In the Padma Purana, there is a story on the greatness of the Srimad Bhagavatam. We read last week about how Atma Deva got a blessed mango fruit and gave it to his wife for being blessed with a child. She cited so many interesting reasons and did not eat the fruit. When asked by Atma Deva, she lied that she had eaten the fruit. When her sister came to her house once, she told the whole story.
Both sisters struck a deal. When Dhundhuli’s sister, who was pregnant, gave birth to a child, she would hand it over to Dhundhuli in exchange for money. Dhundhuli, in the meantime, would pretend to be pregnant. Handing over the child, she would come to breast-feed the child, telling people that her own child had died!
The story of Dhundhuli will make our present day television serial themes go pale! When Dhundhuli told her husband Atma Deva that a child was born to her, the whole village was happy. They gave a lot of charity and had much music to celebrate. They named the child Dhundhukari.
The mango fruit that was given by the saint, which Dhundhuli did not eat, was given to the cow in their house. In due time, the cow too delivered a human baby with the ears like a cow and it was called Gokarna.
Gokarna grew up to be a pious child, studying the Vedas, the Upanishads and contemplating always on the truth.
Dhundhukari was a tyrant. He took joy in twisting the heads of new born babies and throwing them into the well, thieving and setting other people’s houses on fire. He indulged in prostitution and he even hit is parents to extract money. His past time was of this nature.
Atma Deva was unable to bear this. To be childless was indeed much fortunate than having a child like this, he thought. Gokarna taught him the truth of his being and asked him to go to the forest and contemplate in peace.
Gokarna himself left for Kashi and other holy places of worship. Dhundhuli, unable to bear the atrocities of Dhundhukari, jumped into the well and died.
Dhundhukari was happily enjoying life with five prostitutes in the house. They said that since he was committing theft to buy them expensive jewels, the kings men would search for him.
So getting quicker, they decided to finish him off. Unable to kill him easily, they tied him to the bed and stuffed hot coals into his mouth. Dhundhukari died. The women also left the place. With all members of the house either dead or gone, it became like an abandoned mansion infested with a big ghost. What happened later? The story continues.
(www.sharanyachaitanya.blogspot.in)