03.279
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markandeya said;
अथ कन्याप्रदाने स तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन्। समानिन्ये च तत्सर्वं भाण्डं वैवाहिकं नृपः ॥०३-२७९-१॥
Then, during the giving away of the maiden, the king, reflecting on that very purpose, had all the marriage articles assembled. (03-279-1)
ततो वृद्धान्द्विजान्सर्वानृत्विजः सपुरोहितान्। समाहूय तिथौ पुण्ये प्रययौ सह कन्यया ॥०३-२७९-२॥
Then, having assembled all the elders, twice-born, ritual priests, and family priests on an auspicious lunar day, he departed together with the maiden. (03-279-2)
मेध्यारण्यं स गत्वा च द्युमत्सेनाश्रमं नृपः। पद्भ्यामेव द्विजैः सार्धं राजर्षिं तमुपागमत् ॥०३-२७९-३॥
The king went to the holy forest and Dyumatsena's hermitage, and, going there on foot with the Brahmins, approached the royal sage. (03-279-3)
तत्रापश्यन्महाभागं शालवृक्षमुपाश्रितम्। कौश्यां बृस्यां समासीनं चक्षुर्हीनं नृपं तदा ॥०३-२७९-४॥
Then he saw there the very fortunate king, deprived of sight, seated on a silken couch, sheltered under a śāla tree. (03-279-4)
स राजा तस्य राजर्षेः कृत्वा पूजां यथार्हतः। वाचा सुनियतो भूत्वा चकारात्मनिवेदनम् ॥०३-२७९-५॥
The king, having duly worshiped that royal sage as was proper, becoming well-restrained in speech, made self-surrender. (03-279-5)
तस्यार्घ्यमासनं चैव गां चावेद्य स धर्मवित्। किमागमनमित्येवं राजा राजानमब्रवीत् ॥०३-२७९-६॥
Having offered arghya (water of hospitality), a seat, and a cow to him, the knower of dharma, the king said to the king, 'What is the purpose of your coming?' (03-279-6)
तस्य सर्वमभिप्रायमितिकर्तव्यतां च ताम्। सत्यवन्तं समुद्दिश्य सर्वमेव न्यवेदयत् ॥०३-२७९-७॥
She narrated to Satyavan all his intentions and all that was to be done, addressing him, indeed. (03-279-7)
अश्वपतिरुवाच॥
The horse-lord said.
सावित्री नाम राजर्षे कन्येयं मम शोभना। तां स्वधर्मेण धर्मज्ञ स्नुषार्थे त्वं गृहाण मे ॥०३-२७९-८॥
O royal sage, this beautiful daughter of mine is named Sāvitrī. O knower of dharma, accept her from me as your daughter-in-law in accordance with her own dharma. (03-279-8)
द्युमत्सेन उवाच॥
Dyumatsena said.
च्युताः स्म राज्याद्वनवासमाश्रिता; श्चराम धर्मं नियतास्तपस्विनः। कथं त्वनर्हा वनवासमाश्रमे; सहिष्यते क्लेशमिमं सुता तव ॥०३-२७९-९॥
Having been deprived of the kingdom, we ascetics, practicing self-control, have taken refuge in forest life and follow righteousness. How will your daughter, who is unaccustomed to such hardship, endure this suffering in the forest hermitage? (03-279-9)
अश्वपतिरुवाच॥
The lord of horses said.
सुखं च दुःखं च भवाभवात्मकं; यदा विजानाति सुताहमेव च। न मद्विधे युज्यति वाक्यमीदृशं; विनिश्चयेनाभिगतोऽस्मि ते नृप ॥०३-२७९-१०॥
Happiness and suffering, and the very nature of existence and non-existence—when one knows these, as well as that I am truly the son—such a statement is not appropriate for someone like me. O king, I have approached you with full certainty. (03-279-10)
आशां नार्हसि मे हन्तुं सौहृदाद्प्रणयेन च। अभितश्चागतं प्रेम्णा प्रत्याख्यातुं न मार्हसि ॥०३-२७९-११॥
You ought not to destroy my hope out of friendship and affection; and you should not reject one who has come to you with love from every side. (03-279-11)
अनुरूपो हि संयोगे त्वं ममाहं तवापि च। स्नुषां प्रतीच्छ मे कन्यां भार्यां सत्यवतः सुताम् ॥०३-२७९-१२॥
You are indeed suitable for union; I am also of a like mind to you. Therefore, accept my daughter as your daughter-in-law, as the wife of Satyavat's son. (03-279-12)
द्युमत्सेन उवाच॥
Dyumatsena said.
पूर्वमेवाभिलषितः सम्बन्धो मे त्वया सह। भ्रष्टराज्यस्त्वहमिति तत एतद्विचारितम् ॥०३-२७९-१३॥
The relationship with you was indeed previously desired by me. Considering 'you are one who has lost the kingdom; I am (the same)', therefore, this has been reflected upon. (03-279-13)
अभिप्रायस्त्वयं यो मे पूर्वमेवाभिकाङ्क्षितः। स निर्वर्ततु मेऽद्यैव काङ्क्षितो ह्यसि मेऽतिथिः ॥०३-२७९-१४॥
This very purpose, which I had earnestly wished for before, may it be fulfilled for me today itself; for you are truly my desired guest. (03-279-14)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markandeya said.
ततः सर्वान्समानीय द्विजानाश्रमवासिनः। यथाविधि समुद्वाहं कारयामासतुर्नृपौ ॥०३-२७९-१५॥
Then, having called all the Brahmins and hermits dwelling in the ashrama, the two kings arranged for the marriage to be performed according to proper rites. (03-279-15)
दत्त्वा त्वश्वपतिः कन्यां यथार्हं च परिच्छदम्। ययौ स्वमेव भवनं युक्तः परमया मुदा ॥०३-२७९-१६॥
Aśvapati, having given away his daughter along with appropriate gifts and ornaments, went to his own house, filled with great joy. (03-279-16)
सत्यवानपि भार्यां तां लब्ध्वा सर्वगुणान्विताम्। मुमुदे सा च तं लब्ध्वा भर्तारं मनसेप्सितम् ॥०३-२७९-१७॥
Satyavan also rejoiced upon obtaining her, his wife endowed with all virtues; and she too rejoiced, having gained as her husband the one whom she desired in her heart. (03-279-17)
गते पितरि सर्वाणि संन्यस्याभरणानि सा। जगृहे वल्कलान्येव वस्त्रं काषायमेव च ॥०३-२७९-१८॥
After her father departed, having set aside all ornaments, she accepted only bark garments, and garments of ochre color. (03-279-18)
परिचारैर्गुणैश्चैव प्रश्रयेण दमेन च। सर्वकामक्रियाभिश्च सर्वेषां तुष्टिमावहत् ॥०३-२७९-१९॥
By means of services, virtues, humility, self-restraint, and fulfilling all desires through actions, he brought satisfaction to everyone. (03-279-19)
श्वश्रूं शरीरसत्कारैः सर्वैराच्छादनादिभिः। श्वशुरं देवकार्यैश्च वाचः संयमनेन च ॥०३-२७९-२०॥
Honor the mother-in-law with bodily respect through coverings and similar means; honor the father-in-law with acts for the gods and by restraint of speech. (03-279-20)
तथैव प्रियवादेन नैपुणेन शमेन च। रहश्चैवोपचारेण भर्तारं पर्यतोषयत् ॥०३-२७९-२१॥
In the same way, she satisfied her husband with kind words, skill, restraint, and also by serving him in private. (03-279-21)
एवं तत्राश्रमे तेषां तदा निवसतां सताम्। कालस्तपस्यतां कश्चिदतिचक्राम भारत ॥०३-२७९-२२॥
Thus, O Bhārata, as those virtuous ones were then dwelling in the hermitage, some time passed as they were engaged in austerities. (03-279-22)
सावित्र्यास्तु शयानायास्तिष्ठन्त्याश्च दिवानिशम्। नारदेन यदुक्तं तद्वाक्यं मनसि वर्तते ॥०३-२७९-२३॥
But for Sāvitrī, whether she is lying down or standing, day and night, the words spoken by Nārada remain in her mind. (03-279-23)
