Narada's Illusory Marriage to Damayanti

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.6.27.1)

नारद उवाच । तत्पुत्र्या वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा धात्रीमुखात्ततः । भार्यां प्रोवाच कैकेयीं समीपस्थां सुलोचनाम्

nārada uvāca | tatputryā vacanaṁ śrutvā rājā dhātrīmukhāttataḥ | bhāryāṁ provāca kaikeyīṁ samīpasthāṁ sulocanām

Narada said: Hearing his daughter's words through the nurse's mouth, the king then spoke to his fair-eyed wife Kaikeyi, seated nearby —

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.6.27.2)

राजोवाच । यदुक्तं वचनं कान्ते धात्र्या तत्तु त्वया श्रुतम् । वृतोऽयं नारदः कामं मुनिर्वानरवक्त्रभाक्

rājovāca | yaduktaṁ vacanaṁ kānte dhātryā tattu tvayā śrutam | vṛto'yaṁ nāradaḥ kāmaṁ munirvānaravaktrabhāk

The king said: 'My dear, you have heard the words spoken by the nurse — our daughter has indeed chosen this sage Narada, who now bears a monkey's face.'

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.6.27.3)

किमिदं चिन्तितं पुत्र्या बुद्धिहीनं विचेष्टितम् । कथमस्मै मया देया कन्या हरिमुखाय सा

kimidaṁ cintitaṁ putryā buddhihīnaṁ viceṣṭitam | kathamasmai mayā deyā kanyā harimukhāya sā

'What foolish, thoughtless resolve is this of our daughter? How could I possibly give my daughter to this monkey-faced one?'

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.6.27.4)

क्वासौ भिक्षुः कुरूपः क्व दमयन्ती ममात्मजा । विपरीतमिदं कार्यं न विधेयं कदाचन

kvāsau bhikṣuḥ kurūpaḥ kva damayantī mamātmajā | viparītamidaṁ kāryaṁ na vidheyaṁ kadācana

'Where is this ugly mendicant, and where is my daughter Damayanti? This misguided match must never be carried out.'

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.6.27.5)

तामेकान्ते सुकेशान्ते निवारय हठात्सुताम् । युक्त्या मुनिरतां मुग्धां शास्त्रवृद्धानुसारया

tāmekānte sukeśānte nivāraya haṭhātsutām | yuktyā muniratāṁ mugdhāṁ śāstravṛddhānusārayā

'O lovely-haired one, dissuade our daughter firmly in private; by reason, and by the counsel of scripture and elders, guide back that deluded girl, infatuated with the sage.'

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.6.27.6)

इति भर्तृवचः श्रुत्वा जननी तामथाब्रवीत् । च ते रूपं मुनिः क्वासौ वानरास्योऽधनः पुनः

iti bhartṛvacaḥ śrutvā jananī tāmathābravīt | ca te rūpaṁ muniḥ kvāsau vānarāsyo'dhanaḥ punaḥ

Hearing her husband's words, the mother said to her: 'And what of your own beauty — where is that sage now, a penniless, monkey-faced creature?'

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.6.27.7)

कथं मोहमवाप्तासि भिक्षुके चतुरा पुनः । लताकोमलदेहा त्वं भस्मरूक्षतनुस्त्वयम्

kathaṁ mohamavāptāsi bhikṣuke caturā punaḥ | latākomaladehā tvaṁ bhasmarūkṣatanustvayam

'How, clever as you are, have you fallen into delusion over a mere mendicant — you, whose body is soft as a creeper, and he, whose body is rough with ash?'

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.6.27.8)

वार्ता वानरवक्त्रेण कथं युक्ता तवानघे । का प्रीतिः कुत्सिते पुंसि भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते

vārtā vānaravaktreṇa kathaṁ yuktā tavānaghe | kā prītiḥ kutsite puṁsi bhaviṣyati śucismite

'O sinless one, how could even conversation with a monkey-faced man become you? O radiant-smiling one, what love can there be for so despicable a man?'

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.6.27.9)

वरस्ते राजपुत्रोऽस्तु मा कुरु त्वं वृथा हठम् । पिता ते दुःखमाप्नोति श्रुत्वा धात्रीमुखाद्वचः

varaste rājaputro'stu mā kuru tvaṁ vṛthā haṭham | pitā te duḥkhamāpnoti śrutvā dhātrīmukhādvacaḥ

'Let your husband be some prince — do not persist in this useless obstinacy; hearing these words through the nurse, your father is grieved.'

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.6.27.10)

लग्नां बुबूलवृक्षेण कोमलां मालतीलताम् । दृष्ट्वा कस्य मनः खेदं चतुरस्य न गच्छति

lagnāṁ bubūlavṛkṣeṇa komalāṁ mālatīlatām | dṛṣṭvā kasya manaḥ khedaṁ caturasya na gacchati

'Seeing a tender jasmine creeper wound about some wretched thorn-tree, whose discerning heart would not grieve?'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.6.27.11)

दासेरकाय ताम्बूलीदलानि कोमलानि कः । ददाति भक्षणार्थाय मूर्खोऽपि धरणीतले

dāserakāya tāmbūlīdalāni komalāni kaḥ | dadāti bhakṣaṇārthāya mūrkho'pi dharaṇītale

'What fool on this earth would give tender betel leaves to a slave to eat?'

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.6.27.12)

वीक्ष्य त्वां करसंलग्नां नारदस्य समीपतः । विवाहे वर्तमाने तु कस्य चेतो न दह्यति

vīkṣya tvāṁ karasaṁlagnāṁ nāradasya samīpataḥ | vivāhe vartamāne tu kasya ceto na dahyati

'Seeing you, at the marriage, hand joined with Narada's hand, whose heart would not burn?'

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.6.27.13)

कुमुखेन समं वार्ता न रुचिं जनयत्यतः । आमृतेस्तु कथं कालः क्षपितव्यस्त्वयामुना

kumukhena samaṁ vārtā na ruciṁ janayatyataḥ | āmṛtestu kathaṁ kālaḥ kṣapitavyastvayāmunā

'Even conversation with that ill-faced one brings no pleasure; how then will you spend the time with him until death?'

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.6.27.14)

नारद उवाच । इति मातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा दमयन्ती भृशातुरा । मातरं प्राह तन्वङ्गी मयि सा कृतनिश्चया

nārada uvāca | iti māturvacaḥ śrutvā damayantī bhṛśāturā | mātaraṁ prāha tanvaṅgī mayi sā kṛtaniścayā

Narada said: Hearing her mother's words, Damayanti, deeply distressed, that slender one, resolved firm in her purpose regarding me, spoke to her mother —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.6.27.15)

किं मुखेन च रूपेण मूर्खस्य च धनेन किम् । किं राज्येनाविदग्धस्य रसमार्गाविदोऽस्य च

kiṁ mukhena ca rūpeṇa mūrkhasya ca dhanena kim | kiṁ rājyenāvidagdhasya rasamārgāvido'sya ca

'What use is a handsome face or beauty in a fool? What use is wealth, or the kingdom of one unrefined and ignorant of the path of true feeling?'

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.6.27.16)

हरिण्योऽपि वने धन्या या नादेन विमोहिताः । मातः प्राणान्प्रयच्छन्ति धिङ्मूर्खान्मानुषान्भुवि

hariṇyo'pi vane dhanyā yā nādena vimohitāḥ | mātaḥ prāṇānprayacchanti dhiṅmūrkhānmānuṣānbhuvi

'O mother, even the does of the forest are blessed, who, enraptured by music, give up their very lives — shame on the foolish men of this earth!'

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.6.27.17)

नारदो वेत्ति यां विद्यां मातः सप्तस्वरात्मिकाम् । तृतीयः कोऽपि नो वेद शिवादन्यः पुमान्किल

nārado vetti yāṁ vidyāṁ mātaḥ saptasvarātmikām | tṛtīyaḥ ko'pi no veda śivādanyaḥ pumānkila

'O mother, the science of the seven musical notes that Narada knows, no third being knows, save Shiva himself.'

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.6.27.18)

मूर्खेण सह संवासो मरणं तत्क्षणे क्षणे । रूपवान्धनवांस्त्याज्यो गुणहीनो नरः सदा

mūrkheṇa saha saṁvāso maraṇaṁ tatkṣaṇe kṣaṇe | rūpavāndhanavāṁstyājyo guṇahīno naraḥ sadā

'To dwell with a fool is death at every moment; a man devoid of virtue, however handsome or wealthy, must always be shunned.'

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.6.27.19)

धिङ्मैत्रीं मूर्खभूपाले वृथा गर्वसमन्विते । गुणज्ञे भिक्षुके श्रेष्ठा वचनात्सुखदायिनी

dhiṅmaitrīṁ mūrkhabhūpāle vṛthā garvasamanvite | guṇajñe bhikṣuke śreṣṭhā vacanātsukhadāyinī

'Shame on friendship with a foolish king, filled with vain pride; far better is a mendicant who knows true virtue, whose very speech brings happiness.'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.6.27.20)

स्वरज्ञो ग्रामवित्कामं मूर्च्छनाज्ञानभेदभाक् । दुर्लभः पुरुषश्चाष्टरसज्ञो दुर्बलोऽपि वै

svarajño grāmavitkāmaṁ mūrcchanājñānabhedabhāk | durlabhaḥ puruṣaścāṣṭarasajño durbalo'pi vai

'One who knows the notes and their scales, the modulations and their distinctions, who understands the eight rasas — such a man is rare, even if frail of body.'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.6.27.21)

यथा नयति कैलासं गङ्गा चैव सरस्वती । तथा नयति कैलासं स्वरज्ञानविशारदः

yathā nayati kailāsaṁ gaṅgā caiva sarasvatī | tathā nayati kailāsaṁ svarajñānaviśāradaḥ

'As the Ganga and the Sarasvati lead one to Kailasa, so too does one skilled in the science of musical sound lead one to Kailasa.'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.6.27.22)

स्वरमानं तु यो वेद स देवो मानुषोऽपि सन् । सप्तभेदं न यो वेद स पशुः सुरराडपि

svaramānaṁ tu yo veda sa devo mānuṣo'pi san | saptabhedaṁ na yo veda sa paśuḥ surarāḍapi

'He who knows the measure of the notes, though human, is a god; and he who does not know the seven divisions is an animal, even if he be the king of the gods.'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.6.27.23)

मूर्च्छनातानमार्गं तु श्रुत्वा मोदं न याति यः । स पशुः सर्वथा ज्ञेयो हरिणाः पशवो न हि

mūrcchanātānamārgaṁ tu śrutvā modaṁ na yāti yaḥ | sa paśuḥ sarvathā jñeyo hariṇāḥ paśavo na hi

'He who hears the path of modulation and melody and feels no delight should be reckoned an animal in every sense — the deer, at least, are no such animals.'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.6.27.24)

वरं विषधरः सर्पः श्रुत्वा नादं मनोहरम् । अश्रोत्रोऽपि मुदं याति धिक्सकर्णांश्च मानवान्

varaṁ viṣadharaḥ sarpaḥ śrutvā nādaṁ manoharam | aśrotro'pi mudaṁ yāti dhiksakarṇāṁśca mānavān

'Even the venomous serpent is superior, for, hearing captivating music, it delights though it has no ears; shame on those men who, having ears, do not!'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.6.27.25)

बालोऽपि सुस्वरं गेयं श्रुत्वा मुदितमानसः । जायते किन्तु ते वृद्धा न जानन्ति धिगस्तु तान्

bālo'pi susvaraṁ geyaṁ śrutvā muditamānasaḥ | jāyate kintu te vṛddhā na jānanti dhigastu tān

'Even a child, hearing a sweetly sung melody, grows glad at heart, but these elders do not understand it — shame on them!'

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.6.27.26)

पिता मे किं न जानाति नारदस्य गुणान् बत । द्वितीयः सामगो नास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु तत्समः

pitā me kiṁ na jānāti nāradasya guṇān bata | dvitīyaḥ sāmago nāsti triṣu lokeṣu tatsamaḥ

'Does my father not know the virtues of Narada? In the three worlds there is no second Sama-singer equal to him.'

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.6.27.27)

तस्मादसौ मया नूनं वृतः पूर्वं समागमात् । पश्चाच्छापवशाज्जातो वानरास्यो गुणाकरः

tasmādasau mayā nūnaṁ vṛtaḥ pūrvaṁ samāgamāt | paścācchāpavaśājjāto vānarāsyo guṇākaraḥ

'Therefore I indeed chose him at our very first meeting; it was only afterward, through a curse, that this mine of virtues became monkey-faced.'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.6.27.28)

किन्नरा न प्रियाः कस्य भवन्ति तुरगाननाः । गानविद्यासमायुक्ताः किं मुखेन वरेण ह

kinnarā na priyāḥ kasya bhavanti turagānanāḥ | gānavidyāsamāyuktāḥ kiṁ mukhena vareṇa ha

'Whom do the horse-faced Kinnaras not delight, endowed as they are with the art of song? What, then, is the use of a handsome face in a husband?'

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.6.27.29)

पितरं ब्रूहि मे मातर्वृतोऽयं मुनिसत्तमः । तस्मात्त्वमाग्रहं त्यक्त्वा देहि तस्मै च मां मुदा

pitaraṁ brūhi me mātarvṛto'yaṁ munisattamaḥ | tasmāttvamāgrahaṁ tyaktvā dehi tasmai ca māṁ mudā

'O mother, tell my father I have chosen this best of sages; abandon your objection, then, and gladly give me to him.'

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.6.27.30)

नारद उवाच । इति पुत्र्या वचः श्रुत्वा राज्ञी राज्ञे न्यवेदयत् । आग्रहं सुन्दरी ज्ञात्वा सुताया नारदे मुनौ

nārada uvāca | iti putryā vacaḥ śrutvā rājñī rājñe nyavedayat | āgrahaṁ sundarī jñātvā sutāyā nārade munau

Narada said: Hearing her daughter's words, the queen reported them to the king, having understood her daughter's firm resolve for the sage Narada —

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.6.27.31)

विवाहं कुरु राजेन्द्र दमयन्त्याः शुभे दिने । मुनिना स च सर्वज्ञो वृतोऽसौ मनसानया

vivāhaṁ kuru rājendra damayantyāḥ śubhe dine | muninā sa ca sarvajño vṛto'sau manasānayā

'O king, choose an auspicious day and perform Damayanti's marriage; in her heart she has chosen this all-knowing sage.'

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.6.27.32)

नारद उवाच । इति सञ्चोदितो राज्ञ्या सञ्जयः पृथिवीपतिः । चकार विथिवत्सर्वं विधिं वैवाहिकं ततः

nārada uvāca | iti sañcodito rājñyā sañjayaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ | cakāra vithivatsarvaṁ vidhiṁ vaivāhikaṁ tataḥ

Narada said: Thus urged by the queen, King Sanjaya, lord of the earth, then performed the entire marriage rite according to due form.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.6.27.33)

एवं दारग्रहं कृत्वा वानरास्यः परन्तप । स्थितस्तत्रैव मनसा दह्यमानेन चान्वहम्

evaṁ dāragrahaṁ kṛtvā vānarāsyaḥ parantapa | sthitastatraiva manasā dahyamānena cānvaham

O scorcher of foes, thus, though I had taken a wife, I, still monkey-faced, remained there with my mind burning day after day.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.6.27.34)

यदाऽऽगच्छद्राजसुता सेवार्थं मम सन्निधौ । अभवं दुःखसन्तप्तस्तदाहं वानराननः

yadā''gacchadrājasutā sevārthaṁ mama sannidhau | abhavaṁ duḥkhasantaptastadāhaṁ vānarānanaḥ

Whenever the princess came near to render her service, I, on account of my monkey's face, was consumed with sorrow.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.6.27.35)

दमयन्ती तु मां वीक्ष्य प्रफुल्लवदनाम्बुजा । शोकं वानरवक्त्रत्वान्न चकार कदाचन

damayantī tu māṁ vīkṣya praphullavadanāmbujā | śokaṁ vānaravaktratvānna cakāra kadācana

But Damayanti, her face ever blooming like a lotus, never once grieved on seeing me, for all my monkey's face.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.6.27.36)

एवं गच्छति काले तु सहसा पर्वतो मुनिः । कुर्वंस्तीर्थान्यनेकानि द्रष्टुं मां समुपागतः

evaṁ gacchati kāle tu sahasā parvato muniḥ | kurvaṁstīrthānyanekāni draṣṭuṁ māṁ samupāgataḥ

As time passed thus, the sage Parvata, once visiting many holy tirthas, suddenly came to see me.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.6.27.37)

मयातिमानितः प्रेम्णा पूजितश्च यथाविधि । आसीन आसने दिव्ये वीक्ष्य मां दुःखितो ह्यभूत्

mayātimānitaḥ premṇā pūjitaśca yathāvidhi | āsīna āsane divye vīkṣya māṁ duḥkhito hyabhūt

I honored him with great respect and love, worshipping him duly; seated on a splendid seat, he grew sorrowful on seeing me.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.6.27.38)

कृतदारं वानरास्यं दीनं चिन्तातुरं भृशम् । दयावान्मामुवाचेदं पर्वतो मातुलं कृशम्

kṛtadāraṁ vānarāsyaṁ dīnaṁ cintāturaṁ bhṛśam | dayāvānmāmuvācedaṁ parvato mātulaṁ kṛśam

Seeing me, though married, monkey-faced, wretched, deeply anxious, and gaunt, compassionate Parvata spoke to his kinsman Narada —

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.6.27.39)

मया नारद कोपात्त्वं शप्तोऽसि मुनिसत्तम । निष्कृतिं तस्य शापस्य करोम्यद्य निशामय

mayā nārada kopāttvaṁ śapto'si munisattama | niṣkṛtiṁ tasya śāpasya karomyadya niśāmaya

'Narada, best of sages, I cursed you in my anger; hear now — I shall today undo that curse.'

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.6.27.40)

भव त्वं चारुवदनो मम पुण्येन नारद । दृष्ट्वा राजसुतां चित्ते कृपा जाता ममाधुना

bhava tvaṁ cāruvadano mama puṇyena nārada | dṛṣṭvā rājasutāṁ citte kṛpā jātā mamādhunā

'Narada, by the merit of my austerity, become handsome-faced again; seeing the princess, compassion has risen in my heart.'

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.6.27.41)

नारद उवाच । मयापि प्रवणं चित्तं कृत्वा श्रुत्वास्य भाषितम् । अनुग्रहः कृतः सद्यस्तस्य शापस्य तत्क्षणात्

nārada uvāca | mayāpi pravaṇaṁ cittaṁ kṛtvā śrutvāsya bhāṣitam | anugrahaḥ kṛtaḥ sadyastasya śāpasya tatkṣaṇāt

Narada said: Hearing his words, my mind too softened toward him; and at that very instant, the undoing of the curse was granted.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.6.27.42)

भागिनेय तवाप्यस्तु गमनं सुरसद्मनि । शापस्यानुग्रहः कामं कृतोऽयं पर्वताधुना

bhāgineya tavāpyastu gamanaṁ surasadmani | śāpasyānugrahaḥ kāmaṁ kṛto'yaṁ parvatādhunā

'O nephew, may you too now have entry into the world of the gods.' Thus the undoing of the curse upon Parvata too was now accomplished.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.6.27.43)

नारद उवाच । जातोऽहं चारुवदनो वचनात्तस्य पश्यतः । राजपुत्री तु सन्तुष्टा मातरं प्राह सत्वरम्

nārada uvāca | jāto'haṁ cāruvadano vacanāttasya paśyataḥ | rājaputrī tu santuṣṭā mātaraṁ prāha satvaram

Narada said: By his very word, before his own eyes, I became handsome-faced once more; and the princess, overjoyed, quickly spoke to her mother —

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.6.27.44)

मातस्ते सुमुखो जातो जामाता च महाद्युतिः । वचनात्पर्वतस्याद्य मुक्तशापो मुनेरभूत्

mātaste sumukho jāto jāmātā ca mahādyutiḥ | vacanātparvatasyādya muktaśāpo munerabhūt

'Mother, your son-in-law has now become handsome-faced and full of splendor; today, by Parvata's word, the sage has been freed from his curse.'

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.6.27.45)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञ्या कथितं तत्तु राजनि । ययौ द्रष्टुं मुनिं तत्र सञ्जयः प्रीतिमांस्तदा

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ rājñyā kathitaṁ tattu rājani | yayau draṣṭuṁ muniṁ tatra sañjayaḥ prītimāṁstadā

Hearing this, the queen told the king; and Sanjaya, filled with delight, went there to see the sage.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.6.27.46)

धनं समर्पितं राज्ञा सन्तुष्टेन तदा महत् । मह्यं च भागिनेयाय पारिबर्हं महात्मना

dhanaṁ samarpitaṁ rājñā santuṣṭena tadā mahat | mahyaṁ ca bhāgineyāya pāribarhaṁ mahātmanā

The delighted king then presented great wealth, and bridal gifts as well, to both me and to Parvata, by that great-souled one's own hand.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.6.27.47)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं वर्तनं यत्पुरातनम् । मायाया बलमाहात्म्यं ह्यनुभूतं यथा मया

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ vartanaṁ yatpurātanam | māyāyā balamāhātmyaṁ hyanubhūtaṁ yathā mayā

I have now told you this entire ancient happening, just as I myself experienced the power and greatness of maya.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.6.27.48)

संसारेऽस्मिन्महाभाग मायागुणकृतेऽनृते । तनुभृत्तु सुखी नास्ति न भूतो न भविष्यति

saṁsāre'sminmahābhāga māyāguṇakṛte'nṛte | tanubhṛttu sukhī nāsti na bhūto na bhaviṣyati

In this false world, fashioned by the qualities of maya, O most fortunate one, no embodied being has ever been happy, nor ever will be.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.6.27.49)

कामक्रोधौ तथा लोभो मत्सरो ममता तथा । अहङ्कारो मदः केन जिताः सर्वे महाबलाः

kāmakrodhau tathā lobho matsaro mamatā tathā | ahaṅkāro madaḥ kena jitāḥ sarve mahābalāḥ

Desire and anger, greed, envy, possessiveness, egotism, and pride — who indeed has conquered all these mighty forces?

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.6.27.50)

सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चैव गुणास्त्रय इमे किल । कारणं प्राणिनां देहसम्भवे सर्वथा मुने

sattvaṁ rajastamaścaiva guṇāstraya ime kila | kāraṇaṁ prāṇināṁ dehasambhave sarvathā mune

Sattva, rajas, and tamas — these three qualities alone, O sage, are in every way the cause of embodiment for living beings.

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.6.27.51)

कस्मिंश्चित्समये व्यास वनेऽहं विष्णुना सह । गच्छन्हास्यविनोदेन स्त्रीभावं गमितः क्षणात्

kasmiṁścitsamaye vyāsa vane'haṁ viṣṇunā saha | gacchanhāsyavinodena strībhāvaṁ gamitaḥ kṣaṇāt

O Vyasa, once, while going through a forest together with Vishnu, I was, in mere jest and play, made to take on a woman's form in an instant.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.6.27.52)

राजपत्नीत्वमापन्नो मायाबलविमोहितः । पुत्राः प्रसूता बहवो गेहे तस्य नृपस्य ह

rājapatnītvamāpanno māyābalavimohitaḥ | putrāḥ prasūtā bahavo gehe tasya nṛpasya ha

Utterly deluded by the power of maya, I became the wife of a certain king; and many sons were born of me in that king's house.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.6.27.53)

व्यास उवाच । संशयोऽयं महान्साधो श्रुत्वा ते वचनं किल । कथं नारीत्वमापन्नस्त्वं मुने ज्ञानवान्भृशम्

vyāsa uvāca | saṁśayo'yaṁ mahānsādho śrutvā te vacanaṁ kila | kathaṁ nārītvamāpannastvaṁ mune jñānavānbhṛśam

Vyasa said: 'O virtuous one, hearing your words a great doubt has arisen in me — how could a sage as deeply wise as you take on the form of a woman?'

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.6.27.54)

कथं च पुरुषो जातो ब्रूहि सर्वमशेषतः । कथं पुत्रास्त्वया जाताः कस्य राज्ञो गृहेऽञ्जसा

kathaṁ ca puruṣo jāto brūhi sarvamaśeṣataḥ | kathaṁ putrāstvayā jātāḥ kasya rājño gṛhe'ñjasā

'And how did you become a man again? Tell me all of it in full detail — in whose royal house exactly were sons born of you?'

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.6.27.55)

एतदाख्याहि चरितं मायाया महदद्भुतम् । मोहितं च यया सर्वमिदं स्थावरजङ्गमम्

etadākhyāhi caritaṁ māyāyā mahadadbhutam | mohitaṁ ca yayā sarvamidaṁ sthāvarajaṅgamam

'Relate to me this great and wondrous story of maya, by which this whole moving and unmoving creation is deluded.'

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.6.27.56)

न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामि शृण्वंस्तव कथामृतम् । सर्वग्रन्थार्थतत्त्वं च सर्वसंशयनाशनम्

na tṛptimadhigacchāmi śṛṇvaṁstava kathāmṛtam | sarvagranthārthatattvaṁ ca sarvasaṁśayanāśanam

'I find no satiety in hearing this nectar-like story of yours, which is the essence of the meaning of every scripture and destroys every doubt.'