09.051
Library: Kuṇi Gārgya's daughter and son of Gālava - how did the maiden engage in penance in ancient times? Balarama receives the news about death of Shalya.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said:
कथं कुमारी भगवंस्तपोयुक्ता ह्यभूत्पुरा। किमर्थं च तपस्तेपे को वास्या नियमोऽभवत् ॥९-५१-१॥
O Lord, how did the maiden engage in penance in ancient times? What was the purpose of her penance, and what vow did she undertake?
सुदुष्करमिदं ब्रह्मंस्त्वत्तः श्रुतमनुत्तमम्। आख्याहि तत्त्वमखिलं यथा तपसि सा स्थिता ॥९-५१-२॥
O Brahman, I have heard this excellent and very difficult truth from you. Please explain the entire truth as she is situated in penance.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said:
ऋषिरासीन्महावीर्यः कुणिर्गार्ग्यो महायशाः। स तप्त्वा विपुलं राजंस्तपो वै तपतां वरः ॥ मानसीं स सुतां सुभ्रूं समुत्पादितवान्विभुः ॥९-५१-३॥
The sage Kuṇi of the Gārgyas, known for his great strength and fame, performed intense penance. O king, he was indeed the best among those who perform penance. He mentally created a beautiful-browed daughter, being the powerful one.
तां च दृष्ट्वा भृशं प्रीतः कुणिर्गार्ग्यो महायशाः। जगाम त्रिदिवं राजन्सन्त्यज्येह कलेवरम् ॥९-५१-४॥
Upon seeing her, Kuṇi Gārgya, who was greatly pleased and renowned, departed to heaven, leaving his mortal body behind, O king.
सुभ्रूः सा ह्यथ कल्याणी पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणा। महता तपसोग्रेण कृत्वाश्रममनिन्दिता ॥९-५१-५॥
She, with beautiful eyebrows and lotus-like eyes, indeed then, performed great fierce penance and established a blameless hermitage, auspiciously.
उपवासैः पूजयन्ती पितॄन्देवांश्च सा पुरा। तस्यास्तु तपसोग्रेण महान्कालोऽत्यगान्नृप ॥९-५१-६॥
She used to worship the ancestors and gods with fasting in the past. However, due to her intense penance, a long time elapsed, O king.
सा पित्रा दीयमानापि भर्त्रे नैच्छदनिन्दिता। आत्मनः सदृशं सा तु भर्तारं नान्वपश्यत ॥९-५१-७॥
She, though being offered by her father, did not wish for a husband, being blameless. However, she did not find a husband who was suitable for her.
ततः सा तपसोग्रेण पीडयित्वात्मनस्तनुम्। पितृदेवार्चनरता बभूव विजने वने ॥९-५१-८॥
Then she subjected her body to severe penance and became devoted to the worship of her ancestors and the gods in the lonely forest.
सात्मानं मन्यमानापि कृतकृत्यं श्रमान्विता। वार्द्धकेन च राजेन्द्र तपसा चैव कर्शिता ॥९-५१-९॥
Even though she considered herself accomplished, she was weary and emaciated by old age and penance, O king.
सा नाशकद्यदा गन्तुं पदात्पदमपि स्वयम्। चकार गमने बुद्धिं परलोकाय वै तदा ॥९-५१-१०॥
When she was unable to move even a step by herself, she decided to depart for the other world.
मोक्तुकामां तु तां दृष्ट्वा शरीरं नारदोऽब्रवीत्। असंस्कृतायाः कन्यायाः कुतो लोकास्तवानघे ॥९-५१-११॥
Nārada, upon seeing the body of the girl who desired liberation, said: "O sinless one, where are the worlds for your unrefined daughter?"
एवं हि श्रुतमस्माभिर्देवलोके महाव्रते। तपः परमकं प्राप्तं न तु लोकास्त्वया जिताः ॥९-५१-१२॥
Thus indeed, we have heard, O great vow, that supreme penance is attained in the world of gods, but you have not conquered the worlds.
तन्नारदवचः श्रुत्वा साब्रवीदृषिसंसदि। तपसोऽर्धं प्रयच्छामि पाणिग्राहस्य सत्तमाः ॥९-५१-१३॥
Upon hearing Nārada's words, she addressed the assembly of sages, offering half of her penance to the bridegroom, acknowledging the esteemed ones present.
इत्युक्ते चास्या जग्राह पाणिं गालवसम्भवः। ऋषिः प्राक्षृङ्गवान्नाम समयं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥९-५१-१४॥
After these words, the son of Gālava took her hand. The sage named Śṛṅgavān spoke these words before the appointed time.
समयेन तवाद्याहं पाणिं स्प्रक्ष्यामि शोभने। यद्येकरात्रं वस्तव्यं त्वया सह मयेति ह ॥९-५१-१५॥
"O beautiful one, by agreement, today I shall touch your hand if you agree to stay with me for one night."
तथेति सा प्रतिश्रुत्य तस्मै पाणिं ददौ तदा। चक्रे च पाणिग्रहणं तस्योद्वाहं च गालविः ॥९-५१-१६॥
"Thus, having promised, she gave her hand to him then. Gālava arranged the marriage and his wedding."
सा रात्रावभवद्राजंस्तरुणी देववर्णिनी। दिव्याभरणवस्त्रा च दिव्यस्रगनुलेपना ॥९-५१-१७॥
At night, she transformed into a young woman of divine beauty, O king, adorned with celestial ornaments, garments, garlands, and ointments.
तां दृष्ट्वा गालविः प्रीतो दीपयन्तीमिवात्मना। उवास च क्षपामेकां प्रभाते साब्रवीच्च तम् ॥९-५१-१८॥
Gālava, upon seeing her, was pleased and stayed for the night, as she seemed to shine by herself. In the morning, she spoke to him.
यस्त्वया समयो विप्र कृतो मे तपतां वर। तेनोषितास्मि भद्रं ते स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु व्रजाम्यहम् ॥९-५१-१९॥
O wise one, the agreement you made for me, the best among ascetics, has been fulfilled. May you be blessed, farewell, I am leaving.
सानुज्ञाताब्रवीद्भूयो योऽस्मिंस्तीर्थे समाहितः। वत्स्यते रजनीमेकां तर्पयित्वा दिवौकसः ॥९-५१-२०॥
Having been granted permission, he spoke again: "The one who is focused in this sacred place will remain for one night after offering satisfaction to the gods."
चत्वारिंशतमष्टौ च द्वे चाष्टौ सम्यगाचरेत्। यो ब्रह्मचर्यं वर्षाणि फलं तस्य लभेत सः ॥ एवमुक्त्वा ततः साध्वी देहं त्यक्त्वा दिवं गता ॥९-५१-२१॥
The virtuous woman, after advising to practice celibacy for forty-eight years, left her body and ascended to heaven.
ऋषिरप्यभवद्दीनस्तस्या रूपं विचिन्तयन्। समयेन तपोऽर्धं च कृच्छ्रात्प्रतिगृहीतवान् ॥९-५१-२२॥
The sage, distressed by contemplating her beauty, eventually accepted half of the penance with great difficulty over time.
साधयित्वा तदात्मानं तस्याः स गतिमन्वयात्। दुःखितो भरतश्रेष्ठ तस्या रूपबलात्कृतः ॥ एतत्ते वृद्धकन्याया व्याख्यातं चरितं महत् ॥९-५१-२३॥
After achieving self-realization, he followed her path, overwhelmed by her beauty, feeling sorrowful. O best of the Bharatas, this great story of the old maiden has been narrated to you.
तत्रस्थश्चापि शुश्राव हतं शल्यं हलायुधः। तत्रापि दत्त्वा दानानि द्विजातिभ्यः परन्तप ॥ शुशोच शल्यं सङ्ग्रामे निहतं पाण्डवैस्तदा ॥९-५१-२४॥
While being there, Halayudha heard of Shalya's death. He gave gifts to the Brahmins and lamented the death of Shalya, who was killed in battle by the Pandavas.
समन्तपञ्चकद्वारात्ततो निष्क्रम्य माधवः। पप्रच्छर्षिगणान्रामः कुरुक्षेत्रस्य यत्फलम् ॥९-५१-२५॥
Then Madhava, after leaving the gate of the five surroundings, asked the group of sages, including Rama, about the significance of Kurukshetra.
ते पृष्टा यदुसिंहेन कुरुक्षेत्रफलं विभो। समाचख्युर्महात्मानस्तस्मै सर्वं यथातथम् ॥९-५१-२६॥
When asked by Yadu's lion about the outcome of Kurukshetra, the great souls explained everything to him exactly as it happened, O lord.
