13.019
aṣṭāvakra-dik-saṃvādaḥ
The dialogue between Aṣṭāvakra and the directions.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
yad idaṃ sahadharmeti procyate bharatarṣabha। pāṇigrahaṇakāle tu strīṇām etat kathaṃ smṛtam ॥13-19-1॥
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)
ārṣa eṣa bhaved dharmaḥ prājāpatyo 'tha vāsuraḥ। yad etat sahadharmeti pūrvam uktaṃ maharṣibhiḥ ॥13-19-2॥
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)
saṃdehaḥ sumahāneṣa viruddha iti me matiḥ। iha yaḥ sahadharmo vai pretyāyaṃ vihitaḥ kva nu ॥13-19-3॥
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)
svarge mṛtānāṃ bhavati sahadharmaḥ pitāmaha। pūrvam ekas tu mriyate kva ca ekas tiṣṭhate vada ॥13-19-4॥
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)
nānā-karma-phala-upetā nānā-karma-nivāsinaḥ। nānā-niraya-niṣṭhā-antā mānuṣā bahavaḥ yadā ॥13-19-5॥
When there are many humans, endowed with various fruits of actions, inhabiting various actions, and ending in various hellish abodes. (13-19-5)
anṛtāḥ striya ityevaṃ sūtrakāro vyavasyati। yad anṛtāḥ striyaḥ tāta sahadharmaḥ kutaḥ smṛtaḥ ॥13-19-6॥
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)
anṛtāḥ striya ityevaṃ vedeṣvapi hi paṭhyate. dharmo'yaṃ paurvikī sañjñā upacāraḥ kriyāvidhiḥ ॥13-19-7॥
"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)
gahvaraṃ pratibhāty etan mama cintayato'niśam। niḥsaṃdeham idaṃ sarvaṃ pitāmaha yathā śrutiḥ ॥13-19-8॥
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)
yadetadyādṛśaṃ caitadyathā caitatpravartitam। nikhilena mahāprājña bhavānetadbravītu me ॥13-19-9॥
O greatly wise one, please tell me entirely of what kind this is, how this has been set in motion; (13-19-9)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
atrāpy udāharantīm am itihāsaṃ purātanam। aṣṭāvakrasya saṃvādaṃ diśayā saha bhārata ॥13-19-10॥
Here too, O Bhārata, they recount this ancient story: the dialogue between Aṣṭāvakra and the direction. (13-19-10)
niveṣṭukāmas tu purā aṣṭāvakro mahātapāḥ। ṛṣer atha vadānyasya kanyāṃ vavre mahātmanaḥ॥13-19-11॥
But once, Aṣṭāvakra, the great ascetic, wishing to marry, chose the daughter of the generous and noble sage. (13-19-11)
suprabhāṃ nāma vai nāmnā rūpeṇāpratimāṃ bhuvi। guṇaprabṛhāṃ śīlena sādhvīṃ cāritraśobhanām ॥13-19-12॥
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)
sā tasya dṛṣṭvaiva mano jahāra śubhalocanā। vanarājī yathā citrā vasante kusumācitā ॥13-19-13॥
As a variegated forest-grove adorned with flowers in spring, the auspicious-eyed lady, having just seen him, stole his mind. (13-19-13)
ṛṣis tam āha deyā me sutā tubhyaṃ śṛṇuṣva me। gaccha tāvad diśaṃ puṇyām uttarāṃ drakṣyase tataḥ ॥13-19-14॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
kiṁ draṣṭavyaṁ mayā tatra vaktumarhati me bhavān। tathedānīṁ mayā kāryaṁ yathā vakṣyati māṁ bhavān ॥13-19-15॥
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)
vadānya uvāca॥
The generous one said.
dhanadaṃ samatikramya himavantaṃ tathaiva ca। rudrasyāyatanaṃ dṛṣṭvā siddhacāraṇasevitam ॥13-19-16॥
After passing Kubera and likewise the Himalaya, he saw the sanctuary of Rudra, which was attended by Siddhas and celestial minstrels. (13-19-16)
prahṛṣṭaiḥ pārṣadaiḥ juṣṭam nṛtyadbhiḥ vividhānanaiḥ। divyāṅgarāgaiḥ paiśācair vanyaiḥ nānāvidhaiḥ tathā ॥13-19-17॥
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)
pāṇitālasatālaiś ca śamyātālaiḥ samais tathā। samprahṛṣṭaiḥ pranṛtyadbhiḥ śarvas tatra niṣevyate ॥13-19-18॥
There, Śarva (Śiva) is worshipped with hand clapping, cymbals, sticks, and equal beats, by those who are very delighted and dancing. (13-19-18)
iṣṭaṃ kila girau sthānaṃ tad divyam anuśuśruma। nityaṃ saṃnihito devaḥ tathā pāriṣadāḥ śubhāḥ ॥13-19-19॥
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)
tatra devyā tapastaptaṃ śaṅkarārthaṃ suduścaram। atastadiṣṭaṃ devasya tathomāyā iti śrutiḥ ॥13-19-20॥
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)
tatra kūpo mahān pārśve devasya uttarataḥ tathā। ṛtavaḥ kālarātriś ca ye divyā ye ca mānuṣāḥ ॥13-19-21॥
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)
sarve devam upāsante rūpiṇaḥ kila tatra ha। tad atikramya bhavanaṃ tvayā yātavyam eva hi ॥13-19-22॥
All those with forms indeed worship the god there. But you must surely go beyond that abode. (13-19-22)
tato nīlaṃ vanoddeśaṃ drakṣyase meghasaṃnibham। ramaṇīyaṃ manogrāhi tatra drakṣyasi vai striyam ॥13-19-23॥
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)
tapasvinīṃ mahābhāgāṃ vṛddhāṃ dīkṣāmanuṣṭhitām। draṣṭavyā sā tvayā tatra sampūjyā caiva yatnataḥ ॥13-19-24॥
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)
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā vinivṛttas tvaṃ tataḥ pāṇiṃ grahīṣyasi। yady eṣa samayaḥ satyaḥ sādhyatāṃ tatra gamyatām ॥13-19-25॥
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)
