The Aged Maiden and Shringavan

Verse 1 (9.53.1)

कथं कुमारी भगवंस्तपोयुक्ता ह्यभूत्पुरा । किमर्थं च तपस्तेपे को वाऽस्या नियमोऽभवत् ॥

kathaṃ kumārī bhagavaṃstapoyuktā hyabhūtpurā | kimarthaṃ ca tapastepe ko vā'syā niyamo'bhavat

Venerable sir, how did the maiden come to be devoted to austerity in former times? Why did she practise austerity, and what was her rule of life?

Verse 2 (9.53.2)

सुदुष्करमिदं ब्रह्मंस्त्वत्तः श्रुतमनुत्तमम् । आख्याहि तत्त्वमखिलं यथा तपसि सा स्थिता ॥

suduṣkaramidaṃ brahmaṃstvattaḥ śrutamanuttamam | ākhyāhi tattvamakhilaṃ yathā tapasi sā sthitā

This is very hard to do, O brahmin, and I have heard from you an account beyond compare. Tell me all of it truly, as she stood firm in her austerity.

Verse 3 (9.53.3)

ऋषिरासीन्महावीर्यः कुणिर्गार्ग्यो महायशाः । स तप्त्वा विपुलं राजंस्तपो वै तपतां वरः । तपसाऽथ सुतां सुभ्रूं समुत्पादितवान्विभुः ॥

ṛṣirāsīnmahāvīryaḥ kuṇirgārgyo mahāyaśāḥ | sa taptvā vipulaṃ rājaṃstapo vai tapatāṃ varaḥ | tapasā'tha sutāṃ subhrūṃ samutpāditavānvibhuḥ

There was a sage of great power and great fame, Kuni Gargya. O king, that best of ascetics practised vast austerity, and by that austerity the lord brought a daughter of lovely brows into being.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition’s 9.51.3ac; line 3 is a recension variant (the critical edition reads mānasīṃ sa sutāṃ subhrūṃ, “his mind-born daughter”).

Verse 4 (9.53.4)

तां च दृष्ट्वा मुनिः प्रीतः कुणिर्गार्ग्यो महायशाः । जगाम त्रिदिवं राजन्संत्यज्येह कलेवरम् ॥

tāṃ ca dṛṣṭvā muniḥ prītaḥ kuṇirgārgyo mahāyaśāḥ | jagāma tridivaṃ rājansaṃtyajyeha kalevaram

Delighted to see her, the renowned sage Kuni Gargya left his body here, O king, and went to heaven.

Verse 5 (9.53.5)

सुभ्रूः सा ह्यथ कल्याणी पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणा । महता तपसोग्रेण कृत्वाश्रममनिन्दिता ॥

subhrūḥ sā hyatha kalyāṇī puṇḍarīkanibhekṣaṇā | mahatā tapasogreṇa kṛtvāśramamaninditā

That lovely, blameless young woman, with eyes like lotuses and fair brows, made a hermitage for herself by great and fierce austerity.

Verse 6 (9.53.6)

उपवासैः पूजयन्ती पितॄन्देवांश्च सा पुरा । तस्यास्तु तपसोग्रेण महान्कालोऽत्यगान्नृप ॥

upavāsaiḥ pūjayantī pitṝndevāṃśca sā purā | tasyāstu tapasogreṇa mahānkālo'tyagānnṛpa

She honoured the ancestors and the gods with fasts, and in her fierce austerity a long time passed, O king.

Verse 7 (9.53.7)

सा पित्रा दीयमानापि पतिं नैच्छदनिन्दिता । आत्मनः सदृशं सा तु भर्तारं नान्वपश्यत ॥

sā pitrā dīyamānāpi patiṃ naicchadaninditā | ātmanaḥ sadṛśaṃ sā tu bhartāraṃ nānvapaśyata

Though her father wished to give her in marriage, the blameless girl wanted no husband; she found none equal to herself.

Verse 8 (9.53.8)

ततः सा तपसोग्रेण पीडयित्वाऽऽत्मनस्तनुम् । पितृदेवार्चनरता बभूव विजने वने ॥

tataḥ sā tapasogreṇa pīḍayitvā''tmanastanum | pitṛdevārcanaratā babhūva vijane vane

Then, wearing down her body with fierce austerity, she lived in a lonely forest, devoted to the worship of the ancestors and the gods.

Verse 9 (9.53.9)

साऽऽत्मानं मन्यमाना तु कृतकृत्यं श्रमान्विता । जगाम वृद्धभावं तु कौमारब्रह्मचारिणी ॥

sā''tmānaṃ manyamānā tu kṛtakṛtyaṃ śramānvitā | jagāma vṛddhabhāvaṃ tu kaumārabrahmacāriṇī

Thinking that she had done what was to be done, and weary with toil, she reached old age, a maiden who had kept chastity since girlhood.

Note on the text: Removed the stray wiki quote marks (` and ') around line 2. Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.9a; line 2 is a recension variant of its star passage 9.51.9b*0297_01 (jagāma vṛddhabhāvaṃ ca kaumārabrahmacāriṇī).

Verse 10 (9.53.10)

वार्धकेन च राजेन्द्र तपसा चैव कर्शिता । सा नाशकद्यदा गन्तुं पदात्पदमपि स्वयम् ॥

vārdhakena ca rājendra tapasā caiva karśitā | sā nāśakadyadā gantuṃ padātpadamapi svayam

Worn by old age and by austerity, O king of kings, she reached the point where she could not walk even a single step by herself.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.9c and line 2 its 9.51.10a.

Verse 11 (9.53.11)

चकार गमने बुद्धिं परलोकाय वै तदा । मोक्तुकामां तु तां दृष्ट्वा शरीरं नारदोऽब्रवीत् ॥

cakāra gamane buddhiṃ paralokāya vai tadā | moktukāmāṃ tu tāṃ dṛṣṭvā śarīraṃ nārado'bravīt

Then she resolved to depart for the other world. Seeing her ready to give up her body, Narada said to her:

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.10c and line 2 its 9.51.11a.

Verse 12 (9.53.12)

असंस्कृतायाः कन्यायाः कुतो लोकास्तवानघे । एवं तु श्रुतमस्माभिर्देवलोके महाव्रते ॥

asaṃskṛtāyāḥ kanyāyāḥ kuto lokāstavānaghe | evaṃ tu śrutamasmābhirdevaloke mahāvrate

“How can a maiden who has not been consecrated by marriage have worlds, O blameless one? So we have heard in the world of the gods, O woman of great vows.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.11c and line 2 its 9.51.12a. Speaker: Narada’s words fill the whole verse (the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 13 (9.53.13)

तपः परमकं प्राप्तं न तु लोकास्त्वया जिताः । तन्नारदवचः श्रुत्वा साऽब्रवीदृषिसंसदि ॥

tapaḥ paramakaṃ prāptaṃ na tu lokāstvayā jitāḥ | tannāradavacaḥ śrutvā sā'bravīdṛṣisaṃsadi

You have gained supreme austerity, but you have not won the worlds.” Hearing Narada’s words, she said in the assembly of sages:

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.12c and line 2 its 9.51.13a. Line 1 closes Narada’s words; line 2 is narration, so the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 14 (9.53.14)

तपसोऽर्धं प्रयच्छामि पाणिग्राहस्य सत्तमाः । इत्युक्तेऽस्यास्तु जग्राह पाणिं गालवसम्भवः ॥

tapaso'rdhaṃ prayacchāmi pāṇigrāhasya sattamāḥ | ityukte'syāstu jagrāha pāṇiṃ gālavasambhavaḥ

“I give half of my austerity to the one who takes my hand, O best of men.” When she had said this, the descendant of Galava took her hand.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.13c and line 2 its 9.51.14a. Line 1 is her speech, line 2 narration; the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 15 (9.53.15)

ऋषिः प्राक् शृङ्गवान्नाम समयं चेममब्रवीत् । समयेन तवाद्याहं पाणिं स्प्रक्ष्यामि शोभने ॥

ṛṣiḥ prāk śṛṅgavānnāma samayaṃ cemamabravīt | samayena tavādyāhaṃ pāṇiṃ sprakṣyāmi śobhane

The sage, who was named Shringavan, first laid down a condition: “On this condition, fair lady, I shall take your hand today:

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.14c and line 2 its 9.51.15a. Line 2 is the sage’s own speech beginning; the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 16 (9.53.16)

यद्येकरात्रं वस्तव्यं त्वया सह मयेति ह । तथेति सा प्रतिश्रुत्य तस्मै पाणिं ददौ तदा ॥

yadyekarātraṃ vastavyaṃ tvayā saha mayeti ha | tatheti sā pratiśrutya tasmai pāṇiṃ dadau tadā

I must live with you for one night.” She agreed, saying “So be it,” and then gave him her hand.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.15c and line 2 its 9.51.16a.

Verse 17 (9.53.17)

यथादृष्टेन विधिना हुत्वा चाग्निं विधानतः । चक्रे च पाणिग्रहणं तस्योद्वाहं च गालविः ॥

yathādṛṣṭena vidhinā hutvā cāgniṃ vidhānataḥ | cakre ca pāṇigrahaṇaṃ tasyodvāhaṃ ca gālaviḥ

By the rite as laid down, having duly offered oblations to the fire, Galavi performed the taking of her hand and the marriage.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s star passage 9.51.16b*0298_01 and line 2 its 9.51.16c.

Verse 18 (9.53.18)

सा रात्रावभवद्राजंस्तरुणी वरवर्णिनी । दिव्याभरणवस्त्रा च दिव्यगन्धानुलेपना ॥

sā rātrāvabhavadrājaṃstaruṇī varavarṇinī | divyābharaṇavastrā ca divyagandhānulepanā

That night she became a young woman of lovely complexion, O king, in divine ornaments and garments, anointed with divine perfumes.

Note on the text: Recension variants of the critical edition’s 9.51.17 (devavarṇinī; divyasraganulepanā).

Verse 19 (9.53.19)

तां दृष्ट्वा गालविः प्रीतो दीपयन्तीमिव श्रिया । उवास च क्षपामेकां प्रभाते साऽब्रवीच्च तम् ॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā gālaviḥ prīto dīpayantīmiva śriyā | uvāsa ca kṣapāmekāṃ prabhāte sā'bravīcca tam

Seeing her, who seemed to blaze with splendour, Galavi was delighted. He spent the one night with her, and in the morning she said to him:

Verse 20 (9.53.20)

यस्त्वया समयो विप्र कृतो मे तपतां वर । तेनोषिताऽस्मि भद्रं ते स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु व्रजाम्यहम् ॥

yastvayā samayo vipra kṛto me tapatāṃ vara | tenoṣitā'smi bhadraṃ te svasti te'stu vrajāmyaham

“The condition you made with me, O brahmin, best of ascetics, I have kept by living with you. May good befall you; may you prosper. I shall now go.”

Note on the text: Speaker: the woman’s own words fill the whole verse (the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 21 (9.53.21)

सा तु ध्यात्वाऽब्रवीद्भूयो योऽस्मिंस्तीर्थे समाहितः । वसते रजनीमेकां तर्पयित्वा दिवौकसः ॥

sā tu dhyātvā'bravīdbhūyo yo'smiṃstīrthe samāhitaḥ | vasate rajanīmekāṃ tarpayitvā divaukasaḥ

But after reflecting, she spoke again: “Whoever, with a collected mind, spends one night at this tirtha, after satisfying the gods,

Note on the text: Recension variant of the critical edition’s 9.51.20 (sānujñātābravīd bhūyaḥ … vatsyate).

Verse 22 (9.53.22)

चत्वारिंशतमष्टौ च द्वौ चाष्टौ सम्यगाचरेत् । यो ब्रह्मचर्यं वर्षाणि फलं तस्य लभेत सः ॥

catvāriṃśatamaṣṭau ca dvau cāṣṭau samyagācaret | yo brahmacaryaṃ varṣāṇi phalaṃ tasya labheta saḥ

and who rightly keeps chastity for forty and eight years, and for two and eight more, shall gain its fruit.”

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: the critical edition’s 9.51.21ac. Speaker: the woman’s own words fill the whole verse (the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 23 (9.53.23)

एवमुक्त्वा ततः साध्वी देहं त्यक्त्वा दिवं गता । ऋषिरप्यभवद्दीनस्तस्या रूपं विचिन्तयन् ॥

evamuktvā tataḥ sādhvī dehaṃ tyaktvā divaṃ gatā | ṛṣirapyabhavaddīnastasyā rūpaṃ vicintayan

Having said this, the virtuous woman gave up her body and went to heaven. The sage too became dejected, thinking of her beauty.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.21e and line 2 its 9.51.22a.

Verse 24 (9.53.24)

समयेन तपोऽर्धं च कृच्छ्रात्प्रतिगृहीतवान् । साधयित्वा तदाऽऽत्मानं तस्याः स गतिमाप्तवान् । दुःखितो भरतश्रेष्ठ तस्या रूपबलात्कृतः ॥

samayena tapo'rdhaṃ ca kṛcchrātpratigṛhītavān | sādhayitvā tadā''tmānaṃ tasyāḥ sa gatimāptavān | duḥkhito bharataśreṣṭha tasyā rūpabalātkṛtaḥ

He had taken half of her austerity, with difficulty, by the agreed condition; and having perfected himself, he reached her destination. He grieved, O best of the Bharatas, overcome by the power of her beauty.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.22c, line 2 a recension variant of 9.51.23a (Wikisource गतिमाप्तवान्; the critical edition reads gatim anvayāt), and line 3 its 9.51.23c.

Verse 25 (9.53.25)

एतत्ते वृद्धकन्याया व्याख्यातं चरितं महत् । तथैव ब्रह्मचर्यं च स्वर्गस्य च गतिः शुभा ॥

etatte vṛddhakanyāyā vyākhyātaṃ caritaṃ mahat | tathaiva brahmacaryaṃ ca svargasya ca gatiḥ śubhā

Thus I have told you the great story of the aged maiden, and of chastity and the blessed path to heaven.

Note on the text: Corrected वृद्वकन्याया → वृद्धकन्याया (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; the critical edition reads vṛddhakanyāyāḥ). Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the critical edition’s 9.51.23e; line 2 its star passage 9.51.23f*0299_01.

Verse 26 (9.53.26)

तत्रस्थश्चापि शुश्राव हतं शल्यं हलायुधः ॥

tatrasthaścāpi śuśrāva hataṃ śalyaṃ halāyudhaḥ

And while staying there, Halayudha heard that Shalya had been slain.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: the critical edition’s 9.51.24a. Wikisource divides the critical edition’s three-line verse 9.51.24 into this one-line verse and the next two lines.

Verse 27 (9.53.27)

तत्रापि दत्त्वा दानानि द्विजातिभ्यः परन्तपः । शुशोच शल्यं सङ्ग्रामे निहतं पाण्डवैस्तदा ॥

tatrāpi dattvā dānāni dvijātibhyaḥ parantapaḥ | śuśoca śalyaṃ saṅgrāme nihataṃ pāṇḍavaistadā

There too, having given gifts to the twice-born, the scorcher of foes grieved for Shalya, who had been killed in battle by the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: the critical edition’s 9.51.24c and 24e.

Verse 28 (9.53.28)

समन्तपञ्चकद्वारात्ततो निष्क्रम्य माधवः । पप्रच्छर्षिगणारामः कुरुक्षेत्रस्य यत्फलम् ॥

samantapañcakadvārāttato niṣkramya mādhavaḥ | papraccharṣigaṇārāmaḥ kurukṣetrasya yatphalam

Then Madhava, who delighted in the company of sages, left the gateway of Samantapanchaka and asked what the fruit of Kurukshetra was.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads ऋषिगणाराम (“one who delights in the company of sages”), a recension variant of the critical edition’s ṛṣigaṇān (papraccharṣigaṇān rāmaḥ).

Verse 29 (9.53.29)

ते पृष्टा यदुसिंहेन कुरुक्षेत्रफलं विभो । समाचख्युर्महात्मानस्तस्मै सर्वं यथातथम् ॥

te pṛṣṭā yadusiṃhena kurukṣetraphalaṃ vibho | samācakhyurmahātmānastasmai sarvaṃ yathātatham

Asked by the lion of the Yadus about the fruit of Kurukshetra, O lord, the great-souled sages told him everything just as it was.