Adhyaya 84
The sages ask for a full account of Mādhavī—spoken of as a sisterly figure connected with Viṣṇu—how she came to bear an equine-faced form, and how her austerities were performed. Sūta relates that, after a divine message linked with Nārada, Viṣṇu consults the devas about the destined descent meant to lighten Earth’s burden and destroy oppressive powers. In the Dvāpara age, the births in Vasudeva’s household are recounted: the Lord is born to Devakī; Balabhadra to Rohiṇī; and Mādhavī to Suprabhā, appearing with a transformed, horse-like face that brings grief to family and community. With no suitor willing to accept her, Viṣṇu, seeing their sorrow, takes Mādhavī with Baladeva to Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra for disciplined worship. Through vows, gifts, and offerings to Brahmins, Viṣṇu propitiates Brahmā, who grants a boon: Mādhavī will become auspicious-faced and be known as Subhadrā, famed as her husband’s beloved and the mother of heroes. A rite is prescribed for Māgha month on Dvādaśī with fragrances, flowers, and unguents; merits are promised, even for abandoned or childless women who worship with devotion in a three-day sequence. The chapter ends with a phalaśruti: devoted reading or hearing removes sin, even that incurred within a single day.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ऋषय ऊचुः । यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तं देवदेवेन विष्णुना । माधवीं भगिनीं प्राप्य जन्मांतरमुपस्थिताम्
The sages said: What you have spoken—declared by Viṣṇu, the God of gods—after meeting your sister Mādhavī, who had come to you in another birth…
Verse 2
अश्ववक्त्रां करिष्यामि तपसा सुशुभाननाम् । सा कथं विहिता तेन तपस्तप्तं तथा कथम् । सर्वं विस्तरतो ब्रूहि परं कौतूहलं हि नः
“By austerity (tapas) I shall make that lovely-faced one horse-faced”—how was she so ordained by him, and how was such penance performed? Tell us everything in detail, for our curiosity is great.
Verse 3
सूत उवाच । नारदस्य समाकर्ण्य तं सन्देशं सुरोद्भवम् । गत्वा विष्णुः सुरैः सार्द्धं प्रचक्रे मंत्रनिश्चयम्
Sūta said: Having heard that divine message brought by Nārada from the realm of the gods, Viṣṇu went with the deities and settled upon a decisive counsel—a plan of sacred purpose.
Verse 4
भारावतरणार्थाय दानवानां वधाय च । वसुदेवगृहे श्रीमान्द्वापरांते ततो हरिः
To lighten the earth’s burden and to bring about the destruction of the Dānavas, the glorious Hari then (took birth) in the house of Vasudeva at the close of the Dvāpara age.
Verse 5
देवक्या जठरे देवः संजातो दैत्यदर्पहा । तथान्या रोहिणीनाम भार्या तस्य च याऽभवत्
In Devakī’s womb the God was born, the crusher of the demons’ pride. And he also had another wife, named Rohiṇī.
Verse 6
तस्यां जज्ञे हलीनाम बलभद्रः प्रतापवान् । तृतीया सुप्रभानाम वसुदेवप्रिया च या
In her (Rohiṇī) was born the plough-bearing one, mighty Balabhadra. The third wife was named Suprabhā, beloved of Vasudeva.
Verse 7
तस्यां सा माधवी जज्ञे अश्ववक्त्रस्वरूपधृक् । तां दृष्ट्वा विकृताकारां सुतां जातां च सुप्रभा । वासुदेवसमायुक्ता विषादं परमं गता
From her (Suprabhā) was born Mādhavī, bearing the form of a horse-faced one. Seeing her daughter born with a distorted appearance, Suprabhā—joined to Vasudeva—fell into profound sorrow.
Verse 8
अथ ते यादवाः सर्वे कृतशान्तिकपौष्टिकाः । स्वस्तिस्वस्तीति संत्रस्ताः प्रोचुर्भूयात्कुलेऽत्र नः
Then all the Yādavas, having performed pacificatory and prosperity rites, anxiously uttered, “May there be well-being—may well-being indeed be in our lineage here.”
Verse 9
एवं सा यौवनोपेता तथा दुःखसमन्विता । न कश्चिद्वरयामास वाजिवक्त्रां विलोक्य ताम्
Thus, though she had attained youth, she remained filled with sorrow; for no one chose her in marriage, having seen her horse-faced appearance.
Verse 10
ततश्च भगवान्विष्णुर्ज्ञात्वा तां भगिनीं तथा । मातरं पितरं चैव तथा दुःखसमन्वितौ
Then Bhagavān Viṣṇu, understanding the plight of that sister, and seeing the mother and father as well overwhelmed with sorrow, resolved to act.
Verse 11
तामादाय गतस्तूर्णं बलदेवसमन्वितः । हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे तपस्तप्तुं ततः परम्
Taking her with him, and accompanied by Baladeva, he hastened to the sacred kṣetra of Hāṭakeśvara, to undertake austerities thereafter.
Verse 12
ब्रह्माणं तोषयामास सम्यग्यज्ञपरायणः । व्रतैश्च विविधैर्दानैर्ब्राह्मणानां च तर्पणैः
Devoted to the sacrifice performed in due rite, he pleased Brahmā with many vows, with diverse gifts of charity, and with tarpaṇa offerings that satisfied the Brāhmaṇas.
Verse 13
ततस्तुष्टिं गतो ब्रह्मा वर्षांते तस्य शार्ङ्गिणः । उवाच वरदोऽस्मीति प्रार्थयस्वाभिवांछितम्
Then, at the end of the rainy season, Brahmā was pleased with the bearer of the Śārṅga bow (Viṣṇu) and said, “I am a giver of boons—ask for whatever you desire.”
Verse 14
विष्णुरुवाच । एषा मे भगिनी देव जाताऽश्ववदना किल । तव प्रसादात्सद्वक्त्रा भूयादेतन्ममेप्सितम्
Viṣṇu said: “O God, this sister of mine has indeed been born with a horse-like face. By your grace, may she become fair-faced—this is what I desire.”
Verse 15
श्रीब्रह्मोवाच । एषा शुभानना साध्वी मत्प्रसादाद्भविष्यति । सुभद्रा नाम विख्याता वीरसूः पतिवल्लभा
Śrī Brahmā said: “By my grace she shall become a virtuous woman with an auspicious face. She will be renowned by the name Subhadrā—mother of heroes and beloved of her husband.”
Verse 16
एतद्रूपां पुमान्योऽत्र पूजयिष्यति भक्तितः । एतां विष्णो त्वया सार्धं तथानेन च सीरिणा
Whoever in this place worships Her in this very form with devotion—O Viṣṇu—together with You and also with the wielder of the plough (Balarāma)…
Verse 17
द्वादश्यां माघमासस्य गंधपुष्पानुलेपनैः । सोऽप्यवाप्स्यति यच्चित्ते वर्तते नात्र संशयः
On the twelfth lunar day of the month of Māgha, with perfumes, flowers, and unguents, that worshipper too will obtain whatever rests in his heart—of this there is no doubt.
Verse 18
या नारी पतिना त्यक्ता वंध्या वा भक्तिसंयुता । तृतीयादिवसे चैतां पूजयिष्यति केशव
Any woman abandoned by her husband, or even one who is barren, if endowed with devotion—O Keśava—should worship Her beginning on the third lunar day.
Verse 19
भविष्यति सुपुत्राढ्या सुभगा सा सुखान्विता । ऐश्वर्यसहिता नित्यं सर्वैः समुदिता गुणैः
She will become blessed with worthy sons, fortunate, and filled with happiness—ever accompanied by prosperity and endowed with all good qualities.
Verse 20
एवमुक्त्वा चतुर्वक्त्रो विरराम ततः परम् । वासुदेवोऽपि हृष्टात्मा ययौ द्वारवतीं पुरीम्
Having spoken thus, the four-faced one (Brahmā) then fell silent. And Vāsudeva too, joyful at heart, went to the city of Dvāravatī.
Verse 21
तामादाय विशालाक्षीं चंद्रबिंबसमाननाम् । बलदेवसमायुक्तो ह्यनुज्ञाप्य पिताम हम्
Taking her—wide-eyed, with a face like the moon’s orb—accompanied by Baladeva, and having obtained the permission of the Grandfather (Brahmā)…
Verse 22
सूत उवाच । एवं सा माधवी विप्राः सुभगारूपमास्थिता । अवतीर्णा धरापृष्ठे लक्ष्मीशापप्रपीडिता
Sūta said: “Thus, O brāhmaṇas, that Mādhavī—having assumed a most auspicious form—descended upon the surface of the earth, afflicted by the curse of Lakṣmī.”
Verse 23
उपयेमे सुतः पांडोर्यां पार्थश्चारुहासिनीम् । जज्ञे तस्याः सुतो वीरोऽभिमन्युरिति विश्रुतः
Pārtha (Arjuna), the son of Pāṇḍu, married that fair, sweet-smiling maiden. From her was born a heroic son, renowned in the world by the name Abhimanyu.
Verse 24
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं माधबीजन्मसम्भवम् । सुपर्णाख्यस्य देवस्य कथासंगाद्द्विजोत्तमाः
Thus have I fully related to you, O best of twice-born, the entire account concerning Mādhavī’s birth—arising in connection with the narrative of the deity known as Suparṇa.
Verse 25
यश्चैतत्पठते मर्त्यो भक्त्या युक्तः शृणोति वा । मुच्यते स नरः पापात्तद्दिनैकसमुद्भवात्
Whoever, being a mortal endowed with devotion, recites this—or even listens to it—such a person is freed from sin, even from the sins arising on that very day.