03.279
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said;
atha kanyāpradāne sa tamevāarthaṃ vicintayan। samāninye ca tatsarvaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ vaivāhikaṃ nṛpaḥ॥03-279-1॥
Then, during the giving away of the maiden, the king, reflecting on that very purpose, had all the marriage articles assembled. (03-279-1)
tato vṛddhān dvijān sarvān ṛtvijaḥ sa-purohitān। samāhūya tithau puṇye prayayau saha kanyakayā॥03-279-2॥
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)
medhyāraṇyaṃ sa gatvā ca dyumatsenāśramaṃ nṛpaḥ। padbhyāmeva dvijaiḥ sārdhaṃ rājarṣiṃ tamupāgamat॥03-279-3॥
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)
tatrāpaśyanmahābhāgaṃ śālavṛkṣamupāśritam। kauśyāṃ bṛsyāṃ samāsīnaṃ cakṣurhīnaṃ nṛpaṃ tadā ॥03-279-4॥
Then he saw there the very fortunate king, deprived of sight, seated on a silken couch, sheltered under a śāla tree. (03-279-4)
sa rājā tasya rājarṣeḥ kṛtvā pūjāṃ yathārhataḥ। vācā suniyato bhūtvā cakārātmanivedanam ॥03-279-5॥
The king, having duly worshiped that royal sage as was proper, becoming well-restrained in speech, made self-surrender. (03-279-5)
tasyārghyam āsanaṃ caiva gāṃ ca avedya sa dharmavit। kim āgamanam iti evaṃ rājā rājānam abravīt॥03-279-6॥
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)
tasya sarvam-abhiprāyam-iti-kartavyatāṁ ca tām। satyavantaṁ samuddiśya sarvam-eva nyavedayat ॥03-279-7॥
She narrated to Satyavan all his intentions and all that was to be done, addressing him, indeed. (03-279-7)
aśvapatiruvāca॥
The horse-lord said.
sāvitrī nāma rājarṣe kanyeyam mama śobhanā। tāṃ svadharmeṇa dharmajña snuṣārthe tvaṃ gṛhāṇa me॥03-279-8॥
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)
dyumatsena uvāca॥
Dyumatsena said.
cyutāḥ sma rājyād vanavāsam āśritāḥ; carāma dharmaṃ niyatāḥ tapasvinaḥ. kathaṃ tv anarhā vanavāsa āśrame; sahiṣyate kleśam imaṃ sutā tava ॥03-279-9॥
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)
aśvapatiruvāca॥
The lord of horses said.
sukhaṃ ca duḥkhaṃ ca bhavābhavātmakaṃ; yadā vijānāti sutāham eva ca. na madvidhe yujyati vākyam īdṛśaṃ; viniścayenābhigato'smi te nṛpa ॥03-279-10॥
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)
āśāṁ nārhasi me hantuṁ sauhṛdād praṇayena ca। abhitaś cāgataṁ premṇā pratyākhyātuṁ na mārhasi ॥03-279-11॥
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)
anurūpo hi saṃyoge tvaṃ mamāhaṃ tavāpi ca। snuṣāṃ pratīccha me kanyāṃ bhāryāṃ satyavataḥ sutām ॥03-279-12॥
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)
dyumatsena uvāca॥
Dyumatsena said.
pūrvamevābhilaṣitaḥ sambandho me tvayā saha। bhraṣṭarājyastvahamiti tata etadvicāritam ॥03-279-13॥
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)
abhiprāyas tv ayaṁ yo me pūrvam eva abhikāṅkṣitaḥ। sa nirvartatu me ’dyaiva kāṅkṣito hy asi me ’tithiḥ॥03-279-14॥
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)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
tataḥ sarvān samānīya dvijān āśramavāsinaḥ। yathāvidhi samudvāhaṃ kārayāmāsatur nṛpau॥03-279-15॥
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)
dattvā tvaśvapatiḥ kanyāṃ yathārhaṃ ca paricchadam। yayau svameva bhavanaṃ yuktaḥ paramayā mudā ॥03-279-16॥
Aśvapati, having given away his daughter along with appropriate gifts and ornaments, went to his own house, filled with great joy. (03-279-16)
satyavān api bhāryāṃ tāṃ labdhvā sarva-guṇānvitām। mumude sā ca taṃ labdhvā bhartāraṃ manas-epsitam॥03-279-17॥
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)
gate pitari sarvāṇi saṁnyasyābharaṇāni sā. jagṛhe valkalānyeva vastraṁ kāṣāyameva ca ॥03-279-18॥
After her father departed, having set aside all ornaments, she accepted only bark garments, and garments of ochre color. (03-279-18)
paricārair guṇaiś caiva praśrayeṇa damena ca। sarva-kāma-kriyābhiś ca sarveṣāṃ tuṣṭim āvahat ॥03-279-19॥
By means of services, virtues, humility, self-restraint, and fulfilling all desires through actions, he brought satisfaction to everyone. (03-279-19)
śvaśrūṃ śarīrasatkāraiḥ sarvairācchādanādibhiḥ। śvaśuraṃ devakāryaiśca vācaḥ saṃyamānena ca ॥03-279-20॥
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)
tathaiva priyavādena naipuṇena śamena ca। rahaścaivopacāreṇa bhartāraṁ paryatoṣayat ॥03-279-21॥
In the same way, she satisfied her husband with kind words, skill, restraint, and also by serving him in private. (03-279-21)
evaṁ tatrāśrame teṣāṁ tadā nivasatāṁ satām। kālastapasyatāṁ kaścidaticakrāma bhārata॥03-279-22॥
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)
sāvitryās tu śayānāyās tiṣṭhantyāś ca divāniśam। nāradena yad uktaṃ tad vākyaṃ manasi vartate॥03-279-23॥
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)
