Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.248
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13.248.1
एवमुक्त्वा महादेवः श्रोतुकामः स्वयं प्रभुः ।
अनुकूलां प्रियां भार्यां पार्श्वस्तामभ्यभाषत ॥ १३.२४८.१ ॥
Having spoken thus, the lord Mahādeva, desiring to listen, addressed his agreeable and beloved wife who stood beside him.
13.248.2
परावरज्ञे धर्माणां तपोवननिवासिनाम् ।
दीक्षाविधिदमोपेते सततं व्रतचारिणि।
पृच्छामि त्वां वरारोहे पृष्टा वद ममेप्सितम् ॥ १३.२४८.२ ॥
O you who know the higher and the lower of the duties, who dwell in the hermitage of asceticism, endowed with the rule of initiation and restraint, ever observing vows, O fair-hipped one, I ask you; being asked, tell me what I desire to know.
13.248.3
सावित्री ब्रह्मणः पत्नी कौशिकस्य शची शुभा ।
लक्ष्मीर्विष्णोः प्रिया भार्या धृतिर्भार्या यमस्य तु ॥ १३.२४८.३ ॥
Sāvitrī is the wife of Brahmā, and auspicious Śacī of Kauśika (Indra); Lakṣmī is the beloved wife of Viṣṇu, and Dhṛti is the wife of Yama.
13.248.4
मार्कण्डेयस्य धूमोर्णा ऋद्धिर्वैश्रवणस्य तु ।
वरुणस्य प्रिया गौरी सवितुश्च सुवर्चला ॥ १३.२४८.४ ॥
Dhūmorṇā is the wife of Mārkaṇḍeya, and Ṛddhi of Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera); Gaurī is the beloved of Varuṇa, and Suvarcalā of Savitṛ.
13.248.5
रोहिणी शशिनो भार्या स्वाहा चाग्नेरनिन्दिता ।
काश्यपस्यादितिश्चैव वसिष्ठस्याप्यरुन्धती ॥ १३.२४८.५ ॥
Rohiṇī is the wife of the moon, and the blameless Svāhā of Agni; Aditi is the wife of Kaśyapa, and Arundhatī also of Vasiṣṭha.
13.248.6
एताश्चान्याश्च देव्यस्तु सर्वास्ताः पतिदेवताः ।
श्रूयन्ते लोकविख्यातास्त्वया चैव सहोषिताः ॥ १३.२४८.६ ॥
These and the other goddesses, all of them regarding their husband as their deity, are heard of as famed in the world, and they too dwelt together with you.
13.248.7
ताभिश्च पूजिताऽपि त्वमनुवृत्त्यनुभाषणैः ।
तस्मात्तु परिपृच्छामि धर्मज्ञे लोकसम्मते ॥ १३.२४८.७ ॥
Honored by them, and you too having honored them with agreeable conduct and speech, therefore I ask you, O knower of dharma, O esteemed by the world.
13.248.8
स्त्रीधर्मं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वयैव समुदाहृतम् ।
सध्रमचारिणी मे त्वं लोकसन्धारिणी तथा ॥ १३.२४८.८ ॥
I wish to hear the dharma of women, as you yourself have expounded it. You are my companion in dharma, and you also sustain the world.
13.248.9
अयं हि स्त्रीगणस्त्वां तु अनुयाति न मुञ्चति ।
त्वत्प्रसादाद्धितं श्रोतुं स्त्रीवृत्तं शुभलक्षणम् ॥ १३.२४८.९ ॥
This host of women follows you and does not leave you. By your grace, it is beneficial to hear of women's conduct, marked by auspicious signs.
13.248.10
त्वया चोक्तं विशेषेण गुणभूतं हि तिष्ठति ।
स्त्रिय एव सदा लोके स्त्रीगणस्य गतिः प्रिये ॥ १३.२४८.१० ॥
What you have said stands especially as a virtue. Beloved, in the world women alone are always the path of the host of women.
13.248.11
शश्वद्गौर्गोषु गच्छेत नान्यत्र रमते नरः ।
एवं लोकगतिर्देवि आदिप्रभृति वर्तते ॥ १३.२४८.११ ॥
A cow always goes to cows; a man does not delight elsewhere. O goddess, this is the course of the world, and so it has continued from the beginning.
13.248.12
प्रमदोक्तं तु यत्किञ्चित्तत्स्त्रीषु बहुमन्यते ।
न तथा मन्यते स्त्रीषु पुरुषोक्तमनिन्दिते ॥ १३.२४८.१२ ॥
Whatever a woman says, among women it is highly esteemed; but what a man says is not so esteemed among women. O blameless one.
13.248.13
त्वयैष विदितो ह्यर्थः स्त्रीणां धर्मः सनातनः ।
तस्मात्त्वां प्रति पृच्छामि पृष्टा वद ममेप्सितम् ॥ १३.२४८.१३ ॥
You know well this eternal duty of women. Therefore I ask you; you who are asked, speak what I desire.
13.248.14
एवमुक्ता तदा देवी महादेवेन शोभना ।
सोद्वेगा च सलज्जा च नावदत्तत्र किञ्चन।
पुनः पुनस्तदा देवी देवः किमिति चाब्रवीत् ॥ १३.२४८.१४ ॥
When thus addressed by Mahādeva, the radiant goddess, agitated and modest, said nothing there. Again and again the god asked the goddess, 'What is it?'
13.248.15
भगवन्देवदेवेश सुरासुरनमस्कृत ।
त्वदन्तिके मया वक्तुं स्त्रीणां धर्मः कथं भवेत् ॥ १३.२४८.१५ ॥
O blessed one, lord of gods, revered by gods and demons! How could I, in your presence, speak of the duty of women?
13.248.16
मन्नियोगादवश्यं तु वक्तव्यं तु मम प्रिये ॥ १३.२४८.१६ ॥
Beloved, by my command I must surely speak.
13.248.17
इमा नद्यो महादेव सर्वतीर्थोदकान्विताः ।
उपस्पर्शनहेतोस्त्वां न त्यजन्ति समीपतः ॥ १३.२४८.१७ ॥
O great god, these rivers, filled with the waters of all sacred fords, do not leave you from nearby for the sake of ablution.
13.248.18
एताभिः सह सम्मन्त्र्य प्रवक्ष्यामि तवेप्सितम् ।
अयुक्तं सत्सु तन्त्रेषु तानतिक्रम्य भाषितुम् ॥ १३.२४८.१८ ॥
Having taken counsel with these, I will speak what you desire; it is improper to speak overstepping them in the assemblies of the good.
13.248.19
मया सम्मानिताश्चैव भविष्यन्ति सरिद्वराः ॥ १३.२४८.१९ ॥
Honoured by me, these best of rivers will indeed be revered.
13.248.20
इति मत्वा महादेवी नदीर्देवीः समाह्वयत् ।
विपाशां च वितस्त्यां च चन्द्रभागां सरस्वतीम् ॥ १३.२४८.२० ॥
Thinking thus, the great goddess summoned the river-goddesses: Vipāśā, Vitastā, Candrabhāgā and Sarasvatī.
13.248.21
शतद्रुं देविक्तां सिन्धुं गौतमीं कौशिकीं तथा ।
यमुनां नर्मदां चैव कावेरीमथ निम्नगाम् ॥ १३.२४८.२१ ॥
Śatadru, Devikā, Sindhu, Gautamī, Kauśikī, and also Yamunā, Narmadā and Kāverī, the river that flows downward.
13.248.22
तथा देवनदीं गङ्गां श्रेष्ठां त्रिपथगां शुभाम् ।
सर्वतीर्थोदकवहां सर्वपापविनाशिनीम्।
एता नदीः समाहूय समुद्वीक्ष्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ १३.२४८.२२ ॥
Likewise the divine river Gaṅgā, the excellent and auspicious one who flows through three courses, who carries the waters of all sacred fords and destroys all sins. Having summoned these rivers and looked upon them, she spoke thus.
13.248.23
हे पुण्याः सरितः श्रेष्ठाः सर्वपापविनाशिकाः ।
ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नाः शृणुध्वं वचनं मम ॥ १३.२४८.२३ ॥
O holy and excellent rivers, destroyers of all sins, endowed with knowledge and discernment, hear my words.
13.248.24
अयं भगवता प्रश्न उक्तः स्त्रीधर्ममाश्रितः ।
न चैकया मया साद्यं तस्माद्वस्त्वानयाम्यहम् ॥ १३.२४८.२४ ॥
The Lord has put this question concerning the duty of women; but I alone cannot bring it to completion, therefore I will bring the matter here.
13.248.25
युष्माभिस्तद्विचार्यैवं वक्तुमिच्छामि शोभनाः ।
तत्कथं देवदेवाय वाच्यः स्त्रीधर्म उत्तमः ॥ १३.२४८.२५ ॥
Having considered this, I wish you to speak, O auspicious ones. How then is the supreme duty of women to be declared to the god of gods?
13.248.26
इति पृष्टास्तथा देव्या महानद्यश्चकम्पिरे ।
तासां श्रेष्ठतमा गङ्गा वचनं त्ववेमब्रवीत् ॥ १३.२४८.२६ ॥
Thus questioned by the goddess, the great rivers trembled. Among them, the most excellent Gaṅgā spoke these words.
13.248.27
धन्याश्चानुगृहीताः स्म अनेन वचनेन ते ।
या त्वं सुरासुरैर्मान्या नदीराद्रियसेऽनघे ॥ १३.२४८.२७ ॥
Blessed and favored are we by these words of yours. O sinless one, queen of rivers, you who are honored by gods and demons, you are revered.
13.248.28
तवैवार्हति कल्याणि एवं सान्त्वप्रसादनम् ।
अशक्यमपि ये मूर्खाः स्वात्मसम्भावनायुताः।
वाक्यं वदन्ति संसत्सु स्वयमेव यथेष्टतः ॥ १३.२४८.२८ ॥
O auspicious one, such consoling and gratifying words befit you alone. Fools full of self-conceit, of their own accord and as they please, speak in assemblies even what cannot be done.
13.248.29
शक्तो यश्चानहंवादी सुदुर्लभतमो मतः ॥ १३.२४८.२९ ॥
He who is capable yet free from boasting is considered exceedingly rare.
13.248.30
त्वं हि शक्ता सती देवी वक्तुं प्रश्नमशेषतः ।
व्याहर्तुं नेच्छसि स्त्रीत्वात्संपूजयति नस्तथा ॥ १३.२४८.३० ॥
You, O virtuous goddess, are capable of answering the question fully. Yet because you are a woman you do not wish to speak, and so you honor us.
13.248.31
त्वं हि देवि महादेवी ऊहापोहविशारदा ।
दिव्यज्ञानयुता देवि दिव्यज्ञानेन्धनैधिता ॥ १३.२४८.३१ ॥
You, goddess, are the great goddess, skilled in reasoning and inference, endowed with divine knowledge, O goddess, kindled by the fuel of divine knowledge.
13.248.32
त्वमेवार्हसि तद्वक्तुं स्त्रीणां वृत्तं शुभाशुभम् ।
याचामहे वयं श्रोतुममृतं त्वन्मुखोद्गतम्।
कुरु देवप्रियं देवि वद स्त्रीधर्ममुत्तमम् ॥ १३.२४८.३२ ॥
You alone are fit to speak of women's conduct, good and bad. We wish to hear the nectar that issues from your mouth. Goddess, do what is dear to the gods: speak the supreme duty of women.
13.248.33
एवं प्रसादिता देवी गङ्गया लोकपूज्यया ।
प्राह धर्ममशेषेण स्त्रीधर्मं सुरसुन्दरी ॥ १३.२४८.३३ ॥
Thus propitiated by Gaṅgā, revered in the worlds, the goddess Surasundarī declared the whole of dharma, the duty of women.
13.248.34
भगवन्देवदेवेश सुरेश्वर महेश्वर ।
त्वत्प्रसादात्सुरश्रेष्ठ तवैव प्रियकाम्यया।
तमहं कीर्तयिष्यामि यथावच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥ १३.२४८.३४ ॥
O venerable one, lord of the gods, lord of the gods, lord of the gods, great lord! Best of the gods, by your grace, out of desire to please you alone, I will recount exactly what you wish to hear.