By O man of Dharma, for one belonging to this world whose days have run out can never come back to life. This poor child of a Gandharva and Apsara has had her days run out! O child, therefore you should not assign your heart to sorrow
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – PAULOMA (UPA) PARVA – PART 9 – RURU VOWS TO AVENGE SNAKES
“Soota said, ‘While those illustrious Brahmanas were sitting around the dead body of Pramadvara, Ruru, highly pained, went into a deep forest and wept aloud. Buried with grief he (Ruru) indulged in much piteous lamentation. Remembering his beloved Pramadvara, he gave outlet to his sorrow in the following words, ‘Alas! The delicate fair one (Pramadvara) that increases my pain lies upon the bare ground. What can be more unfortunate to us, her friends? If I have been charitable, if I have performed acts of Tapas, if I have ever respected my Guru-s, let the merit of those acts restore to life my beloved one (Pramadvara)! If from my birth I have been controlling my passions, adhered to my vows (Vrata in Sanskrit), let the fair Pramadvara rise from the ground.’
“While Ruru was indulging in these lamentations for the loss of his bride, a messenger from heaven (Devadoota in Sanskrit) came to him in the forest and addressed him thus, ‘O Ruru, the words you utter in your pain are certainly ineffective. O man of Dharma, for one belonging to this world whose days have run out can never come back to life. This poor child of a Gandharva and Apsara has had her days run out! O child, therefore you should not assign your heart to sorrow. However, the great Devas have provided beforehand a means of her restoration to life. If you agree with it, you may receive back your Pramadvara.’
“Ruru replied, ‘O Devadoota! What is that which Devas have ordered. Tell me in full so that (on hearing) I may agree with it. It is your duty to relieve me from grief!’
“The Devadoota said to Ruru, ‘Donate half of your own life to the kanya (Pramadvara), and then, O Ruru of Bhrigu vamsha, your Pramadvara shall rise from the ground.’
“Ruru said, ‘O best of Devadoota, I most willingly offer a part of my own life in favour of my bride (Pramadvara). Then let my beloved one rise up once more in her dress and lovable form.’
“Soota said, ‘Then the king of Gandharvas (Vishwavasu who is the father of Pramadvara) and the Devadoota, both of excellent qualities, went to Dharmadeva (Yama) and addressed him, saying, ‘O Dharmaraja, if it be your will let the friendly Pramadvara, the engaged wife of Ruru, now lying dead, rise up with a part of Ruru’s life.’
“Dharmaraja (Yama) answered, ‘O Devadoota, if it be your wish, let Pramadvara, the engaged wife of Ruru, rise up endued with a part of Ruru’s life.’
“Soota continued, ‘When Dharmaraja had said so, that lady of superior complexion, Pramadvara, endued with a part of Ruru’s life, rose as from her slumber. This gift by Ruru of a part of his own span of life to revive his bride (Pramadvara) afterwards led, as it would be seen, to a reduction of Ruru’s life.
“On an auspicious day, their fathers (fathers of Ruru and Pramadvara) gladly married them with due rites. The couple (Ruru and Pramadvara) passed their days, devoted to each other. Ruru having obtained such a wife, as is hard to be found, beautiful and bright as the filament of the lotus, made a vow (Vrata in Sanskrit) for the destruction of the snake-race. Whenever, he saw a snake he became filled with great angry and always killed it with a weapon.
“O Brahmana (Shaunaka), one day Ruru entered a large forest. There he saw an old snake of the Dundubha species lying stretched on the ground. Ruru immediately lifted up in anger his staff (Danda in Sanskrit), like to the staff of Death (Kaala Danda in Sanskrit), for the purpose of killing it. Then the Dundubha (Dundubha species snake), addressing Ruru, said, ‘I have done you no harm, O Brahmana! Then for what reason will you slay me in anger?’”
So ends the ninth section of the Pauloma Parva of the Aadi Parva of the blessed Mahabharata.
