King Suratha and Samadhi the Merchant Go to the Sage

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.5.32.1)

जनमेजय उवाच । महिमा वर्णितः सम्यक्चण्डिकायास्त्वया मुने । केन चाराधिता पूर्वं चरित्रत्रययोगतः

janamejaya uvāca | mahimā varṇitaḥ samyakcaṇḍikāyāstvayā mune | kena cārādhitā pūrvaṁ caritratrayayogataḥ

Janamejaya said: You have well described, O sage, the greatness of Chandika. Now tell me, by whom was she worshipped in ancient times, through the sequence of these three deeds?

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.5.32.2)

प्रसन्ना कस्य वरदा केन प्राप्तं फलं महत् । आराध्य कामदां देवीं कथयस्व कृपानिधे

prasannā kasya varadā kena prāptaṁ phalaṁ mahat | ārādhya kāmadāṁ devīṁ kathayasva kṛpānidhe

"To whom did she become gracious, granting boons? By whom, worshipping the wish-fulfilling Goddess, was great fruit obtained? Tell me this, O treasury of compassion."

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.5.32.3)

उपासनाविधिं ब्रह्मंस्तथा पूजाविधिं वद । विस्तरेण महाभाग होमस्य च विधिं पुनः

upāsanāvidhiṁ brahmaṁstathā pūjāvidhiṁ vada | vistareṇa mahābhāga homasya ca vidhiṁ punaḥ

"Tell me also, O Brahmin, the method of her worship and adoration, and, in full detail, O most fortunate one, the procedure of her fire-offering as well."

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.5.32.4)

सूत उवाच । इति भूपवचः श्रुत्वा प्रीतः सत्यवतीसुतः । प्रत्युवाच नृपं कृष्णो महामायाप्रपूजनम्

sūta uvāca | iti bhūpavacaḥ śrutvā prītaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ | pratyuvāca nṛpaṁ kṛṣṇo mahāmāyāprapūjanam

Suta said: Hearing the king's words, Krishna Dvaipayana, the son of Satyavati, pleased, replied to the king, telling him of the worship of Mahamaya.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.5.32.5)

व्यास उवाच । स्वारोचिषेऽन्तरे पूर्वं सुरथो नाम पार्थिवः । बभूव परमोदारः प्रजापालनतत्परः

vyāsa uvāca | svārociṣe'ntare pūrvaṁ suratho nāma pārthivaḥ | babhūva paramodāraḥ prajāpālanatatparaḥ

Vyasa said: Long ago, in the Svarochisha Manvantara, there was a king named Suratha, most generous, ever devoted to the protection of his subjects.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.5.32.6)

सत्यवादी कर्मपरो ब्राह्मणानाञ्च पूजकः । गुरुभक्तिरतो नित्यं स्वदारगमने रतः

satyavādī karmaparo brāhmaṇānāñca pūjakaḥ | gurubhaktirato nityaṁ svadāragamane rataḥ

Truthful in speech, devoted to the performance of his duties, a worshipper of brahmins, ever devoted to his guru, and faithful to his own wife alone.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.5.32.7)

दानशीलोऽविरोधी च धनुर्वेदैकपारगः । एवं पालयतो राज्यं म्लेच्छाः पर्वतवासिनः

dānaśīlo'virodhī ca dhanurvedaikapāragaḥ | evaṁ pālayato rājyaṁ mlecchāḥ parvatavāsinaḥ

— generous by nature, free from hostility, and utterly accomplished in the science of archery. While he was thus ruling his kingdom, barbarian tribes dwelling in the mountains —

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.5.32.8)

बलाच्छत्रुत्वमापन्नाः सैन्यं कृत्वा चतुर्विधम् । हस्त्यश्वरथपादातिसहितास्ते मदोत्कटाः

balācchatrutvamāpannāḥ sainyaṁ kṛtvā caturvidham | hastyaśvarathapādātisahitāste madotkaṭāḥ

— became his enemies by force, and, having raised a fourfold army equipped with elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry, exultant with pride —

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.5.32.9)

कोलाविध्वंसिनः प्राप्ताः पृथ्वीग्रहणतत्पराः । सुरथः सैन्यमादाय सम्मुखः समपद्यत

kolāvidhvaṁsinaḥ prāptāḥ pṛthvīgrahaṇatatparāḥ | surathaḥ sainyamādāya sammukhaḥ samapadyata

— destroyers of the Kola tribe, arrived, intent upon seizing his kingdom; and Suratha, gathering his own army, advanced to meet them face to face.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.5.32.10)

युद्धं समभवद्घोरं तस्य तैरतिदारुणैः । म्लेच्छानां तु बलं स्वल्पं राज्ञस्द्बलमद्भुतम्

yuddhaṁ samabhavadghoraṁ tasya tairatidāruṇaiḥ | mlecchānāṁ tu balaṁ svalpaṁ rājñasdbalamadbhutam

A terrible battle broke out between him and those most fierce barbarians; the barbarians' army was small, while the king's army was of wondrous size.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.5.32.11)

तथापि तैर्जितो युद्धे दैवाद्राजा पराजितः । भग्नश्च स्वपुरं प्राप्तः सुरक्षं दुर्गमण्डितम्

tathāpi tairjito yuddhe daivādrājā parājitaḥ | bhagnaśca svapuraṁ prāptaḥ surakṣaṁ durgamaṇḍitam

Nevertheless, by them the king was, through the working of fate, defeated in that battle; routed, he made his way back to his own city, well guarded and adorned with fortifications.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.5.32.12)

चिन्तयामास मेधावी राजा नीतिविचक्षणः । प्रधानान्विमना दृष्ट्वा शत्रुपक्षसमाश्रितान्

cintayāmāsa medhāvī rājā nītivicakṣaṇaḥ | pradhānānvimanā dṛṣṭvā śatrupakṣasamāśritān

That wise king, skilled in statecraft, reflected deeply, seeing, with a troubled mind, that his own chief ministers had gone over to the side of the enemy.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.5.32.13)

स्थानं गृहीत्वा विपुलं परिखादुर्गमण्डितम् । कालप्रतीक्षा कर्तव्या किं वा युद्धं वरं मतम्

sthānaṁ gṛhītvā vipulaṁ parikhādurgamaṇḍitam | kālapratīkṣā kartavyā kiṁ vā yuddhaṁ varaṁ matam

"Should I take up a position in this vast city, fortified with moats and ramparts, and wait for the right time — or is it battle that is judged the better course?"

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.5.32.14)

मन्त्रिणः शत्रुवशगा मन्त्रयोग्या न ते किल । किं करोमीति मनसा भूपतिः समचिन्तयत्

mantriṇaḥ śatruvaśagā mantrayogyā na te kila | kiṁ karomīti manasā bhūpatiḥ samacintayat

"My ministers have fallen under the sway of the enemy — they are surely no longer fit for counsel. What, then, should I do?" — thus the king pondered within his mind.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.5.32.15)

कदाचित्ते गहीत्वा मां पापाचाराः पराश्रिताः । शत्रुभ्योऽथ प्रदास्यन्ति तदा किं वा भविष्यति

kadācitte gahītvā māṁ pāpācārāḥ parāśritāḥ | śatrubhyo'tha pradāsyanti tadā kiṁ vā bhaviṣyati

"Perhaps these evil-natured men, having now attached themselves to another side, will seize me and hand me over to my enemies — what then would become of me?"

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.5.32.16)

पापबुद्धिषु विश्वासो न कर्तव्यः कदाचन । किन्न ते वै प्रकुर्वन्ति ये लोभवशगा नराः

pāpabuddhiṣu viśvāso na kartavyaḥ kadācana | kinna te vai prakurvanti ye lobhavaśagā narāḥ

"One should never place trust in men of wicked mind — for what is there that men overpowered by greed will not do?"

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.5.32.17)

भ्रातरं पितरं मित्रं सुहृदं बान्धवं तथा । गुरुं पूज्यं द्विजं द्वेष्टि लोभाविष्टः सदा नरः

bhrātaraṁ pitaraṁ mitraṁ suhṛdaṁ bāndhavaṁ tathā | guruṁ pūjyaṁ dvijaṁ dveṣṭi lobhāviṣṭaḥ sadā naraḥ

"A man possessed by greed will always come to hate even his own brother, father, friend, well-wisher, kinsman, guru, or a brahmin worthy of honor."

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.5.32.18)

तस्मान्मया न कर्तव्यो विश्वासः सर्वथाधुना । मन्त्रिवर्गेऽतिपापिष्ठे शत्रुपक्षसमाश्रिते

tasmānmayā na kartavyo viśvāsaḥ sarvathādhunā | mantrivarge'tipāpiṣṭhe śatrupakṣasamāśrite

"Therefore I must place no trust whatsoever, now, in this council of ministers, so wicked, who have gone over to the side of the enemy."

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.5.32.19)

इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा राजा परमदुर्मनाः । एकाकी हयमारुह्य निर्जगाम पुरात्ततः

iti sañcintya manasā rājā paramadurmanāḥ | ekākī hayamāruhya nirjagāma purāttataḥ

Reflecting thus within his mind, the king, in the utmost distress, mounted his horse alone and rode out of the city.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.5.32.20)

असहायोऽथ निर्गत्य गहनं वनमाश्रितः । चिन्तयामास मेधावी क्व गन्तव्यं मया पुनः

asahāyo'tha nirgatya gahanaṁ vanamāśritaḥ | cintayāmāsa medhāvī kva gantavyaṁ mayā punaḥ

Going forth alone, without any companion, he took refuge in a dense forest, and that wise man pondered, "Where, then, shall I now go?"

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.5.32.21)

योजनत्रयमात्रे तु मुनेराश्रममुत्तमम् । ज्ञात्वा जगाम भूपालस्तापसस्य सुमेधसः

yojanatrayamātre tu munerāśramamuttamam | jñātvā jagāma bhūpālastāpasasya sumedhasaḥ

Learning that, at a distance of only three yojanas, there stood the excellent hermitage of a sage of fine intellect named Sumedhas, the king went there —

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.5.32.22)

बहुवृक्षसमायुक्तं नदीपुलिनसंश्रितम् । निर्वैरश्वापदाकीर्णं कोकिलारावमण्डितम्

bahuvṛkṣasamāyuktaṁ nadīpulinasaṁśritam | nirvairaśvāpadākīrṇaṁ kokilārāvamaṇḍitam

— thick with many trees, situated on the sandy bank of a river, filled with wild beasts who had put aside all enmity, and adorned with the calls of cuckoos.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.5.32.23)

शिष्याध्ययनशब्दाढ्यं मृगयूथशतावृतम् । नीवारान्नसुपक्वाढ्यं सुपुष्पफलपादपम्

śiṣyādhyayanaśabdāḍhyaṁ mṛgayūthaśatāvṛtam | nīvārānnasupakvāḍhyaṁ supuṣpaphalapādapam

— it resounded with the voices of disciples at their studies, was surrounded by hundreds of herds of deer, rich with well-ripened wild rice, and its trees full of beautiful flowers and fruit.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.5.32.24)

होमधूमसुगन्धेन प्रीतिदं प्राणिनां सदा । वेदध्वनिसमाक्रान्तं स्वर्गादपि मनोहरम्

homadhūmasugandhena prītidaṁ prāṇināṁ sadā | vedadhvanisamākrāntaṁ svargādapi manoharam

— it was ever pleasing to all living beings with the sweet fragrance of the sacrificial smoke, filled through and through with the sound of Vedic chanting, more delightful even than heaven itself.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.5.32.25)

दृष्ट्वा तमाश्रमं राजा बभूवासौ मुदान्वितः । भयं त्यक्त्वा मतिं चक्रे विश्रामाय द्विजाश्रमे

dṛṣṭvā tamāśramaṁ rājā babhūvāsau mudānvitaḥ | bhayaṁ tyaktvā matiṁ cakre viśrāmāya dvijāśrame

Seeing that hermitage, the king was filled with joy; setting aside his fear, he resolved to rest there in that brahmin's retreat.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.5.32.26)

आसज्य पादपेऽश्वं तु जगाम विनयान्वितः । दृष्ट्वा तं मुनिमासीनं सालच्छायासु संश्रितम्

āsajya pādape'śvaṁ tu jagāma vinayānvitaḥ | dṛṣṭvā taṁ munimāsīnaṁ sālacchāyāsu saṁśritam

Tethering his horse to a tree, he approached with humility, and saw that sage seated there, sheltered in the shade of a sala tree —

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.5.32.27)

मृगाजिनासनं शान्तं तपसातिकृशं ऋजुम् । अध्यापयन्तं शिष्यांश्च वेदशास्त्रार्थदर्शिनम्

mṛgājināsanaṁ śāntaṁ tapasātikṛśaṁ ṛjum | adhyāpayantaṁ śiṣyāṁśca vedaśāstrārthadarśinam

— seated upon a deerskin, tranquil, made thin by his austerities, upright in bearing, teaching his disciples, and one who saw directly the true meaning of the Vedas and scriptures.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.5.32.28)

रहितं क्रोधलोभाद्यैर्द्वन्द्वातीतं विमत्सरम् । आत्मज्ञानरतं सत्यवादिनं शमसंयुतम्

rahitaṁ krodhalobhādyairdvandvātītaṁ vimatsaram | ātmajñānarataṁ satyavādinaṁ śamasaṁyutam

— free from anger, greed, and all such faults, beyond the pairs of opposites, without envy, devoted to knowledge of the Self, truthful in speech, and endowed with inner tranquility.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.5.32.29)

तं वीक्ष्य भूपतिर्भूमौ पपात दण्डवत्तदा । तदग्रेऽश्रुजलापूर्णनयनः प्रेमसंयुतः

taṁ vīkṣya bhūpatirbhūmau papāta daṇḍavattadā | tadagre'śrujalāpūrṇanayanaḥ premasaṁyutaḥ

Seeing him, the king fell prostrate upon the ground before him, like a rod laid flat, his eyes filled with tears, overcome with reverent love.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.5.32.30)

उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भद्रं ते तमुवाच तदा मुनिः । शिष्यो ददौ बृसीं तस्मै गुरुणा नोदितस्तदा

uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhadraṁ te tamuvāca tadā muniḥ | śiṣyo dadau bṛsīṁ tasmai guruṇā noditastadā

"Rise, rise! May good fortune come to you," the sage said to him then; and, prompted by his guru, a disciple gave the king a woven seat.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.5.32.31)

उत्थाय नृपतिस्तस्यां समासीनस्तदाज्ञया । अर्ध्यपाद्यार्हणं चक्रे सुमेधा विधिपूर्वकम्

utthāya nṛpatistasyāṁ samāsīnastadājñayā | ardhyapādyārhaṇaṁ cakre sumedhā vidhipūrvakam

Rising, the king seated himself upon it at the sage's bidding; and the wise sage Sumedhas duly offered him the guest-water, foot-water, and honorific offerings, according to proper rite.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.5.32.32)

पप्रच्छात्र कुतः प्राप्तः कस्त्वं चिन्तापरः कथम् । कथयस्व यथाकामं संवृतं कारणं त्विह

papracchātra kutaḥ prāptaḥ kastvaṁ cintāparaḥ katham | kathayasva yathākāmaṁ saṁvṛtaṁ kāraṇaṁ tviha

He then asked him: "From where have you come here? Who are you, and why are you so full of anxiety? Tell me freely whatever hidden reason has brought you here."

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.5.32.33)

किमागमनकृत्यं ते ब्रूहि कार्यं मनोगतम् । करिष्ये वाञ्छितं काममसाध्यमपि यत्तव

kimāgamanakṛtyaṁ te brūhi kāryaṁ manogatam | kariṣye vāñchitaṁ kāmamasādhyamapi yattava

"What is the purpose of your coming? Tell me the matter that is on your mind — I shall accomplish whatever desire of yours you wish, even should it seem impossible."

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.5.32.34)

राजोवाच । सुरथो नाम राजाहं शत्रुभिश्च पराजितः । त्यक्त्वा राज्यं गृहं भार्यामहं ते शरणं गतः

rājovāca | suratho nāma rājāhaṁ śatrubhiśca parājitaḥ | tyaktvā rājyaṁ gṛhaṁ bhāryāmahaṁ te śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

The king said: "I am a king named Suratha, defeated by my enemies. Having abandoned my kingdom, my home, and my wife, I have come to take refuge with you."

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.5.32.35)

यदाज्ञापयसे ब्रह्मंस्तदहं भक्तितत्परः । करिष्यामि न मे त्राता त्वदन्यः पृथिवीतले

yadājñāpayase brahmaṁstadahaṁ bhaktitatparaḥ | kariṣyāmi na me trātā tvadanyaḥ pṛthivītale

"Whatever you command, O Brahmin, that I, wholly devoted to you, shall do; for on this whole earth there is no protector for me other than you."

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.5.32.36)

शत्रुभ्यो मे भयं घोरं प्राप्तोऽस्म्यद्य तवान्तिकम् । त्रायस्व मुनिशार्दूल शरणागतवत्सल

śatrubhyo me bhayaṁ ghoraṁ prāpto'smyadya tavāntikam | trāyasva muniśārdūla śaraṇāgatavatsala

"I have come today, in terrible fear of my enemies, into your very presence. Protect me, O tiger among sages, you who are ever kind to those who take refuge in you."

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.5.32.37)

ऋषिरुवाच । निर्भयं वस राजेन्द्र नात्र ते शत्रवः किल । आगमिष्यन्ति बलिनो निश्चयं तपसो बलात्

ṛṣiruvāca | nirbhayaṁ vasa rājendra nātra te śatravaḥ kila | āgamiṣyanti balino niścayaṁ tapaso balāt

The sage said: "Dwell here fearlessly, O lord of kings — your powerful enemies will surely never be able to reach you here, by the very power of my austerities. This is certain."

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.5.32.38)

नात्र हिंसा प्रकर्तव्या वनवृत्त्वा नृपोत्तम । कर्तव्यं जीवनं शस्तैर्नीवारफलमूलकैः

nātra hiṁsā prakartavyā vanavṛttvā nṛpottama | kartavyaṁ jīvanaṁ śastairnīvāraphalamūlakaiḥ

"Here, however, O best of kings, you must live the life of the forest — no violence is to be done. Your sustenance must be found in the approved manner, from wild rice, fruits, and roots."

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.5.32.39)

व्यास उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा निर्भयः स नृपस्तदा । उवासाश्रम एवासौ फलमूलाशनः शुचिः

vyāsa uvāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā nirbhayaḥ sa nṛpastadā | uvāsāśrama evāsau phalamūlāśanaḥ śuciḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing his words, the king, now free from fear, dwelt right there in the hermitage, living purely on fruits and roots.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.5.32.40)

कदाचित्स नृपस्तत्र वृक्षच्छायां समाश्रितः । चिन्तयामास चिन्तार्तो गृह एव गताशयः

kadācitsa nṛpastatra vṛkṣacchāyāṁ samāśritaḥ | cintayāmāsa cintārto gṛha eva gatāśayaḥ

One day, that king, seated there in the shade of a tree, tormented by anxiety, fell to brooding, his mind drawn back entirely to his own home.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.5.32.41)

राज्यं मे शत्रुभिः प्राप्तं म्लेच्छैः पापरतैः सदा । सम्पीडिताः स्युर्लोकास्तैर्दुराचारैर्गतत्रपैः

rājyaṁ me śatrubhiḥ prāptaṁ mlecchaiḥ pāparataiḥ sadā | sampīḍitāḥ syurlokāstairdurācārairgatatrapaiḥ

"My kingdom has now been seized by my enemies, those barbarians ever given to wickedness. My subjects must surely be suffering greatly under those shameless, ill-behaved men."

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.5.32.42)

गजाश्च तुरगाः सर्वे दुर्बला भक्ष्यवर्जिताः । जाताः स्युर्नात्र सन्देहः शत्रुणा परिपीडिताः

gajāśca turagāḥ sarve durbalā bhakṣyavarjitāḥ | jātāḥ syurnātra sandehaḥ śatruṇā paripīḍitāḥ

"All my elephants and horses must have grown weak, deprived of proper fodder, tormented, without doubt, by the enemy who now holds them."

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.5.32.43)

सेवका मम सर्वे ते शत्रूणां वशवर्तिनः । दुःखिता एव जाताः स्युः पालिता ये मया पुरा

sevakā mama sarve te śatrūṇāṁ vaśavartinaḥ | duḥkhitā eva jātāḥ syuḥ pālitā ye mayā purā

"All my servants, those whom I once cared for so well, must now, subjected to the will of my enemies, have become truly miserable."

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.5.32.44)

धनं मे सुदुराचारैरसद्व्ययपरैः परैः । द्यूतासवभुजिष्यादिस्थाने स्यात्प्रापितं किल

dhanaṁ me sudurācārairasadvyayaparaiḥ paraiḥ | dyūtāsavabhujiṣyādisthāne syātprāpitaṁ kila

"My wealth, surely, has by now been squandered by those wicked strangers, devoted to base expenditure, on gambling, liquor, courtesans, and the like."

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.5.32.45)

कोशक्षयं करिष्यन्ति व्यसनैः पापबुद्धयः । न पात्रदाननिपुणा म्लेच्छास्ते मन्त्रिणोऽपि मे

kośakṣayaṁ kariṣyanti vyasanaiḥ pāpabuddhayaḥ | na pātradānanipuṇā mlecchāste mantriṇo'pi me

"Those evil-minded men will surely exhaust my treasury through their vices; and even my own former ministers, now barbarians at heart, know nothing of giving to the worthy."

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.5.32.46)

इति चिन्तापरो राजा वृक्षमूलस्थितो यदा । तदाऽऽजगाम वैश्यस्तु कश्चिदार्तिपरस्तथा

iti cintāparo rājā vṛkṣamūlasthito yadā | tadā''jagāma vaiśyastu kaścidārtiparastathā

While the king, seated thus at the foot of the tree, was absorbed in these anxious thoughts, a certain merchant, likewise consumed by grief, happened to arrive there.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.5.32.47)

नृपेण पुरतो दृष्टः पार्श्वे तत्रोपवेशितः । पप्रच्छ तं नृपः कोऽसि कुत एवागतो वनम्

nṛpeṇa purato dṛṣṭaḥ pārśve tatropaveśitaḥ | papraccha taṁ nṛpaḥ ko'si kuta evāgato vanam

Seeing him approach, the king had him seated beside him, and asked him: "Who are you, and from where have you come into this forest?"

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.5.32.48)

कोऽसि कस्माच्च दीनोऽसि हरिणः शोकपीडितः । ब्रूहि सत्यं महाभाग मैत्री साप्तपदी मता

ko'si kasmācca dīno'si hariṇaḥ śokapīḍitaḥ | brūhi satyaṁ mahābhāga maitrī sāptapadī matā

"Who are you, and why do you seem so wretched, your heart afflicted with grief? Tell me truly, O most fortunate one — friendship, it is said, is sealed by seven steps taken together."

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.5.32.49)

व्यास उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञस्तमुवाच विशोत्तमः । उपविश्य स्थिरो भूत्वा मत्वा साधुसमागमम्

vyāsa uvāca | tacchrutvā vacanaṁ rājñastamuvāca viśottamaḥ | upaviśya sthiro bhūtvā matvā sādhusamāgamam

Vyasa said: Hearing the king's words, that finest of merchants, having seated himself and grown composed, and recognizing this as a meeting with a good and worthy man, replied to him.

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.5.32.50)

वैश्य उवाच । मित्राहं वैश्यजातीयः समाधिर्नाम विश्रुतः । धनवान्धर्मनिपुणः सत्यवागनसूयकः

vaiśya uvāca | mitrāhaṁ vaiśyajātīyaḥ samādhirnāma viśrutaḥ | dhanavāndharmanipuṇaḥ satyavāganasūyakaḥ

The merchant said: "O friend, I am of the merchant caste, known by the name Samadhi — a man of wealth, well-versed in righteous conduct, truthful in speech, and free from envy."

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.5.32.51)

पुत्रदारैर्निरस्तोऽहं धनलुब्धैरसाधुभिः । (कृपणेति मिषं कृत्वा त्यक्त्वा मायां सुदुस्त्यजां ।) स्वजनेन च सन्त्यक्तः प्राप्तोऽस्मि वनमाशु वै

putradārairnirasto'haṁ dhanalubdhairasādhubhiḥ | (kṛpaṇeti miṣaṁ kṛtvā tyaktvā māyāṁ sudustyajāṁ |) svajanena ca santyaktaḥ prāpto'smi vanamāśu vai

"Yet I have been cast out by my own sons and wife, wicked and greedy for wealth as they are — calling me a miser as their pretext, and though it was hard indeed to abandon my attachment to them — forsaken even by my own kin, I have come here swiftly into this forest."

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.5.32.52)

कोऽसि त्वं भाग्यवान्भासि कथयस्व प्रियाधुना । राजोवाच । सुरथो नाम राजाहं दस्युभिः पीडितोऽभवम्

ko'si tvaṁ bhāgyavānbhāsi kathayasva priyādhunā | rājovāca | suratho nāma rājāhaṁ dasyubhiḥ pīḍito'bhavam

"Who are you? You appear to be a man of good fortune — tell me now, kindly." The king said: "I am a king named Suratha; I was overcome by robbers —"

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.5.32.53)

प्राप्तोऽस्मि गतराज्योऽत्र मन्त्रिभिः परिवञ्चितः । दिष्ट्या त्वमत्र मित्रं मे मिलितोऽसि विशोत्तम

prāpto'smi gatarājyo'tra mantribhiḥ parivañcitaḥ | diṣṭyā tvamatra mitraṁ me milito'si viśottama

"— and, my kingdom lost, betrayed even by my own ministers, I have come here. By good fortune, O finest of merchants, I have found in you a friend."

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.5.32.54)

सुखेन विहरिष्यावो वनेऽत्र शुभपादपे । शोकं त्यज महाबुद्धे स्वस्थो भव विशोत्तम

sukhena vihariṣyāvo vane'tra śubhapādape | śokaṁ tyaja mahābuddhe svastho bhava viśottama

"Let us both now dwell happily together in this forest, amid its lovely trees. Abandon your grief, O wise one, and be at peace, O finest of merchants —"

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.5.32.55)

(अत्रैव च यथाकामं सुखं तिष्ठ मया सह ।) वैश्य उवाच । कुटुम्बं मे निरालम्बं मया हीनं सुदुःखितम् । भविष्यति च चिन्ताऽऽर्तं व्याधिशोकोपतापितम्

(atraiva ca yathākāmaṁ sukhaṁ tiṣṭha mayā saha |) vaiśya uvāca | kuṭumbaṁ me nirālambaṁ mayā hīnaṁ suduḥkhitam | bhaviṣyati ca cintā''rtaṁ vyādhiśokopatāpitam

"— stay here with me, then, and dwell happily just as you please." The merchant said: "My own family, without support now that I am gone, must be in the deepest suffering, tormented by anxiety, illness, and grief —"

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.5.32.56)

भार्यादेहे सुखं नो वा पुत्रदेहे न वा सुखम् । इति चिन्तातुरं चेतो न मे शाम्यति भूमिप

bhāryādehe sukhaṁ no vā putradehe na vā sukham | iti cintāturaṁ ceto na me śāmyati bhūmipa

"— whether my wife's body is at ease, whether my sons' bodies are at ease — with such thoughts my mind, O king, remains ever troubled and never finds peace."

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.5.32.57)

कदा द्रक्ष्ये सुतं भार्यां गृहं स्वजनमेव च । स्वस्थं न मन्मनो राजन् गृहचिन्ताकुलं भृशम्

kadā drakṣye sutaṁ bhāryāṁ gṛhaṁ svajanameva ca | svasthaṁ na manmano rājan gṛhacintākulaṁ bhṛśam

"When shall I see again my son, my wife, my home, and my own kin? My mind, O king, is not at ease at all — it remains deeply troubled with thoughts of home."

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.5.32.58)

राजोवाच यैर्निरस्तोऽसि पुत्राद्यैरसद्वृत्तैः सुबालिशैः । तान्दृष्ट्वा किं सुखं तेऽद्य भविष्यति महामते

rājovāca yairnirasto'si putrādyairasadvṛttaiḥ subāliśaiḥ | tāndṛṣṭvā kiṁ sukhaṁ te'dya bhaviṣyati mahāmate

The king said: "Those very sons and others who cast you out, so ill-behaved and utterly foolish — what happiness, O wise one, could you possibly find today in seeing them again?"

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.5.32.59)

हितकारी वरः शत्रुर्दुःखदाः सुहृदः कुतः । तस्मात्स्थिरं मनः कृत्वा विहरस्व मया सह

hitakārī varaḥ śatrurduḥkhadāḥ suhṛdaḥ kutaḥ | tasmātsthiraṁ manaḥ kṛtvā viharasva mayā saha

"An enemy who does one good is better than friends who bring only sorrow — where is the good in such friends? Therefore steady your mind, and dwell here together with me."

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.5.32.60)

वैश्य उवाच । मनो मे न स्थिरं राजन् भवत्यद्य सुदुःखितम् । चिन्तयात्र कुटुम्बस्य दुस्त्यजस्य दुरात्मभिः

vaiśya uvāca | mano me na sthiraṁ rājan bhavatyadya suduḥkhitam | cintayātra kuṭumbasya dustyajasya durātmabhiḥ

The merchant said: "My mind, O king, cannot be steadied today — it remains deeply pained, with anxiety over my family, whom, wicked as they were, I still find it so hard to give up."

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.5.32.61)

राजोवाच । ममापि राज्यजं दुःखं दुनोति किल मानसम् । पृच्छावोऽद्य मुनिं शान्तं शोकनाशनमौषधम्

rājovāca | mamāpi rājyajaṁ duḥkhaṁ dunoti kila mānasam | pṛcchāvo'dya muniṁ śāntaṁ śokanāśanamauṣadham

The king said: "My own mind, too, is surely tormented by the grief born of losing my kingdom. Let us today ask the tranquil sage for some remedy that might destroy this grief of ours."

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.5.32.62)

व्यास उवाच । इति कृत्वा मतिं तौ तु राजा वैश्यश्च जग्मतुः । मुनिं तौ विनयोपेतौ प्रष्टुं शोकस्य कारणम्

vyāsa uvāca | iti kṛtvā matiṁ tau tu rājā vaiśyaśca jagmatuḥ | muniṁ tau vinayopetau praṣṭuṁ śokasya kāraṇam

Vyasa said: Having resolved thus, the king and the merchant, both filled with humility, went together to the sage, to ask him the cause of their grief.

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.5.32.63)

गत्वा तं प्रणिपत्याह राजा ऋषिमनुत्तमम् । आसीनं सम्यगासीनः शान्तं शान्तिमुपागतः

gatvā taṁ praṇipatyāha rājā ṛṣimanuttamam | āsīnaṁ samyagāsīnaḥ śāntaṁ śāntimupāgataḥ

Going to him, the king, bowing before that most excellent sage, seated himself properly, and, calm, having attained a measure of peace, addressed him thus.