The Marriage of Sukanya and Cyavana Muni

Verse 1 (bhagavata.9.3.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच शर्यातिर्मानवो राजा ब्रह्मिष्ठः सम्बभूव ह । यो वा अङ्गिरसां सत्रे द्वितीयमहरूचिवान् ॥ 3.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca śaryātir mānavo rājā brahmiṣṭhaḥ sambabhūva ha yo vā aṅgirasāṁ satre dvitīyam ahar ūcivān

Shukadeva said: King Sharyati, another son of Manu, was deeply versed in Vedic learning. It was he who gave the teaching for the second day's rites at the sacrificial session of the descendants of Angira.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.9.3.2)

सुकन्या नाम तस्यासीत् कन्या कमललोचना । तया सार्धं वनगतो ह्यगमच्च्यवनाश्रमम् ॥ 3.2 ॥

sukanyā nāma tasyāsīt kanyā kamala-locanā tayā sārdhaṁ vana-gato hy agamac cyavanāśramam

He had a lotus-eyed daughter named Sukanya. With her he once went into the forest and came upon the hermitage of Cyavana Muni.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.9.3.3)

सा सखीभिः परिवृता विचिन्वन्त्यङ्घ्रिपान् वने । वल्मीकरन्ध्रे ददृशे खद्योते इव ज्योतिषी ॥ 3.3 ॥

sā sakhībhiḥ parivṛtā vicinvanty aṅghripān vane valmīka-randhre dadṛśe khadyote iva jyotiṣī

Sukanya, surrounded by her friends, was wandering the forest gathering fruit from the trees, when in the hollow of an anthill she saw two things glowing like fireflies.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.9.3.4)

ते दैवचोदिता बाला ज्योतिषी कण्टकेन वै । अविध्यन्मुग्धभावेन सुस्रावासृक् ततो बहिः ॥ 3.4 ॥

te daiva-coditā bālā jyotiṣī kaṇṭakena vai avidhyan mugdha-bhāvena susrāvāsṛk tato bahiḥ

As if impelled by fate, the innocent girl, in her ignorance, pierced those two gleaming points with a thorn — and at once blood began to flow from them.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.9.3.5)

शकृन्मूत्रनिरोधोऽभूत् सैनिकानां च तत्क्षणात् । राजर्षिस्तमुपालक्ष्य पुरुषान् विस्मितोऽब्रवीत् ॥ 3.5 ॥

śakṛn-mūtra-nirodho ’bhūt sainikānāṁ ca tat-kṣaṇāt rājarṣis tam upālakṣya puruṣān vismito ’bravīt

That very moment, the entire army's ability to pass stool and urine was obstructed. Noticing this, the royal sage Sharyati, astonished, spoke to his men.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.9.3.6)

अप्यभद्रं न युष्माभिर्भार्गवस्य विचेष्टितम् । व्यक्तं केनापि नस्तस्य कृतमाश्रमदूषणम् ॥ 3.6 ॥

apy abhadraṁ na yuṣmābhir bhārgavasya viceṣṭitam vyaktaṁ kenāpi nas tasya kṛtam āśrama-dūṣaṇam

"Has none of you done some wrong to Cyavana Muni, son of Bhrigu? It is plain that someone among us has offended this hermitage."

Verse 7 (bhagavata.9.3.7)

सुकन्या प्राह पितरं भीता किञ्चित् कृतं मया । द्वे ज्योतिषी अजानन्त्या निर्भिन्ने कण्टकेन वै ॥ 3.7 ॥

sukanyā prāha pitaraṁ bhītā kiñcit kṛtaṁ mayā dve jyotiṣī ajānantyā nirbhinne kaṇṭakena vai

Frightened, Sukanya said to her father: "I have done something. Not knowing what they were, I pierced these two glowing points with a thorn."

Verse 8 (bhagavata.9.3.8)

दुहितुस्तद् वचः श्रुत्वा शर्यातिर्जातसाध्वसः । मुनिं प्रसादयामास वल्मीकान्तर्हितं शनैः ॥ 3.8 ॥

duhitus tad vacaḥ śrutvā śaryātir jāta-sādhvasaḥ muniṁ prasādayām āsa valmīkāntarhitaṁ śanaiḥ

Hearing his daughter's words, Sharyati, now afraid, began gently trying every means to appease the sage hidden within the anthill.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.9.3.9)

तदभिप्रायमाज्ञाय प्रादाद् दुहितरं मुनेः । कृच्छ्रान्मुक्तस्तमामन्त्र्य पुरं प्रायात् समाहितः ॥ 3.9 ॥

tad-abhiprāyam ājñāya prādād duhitaraṁ muneḥ kṛcchrān muktas tam āmantrya puraṁ prāyāt samāhitaḥ

Understanding the sage's intent, Sharyati offered his own daughter to him. Freed at last from that grave danger, he took leave of the sage and returned, with careful mind, to his city.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.9.3.10)

सुकन्या च्यवनं प्राप्य पतिं परमकोपनम् । प्रीणयामास चित्तज्ञा अप्रमत्तानुवृत्तिभिः ॥ 3.10 ॥

sukanyā cyavanaṁ prāpya patiṁ parama-kopanam prīṇayām āsa citta-jñā apramattānuvṛttibhiḥ

Having obtained the irascible Cyavana as her husband, Sukanya, understanding his moods well, kept him ever content through careful, unwavering service.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.9.3.11)

कस्यचित् त्वथ कालस्य नासत्यावाश्रमागतौ । तौ पूजयित्वा प्रोवाच वयो मे दत्तमीश्वरौ ॥ 3.11 ॥

kasyacit tv atha kālasya nāsatyāv āśramāgatau tau pūjayitvā provāca vayo me dattam īśvarau

After some time had passed, the two Ashvini-kumaras happened to visit that hermitage. Cyavana worshipped them and said: "You two are all-capable — grant me youth."

Verse 12 (bhagavata.9.3.12)

ग्रहं ग्रहीष्ये सोमस्य यज्ञे वामप्यसोमपोः । क्रियतां मे वयो रूपं प्रमदानां यदीप्सितम् ॥ 3.12 ॥

grahaṁ grahīṣye somasya yajñe vām apy asoma-poḥ kriyatāṁ me vayo-rūpaṁ pramadānāṁ yad īpsitam

Cyavana said: "Though you two are not entitled to drink soma at sacrifices, I shall give you a full share of it. In return, grant me the beauty and youth that young women find desirable."

Verse 13 (bhagavata.9.3.13)

बाढमित्यूचतुर्विप्रमभिनन्द्य भिषक्तमौ । निमज्जतां भवानस्मिन् ह्रदे सिद्धविनिर्मिते ॥ 3.13 ॥

bāḍham ity ūcatur vipram abhinandya bhiṣaktamau nimajjatāṁ bhavān asmin hrade siddha-vinirmite

The two great physicians, delighted at the brahmana's proposal, readily agreed, saying, "Simply plunge into this pool made by the siddhas."

Verse 14 (bhagavata.9.3.14)

इत्युक्तो जरया ग्रस्तदेहो धमनिसन्ततः । ह्रदं प्रवेशितोऽश्विभ्यां वलीपलितविग्रहः ॥ 3.14 ॥

ity ukto jarayā grasta- deho dhamani-santataḥ hradaṁ praveśito ’śvibhyāṁ valī-palita-vigrahaḥ

So told, his body wasted by age, its veins showing through slack skin, his hair turned white, he was led by the two Ashvinis down into that pool.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.9.3.15)

पुरुषास्त्रय उत्तस्थुरपीव्या वनिताप्रियाः । पद्मस्रजः कुण्डलिनस्तुल्यरूपाः सुवाससः ॥ 3.15 ॥

puruṣās traya uttasthur apīvyā vanitā-priyāḥ padma-srajaḥ kuṇḍalinas tulya-rūpāḥ suvāsasaḥ

Then, from the pool, three men of surpassing beauty arose — pleasing to women, adorned with lotus-garlands and earrings, finely robed, and all identical in loveliness.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.9.3.16)

तान् निरीक्ष्य वरारोहा सरूपान् सूर्यवर्चसः । अजानती पतिं साध्वी अश्विनौ शरणं ययौ ॥ 3.16 ॥

tān nirīkṣya varārohā sarūpān sūrya-varcasaḥ ajānatī patiṁ sādhvī aśvinau śaraṇaṁ yayau

Seeing all three alike, radiant as the sun, the chaste and noble Sukanya could not tell which was her husband, and turned for refuge to the Ashvini-kumaras themselves.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.9.3.17)

दर्शयित्वा पतिं तस्यै पातिव्रत्येन तोषितौ । ऋषिमामन्त्र्य ययतुर्विमानेन त्रिविष्टपम् ॥ 3.17 ॥

darśayitvā patiṁ tasyai pāti-vratyena toṣitau ṛṣim āmantrya yayatur vimānena triviṣṭapam

Pleased by her devotion to her husband, the two Ashvinis revealed to her which one was truly Cyavana, and, taking leave of the sage, departed for the heavens in their celestial chariot.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.9.3.18)

यक्ष्यमाणोऽथ शर्यातिश्च्यवनस्याश्रमं गतः । ददर्श दुहितुः पार्श्वे पुरुषं सूर्यवर्चसम् ॥ 3.18 ॥

yakṣyamāṇo ’tha śaryātiś cyavanasyāśramaṁ gataḥ dadarśa duhituḥ pārśve puruṣaṁ sūrya-varcasam

Thereafter, wishing to perform a sacrifice, Sharyati came to Cyavana's hermitage, and there beside his daughter he saw a young man radiant as the sun.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.9.3.19)

राजा दुहितरं प्राह कृतपादाभिवन्दनाम् । आशिषश्चाप्रयुञ्जानो नातिप्रीतिमना इव ॥ 3.19 ॥

rājā duhitaraṁ prāha kṛta-pādābhivandanām āśiṣaś cāprayuñjāno nātiprīti-manā iva

Though his daughter bowed and touched his feet, the King, withholding his blessing, spoke to her with evident displeasure.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.9.3.20)

चिकीर्षितं ते किमिदं पतिस्त्वया प्रलम्भितो लोकनमस्कृतो मुनिः । यत् त्वं जराग्रस्तमसत्यसम्मतं विहाय जारं भजसेऽमुमध्वगम् ॥ 3.20 ॥

cikīrṣitaṁ te kim idaṁ patis tvayā pralambhito loka-namaskṛto muniḥ yat tvaṁ jarā-grastam asaty asammataṁ vihāya jāraṁ bhajase ’mum adhvagam

"What is it you have thought to do? You have deceived your husband, honored by all the world — because age and sickness left him unlovely, you have forsaken him and taken up with this wayside youth who looks like a beggar."

Verse 21 (bhagavata.9.3.21)

कथं मतिस्तेऽवगतान्यथा सतां कुलप्रसूते कुलदूषणं त्विदम् । बिभर्षि जारं यदपत्रपा कुलं पितुश्च भर्तुश्च नयस्यधस्तमः ॥ 3.21 ॥

kathaṁ matis te ’vagatānyathā satāṁ kula-prasūte kula-dūṣaṇaṁ tv idam bibharṣi jāraṁ yad apatrapā kulaṁ pituś ca bhartuś ca nayasy adhas tamaḥ

"Born of a noble house, how has your mind turned so unlike that of the virtuous? This is a stain upon your lineage. Shamelessly you keep a paramour, and by it you will drag the houses of both your father and your husband down into darkness."

Verse 22 (bhagavata.9.3.22)

एवं ब्रुवाणं पितरं स्मयमाना शुचिस्मिता । उवाच तात जामाता तवैष भृगुनन्दनः ॥ 3.22 ॥

evaṁ bruvāṇaṁ pitaraṁ smayamānā śuci-smitā uvāca tāta jāmātā tavaiṣa bhṛgu-nandanaḥ

Hearing her father speak thus, the pure-smiling Sukanya only smiled, and said: "Father, this is indeed your son-in-law — none other than the sage Cyavana, descendant of Bhrigu."

Verse 23 (bhagavata.9.3.23)

शशंस पित्रे तत् सर्वं वयोरूपाभिलम्भनम् । विस्मितः परमप्रीतस्तनयां परिषस्वजे ॥ 3.23 ॥

śaśaṁsa pitre tat sarvaṁ vayo-rūpābhilambhanam vismitaḥ parama-prītas tanayāṁ pariṣasvaje

She told her father the whole account of how her husband had obtained this youthful body and form. Hearing it, the King, astonished and overjoyed, embraced his daughter.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.9.3.24)

सोमेन याजयन् वीरं ग्रहं सोमस्य चाग्रहीत् । असोमपोरप्यश्विनोश्च्यवनः स्वेन तेजसा ॥ 3.24 ॥

somena yājayan vīraṁ grahaṁ somasya cāgrahīt asoma-por apy aśvinoś cyavanaḥ svena tejasā

By his own power, Cyavana had the hero Sharyati carry out the soma sacrifice, and by that same power he gave a share of the soma to the Ashvini-kumaras, though they were not entitled to drink it.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.9.3.25)

हन्तुं तमाददे वज्रं सद्योमन्युरमर्षितः । सवज्रं स्तम्भयामास भुजमिन्द्रस्य भार्गवः ॥ 3.25 ॥

hantuṁ tam ādade vajraṁ sadyo manyur amarṣitaḥ savajraṁ stambhayām āsa bhujam indrasya bhārgavaḥ

Enraged at once, Indra seized his thunderbolt to slay him; but Cyavana, descendant of Bhrigu, by his power paralyzed Indra's very arm, thunderbolt and all.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.9.3.26)

अन्वजानंस्ततः सर्वे ग्रहं सोमस्य चाश्विनोः । भिषजाविति यत् पूर्वं सोमाहुत्या बहिष्कृतौ ॥ 3.26 ॥

anvajānaṁs tataḥ sarve grahaṁ somasya cāśvinoḥ bhiṣajāv iti yat pūrvaṁ somāhutyā bahiṣ-kṛtau

Then all the gods conceded that the two Ashvini physicians should share in the soma, though before this they had always been excluded from the soma-offering.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.9.3.27)

उत्तानबर्हिरानर्तो भूरिषेण इति त्रयः । शर्यातेरभवन् पुत्रा आनर्ताद् रेवतोऽभवत् ॥ 3.27 ॥

uttānabarhir ānarto bhūriṣeṇa iti trayaḥ śaryāter abhavan putrā ānartād revato ’bhavat

Sharyati had three sons — Uttanabarhi, Anarta and Bhurishena. From Anarta was born a son named Revata.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.9.3.28)

सोऽन्तःसमुद्रे नगरीं विनिर्माय कुशस्थलीम् । आस्थितोऽभुङ्क्त विषयानानर्तादीनरिन्दम । तस्य पुत्रशतं जज्ञे ककुद्मिज्येष्ठमुत्तमम् ॥ 3.28 ॥

so ’ntaḥ-samudre nagarīṁ vinirmāya kuśasthalīm āsthito ’bhuṅkta viṣayān ānartādīn arindama tasya putra-śataṁ jajñe kakudmi-jyeṣṭham uttamam

He built a city called Kushasthali within the sea and, dwelling there, ruled over Anarta and the surrounding lands, O subduer of foes. He had a hundred sons, the eldest and finest of whom was Kakudmi.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.9.3.29)

ककुद्मी रेवतीं कन्यां स्वामादाय विभुं गतः । पुत्र्यावरं परिप्रष्टुं ब्रह्मलोकमपावृतम् ॥ 3.29 ॥

kakudmī revatīṁ kanyāṁ svām ādāya vibhuṁ gataḥ putryā varaṁ paripraṣṭuṁ brahmalokam apāvṛtam

Kakudmi took his daughter Revati and went to Brahma's own realm, beyond the three modes, to ask a bridegroom for her.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.9.3.30)

आवर्तमाने गान्धर्वे स्थितोऽलब्धक्षणः क्षणम् । तदन्त आद्यमानम्य स्वाभिप्रायं न्यवेदयत् ॥ 3.30 ॥

āvartamāne gāndharve sthito ’labdha-kṣaṇaḥ kṣaṇam tad-anta ādyam ānamya svābhiprāyaṁ nyavedayat

On arriving there, he found Brahma absorbed in the music of the Gandharvas and got no moment to speak; only when it ended did he bow and lay his long-held purpose before him.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.9.3.31)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रहस्य तमुवाच ह । अहो राजन् निरुद्धास्ते कालेन हृदि ये कृताः ॥ 3.31 ॥

tac chrutvā bhagavān brahmā prahasya tam uvāca ha aho rājan niruddhās te kālena hṛdi ye kṛtāḥ

Hearing this, the mighty Brahma laughed aloud and said to Kakudmi: "O King, all those whom you had fixed upon in your heart have long since been swept away by time."

Verse 32 (bhagavata.9.3.32)

तत्पुत्रपौत्रनप्तृणां गोत्राणि च न शृण्महे । कालोऽभियातस्त्रिणवचतुर्युगविकल्पितः ॥ 3.32 ॥

tat putra-pautra-naptṝṇāṁ gotrāṇi ca na śṛṇmahe kālo ’bhiyātas tri-ṇava- catur-yuga-vikalpitaḥ

"We do not even hear the names of their sons, grandsons and descendants anymore. Twenty-seven cycles of the four ages have already passed."

Verse 33 (bhagavata.9.3.33)

तद् गच्छ देवदेवांशो बलदेवो महाबलः । कन्यारत्नमिदं राजन् नररत्नाय देहि भोः ॥ 3.33 ॥

tad gaccha deva-devāṁśo baladevo mahā-balaḥ kanyā-ratnam idaṁ rājan nara-ratnāya dehi bhoḥ

"Go now to the mighty Baladeva, the very portion of the God of gods, and O King, give this jewel of a daughter to that jewel among men."

Verse 34 (bhagavata.9.3.34)

भुवो भारावताराय भगवान् भूतभावनः । अवतीर्णो निजांशेन पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः ॥ 3.34 ॥

bhuvo bhārāvatārāya bhagavān bhūta-bhāvanaḥ avatīrṇo nijāṁśena puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ

Lord Baladeva, well-wisher of all beings, whose hearing and chanting purify — He has descended in His own portion to lift the burden of the earth.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.9.3.35)

इत्यादिष्टोऽभिवन्द्याजं नृपः स्वपुरमागतः । त्यक्तं पुण्यजनत्रासाद् भ्रातृभिर्दिक्ष्ववस्थितैः ॥ 3.35 ॥

ity ādiṣṭo ’bhivandyājaṁ nṛpaḥ sva-puram āgataḥ tyaktaṁ puṇya-jana-trāsād bhrātṛbhir dikṣv avasthitaiḥ

Thus instructed, King Kakudmi bowed to Brahma and returned to his own city — which he found deserted, his brothers and kinsmen having fled in every direction for fear of the Yakshas and such beings.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.9.3.36)

सुतां दत्त्वानवद्याङ्गीं बलाय बलशालिने । बदर्याख्यं गतो राजा तप्तुं नारायणाश्रमम् ॥ 3.36 ॥

sutāṁ dattvānavadyāṅgīṁ balāya bala-śāline badary-ākhyaṁ gato rājā taptuṁ nārāyaṇāśramam

Thereafter he gave his flawless daughter to the mighty Baladeva, and himself went to Badarikashrama, the hermitage of Nara-Narayana, to undertake austerity.