Kripavati's Account

Verse 1 (markandeya.112.1)

तस्मै दत्त्वा ततः शापं नलं क्रुद्धोऽब्रवीद्द्विज । प्रमतिर्भार्गवः कोपात्त्रैलोक्यं निर्दहन्निव ॥ 112.1 ॥

tasmai dattvā tataḥ śāpaṁ nalaṁ kruddho'bravīddvija pramatirbhārgavaḥ kopāttrailokyaṁ nirdahanniva

Having pronounced that curse upon him (Sudeva), O brahmin, Pramati, the descendant of Bhrigu, then, enraged, as though burning the three worlds with his fury, said to Nala—

Verse 2 (markandeya.112.2)

मदोन्मत्तो यतो भार्यां भवानत्र ममाश्रमे । बलाद्गृह्णाति भस्मत्वं तस्माद्व्रजतु मा चिरम् ॥ 112.2 ॥

madonmatto yato bhāryāṁ bhavānatra mamāśrame balādgṛhṇāti bhasmatvaṁ tasmādvrajatu mā ciram

"Since you, maddened with intoxication, forcibly seize my wife here in my own hermitage — therefore, become ashes at once, without delay!"

Verse 3 (markandeya.112.3)

तेनोदाहृतमात्रे च वाक्ये तस्मिंस्तदा नलः । देहजेनाग्निना सद्यो भस्मपुञ्जस्तदाऽभवत् ॥ 112.3 ॥

tenodāhṛtamātre ca vākye tasmiṁstadā nalaḥ dehajenāgninā sadyo bhasmapuñjastadā'bhavat

The very instant those words were spoken by him, Nala instantly became a heap of ashes, through a fire born of his own body.

Verse 4 (markandeya.112.4)

दृष्ट्वा प्रभावं तं तस्य सुदेवो विमदस्ततः । प्रणामनम्रः प्राहेदं क्षम्यतां क्षम्यतामिति ॥ 112.4 ॥

dṛṣṭvā prabhāvaṁ taṁ tasya sudevo vimadastataḥ praṇāmanamraḥ prāhedaṁ kṣamyatāṁ kṣamyatāmiti

Beholding that power of his, Sudeva's intoxication left him at once; bowing low in obeisance, he said, "Forgive me, forgive me!

Verse 5 (markandeya.112.5)

यदुक्तवांस्त्वां भगवन्सुरापानमदाकुलम् । तत्क्षम्यतां प्रसीद त्वं शापोऽयं विनिवर्त्यताम् ॥ 112.5 ॥

yaduktavāṁstvāṁ bhagavansurāpānamadākulam tatkṣamyatāṁ prasīda tvaṁ śāpo'yaṁ vinivartyatām

Whatever I said to you, revered one, confused by the intoxication of drink — let that be forgiven; be gracious, let this curse be withdrawn."

Verse 6 (markandeya.112.6)

एवं प्रसादितस्तेन प्रमतिः प्राह भार्गवः । गतकोपो नले दग्धे नावनीतेन चेतसा ॥ 112.6 ॥

evaṁ prasāditastena pramatiḥ prāha bhārgavaḥ gatakopo nale dagdhe nāvanītena cetasā

Thus propitiated by him, Pramati the Bhargava spoke, his anger now spent — for Nala had been burnt — his heart no longer hardened:

Verse 7 (markandeya.112.7)

नान्यथा भावि तद्वाक्यं यन्मया समुदीरितम् । तथापि ते करिष्यामि प्रसन्नोऽनुग्रहं परम् ॥ 112.7 ॥

nānyathā bhāvi tadvākyaṁ yanmayā samudīritam tathāpi te kariṣyāmi prasanno'nugrahaṁ param

"The word that has already been spoken by me shall not turn out otherwise; nevertheless, being now gracious, I shall grant you one further favor.

Verse 8 (markandeya.112.8)

भविता वैश्यजातीयो भवान्नास्त्यत्र संशयः । भविता क्षत्रियो वैश्यस्तस्मिन्नेवाशु जन्मनि ॥ 112.8 ॥

bhavitā vaiśyajātīyo bhavānnāstyatra saṁśayaḥ bhavitā kṣatriyo vaiśyastasminnevāśu janmani

You shall become one of vaishya class — of this there is no doubt; yet in that very birth you shall be a kshatriya-born vaishya.

Verse 9 (markandeya.112.9)

ग्रहीष्यति बलात्कन्यां यदा ते क्षत्रसम्भवः । तदा त्वं क्षत्रियो वैश्यः स्वगृहीतो भविष्यसि ॥ 112.9 ॥

grahīṣyati balātkanyāṁ yadā te kṣatrasambhavaḥ tadā tvaṁ kṣatriyo vaiśyaḥ svagṛhīto bhaviṣyasi

When one sprung from kshatriyas shall forcibly take your daughter, then you, a kshatriya turned vaishya, shall be restored to your own true state."

Verse 10 (markandeya.112.10)

एवं स वैश्यो भूपाल सुदेवोऽस्मत्पिताभवत् । अहं च या महाभाग तत्सर्वं श्रूयतां त्वया ॥ 112.10 ॥

evaṁ sa vaiśyo bhūpāla sudevo'smatpitābhavat ahaṁ ca yā mahābhāga tatsarvaṁ śrūyatāṁ tvayā

Thus, O king, that Sudeva, becoming a vaishya, became our father; and as for who I am, O illustrious one, hear all of that from me as well.

Verse 11 (markandeya.112.11)

सुरतो नाम राजर्षिः प्रागासीद्गन्धमादने । तपस्वी नियताहारस्त्यक्तसङ्गो वनाश्रयः ॥ 112.11 ॥

surato nāma rājarṣiḥ prāgāsīdgandhamādane tapasvī niyatāhārastyaktasaṅgo vanāśrayaḥ

In former times there was, on Mount Gandhamadana, a royal sage named Surata — an ascetic of controlled diet, free of all attachment, dwelling in the forest.

Verse 12 (markandeya.112.12)

ततः श्येनमुखभ्रष्टां दृष्ट्वैकां शारिकां भुवि । कृपाऽभूज्जनिता मूर्च्छा तथा तस्य महात्मनः ॥ 112.12 ॥

tataḥ śyenamukhabhraṣṭāṁ dṛṣṭvaikāṁ śārikāṁ bhuvi kṛpā'bhūjjanitā mūrcchā tathā tasya mahātmanaḥ

Then, seeing a female starling fallen from a hawk's beak onto the ground, compassion arose in that great soul, and he fell into a swoon.

Verse 13 (markandeya.112.13)

ततो मूर्च्छावसानेऽहं तस्योत्पन्ना शरीरतः । स मां दृष्ट्वा च जग्राह स्निह्यमानेन चेतसा ॥ 112.13 ॥

tato mūrcchāvasāne'haṁ tasyotpannā śarīrataḥ sa māṁ dṛṣṭvā ca jagrāha snihyamānena cetasā

At the end of that swoon, I was born from his own body; seeing me, he took me up with a heart full of tenderness.

Verse 14 (markandeya.112.14)

यस्मात्कृपाभिभूतस्य मम जातेयमात्मजा । तस्मात्कृपावती नाम्ना भविष्यत्याह स प्रभो ॥ 112.14 ॥

yasmātkṛpābhibhūtasya mama jāteyamātmajā tasmātkṛpāvatī nāmnā bhaviṣyatyāha sa prabho

"Since this daughter of mine was born from me while I was overcome by compassion (kripā), she shall be known by the name Kripavati" — so said that lord, O illustrious one.

Verse 15 (markandeya.112.15)

ततोऽहमाश्रमे तस्य वर्धमाना दिवानिशम् । सखीभिः सह तुल्याभिर्विचरामि वनानि च ॥ 112.15 ॥

tato'hamāśrame tasya vardhamānā divāniśam sakhībhiḥ saha tulyābhirvicarāmi vanāni ca

Then I grew up in his hermitage, day and night, and would wander the forests together with companions equal to myself.

Verse 16 (markandeya.112.16)

ततो मुनेरगस्त्यस्य भ्रातागस्त्य इति श्रुतः । स चिन्वन्कानने वन्यं सखीभिः कोपितोऽशपत् ॥ 112.16 ॥

tato muneragastyasya bhrātāgastya iti śrutaḥ sa cinvankānane vanyaṁ sakhībhiḥ kopito'śapat

Then, the brother of the sage Agastya — himself known by that same name, Agastya — while gathering forest produce in the woods, being provoked by my companions, cursed me:

Verse 17 (markandeya.112.17)

यस्मान्मां वैश्य इत्याह भवती तेन ते शपे । वैश्या भविष्यसीत्युक्ते प्रसाद्योक्तो मया मुनिः । । नापराधं कृतवती तवाहं द्विजसत्तम । अन्यासामपराधेन किमर्थं शप्तवानसि ॥ 112.17 ॥

yasmānmāṁ vaiśya ityāha bhavatī tena te śape vaiśyā bhaviṣyasītyukte prasādyokto mayā muniḥ | nāparādhaṁ kṛtavatī tavāhaṁ dvijasattama anyāsāmaparādhena kimarthaṁ śaptavānasi

"Since you have called me a vaishya, I curse you for it: you shall become a vaishya woman!" Thus addressed, I said to that sage, seeking to propitiate him, "O best of the twice-born, I have done you no wrong — why have you cursed me for the fault of others?"

Verse 18 (markandeya.112.18)

ऋषिरुवाच दुष्टतां दुष्टसंसर्गाददुष्टमपि गच्छति । सुराबिन्दुनिपातेन पञ्चगव्यघटो यथा ॥ 112.18 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca duṣṭatāṁ duṣṭasaṁsargādaduṣṭamapi gacchati surābindunipātena pañcagavyaghaṭo yathā

The sage said: "Through association with the wicked, even one who is not wicked comes to acquire wickedness — just as a jar of the five products of the cow becomes impure through the fall of a single drop of liquor.

Verse 19 (markandeya.112.19)

प्रणिपत्य ह्यनिष्टोऽपि यत्त्वयाहं प्रसादितः । तस्मादनुग्रहं बाले शृणुष्व च करोम्यहम् ॥ 112.19 ॥

praṇipatya hyaniṣṭo'pi yattvayāhaṁ prasāditaḥ tasmādanugrahaṁ bāle śṛṇuṣva ca karomyaham

Yet since, by prostrating yourself, though I was unwilling, you have propitiated me — therefore, child, hear the favor I now grant you.

Verse 20 (markandeya.112.20)

वैश्ययोनौ यदा जाता त्वं पुत्रं बोधयिष्यसि । राज्याय जातिस्मरतां तदा त्वं समवाप्स्यसि ॥ 112.20 ॥

vaiśyayonau yadā jātā tvaṁ putraṁ bodhayiṣyasi rājyāya jātismaratāṁ tadā tvaṁ samavāpsyasi

When, having been born in a vaishya womb, you shall awaken your son to the memory of his past birth for the sake of the kingdom, then you yourself shall attain that same remembrance.

Verse 21 (markandeya.112.21)

ततो भूयः क्षत्रजातिं प्राप्ता त्वं पतिना सह । दिव्यानवाप्स्यसे भोगान्गच्छ भीतिरपैतु ते ॥ 112.21 ॥

tato bhūyaḥ kṣatrajātiṁ prāptā tvaṁ patinā saha divyānavāpsyase bhogāngaccha bhītirapaitu te

Thereafter, having attained the kshatriya state once more together with your husband, you shall obtain heavenly enjoyments; go now, let your fear depart."

Verse 22 (markandeya.112.22)

एवं शप्तास्मि राजेन्द्र तेन पूर्वं महर्षिणा । पिता च मे पूर्वमेवं शप्तः प्रमतिनाऽभवत् ॥ 112.22 ॥

evaṁ śaptāsmi rājendra tena pūrvaṁ maharṣiṇā pitā ca me pūrvamevaṁ śaptaḥ pramatinā'bhavat

Thus, O lord of kings, was I formerly cursed by that great sage; and my father too was, before that, cursed in just this way by Pramati.

Verse 23 (markandeya.112.23)

एवं वैश्यो न राजंस्त्वं न च वैश्यः पिता मम । न त्वं हि मय्यदुष्टायामदुष्टो दुष्यसे कथम् ॥ 112.23 ॥

evaṁ vaiśyo na rājaṁstvaṁ na ca vaiśyaḥ pitā mama na tvaṁ hi mayyaduṣṭāyāmaduṣṭo duṣyase katham

So, O king, neither are you a vaishya, nor was my father a vaishya; and since I myself am untainted, how can you, who are not at fault, be tainted through me?"