Mahabharata — Volume II (Dutt edition) — Chapter 293

MBh 2 293.1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच नात्मानमनुशोचामि नेमान् भ्रातृन् महामुने। हरणं चापि राज्यस्य यथेमां दुपदात्मजाम्॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca nātmānamanuśocāmi nemān bhrātṛn mahāmune| haraṇaṃ cāpi rājyasya yathemāṃ dupadātmajām||

Yudhishthira said : O great sage, I do not grieve so much for myself or for these my brothers or for the loss of my kingdom as (I do) for this daughter of Drupada.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.2

द्यूते दुरात्मभिः क्लिष्टा: कृष्णया तारिता वयम्। जयद्रथेन च पुनर्वनाच्चापि हृता बलात्॥

dyūte durātmabhiḥ kliṣṭā: kṛṣṇayā tāritā vayam| jayadrathena ca punarvanāccāpi hṛtā balāt||

When the wicked-souled (sons of Dhritarashtra) gave us pain at the game of dice we were delivered by Krishna. (But) Jayadratha forcibly carried her off even from the forest.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.3

अस्ति सीमन्तिनी काचिद् दृष्टपूर्वापि वा श्रुता। पतिव्रता महाभागा यथेयं दुपदात्मजा॥

asti sīmantinī kācid dṛṣṭapūrvāpi vā śrutā| pativratā mahābhāgā yatheyaṃ dupadātmajā||

Have you ever seen or heard of a lady as highly fortunate and as devoted to her husband as the daughter of Dripada?

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.4

मार्कण्डेय उवाच शृणु राजन् कुलस्त्रीणां महाभाग्यं युधिष्ठिर। सर्वमेतद् यथा प्राप्तं सावित्र्या राजकन्यया।॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca śṛṇu rājan kulastrīṇāṃ mahābhāgyaṃ yudhiṣṭhira| sarvametad yathā prāptaṃ sāvitryā rājakanyayā|||

Markandeya said : Hear, O king Yudhishthira, how the princess Savitri attained to all the high virtues of chaste ladies.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.5

आसीन्मनेषु धर्मात्मा राजा परमधार्मिकः। ब्रह्मण्यश्च महात्मा च सत्यसंधो जितेन्द्रियः॥

āsīnmaneṣu dharmātmā rājā paramadhārmikaḥ| brahmaṇyaśca mahātmā ca satyasaṃdho jitendriyaḥ||

Among the Madra there was a pious, exceedingly virtuous and a high-souled king devoted to the ministrations of the Brahmanas, firm in promise and of subdued passions.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.6

यज्वा दानपतिर्दक्षः पौरजानपदप्रियः। पार्थिवोऽश्वपति म सर्वभूतहिते रतः॥

yajvā dānapatirdakṣaḥ paurajānapadapriyaḥ| pārthivo'śvapati ma sarvabhūtahite rataḥ||

This king, who was called Ashvapati was ever engaged in sacrifices, the foremost of the benevolent able loved by the people of the cities and provinces and was devoted to the welfare of all creatures.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.7

क्षमावाननपत्यश्च सत्यवान् विजितेन्द्रियः। अतिक्रान्तेन वयसा संतापमुपजग्मिवान्॥

kṣamāvānanapatyaśca satyavān vijitendriyaḥ| atikrāntena vayasā saṃtāpamupajagmivān||

But that truthful and self-controlled monarch having no offspring, was much pained when he was far advanced in years.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.8

अपत्योत्पादनार्थं च तीव्र नियममास्थितः। काले परिमिताहारो ब्रह्मचारी जितेन्द्रियः॥

apatyotpādanārthaṃ ca tīvra niyamamāsthitaḥ| kāle parimitāhāro brahmacārī jitendriyaḥ||

And in order to be blessed with children, he observed rigid vows, partook of moderate food at the proper time, led the Brahmacharya (mode of) life and subdued his passions.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.9

हुत्वा शतसहस्रं स सावित्र्या राजसत्तमः। षष्ठे षष्ठे तदा काले बभूव मितभोजनः॥

hutvā śatasahasraṃ sa sāvitryā rājasattamaḥ| ṣaṣṭhe ṣaṣṭhe tadā kāle babhūva mitabhojanaḥ||

That most exalted of kings (daily) offered ten thousand oblations to Savitri and partook of a moderate food at the sixth portion of the day.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.10

एतेन नियमेनासीद् वर्षाण्यष्टादशैव तु। पूर्णे त्वष्टादशे वर्षे सावित्री तुष्टिमभ्यगात्॥

etena niyamenāsīd varṣāṇyaṣṭādaśaiva tu| pūrṇe tvaṣṭādaśe varṣe sāvitrī tuṣṭimabhyagāt||

He observed (all) these vows for eighteen years and when the eighteenth year was complete, Savitri was pleased with him.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.11

रूपिणी तु तदा राजन् दर्शयामास तं नृपम्। अग्निहोत्रात् समुत्थाय हर्षेण महतान्विता। उवाच चैनं वरदा वचनं पार्थिवं तदा॥

rūpiṇī tu tadā rājan darśayāmāsa taṃ nṛpam| agnihotrāt samutthāya harṣeṇa mahatānvitā| uvāca cainaṃ varadā vacanaṃ pārthivaṃ tadā||

And O monarch, rising from the sacrificial fire with great delight, she appeared before the king and desirous of conferring boons addressed the monarch thus,

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.12

सावित्र्युवाच ब्रह्मचर्येण शुद्धेन दमेन नियमेन च। सर्वात्मना च भक्त्या च तुष्टास्मि तव पार्थिव॥

sāvitryuvāca brahmacaryeṇa śuddhena damena niyamena ca| sarvātmanā ca bhaktyā ca tuṣṭāsmi tava pārthiva||

Savitri said: "O king, I have been pleased with your Brahmacharya life, purity, self-control, observance of vows and all your endeavours and devotion.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.13

वरं वृणीष्वाश्वपते मद्रराज यदीप्सितम्। न प्रमादश्च धर्मेषु कर्तव्यस्ते कथञ्चन॥

varaṃ vṛṇīṣvāśvapate madrarāja yadīpsitam| na pramādaśca dharmeṣu kartavyaste kathañcana||

O Ashvapati, O king of Madra, ask for whatever boon you desire. You should, however by no means disrespect virtue.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.14

अश्वपतिरुवाच अपत्यार्थः समारम्भः कृतो धर्मेप्सया मया। पुत्रा मे बहवो देवि भवेयुः कुलभावनाः॥

aśvapatiruvāca apatyārthaḥ samārambhaḥ kṛto dharmepsayā mayā| putrā me bahavo devi bhaveyuḥ kulabhāvanāḥ||

Ashvapati said : Desirous of attaining virtue, I have observed all these vows so that I may have children. O goddess, many numerous sons, woryour of my race, be born to me.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.15

तुष्टासि यदि मे देवि वरमेतं वृणोम्यहम्। संतानं परमो धर्म इत्याहुर्मां द्विजातयः॥

tuṣṭāsi yadi me devi varametaṃ vṛṇomyaham| saṃtānaṃ paramo dharma ityāhurmāṃ dvijātayaḥ||

O goddess, if you are pleased with me, then I pray for this boon. The Brahmanas have told me that one attains to the crowning merit by having children.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.16

सावित्र्युवाच पूर्वमेव मया राजन्नभिप्रायमिमं तव। ज्ञात्वा पुत्रार्थमुक्तो वै भगवांस्ते पितामहः॥

sāvitryuvāca pūrvameva mayā rājannabhiprāyamimaṃ tava| jñātvā putrārthamukto vai bhagavāṃste pitāmahaḥ||

Savitri said : Aware of your intentions before hand, I spoke about your sons to the divine Grandsire (Brahma).

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.17

प्रसादाच्चैव तस्मात् ते स्वयम्भुविहिताद् भुवि। कन्या तेजस्विनी सौम्य क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति॥

prasādāccaiva tasmāt te svayambhuvihitād bhuvi| kanyā tejasvinī saumya kṣiprameva bhaviṣyati||

O virtuous one, you will, through the grace of that self-existent lord, have soon a highlyenergetic daughter on earth.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.18

उत्तरं च न ते किंचिद् व्याहर्तव्यं कथञ्चन। पितामहनिसर्गेण तुष्टा ह्येतद् ब्रवीमि ते॥

uttaraṃ ca na te kiṃcid vyāhartavyaṃ kathañcana| pitāmahanisargeṇa tuṣṭā hyetad bravīmi te||

I gladly tell you all this at the command of the Grandsire; you need not, therefore, make any reply.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.19

मार्कण्डेय उवाच स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय सावित्र्या वचनं नृपः। प्रसादयामास पुनः क्षिप्रमेतद् भविष्यति॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca sa tatheti pratijñāya sāvitryā vacanaṃ nṛpaḥ| prasādayāmāsa punaḥ kṣiprametad bhaviṣyati||

Markandeya said : The king then bowing assent to the words of Savitri and saying "be it so," pleased her again and said "may this soon happen."

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.20

अन्तर्हितायां सावित्र्यां जगाम स्वपुरं नृपः। स्वराज्ये चावसद् वीरः प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्॥

antarhitāyāṃ sāvitryāṃ jagāma svapuraṃ nṛpaḥ| svarājye cāvasad vīraḥ prajā dharmeṇa pālayan||

When Savitri had disappeared the king entered his own city. And that hero began to dwell in his kingdom and govern his subjects righteously.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.21

कस्मिंश्चित् तु गते काले स राजा नियतव्रतः। ज्येष्ठायां धर्मचारिण्यां महिष्यां गर्भमादधे॥

kasmiṃścit tu gate kāle sa rājā niyatavrataḥ| jyeṣṭhāyāṃ dharmacāriṇyāṃ mahiṣyāṃ garbhamādadhe||

Some time having elapsed that king observant of vows, begot offspring in the womb of his eldest queen devoted to religion.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.22

राजपुत्र्यास्तु गर्भः स मालव्या भरतर्षभ। व्यवर्धत तदा शुक्ले तारापतिरिवाम्बरे॥

rājaputryāstu garbhaḥ sa mālavyā bharatarṣabha| vyavardhata tadā śukle tārāpatirivāmbare||

O best of the Bharata, the embryo in the womb of the princess Malavi began to increase like the lord of the stars in heaven, during the lighted fortnight.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.23

प्राप्ते काले तु सुषुवे कन्यां राजीवलोचनाम्। क्रियाश्च तस्या मुदितश्चक्रे च नृपसत्तमः॥

prāpte kāle tu suṣuve kanyāṃ rājīvalocanām| kriyāśca tasyā muditaścakre ca nṛpasattamaḥ||

And at the proper time she gave birth to a daughter with eyes resembling lotus. And that best of kings gladly performed her natal rites.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.24

सावित्र्या प्रीतया दत्ता सावित्र्या हुत्या ह्यपि। सावित्रीत्येव नामास्याश्चक्रुर्विप्रास्तथा पिता॥

sāvitryā prītayā dattā sāvitryā hutyā hyapi| sāvitrītyeva nāmāsyāścakrurviprāstathā pitā||

And as Savitri gladly gave (him) that daughter on account of the king (daily) offering her oblations, both her father and the Brahmanas named her Savitri.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.25

सा विग्रहवतीव श्रीळवर्धत नृपात्मजा। कालेन चापि सा कन्या यौवनस्था बभूव ह॥

sā vigrahavatīva śrīl̤avardhata nṛpātmajā| kālena cāpi sā kanyā yauvanasthā babhūva ha||

The king's daughter (gradually) grew up like the very embodiment of Sri (Lakshmi). And that damsel, in time stepped into youth.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.26

तां सुमध्यां पृथुश्रोणी प्रतिमां काञ्चनीमिव। प्राप्तेयं देवकन्येति दृष्ट्वा सम्मेनिरे जनाः॥

tāṃ sumadhyāṃ pṛthuśroṇī pratimāṃ kāñcanīmiva| prāpteyaṃ devakanyeti dṛṣṭvā sammenire janāḥ||

Seeing that slender-waisted damsel of robust hips and looking like a golden image, people thought "we have got a goddess."

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.27

तां तु पद्मपलाशाक्षीं ज्वलन्तीमिव तेजसा। न कश्चिद् वरयामास तेजसा प्रतिवारितः॥

tāṃ tu padmapalāśākṣīṃ jvalantīmiva tejasā| na kaścid varayāmāsa tejasā prativāritaḥ||

And oppressed by her, energy none could marry that girl of lotus-like eyes who seemed as if blazing in splendour.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.28

अथोपोष्य शिर:स्नाता देवतामभिगम्य सा। हुत्वाग्नि विधिवद् विप्रान् वाचयामास पर्वणि॥

athopoṣya śira:snātā devatāmabhigamya sā| hutvāgni vidhivad viprān vācayāmāsa parvaṇi||

Then on a Parva day, Savitri, observing fasts, bathing her head and approaching the family deity caused the Brahmanas to offer oblations to the sacrificial fire in accordance with due rites.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.29

ततः सुमनसः शेषाः प्रतिगृह्य महात्मनः। पितुः समीपमगमद् देवी श्रीरिव रूपिणी॥

tataḥ sumanasaḥ śeṣāḥ pratigṛhya mahātmanaḥ| pituḥ samīpamagamad devī śrīriva rūpiṇī||

Then taking the flowers and garlands with which she worshipped the deity, Savitri looking like the very embodiment of Sri, repaired to her high-souled sire.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.30

साभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ शेषाः पूर्वं निवेद्य च। कृताञ्जलिर्वरारोहा नृपतेः पार्श्वमास्थिता।॥

sābhivādya pituḥ pādau śeṣāḥ pūrvaṃ nivedya ca| kṛtāñjalirvarārohā nṛpateḥ pārśvamāsthitā|||

And bowing down to the feet of her father and offering him those flowers and garlands, that highly beautiful damsel with joined-hands stood beside the king.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.31

यौवनस्थां तां दृष्ट्वा स्वां सुतां देवरूपिणीम्। अयाच्यमानां च वरैर्नृपतिर्दुःखितोऽभवत्॥

yauvanasthāṃ tāṃ dṛṣṭvā svāṃ sutāṃ devarūpiṇīm| ayācyamānāṃ ca varairnṛpatirduḥkhito'bhavat||

Seeing that his daughter (beautiful), as a goddess, attained her puberty and was not courted by suitors, the king became sorry.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.32

तु राजोवाच पुत्रि प्रदानकालस्ते न च कश्चिद् वृणोति माम्। स्वयमन्विच्छ भर्तारं गुणैः सदृशमात्मनः॥

tu rājovāca putri pradānakālaste na ca kaścid vṛṇoti mām| svayamanviccha bhartāraṃ guṇaiḥ sadṛśamātmanaḥ||

The king said: Daughter, the time for giving you away is arrived. (But) none asks me (for your hand). Do you, (therefore) seek for a husband as qualified as you.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.33

प्रार्थितः पुरुषो यश्च स निवेद्यस्त्वया मम। विमृश्याहं प्रदास्यामि वरय त्वं यथेप्सितम्॥

prārthitaḥ puruṣo yaśca sa nivedyastvayā mama| vimṛśyāhaṃ pradāsyāmi varaya tvaṃ yathepsitam||

Speak of that person, to me, whom you desire (for your husband). Choose, whom you like, for your husband. I will (afterwards) on (due) deliberation give you away (to him).

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.34

श्रुतं हि धर्मशास्त्रेषु पठ्यमानं द्विजातिभिः। तथा त्वमपि कल्याणि गदतो मे वचः शृणु॥

śrutaṃ hi dharmaśāstreṣu paṭhyamānaṃ dvijātibhiḥ| tathā tvamapi kalyāṇi gadato me vacaḥ śṛṇu||

Hear, O auspicious girl, as I tell you the words, which I have heard the twice-born ones to recite from the sacred books.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.35

अप्रदाता पिता वाच्यो वाच्यश्चानुपयन् पतिः। मृते भर्तरि पुत्रश्च वाच्यो मातुररक्षिता॥

apradātā pitā vācyo vācyaścānupayan patiḥ| mṛte bhartari putraśca vācyo māturarakṣitā||

That father who does not give away his daughter in marriage, is blamed. That husband who does not enjoy his wife during her courses is also blamed. And that son, who does not maintain his mother in her widowhood, meets with disgrace.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.36

इदं मे वचनं श्रुत्वा भर्तुरन्वेषणो त्वर। देवतानां यथा वाच्यो न भवेयं तथा कुरु॥

idaṃ me vacanaṃ śrutvā bharturanveṣaṇo tvara| devatānāṃ yathā vācyo na bhaveyaṃ tathā kuru||

Hearing these my words do you speedily go in search of a husband. Act in such a way that we may not be blamed by the gods.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.37

मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवमुक्त्वा दुहितरं तथा वृद्धांश्च मन्त्रिणः। व्यादिदेशानुयात्रं च गम्यतां चेत्यचोदयत्॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca evamuktvā duhitaraṃ tathā vṛddhāṃśca mantriṇaḥ| vyādideśānuyātraṃ ca gamyatāṃ cetyacodayat||

Markandeya said : Addressing thus his daughter and his old ministers, (the king) gave orders to make preparations (for their departure) and said "go".

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.38

साभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ वीडितेव मनस्विनी। पितुर्वचनमाज्ञाय निर्जगामाविचारितम्॥

sābhivādya pituḥ pādau vīḍiteva manasvinī| piturvacanamājñāya nirjagāmāvicāritam||

(Thereupon), she, (gentle and meek) as a fernale ascetic, bashfully bowing down to the feet of her father, set out without hesitation, in obedience to the commands of her sire.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.39

सा हैमं रथमास्थाय स्थविरैः सचिवैर्वृता। तपोवनानि रम्याणि राजर्षीणां जगाम ह॥

sā haimaṃ rathamāsthāya sthaviraiḥ sacivairvṛtā| tapovanāni ramyāṇi rājarṣīṇāṃ jagāma ha||

Seated on a car of gold and surrounded by the ministers, she visited the delightful hermitage of the royal sages.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.40

मान्यानां तत्र वृद्धानां कृत्वा पादाभिवादनम्। वनानि क्रमशस्तात सर्वाण्येवाभ्यगच्छत॥

mānyānāṃ tatra vṛddhānāṃ kṛtvā pādābhivādanam| vanāni kramaśastāta sarvāṇyevābhyagacchata||

O son, there bowing down to the feet of the elders and the revered, she visited all the forests one after the other.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 293.41

एवं तीर्थेषु सर्वेषु धनोत्सर्गं नृपात्मजा। कुर्वती द्विजमुख्यानां तं तं देशं जगाम ह॥

evaṃ tīrtheṣu sarveṣu dhanotsargaṃ nṛpātmajā| kurvatī dvijamukhyānāṃ taṃ taṃ deśaṃ jagāma ha||

Thus giving away riches in all the Tirthas, the king's daughter travelled over all those places inhabited by the foremost of the twiceborn ones.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)