03.278
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
अथ मद्राधिपो राजा नारदेन समागतः। उपविष्टः सभामध्ये कथायोगेन भारत ॥०३-२७८-१॥
Then, O Bhārata, the king of Madra, having arrived with Nārada, sat in the middle of the assembly for the purpose of narration. (03-278-1)
ततोऽभिगम्य तीर्थानि सर्वाण्येवाश्रमांस्तथा। आजगाम पितुर्वेश्म सावित्री सह मन्त्रिभिः ॥०३-२७८-२॥
Then, after visiting all the holy places and hermitages, Sāvitrī returned to her father's house accompanied by the ministers. (03-278-2)
नारदेन सहासीनं दृष्ट्वा सा पितरं शुभा। उभयोरेव शिरसा चक्रे पादाभिवन्दनम् ॥०३-२७८-३॥
Seeing her father, the auspicious one, seated together with Nārada, she respectfully saluted the feet of both with her head. (03-278-3)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
क्व गताभूत्सुतेयं ते कुतश्चैवागता नृप। किमर्थं युवतीं भर्त्रे न चैनां सम्प्रयच्छसि ॥०३-२७८-४॥
Where did your daughter go, O king, and from where indeed has she now come? For what reason do you not give this young woman to a husband? (03-278-4)
अश्वपतिरुवाच॥
The lord of horses said.
कार्येण खल्वनेनैव प्रेषिताद्यैव चागता। तदस्याः शृणु देवर्षे भर्तारं योऽनया वृतः ॥०३-२७८-५॥
Indeed, she was sent on business by this very person just today and has come. Therefore, O divine sage, hear who is the husband chosen by her. (03-278-5)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markaṇḍeya said.
सा ब्रूहि विस्तरेणेति पित्रा सञ्चोदिता शुभा। दैवतस्येव वचनं प्रतिगृह्येदमब्रवीत् ॥०३-२७८-६॥
When urged by her father, 'Say it in detail,' the auspicious lady, as if accepting the words of a god, spoke as follows. (03-278-6)
आसीच्छाल्वेषु धर्मात्मा क्षत्रियः पृथिवीपतिः। द्युमत्सेन इति ख्यातः पश्चादन्धो बभूव ह ॥०३-२७८-७॥
Among the Śālvas there was a righteous Kṣatriya king, named Dyumatsena, who later became blind. (03-278-7)
विनष्टचक्षुषस्तस्य बालपुत्रस्य धीमतः। सामीप्येन हृतं राज्यं छिद्रेऽस्मिन्पूर्ववैरिणा ॥०३-२७८-८॥
The kingdom of his wise young son, whose sight was lost, was taken away by the former enemy taking advantage of this opportunity. (03-278-8)
स बालवत्सया सार्धं भार्यया प्रस्थितो वनम्। महारण्यगतश्चापि तपस्तेपे महाव्रतः ॥०३-२७८-९॥
He departed to the forest together with his devoted wife. Having entered the great wilderness, that man of great vows performed austere penance. (03-278-9)
तस्य पुत्रः पुरे जातः संवृद्धश्च तपोवने। सत्यवाननुरूपो मे भर्तेति मनसा वृतः ॥०३-२७८-१०॥
His son was born in the city and raised in the forest hermitage; Satyavan, fit to be my husband, was chosen in my mind. (03-278-10)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
अहो बत महत्पापं सावित्र्या नृपते कृतम्। अजानन्त्या यदनया गुणवान्सत्यवान्वृतः ॥०३-२७८-११॥
Alas, O King, a great sin was indeed committed by Sāvitrī; unknowingly, she chose the virtuous Satyavān. (03-278-11)
सत्यं वदत्यस्य पिता सत्यं माता प्रभाषते। ततोऽस्य ब्राह्मणाश्चक्रुर्नामैतत्सत्यवानिति ॥०३-२७८-१२॥
His father speaks the truth, his mother speaks the truth; therefore, the brāhmaṇas gave him this name: 'Satyavān.' (03-278-12)
बालस्याश्वाः प्रियाश्चास्य करोत्यश्वांश्च मृन्मयान्। चित्रेऽपि च लिखत्यश्वांश्चित्राश्व इति चोच्यते ॥०३-२७८-१३॥
Horses are dear to the boy; he makes horses of clay, and also draws horses in pictures, so he is called 'picture horse.' (03-278-13)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
अपीदानीं स तेजस्वी बुद्धिमान्वा नृपात्मजः। क्षमावानपि वा शूरः सत्यवान्पितृनन्दनः ॥०३-२७८-१४॥
Indeed, is he now—powerful or intelligent, the prince; patient also or heroic, truthful, the delight of his father? (03-278-14)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
विवस्वानिव तेजस्वी बृहस्पतिसमो मतौ। महेन्द्र इव शूरश्च वसुधेव क्षमान्वितः ॥०३-२७८-१५॥
He is radiant like the Sun, equal to Bṛhaspati in wisdom, valiant like Indra, and endowed with forbearance like the Earth. (03-278-15)
अश्वपतिरुवाच॥
Aśvapati said.
अपि राजात्मजो दाता ब्रह्मण्यो वापि सत्यवान्। रूपवानप्युदारो वाप्यथ वा प्रियदर्शनः ॥०३-२७८-१६॥
Is he, the king's son, truly a giver, devoted to Brahman or truthful? Or is he handsome, noble, or pleasant to behold? (03-278-16)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
साङ्कृते रन्तिदेवस्य स शक्त्या दानतः समः। ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवादी च शिबिरौशीनरो यथा ॥०३-२७८-१७॥
He (i.e., the person referred to) was, in the quality of restraint, equal to Rantideva in giving by his own power; he was devoted to Brahman and a speaker of truth like Śibi, the descendant of Uśīnara. (03-278-17)
ययातिरिव चोदारः सोमवत्प्रियदर्शनः। रूपेणान्यतमोऽश्विभ्यां द्युमत्सेनसुतो बली ॥०३-२७८-१८॥
He was noble like Yayāti, charming as Soma, in appearance resembling one of the Aśvins, and the powerful son of Dyumatsena. (03-278-18)
स दान्तः स मृदुः शूरः स सत्यः स जितेन्द्रियः। स मैत्रः सोऽनसूयश्च स ह्रीमान्धृतिमांश्च सः ॥०३-२७८-१९॥
He is self-controlled, gentle, valiant, truthful, one who has conquered his senses. He is friendly, free from envy, modest, and steadfast. (03-278-19)
नित्यशश्चार्जवं तस्मिन्स्थितिस्तस्यैव च ध्रुवा। सङ्क्षेपतस्तपोवृद्धैः शीलवृद्धैश्च कथ्यते ॥०३-२७८-२०॥
Constant straightforwardness in that is his firm state; in brief, this is described by ascetic elders and those advanced in virtue. (03-278-20)
अश्वपतिरुवाच॥
The lord of horses said.
गुणैरुपेतं सर्वैस्तं भगवन्प्रब्रवीषि मे। दोषानप्यस्य मे ब्रूहि यदि सन्तीह केचन ॥०३-२७८-२१॥
O blessed one, you are describing him to me as endowed with all virtues. Tell me also of his faults, if there are any here. (03-278-21)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
एको दोषोऽस्य नान्योऽस्ति सोऽद्य प्रभृति सत्यवान्। संवत्सरेण क्षीणायुर्देहन्यासं करिष्यति ॥०३-२७८-२२॥
He has but one fault, no other: Satyavan from today, within a year, having a shortened span of life, will relinquish his body. (03-278-22)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
एहि सावित्रि गच्छ त्वमन्यं वरय शोभने। तस्य दोषो महानेको गुणानाक्रम्य तिष्ठति ॥०३-२७८-२३॥
Come, Sāvitrī, go, choose another, O beautiful one. His one great fault remains, surpassing all virtues. (03-278-23)
यथा मे भगवानाह नारदो देवसत्कृतः। संवत्सरेण सोऽल्पायुर्देहन्यासं करिष्यति ॥०३-२७८-२४॥
As the venerable Nārada, honored by the gods, told me: he, being short-lived, will give up his body within a year. (03-278-24)
सावित्र्युवाच॥
Savitri said.
सकृदंशो निपतति सकृत्कन्या प्रदीयते। सकृदाह ददानीति त्रीण्येतानि सकृत्सकृत् ॥०३-२७८-२५॥
A share is allotted only once; a daughter is given only once; and the words 'I give' are said only once—these three are to be done only once. (03-278-25)
दीर्घायुरथ वाल्पायुः सगुणो निर्गुणोऽपि वा। सकृद्वृतो मया भर्ता न द्वितीयं वृणोम्यहम् ॥०३-२७८-२६॥
Whether he is long-lived or short-lived, virtuous or even without virtues, the husband once chosen by me, I do not choose another (second one). (03-278-26)
मनसा निश्चयं कृत्वा ततो वाचाभिधीयते। क्रियते कर्मणा पश्चात्प्रमाणं मे मनस्ततः ॥०३-२७८-२७॥
First, determination is made in the mind, then it is expressed through speech, afterward the action is performed; thus, for me, the mind is the source of proof. (03-278-27)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
स्थिरा बुद्धिर्नरश्रेष्ठ सावित्र्या दुहितुस्तव। नैषा चालयितुं शक्या धर्मादस्मात्कथञ्चन ॥०३-२७८-२८॥
O best of men, the resolve of Sāvitrī, your daughter, is firm—she cannot be swayed from this righteousness in any way. (03-278-28)
नान्यस्मिन्पुरुषे सन्ति ये सत्यवति वै गुणाः। प्रदानमेव तस्मान्मे रोचते दुहितुस्तव ॥०३-२७८-२९॥
The qualities that are in Satyavati are indeed not present in another man; therefore, it is only the giving in marriage of your daughter that pleases me. (03-278-29)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
अविचार्यमेतदुक्तं हि तथ्यं भगवता वचः। करिष्याम्येतदेवं च गुरुर्हि भगवान्मम ॥०३-२७८-३०॥
This word spoken by the revered one is indeed true and not deliberated. I shall do just this, for my teacher is indeed exalted. (03-278-30)
नारद उवाच॥
Narada said.
अविघ्नमस्तु सावित्र्याः प्रदाने दुहितुस्तव। साधयिष्यामहे तावत्सर्वेषां भद्रमस्तु वः ॥०३-२७८-३१॥
Let there be no hindrance in the marriage of Sāvitrī, your daughter. We shall proceed now. May well-being be for all of you. (03-278-31)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markandeya said.
एवमुक्त्वा खमुत्पत्य नारदस्त्रिदिवं गतः। राजापि दुहितुः सर्वं वैवाहिकमकारयत् ॥०३-२७८-३२॥
After saying this, Nārada rose to the sky and went to heaven. The king also carried out all the marriage ceremonies for his daughter. (03-278-32)
