Nalayani's Curse and Rudra's Boon

Verse 1 (1.213.1)

ब्रूहि तत्कारणं येन ब्रह्मन्नालायनी शुभा । जाता ममाध्वरे कृष्णा सर्ववेदविदां वर ॥

brūhi tatkāraṇaṃ yena brahmannālāyanī śubhā | jātā mamādhvare kṛṣṇā sarvavedavidāṃ vara

Tell me, O brahmin, best of all who know the Vedas, the reason why the auspicious Nalayani was born as Krishna at my sacrifice.

Note on the text: Corrected कृष्मा → कृष्णा (misprint in Wikisource; the name is Krishna; the apparatus reads kṛṣṇā).Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 2 (1.213.2)

शृणु राजन्यथा ह्यस्या दत्तो रुद्रेण वै वरः । यदर्थं चैव संभूता तव गेहे यशस्विनी ॥

śṛṇu rājanyathā hyasyā datto rudreṇa vai varaḥ | yadarthaṃ caiva saṃbhūtā tava gehe yaśasvinī

Listen, O king, to how Rudra granted her a boon, and for what purpose this glorious woman was born in your house.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 3 (1.213.3)

हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि कृष्णायाः पौर्वदेहिकम् । इन्द्रसेनेति विख्याता पुरा नालायनी शुभा ॥

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi kṛṣṇāyāḥ paurvadehikam | indraseneti vikhyātā purā nālāyanī śubhā

Now I shall tell you of Krishna's former life. Long ago there was the auspicious Nalayani, known by the name Indrasena.

Note on the text: Corrected हन्त त → हन्त ते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, the line is a syllable short); corrected कृष्मायाः → कृष्णायाः (misprint; the apparatus reads kṛṣṇāyāḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 4 (1.213.4)

मौद्गल्यं पतिमासाद्य चचार विगतज्वरा । मौद्गल्यस्य महर्षेश्च रममाणस्य वै तया ॥

maudgalyaṃ patimāsādya cacāra vigatajvarā | maudgalyasya maharṣeśca ramamāṇasya vai tayā

Having won Maudgalya as her husband, she lived free from care. And as the great sage Maudgalya took his delight with her,

Note on the text: Corrected मौद्गल्यस्य पतिमासाद्य → मौद्गल्यं पतिमासाद्य (misprint in Wikisource; the genitive, repeated from the next line, is ungrammatical with पतिम् and makes the line hypermetric; the apparatus reads maudgalyaṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 5 (1.213.5)

संवत्सरगणा राजन्व्यतीयुः क्षणवत्तदा । ततः कदाचिद्धर्मात्मा तृप्तः कामैर्व्यरज्यत ॥

saṃvatsaragaṇā rājanvyatīyuḥ kṣaṇavattadā | tataḥ kadāciddharmātmā tṛptaḥ kāmairvyarajyata

whole cycles of years went by, O king, as if they were a moment. Then one day the righteous sage, sated with pleasures, turned away from them.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 6 (1.213.6)

अन्विच्छन्परमं धर्मं ब्रह्मयोगपरोऽभवत् । उत्ससर्ज स तां विप्रः सा तदा चापतद्भुवि । मौद्गल्यो राजशार्दूल तपोभिर्भावितः सदा ॥

anvicchanparamaṃ dharmaṃ brahmayogaparo'bhavat | utsasarja sa tāṃ vipraḥ sā tadā cāpatadbhuvi | maudgalyo rājaśārdūla tapobhirbhāvitaḥ sadā

Seeking the highest dharma, he gave himself to the yoga of Brahman. The brahmin let her go, and she fell to the ground; for Maudgalya, O tiger among kings, was ever purified by his austerities.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 7 (1.213.7)

प्रसीद भगवन्मह्यं न मामुत्स्रष्टुमर्हसि । अवितृप्तास्मि ब्रह्मर्षे कामानां कामसेवनात् ॥

prasīda bhagavanmahyaṃ na māmutsraṣṭumarhasi | avitṛptāsmi brahmarṣe kāmānāṃ kāmasevanāt

Be gracious to me, lord; you should not cast me off. O brahmin seer, I am not yet sated with the enjoyment of pleasures.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 8 (1.213.8)

यस्मात्त्वं मामनिःशङ्का ह्यवक्तव्यं प्रभाषसे । आचरन्ती तपोविघ्नं तस्माच्छृणु वचो मम ॥

yasmāttvaṃ māmaniḥśaṅkā hyavaktavyaṃ prabhāṣase | ācarantī tapovighnaṃ tasmācchṛṇu vaco mama

Since you speak to me so boldly what ought not to be spoken, and so put obstacles in the way of my austerities, hear my words.

Note on the text: Corrected भाषसे → प्रभाषसे (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara leaves the line a syllable short; the apparatus reads prabhāṣase). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 9 (1.213.9)

भविष्यसि नृलोके त्वं राजपुत्री यशस्विनी । पाञ्चालराजस्य सुता द्रुपदस्य महात्मनः ॥

bhaviṣyasi nṛloke tvaṃ rājaputrī yaśasvinī | pāñcālarājasya sutā drupadasya mahātmanaḥ

In the world of men you will be a glorious princess, the daughter of the great-souled Drupada, king of the Panchalas.

Note on the text: Corrected यशस्वि → यशस्विनी (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, the line is a syllable short; the apparatus reads yaśasvinī). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 10 (1.213.10)

भवितारस्तत्र तव पतयः पञ्च विश्रुताः । तैः सार्धं मधुराकारैश्चिरं रतिमवाप्स्यसि ॥

bhavitārastatra tava patayaḥ pañca viśrutāḥ | taiḥ sārdhaṃ madhurākāraiściraṃ ratimavāpsyasi

There you will have five renowned husbands, and with them, so pleasing in form, you will enjoy love for a long time.

Note on the text: Corrected विप्लुताः → विश्रुताः (misprint in Wikisource; "dissolute" cannot describe the husbands called pleasing in the next line; the apparatus reads viśrutāḥ, and verse 14 has the same phrase). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 11 (1.213.11)

सैवं शप्ता तु विमना वनं प्रागाद्यशस्विनी । भोगैरतृप्ता देवेशं तपसाऽऽराधयत्तदा ॥

saivaṃ śaptā tu vimanā vanaṃ prāgādyaśasvinī | bhogairatṛptā deveśaṃ tapasā''rādhayattadā

Cursed in this way, the glorious woman went to the forest, downcast; still unsated with pleasures, she then worshipped the lord of the gods with austerities.

Note on the text: Speaker: Wikisource prints वैशंपायन उवाच here, but the passage continues Vyasa's account to Drupada (the critical edition's apparatus also assigns it to Vyasa), so it is given to Vyasa. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 12 (1.213.12)

निराशीर्मारुताहारा निराहारा तथैव च । अनुवर्तमाना त्वादित्यं तथा पञ्चतपाभवत् ॥

nirāśīrmārutāhārā nirāhārā tathaiva ca | anuvartamānā tvādityaṃ tathā pañcatapābhavat

Free of all desires, living on air, and then without any food at all, following the course of the sun, she practised the penance of the five fires.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 13 (1.213.13)

तीव्रेण तपसा तस्यास्तुष्टः पशुपतिः स्वयम् । वरं प्रादात्तदा रुद्रः सर्वलोकेश्वरः प्रभुः ॥

tīvreṇa tapasā tasyāstuṣṭaḥ paśupatiḥ svayam | varaṃ prādāttadā rudraḥ sarvalokeśvaraḥ prabhuḥ

Pleased by her fierce austerity, Pashupati himself, Rudra, the mighty lord of all the worlds, then granted her a boon.

Note on the text: Corrected वचं → वरं (misprint in Wikisource; वचं is not a valid form, and a boon follows; the apparatus reads varaṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 14 (1.213.14)

भविष्यति परं जन्म भविष्यति वराङ्गना । भविष्यन्ति परं भद्रे पतयः पञ्च विश्रुताः ॥

bhaviṣyati paraṃ janma bhaviṣyati varāṅganā | bhaviṣyanti paraṃ bhadre patayaḥ pañca viśrutāḥ

You will have another birth, and you will be a woman of surpassing beauty. There, good lady, you will have five renowned husbands,

Note on the text: Speaker: Rudra's words, without a printed heading. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 15 (1.213.15)

महेन्द्रवपुषः सर्वे महेन्द्रसमविक्रमाः । तत्रस्था च महत्कर्म सुराणां त्वं करिष्यसि ॥

mahendravapuṣaḥ sarve mahendrasamavikramāḥ | tatrasthā ca mahatkarma surāṇāṃ tvaṃ kariṣyasi

all of them with the form of the great Indra and his equals in valour. Living there, you will accomplish a great work for the gods.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 16 (1.213.16)

एकः खलु मया भर्ता वृतः पञ्च त्विमे कथम् । एको भवति नैकस्या बहवस्तद्ब्रवीहि मे ॥

ekaḥ khalu mayā bhartā vṛtaḥ pañca tvime katham | eko bhavati naikasyā bahavastadbravīhi me

Surely I chose only one husband; how then are there these five? A woman has one husband, not many. Explain this to me.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 17 (1.213.17)

पञ्चकृत्वस्त्वया चोक्तः पतिं देहीत्यहं पुनः । पञ्च ते पतयो भद्रे भविष्यन्ति सुखावहाः ॥

pañcakṛtvastvayā coktaḥ patiṃ dehītyahaṃ punaḥ | pañca te patayo bhadre bhaviṣyanti sukhāvahāḥ

Five times you said to me, 'Give me a husband.' So, good lady, you will have five husbands, and they will bring you happiness.

Note on the text: Corrected पञ्चते → पञ्च ते (word break restored; misprint in Wikisource; the apparatus reads pañca te). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 18 (1.213.18)

धर्म एकः पतिः स्त्रीणां पूर्वमेव प्रकल्पितः । बहुपत्नीकता पुंसो धर्मश्च बहुभिः कृतः ॥

dharma ekaḥ patiḥ strīṇāṃ pūrvameva prakalpitaḥ | bahupatnīkatā puṃso dharmaśca bahubhiḥ kṛtaḥ

From the beginning dharma ordained one husband for women. Having many wives is a man's dharma, established by many.

Note on the text: Corrected पूर्वमे → पूर्वमेव (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, the line is a syllable short; the apparatus reads pūrvam eva). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 19 (1.213.19)

स्त्रीधर्मः पूर्वमेवायं निर्मितो मुनिभिः सदा । सहधर्मचरी भर्तुरेका एकस्य चोच्यते ॥

strīdharmaḥ pūrvamevāyaṃ nirmito munibhiḥ sadā | sahadharmacarī bharturekā ekasya cocyate

This law for women was laid down long ago by the sages for all time: one woman is called the partner in dharma of one husband.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 20 (1.213.20)

एको हि भर्ता नारीणां कौमार इति लौकिकः । आपत्सु च नियोगेन भर्तुर्नार्याः परः स्मृतः ॥

eko hi bhartā nārīṇāṃ kaumāra iti laukikaḥ | āpatsu ca niyogena bharturnāryāḥ paraḥ smṛtaḥ

By common custom a woman has one husband, the one she married as a maiden; in times of distress, by appointment (niyoga), another besides her husband is allowed.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 21 (1.213.21)

गच्छेत न तृतीयं तु तस्या निष्कृतिरुच्यते । चतुर्थे पतिता नारी पञ्चमे वर्धकी भवेत् ॥

gaccheta na tṛtīyaṃ tu tasyā niṣkṛtirucyate | caturthe patitā nārī pañcame vardhakī bhavet

Let her not go to a third; for that an expiation is prescribed. With a fourth a woman is fallen, and with a fifth she is reckoned a wanton.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 22 (1.213.22)

एवं गते धर्मपथे न वृणे बहुपुंस्कताम् । अलोकाचरितात्तस्मात्कथं मुच्येय सङ्करात् ॥

evaṃ gate dharmapathe na vṛṇe bahupuṃskatām | alokācaritāttasmātkathaṃ mucyeya saṅkarāt

Since the path of dharma stands thus, I do not choose to have many husbands. It is not practised in the world; how then could I escape that confusion of order?

Note on the text: Corrected अलोकाचरितात्त्समात् → अलोकाचरितात्तस्मात् (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the apparatus reads alokācaritāt tasmāt). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 23 (1.213.23)

अनावृताः पुरा नार्यो ह्यासञ्शुध्यन्ति चार्तवे । सकृदुक्तं त्वया नैतन्नाधर्मस्ते भविष्यति ॥

anāvṛtāḥ purā nāryo hyāsañśudhyanti cārtave | sakṛduktaṃ tvayā naitannādharmaste bhaviṣyati

In ancient times women were unrestrained, and they were purified by their monthly course. You asked this not once, but five times; no wrong will attach to you.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 24 (1.213.24)

यदि मे पतयः पञ्च रतिमिच्छामि तैर्मिथः । कौमारं च भवेत्सर्वैः संगमे संगमे च मे ॥

yadi me patayaḥ pañca ratimicchāmi tairmithaḥ | kaumāraṃ ca bhavetsarvaiḥ saṃgame saṃgame ca me

If I am to have five husbands, I wish to enjoy love with each of them in turn, and at every union may my maidenhood be restored, with all of them.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 25 (1.213.25)

पतिशुश्रूषया चैव सिद्धिः प्राप्ता मया पुरा । भोगेच्छा च मया प्राप्ता स च भोगश्च मे भवेत् ॥

patiśuśrūṣayā caiva siddhiḥ prāptā mayā purā | bhogecchā ca mayā prāptā sa ca bhogaśca me bhavet

By serving my husband I once won spiritual attainment; and I have come to long for enjoyment. Let me have that enjoyment too.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 26 (1.213.26)

रतिश्च भद्रे सिद्धिश्च न भजेते परस्परम् । भोगानाप्स्यसि सिद्धिं च योगेन च महत्त्वताम् ॥

ratiśca bhadre siddhiśca na bhajete parasparam | bhogānāpsyasi siddhiṃ ca yogena ca mahattvatām

Good lady, love and spiritual attainment do not go together. Yet you will win enjoyments, and attainment, and greatness through yoga.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 27 (1.213.27)

अन्यदेहान्तरे चैव रूपभाग्यगुणान्विता । पञ्चभिः प्राप्य कौमारं महाभागा भविष्यसि ॥

anyadehāntare caiva rūpabhāgyaguṇānvitā | pañcabhiḥ prāpya kaumāraṃ mahābhāgā bhaviṣyasi

In another body, endowed with beauty, good fortune and virtue, you will become most blessed, regaining your maidenhood with the five.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 28 (1.213.28)

गच्छ गङ्गाजलस्था च नरं पश्यसि यं शुभे । तमानय ममाभ्याशं सुरराजं शुचिस्मिते ॥

gaccha gaṅgājalasthā ca naraṃ paśyasi yaṃ śubhe | tamānaya mamābhyāśaṃ surarājaṃ śucismite

Go, and as you stand in the waters of the Ganga, bring to me the man you see there, bright-smiling one: he is the king of the gods.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).

Verse 29 (1.213.29)

इत्युक्ता विश्वरूपेण रुद्रं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् । जगाम गङ्गामुद्दिश्य पुण्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम् ॥

ityuktā viśvarūpeṇa rudraṃ kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam | jagāma gaṅgāmuddiśya puṇyāṃ tripathagāṃ nadīm

Thus addressed by the god of all forms, she walked around Rudra in reverence and set out for the Ganga, the holy river that flows in three paths.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration, given to Vyasa (not a continuation of Rudra's speech). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in its apparatus (Appendix I, No. 100).