Adhyaya 3

Verse 1

श्रीशुक उवाच शर्यातिर्मानवो राजा ब्रह्मिष्ठ: सम्बभूव ह । यो वा अङ्गिरसां सत्रे द्वितीयमहरूचिवान् ॥ १ ॥

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: O King, Śaryāti, another son of Manu, was a ruler firmly established in Vedic wisdom and devotion to Brahman. He instructed the descendants of Aṅgirā regarding the prescribed duties for the second day of their sattrā-yajña.

Verse 2

सुकन्या नाम तस्यासीत् कन्या कमललोचना । तया सार्धं वनगतो ह्यगमच्च्यवनाश्रमम् ॥ २ ॥

Śaryāti had a lotus-eyed daughter named Sukanyā. Taking her with him, he went into the forest to visit the āśrama of Cyavana Muni.

Verse 3

सा सखीभि: परिवृता विचिन्वन्त्यङ्‌घ्रिपान् वने । वल्मीकरन्ध्रे दद‍ृशे खद्योते इव ज्योतिषी ॥ ३ ॥

Sukanyā, surrounded by her friends, was gathering various fruits in the forest. Then, within a hole in an anthill, she saw two shining objects, glowing like tiny luminaries, like fireflies.

Verse 4

ते दैवचोदिता बाला ज्योतिषी कण्टकेन वै । अविध्यन्मुग्धभावेन सुस्रावासृक् ततो बहि: ॥ ४ ॥

As if impelled by providence, the innocent girl pierced those two shining points with a thorn. When they were pierced, blood began to ooze out from them.

Verse 5

शकृन्मूत्रनिरोधोऽभूत् सैनिकानां च तत्क्षणात् । राजर्षिस्तमुपालक्ष्य पुरुषान् विस्मितोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ५ ॥

At once, all of Śaryāti’s soldiers were obstructed from passing urine and stool. Seeing this, the royal sage Śaryāti spoke to his companions in astonishment.

Verse 6

अप्यभद्रं न युष्माभिर्भार्गवस्य विचेष्टितम् । व्यक्तं केनापि नस्तस्य कृतमाश्रमदूषणम् ॥ ६ ॥

Has someone among you committed an improper act toward the sage Cyavana, son of Bhṛgu? It is clear that one of us has defiled his āśrama.

Verse 7

सुकन्या प्राह पितरं भीता किञ्चित् कृतं मया । द्वे ज्योतिषी अजानन्त्या निर्भिन्ने कण्टकेन वै ॥ ७ ॥

Terrified, the girl Sukanyā said to her father: “I have done something wrong. Not knowing, I pierced these two luminous things with a thorn.”

Verse 8

दुहितुस्तद् वच: श्रुत्वा शर्यातिर्जातसाध्वस: । मुनिं प्रसादयामास वल्मीकान्तर्हितं शनै: ॥ ८ ॥

Hearing his daughter’s words, King Śaryāti became greatly afraid. In many ways he tried to appease Cyavana Muni, who sat hidden within the anthill.

Verse 9

तदभिप्रायमाज्ञाय प्रादाद् दुहितरं मुने: । कृच्छ्रान्मुक्तस्तमामन्‍त्र्य पुरं प्रायात् समाहित: ॥ ९ ॥

Understanding Cyavana Muni’s intention, King Śaryāti offered his daughter to the sage as a sacred gift. Thus, with great difficulty freed from danger, he took the muni’s leave and returned to his city with a composed mind.

Verse 10

सुकन्या च्यवनं प्राप्य पतिं परमकोपनम् । प्रीणयामास चित्तज्ञा अप्रमत्तानुवृत्तिभि: ॥ १० ॥

Though Cyavana Muni was exceedingly irritable, Sukanyā, having obtained him as her husband, understood his mind and carefully served him according to his mood, never negligent, and thus pleased him.

Verse 11

कस्यचित् त्वथ कालस्य नासत्यावाश्रमागतौ । तौ पूजयित्वा प्रोवाच वयो मे दत्तमीश्वरौ ॥ ११ ॥

After some time, the Aśvinī-kumāra twins, known as Nāsatya, came to Cyavana Muni’s āśrama. Having honored them with reverence, the muni requested, “O powerful lords, grant me youth.”

Verse 12

ग्रहं ग्रहीष्ये सोमस्य यज्ञे वामप्यसोमपो: । क्रियतां मे वयो रूपं प्रमदानां यदीप्सितम् ॥ १२ ॥

Cyavana Muni said: “Though you are not eligible to drink soma-rasa in the sacrifice, I promise to give you a full vessel of it. Therefore arrange for me youth and beauty, which are pleasing to young women.”

Verse 13

बाढमित्यूचतुर्विप्रमभिनन्द्य भिषक्तमौ । निमज्जतां भवानस्मिन् ह्रदे सिद्धविनिर्मिते ॥ १३ ॥

The great physicians, the Aśvinī-kumāras, gladly accepted the muni’s proposal and said to the brāhmaṇa, “Dive into this lake, fashioned by the siddhas.”

Verse 14

इत्युक्तो जरया ग्रस्तदेहो धमनिसन्तत: । ह्रदं प्रवेशितोऽश्विभ्यां वलीपलितविग्रह: ॥ १४ ॥

Having spoken thus, the Aśvinī-kumāras took hold of Cyavana Muni—his body afflicted by old age, with slack skin, white hair, wrinkles, and veins standing out—and all three entered the lake.

Verse 15

पुरुषास्त्रय उत्तस्थुरपीव्या वनिताप्रिया: । पद्मस्रज: कुण्डलिनस्तुल्यरूपा: सुवासस: ॥ १५ ॥

Thereafter, three men of exquisite form rose up from the lake. Clad in fine garments, adorned with earrings and garlands of lotus, all three shone with equal beauty.

Verse 16

तान् निरीक्ष्य वरारोहा सरूपान् सूर्यवर्चस: । अजानती पतिं साध्वी अश्विनौ शरणं ययौ ॥ १६ ॥

Seeing them alike in form and radiant as the sun, the chaste and beautiful Sukanyā could not distinguish her husband from the two Aśvinī-kumāras. Not knowing who her true lord was, she sought shelter of the Aśvinī-kumāras.

Verse 17

दर्शयित्वा पतिं तस्यै पातिव्रत्येन तोषितौ । ऋषिमामन्‍त्र्य ययतुर्विमानेन त्रिविष्टपम् ॥ १७ ॥

Pleased by Sukanyā’s chastity and faithful devotion, the Aśvinī-kumāras revealed to her Cyavana Muni, her husband. Then, having taken the sage’s permission, they returned to Triviṣṭapa, the heavenly realms, in their vimāna.

Verse 18

यक्ष्यमाणोऽथ शर्यातिश्‍च्यवनस्याश्रमं गत: । ददर्श दुहितु: पार्श्वे पुरुषं सूर्यवर्चसम् ॥ १८ ॥

Thereafter, King Śaryāti, desiring to perform a sacrifice, went to the āśrama of Cyavana Muni. There, beside his daughter, he beheld a most handsome young man, radiant like the sun.

Verse 19

राजा दुहितरं प्राह कृतपादाभिवन्दनाम् । आशिषश्चाप्रयुञ्जानो नातिप्रीतिमना इव ॥ १९ ॥

After receiving his daughter’s obeisance at his feet, the king spoke to her. Yet, instead of offering blessings, he seemed displeased and said as follows.

Verse 20

चिकीर्षितं ते किमिदं पतिस्त्वया प्रलम्भितो लोकनमस्कृतो मुनि: । यत् त्वं जराग्रस्तमसत्यसम्मतं विहाय जारं भजसेऽमुमध्वगम् ॥ २० ॥

O unchaste girl, what is this you intend? You have deceived your husband, the sage honored by all. Seeing him old and diseased and thus unattractive, you have abandoned him and taken this young man—like a beggar from the road—as your husband.

Verse 21

कथं मतिस्तेऽवगतान्यथा सतां कुलप्रसूते कुलदूषणं त्विदम् । बिभर्षि जारं यदपत्रपा कुलं पितुश्च भर्तुश्च नयस्यधस्तम: ॥ २१ ॥

My daughter, born in a noble family, how has your mind fallen so low, though you know the path of the virtuous? Shamelessly you keep a paramour. Thus you will drag both your father’s and your husband’s dynasties into hellish darkness.

Verse 22

एवं ब्रुवाणं पितरं स्मयमाना शुचिस्मिता । उवाच तात जामाता तवैष भृगुनन्दन: ॥ २२ ॥

Though her father spoke in this way, Sukanyā—proud of her chastity—smiled with a pure smile and said, “Dear father, this young man is truly your son-in-law: the great sage Cyavana, born in the line of Bhṛgu.”

Verse 23

शशंस पित्रे तत् सर्वं वयोरूपाभिलम्भनम् । विस्मित: परमप्रीतस्तनयां परिषस्वजे ॥ २३ ॥

Sukanyā then told her father everything about how her husband had attained youth and a beautiful form. Hearing this, the King was astonished and, filled with joy, embraced his beloved daughter.

Verse 24

सोमेन याजयन् वीरं ग्रहं सोमस्य चाग्रहीत् । असोमपोरप्यश्विनोश्‍च्यवन: स्वेन तेजसा ॥ २४ ॥

By his own spiritual prowess, Cyavana Muni enabled the valiant King Śaryāti to perform the soma-yajña and to receive the soma portion. Though the Aśvinī-kumāras were not qualified to drink it, the sage still offered them a full vessel of soma-rasa.

Verse 25

हन्तुं तमाददे वज्रं सद्योमन्युरमर्षित: । सवज्रं स्तम्भयामास भुजमिन्द्रस्य भार्गव: ॥ २५ ॥

Indra, shaken by anger, at once seized his thunderbolt to slay Cyavana Muni; but Cyavana, the Bhārgava, by yogic power paralyzed Indra’s arm that held the bolt.

Verse 26

अन्वजानंस्तत: सर्वे ग्रहं सोमस्य चाश्विनो: । भिषजाविति यत् पूर्वं सोमाहुत्या बहिष्कृतौ ॥ २६ ॥

Thereafter all the demigods consented that the Aśvinī-kumāras, though formerly barred as mere physicians, should henceforward share in the soma portion.

Verse 27

उत्तानबर्हिरानर्तो भूरिषेण इति त्रय: । शर्यातेरभवन् पुत्रा आनर्ताद् रेवतोऽभवत् ॥ २७ ॥

King Śaryāti begot three sons—Uttānabarhi, Ānarta, and Bhūriṣeṇa—and from Ānarta was born a son named Revata.

Verse 28

सोऽन्त:समुद्रे नगरीं विनिर्माय कुशस्थलीम् । आस्थितोऽभुङ्क्त विषयानानर्तादीनरिन्दम । तस्य पुत्रशतं जज्ञे ककुद्मिज्येष्ठमुत्तमम् ॥ २८ ॥

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, subduer of foes, Revata built a city called Kuśasthalī in the depths of the ocean; dwelling there, he ruled lands such as Ānarta and others. He had one hundred noble sons, the eldest being Kakudmī.

Verse 29

ककुद्मी रेवतीं कन्यां स्वामादाय विभुं गत: । पुत्र्यावरं परिप्रष्टुं ब्रह्मलोकमपावृतम् ॥ २९ ॥

Taking his daughter Revatī with him, Kakudmī went to the mighty Lord Brahmā in Brahmaloka—beyond the three guṇas—and inquired about a worthy husband for her.

Verse 30

आवर्तमाने गान्धर्वे स्थितोऽलब्धक्षण: क्षणम् । तदन्त आद्यमानम्य स्वाभिप्रायं न्यवेदयत् ॥ ३० ॥

When Kakudmī arrived, Lord Brahmā was absorbed in hearing the Gandharvas’ music and had not even a moment to speak. When it ended, Kakudmī bowed in reverence and submitted his long-cherished desire.

Verse 31

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रहस्य तमुवाच ह । अहो राजन् निरुद्धास्ते कालेन हृदि ये कृता: ॥ ३१ ॥

Hearing him, Lord Brahmā laughed and said: “O King, all those you had chosen in your heart as sons-in-law have been checked by time and have passed away.”

Verse 32

तत्पुत्रपौत्रनप्तृणां गोत्राणि च न श‍ृण्महे । कालोऽभियातस्त्रिणवचतुर्युगविकल्पित: ॥ ३२ ॥

Even the clans of their sons, grandsons, and further descendants are no longer heard of, for twenty-seven catur-yugas have already passed.

Verse 33

तद् गच्छ देवदेवांशो बलदेवो महाबल: । कन्यारत्नमिदं राजन् नररत्नाय देहि भो: ॥ ३३ ॥

Therefore, O King, depart from here and offer this jewel of a daughter to mighty Baladeva. He is an expansion of the God of gods, and your daughter is fit to be given to that jewel among men.

Verse 34

भुवो भारावताराय भगवान् भूतभावन: । अवतीर्णो निजांशेन पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन: ॥ ३४ ॥

Lord Baladeva is Bhagavān, the well-wisher of all beings; hearing and chanting His glories purifies. To lighten the earth’s burden and sanctify the world, He has descended with His own divine expansion.

Verse 35

इत्यादिष्टोऽभिवन्द्याजं नृप: स्वपुरमागत: । त्यक्तं पुण्यजनत्रासाद् भ्रातृभिर्दिक्ष्ववस्थितै: ॥ ३५ ॥

Having received Lord Brahmā’s instruction, King Kakudmī bowed to him and returned to his own city. There he found his residence deserted, for his brothers and other kinsmen—afraid of higher beings such as the Yakṣas—had abandoned it and scattered in all directions.

Verse 36

सुतां दत्त्वानवद्याङ्गीं बलाय बलशालिने । बदर्याख्यं गतो राजा तप्तुं नारायणाश्रमम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Thereafter the King bestowed his flawless, beautiful daughter in sacred charity upon the supremely powerful Baladeva. Then, renouncing worldly life, he went to Badarikāśrama and performed austerities to please Nara-Nārāyaṇa.