09.047
Library: Significance of the holy place Badarapachana, renowned for its perfected ascetic practices and maidens steadfast in their vows. Story of Priyamvada and Arundhati.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
tatastīrthavaraṃ rāmo yayau badarapācanam। tapasvisiddhacaritaṃ yatra kanyā dhṛtavratā ॥9-47-1॥
Then Rama proceeded to the sacred site of Badarapachana, renowned for its perfected ascetic practices and maidens steadfast in their vows.
bharadvājasya duhitā rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi। srucāvatī nāma vibho kumārī brahmacāriṇī ॥9-47-2॥
Srucavati, the daughter of Bharadvaja, was renowned on earth for her unparalleled beauty and was known as a celibate maiden, O lord.
tapaścacāra sātyugraṃ niyamairbahubhirnṛpa। bhartā me devarājaḥ syāditi niścitya bhāminī ॥9-47-3॥
The beautiful lady, determined that her husband should become the lord of the gods, practiced very intense penance with many disciplines, O king.
samāstasyā vyatikrāntā bahvyaḥ kurukulodvaha। carantyā niyamāṃstāṃstāṃstrībhistīvrānsuduścarān ॥9-47-4॥
O scion of the Kuru dynasty, many years have passed as she practiced those severe and very difficult vows undertaken by women.
tasyāstu tena vṛttena tapasā ca viśāṃ pate। bhaktyā ca bhagavānprītaḥ parayā pākaśāsanaḥ ॥9-47-5॥
O lord of men, by her conduct, penance, and supreme devotion, the Lord Indra was greatly pleased.
ājagāmāśramaṃ tasyāstridaśādhipatiḥ prabhuḥ। āsthāya rūpaṃ viprarṣervasiṣṭhasya mahātmanaḥ ॥9-47-6॥
The lord of the thirty gods, assuming the form of the great sage Vasiṣṭha, went to his hermitage.
sā taṃ dṛṣṭvogratapasaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ tapatāṃ varam। ācārairmunibhirdṛṣṭaiḥ pūjayāmāsa bhārata ॥9-47-7॥
She saw the great ascetic Vasiṣṭha, revered among ascetics, and honored him with the traditional customs observed by sages, O Bharata.
uvāca niyamajñā ca kalyāṇī sā priyaṃvadā। bhagavanmuniśārdūla kimājñāpayasi prabho ॥9-47-8॥
Priyamvada, who was knowledgeable of the rules and auspicious, said: "O revered sage, what do you wish to command, O lord?"
sarvam adya yathāśakti tava dāsyāmi suvrata। śakrabhaktyā tu te pāṇiṁ na dāsyāmi kathañcana ॥9-47-9॥
Today, I will offer you everything I can, O virtuous one. However, due to my devotion to Indra, I cannot give you my hand in marriage.
vrataiśca niyamaiścaiva tapasā ca tapodhana। śakrastoṣayitavyo vai mayā tribhuvaneśvaraḥ ॥9-47-10॥
"O sage rich in penance, I must please Indra, the lord of the three worlds, through vows, disciplines, and penance."
ityukto bhagavāndevaḥ smayanniva nirīkṣya tām। uvāca niyamajñāṃ tāṃ sāntvayanniva bhārata ॥9-47-11॥
The Lord, having been addressed, looked at her with a smile and spoke to her gently, as if consoling her, O Bhārata.
ugraṁ tapaścarasi vai viditā me'si suvrate। yadarthamayamārambhastava kalyāṇi hṛdgataḥ ॥9-47-12॥
You are indeed performing intense austerities, and you are known to me, O virtuous lady. The purpose for which you have begun this endeavor is dear to your heart, O auspicious one.
tacca sarvaṁ yathābhūtaṁ bhaviṣyati varānane। tapasā labhyate sarvaṁ sarvaṁ tapasi tiṣṭhati ॥9-47-13॥
O beautiful-faced one, everything that has been will be as it is. All things are obtained through penance, and everything resides in penance.
yāni sthānāni divyāni vibudhānāṃ śubhānane। tapasā tāni prāpyāni tapomūlaṃ mahatsukham ॥9-47-14॥
O auspicious-faced one, the divine places of the wise are attained through penance, and great happiness is rooted in it.
iha kṛtvā tapo ghoraṃ dehaṃ saṃnyasya mānavāḥ। devatvaṃ yānti kalyāṇi śṛṇu cedaṃ vaco mama ॥9-47-15॥
Here, by performing severe penance and renouncing their bodies, humans attain divinity. O auspicious one, listen to my words.
pacasvaitāni subhage badarāṇi śubhavrate। pacetyuktvā sa bhagavāñjagāma balasūdanaḥ ॥9-47-16॥
The Lord, known as the destroyer of Bala, instructed, "Cook these berries, O fortunate and virtuous one," and then departed.
āmantrya tāṃ tu kalyāṇīṃ tato japyaṃ jajāpa saḥ। avidūre tatastasmādāśramāttīrtha uttame ॥ indratīrthe mahārāja triṣu lokeṣu viśrute ॥9-47-17॥
Having addressed the auspicious lady, he then chanted the mantra at the excellent sacred place near the hermitage, known as Indra's sacred place, which is famous in the three worlds, O great king.
tasyā jijñāsanārthaṃ sa bhagavānpākaśāsanaḥ। badarāṇāmapacanaṃ cakāra vibudhādhipaḥ ॥9-47-18॥
To satisfy her curiosity, the divine Indra, the lord of the wise, cooked the jujube fruits.
tataḥ sa prayatā rājanvāgyatā vigataklamā। tatparā śucisaṃvītā pāvake samadhiśrayat ॥ apacadrājaśārdūla badarāṇi mahāvratā ॥9-47-19॥
Then, O king, he, having prepared himself, stood speechless and free from fatigue. Devoted and pure, she entered the fire, and O tiger among kings, she who had taken a great vow cooked the berries.
tasyāḥ pacantyāḥ sumahānkālo'gātpuruṣarṣabha। na ca sma tānyapacyanta dinaṃ ca kṣayamabhyagāt ॥9-47-20॥
While she was cooking, a long time passed, O best of men. Yet, those were not cooked, and the day came to an end.
hutāśanena dagdhaśca yastasyāḥ kāṣṭhasañcayaḥ। akāṣṭhamagniṃ sā dṛṣṭvā svaśarīramathādahat ॥9-47-21॥
Her collection of wood was burned by fire, and seeing the fire without wood, she then burned her own body.
pādau prakṣipya sā pūrvaṃ pāvake cārudarśanā। dagdhau dagdhau punaḥ pādāvupāvartayatānaghā ॥9-47-22॥
The beautiful-looking woman, having first placed her feet in the fire, withdrew them again after they were burnt, remaining sinless.
caraṇau dahyamānau ca nācintayadaninditā। duḥkhaṃ kamalapatrākṣī maharṣeḥ priyakāmyayā ॥9-47-23॥
The blameless lady, despite her burning feet, did not think of her own sorrow, as she was intent on pleasing the lotus-eyed sage.
atha tatkarma dṛṣṭvāsyāḥ prītastribhuvaneśvaraḥ। tataḥ saṃdarśayāmāsa kanyāyai rūpamātmanaḥ ॥9-47-24॥
Then, the lord of the three worlds, pleased by her actions, revealed his true form to the maiden.
uvāca ca suraśreṣṭhastāṃ kanyāṃ sudṛḍhavratām। prīto'smi te śubhe bhaktyā tapasā niyamena ca ॥9-47-25॥
The best of the gods spoke to the maiden, who was steadfast in her vows, expressing his pleasure with her due to her devotion, penance, and discipline, saying, "I am pleased with you, O auspicious one."
tasmādyo'bhimataḥ kāmaḥ sa te sampatsyate śubhe। dehaṃ tyaktvā mahābhāge tridive mayi vatsyasi ॥9-47-26॥
Therefore, O auspicious one, your desired wish will be fulfilled. After leaving your body, O fortunate one, you will reside with me in heaven.
idaṁ ca te tīrthavaraṁ sthiraṁ loke bhaviṣyati। sarvapāpāpahaṁ subhru nāmnā badarapācanam ॥ vikhyātaṁ triṣu lokeṣu brahmarṣibhirabhiplutam ॥9-47-27॥
This sacred site, known as Badarapachana, will remain steadfast in the world. It is renowned for removing all sins and is celebrated across the three worlds, revered by the Brahmarshis.
asmin khalu mahābhāge śubhe tīrthavare purā। tyaktvā saptarṣayo jagmur himavantam arundhatīm ॥9-47-28॥
In this auspicious and great pilgrimage site, O fortunate one, the seven sages, having left, once went to the Himalayas to meet Arundhati.
tataste vai mahābhāgā gatvā tatra susaṃśitāḥ। vṛttyarthaṃ phalamūlāni samāhartuṃ yayuḥ kila ॥9-47-29॥
Then those great souls, well-determined, went there to gather fruits and roots for their livelihood.
teṣāṃ vṛttyarthināṃ tatra vasatāṃ himavadvane। anāvṛṣṭiranuprāptā tadā dvādaśavārṣikī ॥9-47-30॥
For those seeking livelihood and living in the forest of the Himalayas, a drought lasting twelve years occurred at that time.
te kṛtvā cāśramaṃ tatra nyavasanta tapasvinaḥ। arundhatyapi kalyāṇī taponityābhavattadā ॥9-47-31॥
They established a hermitage there and lived as ascetics. Arundhati, too, became auspicious and was always engaged in penance at that time.
arundhatīṃ tato dṛṣṭvā tīvraṃ niyamamāsthitām। athāgamattrinayanaḥ suprīto varadastadā ॥9-47-32॥
Upon seeing Arundhati engaged in intense discipline, the pleased three-eyed deity, the boon-giver, arrived.
brāhmaṃ rūpaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā mahādevo mahāyaśāḥ। tāmabhyetyābravīddevo bhikṣāmicchāmyahaṃ śubhe ॥9-47-33॥
The illustrious Mahadeva, having taken on a divine form, approached her and expressed his wish for alms, addressing her as "O auspicious one."
pratyuvāca tataḥ sā taṃ brāhmaṇaṃ cārudarśanā। kṣīṇo'nnasañcayo vipra badarāṇīha bhakṣaya ॥ tato'bravīnmahādevaḥ pacasvaitāni suvrate ॥9-47-34॥
The beautiful lady replied to the Brahmin, "O wise one, our food supply is running low, please eat these berries here." Then Lord Shiva instructed, "Cook these, O virtuous lady."
ityuktā sāpacattāni brāhmaṇapriyakāmyayā। adhiśritya samiddhe'gnau badarāṇi yaśasvinī ॥9-47-35॥
The glorious one, having spoken thus, cooked the berries in the kindled fire with the desire to please the Brahmins.
divyā manoramāḥ puṇyāḥ kathāḥ śuśrāva sā tadā। atītā sā tvanāvṛṣṭirghorā dvādaśavārṣikī ॥9-47-36॥
She then heard the divine, charming, and auspicious stories. However, the terrible twelve-year drought had already passed.
anaśnantyāḥ pacantyāśca śṛṇvantyāśca kathāḥ śubhāḥ। ahaḥsamaḥ sa tasyāstu kālo'tītaḥ sudāruṇaḥ ॥9-47-37॥
The auspicious stories of one who does not eat, cooks, and listens. May her time, which is equal to a day, be past and very terrible.
tataste munayaḥ prāptāḥ phalānyādāya parvatāt। tataḥ sa bhagavānprītaḥ provācārundhatīṃ tadā ॥9-47-38॥
Then the sages collected fruits from the mountain, and the revered one, pleased, spoke to Arundhati.
upasarpasva dharmajñe yathāpūrvam imān ṛṣīn। prīto'smi tava dharmajñe tapasā niyamena ca ॥9-47-39॥
"Approach these sages as you did before, O knower of dharma. I am pleased with your penance and discipline, O knower of dharma."
tataḥ sandarśayāmāsa svarūpaṃ bhagavānharaḥ। tato'bravīttadā tebhyastasyāstaccaritaṃ mahat ॥9-47-40॥
Then Lord Shiva revealed his true form and narrated her great story to them.
bhavadbhirhimavatpṛṣṭhe yattapaḥ samupārjitam। asyāśca yattapo viprā na samaṃ tanmataṃ mama ॥9-47-41॥
The penance accumulated by you on the Himalayas and the penance of her are not equal, O sages; that is my opinion.
anayā hi tapasvinyā tapastaptaṁ suduścaram। anaśnantyā pacantyā ca samā dvādaśa pāritāḥ ॥9-47-42॥
This ascetic woman indeed performed a very difficult penance; she completed twelve years without eating and while cooking.
tataḥ provāca bhagavāṁstāmevārundhatīṁ punaḥ। varaṁ vṛṇīṣva kalyāṇi yatte'bhilaṣitaṁ hṛdi ॥9-47-43॥
Then the revered one spoke again to Arundhati, "O blessed one, choose the boon that your heart desires."
sābravīt pṛthutāmrākṣī devaṃ saptarṣisaṃsadi। bhagavān yadi me prītas tīrthaṃ syād idam uttamam ॥ siddhadevarṣidayitaṃ nāmnā badarapācanam ॥9-47-44॥
In the assembly of the seven sages, she, with her broad copper-red eyes, addressed the god: "O Lord, if you are pleased with me, let this place be known as the excellent holy site, cherished by the perfected divine sages, and called Badarapachana."
tathāsmin devadeveśa trirātram uṣitaḥ śuciḥ। prāpnuyād upavāsena phalaṃ dvādaśavārṣikam॥ evam astv iti tāṃ coktvā haro yātaḥ tadā divam॥9-47-45॥
Thus, O lord of lords, by staying pure for three nights and fasting, one can achieve the merit equivalent to twelve years. Having said "So be it," Shiva ascended to heaven.
ṛṣayo vismayaṃ jagmustāṃ dṛṣṭvā cāpyarundhatīm। aśrāntāṃ cāvivarṇāṃ ca kṣutpipāsāsahāṃ satīm ॥9-47-46॥
The sages were amazed when they saw Arundhati, who remained untiring, unfaded, and capable of enduring hunger and thirst.
evaṁ siddhiḥ parā prāptā arundhatyā viśuddhayā। yathā tvayā mahābhāge madarthaṁ saṁśitavrate ॥9-47-47॥
In this way, Arundhati achieved supreme perfection through her purity, just as you have, O greatly fortunate one, for my sake, being resolute in your vows.
viśeṣo hi tvayā bhadre vrate hyasmin samarpitaḥ। tathā cedaṃ dadāmy adya niyamena sutoṣitaḥ ॥9-47-48॥
"O auspicious one, you have indeed made a special dedication in this vow. Therefore, being well-pleased, I give this today with discipline."
viśeṣaṃ tava kalyāṇi prayacchāmi varaṃ vare। arundhatyā varastasyā yo datto vai mahātmanā ॥9-47-49॥
"O auspicious one, I grant you a special boon. The boon given to her by Arundhati, indeed, by the great soul."
tasya cāhaṃ prasādena tava kalyāṇi tejasā। pravakṣyāmyaparaṃ bhūyo varamatra yathāvidhi ॥9-47-50॥
By his grace and your brilliance, O auspicious one, I shall once again speak of another boon here as per the rule.
yastvekāṃ rajanīṃ tīrthe vatsyate susamāhitaḥ। sa snātvā prāpsyate lokāndeha-nyāsācca durlabhān ॥9-47-51॥
"Whoever stays for one night in a sacred place with full concentration, after bathing, will attain worlds that are difficult to obtain even by leaving the body."
ityuktvā bhagavāndevaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ pratāpavān। srucāvatīṃ tataḥ puṇyāṃ jagāma tridivaṃ punaḥ ॥9-47-52॥
Having spoken thus, the mighty thousand-eyed god returned to the sacred Srucāvatī and then ascended once more to heaven.
gate vajradhare rājanstatra varṣaṃ papāta ha। puṣpāṇāṃ bharataśreṣṭha divyānāṃ divyagandhinām ॥9-47-53॥
When Vajradhara departed, O king, there was a shower of divine flowers with a heavenly fragrance, O best of the Bharatas.
nedur dundubhayaś cāpi samantāt sumahāsvanāḥ। mārutaś ca vavau yuktyā puṇyagandho viśāṃ pate ॥9-47-54॥
The drums resounded loudly in all directions, and the wind blew gently carrying a sweet fragrance, O lord of the people.
utsṛjya tu śubhaṃ dehaṃ jagāmendrasya bhāryatām। tapasogreṇa sā labdhvā tena reme sahācyuta ॥9-47-55॥
After leaving her auspicious body, she became the wife of Indra. Through her intense penance, she gained that status and enjoyed life with Acyuta (Vishnu).
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said:
kā tasyā bhagavanmātā kva saṁvṛddhā ca śobhanā। śrotumicchāmyahaṁ brahmanparaṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me ॥9-47-56॥
I am eager to know, O Brahman, who her divine mother is and where the beautiful one was raised, for my curiosity is indeed immense.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana said:
bhāradvājasya viprarṣeḥ skannaṃ reto mahātmanaḥ। dṛṣṭvāpsarasamāyāntīṃ ghṛtācīṃ pṛthulocanām ॥9-47-57॥
Upon seeing the large-eyed apsara Ghritachi approaching, the great sage Bharadvaja's semen was discharged.
sa tu jagrāha tadretaḥ kareṇa japatāṃ varaḥ। tadāvapatparṇapuṭe tatra sā sambhavacchubhā ॥9-47-58॥
He, the best among the chanters, took the semen with his hand and dropped it into a leaf cup, where an auspicious being was born.
tasyāstu jātakarmādi kṛtvā sarvaṃ tapodhanaḥ। nāma cāsyāḥ sa kṛtavānbhāradvājo mahāmuniḥ ॥9-47-59॥
The great sage Bharadvaja performed all the birth ceremonies and other rituals for her and gave her a name.
srucāvatīti dharmātmā tadarṣigaṇasaṁsadi। sa ca tāmāśrame nyasya jagāma himavadvanam ॥9-47-60॥
In the assembly of sages, the virtuous one named Srucavati was present. He then left that in the hermitage and proceeded to the forest of the Himalayas.
tatrāpyupaspṛśya mahānubhāvo; vasūni dattvā ca mahādvijebhyaḥ। jagāma tīrthaṃ susamāhitātmā; śakrasya vṛṣṇipravarastadānīm ॥9-47-61॥
There, the great soul, after performing the rituals and giving wealth to the great Brahmins, went to the holy place with a focused mind. At that time, he was the best among the Vrishnis, favored by Indra.
