13.019
अष्टावक्रदिक्संवादः
The dialogue between Aṣṭāvakra and the directions.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
यदिदं सहधर्मेति प्रोच्यते भरतर्षभ। पाणिग्रहणकाले तु स्त्रीणामेतत्कथं स्मृतम् ॥१३-१९-१॥
O best of the Bharatas, this which is spoken as 'sahadharma'—how is this remembered for women at the time of marriage? (13-19-1)
आर्ष एष भवेद्धर्मः प्राजापत्योऽथ वासुरः। यदेतत्सहधर्मेति पूर्वमुक्तं महर्षिभिः ॥१३-१९-२॥
This is the duty as prescribed by the ṛṣis, or as belonging to Prajāpati or the Vasus. That which has been previously described as 'sahadharma' was spoken by the great sages. (13-19-2)
संदेहः सुमहानेष विरुद्ध इति मे मतिः। इह यः सहधर्मो वै प्रेत्यायं विहितः क्व नु ॥१३-१९-३॥
This doubt is very great and contradictory—such is my thought. Here, which joint duty indeed is prescribed for after death, where indeed? (13-19-3)
स्वर्गे मृतानां भवति सहधर्मः पितामह। पूर्वमेकस्तु म्रियते क्व चैकस्तिष्ठते वद ॥१३-१९-४॥
O grandsire, in heaven, is there companionship in duty among the dead? First, one dies, but where does the other remain? Tell me. (13-19-4)
नानाकर्मफलोपेता नानाकर्मनिवासिनः। नानानिरयनिष्ठान्ता मानुषा बहवो यदा ॥१३-१९-५॥
When there are many humans, endowed with various fruits of actions, inhabiting various actions, and ending in various hellish abodes. (13-19-5)
अनृताः स्त्रिय इत्येवं सूत्रकारो व्यवस्यति। यदानृताः स्त्रियस्तात सहधर्मः कुतः स्मृतः ॥१३-१९-६॥
The composer of the aphorisms thus decides: "Women are untruthful." If women are untruthful, dear one, how can shared dharma be considered? (13-19-6)
अनृताः स्त्रिय इत्येवं वेदेष्वपि हि पठ्यते। धर्मोऽयं पौर्विकी सञ्ज्ञा उपचारः क्रियाविधिः ॥१३-१९-७॥
"Women are untruthful"—even in the Vedas, it is indeed stated so. This rule is an ancient designation, a figurative expression, and a ritual injunction. (13-19-7)
गह्वरं प्रतिभात्येतन्मम चिन्तयतोऽनिशम्। निःसंदेहमिदं सर्वं पितामह यथा श्रुतिः ॥१३-१९-८॥
O grandsire, as I think unceasingly, this depth appears to me; without doubt, all this is just as the revelation (śruti) says. (13-19-8)
यदेतद्यादृशं चैतद्यथा चैतत्प्रवर्तितम्। निखिलेन महाप्राज्ञ भवानेतद्ब्रवीतु मे ॥१३-१९-९॥
O greatly wise one, please tell me entirely of what kind this is, how this has been set in motion; (13-19-9)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। अष्टावक्रस्य संवादं दिशया सह भारत ॥१३-१९-१०॥
Here too, O Bhārata, they recount this ancient story: the dialogue between Aṣṭāvakra and the direction. (13-19-10)
निवेष्टुकामस्तु पुरा अष्टावक्रो महातपाः। ऋषेरथ वदान्यस्य कन्यां वव्रे महात्मनः ॥१३-१९-११॥
But once, Aṣṭāvakra, the great ascetic, wishing to marry, chose the daughter of the generous and noble sage. (13-19-11)
सुप्रभां नाम वै नाम्ना रूपेणाप्रतिमां भुवि। गुणप्रबर्हां शीलेन साध्वीं चारित्रशोभनाम् ॥१३-१९-१२॥
She was called Suprabha, truly by name, and was unmatched in beauty on earth, rich in virtues, virtuous in conduct, and radiant in character. (13-19-12)
सा तस्य दृष्ट्वैव मनो जहार शुभलोचना। वनराजी यथा चित्रा वसन्ते कुसुमाचिता ॥१३-१९-१३॥
As a variegated forest-grove adorned with flowers in spring, the auspicious-eyed lady, having just seen him, stole his mind. (13-19-13)
ऋषिस्तमाह देया मे सुता तुभ्यं शृणुष्व मे। गच्छ तावद्दिशं पुण्यामुत्तरां द्रक्ष्यसे ततः ॥१३-१९-१४॥
The sage said to him, "My daughter is to be given to you; listen to me. For now, go to the holy northern direction; there you will see (her)." (13-19-14)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
किं द्रष्टव्यं मया तत्र वक्तुमर्हति मे भवान्। तथेदानीं मया कार्यं यथा वक्ष्यति मां भवान् ॥१३-१९-१५॥
What should I see there? Please tell me, you are worthy to instruct me. Now, I will do as you direct me. (13-19-15)
वदान्य उवाच॥
The generous one said.
धनदं समतिक्रम्य हिमवन्तं तथैव च। रुद्रस्यायतनं दृष्ट्वा सिद्धचारणसेवितम् ॥१३-१९-१६॥
After passing Kubera and likewise the Himalaya, he saw the sanctuary of Rudra, which was attended by Siddhas and celestial minstrels. (13-19-16)
प्रहृष्टैः पार्षदैर्जुष्टं नृत्यद्भिर्विविधाननैः। दिव्याङ्गरागैः पैशाचैर्वन्यैर्नानाविधैस्तथा ॥१३-१९-१७॥
It was adorned by delighted attendants, dancers of various faces, divine body-painted beings, piśācas, forest-dwellers, and many other kinds of beings in this way. (13-19-17)
पाणितालसतालैश्च शम्यातालैः समैस्तथा। सम्प्रहृष्टैः प्रनृत्यद्भिः शर्वस्तत्र निषेव्यते ॥१३-१९-१८॥
There, Śarva (Śiva) is worshipped with hand clapping, cymbals, sticks, and equal beats, by those who are very delighted and dancing. (13-19-18)
इष्टं किल गिरौ स्थानं तद्दिव्यमनुशुश्रुम। नित्यं संनिहितो देवस्तथा पारिषदाः शुभाः ॥१३-१९-१९॥
We have indeed heard that the desired place on the mountain is divine. The god is always present there, along with his auspicious attendants. (13-19-19)
तत्र देव्या तपस्तप्तं शङ्करार्थं सुदुश्चरम्। अतस्तदिष्टं देवस्य तथोमाया इति श्रुतिः ॥१३-१९-२०॥
There, the goddess performed austerities for Śaṅkara, which were extremely difficult to undertake; therefore, what was desired by the god was thus Umā, as stated in the Vedic scripture. (13-19-20)
तत्र कूपो महान्पार्श्वे देवस्योत्तरतस्तथा। ऋतवः कालरात्रिश्च ये दिव्या ये च मानुषाः ॥१३-१९-२१॥
There, to the north side of the deity, is a great well; likewise, the seasons, the night of time, and those who are divine and those who are human. (13-19-21)
सर्वे देवमुपासन्ते रूपिणः किल तत्र ह। तदतिक्रम्य भवनं त्वया यातव्यमेव हि ॥१३-१९-२२॥
All those with forms indeed worship the god there. But you must surely go beyond that abode. (13-19-22)
ततो नीलं वनोद्देशं द्रक्ष्यसे मेघसंनिभम्। रमणीयं मनोग्राहि तत्र द्रक्ष्यसि वै स्त्रियम् ॥१३-१९-२३॥
From there, you will see a dark-blue forest region resembling a cloud; there, you will indeed see a beautiful and captivating woman. (13-19-23)
तपस्विनीं महाभागां वृद्धां दीक्षामनुष्ठिताम्। द्रष्टव्या सा त्वया तत्र सम्पूज्या चैव यत्नतः ॥१३-१९-२४॥
There, you must see that ascetic woman, who is greatly fortunate, aged, and has performed initiation; she should indeed be honored by you with effort. (13-19-24)
तां दृष्ट्वा विनिवृत्तस्त्वं ततः पाणिं ग्रहीष्यसि। यद्येष समयः सत्यः साध्यतां तत्र गम्यताम् ॥१३-१९-२५॥
After seeing her, you will turn away and then take her hand. If this agreement is true, let it be fulfilled; let it be carried out there. (13-19-25)
