Adhyaya 79

Verse 1

विशालोवाच । शर्मिष्ठा यस्य वै भार्या देवयानी वरानना । सौभाग्यं तत्र वै दृष्टमन्यथा नास्ति भूपते

Viśāla said: “He whose wife is Śarmiṣṭhā, and (whose wife is also) Devayānī of lovely face—there alone is good fortune seen; otherwise it is not so, O king.”

Verse 2

तत्कथं त्वं महाभाग अस्याः कार्यवशो भवेः । सपत्नजेन भावेन भवान्भर्ता प्रतिष्ठितः

How then, O noble one, could you fall under her control and act at her behest, when you stand established as her husband, with the authority and standing of one who has a co-wife?

Verse 3

ससर्पोसि महाराज भूतले चंदनं यथा । सर्पैश्च वेष्टितो राजन्महाचंदन एव हि

O great king, you are like sandalwood upon the earth—though encircled by serpents, you are indeed true sandalwood all the same.

Verse 4

तथा त्वं वेष्टितः सर्पैः सपत्नीनामसंज्ञकैः । वरमग्निप्रवेशश्च शिखाग्रात्पतनं वरम्

So too, being coiled about by serpents that bear the names of rival wives—better is entering fire; better still is to fall from a mountain peak.

Verse 5

रूपतेजः समायुक्तं सपत्नीसहितं प्रियम् । न वरं तादृशं कांतं सपत्नीविषसंयुतम्

Even a beloved husband endowed with beauty and splendor, if accompanied by a co-wife, is not a boon; such a lover, joined with the ‘poison’ of rivalry from a co-wife, is no true blessing.

Verse 6

तस्मान्न मन्यते कांतं भवंतं गुणसागरम् । राजोवाच । देवयान्या न मे कार्यं शर्मिष्ठया वरानने

Therefore she does not accept you, O beloved—though you are an ocean of virtues. The king said: “O fair-faced one, I have no need of Devayānī; it is with Śarmiṣṭhā that I am concerned.”

Verse 7

इत्यर्थं पश्य मे कोशं सत्वधर्मसमन्वितम् । अश्रुबिंदुमत्युवाच । अहं राज्यस्य भोक्त्री च तव कायस्य भूपते

“Therefore, behold my treasury, endowed with dharma and integrity,” said Aśrubindumatī. “O king, I am both the beneficiary of the kingdom and the one who holds claim over your very person.”

Verse 8

यद्यद्वदाम्यहं भूप तत्तत्कार्यं त्वया ध्रुवम् । इत्यर्थे मम देहि स्वं करं त्वं धर्मवत्सल

O king, whatever I say—those very deeds must surely be carried out by you. Therefore, for this purpose, give me your own hand as a sign of assent, O lover of dharma.

Verse 9

बहुधर्मसमोपेतं चारुलक्षणसंयुतम् । राजोवाच । अन्य भार्यां न विंदामि त्वां विना वरवर्णिनि

The king said: “O fair-complexioned lady of excellent beauty, endowed with many virtues and auspicious marks, I desire no other wife apart from you.”

Verse 10

राज्यं च सकलामुर्वीं मम कायं वरानने । सकोशं भुंक्ष्व चार्वंगि एष दत्तः करस्तव

O fair-faced one, enjoy the kingdom and the whole earth—together with my very body—along with its treasury. O lovely-limbed one, this hand of mine is given to you in marriage.

Verse 11

यदेव भाषसे भद्रे तदेवं तु करोम्यहम् । अश्रुबिंदुमत्युवाच । अनेनापि महाभाग तव भार्या भवाम्यहम्

“Whatever you say, O noble one, just so will I do.” Then Aśrubindumatī spoke: “Even by this, O greatly fortunate one, I shall become your wife.”

Verse 12

एवमाकर्ण्य राजेंद्रो हर्षव्याकुललोचनः । गांधर्वेण विवाहेन ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः

Hearing this, the king of kings—his eyes trembling with joy—accepted Yayāti, lord of the earth, in a Gandharva-style marriage.

Verse 13

उपयेमे सुतां पुण्यां मन्मथस्य नरोत्तम । तया सार्द्धं महात्मा वै रमते नृपनंदनः

That best of men married the virtuous daughter of Manmatha; and with her, the noble prince indeed rejoiced.

Verse 14

सागरस्य च तीरेषु वनेषूपवनेषु च । पर्वतेषु च रम्येषु सरित्सु च तया सह

Along the seashores, in forests and groves, on delightful mountains, and by rivers too—there he stayed in her company.

Verse 15

रमते राजराजेंद्रस्तारुण्येन महीपतिः । एवं विंशत्सहस्राणि गतानि निरतस्य च

The emperor among kings, the lord of the earth, delighted in the vigor of youth; and thus, absorbed in pleasure, twenty thousand years passed.

Verse 16

भूपस्य तस्य राजेंद्र ययातेस्तु महात्मनः । विष्णुरुवाच । एवं तया महाराजो ययातिर्मोहितस्तदा

O king of kings, concerning that noble-souled ruler Yayāti, Viṣṇu said: thus, at that time, Emperor Yayāti was deluded by her.

Verse 17

कंदर्पस्य प्रपंचेन इंद्रस्यार्थे महामते । सुकर्मोवाच । एवं पिप्पल राजासौ ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः

O wise one, by Kāma’s contrivance and for Indra’s purpose—so spoke Sukarmā—thus is told of that king Pippala, Yayāti, lord of the earth.

Verse 18

तस्या मोहनकामेन रतेन ललितेन च । न जानाति दिनं रात्रिं मुग्धः कामस्य कन्यया

Ensnared by her enchanting desire—by pleasure and playful dalliance—he, bewildered by Kāma’s daughter, no longer knows whether it is day or night.

Verse 19

एकदा मोहितं भूपं ययातिं कामनंदिनी । उवाच प्रणतं नम्रं वशगं चारुलोचना

Once, Kāmanandinī—she of lovely eyes—addressed King Yayāti, who had been infatuated: he stood bowed down, humble, and wholly under her sway.

Verse 20

अश्रुबिंदुमत्युवाच । संजातं दोहदं कांत तन्मे कुरु मनोरथम् । अश्वमेधमखश्रेष्ठं यजस्व पृथिवीपते

Aśrubindumatī said: “Beloved, a pregnancy-craving has arisen in me—fulfil this wish of mine. O lord of the earth, perform the Aśvamedha, the finest of sacrifices.”

Verse 21

राजोवाच । एवमस्तु महाभागे करोमि तव सुप्रियम् । समाहूय सुतश्रेष्ठं राज्यभोगे विनिःस्पृहम्

The king said: “So be it, O noble lady. I shall do what is most pleasing to you. I will summon my excellent son, who is free from desire for the enjoyments of kingship.”

Verse 22

समाहूतः समायातो भक्त्यानमितकंधरः । बद्धांजलिपुटो भूत्वा प्रणाममकरोत्तदा

When summoned, Amitakaṃdhara came at once in devotion; folding his hands in reverence, he then offered obeisance.

Verse 23

तस्याः पादौ ननामाथ भक्त्या नमितकंधरः । आदेशो दीयतां राजन्येनाहूतः समागतः

Then, with his neck bowed in devotion, Namitakaṃdhara prostrated at her feet and said: “O queen, grant your command—I have come here, summoned by you.”

Verse 24

किं करोमि महाभाग दासस्ते प्रणतोस्मि च । राजोवाच । अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य संभारं कुरु पुत्रक

“What shall I do, O greatly fortunate one? I am your servant and I bow to you.” The king said: “My son, prepare the requisites for the Aśvamedha sacrifice.”

Verse 25

समाहूय द्विजान्पुण्यानृत्विजो भूमिपालकान् । एवमुक्तो महातेजाः पूरुः परमधार्मिकः

Having summoned the virtuous brāhmaṇas, the officiating priests (ṛtvij), and the rulers of the land, Pūru—of great splendor and supremely righteous—was thus addressed.

Verse 26

सर्वं चकार संपूर्णं यथोक्तं तु महात्मना । तया सार्धं स जग्राह सुदीक्षां कामकन्यया

He carried out everything completely, exactly as the great-souled one had instructed; and together with that Kāma-maiden, he received the excellent initiation (sudīkṣā).

Verse 27

अश्वमेधयज्ञवाटे दत्वा दानान्यनेकधा । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महाराज भूरिदानमनंतकम्

O great king, having bestowed many kinds of gifts upon the Brāhmaṇas within the enclosure of the Aśvamedha sacrifice, he performed charity abundant and without end.

Verse 28

दीनेषु च विशेषेण ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः । यज्ञांते च महाराजस्तामुवाच वराननाम्

And especially among the poor, Yayāti, lord of the earth, stood foremost. At the close of the sacrifice, the great king addressed her, the fair-faced one.

Verse 29

अन्यत्ते सुप्रियं बाले किं करोमि वदस्व मे । तत्सर्वं देवि कर्तास्मि साध्यासाध्यं वरानने

Tell me, dear girl, what else would please you most—what shall I do? O Devī, O fair-faced one, I will do it all, whether easy to accomplish or hard.

Verse 30

सुकर्मोवाच । इत्युक्ता तेन सा राज्ञा भूपालं प्रत्युवाच ह । जातो मे दोहदो राजंस्तत्कुरुष्व ममानघ

Sukarmā said: Thus addressed by that king, she replied to the ruler: “O King, a longing has arisen in me—fulfil it, O sinless one.”

Verse 31

इंद्रलोकं ब्रह्मलोकं शिवलोकं तथैव च । विष्णुलोकं महाराज द्रष्टुमिच्छामि सुप्रियम्

I wish to behold Indra’s world, Brahmā’s world, and Śiva’s world—and likewise Viṣṇu’s world, O great king, my beloved.

Verse 32

दर्शयस्व महाभाग यदहं सुप्रिया तव । एवमुक्तस्तयाराजातामुवाचससुप्रियाम्

“Show it to me, O greatly fortunate one, for I am very dear to you.” Thus addressed by her, the king spoke to his beloved.

Verse 33

साधुसाधुवरारोहेपुण्यमेवप्रभाषसे । स्त्रीस्वभावाच्चचापल्यात्कौतुकाच्चवरानने

“Well said, well said, O noble lady of graceful ascent—you speak only what is virtuous. Yet, O fair-faced one, because of a woman’s nature—through fickleness and through mere curiosity—(this is said/has occurred).”

Verse 34

यत्तवोक्तं महाभागे तदसाध्यं विभाति मे । तत्साध्यं पुण्यदानेन यज्ञेन तपसापि च

O greatly fortunate one, what you have said seems impossible to me. Yet it can be accomplished through the giving of meritorious gifts, through sacrifice (yajña), and also through austerity (tapas).

Verse 35

अन्यथा न भवेत्साध्यं यत्त्वयोक्तं वरानने । असाध्यं तु भवत्या वै भाषितं पुण्यमिश्रितम्

O fair-faced one, what you have said cannot be accomplished in any other way. Yet what you have spoken—though seemingly impossible—is indeed mixed with merit and bears auspicious power.

Verse 36

मर्त्यलोकाच्छरीरेण अनेनापि च मानवः । श्रुतो दृष्टो न मेद्यापि गतः स्वर्गं सुपुण्यकृत्

Even with this very human body from the mortal world, I have neither heard nor seen—until today—any person, however meritorious, who has gone to heaven.

Verse 37

ततोऽसाध्यं वरारोहे यत्त्वया भाषितं मम । अन्यदेव करिष्यामि प्रियं ते तद्वद प्रिये

Then, O fair-hipped one, what you have spoken to me is impossible to accomplish. I will do something else that will please you—tell me, beloved, what that is.

Verse 38

देव्युवाच । अन्यैश्च मानुषै राजन्न साध्यं स्यान्न संशयः । त्वयि साध्यं महाराज सत्यंसत्यं वदाम्यहम्

The Goddess said: “O King, by other men it would not be achievable—of this there is no doubt. But through you it can be accomplished, O great king; truly, truly, I tell you.”

Verse 39

तपसा यशसा क्षात्रै र्दानैर्यज्ञैश्च भूपते । नास्ति भवादृशश्चान्यो मर्त्यलोके च मानवः

O king, through austerity, renown, royal prowess, gifts, and sacrifices—there is no other human in the mortal world like you.

Verse 40

क्षात्रं बलं सुतेजश्च त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । तस्मादेवं प्रकर्तव्यं मत्प्रियं नहुषात्मज

Kṣatriya power, strength, and noble splendor—all of it is established in you. Therefore you should act in this very way, O son of Nahuṣa, for it is dear to me.

Verse 79

इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने मातापितृतीर्थवर्णने ययातिचरित्रे एकोनाशीतितमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the seventy-ninth chapter of the Śrī Padma Purāṇa, in the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa—within the account of Vena, the description of the sacred tīrtha of Mother and Father, and the narrative of Yayāti.