Mahabharat Adi Parva C9

Sauti continued:

While the sages sat around the body of Pramadvara, mourning her untily death, Ruru could bear the sight no longer.

His heart shattered by grief, he wandered deep into the forest.

There, far from the others, he broke down.

The lonely woods echoed with his cries.

Overwheld by sorrow, he thought only of Pramadvara—her smile, her voice, her beauty, and the future they would never share.

Again and again he lanted:

“She lies upon the ground now, that slender and beautiful maiden.

Her death has multiplied my grief and the grief of all who loved her.

What suffering could be greater than this?

If I have ever given charity,

if I have ever perford austerities,

if I have ever honored my elders and teachers as I should,

then let the rit of those deeds restore life to my beloved.

If from the day of my birth I have faithfully observed self-control,

if I have remained true to my vows and duties,

then let the beautiful Pramadvara rise from the earth this very mont.”

His words faded into the silent forest.

Then, suddenly, a radiant being appeared before him.

It was a ssenger of the gods.

The celestial figure looked upon the grieving youth with compassion and spoke gently.

“O Ruru, your sorrow has driven you to speak impossible words.

No mortal can return rely because another wishes it.

When a person's allotted span of life has ended, death cannot ordinarily be reversed.

The daughter of the Gandharva Vishvavasu and the apsara naka has reached the end of the life granted to her.

Therefore, do not surrender yourself entirely to grief.”

Ruru lowered his head.

Yet the divine ssenger continued.

“However, the gods foresaw this event long ago and prepared a ans by which she may be restored.

If you are willing to accept it, you may yet regain Pramadvara.”

At once, hope flashed within Ruru's heart.

He stepped forward eagerly.

“O divine one,” he said, “tell what must be done.

Whatever the gods require, I shall do.

Show the path that can save her.”

The celestial ssenger replied:

“There is only one way.

You must give half of your own lifespan to Pramadvara.

If you willingly surrender half the years allotted to you, she will live again.”

The choice was imnse.

To save her, Ruru would have to sacrifice half of his own life.

Yet he did not hesitate for even a mont.

Without fear, without doubt, and without seeking ti to think, he answered imdiately:

“O noble ssenger of the heavens, I gladly give half of my lifespan to her.

Let my beloved Pramadvara return to life.

Let her rise once more, adorned with all the beauty and grace that I love.”

Thus, for the sake of love, Ruru willingly offered away half of the years fate had granted him, hoping to bring back the woman whose loss had plunged his world into darkness.

Sauti continued:

After Ruru made his vow, the divine ssenger did not delay.

Together with Vishvavasu, the king of the Gandharvas and father of Pramadvara, he journeyed to the court of Dharmaraja, the lord who rules over life and death.

Standing before him, they made their request.

“O Dharmaraja,” they said, “Ruru has willingly offered half of his own lifespan for the sake of his beloved. If it pleases you, let Pramadvara rise from death and live with the years he has given her.”

Dharmaraja considered their words.

Then he replied:

“If this is your wish, then let it be so.

Let Pramadvara return to life, sustained by half of Ruru's lifespan.”

The decree was spoken.

At that very mont, Pramadvara awoke.

The beautiful maiden opened her eyes as though she had rely been sleeping.

Death released its hold upon her.

The life that had departed returned once more, nourished by the years willingly sacrificed by Ruru.

Thus Pramadvara arose, alive again, carrying within her half of the lifespan that had originally belonged to her beloved.

In later years, it beca known that Ruru's life was shortened because of this sacrifice. Though destined to live a long life, he had willingly surrendered half of it for the woman he loved.

Soon afterward, the long-awaited wedding day arrived.

Their fathers rejoiced.

The marriage was celebrated according to sacred rites.

After enduring sorrow, separation, and even death itself, Ruru and Pramadvara were finally united.

They lived together happily, each devoted to the other's welfare.

Yet although happiness had returned to his life, one wound remained.

Ruru could never forget the serpent whose bite had nearly robbed him of everything.

The mory of Pramadvara lying lifeless upon the earth haunted him.

Gradually, grief hardened into hatred.

He made a solemn vow.

From that day onward, he would destroy serpents wherever he found them.

Whenever he encountered a snake, anger flared within him.

Without pausing to ask whether it was dangerous or harmless, he would seize a weapon and kill it.

Years passed in this manner.

Then one day, while wandering through a vast and ancient forest, Ruru ca upon a strange sight.

Lying upon the ground was an old dundubha serpent.

The creature appeared aged and harmless.

But Ruru saw only a snake.

Imdiately, his old fury returned.

Gripping his staff, he raised it high.

The weapon looked like the staff of Death itself, ready to strike down its victim.

As Ruru stepped forward to kill the creature, the old serpent suddenly spoke.

Its voice was calm and filled with sadness.

“O holy ascetic,” it said, “what wrong have I done to you?

I have caused you no harm.

Why then are you so angry?

For what reason do you seek to kill ?”

The unexpected words halted Ruru in his tracks.

For the first ti, one of the serpents he hunted had spoken back to him. And the question it asked would challenge the hatred he had carried in his heart ever since Pramadvara's death.