Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 1.128
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1.128.1
एवमुक्तस्तया राजा तां देवीं पुनरब्रवीत् ।
धर्मविद्धर्मसंयुक्तमिदं वचनमुत्तमम् ॥ १.१२८.१ ॥
Thus addressed by her, the king, knower of dharma, again spoke to that queen these excellent words, united with dharma.
1.128.2
एवमेतत्पुरा कुन्ति व्युषिताश्वश्चकार ह ।
यथा त्वयोक्तं कल्याणि स ह्यासीदमरोपमः ॥ १.१२८.२ ॥
So it was, Kuntī, that Vyuṣitāśva did long ago, as you have said, O auspicious one; he was like a god.
1.128.3
अथ त्विदं प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मतत्त्वं निबोध मे ।
पुराणमृषिभिर्दृष्टं धर्मविद्भिर्महात्मभिः ॥ १.१२८.३ ॥
Now I shall explain this essence of dharma; learn it from me. It is an ancient teaching seen by the great-souled sages who knew dharma.
1.128.4
अनावृताः किल पुरा स्त्रिय आसन्वरानने ।
कामचारविहारिण्यः स्वतन्त्राश्चारुहासिनि ॥ १.१२८.४ ॥
In former times, O fair-faced one, women indeed were unrestrained, roaming and wandering at will, independent, O sweet-smiling one.
1.128.5
तासां व्युच्चरमाणानां कौमारात्सुभगे पतीन् ।
नाधर्मोऽभूद्वरारोहे स हि धर्मः पुराऽभवत् ॥ १.१२८.५ ॥
O fortunate one, for those women who roamed, changing husbands from maidenhood, there was no unrighteousness; O fair-hipped one, that indeed was dharma in former times.
1.128.6
तं चैव धर्मं पौराणं तिर्यग्योनिगताः प्रजाः ।
अद्याप्यनुविधीयन्ते कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः ॥ १.१२८.६ ॥
And that same ancient dharma is followed even today by creatures born in animal wombs, free from desire and anger.
1.128.7
प्रमाणदृष्टो धर्मोऽयं पूज्यते च महर्षिभिः ।
उत्तरेषु च रम्भोरु कुरुष्वद्यापि पूज्यते।
स्त्रीणामनुग्रहकरः स हि धर्मः सनातनः ॥ १.१२८.७ ॥
This dharma, seen as authoritative, is honored by the great sages; O you of plantain-thighs, it is honored even today among the later Kurus. That very eternal dharma is what bestows favor upon women.
1.128.8
नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः ।
नान्तकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचनाः ॥ १.१२८.८ ॥
Fire is not satisfied with fuel, nor the great ocean with rivers, nor Death with all beings; so too women with lovely eyes are not satisfied with men.
1.128.9
एवं तृष्णा तु नारीणां पुरुषं पुरुषं प्रति ।
अगम्यागमनं स्त्रीणां नास्ति नित्यं शुचिस्मिते ॥ १.१२८.९ ॥
Thus is the craving of women directed toward man after man; O you of pure smile, there is not always an approach to the unapproachable among women.
1.128.10
पुत्रं वा किल पौत्रं वा कासांचिद्धातरं तथा ।
रहसीह नरं दृष्ट्वा योनिरुत्क्लिद्यते तदा ॥ १.१२८.१० ॥
Seeing a man alone in secret, whether he be a son, a grandson, or someone's brother, then the woman's womb becomes moist.
1.128.11
एतत्स्वाभाविकं स्त्रीणां न निमित्तकृतं शुभे ।
अस्मिंस्तु लोके नचिरान्मर्यादेयं शुचिस्मिते ॥ १.१२८.११ ॥
This is the natural state of women, not something caused by an external cause, O auspicious one; yet in this world, not long after, this restraint was established, O you of pure smile.
1.128.12
स्थापिता येन यस्माच्च तन्मे विस्तरतः शृणु ।
बभूवोद्दालको नाम महर्षिरिति नः श्रुतम् ॥ १.१२८.१२ ॥
By whom and from whom this was established, hear it from me in detail. We have heard that there was a great sage named Uddālaka.
1.128.13
श्वेतकेतुरिति ख्यातः पुत्रस्तस्याभवन्मुनिः ।
मर्यादेयं कृता तेन धर्म्या वै श्वेतकेतुना ॥ १.१२८.१३ ॥
His son became a sage renowned as Śvetaketu. It was Śvetaketu who established this lawful rule.
1.128.14
कोपात्कमलपत्राक्षि यदर्थं तन्निबोध मे ॥ १.१२८.१४ ॥
O lotus-petal-eyed one, listen from me to the reason why it came about out of anger.
1.128.15
श्वेतकेतोः पिता देवि तप उग्रं समास्थितः ।
ग्रीष्मे पञ्चतपा भूत्वा वर्षास्वाकाशगोऽभवत् ॥ १.१२८.१५ ॥
O goddess, the father of Śvetaketu undertook severe austerity. In summer he performed the five fires, and in the rains he became one who moves through the sky.
1.128.16
शिशइरे सलिलस्थायी सह पत्न्या महातपाः ।
उद्दालकं तपस्यन्तं नियमेन समाहितम् ॥ १.१२८.१६ ॥
In the cold season the great ascetic who stood in water, together with his wife, saw Uddālaka practicing austerity, composed and disciplined.
1.128.17
तस्य पुत्रः श्वेतकेतुः परिचर्यां चकार ह ।
अभ्यागच्छद्द्विजः कश्चिद्वलीपलितसंततः ॥ १.१२८.१७ ॥
His son Śvetaketu attended him in service. Then came a twice-born brahmin, full of wrinkles and grey hair.
1.128.18
तं दृष्ट्वैव मुनिः प्रीतः पूजयामास शास्त्रतः ।
स्वागतेन च पाद्येन मृदुवाक्यैश्च भारत ॥ १.१२८.१८ ॥
Seeing him, the sage was pleased at once, and according to scripture he honoured him with a welcome, water for the feet, and gentle words, O Bhārata.
1.128.19
शाकमूलफलाद्यैश्च वन्यैरन्यैरपूजयत् ।
क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमेंणार्तः पूजितश्च महर्षिणा ॥ १.१२८.१९ ॥
He honored him with greens, roots, fruits and other wild foods; afflicted by the fatigue of hunger and thirst, he was honored by the great sage.
1.128.20
विश्रान्तो मुनिमासाद्य पर्यपृच्छद्द्विजस्तदा ।
उद्दालक महर्षे त्वं सत्यं मे ब्रूहि माऽनृतम् ॥ १.१२८.२० ॥
Having rested, the twice-born man approached the sage and then asked: 'O great sage Uddālaka, tell me the truth, not falsehood.'
1.128.21
ऋषिपुत्रः कुमारोऽयं दर्शनीयो विशेषतः ।
तव पुत्रमिमं मन्ये कृतकृत्योऽसि तद्वद ॥ १.१२८.२१ ॥
This youth is a sage's son and especially handsome. I take him to be your son; if you have fulfilled your duty, then say so.
1.128.22
मम पत्नी महाप्राज्ञ कुशिकस्य सुता मता ।
मामेवानुगता पत्नी मम नित्यमनुव्रता ॥ १.१२८.२२ ॥
O very wise one, my wife is considered the daughter of Kuśika. She has always followed me, a wife devoted to me.
1.128.23
अरुन्धतीव पत्नीनां तपसा कर्शितस्तनी ।
अस्यां जातः श्वेतकेतुर्मम पुत्रो महातपाः ॥ १.१२८.२३ ॥
Like Arundhatī among wives, her breasts worn thin by asceticism, my great ascetic son Śvetaketu was born of her.
1.128.24
वेदवेदाङ्गविद्विप्र मच्छासनपरायणः ।
लोकज्ञः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतः सत्यवाग्घृणी ॥ १.१२८.२४ ॥
O brahmin, he knows the Vedas and their limbs, is devoted to my instruction, knows the worlds, is renowned in all the worlds, speaks the truth, and is compassionate.
1.128.25
अपुत्री भार्यया चार्थी वृद्धोऽहं मन्दचाक्षुषः ।
पित्र्यादृणादनिर्मुक्तः पूर्वमेवाकृतस्त्रियः ॥ १.१२८.२५ ॥
I am without a son, desirous of a wife, old and dim-eyed; having never taken a wife before, I am not yet released from the debt owed to the ancestors.
1.128.26
प्रजारणिस्तु पत्नी ते कुलशीलसमन्विता ।
सदृशी मम गोत्रेण वहाम्येनां क्षमस्व मे ॥ १.१२८.२६ ॥
Your wife, the kindling-stick of offspring, endowed with good family and conduct, suited to my lineage — I will take her; forgive me.
1.128.27
इत्युक्त्वा मृगशावाक्षीं चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बराम् ।
यष्ट्याधारः स्रस्तगात्रो मन्दचक्षुरबुद्धिमान् ॥ १.१२८.२७ ॥
Having said this, he (the Brahmin), supported by a staff, limp of limb, dim-eyed and lacking understanding, took away the doe-eyed woman clad in bark-cloth and black antelope skin.
1.128.28
स्वव्यापाराक्षमां श्रेष्ठमचित्तामात्मनि द्विजः ।
श्वेतकेतोः किल पुरा समक्षं मातरं पितुः ॥ १.१२८.२८ ॥
That twice-born man, unable to bear his own deed and unsteady in his own mind, in times past carried off, right before Śvetaketu, his father's excellent wife — his mother.
1.128.29
जग्राह ब्राह्मणः पापौ गच्छाव इति चाब्रवीत् ।
ऋषिपुत्रस्तदा कोपं चकारामर्षितस्तदा ॥ १.१२८.२९ ॥
The brahmin seized her and said, "Let us both go off as sinners." Then the sage's son, indignant, flew into a rage.
1.128.30
मातरं तां तथा दृष्ट्वा नीयमानां बलादिव ।
तपसा दीप्तवीर्यो हि श्वेतकेतुर्न चक्षमे ॥ १.१२८.३० ॥
Seeing his mother thus being dragged away by force, Śvetaketu, whose valour blazed with austerity, could not endure it.
1.128.31
संगृह्य मातरं हस्ते श्वेतकेतुरभाषत ।
दुर्ब्राह्मण विमुञ्च त्वं मातरं मे पतिव्रताम् ॥ १.१२८.३१ ॥
Seizing his mother by the hand, Śvetaketu spoke: "Wicked brahmin, release my mother, who is faithful to her husband."
1.128.32
स्वयं पिता मे ब्रह्मर्षिः क्षमावान्ब्रह्मवित्तमः ।
शापानुग्रहयोः शक्तः तूष्णींभूतो महाव्रतः ॥ १.१२८.३२ ॥
My father is himself a brahmin-sage, patient and most learned in Brahman; able to curse or to bless, he remained silent, a man of great vows.
1.128.33
तस्य पत्नी दमोपेता मम माता विशेषतः ।
पतिव्रतां तपोवृद्धां साध्वाचारैरलङ्कृताम् ॥ १.१२८.३३ ॥
His wife, endowed with self-restraint, is especially my mother: devoted to her husband, advanced in austerity, adorned with virtuous conduct.
1.128.34
अप्रमादेन ते ब्रह्मन्मातृभूतां विमुञ्च वै ॥ १.१२८.३४ ॥
Brahmin, without delay, release her indeed, for she is as a mother to you.
1.128.35
एवमुक्त्वा तु याचन्तं विमुञ्चेति मुहुर्मुहुः ।
प्रत्यवोचद्द्विजो राजन्नप्रगल्भमिदं वचः ॥ १.१२८.३५ ॥
O king, to him who thus again and again pleaded, "release her," the twice-born replied with these immature words.
1.128.36
अपत्यार्थी श्वेतकेतो वृद्धोऽहं मन्दचाक्षुषः ।
पिता ते ऋणनिर्मुक्तस्त्वया पुत्रेण काश्यप ॥ १.१२८.३६ ॥
Śvetaketu, I desire offspring, and I am old and dim-sighted. Kāśyapa, through you as a son, your father is freed from his debt.
1.128.37
ऋणादहमनिर्मुक्तो वृद्धोऽहं विगतस्पृहः ।
मम को दास्यति सुतां कन्यां संप्राप्तयौवनाम् ॥ १.१२८.३७ ॥
I am not yet freed from debt; I am old and free of desire. Who will give me my daughter, a maiden who has reached youth?
1.128.38
प्रजारणिमिमां पत्नीं विमुञ्च त्वं महातपः ।
एकया प्रजया प्रीतो मातरं ते ददाम्यहम् ॥ १.१२८.३८ ॥
O great ascetic, release this wife from the debt of offspring. Pleased with a single child, I will give your mother to you.
1.128.39
एवमुक्तः श्वेतकेतुर्लज्जया क्रोधमेयिवान् ।
क्रुद्धं तं तु पिता दृष्ट्वा श्वेतकेतुमुवाच ह ॥ १.१२८.३९ ॥
Thus addressed, Śvetaketu, out of shame, fell into anger. Seeing him angry, his father spoke to Śvetaketu.
1.128.40
मा तात कोपं कार्षीस्त्वमेष धर्मः सनातनः ।
अनावृता हि सर्वेषां वर्णानामङ्गना भुवि ॥ १.१२८.४० ॥
Do not be angry, dear son. This is the eternal law: on earth, the women of all the classes are unveiled.
1.128.41
यथा गावः स्थिताः पुत्र स्वेस्वे वर्णे तथा प्रजाः ।
तथैव च कुटुम्बेषु न प्रमाद्यन्ति कर्हिचित् ॥ १.१२८.४१ ॥
As cows stand each in their own class, so do women, my son; and likewise in their households they never err.
1.128.42
ऋतुकाले तु संप्राप्ते भर्तारं न जहुस्तदा ।
ऋषिपुत्रोऽथ तं धर्मं श्वेतकेतुर्न चक्षमे ॥ १.१२८.४२ ॥
When the season came, they did not abandon their husbands then; but the sage's son Śvetaketu could not tolerate that custom.
1.128.43
चकार चैव मर्यादामिमां स्त्रीपुंसयोर्भुवि ।
मानुषेषु महाभागे न त्वेवान्येषु जन्तुषु ॥ १.१२८.४३ ॥
O greatly fortunate one, he established this boundary for woman and man on earth — among human beings, but not among other creatures.
1.128.44
तदाप्रभृति मर्यादा स्थितेयमिति नः श्रुतम् ।
व्युच्चरन्त्याः पतिं नार्या अद्यप्रभृति पातकम् ॥ १.१२८.४४ ॥
From that time, we have heard, this boundary was established: for a woman who strays from her husband, from now on it is a sin.
1.128.45
भ्रूणहत्यासमं घोरं भविष्यत्यसुखावहम् ।
अद्याप्यनुविधीयन्ते कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः ॥ १.१२८.४५ ॥
It shall be as terrible as the killing of an embryo, bringing misery; even now, those free from desire and anger observe it.
1.128.46
उत्तरेषु महाभागे कुरुष्वेवं यशस्विनि ।
पुराणदृष्टो धर्मोऽयं पूज्यते च महर्षिभिः ॥ १.१२८.४६ ॥
O greatly fortunate, glorious one, it is so among the later Kurus too; this dharma, seen in the ancient lore, is honored by the great sages.
1.128.47
भार्यां तथा व्युच्चरतः कौमारब्रह्मचारिणीम् ।
पतिव्रतामेतदेव भविता पातकं भुवि ॥ १.१२८.४७ ॥
Likewise, for one who abandons a wife who has been a celibate maiden and is devoted to her husband, this too will be a sin on earth.
1.128.48
नियुक्ता पतिना भार्या यद्यपत्यस्य कारणात् ।
न कुर्यात्तत्तथा भीरु सैनः सुमहदाप्नुयात्।
इति तेन पुरा भीरु मर्यादा स्थापिता बलात् ॥ १.१२८.४८ ॥
If a wife appointed by her husband for the sake of offspring does not do so, O timid one, she too will incur very great sin. O timid one, long ago he established this rule by force.
1.128.49
उद्दालकस्य पुत्रेण धर्म्या वै श्वेतकेतुना ।
सौदासेन च रम्भोरु नियुक्ता पुत्रजन्मनि ॥ १.१२८.४९ ॥
Śvetaketu, son of Uddālaka, and Saudāsa, O thigh-lovely one, were appointed lawfully for the birth of a son.
1.128.50
मदयन्ती जगामर्षिं वसिष्ठमिति नः श्रुतम् ।
तस्माल्लेभे च सा पुत्रमश्मकं नाम भामिनी ॥ १.१२८.५० ॥
We have heard that Madayantī went to the sage Vasiṣṭha; therefore that radiant woman obtained a son named Aśmaka.
1.128.51
एवं कृतवती सापि भर्तुः प्रियचिकीर्षया ।
अस्माकमपि ते जन्म विदितं कमलेक्षणे ॥ १.१२८.५१ ॥
In the same way she too did this, out of desire to please her husband; O lotus-eyed one, your own birth is known to us as well.
1.128.52
कृष्णद्वैपायनाद्भीरु कुरूणां वंशवृद्धये ।
अत एतानि सर्वाणि कारणानि समीक्ष्य वै ॥ १.१२८.५२ ॥
O timid one, for the increase of the Kuru lineage, a son should be obtained from Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana; therefore, having carefully considered all these reasons...
1.128.53
ममैतद्वचनं धर्म्यं कर्तुमर्हस्यनिन्दिते ।
ऋतावृतौ राजपुत्रि स्त्रिया भर्ता पतिव्रते ॥ १.१२८.५३ ॥
O blameless one, you ought to do this lawful word of mine; O princess, in every fertile season the husband is a wife's refuge, O devoted wife.
1.128.54
नातिवर्तव्य इत्येवं धर्मं धर्मविदो विदुः ।
शेषेष्वन्येषु कालेषु स्वातन्त्र्यं स्त्री किलार्हति ॥ १.१२८.५४ ॥
'It must not be transgressed' — thus do knowers of dharma declare the dharma; but at all other times a woman is indeed entitled to independence.
1.128.55
धर्ममेवं जनाः सन्तः पुराणं परिचक्षते ।
भर्ता भार्यां राजपुत्रि धर्म्यं वाऽधर्म्यमेव वा ॥ १.१२८.५५ ॥
Thus the good have declared dharma from of old, O princess: a husband may act toward his wife as he wishes, whether it be lawful or unlawful.
1.128.56
यद्ब्रूयात्तत्तथा कार्यमिति वेदविदो विदुः ।
विशेषतः पुत्रगृद्धी हीनः प्रजननात्स्वयम् ॥ १.१२८.५६ ॥
The knowers of the Vedas hold that what is said must be done, especially by one who longs for a son and is himself unable to beget children.
1.128.57
यथाऽहमनवद्याङ्गि पुत्रदर्शनलालसः ।
अयं रक्ताङ्गुलिनखः पद्मपत्रनिभः शुभे ॥ १.१२८.५७ ॥
O faultless-limbed one, I long to see a son. O auspicious one, this hand, with red fingers and nails, like a lotus petal.
1.128.58
प्रसादनार्थं सुश्रोणि शिरस्यभ्युद्यतोऽञ्जलिः ।
मन्नियोगात्सुकेशान्ते द्विजातेस्तपसाऽधिकात् ॥ १.१२८.५८ ॥
O beautiful-hipped one, my folded hands are raised over my head to win your favor. O fair-haired one, at my bidding, for the sake of a twice-born who surpasses others in asceticism.
1.128.59
पुत्रान्गुणसमायुक्तानुत्पादयितुमर्हसि ।
त्वत्कृतेऽहं पृथुश्रोणि गच्छेयं पुत्रिणां गतिम् ॥ १.१२८.५९ ॥
You should bring forth sons endowed with virtue. O broad-hipped one, through you I might attain the path of those who have sons.
1.128.60
एवमुक्ता ततः कुन्ती पाण्डुं परपुरञ्जयम् ।
प्रत्युवाच वरारोहा भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता ॥ १.१२८.६० ॥
Thus addressed, Kuntī replied to Pāṇḍu, conqueror of enemy cities. The fair-hipped woman, devoted to her husband's pleasure and welfare, answered him.
1.128.61
अधर्मः सुमहानेषु स्त्रीणां भरतसत्तम ।
यत्प्रसादयते भर्ता प्रसाद्यः क्षत्रियर्षभ।
शृणु चेदं महाबाहो मम प्रीतिकरं चः ॥ १.१२८.६१ ॥
Best of the Bharatas, the greatest wrong for women in such matters is that the husband, who ought to be pleased, must himself be pleased. Bull among kṣatriyas, mighty-armed one, listen also to this which is pleasing to me.
1.128.62
पितृवेश्मन्यहं बाला नियुक्ताऽतिथिपूजने ।
उग्रं पर्यचरं तत्र ब्राह्मणं संशितव्रतम् ॥ १.१२८.६२ ॥
When I was a young girl in my father's house, appointed to the worship of guests, there I attended upon a brahmin of severe vows.
1.128.63
निगूढनिश्चयं धर्मे यं तं दुर्वाससं विदुः ।
तमहं संशितात्मानं सर्वयत्नैरतोषयम् ॥ १.१२८.६३ ॥
Him whose resolve in dharma is hidden, whom people know as Durvāsas, that man of disciplined self, I pleased with every effort.
1.128.64
स मेऽभिचारसंयुक्तमाचष्ट भगवान्वरम् ।
मन्त्रं त्विमं च मे प्रादादब्रवीच्चैव मामिदम् ॥ १.१२८.६४ ॥
That venerable one declared to me a boon connected with a rite of invocation, gave me this mantra, and spoke these very words to me.
1.128.65
यं यं देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि ।
अकामो वा सकामो वा वशं ते समुपैष्यति ॥ १.१२८.६५ ॥
Whichever god you invoke with this mantra, he will come under your power, whether willing or unwilling.
1.128.66
तस्य तस्य प्रसादात्ते राज्ञि पुत्रो भविष्यति ।
इत्युक्ताऽहं तदा तेन पितृवेश्मनि भारत ॥ १.१२८.६६ ॥
By the grace of each and every one of these gods, O queen, you will have a son. Thus was I told by him then, in my father's house, O descendant of Bharata.
1.128.67
ब्राह्मणस्य वचस्तथ्यं तस्य कालोऽयमागतः ।
अनुज्ञाता त्वया देवमाह्वयेयमहं नृप ॥ १.१२८.६७ ॥
The brahmin's word is true, and its time has now come. O king, with your permission I shall invoke the god.
1.128.68
यां मे विद्यां महाराज अददात्स महायशाः ।
तयाऽऽहूतः सुरः पुत्रं प्रदास्यति सुरोपमम्।
अनपत्यकृतं यस्ते शोकं वीर विनेष्यति ॥ १.१२८.६८ ॥
O great king, invoked by that knowledge which the glorious one gave me, the god will bestow a son equal to the gods; O hero, he will dispel the grief that your childlessness has caused you.