The Story of Avikshit (IV): The Wish-Granting Vow

Verse 1 (markandeya.122.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच अथ साऽविक्षितो माता वीरा वीर प्रजावती । पुण्येऽहनि समाहूय प्राह पुत्रमविक्षितम् ॥ 122.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca atha sā ’vikṣito mātā vīrā vīra prajāvatī puṇye ’hani samāhūya prāha putramavikṣitam

Markandeya said: Then Avikshit's mother, Vira, mother of heroes, on an auspicious day, summoning her son Avikshit, spoke to him.

Verse 2 (markandeya.122.2)

पुत्राहमभ्यनुज्ञाता तव पित्रा महात्मना । उपवासं करिष्यामि दुष्करोऽयं किमिच्छकः ॥ 122.2 ॥

putrāhamabhyanujñātā tava pitrā mahātmanā upavāsaṁ kariṣyāmi duṣkaro ’yaṁ kimicchakaḥ

"My son, having received the permission of your great-souled father, I shall observe a fast — this 'kimicchaka' vow, difficult to accomplish."

Verse 3 (markandeya.122.3)

स चायत्तस्तव पितुस्त्वया साध्यो मयापि च । प्रतिज्ञाते त्वया पुत्र ततस्तत्र यताम्यहम् ॥ 122.3 ॥

sa cāyattastava pitustvayā sādhyo mayāpi ca pratijñāte tvayā putra tatastatra yatāmyaham

"That vow depends on your father, and is to be accomplished by you and by me as well; my son, if you make the vow, then I shall proceed with it."

Verse 4 (markandeya.122.4)

द्रव्यस्यार्द्धं महाकोशात्तव दास्याम्यहं पितुः । धनं ते पितुरायत्तमनुज्ञाताऽस्मि तेन च ॥ 122.4 ॥

dravyasyārddhaṁ mahākośāttava dāsyāmyahaṁ pituḥ dhanaṁ te piturāyattamanujñātā ’smi tena ca

"I shall give you half the wealth of your father's great treasury; that wealth is dependent on your father, and I have his permission for it."

Verse 5 (markandeya.122.5)

क्लेशसाध्यो मदायत्तः स हि श्रेयो भविष्यति । साध्यो भवेद्वा यदि ते कश्चिद्बलपराक्रमैः ॥ 122.5 ॥

kleśasādhyo madāyattaḥ sa hi śreyo bhaviṣyati sādhyo bhavedvā yadi te kaścidbalaparākramaiḥ

"That which is accomplished with difficulty and is dependent on me shall indeed be for your good; or if something could be accomplished by your own strength and valor —"

Verse 6 (markandeya.122.6)

स तेऽसाध्यो ह्यन्यथा वा दुःखसाध्यो भविष्यति । तत्त्वं प्रतिज्ञां कुरुषे यदि पुत्रात्र चैव ते । तदैतदहमावाप्स्ये कथ्यतां यन्मतं तव ॥ 122.6 ॥

sa te ’sādhyo hyanyathā vā duḥkhasādhyo bhaviṣyati tattvaṁ pratijñāṁ kuruṣe yadi putrātra caiva te tadaitadahamāvāpsye kathyatāṁ yanmataṁ tava

"— that would be either beyond your power, or accomplished only through sorrow; therefore, my son, if you now make this vow, I shall obtain this wish of mine — tell me your intent."

Verse 7 (markandeya.122.7)

अविक्षिदुवाच वित्तं मे पितुरायत्तं मत्स्वामित्वं न तत्र वै । यन्मच्छरीरनिष्पाद्यं तत्करिष्ये त्वयोदितम् ॥ 122.7 ॥

avikṣiduvāca vittaṁ me piturāyattaṁ matsvāmitvaṁ na tatra vai yanmaccharīraniṣpādyaṁ tatkariṣye tvayoditam

Avikshit said: "The wealth is dependent on my father — over it I have no ownership; but whatever is to be accomplished by my own body, that I shall do, as you have said."

Verse 8 (markandeya.122.8)

किमिच्छकं व्रतं मातर्निश्चिन्ता भव निर्व्यथा । राज्ञा पित्राऽभ्यनुज्ञातं यदि वित्तेश्वरेण मे ॥ 122.8 ॥

kimicchakaṁ vrataṁ mātarniścintā bhava nirvyathā rājñā pitrā ’bhyanujñātaṁ yadi vitteśvareṇa me

"As for the fulfillment of the vow, mother, be free of anxiety and untroubled — provided the king my father, and the lord of wealth, grant their consent."

Verse 9 (markandeya.122.9)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः सा राजमहिषी तद्व्रतं समुपोषिता । यथोक्तं साऽकरोत्पूजां राजराजस्य संयता ॥ 122.9 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ sā rājamahiṣī tadvrataṁ samupoṣitā yathoktaṁ sā ’karotpūjāṁ rājarājasya saṁyatā

Markandeya said: Then that queen, having undertaken the fast for that vow, self-controlled, performed the worship, as prescribed, of the King of Kings.

Verse 10 (markandeya.122.10)

निधीनामप्यशेषाणां निधिपालगणस्य च । लक्ष्म्याश्च परया भक्त्या यतवाक्कायमानसा ॥ 122.10 ॥

nidhīnāmapyaśeṣāṇāṁ nidhipālagaṇasya ca lakṣmyāśca parayā bhaktyā yatavākkāyamānasā

With supreme devotion, her speech, body, and mind restrained, she worshipped also all the treasures entire, the host of treasure-guardians, and Lakshmi.

Verse 11 (markandeya.122.11)

विविक्ते तु गृहस्थोऽयमथ राजा करन्धमः । आसीन उक्तः सचिवैर्नीतिशास्त्रविशारदैः ॥ 122.11 ॥

vivikte tu gṛhastho ’yamatha rājā karandhamaḥ āsīna uktaḥ sacivairnītiśāstraviśāradaiḥ

Meanwhile King Karandhama, seated privately at home, was addressed by his ministers, skilled in the science of statecraft.

Verse 12 (markandeya.122.12)

सचिवा ऊचुः राजन्वयः परिणतं तवैतच्छासतो महीम् । एकस्ते तनयोऽविक्षित्त्यक्तदारपरिग्रहः ॥ 122.12 ॥

sacivā ūcuḥ rājanvayaḥ pariṇataṁ tavaitacchāsato mahīm ekaste tanayo ’vikṣittyaktadāraparigrahaḥ

The ministers said: "O king, your age has advanced in ruling this earth; your only son Avikshit has renounced the taking of a wife."

Verse 13 (markandeya.122.13)

अपुत्रः स च ते निष्ठां यदा भूप गमिष्यति । तदारिपक्षं पृथिवी निश्चितं तव यास्यति ॥ 122.13 ॥

aputraḥ sa ca te niṣṭhāṁ yadā bhūpa gamiṣyati tadāripakṣaṁ pṛthivī niścitaṁ tava yāsyati

"And he is sonless; when he, O king, reaches his end, the earth shall surely pass over to the side of your enemies."

Verse 14 (markandeya.122.14)

वंशक्षयस्ते भविता पितृपिण्डोदकक्षयः । एतन्महत्तेऽरिभयं क्रियाहान्या भविष्यति ॥ 122.14 ॥

vaṁśakṣayaste bhavitā pitṛpiṇḍodakakṣayaḥ etanmahatte ’ribhayaṁ kriyāhānyā bhaviṣyati

"Your lineage shall come to extinction, the offerings of rice-balls and water to the ancestors shall cease; this is great danger from enemies for you, and it shall bring a lapse of the sacred rites."

Verse 15 (markandeya.122.15)

तस्मात्कुरु तथा भूप यथा ते तनयः पुनः । करोति सततं बुद्धिं पितॄणामुपकारिणीम् ॥ 122.15 ॥

tasmātkuru tathā bhūpa yathā te tanayaḥ punaḥ karoti satataṁ buddhiṁ pitṝṇāmupakāriṇīm

"Therefore, O king, act in such a way that your son may again form the resolve that benefits the ancestors."

Verse 16 (markandeya.122.16)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शब्दं शुश्राव जगतीपतिः । पुरोहितस्य वीराया गदतो ह्यर्थिनं प्रति ॥ 122.16 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca etasminnantare śabdaṁ śuśrāva jagatīpatiḥ purohitasya vīrāyā gadato hyarthinaṁ prati

Markandeya said: Meanwhile the lord of the earth heard the sound of the household priest speaking to a petitioner concerning Vira.

Verse 17 (markandeya.122.17)

कः किमिच्छति दुःसाध्यं कस्य किं साध्यतामिति । करन्धमस्य महिषी किमिच्छिकमुपोषिता ॥ 122.17 ॥

kaḥ kimicchati duḥsādhyaṁ kasya kiṁ sādhyatāmiti karandhamasya mahiṣī kimicchikamupoṣitā

"'Who desires what that is hard to accomplish? Whose wish is to be fulfilled, and what?' — Karandhama's queen has undertaken the fast of the kimicchaka vow."

Verse 18 (markandeya.122.18)

राजपुत्रोऽप्यविक्षित्तु श्रुत्वा पौरोहितं वचः । प्रत्युवाचार्थिनः सर्वान्राजद्वारमुपागतान् ॥ 122.18 ॥

rājaputro ’pyavikṣittu śrutvā paurohitaṁ vacaḥ pratyuvācārthinaḥ sarvānrājadvāramupāgatān

Prince Avikshit too, having heard the priest's words, replied to all the petitioners who had gathered at the palace gate.

Verse 19 (markandeya.122.19)

मया साध्यं शरीरेण यस्य किञ्जिद्ब्रवीतु सः । मम माता महाभागा किमिच्छिकमुपोषिता ॥ 122.19 ॥

mayā sādhyaṁ śarīreṇa yasya kiñjidbravītu saḥ mama mātā mahābhāgā kimicchikamupoṣitā

"Whatever is to be accomplished by me with my own body, let him who has some such wish speak it; my most fortunate mother has undertaken the fast of the kimicchaka vow."

Verse 20 (markandeya.122.20)

शृण्वन्तु मेऽर्थिनः सर्वे प्रतिज्ञातं मया तदा । किमिच्छथ ददाम्येष क्रियमाणो किमिच्छिके ॥ 122.20 ॥

śṛṇvantu me ’rthinaḥ sarve pratijñātaṁ mayā tadā kimicchatha dadāmyeṣa kriyamāṇo kimicchike

"Let all the petitioners hear what I now vow: whatever you desire, I shall give — this is being done as the kimicchaka rite."

Verse 21 (markandeya.122.21)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततो राजा निशम्यैतद्वाक्यं पुत्रमुखाच्छ्रुतम् । समुत्पत्याब्रवीत्पुत्रमहमर्थी प्रयच्छ मे ॥ 122.21 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tato rājā niśamyaitadvākyaṁ putramukhācchrutam samutpatyābravītputramahamarthī prayaccha me

Markandeya said: Then the king, having heard this speech from his son's own mouth, rose up at once and said: "My son, I am a petitioner too — grant me my wish."

Verse 22 (markandeya.122.22)

अविक्षिदुवाच दातव्यं यन्मया तात भवते तद्ब्रवीहि माम् । कर्तव्यं दुष्करं वा ते साध्यं दुःसाध्यमेव वा ॥ 122.22 ॥

avikṣiduvāca dātavyaṁ yanmayā tāta bhavate tadbravīhi mām kartavyaṁ duṣkaraṁ vā te sādhyaṁ duḥsādhyameva vā

Avikshit said: "Whatever is to be given by me, father, tell me that; whatever is to be done, however difficult, whether easy or hard to accomplish."

Verse 23 (markandeya.122.23)

राजोवाच यदि सत्यप्रतिज्ञस्त्वं ददासि च किमिच्छकम् । पौत्रस्य दर्शय मुखं ममोत्सङ्गगतस्य तत् ॥ 122.23 ॥

rājovāca yadi satyapratijñastvaṁ dadāsi ca kimicchakam pautrasya darśaya mukhaṁ mamotsaṅgagatasya tat

The king said: "If you are true to your vow and give whatever is wished for — then show me the face of a grandson, seated upon my own lap."

Verse 24 (markandeya.122.24)

अविक्षिदुवाच अहं तवैकस्तनयो ब्रह्मचर्यं च मे नृप । न मे पुत्रोऽस्ति पौत्रस्य दर्शयामि कथं मुखम् ॥ 122.24 ॥

avikṣiduvāca ahaṁ tavaikastanayo brahmacaryaṁ ca me nṛpa na me putro ’sti pautrasya darśayāmi kathaṁ mukham

Avikshit said: "I am your only son, O king, and I observe celibacy; I have no son — how then shall I show you the face of a grandson?"

Verse 25 (markandeya.122.25)

राजोवाच पापाय ब्रह्मचर्यं ते यदिदं धार्यते त्वया । तस्मात्त्वं मोचयात्मानं मम पौत्रं च दर्शय ॥ 122.25 ॥

rājovāca pāpāya brahmacaryaṁ te yadidaṁ dhāryate tvayā tasmāttvaṁ mocayātmānaṁ mama pautraṁ ca darśaya

The king said: "This celibacy of yours, which you now maintain, leads toward sin; therefore free yourself from it, and show me my grandson."

Verse 26 (markandeya.122.26)

अविक्षिदुवाच विषमं स्यान्महाराज यदन्यत्तत्समादिश । वैराग्येण मया त्यक्तः स्त्रीसंभोगस्तथास्तु सः ॥ 122.26 ॥

avikṣiduvāca viṣamaṁ syānmahārāja yadanyattatsamādiśa vairāgyeṇa mayā tyaktaḥ strīsaṁbhogastathāstu saḥ

Avikshit said: "That would be difficult, great king; command me some other thing instead. Through renunciation I have given up the enjoyment of women — let that stand as it is."

Verse 27 (markandeya.122.27)

राजोवाच बहुभिर्युध्यमानानां दृष्टो वै वैरिणां जयः । तत्रापि यदि वैराग्यमुपैषि तदपण्डितः ॥ 122.27 ॥

rājovāca bahubhiryudhyamānānāṁ dṛṣṭo vai vairiṇāṁ jayaḥ tatrāpi yadi vairāgyamupaiṣi tadapaṇḍitaḥ

The king said: "Victory over enemies is indeed seen even by those fighting against many; if even there you take up renunciation, then you are unwise."

Verse 28 (markandeya.122.28)

किं वा नो बहुनोक्तेन ब्रह्मचर्यं परित्यज । मातुस्त्वमिच्छया वक्त्र पौत्रस्य मम दर्शय ॥ 122.28 ॥

kiṁ vā no bahunoktena brahmacaryaṁ parityaja mātustvamicchayā vaktra pautrasya mama darśaya

"What use is much speech to us? Give up your celibacy. By your mother's wish too, show me the face of my grandson."

Verse 29 (markandeya.122.29)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच यदा स बहुशस्तेन प्रोक्तः पुत्रेण पार्थिवः । नान्यत्प्रार्थयते किंचित्तदा पुत्रोऽब्रवीत्पुनः ॥ 122.29 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca yadā sa bahuśastena proktaḥ putreṇa pārthivaḥ nānyatprārthayate kiṁcittadā putro ’bravītpunaḥ

Markandeya said: When that king, thus repeatedly addressed by his son, would ask for nothing else, then the son spoke again.

Verse 30 (markandeya.122.30)

दत्त्वा किमिच्छकं तुभ्यं प्राप्तोऽहं तात सङ्कटम् । तत्करिष्यामि निर्लज्जो भूयो दारपरिग्रहम् ॥ 122.30 ॥

dattvā kimicchakaṁ tubhyaṁ prāpto ’haṁ tāta saṅkaṭam tatkariṣyāmi nirlajjo bhūyo dāraparigraham

"Having given you this kimicchaka boon, father, I have fallen into difficulty; shameless as it is, I shall once more take up the acceptance of a wife."

Verse 31 (markandeya.122.31)

स्त्रियाः समक्षं विजितः पतितो धरणीतले । स्त्रीपतिर्भविता भूयस्तातैतदतिदुष्करम् ॥ 122.31 ॥

striyāḥ samakṣaṁ vijitaḥ patito dharaṇītale strīpatirbhavitā bhūyastātaitadatiduṣkaram

"Having been defeated and thrown to the ground in the presence of a woman, to become the husband of that woman once again — father, this is exceedingly hard."

Verse 32 (markandeya.122.32)

तथापि किं करोम्येष सत्यपाशवशङ्गतः । करिष्यामि यथाऽऽत्थ त्वं भुज्यतां निजशासनम् ॥ 122.32 ॥

tathāpi kiṁ karomyeṣa satyapāśavaśaṅgataḥ kariṣyāmi yathā ’ ’ttha tvaṁ bhujyatāṁ nijaśāsanam

"Yet even so, what shall I do, bound as I am by the noose of truthfulness? I shall do as you say — let your own command be fulfilled."