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Devi Bhagavatam
THE THIRD BOOK
Chapter XVI
On the glory of the Devî
1. Vyâsa said :-- After gaining the victory in the battle, the king Yudhâjit
returned to the city of Ayodhyâ with his huge army and asked where are
Sudars’ana and Manoramâ? He wanted to kill Sudars’ana.
2. He repeatedly exclaimed “Where are they gone?” and sent his servants
on their search. Then, on an auspicious day, he installed his daughter’s son
on the throne.
3. Maharsi Vas’istha was engaged as the priest; he and the other ministers
began to chant the auspicious hymns of the Atharvaveda and with the jars,
filled with water, and consecrated by these hymns, installed S’atrûjit on
the throne.
4. O best of the Kurus! Conch shells resounded; drums, bherîs and tûriyas,
resounded; and great festivals and rejoicings took place in the city.
5. The reciting of the Vedic mantrams by the Brâhmans, the chanting of hymns
by the bards and the auspicious acclamation of Victory to the new king
resounded the whole city of Ayodhyâ with joy.
6. When the new king S’atrûjit ascended on the throne, the subjects were
filled with joy; everywhere hymns were sung; drums were resound. At this
Ayodhyâ looked as fresh as ever.
7-8. O King! Though there were thus great rejoicings and festivals, yet some
good persons were found that remembered Sudars’ana and gave vent to this
feeling of sorrow, thus :-- “Alas! Where has that prince gone? Where has
that chaste queen Manoramâ gone with her son? Oh! The enemies have killed
his father for greed of kingdom.”
9. The saints with their views impartial, thus rendered uneasy, sorry, began
to pass away their time there subject to S’atrûjit.
10. After installing duly his daughter’s son on the throne and after having
made over the charge of the kingdom to the wise councillors, Yudhâjit turned
towards his own city.
11-12. Afterwards Yudhâjit heard that Sudars’ana was staying in the
hermitage with the Munis. He started at once for Chitrakûta and went quickly
to Durdars’a, the chief of the city of Sringavera, being accompanied by Bala,
the chief of the Nîsâdas.
13-15. Hearing that Yudhâjit was coming there with his army, Manoramâ began
to think that his son was a minor and became very sorrowful, distressed and
terrified. Then she with tears in her eyes addressed the Muni thus :--
“Yudhâjit is coming here; what shall I do and whither shall I go? He has
slain my father, and has installed his daughter’s son on the throne. Still
he is not satisfied and he is now coming with his army here to kill my minor
child.”
16-21. O Lord! In days of yore, I heard that the Pândavas, when they went to
the forest, lived in the holy hermitage of the Munis with Draupadî. One day
the five brethren went a hunting, and the beautiful Draupadî stayed without
any fear with other maid servants in the hermitage where there was the
chanting of the Vedas by Dhaumya, Attri, Gâlava, Paila, Jâvâli, Gautama,
Bhrigu, Chyavana, Kanva of the Atrigotra, Jatu, Kratu, Vîtihotra, Sumantu,
Yajñadatt, Vatsala, Râs'âsana, Kahoda, Yavakrî, Yajñakrit, Kratu and other
holy high souled Risis like Bhâradvâja and others.
22-23. While the five great heroes Arjuna and others, the destroyers of
their enemies, were roaming in the forests, Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu
came with his army to the hermitage, hearing the reciting of the Vedic
hymns.
24. Hearing thus, that king quickly descended from the chariot so that he
might have a sight of these holy maharsis.
25-27. Accompanied by two attendants only, he approached to the Munis and,
finding them engaged in the study of the Vedas, waited there with folded
hands for an opportunity. O Lord! When the king Jayadratha on entering the
hermitage took his seat, the wives of the Munis came there to see the king
and began to enquire “Who is this person?”
28. With the wives of the Munis came there also the beautiful Draupadî.
Jayadratha looked upon Draupadî as if she were the second goddess Laksmî.
29-30. Looking at that lovely royal daughter who looked like the Deva girls
Jayadratha asked the Maharsi Dhaumya, “Who is this beautiful lotus eyed
lady? Whose wife is she and who is her father? What is her name? Oh! From
her beautiful appearance it seems that the goddess S’achî has come down on
earth.”
31. This fair woman is shining like the celestial nymph Rambhâ surrounded by
the Raksasis or like the beautiful creeper Lavangalatika encircled by thorny
trees.
32. O good ones! Tell truly whose beloved is she? O Brâhmins! It seems that
she is the wife of some king, not the wife of a Muni.
33. Dhaumya said :-- “O king of Sindhu! She is the daughter of Pânchâla; her
name is Draupadî; she is the wife of the Pândavas; they are residing in this
forest, having got rid of their fears.”
34. Jayadratha said “Where have those powerful Pândavas of great prowess
gone now? Are they dwelling in this forest, free from fears?”
35. Dhaumya said :-- “The five Pândavas have gone out on hunting, ascended
on a chariot. They will return at noon with their game.”
36-37. Hearing the Muni's words Jayadratha got up, and going near to
Draupadî, bowed down to her and said :-- “O Fair One! Is there everything
well with you? Where have your husbands gone? To-day it is eleven years that
you are residing in the forest.”
38. Draupadî then said :-- “O prince! Let all be well with you, wait here
for a short while; the Pândavas are coming quickly.”
39. While Draupadî thus spoke, that powerful king, being overpowered with
greed and avarice, stole her away, disregarding all the Munis present there.
40-42. O Lord! The wise should never trust any body; if on any body he
places his trust, he will surely come to grief. For example, see the case of
the king Bali. Bali, the son of Virochana, and the grandson of Prahlâda, was
prosperous, devoted to his religion, true to his promise, performer of
sacrifices, generous, always giving protection to and liked by the saints
and a great warrior. His mind never turned to any irreligious subject and he
performed ninety nine Yajñas with full Daksinâs (remunerations).
43-44. But the Bhagavân Visnu, who is all full of Sâttvic purity and who is
never affected with passions and changeless, who is always worshipped by the
Yogis, He, in the form of a dwarf in his Vâmana incarnation as the son of
Kas'yapa Risi, to serve the Devas, stole away his whole seagirt earth and
kingdom deceitfully on hypocritical pretext.
45. O Lord! I heard that the son of Virochana was a generous large hearted
king. He truly resolved to give what was wanted; but Visnu behaved with him
deceitfully to serve the cause of Indra.
46. When the pure, Sâttvik Visnu could assume this dwarf incarnation to
bring about the hindrance to Bali’s Yajña, what wonder is that other
ordinary mortals would practise things like that?
47. Therefore never trust on any body in any way. Lord! Where there are
greed and avarice, reigning in one’s heart, what fear can he have to
perpetrate any evil deed?
48-49. O Muni! It is through avarice that men commit sinful deeds; they do
not care what good or bad will happen to them in the next world. Thoroughly
overpowered by greed, they take away in mind, word and deed other’s things;
and thus they become fallen.
50-51. Lo! Human beings always worship the Gods for wealth; but the Devas do
not give them wealth instantly; they give them these things through others
by making them carry on trade, make gifts, or shew their strength or by
making them steal.
52. The Vais’yas worship the Gods simply because they think they will be
highly prosperous and therefore they sell many things as grains, cloth and
the like.
53. O Controlled one! Is there not the desire to take away the other’s
property in this act of merchandise? Certainly there is. Besides the
merchants, when they find that when people are in urgent need of buying
articles from them, expect that the price of those articles might run
higher.
54. O Muni! Thus every one is anxious to take away other’s properties. How,
then, can we trust them?
55. Those who are clouded by greed and delusion, their going to places of
pilgrimages, their making charities, their reciting the Vedas, all are
rendered useless. Though they go to the holy places, etc., still these
things bear no fruits to them, as if they have not done these things at all.
56. Therefore O Enlightened one! You make Yudhâjit go back to his own place.
Then I will be able to remain here, like Sîtâ, with my son.
57-58. On Manoramâ's thus speaking to the Muni, the fiery Maharsi went to
Yudhâjit and said :-- “O King! You better go back to your own place or
anywhere else you like. The son of Manoramâ is a minor; that queen is very
much grieved; she cannot come to you now.”
59. Yudhâjit said “O peaceful ones! Kindly cease showing this impudence and
give me Manoramâ. I will never go away leaving her. If you do not give her
easily, I will take her away by force.”
60. The Risis said “O King! If there be any strength in you, you can take
away Manoramâ by force; but the result will be similar to that when the King
Visvâmitra wanted to take away the heavenly cow by force from the hermitage
of Vas'istha.”
Thus ends the Sixteenth Chapter on the glory of the Devî and the going of
the King Yudhâjit to the hermitage of Bhâradvâja, to kill Sudars’ana, in the
the 3rd Adhyâya of S’rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa.
Chapter XVII
On the story of Vis’vâmitra
1-3. Vyâsa said :-- O King! Hearing thus the words of the Maharsi Bhâradvâja
and seeing that he made a firm resolve, the King Yudhâjit called his prime
minister quickly and asked, “O intelligent one! What am I to do now? I want
to carry away by force this boy with his mother sweet Manoramâ; no one
desirous of one’s welfare won’t trifle away his enemy, be he even a very
weak one; if he does so, that enemy will get stronger day by day, as the
disease consumption becomes stronger; and will ultimately become the cause
of death.
4. There is no warrior, nor any soldiers here of the other party; no one
will be able to resist me; I can take away, as I like, the enemy of my
daughter’s son and can kill him.
5. I will try to-day to carry him away by force, and Sudars’ana being
killed, my daughter’s son will reign fearlessly without an enemy; there in
no doubt in this.”
6. The prime minister said :-- No such hazardous courage need be shewn now;
you have heard the Maharshi's words; he quoted you the example of
Vis’vâmitra.
7. O King! In days of yore, Vis’vâmitra, the son of the King Gâdhi, was a
celebrated monarch; one day while roaming, he accidentally reached the
hermitage of Vas’istha.
8. The powerful king Vis’vâmitra bowed down before the Muni, and the Muni
gave him a seat. The king took his seat there.
9. Then the high souled Vas'istha invited the king to a dinner. Vis’vâmitra,
the king, went there with his whole army.
10-12. There was a cow, named Nandinî, of Vas’istha. The Muni prepared all
sorts of eatables from her milk and entertained them all. The king with his
whole army was very much pleased; and, coming to know of the divine power of
the cow, asked Vas’istha to give his cow Nandinî over to him and said “The
udder of your cow Nandinî is like a big jar. I will give you thousand cows
like that; I pray you to let me have your cow Nandinî.”
13. Vas'istha said “O King! This is my sacrificial cow; I cannot give you
this cow in any way, let your thousand cows be yours.”
14. Vis'vâmitra said :-- “O Saint! I will give you cows lakhs or tens and
hundreds of lakhs or any number you like. Please give me your cow; in case
you be unwilling, I will carry her away perforce.”
15. Vas'istha said :-- “O King! As you like, better take it perforce; I will
never be able to give you my cow Nandinî from my house.”
16. O King! Hearing thus the Vas'istha's words, Vis’vâmitra, the King,
ordered at once his powerful followers to carry the cow Nandinî away by
fastening a cord round her neck per sheer force.
17-19. The followers, obeying the order at once bound the cow with ropes and
began to carry her away by force. At this Nandinî, trembling and with tears
in her eyes, began to say to the Muni “O One! whose wealth consists only in
asceticism! Are you going to leave me? Otherwise why these fellows are
binding me with a cord and dragging me away?” At this the Muni replied “O
Nandinî! I have never parted with you; I perform all my sacrifices through
your milk. O auspicious one! I honoured this king, my guests, with eatables
prepared from your food and for that reason he is carrying you away from me
by sheer force. What can I do? O Nandinî! I have not the least desire to
part with you.”
20. Hearing these words from the Muni, the cow became very angry and
bellowed loudly and terribly.
21. At once came out from her body, on that very spot, the terrible demons
wearing coats of armour, and holding various weapons; and they uttered
aloud, “Wait; you will soon meet with vengeance.”
22. They then destroyed all the forces of the king. And the king alone was
left and he went away alone, much dejected and sorrowful.
23. Oh! That wicked king then cursed with great humility the Ksattriya
S’akti; and thinking the Brâhmanic power would be attained with great
exertion, began to practise asceticism and penance.
24. Performing penance and tapasyâ, very hard indeed, in the great forest,
Vis'vâmitra, the son of Gâdhi, succeeded at last in becoming a Risi and then
he renounced his Ksattriya Dharma.
25. Therefore, O King! Dost Thou never quarrel with these ascetics and be
involved in wars resulting in great enmity and causing the extinction of the
race.
26. Better dost thou appease the Muni and now go back to your own kingdom.
Let Sudars'ana remain here at his pleasure.
27. O King! This minor boy has no wealth; what harm can he do to you? It is
useless to show your enmity towards an orphan, a weak minor boy.
28. This world is under the control of Destiny; therefore one should shew
mercy to all. O king! What use is there to shew one’s jealousy? What is
inevitable will surely come to pass.
29. O king! The thunderbolt comes sometimes like a blade of grass; a blade
of grass acts sometimes like a thunderbolt.
30. O king! You are very intelligent; consider that by, combinations of
circumstances, a hair can kill a powerful tiger and a gnat can kill an
elephant. Therefore dost thou forsake this rashness and hear my beneficent
advice.
31. Vyâsa said :-- O king! The best of kings, Yudhâjit hearing the prime
minister's advice bowed down humbly at the feet of the Muni and returned to
his own city.
32. Manoramâ, too, became free from anxiety, and, remaining peaceful in the
hermitage, began to nourish and support her child, engaged in vows.
33. The lovely son of the king began to grow daily like the phases of the
waxing moon and sport fearlessly with the boys of the Munis, altogether,
wherever they liked, a sight very auspicious.
34. One day the minister Vidalla came there and the sons of the Munis seeing
him began, in the presence of Sudars’ana, to address him “Klib,” “Klib.”
35. Sudars’ana, too, hearing them pronounce “Klib,” “Klib” took up the one
letter, “Kli” and uttered this only repeatedly, which is, in fact the prince
of the root mantras of Kâma, with anusvâra omitted.
36. Then the son of the king took that mantram and silently repeated this in
his mind.
37. O King! Thus that boy Sudars'ana was initiated in this root mantra of
Kâma (desire) spontaneously, out of his original Samskâra (innate tendency)
owing to the unavoidable destiny of Fate.
38-39. The son of the king, when he was five years old, got this most
excellent mantra, though without its Risi (seer), meditation, without its
chhanda (metre) and without Nyâsa (assignment of the various parts of the
body to different deities, accompanied with prayers and corresponding
gesticulations), and considered this as the quintessence of all, therefore
meditated this always in his mind spontaneously and never forgot it.
40-41. When the king's son grew eleven years old, the Muni performed his
Upanayana (sacred thread) ceremony and made him begin the study of the
Vedas. The son, with that mantra power, soon mastered all the studies about
archery, all the moral and political sciences in conformity with proper
rules, within a very short time.
42-43. One day Sudars'ana got a vision of the form of the Supreme Goddess,
of a red colour, wearing red apparel and decorated with red ornaments,
mounting on Garuda and with Her wonderful Vaisnavî powers and Her face,
fully opened like the budding of a lotus flower.
44. Thus, expert in many branches of learning, Sudars’ana served his Mother
in that forest and began to wander on the banks of the Ganges.
45. One day the Mother of the Universe gave the bows, sharpened arrows,
quiver and a mail coat of armour to that boy in that forest.
46-47. O King! At this time the extraordinary beautiful and lovely princess
S’as’ikalâ, endowed with all auspicious qualities, the daughter of the king
of Kâshi, came to hear that a beautiful prince named Sudars’ana, a second
Kandarpa, full of heroism and endowed with all auspicious qualities is
dwelling in a forest.
48. The princess, hearing this from a soothsayer, mentally loved and desired
him and wanted finally to accept him as her legal husband.
49-50. Thus, on one occasion, at the end of a night (night-fall), the
Goddess appeared in her dreams before her and consoled her and said “O fair
one! ask a boon from me; Sudars’ana is my devotee; he will fulfill, at my
word, all your desires.”
51. Thus seeing the beautiful figure of the Goddess in her dreams and
hearing Her sweet words, the honoured S’as’ikalâ was drowned in the ocean of
bliss.
52. When the princess awoke, her face beaming with gladness, her mother
perceived her joy and inferred that her daughter must have been internally
very glad, and asked her repeatedly, but S’as’ikalâ was too much abashed and
did not give vent to the cause of her satisfaction.
53. The princess, remembering her dreams, began to laugh repeatedly on
account of her excessive joy. At last she spoke out in detail all about her
dreams to one of her lady friends, or companions.
54. On one occasion, that large eyed S’as’ikalâ went out for enjoyment to a
nice garden beautified with champaka flowers, attended by her companion.
55. While the King’s daughter seated under a champaka tree, was collecting
flowers, she saw a Brâhmin, coming towards her in great haste.
56. After bowing down before him, that beautiful princess, endowed with all
auspicious qualifications, addressed him in sweet words “O blessed one!
whence are you coming?”
57. The Brâhmana said :-- “O girl! I am coming on an errand from the
hermitage of Bhâradvâja Muni. Please mention what you are going to ask me?”
58. S’as’ikalâ replied “O Noble one! What beautiful thing is therein that
hermitage that is extraordinary and worth describing.”
59. The Brâhmana said “O fair one! There is staying the most lovely
Sudars’ana, the son of the King Dhruvasandhi. He is the loveliest of all
men.
60. O fair one! He who has not seen him, I think, has his eyes given to him
in vain.
61. O auspicious one! It appears as if the Creator, with a view to see how
it looks, has invested him with all the qualities.
62. O beautiful one! what shall I say more to you, suffice to say that, that
prince is fit to become your husband. I think that the Creator has, no
doubt, settled already the union between you two, as a happy union of two
congenial things (gold in union with Jewel).”
Thus ends the seventeenth chapter on the story of Vis’vâmitra and on the
getting of the root mantra of Kâma by the son of the King in S’rî Mad Devî
Bhâgavatam, of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa.
Chapter XVIII
The Svayambara of S’as’ikalâ
1. Vyâsa said :-- The King's lovely daughter was very glad on hearing the
words of the Brâhmana, and drowned herself in ecstacy of love. The Brâhmin
also departed, thinking of the whole affair.
2. The daughter was already attached to the prince, and now she became the
more merged in love for him and became very anxious. Now, on the departure
of the Brâhmin, she felt herself struck by the arrows of love.
3-4. Then S’as’ikalâ, oppressed by love, addressed her dear companion, who
followed her inclinations thus :-- “O my companion! I have not as yet had
any knowledge of the king's son; still the signs of love have sprung up in
my body and mind, from the moment that I heard about him from the Brâhmin.
The love is giving me much trouble; tell, my companion what am I to do now?
and whither shall I go?
5. O dear companion! I saw him like a second God of Love in my dreams; and,
since then, my innocent mind is being troubled with his being away from me.
6. O fair one! The sandal paste on my body appears to me like a poison, this
garland is like a serpent and the moon's rays seem like a fire.
7. O companion! My mind gets not rest anywhere, in palaces, gardens, in
lakes, in hills, at any time, during the day or night; all the enjoyable
things have assumed now contrary aspects and are paining me.
8. The bedding, betel leaves, music, singing, and dancing, all now fail to
give me satisfaction and peace.
9. O companion! I would have gone to-day where is residing that deceiver;
but I fear for my father as well for the honour of my family.
10. My father is not yet declaring the svayamvara for my marriage. What
shall I do? Had he given me in marriage to that Sudars’an, I would have
allowed him embrace me and satisfy his passions to-day!
11. O friend! look at the strange ideas of the Creator! There are hundreds
of kings today who are influential and I do not consider them beautiful; and
that King's son is exiled from his kingdom and yet he has stolen away my
heart.”
12. Vyâsa said :-- Thus that King's son, Sudars’ana, though helpless, and
living in a forest on roots and fruits, deprived of wealth, power, and army,
began to reign in the heart of that princess.
13-14. S’as’ikalâ, too, began to recite slowly the root mantra of Sarasvatî
and therefore her love towards this prince held out signs of success.
Once engaged in meditation on that excellent root mantra on Kâma, and, while
repeatedly reciting it mentally, he got in a dream the vision of that Ever
Full, the World Mother Ambikâ, that cannot be expressed in words, the
Vaisnavî S’akti and capable to bestow all wealth and property.
15-16. At this time the King of Nisâdas, the lord of S’rimgaverpur came to
the hermitage and presented an excellent chariot together with all other
necessary things. This chariot was drawn by four horses, decorated with nice
flags and was endowed with the prospect of getting victory everywhere;
thinking it thus a befitting present to be given to the King, he gave it to
Sudars’ana.
17. Sudars'ana, too, accepted the offer of a friend and worshipped him well
in return, with roots and fruits of the forest.
18-19. The lord of the Nisâdas, thus worshipped as a guest, went away. The
Munis and ascetics then began to address Sudars'ana, with fondness “O son of
the king! Don't be anxious and restless; within a very short time, you will
get your kingdom, no doubt, by your own good luck and prowess.
20. O one attached to one’s vows! The Goddess that enchants the whole
universe, the Giver of boons, S’rî Ambikâ, has been pleased with you;
assistance is also rendered well to you; therefore do not trouble yourself
with contrary thoughts any more.”
21. The Munis, who have taken vows, addressed Manoramâ also “Your son will
soon become the lord of the world; you need not care any more.”
22. Then the lean and thin Manoramâ, hearing the Muni's words said “O
Brâhmanas! Let your âsiss (words of benedictions) be justified with success.
What wonder that a kingdom be obtained by the good will of the Sâdhus!
23. There is no force, no minister, no help, no property; how, under what
combinations, can then my son get kingship?
24. You are the best of the knowers of mantrams; due to the influence of
your good will, my son will surely be a king; there is no doubt in this.”
25. Vyâsa said :-- Wherever that intelligent Sudars'ana used to go on his
chariot, there he seemed by his own prowess, as if he were surrounded by a
whole army consisting of 109, 350 foot, 65,610 horse, 21,870 chariots and
21,870 elephants.
26. This is the influence of the seed mantra; it is not an ordinary
acquisition. It is because Sudars’ana, with gladness and one-pointedness of
his mind, meditated on his seed mantra, that he acquired the above powers;
there is no doubt in this.
27. Becoming pure and peaceful, whoever gets this wonderul seed mantra from
a true spiritual guide and meditates on it incessantly, is destined
certainly to attain all desires.
28. O best of kings! There is no such thing either in the heavens above or
in the worlds below, that a man won’t get, when the Supreme Goddess becomes
pleased.
29. Those are certainly very unfortunate and of dull intellect, who cannot
place their faith on the worship of this Goddess and consequently suffer
incessantly all sorts of troubles.
30. O best of the Kurus! At the beginning of the creation, this Ambâ Devî
was the Mother of all the Gods, and is therefore known as the First Mother.
31. She is practically seen in this world in the shape of Buddhi
(iutellgence), Kîrti (fame), Dhrîti (fortitude), Laksmî (Goddess of wealth),
S’akti (the Force), S’raddhâ (Faith), Mati (Intellect), Smriti (memory),
etc.
32. It is only the deluded souls that do not realise the nature of the Devî;
it is only those, whose hearts are destroyed by the glare of false argument,
that do not worship this All-auspicious Goddess of the Universe.
33-34. O king! Brahmâ, Visnu, S’ambhu, Indra, Varuna, Yama, Vâyû, Agni,
Kuvera, Vis'vakarmâ, Pûsâ, Bhaga, the two Asvins, Âdityas, Vasus, Rudras,
Vis'vedevas, Maruts, all worship the Supreme Deity of Creation, Preservation
and Dissolution.
35. Who is there amongst tho wise that does not serve this Highest Energy?
The real nature of that Auspicious Goddess, the Bestower all desires,
Sudars’ana came to know very well.
36. She is the Real Essence, Brahmâ, very rarely realised; She is the Higher
Vidyâ and the Lower Vidyâ (Avidyâ) and She is the vital energy, the Mukhya
Prâna, of the best of the Yogis, who are desirous of liberation.
37. O king! What individual is there that is able to realise the nature of
Pramâtmâ (the Highest Universal Self) without having recourse to Her, Who is
manifesting this universal consciousness, by bringing into existence these
Sâtvik, Râjasik, and Tâmasik creations.
38. Sudars'ana, though he dwelt in the forest, realised a greater happiness
than that in obtaining the sovereignty of a kingdom, by constantly
meditating on that Goddess.
39. S’as’ikalâ, too, being too much oppressed with the arrows of love, any
how remained with her soul in her body, having had to be always cared for
her health in various ways by her attendants.
40. Then the king Subâhu, on coming to know that her daughter is desirous of
getting her husband, made arrangements for her Svayambara (a marriage in
which the girl chooses her husband from among a number of suitors assembled
together) without any delay.
41-44. The Svayambara of the royal family, the Pundits say, is of three
kinds :-- lst Ichchhâ Svayambara (optional); 2nd Panya Svayamvara by
fulfilling a promise, e.g. Râmachandra broke in two the bow of S’iva and
married Sîtâ; 3rd the Svayambara, preferring one who will prove the
strongest hero by one’s own prowess. Of these three kinds of Svayambaras,
the king Subâhu preferred Ichchâ Svayamvara (according to the bride's free
choice).
Accordingly the king employed many artisans, had platforms covered with
beautiful carpets and big halls decorated beautifully in various ways.
45-47. Thus the assembly hall for Svayambara built and decorated and all the
necessary articles and equipments brought thither, the fair eyed S’as’ikalâ,
told her companions with sorrow “Better go to my mother and say her
privately that I have already selected mentally my husband the beautiful
Sudars'ana, the son of the king Dhruvasandhi in my mind; I won't marry any
other prince than him; the Goddess Bhagavatî has settled him for my
husband.”
48-50. Vyâsa said, the companion of S’as’ikalâ hearing thus, went quickly to
her mother Vaidarbhî and addressed her sweetly in private “O chaste one!
Your daughter, with a sorrowful heart, has sent me to you to say the
following; Please hear and do at your earliest convenience, what is good and
beneficial.” She said “There is staying in the hermitage of Bhâradvâja, the
son of the king Dhruvasandhi; I have mentally selected him as my husband; I
won't select any other prince.”
51. Vyâsa said :-- The queen, hearing her words, told to her husband, when
he returned to the palace, all her daughter's words as she had heard them.
52-53. Hearing this, the king Subâhu was astonished and then laughed
frequently and then began to say to his wife, the daughter of the king of
Vidarbha the following true words :-- “O fair one! That king’s son
Sudars’ana is a minor, he has been exiled to the forest; now he is helpless
and is residing with his mother in a dense forest.
54. For his sake, the king Vîrasena was slain in battle by the king
Yudhâjit. O fair eyed! how can that helpless exiled poor boy become her
husband.
55. Do say therefore to S’as’ikalâ that, in the assembly hall for her
Svayamvara, many kings commanding honour and respect would be present. She
would then choose whomever she likes. She need not repeat such words any
more.”
Thus ends the Eighteenth Chapter of the 3rd Skandha about the Svayambara of
S’as’ikalâ, the daughter of the king Kâsirâja in the Mahâ Purânam S’rî Mad
Devî Bhâgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa.
Chapter XIX
On the going to the Svayamvara assembly of Sudars’ana
1-2. Vyâsa said :-- After the king Subâhu had spoken thus, the Queen made
her daughter S’as’ikalâ, who had always sweet smiles on her lips sit on her
lap and after consoling her with sweet words, began to say “O fair eyed! You
always practise vows and other religious performances; why are you, then,
speaking these unpleasant words? The King has heard all what you wanted to
say and has been very sorry.
3-5. That Sudars'ana is very unfortunate, deprived of his kingdom, helpless,
void of wealth and army, abandoned by his friends, exiled with his mother in
the forest, subsisting on roots and fruits, lean and thin. Thus he is not
worthy of becoming the husband of yours. There are many learned, beautiful,
approved of all, qualified with all royal marks, princes fit to become your
husband. They all will come in this Svayamvara.
6. There is one brother of this Sudars'ana, who is endowed with all kingly
qualifications, beautiful, and qualified in various other ways. He is the
king of the Kosala country.
7. There is another point worth consideration; please hear it. The King
Yudhâjit is trying his best to kill Sudars'ana on a befitting opportunity.
8. He already counselled with his ministers and killed in a desperate fight
the king Vîrasena and installed his daughter’s son on the throne.
9. Even he came up so far as the hermitage of Bhâradvâja to kill Sudars'ana;
afterwards he was prevented by the Munis from doing so then he returned
home.”
10-11. S’as’ikalâ replied :-- “Mother! That prince, though staying in the
forest, is approved of by me; under the advice S’aryâti, the chaste Sukanyâ
married Chyavana Muni and served her husband all along; so I will marry this
king’s son and will always be engaged in serving him. The women are able to
attain heaven and emancipation, if they serve their husbands; therefore if
we be sincere in serving our husbands, we will no doubt be happy.
12. I have seen in my dream that the Goddess Bhagavatî has ordained him to
be my husband; how can I now accept any other body as my husband than him?
13. The Devî Bhuvanes’varî has pictured his frame firmly in my heart; I will
never be able to leave my dearest beautiful husband and to contract marriage
with any other person.”
14. Vyâsa said :-- Thus the mother, the daughter of the King of Videha,
found many signs and at last desisted. She then reported to the King all the
words of S’as’ikalâ.
15-16. When S’as’ikalâ, on the day before the marriage day, became very
anxious and, sent in a great hurry, one trustworthy Brâhmin, versed in the
Vedas to the hermitage of Bhâradvâja with this message “O Brâhman, go in
such a way to Sudars’ana, as my father be not able to know about it and tell
Sudars'ana all my words.
17-18. My father has called in for my marriage a Svayambara ceremony; many
powerful kings will attend with their armies; O Deva! The Goddess Bhagavatî
has ordered me in dream and accordingly I, with full gladness of my heart,
have become yours already in my heart.
19. Rather I will take poison or I will jump in a blazing fire, than I can
obey my father’s and mother’s words and marry another.
20. By my mind, word, and deed, I have selected you my husband; and pleasure
and happiness is sure to attend on us by the blessings of the Bhagavatî.
21. Please depend unto Her, at Whose command this whole universe, moving and
unmoving is resting, unto that Great Destiny and come to this place without
fail.
22. What the Goddess, whose commands S’ankara all the other Devas obey, has
ordered, can never turn out false.
23. O Brâhmin! You the foremost amongst the virtuous; do therefore call on
that King’s son in privacy and speak out all there to him. What shall I say
more to you. Do all that my object may be fullfilled.”
24. Thus saying, she gave the Brâhmin his Daksinâ and sent him to
Sudars’ana. He went there and reported all the matter duly to him and
quickly returned back.
25. On coming to know all this, Sudars’ana determined to start; and the
Mahârsi Bhâradvâja, with gladness, sent him.
26. Vyâsa said :-- Seeing her son ready to start, the mother Manoramâ became
very sorry and, trembling and shedding tears, thus spoke to her son.
27-28. “Sudars’ana! Where are you going now? How do you dare to go there in
the Svayamvara alone, where are present kings and all your terrible enemies.
O Son! You are as yet a boy. The King Yudhâjit will certainly go there with
the object of killing you; there will then is no other body to help you. So
you should never go to that place.
29. You are my only son; I am very poor and helpless; I have no other to
lean upon than you; therefore you ought not to throw me in despair at this
moment.
30. See Sudars’ana! The King Yudhâjit who had slain my father, that
uncontrollable king will come there; if you go there alone, he will
certainly kill you.”
31. Sudars'ana replied “Mother! What is inevitable will certainly come to
pass; there is no need to discuss further on the subject. I will go at the
command of the World Mother to that assembly hall
Svayamvara.
32. O Auspicious one! Do not give vent to sorrow; I do fear none by the
grace of the Bhagavatî.”
33. Vyâsa said :-- Thus saying, Sudars’ana mounted on his chariot and was
ready to start. Seeing this Manoramâ began to bless him and so cheer him.
34-37. O Son! Let Ambikâ Devî protect your front; Padmalochanâ protect your
back; Pârvatî, your two sides; S’ivâ Devî, all around you; Vârâhî, in
dreadful paths; Durgâ, in royal forts, Kâlikâ, in terrible fights;
Parames'varî, in the platform hall; Mâtamgî, in the Svayamvara hall;
Bhavanî, the Avertress of world, amidst the kings; Girijâ, in mountain
passes; Chamundâ, in the sacrificial ground, and let the eternal Kâmagâ,
protect you in the forests.
38. O Descendant of Raghu family! Let the Vaisnavî force protect you in
quarrels; let Bhairavî protect you in battles and amongst your enemies.
39. O Son! Let the Mahâ Mâyâ Jagaddhâtrî Bhuvanes’varî protect you
everywhere and at all times.
40. Vyâsa said :-- Then Manoramâ, speaking thus to him, trembled with fear
and again said :-- “O Sudars’ana, I will also accompany you; there will not
be otherwise.
41. I will never be able to remain anywhere without you and even for the
twinkling of an eye. O Son, carrry me thither where you are desiring to go.”
42. Thus saying, his mother with her attendants was ready to start. The
Brâhmanas pronounced their blessings. All then went out.
43. Sudars’an, the descendant of the Raghu family, mounted then alone on his
chariot and reached Benares. There the King Subâhu, hearing that he had
come, welcomed him and worshipped him with various presents.
44. He gave him, the house for his residence, and made arrangements for his
food and drink and other necessary requirements and gave order to his
servants to wait on the prince.
45. Then, from various quarters, the kings assembled together; and Yudhâjit,
too, came there accompanied by his daughter’s son, S’atrujit.
46-48. The King of Karûsa, the King of Madra, the King of Sindhu, the King
of Mâhîsmatî, the valiant warriors, the King of Pânchâla, the kings of the
mountainous tract, the King of Karnat, the powerful King of Kâmarûpa, the
King of Chola, and the very powerful King of Vidarbhas with 180 Aksauhinî
soldiers all arrived and assembled there. Benares was then crowded all over
with soldiers and soldiers.
49. Many other kings came there on their beautiful elephants to witness the
Svayamvara ceremony.
50. Then the princes began to talk amongst them “The King’s son Sudars’ana,
too, had come there and is staying unconfused and calm.
51. Is it that the high minded Sudars’ana, born of the Kâkutstha family, had
come there on a chariot, helpless, to marry?
52. Can it be that the princess will overlook these Kings with soldiers and
weapons, and select the long armed Sudars’ana?”
53. Then the King Yudhâjit addressed all the other kings “I will slay
Sudars’ana for the sake of the daughter; there is no doubt in this.”
54-55. Hearing Yudhâjit's words, the king of Keral, the foremost of those
who know morals, began to say :-- “O king! In this Ichchhâ svayamvara, it is
not proper to fight. Here there will be no marriage for the prowess; there
is no arrangement fixed to steal away the bride elect by force; here the
bride will select of her own free choice; what cause can then there crop up
here for quarrels?
56. Before, you had driven him out of his kingdom; and though you are the
superior king, you have taken his kingdom by force and installed your
daughter’s son on the throne.
57. O King! This Sudars’an is born of the Kâkutstha family and the son of
the King of Kosala. Why would you kill this innocent boy?
58. O Long lived! Better be sure that there is some God of this Universe; He
is governing all; and if you commit anything wrongful know that you will get
the fruit of that due to you; there is no doubt it
this.
59. O King! There is victory everywhere of the Truth and Dharma, always you
find Adharma and Falsehood defeated. Therefore dost thou forsake your evil
and mean intentions and pacify your vile mind.
60. Your daughter's son is also present here; he is beautiful and prosperous
and is reigning a kingdom. Why will not that bride elect him as bridegroom?
61-62. Consider again that there are many other powerful princes and kings
in this Svayamvara; the princess may select them also. Therefore let all the
kings assembled here say that if the selection of the bridegroom be
performed in that way, what cause of a quarrel can there crop up? Knowing
all these, you ought not to quarrel here.”
Thus ends the Nineteenth Chapter on the going to the Svayamvara assembly of
Sudars’ana and the other kings in the Mahâ Purânam S’rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam
of 18,000 verses, by Mahârsi Veda Vyâsa.
Chapter XX
On the Svayamvara hall and the kings’ conversation there
1. Vyâsa said :-- O Noble minded one! The king Yudhâjit replied to the
address of the king of Keral, thus :--
2-3. O King! You are truthful and have restrained your passions. What you
have told just now in this assembly of kings is all correct and approved by
morality. O best of the kings! You are born of a high family; you better say
how can this take place that when so many fit persons are present here to
become the bridegroom, can an unworthy person take away the offer?
4. As a jackal never becomes fit to enjoy what are the dues of a lion, so
this Sudars’ana is also unfit to acquire this bride elect.
5. The Brâhmanas have the Vedas as their strength; the Ksattriya kings take
bows and arrows to be their source of strength; this is ordained everywhere.
Therefore O King! What wrong have I done in my statement. Kindly explain.
6-7. The power of the kings is the befitting money given to the parents of a
bride; according to this, the strongest man is to acquire the bride, a
jewel. The Ksattriyas that are weak can never acquire that. Make this the
rule in this marriage. This earth is fit to be enjoyed by the heroes only
and not by the cowards and intriguing persons. Otherwise quarrels are sure
to ensue amongst the kings.
8. The dispute thus arose in that Svayamvara hall; and the king Subâhu was
called in.
9. The kings that could see the reality of things then addressed the king
Subâhu. “O king! You are requested to establish a golden rule in this
marriage ceremony.
10. What is your object in calling this Svayamvara. Better give it out after
a mature consideration. Please be explicit whom have you intended to give
over your daughter in this marriage?”
11-12. Subâhu said :-- “My daughter has mentally selected Sudars’ana; I
prevented her repeatedly from doing this; but she did not accept my word.
What shall I do now? The mind of my daughter now is not at her will.
Sudars’ana, too, though uninvited, has come here singly and is residing
calmly, without any signs of disturbance in his mind.”
13-14. Vyâsa said :-- Then the chief kings all invited Sudars’ana there;
Sudars’ana, too, came there quietly, and the princes, seeing his quiet
nature, asked him, “O one, engaged in practising vows! Who has invited you
here? Why have you come here singly, in this assembly of kings?
15. You have no force, no ministers, no help, no wealth, and no army. O
intelligent! Then explain why have you come here alone?
16. In this assembly of kings you see that the powerful monarchs are ready
to fight with each other for the sake of this princess. What do you intend
to do under those circumstances?
17. Your brother, too, is come here to have the princess; he has got his
army and is also marked with his strength and valor. The powerful Yudhâjit
has come here also to help him.
18. O observer of good vows! Seeing you without any army, we have narrated
to you all the facts. Now think and do accordingly. If you please, remain
here or go anywhere else.”
19-20. Sudars’ana replied :-- “True, I have no army, no help, no wealth, no
forts, no friends or no kings to protect me. Hearing that Svayamvara will be
held here, I have come here to witness it. But there is one particularity
here; it is this :-- The Devî Bhagavatî has ordered me in my dream to come
here. Under Her command I have come here; there is no doubt in this.
21. I have got no other object in view; I have obeyed what the Bhagavatî
Bhuvanes’varî has ordered me to do. Today will happen, no doubt, what She
has ordained.
22-23. O kings! I am seeing everywhere the Supreme Goddess Bhagavatî
Bhavânî. Therefore there is no enemy of mine in this world; but he who will
turn out an enemy of mine, will be duly punished by the Mahâ Vidyâ Mahâ
Mâyâ. I do not know what is enmity?
24. O kings! What is inevitable will surely come to pass. There will be
nothing otherwise. I am always depending on Fate, Destiny. What is the use,
then, in thinking what will be the result?
25. Everywhere in the Devas, in the spirits, in men, in all the beings, the
Devî’s power is existent; it cannot be otherwise.
26. O kings! Whenever She wishes, She makes kings, masters of wealth or
devoid of wealth. What is, then, the use of bothering my head in this?
27. When even the Gods Brahmâ, Visnu, and Mahes’a without Her presence,
become powerless enough to move their hands or feet, then why shall I be
anxious for the result?
28. O kings! Whether I am unable or able or an ordinary person, you have
nothing to consider; I have come here in this assembly hall under the
command of the Supreme Bhagavatî.
29-30. What She has willed, She will do that. I am not to care for that. O
high minded ones! You need not be afraid at all in this. I have told you all
truth. Victory or defeat, I feel no shame in either of them. For I am always
under the control of Bhagavatî; therefore if there be any shame here, it is
all Hers.”
31-33. Vyâsa said :-- Hearing thus his words, and seeing that his mind is
firmly devoted to Bhagavatî, the kings saw each other and said thus :-- “O
Sudars’ana! What you have said is quite true; it is never otherwise; still
Yudhâjit, the king of Ujjain is intent on killing you. O intelligent! O
sinless! we have all come to know that there is no trace of evil in you. We
were all overcome with pity for you; hence we have informed you; now think
and do the needful?”
34. Sudars’ana said, “You are all kind and large hearted; what you all have
said is quite true. What shall I tell you, being a minor as yet!
35. O kings! No one can cause the death of another. All this world, moving
and unmoving, is under the control of Fate.
36-38. No soul is independent; every one is under the effects of one’s own
Karma. The Pundits that have realised the Truth, say that Karma is of three
kinds, Accumulated, Present, and Prârabdha? This whole world is due to Kâla
(Time), Karma (action) and Svabhâva (Nature); unless the proper time comes,
even the Devas cannot kill men. The men are killed on account of some cause,
immediate; but the Great Time is the real Destroyer.
39. My father, though a destroyer of many others, was himself killed by a
lion and my mother’s father was slain by Yudhâjit in the battle.
40. The Jîvas, though caring hard to preserve their lives, are killed by
Fate in spite of all their cares; and they live thousand years though there
is none to protect them.
41. O religious kings! I do not fear a bit from Yudhâjit. I consider Fate as
the Supreme and I therefore remain always undisturbed, calm and quiet.
42. Daily and constantly I remember Bhagavatî, Who is the Mother of all this
Universe. She will look after my welfare.
43. Behold! One will have certainly to bear the burden of one’s past Karma,
whether it be good or it be bad; one’s own actions must bear their fruits.
Then why shall he be sorry, who has come to know this?
44. The less intelligent deluded persons, on getting pain from their own
actions, turn out enemies on very trifling matters.
45. I do not grieve nor do I fear on account of such enemies. I am staying
here in this assembly of kings, cool-minded.
46. Under the order of Chandikâ, I have come here to see this Svayamvara;
whatever is inevitable will surely come to pass.
47. The words of the Bhagavatî are the best proof; I do not know any other.
My mind is entirely given up to Her. There will be nothing otherwise than
what She has ordained; whether it is good or whether it is bad.
48. O kings! Let Yudhâjit remain in peace. I have no enmity with him. He,
who will deal inimically with me, will certainly reap his reward. There is
not the least doubt in this.”
49. Vyâsa said :-- O king! When Sudars’ana addressed them thus, all the
kings became very glad and they all remained there for the Svayamvara.
Sudars’ana, too, went to his camp and remained also calm and quiet.
50. Next day the king Subâhu invited all the kings present in his city to
their respective seats in the Svayamvara hall.
51. The princes and kings, decorated with best ornaments, came and took
their seats on their respective platforms, covered with valuable carpets of
best workmanship.
52. The kings then looked like the celestial Devas, wearing divine ornaments
and apparels, blazing with the lustrous light of gems, and remained to see
the Svayamvara affair.
53. Every one there had this foremost thought in his mind when will the
princess, the bride elect, would come there; and who will be the man so
fortunate as to be blessed with garlands offered by her (as a token of
selection of the bridegroom)!
54. If, accidentally, she offers the garland to Sudars’ana in this
Svayamvara assembly, then will ensue, no doubt, desperate struggles amongst
the kings.
55. While they were thus meditating, sounds of drums were loudly sounded.
56-58. Then Subâhu, the king of Benares, went to her daughter and found that
S’as’ikalâ had just taken her bath and put on her silken clothes, and
adorned herself with various ornaments and sweet garlands. Thus, dressed in
complete marriage dress, she began to shine like another Goddess Laksmî, the
Goddess of wealth. The king, on seeing his daughter dressed in silken cloth,
afflicted with anxious thoughts, just smiled and said, “Child! Rise and take
the beautiful garlands by your hands and go to the the Svayamvara hall and
just look at the assembly of kings.
59. O lean bodied one! Whoever, well-qualified, beautiful, and of noble
birth, amongst the kings is reigning in your mind, better select him.
60. O graceful! The kings from various quarters are adorning their
respective seats; better go and see and select whomever you like.”
61. Vyâsa said :-- When Subâhu had spoken thus, S’as’ikalâ, who generally
talked little, replied with sweet sonorous words, impregnated with religious
truth.
62. “Father! I won’t go before the kings who are inspired by lust; women
like me never go there; it is those that are dissolute that attend those
places.
63. Father! I have heard from the religious texts that women should cast
their glances on their husbands only and not on any other.
64. The woman that goes to many persons is mentally claimed by all; each of
them contemplates strongly “Let this woman be mine.” Thus her chastity is
destroyed.
65-66. Desirous of selecting her husband, when the woman holding in her
hands, the garland for her would-be-husband, goes to the Svayamvara hall,
then she turns out like an ordinary unchaste woman. As a prostitute going to
a public shop looks on many persons and judges of their merits and demerits
according to her own power of judgment, the maid that goes in the Svayamvara
hall does exactly the same.
67. How can I behave myself in the hall of the assembly of kings like a
prostitute, who does not attach her feelings firmly on a single individual
but glances constantly at many lustful persons.
68. Though this system of Svayamvara is approved by the elderly persons, I
am not going to follow that now. I will take the vow of a chaste woman and
act up to that doctrine as perfectly.
69. I will never be able to act like an ordinary woman going in the
Svayamvara hall, mentally determining many and finally selecting one.
70. Father! From the very beginning I have given myself up to Sudars’ana in
mind, word and deed. I have not the least inclination to leave him and
select another in his stead.
71. O King! If you want to have my welfare, then give your daughter on an
auspicious day and in an auspicious lagna to Sudars’ana, according to the
prescribed rites.”
Thus ends the 20th Chapter on the Svayamvara hall and the kings’
conversation there in S’rîmad Devî Bhâgavatam of 18,000 verses by Mahârsi
Veda Vyâsa.
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