is inine.

I then begged the Brahmana to whom I had given that cow, to return the gift in exchange for hundreds and hundreds of other kine. Without yielding to my earnest solicitation, he addressed me saying, The cow I have got is well suited to time and place. She gives profuse inilk, besides being very quiet and very fond of us. The milk she gives is very sweet. She is lauded in my house. She is nourishing, besides, a weak child of mine that has just been born. I cannot, therefore, part with her. Having said these words, the Brahmana went away.

I then begged the other Brahmana offering him an exchange, and saying-Do you take a hundred thousand kine for this one cow.

The Brahmana, however, replied to me saying I do not accept gifts from Kshatriyas. I am able to support myself without aid. Do you then forthwith, give me that very cow which was mine. Thus, O slayer of Madhu, did that Brahmana speak to me.

I then offered to make gifts to him of gold and silver and horses and cars. That foremost of Brahmanas refused to accept any of these gifts and departed.

Meanwhile, urged by Time's irresistible power, I had to depart from this world. Going to the region of the departed manes I was taken before Yama the king of the dead.

Adoring me duly, Yama addressed me saying-The end cannot be determined, O king, of your righteous deeds.

There is, however, a little sin which was unconsciously committed by you. Do you suffer the punishment for that sin now or afterwards as you like.

You had sworn that you would protect (all persons in the enjoyment of their own). This oath of yours was not rigidly kept by you. You took also what belonged to a Brahmana. This has been the twofold sin, you have perpetrated.

I answered, saying-I shall first suffer the distress of punishment, and when that is over, I shall enjoy the happiness that is in store for me, O lord! After I had said these words to the king of the dead, I dropped down on the Earth.

Though fallen down I still could hear the words that Yama said to me very loudly. Those words were-Janardana the son of Vasudeva, will save you.

Upon the completion of a full thousand years, when your sin will be dissipated you shall then attain to many regions of unending happiness that have been acquired by you through your own pious deeds.

Falling down I found myself, with head downwards, within this well changed into a creature of the intermediate order, Memory, however, did not leave me.

By you I have been saved today. What else can it testify than the power of your penances? Let me have your permission, O Krishna. I wish to ascend to the celestial region.

Permitted then by Krishna, king Nriga bowed his head to him and then mounted a celestial car and went to Heaven.

After Nriga had thus proceeded to the celestial region, O best of the Bharatas, Vasudeva recited this Verse, O delighter, of the Kurus.

No one should knowingly misappropriate anything belonging to a a Brahmana. The property of Brahmana, if take, destroys the taker even as the Brahmana's cow destroyed king Nriga!

I tell you, again O Partha, that a meeting with the good never proves furtile. See king Nriga was rescued from Hell through a meeting of his with one that is good.

As a gift yields merit, so an act of spoliation brings on to demerit. Hence also, O Yudhishthira one should avoid doing any injury to kine.