03.277
sāvitryupākhyānam
The story of Sāvitrī.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
nātmānam anuśocāmi nemān bhrātṝn mahā-mune. haraṇaṃ ca api rājyasya yathā imāṃ drupada-ātmajām ॥03-277-1॥
O great sage, I do not lament for myself, nor these brothers, nor even the loss of the kingdom, as much as I lament for this daughter of Drupada. (03-277-1)
dyūte durātmabhiḥ kliṣṭāḥ kṛṣṇayā tāritā vayam। jayadrathena ca punar-vanād-apahṛtā balāt ॥03-277-2॥
Oppressed in the gambling by evil-minded men, we were saved by Kṛṣṇā. And again, by Jayadratha, carried away by force from the forest. (03-277-2)
asti sīmantinī kācid dṛṣṭapūrvātha vā śrutā. pativratā mahābhāgā yatheyaṃ drupadātmajā ॥03-277-3॥
There is some married woman, whether seen or heard of before, who is a faithful wife and greatly fortunate, just like this daughter of Drupada. (03-277-3)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said;
śṛṇu rājan kulastrīṇāṃ mahābhāgyaṃ yudhiṣṭhira। sarvam etad yathā prāptaṃ sāvitryā rājakanyayā ॥03-277-4॥
Hear, O King Yudhiṣṭhira, about the great fortune of noble women, all this as attained by Sāvitrī, the royal princess. (03-277-4)
āsīn madreṣu dharmātmā rājā paramadhārmikaḥ. brahmaṇyaś ca śaraṇyaś ca satyasan-dho jitendriyaḥ ॥03-277-5॥
In the land of the Madras, there was a king who was righteous, supremely virtuous, devoted to brahmins, a giver of refuge, truthful, and master of his senses. (03-277-5)
yajvā dānapatirdakṣaḥ paurajānapadapriyaḥ। pārthivo'śvapatirnāma sarvabhūtahite rataḥ ॥03-277-6॥
A sacrificer, generous, skilful, dear to citizens and country folk—the king, called the lord of horses, is devoted to the welfare of all beings. (03-277-6)
kṣamāvānanapatyaś ca satyavāg vijitendriyaḥ। atikrāntena vayasā santāpam upajagmivān॥03-277-7॥
He, being forbearing, childless, truthful in speech, and self-controlled, was afflicted by sorrow due to advancing age. (03-277-7)
apatyotpādanārthaṃ sa tīvraṃ niyamamāsthitaḥ। kāle parimitāhāro brahmacārī jitendriyaḥ ॥03-277-8॥
For the purpose of producing offspring, he practiced intense self-restraint, eating in moderation at the proper time, maintaining celibacy, and having control over his senses. (03-277-8)
hutvā śatasahasraṃ sa sāvitryā rājasattama। ṣaṣṭhe ṣaṣṭhe tadā kāle babhūva mitabhojanaḥ ॥03-277-9॥
O best among kings, after offering a hundred thousand (oblations) together with Sāvitrī, then at every sixth time, he became moderate in food. (03-277-9)
etena niyamena āsīd varṣāṇy aṣṭādaśaiva tu. pūrṇe tv aṣṭādaśe varṣe sāvitri tuṣṭim abhyagāt ॥ svarūpiṇī tadā rājan darśayāmāsa taṃ nṛpam ॥03-277-10॥
Following this discipline, Sāvitrī lived for eighteen years. When the eighteenth year was completed, she attained satisfaction. Then, O king, Sāvitrī, appearing in her true form, revealed herself to the king. (03-277-10)
agnihotrātsamutthāya harṣeṇa mahatānvitā। uvāca cainaṃ varadā vacanaṃ pārtivaṃ tadā ॥03-277-11॥
Then, the giver of boons, filled with great joy, having risen from the Agnihotra, spoke these words to the king. (03-277-11)
brahmacaryeṇa śuddhena damena niyamena ca। sarvātmanā ca madbhaktyā tuṣṭāsmi tava pārthiva॥03-277-12॥
O King, I am satisfied with you by your celibacy, purity, self-control, observances, wholeheartedness, and devotion to me. (03-277-12)
varaṃ vṛṇīṣvāśvapate madrarāja yathepsitam। na pramādaś ca dharmeṣu kartavyas te kathaṃcana॥03-277-13॥
Choose a boon, O lord of horses, O king of Madra, as you desire. Negligence in duties is never to be done by you in any manner. (03-277-13)
aśvapatir uvāca॥
Aśvapati said.
apatyārthaḥ samārambhaḥ kṛto dharm-epsayā mayā। putrā me bahavo devi bhaveyuḥ kulabhāvanāḥ ॥03-277-14॥
I have undertaken this effort for the sake of having children, motivated by a desire for righteousness. May I have many sons, O goddess, who will cause the lineage to flourish. (03-277-14)
tuṣṭāsi yadi me devi kāmam etaṁ vṛṇomy aham। santānaṁ hi paro dharma ity āhur māṁ dvijātayaḥ॥03-277-15॥
O goddess, if you are pleased with me, then this is the desire I choose: offspring, for indeed the twice-born say to me that offspring is the highest dharma. (03-277-15)
sāvitry uvāca॥
Sāvitrī said.
pūrvam eva mayā rājan abhiprāyam imaṃ tava। jñātvā putrārtham ukto vai tava hetoḥ pitāmahaḥ॥03-277-16॥
O king, already before, knowing this intention of yours for the sake of your son, your grandfather indeed spoke (thus) because of your reason. (03-277-16)
prasādāc caiva tasmāt te svayambhu-vihitād bhuvi। kanyā tejasvinī saumya kṣipram eva bhaviṣyati॥03-277-17॥
O gentle one, therefore, by favor and by what is ordained on earth by Svayambhū, you will soon have a radiant daughter. (03-277-17)
uttaraṁ ca na te kiñcid vyāhartavyaṁ kathañcana। pitāmaha-nisargeṇa tuṣṭā hy etad bravīmi te ॥03-277-18॥
And no answer whatsoever should be given to you in any way; by the ordinance of the grandfather, being content, I indeed speak this to you. (03-277-18)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
sa tatheti pratijñāya sāvitryā vacanaṁ nṛpaḥ। prasādayāmāsa punaḥ kṣipramevaṁ bhavediti ॥03-277-19॥
The king, having agreed to Sāvitrī's request with 'so be it', again pleased her, saying, 'May it quickly be so.' (03-277-19)
antarhitāyāṁ sāvitryāṁ jagāma svagṛhaṁ nṛpaḥ। svarājye cāvasat prītaḥ prajā dharmeṇa pālayan ॥03-277-20॥
When Sāvitrī had disappeared, the king went to his own house. Then, pleased, he lived in his own kingdom, protecting his subjects by righteousness. (03-277-20)
kasmiṃścittu gate kāle sa rājā niyatavrataḥ। jyeṣṭhāyāṃ dharmacāriṇyāṃ mahiṣyāṃ garbhamādadhe॥03-277-21॥
But after some time had passed, that king of firm vows caused (his) eldest, righteous queen to conceive a child. (03-277-21)
rājaputryāṃ tu garbhaḥ sa mālavyāṃ bharatarṣabha। vyavardhata yathā śukle tārāpatirivāmbare ॥03-277-22॥
O bull among the Bharatas, the embryo in the princess Mālavī grew just like the Moon, the lord of the stars, waxing in the sky during the bright fortnight. (03-277-22)
prāpte kāle tu suṣuve kanyāṃ rājīvalo-canām। kriyāś ca tasyā muditaś cakre sa nṛpatīs tadā॥03-277-23॥
When the time arrived, she gave birth to a lotus-eyed daughter. Then the king, rejoicing, performed the ceremonies for her. (03-277-23)
sāvitryā prītayā dattā sāvitryā hutayā hy api। sāvitrīty eva nāmāsyāś cakrur viprās tathā pitā ॥03-277-24॥
Given by Sāvitrī with affection and also offered by Sāvitrī, therefore the Brahmins and her father made her name only as "Sāvitrī." (03-277-24)
sā vigrahavatīva śrīr vyavardhata nṛpātmajā। kālena cāpi sā kanyā yauvanasthā babhūva ha ॥03-277-25॥
That king's daughter, whose beauty seemed to take form itself, grew in splendor. And in the course of time, that girl indeed reached her youth. (03-277-25)
tāṁ sumadhyāṁ pṛthuśroṇīṁ pratimāṁ kāñcanīm iva। prāpteyaṁ devakanyeti dṛṣṭvā saṁmenire janāḥ॥03-277-26॥
Seeing her—of beautiful waist, wide hips, like a golden image—the people thought, "Surely this celestial maiden has arrived." (03-277-26)
tāṁ tu padmapalāśākṣīṁ jvalantīmiva tejasā। na kaścid varayāmāsa tejasā prativāritaḥ ॥03-277-27॥
But, her eyes like lotus petals, shining as if with radiance, no one chose her for marriage, being repelled by her brilliance. (03-277-27)
athopoṣya śiraḥsnātā daivatānyabhigamya sā। hutvāgniṃ vidhivad viprān vācayāmāsa parvaṇi॥03-277-28॥
Then, after fasting, bathing her head, and approaching the deities, she offered oblations to the fire as prescribed and had the Brahmins recite (the rites) on the festival day. (03-277-28)
tataḥ sumanasaḥ śeṣāḥ pratigṛhya mahātmanaḥ। pituḥ sakāśam agamad devī śrīr iva rūpiṇī॥03-277-29॥
Then the lady, having accepted the remaining flowers from the great-souled one, went to her father's presence, radiant like the goddess Śrī, endowed with beauty. (03-277-29)
sābhivādya pituḥ pādau śeṣāḥ pūrvaṃ nivedya ca। kṛtāñjalir-varārohā nṛpateḥ pārśvataḥ sthitā॥03-277-30॥
After respectfully saluting her father's feet and announcing the remaining matters, the excellent lady, with hands joined, stood by the king's side. (03-277-30)
yauvanasthāṁ tu tāṁ dṛṣṭvā svāṁ sutāṁ devarūpiṇīm। ayācyamānāṁ ca varair nṛpatir duḥkhito'bhavat ॥03-277-31॥
But when the king saw his own daughter, who had reached youth and was divine in appearance, yet was not being sought after by suitors, he became distressed. (03-277-31)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
putri pradānakālaste na ca kaścid vṛṇoti mām। svayam anviccha bhartāram guṇaiḥ sadṛśam ātmanah ॥03-277-32॥
O daughter, the time for your marriage has come, and no one is asking me; therefore, seek a husband yourself who is suitable for you in qualities. (03-277-32)
prārthitaḥ puruṣo yaś ca sa nivedyas tvayā mama। vimṛśyāhaṃ pradāsyāmi varaya tvaṃ yathepsitam॥03-277-33॥
Whoever the man you have requested, he must be reported to me by you. After I consider, I shall grant it; so choose as you desire. (03-277-33)
śrutaṃ hi dharmaśāstre me paṭhyamānaṃ dvijātibhiḥ। tathā tvam api kalyāṇi gadato me vacaḥ śṛṇu ॥03-277-34॥
I have indeed heard in the treatise of dharma as recited by the twice-born; therefore you also, O auspicious one, listen to my words as I speak. (03-277-34)
apradātā pitā vācyo vācyaś cānupayanpatiḥ। mṛte bhartari putraś ca vācyo māturarakṣitā॥03-277-35॥
A father who does not give (his daughter in marriage) is to be blamed, and so is the husband who does not consummate the marriage. If the husband has died, the son is to be blamed if his mother is left unprotected. (03-277-35)
idaṃ me vacanaṃ śrutvā bharturanveṣaṇe tvāra। devatānāṃ yathā vācyo na bhaveyaṃ tathā kuru ॥03-277-36॥
Hear my words and hasten in search of my husband; act so that I may not become one spoken ill of among the deities. (03-277-36)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markaṇḍeya said.
evam-uktvā duhitaraṃ tathā vṛddhāṃś ca mantriṇaḥ। vyādideśa anuyātraṃ ca gamyatām iti acodayat ॥03-277-37॥
After thus addressing his daughter, as well as the elders and ministers, he instructed them to go on the journey, directing them to depart. (03-277-37)
sābhivādya pituḥ pādau vrīḍiteva manasvinī। pitur vacanam ājñāya nirjagāma avicāritam ॥03-277-38॥
She, after saluting her father's feet, though seemingly abashed, understanding her father's words, immediately went out without hesitation. (03-277-38)
sā haimaṃ ratham āsthāya sthaviraiḥ sacivaiḥ vṛtā। tapovanāni ramyāṇi rājarṣīṇāṃ jagāma ha॥03-277-39॥
She mounted the golden chariot, surrounded by aged ministers, and went to the pleasant hermitages of the royal sages. (03-277-39)
mānyānāṃ tatra vṛddhānāṃ kṛtvā pādābhivandanam। vanāni kramaśas tāt sarvāṇy evābhyagacchata ॥03-277-40॥
Having offered obeisance at the feet of the respected elders there, O dear one, he then proceeded to visit all the forests in order. (03-277-40)
evaṃ sarveṣu tīrtheṣu dhanotsargaṃ nṛpātmajā। kurvatī dvijamukhyānāṃ taṃ taṃ deśaṃ jagāma ha ॥03-277-41॥
Thus, the princess went from place to place, making gifts of wealth to the foremost of the twice-born at every sacred site. (03-277-41)
