Matsyagandha's Birth

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.2.1.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । आश्चर्यकरमेतत्ते वचनं गर्भहेतुकम् । सन्देहोऽत्र समुत्पन्नः सर्वेषां नस्तपस्विनाम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ āścaryakarametatte vacanaṁ garbhahetukam sandeho'tra samutpannaḥ sarveṣāṁ nastapasvinām

The sages said: This statement of yours is truly astonishing, concerning as it does the cause of that conception. A doubt has arisen in the minds of all of us ascetics on this account.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.2.1.2)

माता व्यासस्य मेधाविन्नाम्ना सत्यवतीति च । विवाहिता पुरा ज्ञाता राज्ञा शन्तनुना यथा

mātā vyāsasya medhāvinnāmnā satyavatīti ca vivāhitā purā jñātā rājñā śantanunā yathā

We know that Vyasa's mother, the wise Satyavati, was in earlier times married by King Shantanu.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.2.1.3)

तस्याः पुत्रः कथं व्यासः सती स्वभवने स्थिता । ईदृशी सा कथं राज्ञा पुनः शन्तनुना वृता

tasyāḥ putraḥ kathaṁ vyāsaḥ satī svabhavane sthitā īdṛśī sā kathaṁ rājñā punaḥ śantanunā vṛtā

How then, while chaste and residing in her own father's house, did she become the mother of Vyasa? And how, being such, was she again chosen in marriage by King Shantanu?

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.2.1.4)

तस्यां पुत्रावुभौ जातौ तत्त्वं कथय सुव्रत । विस्तरेण महाभाग कथां परमपावनीम्

tasyāṁ putrāvubhau jātau tattvaṁ kathaya suvrata vistareṇa mahābhāga kathāṁ paramapāvanīm

O keeper of good vows, how were both sons born of her — tell us that truth in full. O greatly fortunate one, narrate to us that supremely purifying tale.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.2.1.5)

उत्पत्तिं वद व्यासस्य सत्यवत्यास्तथा पुनः । श्रोतुकामाः पुनः सर्वे ऋषयः संशितव्रताः

utpattiṁ vada vyāsasya satyavatyāstathā punaḥ śrotukāmāḥ punaḥ sarve ṛṣayaḥ saṁśitavratāḥ

Tell us of Vyasa's origin, and likewise of Satyavati's origin as well, for all of us sages of excellent vows are eager to hear it.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.2.1.6)

सूत उवाच । प्रणम्य परमां शक्तिं चतुर्वर्गप्रदायिनीम् । आदिशक्तिं वदिष्यामि कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम्

sūta uvāca praṇamya paramāṁ śaktiṁ caturvargapradāyinīm ādiśaktiṁ vadiṣyāmi kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ śubhām

Suta said: Having bowed to the Supreme Shakti who bestows all four goals of life, I shall now relate that auspicious Puranic tale of the Primal Power.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.2.1.7)

यस्योच्चारणमात्रेण सिद्धिर्भवति शाश्वती । व्याजेनापि हि बीजस्य वाग्भवस्य विशेषतः

yasyoccāraṇamātreṇa siddhirbhavati śāśvatī vyājenāpi hi bījasya vāgbhavasya viśeṣataḥ

By the mere utterance of whose name eternal accomplishment comes about — especially through the pretext of that seed-mantra which is the very source of speech.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.2.1.8)

सम्यक् सर्वात्मना सर्वैः सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये । स्मर्तव्या सर्वथा देवी वाञ्छितार्थप्रदायिनी

samyak sarvātmanā sarvaiḥ sarvakāmārthasiddhaye smartavyā sarvathā devī vāñchitārthapradāyinī

For the fulfilment of every desire and every end, that Goddess who is the Self of all and who bestows one's cherished aims should always, by all, be duly remembered.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.2.1.9)

राजोपरिचरो नाम धार्मिकः सत्यसङ्गरः । चेदिदेशपतिः श्रीमान् बभूव द्विजपूजकः

rājoparicaro nāma dhārmikaḥ satyasaṅgaraḥ cedideśapatiḥ śrīmān babhūva dvijapūjakaḥ

There was a king named Uparichara, righteous and true to his word, the lord of the Chedi country, glorious and a worshipper of the twice-born.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.2.1.10)

तपसा तस्य तुष्टेन विमानं स्फाटिकं शुभम् । दत्तमिन्द्रेण तत्तस्मै सुन्दरं प्रियकाम्यया

tapasā tasya tuṣṭena vimānaṁ sphāṭikaṁ śubham dattamindreṇa tattasmai sundaraṁ priyakāmyayā

Indra, pleased with his austerity, out of affection gave him a beautiful and auspicious crystal aerial chariot.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.2.1.11)

तेनारूढस्तु सर्वत्र याति दिव्येन भूपतिः । न भूमावुपरिस्थोऽसौ तेनोपरिचरो वसुः

tenārūḍhastu sarvatra yāti divyena bhūpatiḥ na bhūmāvuparistho'sau tenoparicaro vasuḥ

Mounted upon that divine vehicle, the king moved everywhere at will; and because he did not stay upon the ground, he came to be called Uparichara Vasu ("the wanderer above").

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.2.1.12)

विख्यातः सर्वलोकेषु धर्मनित्यः स भूपतिः । तस्य भार्या वरारोहा गिरिका नाम सुन्दरी

vikhyātaḥ sarvalokeṣu dharmanityaḥ sa bhūpatiḥ tasya bhāryā varārohā girikā nāma sundarī

That king, famed in all the worlds, was ever devoted to righteousness. His lovely wife, of graceful form, was named Girika.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.2.1.13)

पुत्राश्चास्य महावीर्याः पञ्चासन्नमितौजसः । पृथग्देशेषु राजानः स्थापितास्तेन भूभुजा

putrāścāsya mahāvīryāḥ pañcāsannamitaujasaḥ pṛthagdeśeṣu rājānaḥ sthāpitāstena bhūbhujā

He had five sons of immense valour and boundless vigour, whom that lord of the earth established as kings in separate lands.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.2.1.14)

वसोस्तु पत्नी गिरिका कामान् काले न्यवेदयत् । ऋतुकालमनुप्राप्ता स्नाता पुंसवने शुचिः

vasostu patnī girikā kāmān kāle nyavedayat ṛtukālamanuprāptā snātā puṁsavane śuciḥ

Once, when her fertile season had come, Vasu's wife Girika, having bathed and purified herself, communicated to him her desire for offspring at the proper time.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.2.1.15)

तदहः पितरश्चैनमूचुर्जहि मृगानिति । तच्छुत्वा चिन्तयामास भार्यामृतुमतीं तथा

tadahaḥ pitaraścainamūcurjahi mṛgāniti tacchutvā cintayāmāsa bhāryāmṛtumatīṁ tathā

That very day his ancestors, appearing to him, bade him, "Slay deer (for the ancestral rite)." Hearing this, he also thought of his wife who was in her fertile season.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.2.1.16)

पितृवाक्यं गुरुं मत्वा कर्तव्यमिति निश्चितम् । चचार मृगयां राजा गिरिकां मनसा स्मरन्

pitṛvākyaṁ guruṁ matvā kartavyamiti niścitam cacāra mṛgayāṁ rājā girikāṁ manasā smaran

Regarding his ancestors' command as weighty and resolving it to be his duty, the king went hunting in the forest, though his mind kept remembering Girika.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.2.1.17)

वने स्थितः स राजर्षिश्चित्ते सस्मार भामिनीम् । अतीव रूपसम्पन्नां साक्षाच्छ्रियमिवापराम्

vane sthitaḥ sa rājarṣiścitte sasmāra bhāminīm atīva rūpasampannāṁ sākṣācchriyamivāparām

There in the forest, that royal sage recalled in his heart that lovely woman, exceedingly beautiful, as if she were Lakshmi herself in another form.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.2.1.18)

तस्य रेतः प्रचस्कन्द स्मरतस्तां च कामिनीम् । वटपत्रे तु तद्राजा स्कन्नमात्रं समाक्षिपत्

tasya retaḥ pracaskanda smaratastāṁ ca kāminīm vaṭapatre tu tadrājā skannamātraṁ samākṣipat

As he thought of and desired that woman, his semen fell; the king caught that fallen seed upon a banyan leaf.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.2.1.19)

इदं वृथा परिस्कन्नं रेतो वै न भवेत्कथम् । ऋतुकालं च विज्ञाय मतिं चक्रे नृपस्तदा

idaṁ vṛthā pariskannaṁ reto vai na bhavetkatham ṛtukālaṁ ca vijñāya matiṁ cakre nṛpastadā

He thought, "How can this seed go to waste in vain?" And knowing his wife's fertile time, the king then formed a plan.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.2.1.20)

अमोघं सर्वथा वीर्यं मम चैतन्न संशयः । प्रियायै प्रेषयाम्येतदिति बुद्धिमकल्पयत्

amoghaṁ sarvathā vīryaṁ mama caitanna saṁśayaḥ priyāyai preṣayāmyetaditi buddhimakalpayat

"This seed of mine is wholly infallible, of that there is no doubt; I shall send it to my beloved," — such was the resolve he formed.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.2.1.21)

शुक्रप्रस्थापने कालं महिष्याः प्रसमीक्ष्य सः । अभिमन्त्र्याथ तद्वीर्यं वटपर्णपुटे कृतम्

śukraprasthāpane kālaṁ mahiṣyāḥ prasamīkṣya saḥ abhimantryātha tadvīryaṁ vaṭaparṇapuṭe kṛtam

Having carefully noted the queen's fertile hour, and having consecrated that seed with mantras, he placed it within a fold of banyan leaves.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.2.1.22)

पार्श्वस्थं श्येनमाभाष्य राजोवाच द्विजं प्रति । गृहाणेदं महाभाग गच्छ शीघ्रं गृहं मम

pārśvasthaṁ śyenamābhāṣya rājovāca dvijaṁ prati gṛhāṇedaṁ mahābhāga gaccha śīghraṁ gṛhaṁ mama

Calling to a falcon perched nearby, the king said to that bird, "O illustrious one, take this and go swiftly to my home.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.2.1.23)

मत्प्रियार्थमिदं सौम्य गृहीत्वा त्वं गृहं नय । गिरिकायै प्रयच्छाशु तस्यास्त्वार्तवमद्य वै

matpriyārthamidaṁ saumya gṛhītvā tvaṁ gṛhaṁ naya girikāyai prayacchāśu tasyāstvārtavamadya vai

O gentle one, take this for my beloved's sake to my house, and give it quickly to Girika, for today is indeed her fertile time."

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.2.1.24)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा प्रददौ पर्णं श्येनाय नृपसत्तमः । स गृहीत्वोत्पपाताशु गगनं गतिवित्तमः

sūta uvāca ityuktvā pradadau parṇaṁ śyenāya nṛpasattamaḥ sa gṛhītvotpapātāśu gaganaṁ gativittamaḥ

Suta said: Having spoken thus, that foremost of kings gave the leaf-packet to the falcon. Taking it, the swift-flighted bird at once soared into the sky.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.2.1.25)

गच्छन्तं गगनं श्येनं धृत्वा चञ्चुपुटे पुटम् । तमपश्यदथायान्तं खगं श्येनस्तथापरः

gacchantaṁ gaganaṁ śyenaṁ dhṛtvā cañcupuṭe puṭam tamapaśyadathāyāntaṁ khagaṁ śyenastathāparaḥ

As that falcon flew through the sky, holding the leaf-packet in its beak, another falcon coming from elsewhere caught sight of it.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.2.1.26)

आमिषं स तु विज्ञाय शीघ्रमभ्यद्रवत्खगम् । तुण्डयुद्धमथाकाशे तावुभौ सम्प्रचक्रतुः

āmiṣaṁ sa tu vijñāya śīghramabhyadravatkhagam tuṇḍayuddhamathākāśe tāvubhau sampracakratuḥ

Taking it for flesh, that other bird swiftly attacked the first; and so in the sky the two began a fierce battle of beaks.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.2.1.27)

युद्ध्यतोरपतद्रेतस्तज्जापि यमुनाम्भसि । खगौ तौ निर्गतौ कामं पुटके पतिते तदा

yuddhyatorapatadretastajjāpi yamunāmbhasi khagau tau nirgatau kāmaṁ puṭake patite tadā

As they fought, that seed fell down into the waters of the Yamuna; the leaf-fold having thus broken open, the two birds each flew off as they pleased.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.2.1.28)

एतस्मिन्समये काचिद्अद्रिका नाम चाप्सराः । ब्राह्मणं समनुप्राप्तं सन्ध्यावन्दनतत्परम्

etasminsamaye kācidadrikā nāma cāpsarāḥ brāhmaṇaṁ samanuprāptaṁ sandhyāvandanatatparam

At that very time a certain apsara named Adrika happened to approach a brahmin who was engaged in his evening prayers.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.2.1.29)

कुर्वन्ती जलकेलिं सा जले मग्ना चचार सा । जग्राह चरणं नारी द्विजस्य वरवर्णिनी

kurvantī jalakeliṁ sā jale magnā cacāra sā jagrāha caraṇaṁ nārī dvijasya varavarṇinī

Sporting in the water, that woman moved about submerged; and that fair-complexioned woman seized the feet of the brahmin.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.2.1.30)

प्राणायामपरः सोऽथ दृष्ट्वा तां कामचारिणीम् । शशाप भव मत्स्यी त्वं ध्यानविघ्नकरी यतः

prāṇāyāmaparaḥ so'tha dṛṣṭvā tāṁ kāmacāriṇīm śaśāpa bhava matsyī tvaṁ dhyānavighnakarī yataḥ

That brahmin, absorbed in his breath-control, seeing that wilful, roving woman, cursed her: "Since you have disturbed my meditation, become a fish!"

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.2.1.31)

सा शप्ता विप्रमुख्येन बभूव यमुनाचरी । शफरी रूपसम्पन्ना ह्यद्रिका च वराप्सराः

sā śaptā vipramukhyena babhūva yamunācarī śapharī rūpasampannā hyadrikā ca varāpsarāḥ

Cursed by that excellent brahmin, the fair apsara Adrika became a beautiful shaphari fish dwelling in the Yamuna.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.2.1.32)

श्येनपादपरिभ्रष्टं तच्छुक्रमथ वासवी । जग्राह तरसाभ्येत्य साद्रिका मत्स्यरूपिणी

śyenapādaparibhraṣṭaṁ tacchukramatha vāsavī jagrāha tarasābhyetya sādrikā matsyarūpiṇī

That fish-formed Adrika, of celestial origin, swiftly darted forward and swallowed that seed which had fallen from the falcon's talons.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.2.1.33)

अथ कालेन कियता मत्स्यीं तां मत्स्यजीवनः । सम्प्राप्ते दशमे मासि बबन्ध तां मनोरमाम्

atha kālena kiyatā matsyīṁ tāṁ matsyajīvanaḥ samprāpte daśame māsi babandha tāṁ manoramām

Then, after some time had passed, in the tenth month, a fisherman who lived by fishing caught that lovely fish.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.2.1.34)

उदरं विददाराशु स तस्या मत्स्यजीवनः । युग्मं विनिःसृतं तस्मादुदरान्मानुषाकृति

udaraṁ vidadārāśu sa tasyā matsyajīvanaḥ yugmaṁ viniḥsṛtaṁ tasmādudarānmānuṣākṛti

That fisherman at once cut open her belly, and from her womb there emerged a pair of twins of human form.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.2.1.35)

बालः कुमारः सुभगस्तथा कन्या शुभानना । दृष्ट्वाश्चर्यमिदं सोऽथ विस्मयं परमं गतः

bālaḥ kumāraḥ subhagastathā kanyā śubhānanā dṛṣṭvāścaryamidaṁ so'tha vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

One was a handsome boy, and the other a fair-faced girl. Seeing this wonder, the fisherman was struck with the greatest astonishment.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.2.1.36)

राज्ञे निवेदयामास पुत्रौ द्वौ तु झषोद्भवौ । राजापि विस्मयाविष्टः सुतं जग्राह तं शुभम्

rājñe nivedayāmāsa putrau dvau tu jhaṣodbhavau rājāpi vismayāviṣṭaḥ sutaṁ jagrāha taṁ śubham

He reported to the king the birth of these two fish-born children. The king too, filled with wonder, took that fair son to himself.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.2.1.37)

स मत्स्यो नाम राजासौ धार्मिकः सत्यसङ्गरः । वसुपुत्रो महातेजाः पित्रा तुल्यपराक्रमः

sa matsyo nāma rājāsau dhārmikaḥ satyasaṅgaraḥ vasuputro mahātejāḥ pitrā tulyaparākramaḥ

That prince, named Matsya, was righteous, true to his word, the son of Vasu, of great splendour and of valour equal to his father's.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.2.1.38)

कालिका वसुना दत्ता तरसा जलजीविने । नाम्ना कालीति विख्याता तथा मत्स्योदरीति च

kālikā vasunā dattā tarasā jalajīvine nāmnā kālīti vikhyātā tathā matsyodarīti ca

That girl Vasu at once handed over to the fisherman; she became famed by the name Kali, and also as Matsyodari ("fish-born").

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.2.1.39)

मत्स्यगन्धेति नाम्ना वै गणेन समजायत । विवर्धमाना दाशस्य गृहे सा वासवी शुभा

matsyagandheti nāmnā vai gaṇena samajāyata vivardhamānā dāśasya gṛhe sā vāsavī śubhā

That auspicious girl, of celestial origin, became known also by the name Matsyagandha, and grew up amid the fisherfolk's household.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.2.1.40)

ऋषय ऊचुः । अद्रिका मुनिना शप्ता मत्स्यी जाता वराप्सराः । विदारिता च दाशेन मृता च भक्षिता पुनः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ adrikā muninā śaptā matsyī jātā varāpsarāḥ vidāritā ca dāśena mṛtā ca bhakṣitā punaḥ

The sages said: Adrika, that excellent apsara, was cursed by the sage into becoming a fish; she was then cut open by the fisherman, and having died was also devoured (by his knife/net).

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.2.1.41)

किं बभूव पुनस्तस्या अप्सराया वदस्व तत् । शापस्यान्तं कथं सूत कथं स्वर्गमवाप सा

kiṁ babhūva punastasyā apsarāyā vadasva tat śāpasyāntaṁ kathaṁ sūta kathaṁ svargamavāpa sā

Tell us what became of that apsara thereafter. O Suta, how did the end of her curse come about, and how did she attain heaven?

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.2.1.42)

सूत उवाच । शप्ता यदा सा मुनिना विस्मिता सम्बभूव ह । स्तुतिं चकार विप्रस्य दीनेव रुदती तदा

sūta uvāca śaptā yadā sā muninā vismitā sambabhūva ha stutiṁ cakāra viprasya dīneva rudatī tadā

Suta said: When she was cursed by that sage, she became utterly astonished, and weeping piteously she began to praise that brahmin.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.2.1.43)

दयावान्ब्राह्मणः प्राह तां तदा रुदतीं स्त्रियम् । मा शोकं कुरु कल्याणि शापान्तं ते वदाम्यहम्

dayāvānbrāhmaṇaḥ prāha tāṁ tadā rudatīṁ striyam mā śokaṁ kuru kalyāṇi śāpāntaṁ te vadāmyaham

That compassionate brahmin said to the weeping woman, "O blessed one, do not grieve; I shall tell you the end of your curse.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.2.1.44)

मत्कोधशापयोगेन मत्स्ययोनिं गता शुभे । मानुषौ जनयित्वा त्वं शापमोक्षमवाप्स्यसि

matkodhaśāpayogena matsyayoniṁ gatā śubhe mānuṣau janayitvā tvaṁ śāpamokṣamavāpsyasi

By the force of this curse given in my anger, O gentle one, you have entered a fish's womb; having given birth to two human children, you shall be freed from the curse."

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.2.1.45)

इत्युक्ता तेन सा प्राप मत्स्यदेहं नदीजले । बालकौ जनयित्वा सा मृता मुक्ता च शापतः

ityuktā tena sā prāpa matsyadehaṁ nadījale bālakau janayitvā sā mṛtā muktā ca śāpataḥ

Thus addressed, she took on a fish's body in the river's waters; and having given birth to two children she was freed from the curse and released from that form.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.2.1.46)

सन्त्यज्य रूपं मत्स्यस्य दिव्यरूपमवाप्य च । जगामामरमार्गं च शापान्ते वरवर्णिनी

santyajya rūpaṁ matsyasya divyarūpamavāpya ca jagāmāmaramārgaṁ ca śāpānte varavarṇinī

Casting off her fish-form and assuming a divine body, at the end of her curse that fair apsara departed by the path of the immortals.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.2.1.47)

एवं जाता वरा पुत्री मत्स्यगन्धा वरानना । पुत्रीव पाल्यमाना सा दाशगेहे व्यवर्धत

evaṁ jātā varā putrī matsyagandhā varānanā putrīva pālyamānā sā dāśagehe vyavardhata

Thus born, that excellent, fair-faced girl Matsyagandha, being reared as a daughter, grew up there in the fisherman's home.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.2.1.48)

मत्स्यगन्धा तदा जाता किशोरी चातिसुप्रभा । तस्य कार्याणि कुर्वाणा वासवी चातिसुप्रभा

matsyagandhā tadā jātā kiśorī cātisuprabhā tasya kāryāṇi kurvāṇā vāsavī cātisuprabhā

Now grown into a radiant young maiden, that celestial-born girl Matsyagandha would assist in his (the fisherman's) tasks and duties.