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5-Udyog Parv, 35-36  
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Virochan and Sudhanvaa

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Virochan and Sudhanvaa
Ch  35-36

Branched from   G-5-Pre-War-7

Virochan and Sudhanvaa

[Ch 35-36] Once upon a time, there was a maiden named Keshinee. She was very beautiful. She was looking for a husband, so she decided to choose him through Swayamvar. Then Virochan, one of Kashyap and Diti's great grandson was Virochan (Diti's son was Hiranyakashyap, his son was Prahlaad, and Prahlaad's son was Virochan) also went to the Swayamvar with the desire of marrying her. Seeing the chief of Daitya, Keshinee asked him - "O Chief of Daitya, Are Braahman superior or Diti's sons? Then why not Sudhanvaa sits on the couch?" Virochan said - "Since we are born from Brahmaa Prajaapati himself, we are superior and we are at the top of the creatures. We are Devtaa, who are Braahman in comparison to us?" Keshinee said - "You just wait here. Sudhanvaa will be here tomorrow. Then let me see you both sitting together." Virochan said - "As you wish, you will see us sitting together tomorrow."

Next morning Sudhanvaa arrived there. Virochan and Keshinee were waiting for him. Sudhanvaa saw both of them. Seeing Sudhanvaa coming, Keshinee got up and offered him a seat, water to wash his feet and Arghya (oblation of water). Virochan asked him to share his seat. Sudhanvaa said - "O son of Prahlaad, I touch your golden seat, but I am not equal to you so I cannot sit with you." Virochan said - "A piece of wooden plank, an animal skin, a mat of grass or straw, only these type of seats are fit for you. You do not deserve a seat with me." Sudhanvaa said - "Only a father and son, Braahman of the same age and equal learning, two Kshatriya, two Vaishya, two Shoodra, can sit together on the same seat. Except these no other two people can sit together. Your father used to respect me taking a lower seat than mine. You are a child brought up in every luxury at home and you don't understand anything."

At this Virochan said - "Let me put our (of all Asur's) all gold, horses, animals, heroes on stake, and ask the competent people this question." Sudhanvaa said - "Not only your wealth, we will put our lives on stake and then will ask this question from some competent man." Virochan said - "Staking our lives where we will go? I will not appear before any of the Devtaa or man." Sudhanvaa said - "After putting our lives on stake, we will approach your father, Prahlaad, because he will never tell a lie even for the sake of his son." So filled with rage both arrived at the place where Prahlaad was.

Seeing these two people, who were never companions, were seen together coming on the same path, Prahlaad asked - "Have you become companions? You who have never been together. I ask you Virochan, have you been friends?" Virochan said - "There is no friendship between us, rather we have put our lives on stake. O chief, I wish to ask you a question. Tell us the truth." Prahlaad said "Bring some honey, water and yogurt for Sudhanvaa. He deserves our worship. A fat white cow is also ready for you." Sudhanvaa said - "Water, yogurt and honey have already been presented to me on my way. I just want to ask you a question, answer it truly. Braahman are superior or Virochan is superior?"

Prahlaad said - "This is my only son. And you are also here in person. How one can answer such a question on which you are quarreling upon?" Sudhanvaa said - "When we are quarreling about it, you will have to answer it truly." Prahlaad asked - "How that man will suffer if he answers wrongly. I ask you this." Sudhanvaa said -"The person who misuses his tongue suffers like the deserted wife who sees her husband sleeping with co-wife, or like a person who has lost everything at a dice game, or who has lots of anxieties. He has to starve outside the city gate. He who gives false evidence creates his enemies. he who speaks lie because of animals becomes the cause of fall of his five generations upward, who lies because of a cow becomes the cause of fall of his ten generations upward, a lie for horse causes the fall of hundred and a lie because of a human being causes the fall of a thousand generations, and a lie because of gold causes the fall of all born and unborn generations, while the lie for land ruins everything - therefore never speak lie for land."

Prahlaad said - "Angiraa is superior to myself, and Sudhanvaa is superior to you. O Virochan, Mother of Sudhanvaa is superior to your mother. This Sudhanvaa now is the master of your life. But O Sudhanvaa, I wish that you should grant Virochan his life." Sudhanvaa said - "O Prahlaad, Since you were not tempted for your son, you spoke truth, I grant your son his life which is very dear to you. So here is your son restored by me. However, he will have to wash my feet before Keshinee."

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta On 03/09/02
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Modified on 02/06/11