03.278
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
atha madrādhipo rājā nāradena samāgataḥ। upaviṣṭaḥ sabhāmadhye kathāyogena bhārata ॥03-278-1॥
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)
tato’bhigamya tīrthāni sarvāṇyevāśramāṃstathā. ājagāma piturveśma sāvitrī saha mantribhiḥ ॥03-278-2॥
Then, after visiting all the holy places and hermitages, Sāvitrī returned to her father's house accompanied by the ministers. (03-278-2)
nāradena sahāsīnaṁ dṛṣṭvā sā pitaraṁ śubhā। ubhayoreva śirasā cakre pādābhivandanam ॥03-278-3॥
Seeing her father, the auspicious one, seated together with Nārada, she respectfully saluted the feet of both with her head. (03-278-3)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
kva gatābhūt suteyaṁ te kutaścaivāgatā nṛpa। kimarthaṁ yuvatīṁ bhartre na caināṁ samprayacchasi ॥03-278-4॥
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)
aśvapatiruvāca॥
The lord of horses said.
kāryeṇa khalv anenaiva preṣitā adyaiva ca āgatā। tad asyāḥ śṛṇu devarṣe bhartāraṃ yo 'nayā vṛtaḥ॥03-278-5॥
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)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markaṇḍeya said.
sā brūhi vistareṇeti pitrā sañcoditā śubhā। daivatasyeva vacanaṃ pratigṛhyedamabravīt ॥03-278-6॥
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)
āsīcchālveṣu dharmātmā kṣatriyaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ। dyumatsena iti khyātaḥ paścād andho babhūva ha॥03-278-7॥
Among the Śālvas there was a righteous Kṣatriya king, named Dyumatsena, who later became blind. (03-278-7)
vinaṣṭacakṣuṣastasya bālaputrasya dhīmataḥ। sāmīpyena hṛtaṃ rājyaṃ chidre'smin pūrvavairiṇā ॥03-278-8॥
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)
sa bālavatsayā sārdhaṃ bhāryayā prasthito vanam। mahāraṇyagataścāpi tapastepe mahāvrataḥ ॥03-278-9॥
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)
tasya putraḥ pure jātaḥ saṁvṛddhaś ca tapovane. satyavān anurūpo me bharteti manasā vṛtaḥ ॥03-278-10॥
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)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
aho bata mahatpāpaṃ sāvitryā nṛpate kṛtam। ajānantyā yadanayā guṇavān satyavān vṛtaḥ ॥03-278-11॥
Alas, O King, a great sin was indeed committed by Sāvitrī; unknowingly, she chose the virtuous Satyavān. (03-278-11)
satyaṃ vadatyasya pitā satyaṃ mātā prabhāṣate. tato'sya brāhmaṇāścakrurnāmaitat satyavān iti ॥03-278-12॥
His father speaks the truth, his mother speaks the truth; therefore, the brāhmaṇas gave him this name: 'Satyavān.' (03-278-12)
bālasya aśvāḥ priyāś ca asya karoti aśvān ca mṛnmayan | citre api ca likhati aśvān citra-aśva iti ca ucyate ॥03-278-13॥
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)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
apīdānīṃ sa tejasvī buddhimānvā nṛpātmajaḥ। kṣamāvānapi vā śūraḥ satyavānpitṛnandanaḥ॥03-278-14॥
Indeed, is he now—powerful or intelligent, the prince; patient also or heroic, truthful, the delight of his father? (03-278-14)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
vivasvān iva tejasvī bṛhaspati-samaḥ matau। mahendra iva śūraś ca vasudhā iva kṣamānvitaḥ॥03-278-15॥
He is radiant like the Sun, equal to Bṛhaspati in wisdom, valiant like Indra, and endowed with forbearance like the Earth. (03-278-15)
aśvapatiḥ uvāca॥
Aśvapati said.
api rājatmajo dātā brahmaṇyo vāpi satyavān। rūpavānapyudāro vāpyatha vā priyadarśanaḥ॥03-278-16॥
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)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
sāṅkṛte rantidevasya sa śaktyā dānataḥ samaḥ। brahmaṇyaḥ satyavādī ca śibirauśīnaro yathā॥03-278-17॥
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)
yayātiriva codāraḥ somavatpriyadarśanaḥ। rūpeṇānyatamo'śvibhyāṃ dyumatsenāsuto balī॥03-278-18॥
He was noble like Yayāti, charming as Soma, in appearance resembling one of the Aśvins, and the powerful son of Dyumatsena. (03-278-18)
sa dāntaḥ sa mṛduḥ śūraḥ sa satyaḥ sa jitendriyaḥ। sa maitraḥ so'nasūyaś ca sa hrīmān dhṛtimāṁś ca saḥ ॥03-278-19॥
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)
nityaśaścārjavaṃ tasmin sthitis tasyaiva ca dhruvā। saṅkṣepatas tapovṛddhaiḥ śīlavṛddhaiś ca kathyate॥03-278-20॥
Constant straightforwardness in that is his firm state; in brief, this is described by ascetic elders and those advanced in virtue. (03-278-20)
aśvapatiḥ uvāca॥
The lord of horses said.
guṇair upetaṃ sarvaiḥ taṃ bhagavan prabravīṣi me। doṣān api asya me brūhi yadi santi iha kecana॥03-278-21॥
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)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
eko doṣo'sya nānyo'sti so'dya prabhṛti satyavān। saṃvatsareṇa kṣīṇāyurdehanyāsaṃ kariṣyati ॥03-278-22॥
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)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
ehi sāvitrī gaccha tvam anyaṃ varaya śobhane। tasya doṣo mahāneko guṇān ākrāmya tiṣṭhati ॥03-278-23॥
Come, Sāvitrī, go, choose another, O beautiful one. His one great fault remains, surpassing all virtues. (03-278-23)
yathā me bhagavān āha nārado devasatkṛtaḥ। saṁvatsareṇa so'lpāyur dehanyāsaṃ kariṣyati ॥03-278-24॥
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)
sāvitryuvāca॥
Savitri said.
sakṛdaṁśo nipatati sakṛtkanyā pradīyate। sakṛdāha dadānīti trīṇyetāni sakṛtsakṛt ॥03-278-25॥
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)
dīrghāyuratha vālpāyuḥ saguṇo nirguṇo’pi vā। sakṛdvṛto mayā bhartā na dvitīyaṃ vṛṇomyaham ॥03-278-26॥
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)
manasā niścayaṃ kṛtvā tato vācābhidhīyate। kriyate karmaṇā paścāt pramāṇaṃ me manas tataḥ॥03-278-27॥
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)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
sthirā buddhir nara-śreṣṭha sāvitryā duhitus tava। naiṣā cālayituṃ śakyā dharmād asmāt kathañcana॥03-278-28॥
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)
nānyasmin puruṣe santi ye satyavatī vai guṇāḥ। pradānam eva tasmān me rocate duhitus tava ॥03-278-29॥
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)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
avichāryam etad uktaṃ hi tathyaṃ bhagavatā vacaḥ। kariṣyāmy etad evaṃ ca gurur hi bhagavān mama ॥03-278-30॥
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)
nārada uvāca॥
Narada said.
avighnam astu sāvitryāḥ pradāne duhitus tava। sādhayiṣyāmahe tāvat sarveṣāṃ bhadram astu vaḥ॥03-278-31॥
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)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
evam-uktvā kham utpatya nāradaḥ tridivaṃ gataḥ। rājā api duhituḥ sarvaṃ vaivāhikam akarayat ॥03-278-32॥
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)
