Ruru Gives Half His Life to Pramadvara

Verse 1 (1.9.1)

तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु ब्राह्मणेषु महात्मसु । रुरुश्चुक्रोश गहनं वनं गत्वाऽतिदुःखितः ॥

teṣu tatropaviṣṭeṣu brāhmaṇeṣu mahātmasu | ruruścukrośa gahanaṃ vanaṃ gatvā'tiduḥkhitaḥ

While those great-souled brahmins sat there, Ruru, in deep distress, went into the dense forest and cried aloud.

Verse 2 (1.9.2)

शोकेनाभिहतः सोऽथ विलपन्करुणं बहु । अब्रवीद्वचनं शोचन्प्रियां स्मृत्वा प्रमद्वराम् ॥

śokenābhihataḥ so'tha vilapankaruṇaṃ bahu | abravīdvacanaṃ śocanpriyāṃ smṛtvā pramadvarām

Struck down by grief, he lamented long and piteously, and thinking of his beloved Pramadvara he spoke these words in his sorrow:

Verse 3 (1.9.3)

शेते सा भुवि तन्वङ्गी मम शोकविवर्धिनी । प्राणानपहरन्तीव पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना ॥

śete sā bhuvi tanvaṅgī mama śokavivardhinī | prāṇānapaharantīva pūrṇacandranibhānanā

She lies on the ground, slender-limbed, her face like the full moon, deepening my grief, as though she were drawing out my very life.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick (wiki mark) before the second line. The first line is the first half of CE 1.9.3; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 4 (1.9.4)

यदि पीनायतश्रोणी पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणा । मुमूर्षुरपि मे प्राणानादायाशु गमिष्यति ॥

yadi pīnāyataśroṇī padmapatranibhekṣaṇā | mumūrṣurapi me prāṇānādāyāśu gamiṣyati

If she of the full, wide hips and eyes like lotus petals is dying, she will soon depart and take my life with her.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 5 (1.9.5)

पितृमातृसखीनां च लुप्तपिण्डस्य तस्य मे । बान्धवानां च सर्वेषां किं नु दुःखमतःपरम् ॥

pitṛmātṛsakhīnāṃ ca luptapiṇḍasya tasya me | bāndhavānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ kiṃ nu duḥkhamataḥparam

For her father, her mother and her friends, for me, who am now cut off from the line of ancestral offerings, and for all her kinsmen, what sorrow could be greater than this?

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (।') at the end of the first line. The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line is the second half of CE 1.9.3.

Verse 6 (1.9.6)

यदि दत्तं तपस्तप्तं गुरवो वा मया यदि । सम्यगाराधितास्तेन संजीवतु मम प्रिया ॥

yadi dattaṃ tapastaptaṃ guravo vā mayā yadi | samyagārādhitāstena saṃjīvatu mama priyā

If I have given gifts, if I have practised austerity, if I have truly served my elders, then by that merit let my beloved come back to life.

Verse 7 (1.9.7)

यथा च जन्मप्रभृति यतात्माऽहं धृतव्रतः । प्रमद्वरा तथाद्यैषा समुत्तिष्ठतु भामिनी ॥

yathā ca janmaprabhṛti yatātmā'haṃ dhṛtavrataḥ | pramadvarā tathādyaiṣā samuttiṣṭhatu bhāminī

And as surely as I have kept myself restrained and firm in my vows since birth, so may the lovely Pramadvara rise up this very day.

Verse 8 (1.9.8)

एवं लालप्यतस्तस्य भार्यार्थे दुःखितस्य च । देवदूतस्तदाऽभ्येत्य वाक्यमाह रुरुं वने ॥

evaṃ lālapyatastasya bhāryārthe duḥkhitasya ca | devadūtastadā'bhyetya vākyamāha ruruṃ vane

As he lamented thus again and again, grieving for his wife, a messenger of the gods came to Ruru in the forest and spoke to him.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets and the inner double danda around this verse (editorial marks in Wikisource). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 9 (1.9.9)

कृष्णे विष्णौ हृषीकेशे लोकेशेऽसुरविद्विषि । यदि मे निश्चला भक्तिर्मम जीवतु सा प्रिया ॥

kṛṣṇe viṣṇau hṛṣīkeśe lokeśe'suravidviṣi | yadi me niścalā bhaktirmama jīvatu sā priyā

If my devotion to Krishna, to Vishnu, to Hrishikesha, lord of the worlds and enemy of the asuras, is unwavering, then let my beloved live.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick (wiki mark) at the start. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 10 (1.9.10)

विलप्यमाने तु रुरौ सर्वे देवाः कृपान्विताः । दूतं प्रस्थापयामासुः संदिश्यास्य हितं वचः ॥

vilapyamāne tu rurau sarve devāḥ kṛpānvitāḥ | dūtaṃ prasthāpayāmāsuḥ saṃdiśyāsya hitaṃ vacaḥ

While Ruru wept, all the gods were moved to compassion, and they sent a messenger, entrusting him with words for Ruru's good.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 11 (1.9.11)

स दूतस्त्वरितोऽभ्येत्य देवानां प्रियकृच्छुचिः । उवाच देववचनं रुरुमाभाष्य दुःखितम् ॥

sa dūtastvarito'bhyetya devānāṃ priyakṛcchuciḥ | uvāca devavacanaṃ rurumābhāṣya duḥkhitam

That pure messenger, who did what pleased the gods, came quickly, addressed the grieving Ruru and gave him the gods' message.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 12 (1.9.12)

देवैः सर्वैरहं ब्रह्मन्प्रेषितोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम् । त्वद्धितं त्वद्धितैरुक्तं शृणु वाक्यं द्विजोत्तम ॥

devaiḥ sarvairahaṃ brahmanpreṣito'smi tavāntikam | tvaddhitaṃ tvaddhitairuktaṃ śṛṇu vākyaṃ dvijottama

All the gods have sent me to you, brahmin. Listen, best of the twice-born, to the words spoken for your good by those who wish you well.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (।।') at the end of the verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 13 (1.9.13)

अभिधत्से ह यद्वाचा रुरो दुःखान्न तन्मृषा । न तु मर्त्यस्य धर्मात्मन्नायुरस्ति गतायुषः ॥

abhidhatse ha yadvācā ruro duḥkhānna tanmṛṣā | na tu martyasya dharmātmannāyurasti gatāyuṣaḥ

What you say in your grief, Ruru, is not insincere; but a mortal whose span is spent, righteous one, has no life left.

Verse 14 (1.9.14)

गतायुरेषा कृपणा गन्धर्वाप्सरसोः सुता । तस्माच्छोके मनस्तात मा कृथास्त्वं कथंचन ॥

gatāyureṣā kṛpaṇā gandharvāpsarasoḥ sutā | tasmācchoke manastāta mā kṛthāstvaṃ kathaṃcana

This poor girl, the daughter of a gandharva and an apsaras, has reached the end of her days. So, dear son, do not give your mind over to grief in any way.

Verse 15 (1.9.15)

उपायश्चात्र विहितः पूर्वं देवैर्महात्मभिः । तं यदीच्छसि कर्तुं त्वं प्राप्स्यसीह प्रमद्वराम् ॥

upāyaścātra vihitaḥ pūrvaṃ devairmahātmabhiḥ | taṃ yadīcchasi kartuṃ tvaṃ prāpsyasīha pramadvarām

Yet the great-souled gods long ago laid down a means for this. If you are willing to follow it, you will have Pramadvara back here.

Verse 16 (1.9.16)

क उपायः कृतो देवैर्ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन खेचर । करिष्येऽहं तथा श्रुत्वा त्रातुमर्हति मां भवान् ॥

ka upāyaḥ kṛto devairbrūhi tattvena khecara | kariṣye'haṃ tathā śrutvā trātumarhati māṃ bhavān

What means have the gods ordained? Tell me truly, rover of the sky. When I have heard it I will do just that. You must save me.

Note on the text: Corrected बूहि → ब्रूहि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र, CE brūhi).

Verse 17 (1.9.17)

आयुषोऽर्धं प्रयच्छ त्वं कन्यायै भृगुनन्दन । एवमुत्थास्यति रुरो तव भार्या प्रमद्वरा ॥

āyuṣo'rdhaṃ prayaccha tvaṃ kanyāyai bhṛgunandana | evamutthāsyati ruro tava bhāryā pramadvarā

Give half of your own life to the maiden, scion of Bhrigu. In this way, Ruru, your wife Pramadvara will rise.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रयद्वरा → प्रमद्वरा (misprint in Wikisource; the heroine's name, CE pramadvarā).

Verse 18 (1.9.18)

आयुषोऽर्धं प्रयच्छामि कन्यायै खेचरोत्तम । शृङ्गाररूपाभरणा समुत्तिष्ठतु मे प्रिया ॥

āyuṣo'rdhaṃ prayacchāmi kanyāyai khecarottama | śṛṅgārarūpābharaṇā samuttiṣṭhatu me priyā

I give half of my life to the maiden, best of sky-rovers. Let my beloved rise, with all her charm, her beauty and her ornaments.

Verse 19 (1.9.19)

ततो गन्धर्वराजश्च देवदूतश्च सत्तमौ । धर्मराजमुपेत्येदं वचनं प्रत्यभाषताम् ॥

tato gandharvarājaśca devadūtaśca sattamau | dharmarājamupetyedaṃ vacanaṃ pratyabhāṣatām

Then the king of the gandharvas and the messenger of the gods, both excellent beings, went to Dharmaraja and said this:

Verse 20 (1.9.20)

धर्मराजायुषोऽर्धेन रुरोर्भार्या प्रमद्वरा । समुत्तिष्ठतु कल्याणी मृतैवं यदि मन्यसे ॥

dharmarājāyuṣo'rdhena rurorbhāryā pramadvarā | samuttiṣṭhatu kalyāṇī mṛtaivaṃ yadi manyase

Dharmaraja, if you think it fit, let Ruru's wife, the fair Pramadvara, dead as she is, rise again with half of Ruru's life.

Verse 21 (1.9.21)

प्रमद्वरा रुरोर्भार्या देवदूत यदीच्छसि । उत्तिष्ठत्वायुषोऽर्धेन रुरोरेव समन्विता ॥

pramadvarā rurorbhāryā devadūta yadīcchasi | uttiṣṭhatvāyuṣo'rdhena ruroreva samanvitā

If you wish it, messenger of the gods, let Pramadvara, Ruru's wife, rise, endowed with half of Ruru's own life.

Verse 22 (1.9.22)

एवमुक्ते ततः कन्या सोदतिष्ठत्प्रमद्वरा । रुरोस्तस्यायुषोऽर्धेन सुप्तेव वरवर्णिनी ॥

evamukte tataḥ kanyā sodatiṣṭhatpramadvarā | rurostasyāyuṣo'rdhena supteva varavarṇinī

When this was said, the maiden Pramadvara, fair of complexion, rose up with half of Ruru's life, as if she had only been asleep.

Verse 23 (1.9.23)

एतद्दृष्टं भविष्ये हि रुरोरुत्तमतेजसः । आयुषोऽतिप्रवृद्धस्य भार्यार्थेऽर्धमलुप्यत ॥

etaddṛṣṭaṃ bhaviṣye hi ruroruttamatejasaḥ | āyuṣo'tipravṛddhasya bhāryārthe'rdhamalupyata

This had been foreseen in the destiny of Ruru of supreme splendour: that half of his very long life would be cut away for the sake of his wife.

Verse 24 (1.9.24)

तत इष्टेऽहनि तयोः पितरौ चक्रतुर्मुदा । विवाहं तौ च रेमाते परस्परहितैषिणौ ॥

tata iṣṭe'hani tayoḥ pitarau cakraturmudā | vivāhaṃ tau ca remāte parasparahitaiṣiṇau

Then, on an auspicious day, the fathers of the two joyfully celebrated their marriage, and the pair took delight in each other, each seeking the other's good.

Verse 25 (1.9.25)

स लब्ध्वा दुर्लभां भार्यां पद्मकिञ्जल्कसुप्रभाम् । व्रतं चक्रे विनाशाय जिह्मगानां धृतव्रतः ॥

sa labdhvā durlabhāṃ bhāryāṃ padmakiñjalkasuprabhām | vrataṃ cakre vināśāya jihmagānāṃ dhṛtavrataḥ

Having won a wife so hard to win, radiant as the filaments of a lotus, Ruru, firm in his vows, took a vow to destroy the snakes, the creatures that move crookedly.

Verse 26 (1.9.26)

स दृष्ट्वा जिह्मगान्सर्वांस्तीव्रकोपसमन्वितः । अभिहन्ति यथासत्त्वं गृह्य प्रहरणं सदा ॥

sa dṛṣṭvā jihmagānsarvāṃstīvrakopasamanvitaḥ | abhihanti yathāsattvaṃ gṛhya praharaṇaṃ sadā

Whenever he saw a snake, any snake at all, he would seize a weapon in fierce anger and strike it down with all his strength.

Verse 27 (1.9.27)

स कदाचिद्वनं विप्रो रुरुरभ्यागमन्महत् । शयानं तत्र चापश्यड्डुण्डुभं वयसान्वितम् ॥

sa kadācidvanaṃ vipro rururabhyāgamanmahat | śayānaṃ tatra cāpaśyaḍḍuṇḍubhaṃ vayasānvitam

Once the brahmin Ruru came into a great forest, and there he saw a dundubha snake, far on in years, lying asleep.

Verse 28 (1.9.28)

तत उद्यम्य दण्डं स कालदण्डोपमं तदा । जिघांसुः कुपितो विप्रस्तमुवाचाथ डुण्डुभः ॥

tata udyamya daṇḍaṃ sa kāladaṇḍopamaṃ tadā | jighāṃsuḥ kupito viprastamuvācātha ḍuṇḍubhaḥ

Raising his staff, which was like the staff of Death itself, the angry brahmin made to kill it. Then the dundubha said to him:

Note on the text: Corrected दम्डं → दण्डं (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, CE daṇḍaṃ).

Verse 29 (1.9.29)

नापराध्यामि ते किंचिदहमद्य तपोधन । संरम्भाच्च किमर्थं मामभिहंसि रुषान्वितः ॥

nāparādhyāmi te kiṃcidahamadya tapodhana | saṃrambhācca kimarthaṃ māmabhihaṃsi ruṣānvitaḥ

I have done you no wrong today, rich in austerity. Why then do you attack me in such fury and rage?