Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 3.294
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3.294.1
नात्मानमनुशोचामि नेमान्भ्रातॄन्महामुने ।
हरणं चापि राज्यस् यथेमां द्रुपदात्मजाम् ॥ ३.२९४.१ ॥
O great sage, I do not grieve for myself, nor for these brothers, nor for the seizure of the kingdom, but for this daughter of Drupada.
3.294.2
द्यूते दुरात्मभिः क्लिष्टाः कृष्णया तारिता वयम् ।
जयद्रथेन चपुनर्वनाच्चापि हृता बलात् ॥ ३.२९४.२ ॥
In the dice game we were tormented by the wicked-minded ones, and we were rescued by Kṛṣṇā; then Jayadratha again carried her off by force from the forest.
3.294.3
अस्ति सीमन्तिनी काचिद्दृष्टपूर्वाऽपिवा श्रुता ।
पतिव्रता महाभागा यथेयं द्रुपदात्मजा ॥ ३.२९४.३ ॥
Is there any married woman, seen before or heard of, as devoted to her husband and as greatly fortunate as this daughter of Drupada?
3.294.4
शृणु राजन्कुलस्त्रीणां महाभाग्यं युधिष्ठिर ।
सर्वमेतद्यथाप्राप्तं सावित्र्या राजकन्यया ॥ ३.२९४.४ ॥
Listen, O king Yudhiṣṭhira, to the great fortune of women of noble families; hear how all this came to the princess Sāvitrī.
3.294.5
आसीन्मद्रेषु धर्मात्मा राजा परमधार्मिकः ।
ब्रह्मण्यश्चमहात्मा च सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः ॥ ३.२९४.५ ॥
In the land of the Madras there was a king, righteous-souled, supremely pious, devoted to brahmins, great-souled, true to his vows, and self-controlled.
3.294.6
यज्वा दानपतिर्दक्षः पौरजानपदप्रियः ।
पार्थिवोऽश्वपतिर्नाम सर्वभूतहिते रतः ॥ ३.२९४.६ ॥
He was a king named Aśvapati, a sacrificer, lord of gifts, skilful, beloved of townsfolk and country people, devoted to the welfare of all beings.
3.294.7
क्षमावाननपत्यश्च सत्यवाग्विजितेन्द्रियः ।
अतिक्रान्तेन वयसा संतापमुपजग्मिवान् ॥ ३.२९४.७ ॥
He was patient, without offspring, truthful in speech, and master of his senses; but when his years had passed, he came to be distressed.
3.294.8
अपत्योत्पादनार्थं च तीव्रं नियममास्थितः ।
काले परिमिताहारो ब्रहमचारी जितेन्द्रियः ॥ ३.२९४.८ ॥
To bring about offspring, he undertook a severe vow, eating moderately at the proper times, living as a celibate and master of his senses.
3.294.9
हुत्वा शतसहस्रं स सावित्र्या राजसत्तम ।
षष्ठेषष्ठे तदाकाले बभूव मितमोजनः ॥ ३.२९४.९ ॥
O best of kings, he offered a hundred thousand oblations to Sāvitrī; and at every sixth time, he became one who ate in measure.
3.294.10
एतेन नियमेनासीद्वर्षाण्यष्टादशैव तु ।
पूर्णे त्वष्टादशे वर्षे सावित्री तुष्टिमभ्यगात् ॥ ३.२९४.१० ॥
By this vow, eighteen years passed; and when the eighteenth year was complete, Sāvitrī came to be pleased.
3.294.11
रूपिणी तु तदा राजन्दर्शयामास तं नृपम् ।
अग्निहोत्रात्समुत्थाय हर्षेण महताऽन्विता ॥ ३.२९४.११ ॥
Then, O king, she took visible form and, rising from the fire-offering, filled with great joy, revealed herself to that king.
3.294.12
उवाच चैनं वरदा वचनं पार्थिवं तदा ।
सा तमश्वपतिं राजन्सावित्री नियमे स्थितम् ॥ ३.२९४.१२ ॥
Then the boon-giving Sāvitrī spoke these words to that king; O king, Sāvitrī spoke to Aśvapati, who was abiding in the vow.
3.294.13
ब्रह्मचर्येण शुद्धेन दमेन नियमेन रच ।
सर्वात्मना च भक्त्या च तुष्टाऽस्मि तव पार्थिवाः ॥ ३.२९४.१३ ॥
By pure celibacy, self-restraint, observance, and devotion with the whole self, I am pleased with you, O king.
3.294.14
वरं वृणीष्वाश्वपते मद्रराज यदीप्सितम् ।
न प्रामादश्च धर्मेषु कर्तव्यस्ते कथंचन ॥ ३.२९४.१४ ॥
O lord of horses, king of the Madras, choose whatever boon you desire. In no way should you be negligent in matters of dharma.
3.294.15
अपत्यार्थः समारम्भः कृतो धर्मेप्सया मया ।
पुत्रा मे बहवो देवि भवेयुः कुलभावनाः ॥ ३.२९४.१५ ॥
Out of desire for dharma, I undertook this effort for the sake of offspring. O goddess, may I have many sons who sustain the family.
3.294.16
तुष्टाऽसि यदि मे देवि वरमेतं वृणोम्यहम् ।
संतां परमो धर्म इत्याहुर्मां द्विजातयः ॥ ३.२९४.१६ ॥
O goddess, if you are pleased with me, I choose this very boon. The twice-born call offspring the supreme dharma.
3.294.17
पूर्वमेव मया राजन्नभिप्रायमिमं तव ।
ज्ञात्वा पुत्रार्थमुक्तो वै भगवांस्ते पितामहः ॥ ३.२९४.१७ ॥
O king, I had already known this intention of yours, and so your venerable grandfather spoke to me concerning a son.
3.294.18
प्रसादाच्चैव तस्मात्ते स्वयं विहितवत्यहम् ।
कन्या तेजस्विनी सौम्य क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति ॥ ३.२९४.१८ ॥
By that very grace of yours, I myself have arranged this. O gentle one, a radiant daughter will soon be born to you.
3.294.19
उत्तरं च न ते किंचिद्व्याहर्तव्यं कथंचन ।
पितामहनियोगेन तुष्टा ह्येतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥ ३.२९४.१९ ॥
You must not give any reply whatsoever. It is by the command of our grandfather, and pleased, that I tell you this.
3.294.20
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय सावित्र्या वचनं नृपः ।
प्रसादयामास पुनः क्षिप्रमेतद्भविष्यति
ततः सुमनसः शेषाः प्रतिगृह्य महात्मनः। ॥ ३.२९४.२० ॥
The king, saying 'So be it,' accepted Sāvitrī's word and again pleased her, saying, 'This will come about quickly.' Then the rest, glad at heart, having received the great-souled one...
3.294.21
अन्तर्हितायां सावित्र्यां जगाम स्वपुरं नृपः ।
स्वराज्ये चावसद्बीरः प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ॥ ३.२९४.२१ ॥
When Sāvitrī had vanished, the king went to his own city, and that hero dwelt in his own kingdom, protecting his subjects righteously.
3.294.22
कस्मिंश्चित्तु गते काले स राजा नियतब्रतः ।
ज्येष्ठायां धर्मचारिण्यां महिष्यां कगर्भमादधे ॥ ३.२९४.२२ ॥
When some time had passed, that king, steadfast in his vows, conceived a child in his eldest, virtuous chief queen.
3.294.23
राजपुत्र्यास्तु गर्भः स मानव्या भरतर्षभ ।
व्यर्धतं तदा शुक्ले तारापतिरिवाम्बरे ॥ ३.२९४.२३ ॥
And that embryo of the princess of the Mānava line, O bull of the Bharatas, then grew in the bright fortnight like the lord of the stars in the sky.
3.294.24
प्राप्ते काले तु सुषुवे कन्यां राजीवलोचनाम् ।
क्रियाश्च तस्या मुदितश्चक्रे च नृपसत्तमः ॥ ३.२९४.२४ ॥
When the time had come, she bore a lotus-eyed daughter; and the best of kings, delighted, performed the rites for her.
3.294.25
सावित्र्या प्रीतया दत्ता साव्त्र्या द्दुतया ह्यपि ।
सावित्रीत्येव नामास्याश्चक्रुर्विप्रास्तथा पिता ॥ ३.२९४.२५ ॥
Given by the pleased goddess Sāvitrī, given swiftly, the Brahmins and her father named her Sāvitrī.
3.294.26
सा विग्रहवतीव श्रीव्यवर्धत नृपात्मजा ।
कालेन चापि सा कन्या यौवनस्ता बभूव ह ॥ ३.२९४.२६ ॥
That princess grew as if Fortune herself had taken bodily form, and in time that maiden came to womanhood.
3.294.27
तां सुमध्यां पृथुश्रोणीं प्रतिमां काञ्चनीमिव ।
प्राप्तेयं रदेवकन्येति दृष्ट्वा संमेनिरे जनाः ॥ ३.२९४.२७ ॥
Seeing her, slender-waisted and broad-hipped, like a golden image, the people thought: this is a goddess-maiden who has come.
3.294.28
तां तु पद्मपलाशाक्षीं ज्वलन्तीमिव तेजसा ।
न कश्चिद्वरयामास तेजसा प्रतिवारितः ॥ ३.२९४.२८ ॥
No one chose that lotus-petal-eyed maiden, blazing as if with fire, for each man was held back by her radiance.
3.294.29
अथोपोष्य शिरःस्नाता देवतामभिगम्य सा ।
हुत्वाग्निं विधिवद्विप्रान्वाचयामास पर्वणि ॥ ३.२९४.२९ ॥
Then, having fasted and bathed her head, she approached the deity, offered oblations into the fire according to rule, and had the Brahmins recite on the festival day.
3.294.30
पितुः समीपमगमद्देवी श्रीरिव रूपिणी ॥ ३.२९४.३० ॥
The goddess, as if Fortune herself in bodily form, went to her father's side.
3.294.31
साऽभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ शेषाः पूर्वं निवेद्य च ।
कृताञ्जलिर्वरारोहा नृपतेः पार्श्वमास्थिता ॥ ३.२९४.३१ ॥
Having bowed to her father's feet and first informed the other elders, the fair-hipped maiden stood by the king's side with joined palms.
3.294.32
यौवनस्थां तु तां दृष्ट्वा स्वां सुतां देवरूपिणीम् ।
अयाच्यमानां च वरैर्नृपतिर्दुःखितोऽभवत् ॥ ३.२९४.३२ ॥
Seeing his own daughter, god-like in form and standing in youth, and seeing that she was not sought by suitors, the king became grieved.
3.294.33
पुत्रि प्रदानकालस्ते न च कश्चिद्वृणोति माम् ।
स्वयमन्विच्छ भर्तारं गुणैः सदृशमात्मनः ॥ ३.२९४.३३ ॥
Daughter, the time for your giving in marriage has come, yet no one chooses me. Seek out for yourself a husband fitting in qualities.
3.294.34
प्रार्थितः पुरुषो यश्च स निवेद्यस्त्वया मम ।
विमृश्याहं प्रदास्यामि वरय त्वं यथेप्सितम् ॥ ३.२९४.३४ ॥
The man whom you desire, you must report to me; having considered, I will give you away. Choose a husband as you wish.
3.294.35
श्रुतं हि धर्मशास्त्रेषु पठ्यमानं द्विजातिभिः ।
तथा त्वमपिकल्याणि गदतो मे वचः शृणु ॥ ३.२९४.३५ ॥
As is heard, recited in the law-treatises by the twice-born, so you too have surely heard. Hear now, auspicious one, the words I speak.
3.294.36
अप्रदाता पिता वाच्यो वाच्यश्चानुपयन्पतिः ।
मृते पितरि पुत्रश्च वाच्यो मातुररक्षिता ॥ ३.२९४.३६ ॥
A father who does not give away his daughter is said to be blameworthy, and so is a husband who does not take a wife. When the father is dead, a son who does not protect his mother is said to be blameworthy.
3.294.37
इदं मे वचनं क्षुत्वा भर्तुरन्वेषणे न्वर ।
देवतानां यथा याच्यो न भवेयं तथा कुरु ॥ ३.२९४.३७ ॥
Having heard these words of mine, hasten in the search for a husband, so that I may not become one to be begged of the gods; do so.
3.294.38
एवमुक्त्वा दुहितरं तथा वृद्धांश्च मन्त्रिणः ।
व्यादिदेशानुयात्रं च गम्यतां चेत्यचोदयत् ॥ ३.२९४.३८ ॥
Having thus spoken to his daughter and the aged ministers, he gave orders to the attendants and urged them, saying, 'Let us go.'
3.294.39
साऽभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ व्रीडितेव मनस्विनी ।
पितुर्वचनमाज्ञाय निर्जगामाविचारितम् ॥ ३.२९४.३९ ॥
That high-minded woman, as if abashed, bowed at her father's feet, understood his word, and set out without further deliberation.
3.294.40
सा हैमं रथमास्थाय स्थविरैः सचिवैर्वृता ।
तपोवनानिरम्याणि राजर्षीणां जगाम ह ॥ ३.२९४.४० ॥
Mounting a golden chariot and surrounded by aged ministers, she went to the delightful hermitage groves of the royal sages.
3.294.41
मान्यानां तत्र वृद्धानां कृत्वा पादाभिवादनम् ।
वनानि क्रमशस्तात सर्वाण्येवाभ्यगच्छत ॥ ३.२९४.४१ ॥
There, having bowed at the feet of the honored elders, dear one, she went in turn to all the forests.
3.294.42
एवं तीर्थेषु सर्वेषु धनोत्सर्गं नृपात्मजा ।
कुर्वी द्विजमुख्यानां तंतं देशं जगाम ह ॥ ३.२९४.४२ ॥
Thus, giving away wealth at all the holy fords, the king's daughter went to each and every land for the foremost brahmins.