Satyavati's Plea and Vyasa's Union with Ambika

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.6.24.1)

राजोवाच । भगवंस्त्वन्मुखाम्भोजाच्च्युतं दिव्यकथारसम् । न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामि पिबंस्तु सुधया समम्

rājovāca | bhagavaṁstvanmukhāmbhojāccyutaṁ divyakathārasam | na tṛptimadhigacchāmi pibaṁstu sudhayā samam

The king said: O venerable one, though I drink this divine story flowing from your lotus mouth as though it were nectar itself, I do not attain satiety.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.6.24.2)

विचित्रमिदमाख्यानं कथितं भवता मम । हैहयानां समुत्पत्तिर्विस्तराद्विस्मयप्रदा

vicitramidamākhyānaṁ kathitaṁ bhavatā mama | haihayānāṁ samutpattirvistarādvismayapradā

You have told me this wondrous account of the origin of the Haihayas in full detail, and it fills me with great astonishment.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.6.24.3)

परं कौतूहलं मेऽत्र यद्विष्णुः कमलापतिः । देवदेवो जगन्नाथः सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारकः

paraṁ kautūhalaṁ me'tra yadviṣṇuḥ kamalāpatiḥ | devadevo jagannāthaḥ sṛṣṭisthityantakārakaḥ

But my greatest curiosity here concerns this: that Vishnu, lord of Lakshmi, god of gods, lord of the universe, the doer of creation, preservation, and destruction —

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.6.24.4)

सोऽप्यश्वभावमापन्नो भगवान्हरिरच्युतः । परतन्त्रः कथं जातः स्वतन्त्रः पुरुषोत्तमः

so'pyaśvabhāvamāpanno bhagavānhariracyutaḥ | paratantraḥ kathaṁ jātaḥ svatantraḥ puruṣottamaḥ

—that same imperishable Bhagavan Hari, how did he come to take on the state of a horse and become dependent, when he is the independent Supreme Person?

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.6.24.5)

एतन्मे संशयं ब्रह्मञ्छेत्तुमर्हसि साम्प्रतम् । सर्वज्ञस्त्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रूहि वृत्तान्तमद्भुतम्

etanme saṁśayaṁ brahmañchettumarhasi sāmpratam | sarvajñastvaṁ muniśreṣṭha brūhi vṛttāntamadbhutam

O Brahmin, resolve now this doubt of mine; O best of sages, you are all-knowing — tell me this wondrous account.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.6.24.6)

व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि सन्देहस्यास्य निर्णयम् । यथा श्रुतं मया पूर्वं नारदान्मुनिसत्तमात्

vyāsa uvāca | śṛṇu rājan pravakṣyāmi sandehasyāsya nirṇayam | yathā śrutaṁ mayā pūrvaṁ nāradānmunisattamāt

Vyasa said: Listen, O king, I shall tell you the resolution of this doubt, as I once heard it from Narada, best of sages.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.6.24.7)

ब्रह्मणो मानसः पुत्रो नारदो नाम तापसः । सर्वज्ञः सर्वगः शान्तः सर्वलोकप्रियः कविः

brahmaṇo mānasaḥ putro nārado nāma tāpasaḥ | sarvajñaḥ sarvagaḥ śāntaḥ sarvalokapriyaḥ kaviḥ

Narada, the mind-born son of Brahma, an ascetic — all-knowing, all-pervading, tranquil, a seer-poet beloved of all the worlds.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.6.24.8)

स चैकदा मुनिश्रेष्ठो विचरन्पृथिवीमिमाम् । वादयन्महतीं वीणां स्वरतानसमन्विताम्

sa caikadā muniśreṣṭho vicaranpṛthivīmimām | vādayanmahatīṁ vīṇāṁ svaratānasamanvitām

That best of sages, once wandering over this earth, playing his great vina, filled with sweet notes and melodies,

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.6.24.9)

बृहद्रथन्तरादीनां साम्नां भेदाननेकशः । गायन्गायत्रममृतं सम्प्राप्तोऽथ ममाश्रमम्

bṛhadrathantarādīnāṁ sāmnāṁ bhedānanekaśaḥ | gāyangāyatramamṛtaṁ samprāpto'tha mamāśramam

—singing the many kinds of Sama-melodies beginning with Brihat and Rathantara, and the nectar-like Gayatri, arrived at my hermitage —

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.6.24.10)

शम्याप्रासं महातीर्थं सरस्वत्याः सुपावनम् । निवासं मुनिमुख्यानां शर्मदं ज्ञानदं तथा

śamyāprāsaṁ mahātīrthaṁ sarasvatyāḥ supāvanam | nivāsaṁ munimukhyānāṁ śarmadaṁ jñānadaṁ tathā

—Shamyaprasa, the great and most purifying tirtha on the Sarasvati, dwelling place of the foremost sages, giver of peace and of knowledge.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.6.24.11)

तमागतमहं प्रेक्ष्य ब्रह्मपुत्रं महाद्युतिम् । अभ्युत्थानादिकं सर्वं कृतवानर्चनादिकम्

tamāgatamahaṁ prekṣya brahmaputraṁ mahādyutim | abhyutthānādikaṁ sarvaṁ kṛtavānarcanādikam

Seeing that son of Brahma arrive, of great splendor, I performed all the rites of rising to greet him, and worship, and the rest.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.6.24.12)

अर्घ्यपाद्यविधिं कृत्वा तस्यासनस्थितस्य च । उपविष्टः समीपेऽहं मुनेरमिततेजसः

arghyapādyavidhiṁ kṛtvā tasyāsanasthitasya ca | upaviṣṭaḥ samīpe'haṁ muneramitatejasaḥ

Having performed the rite of arghya and water for the feet, and once he was seated, I sat down near that sage of measureless splendor.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.6.24.13)

दृष्ट्वा विश्रमिणं शान्तं नारदं ज्ञानपारदम् । तमपृच्छमहं राजन् यत्पृष्टोऽहं त्वयाधुना

dṛṣṭvā viśramiṇaṁ śāntaṁ nāradaṁ jñānapāradam | tamapṛcchamahaṁ rājan yatpṛṣṭo'haṁ tvayādhunā

Seeing Narada, now rested and calm, who had passed beyond all knowledge, I asked him, O king, that very thing you have now asked me.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.6.24.14)

असारेऽस्मिंस्तु संसारे प्राणिनां किं सुखं मुने । न पश्यामि विनिश्चित्य कदाचित्कुत्रचित्क्वचित्

asāre'smiṁstu saṁsāre prāṇināṁ kiṁ sukhaṁ mune | na paśyāmi viniścitya kadācitkutracitkvacit

'In this insubstantial world of transmigration, O sage, what happiness is there for living beings? Reflecting carefully, I find none, ever, anywhere, in any way.'

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.6.24.15)

द्वीपे जातो जनन्याहं सन्त्यक्तस्तत्क्षणादपि । अनाश्रयो वने वृद्धिं प्राप्तः कर्मानुसारतः

dvīpe jāto jananyāhaṁ santyaktastatkṣaṇādapi | anāśrayo vane vṛddhiṁ prāptaḥ karmānusārataḥ

'Born on an island, I was abandoned by my mother that very instant; without any support, I grew up in the forest, according to my own karma.'

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.6.24.16)

तपस्तप्तं मया चोग्रं पर्वते बहुवार्षिकम् । पुत्रकामेन देवर्षे शङ्करः समुपासितः

tapastaptaṁ mayā cograṁ parvate bahuvārṣikam | putrakāmena devarṣe śaṅkaraḥ samupāsitaḥ

'Desiring a son, O divine sage, I performed fierce austerity for many years upon a mountain, and worshipped Shankara.'

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.6.24.17)

ततो मया शुकः प्राप्तः पुत्रो ज्ञानवतां वरः । पाठितस्तु मया सम्यग्वेदानां सार आदितः

tato mayā śukaḥ prāptaḥ putro jñānavatāṁ varaḥ | pāṭhitastu mayā samyagvedānāṁ sāra āditaḥ

'Then I obtained a son named Shuka, foremost among the wise; from the very beginning I had him thoroughly study the essence of the Vedas.'

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.6.24.18)

स त्यक्त्वा मां गतः क्वापि रुदन्तं विरहातुरम् । लोकाल्लोकान्तरं साधो वचनात्तव बोधितः

sa tyaktvā māṁ gataḥ kvāpi rudantaṁ virahāturam | lokāllokāntaraṁ sādho vacanāttava bodhitaḥ

'He left me weeping and tormented by separation, O sage, and, awakened by your very words, went off from world to world.'

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.6.24.19)

ततोऽहं पुत्रसन्तप्तस्त्यक्त्वा मेरुं महागिरिम् । मातरं मनसा कृत्वा सम्प्राप्तः कुरुजाङ्गलम्

tato'haṁ putrasantaptastyaktvā meruṁ mahāgirim | mātaraṁ manasā kṛtvā samprāptaḥ kurujāṅgalam

'Then, tormented by grief for my son, I left the great mountain Meru, and, calling my mother to mind, arrived in the land of Kurujangala.'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.6.24.20)

पुत्रस्नेहादतितरां कृशाङ्गः शोकसंयुतः । जानन्मिथ्येति संसारं मायापाशनियन्त्रितः

putrasnehādatitarāṁ kṛśāṅgaḥ śokasaṁyutaḥ | jānanmithyeti saṁsāraṁ māyāpāśaniyantritaḥ

'Emaciated by excessive love for my son, and filled with sorrow, even though I knew this world of transmigration to be illusory, I remained bound by the noose of maya.'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.6.24.21)

ततो राज्ञा वृतां ज्ञात्वा मातरं वासवीं शुभाम् । स्थितोऽत्रैवाश्रमं कृत्वा सरस्वत्यास्तटे शुभे

tato rājñā vṛtāṁ jñātvā mātaraṁ vāsavīṁ śubhām | sthito'traivāśramaṁ kṛtvā sarasvatyāstaṭe śubhe

'Then, learning that my mother, the fair Vasavi, had been chosen in marriage by the king, I settled here itself, making my hermitage on the lovely bank of the Sarasvati.'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.6.24.22)

शन्तनुः स्वर्गतिं प्राप्तो विधुरा जननी स्थिता । पुत्रद्वययुता साध्वी भीष्मेण प्रतिपालिता

śantanuḥ svargatiṁ prāpto vidhurā jananī sthitā | putradvayayutā sādhvī bhīṣmeṇa pratipālitā

'Shantanu departed for the heavenly path; my widowed mother remained with her two sons, and Bhishma looked after them.'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.6.24.23)

चित्राङ्गदः कृतो राजा गङ्गापुत्रेण धीमता । कालेन सोऽपि मे भ्राता मृतः कामसमद्युतिः

citrāṅgadaḥ kṛto rājā gaṅgāputreṇa dhīmatā | kālena so'pi me bhrātā mṛtaḥ kāmasamadyutiḥ

'The wise son of Ganga, Bhishma, made Chitrangada king; in time, that brother of mine too, radiant as Kama, met his death.'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.6.24.24)

ततः सत्यवती माता निमग्ना शोकसागरे । चित्राङ्गदं मृतं पुत्रं रुरोद भृशमातुरा

tataḥ satyavatī mātā nimagnā śokasāgare | citrāṅgadaṁ mṛtaṁ putraṁ ruroda bhṛśamāturā

'Then my mother Satyavati sank into an ocean of grief, and, deeply distraught, wept for her dead son Chitrangada.'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.6.24.25)

सम्प्राप्तोऽहं महाभाग ज्ञात्वा तां दुःखितां सतीम् । आश्वासिता मयात्यर्थं भीष्मेण च महात्मना

samprāpto'haṁ mahābhāga jñātvā tāṁ duḥkhitāṁ satīm | āśvāsitā mayātyarthaṁ bhīṣmeṇa ca mahātmanā

'O most fortunate one, learning of her grief, I came to her, and both I and the great-souled Bhishma consoled her at length.'

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.6.24.26)

विचित्रवीर्यस्त्वपरो वीर्यवान्पृथिवीपतिः । कृतो भीष्मेण भ्राता वै स्त्रीराज्यविमुखेन ह

vicitravīryastvaparo vīryavānpṛthivīpatiḥ | kṛto bhīṣmeṇa bhrātā vai strīrājyavimukhena ha

'Then Bhishma, who had turned away from both marriage and kingship, made my other, mighty brother Vichitravirya king.'

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.6.24.27)

काशिराजसुते रम्ये विजित्य पृथिवीपतीन् । भीष्मेणानीय स्वबलात्कन्यके द्वे समर्पिते

kāśirājasute ramye vijitya pṛthivīpatīn | bhīṣmeṇānīya svabalātkanyake dve samarpite

'Having conquered the assembled kings by his own strength, Bhishma brought the lovely daughters of the King of Kashi and presented these maidens there.'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.6.24.28)

सत्यवत्यै शुभे काले विवाहः परिकल्पितः । भ्रातुर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य तदाहं सुखितोऽभवम्

satyavatyai śubhe kāle vivāhaḥ parikalpitaḥ | bhrāturvicitravīryasya tadāhaṁ sukhito'bhavam

'At an auspicious hour, for Satyavati's sake, my brother Vichitravirya's marriage was arranged; then I became happy.'

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.6.24.29)

पुनः सोऽपि मृतो भ्राता यक्ष्मणा पीडितो भृशम् । अनपत्यो युवा धन्वी माता मे दुःखिताभवत्

punaḥ so'pi mṛto bhrātā yakṣmaṇā pīḍito bhṛśam | anapatyo yuvā dhanvī mātā me duḥkhitābhavat

'But that brother too died, severely afflicted by consumption — young, a skilled archer, yet without offspring; my mother became grief-stricken.'

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.6.24.30)

काशिराजसुते द्वे तु मृतं दृष्ट्वा पतिं तदा । पतिव्रताधर्मपरे भगिन्यौ सम्बभूवतुः

kāśirājasute dve tu mṛtaṁ dṛṣṭvā patiṁ tadā | pativratādharmapare bhaginyau sambabhūvatuḥ

'Seeing their husband dead, the two daughters of the King of Kashi, devoted to the duty of chastity, spoke to one another —'

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.6.24.31)

ते ऊचतुः सतीं श्वश्रूं रुदतीं भृशदुःखिताम् । पतिना सहगामिन्यौ भविष्यावो हुताशने

te ūcatuḥ satīṁ śvaśrūṁ rudatīṁ bhṛśaduḥkhitām | patinā sahagāminyau bhaviṣyāvo hutāśane

'—and said to their virtuous mother-in-law, who wept in deep sorrow: "We shall follow our husband, entering the fire together with him."'

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.6.24.32)

पुत्रेण सह ते श्वश्रु स्वर्गे गत्वाथ नन्दने । सुखेन विहरिष्यावः पतिना सह संयुते

putreṇa saha te śvaśru svarge gatvātha nandane | sukhena vihariṣyāvaḥ patinā saha saṁyute

'"O mother-in-law, going to the Nandana grove of heaven together with your son, we shall dwell there happily, united with our husband."'

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.6.24.33)

निवारिते तदा मात्रा वध्वौ तस्मान्महोद्यमात् । स्नेहभावं समाश्रित्य भीष्मस्य वचनात्तदा

nivārite tadā mātrā vadhvau tasmānmahodyamāt | snehabhāvaṁ samāśritya bhīṣmasya vacanāttadā

'Then my mother, out of affection, and by the word of Bhishma, dissuaded those two daughters-in-law from that great resolve.'

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.6.24.34)

गाङ्गेयेन च मात्रा मे सम्मन्त्र्य च परस्परम् । कृत्वौर्ध्वदैहिकं सर्वं संस्मृतोऽहं गजाह्वये

gāṅgeyena ca mātrā me sammantrya ca parasparam | kṛtvaurdhvadaihikaṁ sarvaṁ saṁsmṛto'haṁ gajāhvaye

'The son of Ganga and my mother, having consulted with one another, performed all the funeral rites, and then, at Gajahvaya, called me to mind.'

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.6.24.35)

स्मृतमात्रस्तु मात्रा वै ज्ञात्वा भावं मनोगतम् । तरसैवागतश्चाहं नगरं नागसाह्वयम्

smṛtamātrastu mātrā vai jñātvā bhāvaṁ manogatam | tarasaivāgataścāhaṁ nagaraṁ nāgasāhvayam

'The very moment my mother thought of me, knowing what was in her mind, I came at once to the city named Nagasahvaya.'

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.6.24.36)

प्रणम्य मातरं मूर्ध्ना संस्थितोऽथ कृताञ्जलिः । तामब्रवं सुतप्ताङ्गीं पुत्रशोकेन कर्शिताम्

praṇamya mātaraṁ mūrdhnā saṁsthito'tha kṛtāñjaliḥ | tāmabravaṁ sutaptāṅgīṁ putraśokena karśitām

'Bowing my head to my mother, and standing with joined hands, I spoke to her, her body wasted and scorched by grief for her son —'

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.6.24.37)

मातस्त्वया किमाहूतो मनसाहं तपस्विनि । आज्ञापय महत्कार्ये दासोऽस्मि करवाणि किम्

mātastvayā kimāhūto manasāhaṁ tapasvini | ājñāpaya mahatkārye dāso'smi karavāṇi kim

'"Mother, O ascetic one, why have you summoned me in your mind? Command me in whatever great matter it is — I am your servant; what shall I do?"'

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.6.24.38)

त्वं मे तीर्थं परं मातर्देवश्च प्रथितः परः । आगतश्चिन्तितश्चात्र ब्रूहि कृत्यं तव प्रियम्

tvaṁ me tīrthaṁ paraṁ mātardevaśca prathitaḥ paraḥ | āgataścintitaścātra brūhi kṛtyaṁ tava priyam

'"O mother, you are my supreme place of pilgrimage, and my highest deity as well; I have come here at your summons — tell me what would please you."'

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.6.24.39)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वाहं स्थितस्तत्र मातुरग्रे यदा मुने । तदा सा मामुवाचेदं पश्यन्ती भीष्ममन्तिके

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvāhaṁ sthitastatra māturagre yadā mune | tadā sā māmuvācedaṁ paśyantī bhīṣmamantike

Vyasa said: O sage, having said this, as I stood there before my mother, she, looking toward Bhishma nearby, spoke this to me —

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.6.24.40)

पुत्र तेऽद्य मृतो भ्राता पीडितो राजयक्ष्मणा । तेनाहं दुःखिता जाता वंशच्छेदभयादिह

putra te'dya mṛto bhrātā pīḍito rājayakṣmaṇā | tenāhaṁ duḥkhitā jātā vaṁśacchedabhayādiha

'"My son, your brother has today died, afflicted by consumption; by this I have become grieved, fearing the extinction of our line."'

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.6.24.41)

तस्मात्त्वमद्य मेधाविन् मयाहूतः समाधिना । गाङ्गेयस्य मतेनात्र पाराशर्यार्थसिद्धये

tasmāttvamadya medhāvin mayāhūtaḥ samādhinā | gāṅgeyasya matenātra pārāśaryārthasiddhaye

'"Therefore, O wise one, in accordance with the counsel of the son of Ganga, O son of Parashara, I have summoned you today through deep meditation, for the accomplishment of this purpose."'

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.6.24.42)

कुलं स्थापय नष्टं त्वं शन्तनोर्नामकारणात् । रक्ष मां दुःखतः कृष्ण वंशच्छेदोद्भवाद्द्रुतम्

kulaṁ sthāpaya naṣṭaṁ tvaṁ śantanornāmakāraṇāt | rakṣa māṁ duḥkhataḥ kṛṣṇa vaṁśacchedodbhavāddrutam

'"Re-establish the lost lineage for the sake of Shantanu's name; O Krishna, save me quickly from this sorrow born of the severing of our line."'

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.6.24.43)

काशिराजसुते भार्ये भ्रातुस्तव यवीयसः । साधोर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य रूपयौवनभूषिते

kāśirājasute bhārye bhrātustava yavīyasaḥ | sādhorvicitravīryasya rūpayauvanabhūṣite

'"The two wives of your younger brother, the virtuous Vichitravirya, the daughters of the King of Kashi, adorned with beauty and youth —"'

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.6.24.44)

ताभ्यां सङ्गम्य मेधाविन् पुत्रोत्पादनकं कुरु । रक्षस्व भारतं वंशं नात्र दोषोऽस्ति कर्हिचित्

tābhyāṁ saṅgamya medhāvin putrotpādanakaṁ kuru | rakṣasva bhārataṁ vaṁśaṁ nātra doṣo'sti karhicit

'"—unite with them, O wise one, and beget a son; protect the Bharata lineage — there is no fault whatsoever in this."'

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.6.24.45)

व्यास उवाच । इति मातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा जातश्चिन्तातुरो ह्यहम् । लज्जयाऽऽकुलचित्तस्तामब्रवं विनयानतः

vyāsa uvāca | iti māturvacaḥ śrutvā jātaścintāturo hyaham | lajjayā''kulacittastāmabravaṁ vinayānataḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing my mother's words, I became filled with anxiety; my mind troubled by shame, I spoke to her humbly, bowed low —

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.6.24.46)

मातः पापाधिकं कर्म परदाराभिमर्शनम् । ज्ञात्वा धर्मपथं सम्यक्करोमि कथमादरात्

mātaḥ pāpādhikaṁ karma paradārābhimarśanam | jñātvā dharmapathaṁ samyakkaromi kathamādarāt

'"Mother, to touch another's wife is a most sinful act; knowing this, how, out of respect for you, could I follow the true path of dharma and still do it?"'

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.6.24.47)

तथा यवीयसो भ्रातुर्वधूः कन्या प्रकीर्तिता । व्यभिचारं कथं कुर्यामधीत्य निगमानहम्

tathā yavīyaso bhrāturvadhūḥ kanyā prakīrtitā | vyabhicāraṁ kathaṁ kuryāmadhītya nigamānaham

'"They are called the wives of my younger brother, as good as daughters to me; having studied the scriptures, how could I commit such a transgression?"'

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.6.24.48)

अन्यायेन न कर्तव्यं सर्वथा कुलरक्षणम् । न तरन्ति हि संसारात्पितरः पापकारिणः

anyāyena na kartavyaṁ sarvathā kularakṣaṇam | na taranti hi saṁsārātpitaraḥ pāpakāriṇaḥ

'"The preservation of a family should never be undertaken through unrighteous means; ancestors do not cross the ocean of samsara through sinfully-begotten offspring."'

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.6.24.49)

लोकानामुपदेष्टा यः पुराणानां प्रवर्तकः । स कथं कुत्सितं कर्म ज्ञात्वा कुर्यान्महाद्भुतम्

lokānāmupadeṣṭā yaḥ purāṇānāṁ pravartakaḥ | sa kathaṁ kutsitaṁ karma jñātvā kuryānmahādbhutam

'"How could one who is the teacher of the worlds, the promulgator of the Puranas, knowingly commit so reprehensible and grave a deed?"'

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.6.24.50)

पुनरुक्तो ह्यहं मात्रा रुदत्या भृशमन्तिके । पुत्रशोकातितप्ता या वंशरक्षणकाम्यया

punarukto hyahaṁ mātrā rudatyā bhṛśamantike | putraśokātitaptā yā vaṁśarakṣaṇakāmyayā

My mother, scorched with grief for her son and desiring the preservation of the lineage, wept beside me and spoke to me again —

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.6.24.51)

पाराशर्य न ते दोषो वचनान्मम पुत्रक । गुरूणां वचनं तथ्यं सदोषमपि मानवैः

pārāśarya na te doṣo vacanānmama putraka | gurūṇāṁ vacanaṁ tathyaṁ sadoṣamapi mānavaiḥ

'"O son of Parashara, no fault shall come to you from acting on my word, my son; the command of one's elders, even where it seems to carry some fault, must be —"'

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.6.24.52)

कर्तव्यमविचार्यैव शिष्टाचारप्रमाणतः । वचनं कुरु मे पुत्र न ते दोषोऽस्ति मानद

kartavyamavicāryaiva śiṣṭācārapramāṇataḥ | vacanaṁ kuru me putra na te doṣo'sti mānada

'"—carried out without deliberation, on the authority of the conduct of the virtuous; heed my word, my son — no fault attaches to you, O giver of honor."'

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.6.24.53)

पुत्रस्य जननं कृत्वा सुखिनी कुरु मातरम् । विशेषेण तु सन्तप्तां मग्नां शोकार्णवे सुत

putrasya jananaṁ kṛtvā sukhinī kuru mātaram | viśeṣeṇa tu santaptāṁ magnāṁ śokārṇave suta

'"By begetting a son, make your mother happy — especially this mother, sunk in an ocean of grief and so deeply scorched, my son."'

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.6.24.54)

इति तां ब्रुवतीं श्रुत्वा तदा सुरनदीसुतः । मामुवाच विशेषज्ञः सूक्ष्मधर्मस्य निर्णये

iti tāṁ bruvatīṁ śrutvā tadā suranadīsutaḥ | māmuvāca viśeṣajñaḥ sūkṣmadharmasya nirṇaye

Hearing her speak thus, the son of Ganga, skilled in discerning the subtleties of dharma, then said to me —

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.6.24.55)

द्वैपायन विचारोऽत्र न कर्तव्यस्त्वयानघ । मातुर्वचनमादाय विहरस्व यथासुखम्

dvaipāyana vicāro'tra na kartavyastvayānagha | māturvacanamādāya viharasva yathāsukham

'"O Dvaipayana, sinless one, do not deliberate over this; accept your mother's word, and act as pleases you."'

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.6.24.56)

व्यास उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मातुश्च प्रार्थनं तथा । निःशङ्कोऽहं तदा जातः कार्ये तस्मिञ्जुगुप्सिते

vyāsa uvāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā mātuśca prārthanaṁ tathā | niḥśaṅko'haṁ tadā jātaḥ kārye tasmiñjugupsite

Vyasa said: Hearing his words, and my mother's entreaty as well, I became free of doubt regarding that distasteful task.

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.6.24.57)

अम्बिकायां प्रवृत्तोऽहमृतुमत्यां मुदा निशि । मयि विमनसायां तु तापसे कुत्सिते भृशम्

ambikāyāṁ pravṛtto'hamṛtumatyāṁ mudā niśi | mayi vimanasāyāṁ tu tāpase kutsite bhṛśam

I approached Ambika at night, she being in her fertile season, though not with any joy; and she, seeing my appearance — that of a hermit, greatly forbidding — grew averse in mind.

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.6.24.58)

शप्ता मया सा सुश्रोणी प्रसङ्गे प्रथमे तदा । अन्धस्ते भविता पुत्रो यतो नेत्रे निमीलिते

śaptā mayā sā suśroṇī prasaṅge prathame tadā | andhaste bhavitā putro yato netre nimīlite

At that first union I cursed that fair one: 'Your son shall be born blind, since you closed your eyes.'

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.6.24.59)

द्वितीयेऽह्नि मुनिश्रेष्ठ पृष्टो मात्रा रहः पुनः । भविष्यति सुतः पुत्र काशिराजसुतोदरे

dvitīye'hni muniśreṣṭha pṛṣṭo mātrā rahaḥ punaḥ | bhaviṣyati sutaḥ putra kāśirājasutodare

On the second day, O best of sages, my mother again asked me privately: 'My son, will a son truly be born from the womb of the King of Kashi's daughter?'

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.6.24.60)

मयोक्ता जननी तत्र व्रीडानम्रमुखेन ह । विनेत्रो भविता पुत्रो मातः शापान्ममैव हि

mayoktā jananī tatra vrīḍānamramukhena ha | vinetro bhavitā putro mātaḥ śāpānmamaiva hi

I told my mother there, my face bowed in shame: 'Mother, by my own curse the son will be sightless.'

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.6.24.61)

तया निर्भर्त्सितस्तत्र कठोरवचसा मुने । कथं पुत्र त्वया शप्ता पुत्रस्तेऽन्धो भविष्यति

tayā nirbhartsitastatra kaṭhoravacasā mune | kathaṁ putra tvayā śaptā putraste'ndho bhaviṣyati

There she rebuked me with harsh words, O sage: 'My son, how could you utter such a curse, that your own son should be born blind?'