ŚRĪ PARĀŚARA SAMHITĀ - The Story of Gāla - Ēkādaśa Paţalah (11th Chapter) - Jaya Hanumanji

Sri Parasara Samhita - Part 1 - Chapter 11

11^th Chapter (Ēkādaśa Paţalah)

“The Story of Gāla”

(Gāla Caritam)

Sri Parasara Samhita - Part 1 - Chapter - Head image

श्रीमैत्रये :
हनुमन्मुनिसंवादं श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं मुने
तं ममाचक्ष्व पापघ्नं पराशर! गुरूत्तम! 1

Mytrēya:

“Oh! Great persona! Parāśara! I am interested in listening to the discussion between Puşkara and Lord Hanumān. Please tell me about that sin removing episode.

श्रीपराशर:

तमागतं हनूमंतं स्वदृष्टिविषयं द्विज:
दृष्टवा तु सहसोत्थाय साष्टांगं प्रणतो भवत्।। 2

Parāśara:

“Oh! Mytrēya! “Seeing Lord Hanumān who came to him, sage Parāśara got up, received him respectfully, and prostrated at the feet of his favourite god Lord Hanumān. Getting up and with great joy that friend of distressed people Parāśara prayed to Him and said,

पुनरुत्थाय संतुष्टस्तुष्टावाभीष्टदैवतम्
हनुमंतमुवाचाथ पुष्करो दीनवत्सल:।। 3

‘Oh! Great lord! This person is Gāla. He is a lowly hunter nature. How is he entitled to learn this mantra? That is what worrying me day and night.

गालो यं मृगयुर्नीच: कथं मंत्रस्य ते प्रभो
योग्यो यमिति संदेहो बाधते मामहर्निशम्।। 4

He is serving me for a long time with great devotion.’

अयं तु चिररात्राय मामुपास्ते कृतांजलि:
कपींद्रस्तमुवाचाथ मा कुरुष्वात्र संशयम्।। 5

Upon this, Lord Hanumān said, ‘Oh Parāśara! Do not have any doubt in this matter.

मन्मन्त्रजालविषये मद्भक्ते मय्यपि द्विज!
उपदेशगुरौ चापि भक्तिरेवात्र कारणम्।। 6

The most important thing about all the mantras devoted to me is that the devotee, I and the Guru who imparts this mantras hould have a lot of devotion.

शूद्रो वा विप्रकीर्णो वा वैश्यो या क्षत्रियो पि वा
विप्रो वा यश्चतश्चापि योषिद्वा पुरुषो पिवा
मन्मन्त्रविषये सर्वे पात्राण्येव न सशय:।। 7

Even a low caste person (sūdra) or a crossbred (sankara) or tradesman (vaiśya) or a warrior (kşatriya) or even a Brahmin or whatever may be he or she, is entitled learn my mantra. There is no doubt about this.

वंचकाय कृतघ्नाय दांभिकाया पि लोभिने
गुरुविश्वासहीनाय न देयं मन्त्रमुत्तमम्।। 8

My mantra, however, should not be taught to a cheat, an ungrateful person, a self-aggrandising egoist, a miser or a person who has no faith in his Guru should never be taught my mantra.

तस्मादेतस्य विश्वास: स्थिरा भक्तिरभूद्द्विज:
देयमेवास्य मंत्रं मे द्वादशाक्षरमुत्तमम्।। 9

That is why, Oh! Great sage Puşkara! This person with deep belief in the mantra and strong devotion, which make him the most entitled to learn from you my 12-letter mantra (dwādaśakşarī).’

इत्युक्त्वा हनुमान् भक्तं तत्रैवांतरघीयत।। 10

Telling so to his devotee Lord Hanumān disappeared.

ततस्सारसचक्रांगहंसकूजितशोभितम्
जलकुक्कुटकोयष्टि कात्यूहकलकूजितम्।। 11

Gāla Learns from Puşkara:

Then, the (place is) resonating with the sounds made by cranes, geese and swans, and with the unimaginable and undescribable sweet songs of water fowls.

विकचत्कमलव्रातभ्रममाणमधुव्रतम्
मल्लिकाजातिलकुचसुरभिक्रांतकाननम्।। 12

With groups of bees hovering over lotus flowers in bloom, the air is scented with the fragrance of the blossoms of jasmine, winter jasmine (mālati), bread tree and other flowers in the forest.

हनुमत्पादनिर्माल्य शोभितोभयपाश्र्वकम्
पुरंघ्रीकुचहारिद्रं रंजितोरुविराजितम्।। 13

The two banks of the river that are blemish-less, thanks to the holy wash water used for washing the lotus feet of Lord Hanumān, are shining with the gold worn over their wet bodies by women engaged in water games.

जपता मुनिबृन्देन सेव्यमानमहर्निशम्
सर्वपापहरं नृणामविदूरं भयापहम्।। 14

Served day and night by the mantra reciting groups of sages, it is a remover of sins from people; very close to them (spiritually) that can drive away fears.

पुण्यतीर्थमिति ख्यातं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्
दर्शयामास गालाय पुष्करो हस्तसंज्ञया।। 15

That famous as the Holy Water Body (puņyatīrtha) in the Three Worlds was shown to Gāla by Puşkara.

पुण्यतीर्थं प्रदश्र्याशु प्राह गालं मुनीश्वर:
स्नात्वा तत्र महापुण्ये शीघ्रमागम्यतामिति।। 16

So showing, Puşkara told Gala to take bath in that water and come.

गालस्तमब्रवीद्विप्रं भवत्पादांबु दीयताम्
तदेव पुष्करं गंगा तदेव कुशिकात्मजा
कावेरी यमुना चैव कृष्णवेणी सरस्वती।। 17

Then Gāla said, ‘Oh! Best amongst the Brahmin people! Just give me the wash water off your feet. That is the Holy Water Body (puņyatīrtha), that is River Gangā, River Kauśikī (Kośi), River Kāvērī, River Yamuna, River Krişhņa and the River Saraswati.

तदेव मानसं तीर्थं तदेव सरयूनदी
तदेव चन्द्रभागा पि फल्गुनी सिंधुसंगम:।। 18

That is Mānasasarōvara (the holy great lake in the Himalayas), that is River Sarayu, also the confluence (sangamam) of Rivers Candrabhāga, Phalguņi and Sindhu. Oh! Great persona! The water off the feet of the Guru is also River Rēwā.

यस्या पि नात्र विश्वासो गुरुपादोदके शुभे
नपुनन्त्यथ दुर्नींतिं तीर्थानामयुतान्यपि।। 19

Even waters of a1 0,000 holy water bodies can not wash away the sins of one who does not have faith in the auspiciousness of the water off the feet of the Guru.

हत्याश्शतसहस्त्राणि ह्रागम्यागमनानि च
स्वर्णस्तेयादिपापानि सुरापानकृतान्यपि
गुरुपादोदकस्पर्शात् सर्वाघानां विनाशनम्।। 20

The very touch of the water off the feet of the Guru removes sin of hundreds of murders or sin that should never be had, sin of stealing gold, sin of drinking wine and all other big sins.

तस्मादिदं शरीरं मे भवत्पादांबुधारकम्
आपादमस्तकं शीघ्र्ं सिंच्यतां करुणानिधे
यद्वैभवादहं सद्य: कार्यसिद्धिमवाप्नुयाम्।। 21

Oh! Merciful Sir! Please wet my asylum-seeking body from head to feet with the wash water of your feet that is essential has the power of causing immediate fulfillment of actions.’

इत्युक्त: पुष्करस्तेन व्याधेन दृढबुद्विना
स्वगुरूं च हनूमन्तं ध्यात्त्वा योगविदांवर:
प्रोक्षयामास तस्यांगे निजपादोदकं मुनि:।। 22

Having thus told by Gāla the kirata, Puşkara, the best of yogis meditated on his Guru Hanumān sprinkled the wash water off his feet on Gāla’s body.

गुरुपादोदकस्पर्श विश्वासोद्धतकिल्बिष:।
सद्यो निवृत्तिमगमत् व्याधे: व्याधो दुरात्मन:।। 23

True to the faith in the efficacy of the touch of the water off the feet of the Guru, Gāla the kirata, having been ridden of his sins became totally free of his disease.

ततो विमलदेहस्य गालस्य विमलात्मन:
सुवर्चलासमेत श्रीहनुमद्द्वादशाक्षरम्
मंत्रराजमिति ख्यातं दिष्टवान् करुणानिधि:।। 24

After that, merciful Puşkara taught the king of mantars, the 12-lettered (dwādaśāksri) mantra of Suvarcchala-accompanied-Hanumān to the pure bodied and pure souled (visuddhatma), Gāla.

गालो जपन् महामंत्रं सन्निधावेव सद्गुरो:
अष्टोत्तरशतावृत्त्या सद्यस्सिद्धिमवाप स:।। 25

Gāla’s Worship Fructifies:

Gāla recited that mantra 108 times right in the presence of his true Guru (Sadguru) and promptly attaining fruits of the same.

गुरुविश्वासमाहात्म्यात् गुरुपादांबुसेवनात्
मनोनैर्मल्यवत्वाच्च सद्य:स्सिद्धिमवाप स:।। 26

Due to the influence of pure faith in the Guru, receipt of the water off the feet of the Guru and a peaceful mind, Gāla attained accomplishment.

अतींद्रियार्थजालानि भूतभव्यभवन्ति च
दिष्टमात्रे महामंत्रे बुद्धूवा मृगयुस्तथा।। 27

That Gāla the kirata, thanks only to the impartation of the mantra, instantly started knowing facts not cognizable to the body senses as well as those of the past, present and the future.

एवं सर्वार्थविज्ञानात् प्रागहं सुप्तवानपि
बुद्धो हमधुनाचेति जजाप व्याधवल्लभ:।। 28

Thus knowing all things Gāla realised that he was in deep slumber previously and his soul gained consciousness now only and he started reciting the mantra with dedication.

निधयो पि समृद्धाश्च विषयास्तस्य चक्षुष:
गुरुविश्वासमाहात्म्यात् अभवन् तस्य वश्यगा:
खेचरत्वमभूत्तस्य संचारस्सर्वविष्टपे।। 29

Because of faith in the Guru, Gāla could see all the spiritual riches and all other facts. He attained the power of going around in the sky and visited all the worlds.

सिद्धचारणगंधर्वा: इन्द्राद्या अपि देवता:
व्याधस्य गुरुविश्वासात् विस्मयं परमं ययु:।। 30

Attainers (siddha), bards (cāraņa), celestial musicians (gandharva) and others, Indra and other gods were immensely surprised at that hunter’s devotion to the Guru.

पपात पुष्पवृष्टिश्च ननृतुश्चापसरो गणा:
देवदुन्दुभयो नेदु: वपुर्वाता यथासुखम्
तत: परमसंतुष्टो गालो गुरुमथाब्रवीत्।। 31

It rained flowers. Celestial nymphs danced. Celestial drums were beaten. Auspicious breezes blew. Then the very happy Gāla said to Puşkara as follows.

कृतार्थो स्मि महाभाग: तव पादांबुसेवनात्
महामंत्रप्रदानाच्च सिद्धो स्मि जगतांत्रये।। 32

‘Oh! Great persona! I became fortunate by imbibing the holy wash water off your feet. By receiving the great mantra, I became well-known in the Three Worlds.

संप्रार्थये परं ब्रह्म्न् भवंतमधुना गुरो
तव पादाब्जयुगले भक्तिर्भूंयान्निरन्तरम्।। 33

Oh! Lord Guru! The very form of the Creator (parabrahmaswarūpa)! I am worshipping you, because I a want to be devoted to your lotus feet for ever.

इदमेव ममाभीष्टमितो न्यं नास्ति मे मुने
आदिस्यतां ममाज्ञाप्य माभूत्कालविपर्यय:।। 34

That is my only desire. There is nothing else. Oh! Sage! Please let me know your command right away.’

व्याधस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा पुष्कर: पुष्करेक्षण:
तथेति प्रतिजग्राह मुख्यशिष्यो भवानिति।। 35

Hearing the words of the kirāta, the lotus eyed Puşkara agreed and said, ‘You will be my chief disciple (śişya).

Sri Parasara Samhita - Part 1 - Chapter 11 - Pic 01

मंत्रस्सिद्ध इति ज्ञात्वा न त्याज्यो हि कदाचन
प्रत्यवायोभवेन्नूनं दारिद्रयं च भवेन्महत्।। 36

Oh! Gāla! Never leave recitation thinking that the mantra has achieved the desired fruit. Leaving the mantra so, may lead to reverse effect making you utterly impoverished.

यथाशक्ति जप: कार्य: हनुमत्प्रीतये सदा
भोक्त्व्या हि महाभोगा यथेष्टं बन्धुभिस्सह।। 37

Enjoy great delights along with your kith and kin, always reciting the mantra to your full capacity for the grace of Lord Hanumān.

भुक्त्वा भोगान् ततो गाल: हनुमत्पदमाप्नुहि
इत्युक्त्वा प्रेषयामास व्याधं तद्वेश्म पुष्कर:।। 38

Oh! Gāla! After enjoying all the delights, attain place in the holy presence of Lord Hanumān.’ So telling, Puşkara sent that kirāta to his home.

प्रेषितो गुरुणा गालो विसृज्य बाष्पमुत्तमम्
प्रदक्षिणनमस्कारै: पूजयामास तं गुरुम्।। 39

So sent by the Guru away from him, with tears in his eyes for going away from the Guru, Gāla went around (pradakşiņa) around Guru Puşkara with folded hands (namaskāra).