King Puranjana Goes Hunting, and His Queen Grows Angry

Verse 1 (bhagavata.4.26.1)

नारद उवाच स एकदा महेष्वासो रथं पञ्चाश्वमाशुगम् । द्वीषं द्विचक्रमेकाक्षं त्रिवेणुं पञ्चबन्धुरम् ॥ 26.1 ॥

nārada uvāca sa ekadā maheṣvāso rathaṁ pañcāśvam āśu-gam dvīṣaṁ dvi-cakram ekākṣaṁ tri-veṇuṁ pañca-bandhuram

Once, that mighty archer [Puranjana] mounted a swift chariot drawn by five horses — two-wheeled, single-axled, fitted with three flagstaffs and a five-fold harness, and bearing two explosive shafts.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.4.26.2)

एकरश्म्येकदमनमेकनीडं द्विकूबरम् । पञ्चप्रहरणं सप्तवरूथं पञ्चविक्रमम् ॥ 26.2 ॥

eka-raśmy eka-damanam eka-nīḍaṁ dvi-kūbaram pañca-praharaṇaṁ sapta- varūthaṁ pañca-vikramam

That chariot had a single rein, a single curb, a single seat, two shafts, five weapons, seven coverings, and a fivefold motion.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.4.26.3)

हैमोपस्करमारुह्य स्वर्णवर्माक्षयेषुधिः । एकादशचमूनाथः पञ्चप्रस्थमगाद्वनम् ॥ 26.3 ॥

haimopaskaram āruhya svarṇa-varmākṣayeṣudhiḥ ekādaśa-camū-nāthaḥ pañca-prastham agād vanam

Mounting that gold-adorned chariot, clad in golden armor and bearing an inexhaustible quiver, that lord of eleven armies set out for the forest named Panchaprastha.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.4.26.4)

चचार मृगयां तत्र दृप्त आत्तेषुकार्मुकः । विहाय जायामतदर्हां मृगव्यसनलालसः ॥ 26.4 ॥

cacāra mṛgayāṁ tatra dṛpta ātteṣu-kārmukaḥ vihāya jāyām atad-arhāṁ mṛga-vyasana-lālasaḥ

There, filled with pride, bow and arrows in hand, consumed by his passion for the chase, he roamed about hunting, abandoning his wife — though she deserved no such neglect.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.4.26.5)

आसुरीं वृत्तिमाश्रित्य घोरात्मा निरनुग्रहः । न्यहनन्निशितैर्बाणैर्वनेषु वनगोचरान् ॥ 26.5 ॥

āsurīṁ vṛttim āśritya ghorātmā niranugrahaḥ nyahanan niśitair bāṇair vaneṣu vana-gocarān

Given over to a demoniac disposition, cruel of heart and without mercy, he slew the creatures roaming the forest with his sharpened arrows.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.4.26.6)

तीर्थेषु प्रतिदृष्टेषु राजा मेध्यान् पशून् वने । यावदर्थमलं लुब्धो हन्यादिति नियम्यते ॥ 26.6 ॥

tīrtheṣu pratidṛṣṭeṣu rājā medhyān paśūn vane yāvad-artham alaṁ lubdho hanyād iti niyamyate

It is laid down that a king may kill only those forest animals sanctioned for sacrifice, and only at the places so prescribed, taking no more than is needed — never driven by greed.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.4.26.7)

य एवं कर्म नियतं विद्वान् कुर्वीत मानवः । कर्मणा तेन राजेन्द्र ज्ञानेन न स लिप्यते ॥ 26.7 ॥

ya evaṁ karma niyataṁ vidvān kurvīta mānavaḥ karmaṇā tena rājendra jñānena na sa lipyate

O foremost of kings, the wise man who performs such prescribed action with knowledge is not bound by that action.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.4.26.8)

अन्यथा कर्म कुर्वाणो मानारूढो निबध्यते । गुणप्रवाहपतितो नष्टप्रज्ञो व्रजत्यधः ॥ 26.8 ॥

anyathā karma kurvāṇo mānārūḍho nibadhyate guṇa-pravāha-patito naṣṭa-prajño vrajaty adhaḥ

But one who acts otherwise, swollen with false pride, becomes bound; fallen into the current of the gunas and stripped of true understanding, he sinks downward.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.4.26.9)

तत्र निर्भिन्नगात्राणां चित्रवाजैः शिलीमुखैः । विप्लवोऽभूद्दुःखितानां दुःसहः करुणात्मनाम् ॥ 26.9 ॥

tatra nirbhinna-gātrāṇāṁ citra-vājaiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ viplavo ’bhūd duḥkhitānāṁ duḥsahaḥ karuṇātmanām

There, as the bright-feathered arrows tore through their bodies, the plight of those suffering creatures grew so unbearable that even people of compassionate heart were struck with grief.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.4.26.10)

शशान् वराहान् महिषान् गवयान् रुरुशल्यकान् । मेध्यानन्यांश्च विविधान् विनिघ्नन् श्रममध्यगात् ॥ 26.10 ॥

śaśān varāhān mahiṣān gavayān ruru-śalyakān medhyān anyāṁś ca vividhān vinighnan śramam adhyagāt

Killing hares, boars, buffaloes, wild oxen, ruru deer, porcupines and various other sacrificial animals, he grew weary at last.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.4.26.11)

ततः क्षुत्तृट्परिश्रान्तो निवृत्तो गृहमेयिवान् । कृतस्नानोचिताहारः संविवेश गतक्लमः ॥ 26.11 ॥

tataḥ kṣut-tṛṭ-pariśrānto nivṛtto gṛham eyivān kṛta-snānocitāhāraḥ saṁviveśa gata-klamaḥ

Then, worn out by hunger and thirst, he turned back and came home; and having bathed and taken a fitting meal, he lay down to rest, and his weariness left him.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.4.26.12)

आत्मानमर्हयां चक्रे धूपालेपस्रगादिभिः । साध्वलङ्कृतसर्वाङ्गो महिष्यामादधे मनः ॥ 26.12 ॥

ātmānam arhayāṁ cakre dhūpālepa-srag-ādibhiḥ sādhv-alaṅkṛta-sarvāṅgo mahiṣyām ādadhe manaḥ

He then adorned himself with incense, sandal paste, garlands and the like, and with his whole body handsomely arrayed, he turned his mind toward the Queen.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.4.26.13)

तृप्तो हृष्टः सुदृप्तश्च कन्दर्पाकृष्टमानसः । न व्यचष्ट वरारोहां गृहिणीं गृहमेधिनीम् ॥ 26.13 ॥

tṛpto hṛṣṭaḥ sudṛptaś ca kandarpākṛṣṭa-mānasaḥ na vyacaṣṭa varārohāṁ gṛhiṇīṁ gṛha-medhinīm

Satisfied, delighted and full of pride, his mind now drawn by Cupid, he looked about but could not find that lovely mistress of his household.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.4.26.14)

अन्तःपुरस्त्रियोऽपृच्छद्विमना इव वेदिषत् । अपि वः कुशलं रामाः सेश्वरीणां यथा पुरा ॥ 26.14 ॥

antaḥpura-striyo ’pṛcchad vimanā iva vediṣat api vaḥ kuśalaṁ rāmāḥ seśvarīṇāṁ yathā purā

Somewhat troubled, and as if unsure, he asked the women of the inner chambers: O lovely ones, are you and your mistress well, as you were before?

Verse 15 (bhagavata.4.26.15)

न तथैतर्हि रोचन्ते गृहेषु गृहसम्पदः । यदि न स्याद्गृहे माता पत्नी वा पतिदेवता । व्यङ्गे रथ इव प्राज्ञः को नामासीत दीनवत् ॥ 26.15 ॥

na tathaitarhi rocante gṛheṣu gṛha-sampadaḥ yadi na syād gṛhe mātā patnī vā pati-devatā vyaṅge ratha iva prājñaḥ ko nāmāsīta dīnavat

[Puranjana said:] The comforts of home no longer please me as they did before. If a house has neither mother nor devoted wife in it, what wise man would sit there miserably, like a man in a broken chariot?

Verse 16 (bhagavata.4.26.16)

क्व वर्तते सा ललना मज्जन्तं व्यसनार्णवे । या मामुद्धरते प्रज्ञां दीपयन्ती पदे पदे ॥ 26.16 ॥

kva vartate sā lalanā majjantaṁ vyasanārṇave yā mām uddharate prajñāṁ dīpayantī pade pade

Where is that woman who, lighting up my judgment at every step, lifts me up whenever I am sinking in an ocean of trouble?

Verse 17 (bhagavata.4.26.17)

रामा ऊचुः नरनाथ न जानीमस्त्वत्प्रिया यद्वयवस्यति । भूतले निरवस्तारे शयानां पश्य शत्रुहन् ॥ 26.17 ॥

rāmā ūcuḥ nara-nātha na jānīmas tvat-priyā yad vyavasyati bhūtale niravastāre śayānāṁ paśya śatru-han

The women said: O lord of men, we do not know what your beloved intends to do. O slayer of foes, only see — she lies upon the bare ground, without any bedding at all.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.4.26.18)

नारद उवाच पुरञ्जनः स्वमहिषीं निरीक्ष्यावधुतां भुवि । तत्सङ्गोन्मथितज्ञानो वैक्लव्यं परमं ययौ ॥ 26.18 ॥

nārada uvāca purañjanaḥ sva-mahiṣīṁ nirīkṣyāvadhutāṁ bhuvi tat-saṅgonmathita-jñāno vaiklavyaṁ paramaṁ yayau

Narada said: Seeing his own Queen thrown down like this upon the ground, Puranjana — his judgment overturned by his attachment to her — fell into deep distress.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.4.26.19)

सान्त्वयन् श्लक्ष्णया वाचा हृदयेन विदूयता । प्रेयस्याः स्नेहसंरम्भलिङ्गमात्मनि नाभ्यगात् ॥ 26.19 ॥

sāntvayan ślakṣṇayā vācā hṛdayena vidūyatā preyasyāḥ sneha-saṁrambha- liṅgam ātmani nābhyagāt

Though he consoled her with gentle words, his heart tormented within him, he could find in himself no sign that his beloved's love-born anger had lifted at all.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.4.26.20)

अनुनिन्येऽथ शनकैर्वीरोऽनुनयकोविदः । पस्पर्श पादयुगलमाह चोत्सङ्गलालिताम् ॥ 26.20 ॥

anuninye ’tha śanakair vīro ’nunaya-kovidaḥ pasparśa pāda-yugalam āha cotsaṅga-lālitām

That hero, skilled in the art of appeasement, then began gently to win her over; he touched her two feet, drew her fondly onto his lap, and spoke these words.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.4.26.21)

पुरञ्जन उवाच नूनं त्वकृतपुण्यास्ते भृत्या येष्वीश्वराः शुभे । कृतागःस्वात्मसात्कृत्वा शिक्षादण्डं न युञ्जते ॥ 26.21 ॥

purañjana uvāca nūnaṁ tv akṛta-puṇyās te bhṛtyā yeṣv īśvarāḥ śubhe kṛtāgaḥsv ātmasāt kṛtvā śikṣā-daṇḍaṁ na yuñjate

Puranjana said: O gracious one, truly unfortunate are those servants whose master, though he has taken them as his own, does not impose correction on them for their faults.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.4.26.22)

परमोऽनुग्रहो दण्डो भृत्येषु प्रभुणार्पितः । बालो न वेद तत्तन्वि बन्धुकृत्यममर्षणः ॥ 26.22 ॥

paramo ’nugraho daṇḍo bhṛtyeṣu prabhuṇārpitaḥ bālo na veda tat tanvi bandhu-kṛtyam amarṣaṇaḥ

When a master imposes punishment on a servant, that itself is his highest grace; O slender one, only a childish and resentful person fails to see this as a true friend's duty.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.4.26.23)

सा त्वं मुखं सुदति सुभ्र्वनुरागभार व्रीडाविलम्बविलसद्धसितावलोकम् । नीलालकालिभिरुपस्कृतमुन्नसं नः स्वानां प्रदर्शय मनस्विनि वल्गुवाक्यम् ॥ 26.23 ॥

sā tvaṁ mukhaṁ sudati subhrv anurāga-bhāra- vrīḍā-vilamba-vilasad-dhasitāvalokam nīlālakālibhir upaskṛtam unnasaṁ naḥ svānāṁ pradarśaya manasvini valgu-vākyam

O fine-toothed, fair-browed one, show to me — your own — that face of yours: its high nose framed by clusters of dark curling hair, its smiling glance now breaking through the last trace of shy resentment; and, O thoughtful one, speak to me your sweet words.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.4.26.24)

तस्मिन्दधे दममहं तव वीरपत्नि योऽन्यत्र भूसुरकुलात्कृतकिल्बिषस्तम् । पश्ये न वीतभयमुन्मुदितं त्रिलोक्या- मन्यत्र वै मुररिपोरितरत्र दासात् ॥ 26.24 ॥

tasmin dadhe damam ahaṁ tava vīra-patni yo ’nyatra bhūsura-kulāt kṛta-kilbiṣas tam paśye na vīta-bhayam unmuditaṁ tri-lokyām anyatra vai mura-ripor itaratra dāsāt

O hero's wife, whoever has wronged you — barring only the brahmana class — I shall myself bring him to heel; apart from the servant of Muraripu, I see no one in these three worlds who could offend you and still walk about elsewhere fearless and glad.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.4.26.25)

वक्त्रं न ते वितिलकं मलिनं विहर्षं संरम्भभीममविमृष्टमपेतरागम् । पश्ये स्तनावपि शुचोपहतौ सुजातौ बिम्बाधरं विगतकुङ्कुमपङ्करागम् ॥ 26.25 ॥

vaktraṁ na te vitilakaṁ malinaṁ viharṣaṁ saṁrambha-bhīmam avimṛṣṭam apeta-rāgam paśye stanāv api śucopahatau sujātau bimbādharaṁ vigata-kuṅkuma-paṅka-rāgam

Never before have I seen your face without its tilaka mark — so dulled, so joyless, so frightening with anger, so untended and drained of its glow; nor your shapely breasts stricken with grief, nor your bimba-red lips stripped of their vermilion luster.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.4.26.26)

तन्मे प्रसीद सुहृदः कृतकिल्बिषस्य स्वैरं गतस्य मृगयां व्यसनातुरस्य । का देवरं वशगतं कुसुमास्त्रवेग विस्रस्तपौंस्नमुशती न भजेत कृत्ये ॥ 26.26 ॥

tan me prasīda suhṛdaḥ kṛta-kilbiṣasya svairaṁ gatasya mṛgayāṁ vyasanāturasya kā devaraṁ vaśa-gataṁ kusumāstra-vega- visrasta-pauṁsnam uśatī na bhajeta kṛtye

So be gracious now to this friend of yours, who wronged you by going off on his own, overtaken by his passion for the hunt. What loving wife, when duty calls, would refuse a submissive husband whose manhood lies undone by the force of Cupid's arrow?