Svarochi and the Deer-Maiden

Verse 1 (markandeya.66.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवं निरस्यमानास्ता हरिणेन मृगाङ्गनाः । श्रुत्वा स्वरोचिरात्मानं मेने स पतितं यथा ॥ 66.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca evaṁ nirasyamānāstā hariṇena mṛgāṅganāḥ śrutvā svarocirātmānaṁ mene sa patitaṁ yathā

Markandeya said: When the deer-maidens had thus been spurned by the deer, Svarochi, hearing of it, felt as though he himself had fallen.

Verse 2 (markandeya.66.2)

त्यागे चकार च मनः स तासां मुनिसत्तम । चक्रवाकीमृगप्रोक्तो मृगचर्याजुगुप्सितः ॥ 66.2 ॥

tyāge cakāra ca manaḥ sa tāsāṁ munisattama cakravākīmṛgaprokto mṛgacaryājugupsitaḥ

O best of sages, told of it by the doe Chakravaki, he grew disgusted with the ways of deer-life, and his mind turned toward giving them up.

Verse 3 (markandeya.66.3)

समेत्य ताभिर्भूयश्च वर्द्धमानमनोभवः । आक्षिप्तनिर्वेदकथो रेमे वर्षशतानि षट् ॥ 66.3 ॥

sametya tābhirbhūyaśca varddhamānamanobhavaḥ ākṣiptanirvedakatho reme varṣaśatāni ṣaṭ

Yet, coming together with them again as desire grew within him, thrusting aside his talk of renunciation, he continued to sport with them for six hundred years.

Verse 4 (markandeya.66.4)

किन्तु धर्माविरोधेन कुर्वन्धर्माश्रिताः क्रियाः । भुङ्क्ते स्वरोचिर्विषयान्सह ताभिरुदारधीः ॥ 66.4 ॥

kintu dharmāvirodhena kurvandharmāśritāḥ kriyāḥ bhuṅkte svarocirviṣayānsaha tābhirudāradhīḥ

Yet Svarochi, of noble understanding, enjoyed those pleasures with them without transgressing dharma, performing only such acts as remained grounded in righteousness.

Verse 5 (markandeya.66.5)

ततश्च जज्ञिरे तस्य त्रयः पुत्राः स्वरोचिषः । विजयो मेरुनन्दश्च प्रभावश्च महाबलः ॥ 66.5 ॥

tataśca jajñire tasya trayaḥ putrāḥ svarociṣaḥ vijayo merunandaśca prabhāvaśca mahābalaḥ

Thereafter, three sons were born to Svarochi: Vijaya, Merunanda, and the mighty Prabhava.

Verse 6 (markandeya.66.6)

मनोरमा च विजयं प्रासूतेन्दीवरात्मजा । विभावरी मेरुनन्दं प्रभावं च कलावती ॥ 66.6 ॥

manoramā ca vijayaṁ prāsūtendīvarātmajā vibhāvarī merunandaṁ prabhāvaṁ ca kalāvatī

Manorama, daughter of Indivara, bore Vijaya; Vibhavari bore Merunanda; and Kalavati bore Prabhava.

Verse 7 (markandeya.66.7)

पद्मिनी नाम या विद्या सर्वभोगोपपादिका । स तेषां तत्प्रभावेण पिता चक्रे पुरत्रयम् ॥ 66.7 ॥

padminī nāma yā vidyā sarvabhogopapādikā sa teṣāṁ tatprabhāveṇa pitā cakre puratrayam

By the power of the wisdom named Padmini, which grants every enjoyment, their father built three cities for them.

Verse 8 (markandeya.66.8)

प्राच्यां तु विजयं नाम कामरूपे नगोत्तमे । विजयाय सुतायादौ स ददौ पुरमुत्तमम् ॥ 66.8 ॥

prācyāṁ tu vijayaṁ nāma kāmarūpe nagottame vijayāya sutāyādau sa dadau puramuttamam

In the east, in the excellent land of Kamarupa, he gave his son Vijaya, first among them, a supreme city named Vijaya.

Verse 9 (markandeya.66.9)

उदीच्यां मेरुनन्दस्य पुरीं नन्दवतीमिति । ख्यातां चकार प्रोत्तुङ्गवप्रप्राकारमालिनीम् ॥ 66.9 ॥

udīcyāṁ merunandasya purīṁ nandavatīmiti khyātāṁ cakāra prottuṅgavapraprākāramālinīm

In the north, for Merunanda, he built the famed city called Nandavati, garlanded with lofty ramparts and walls.

Verse 10 (markandeya.66.10)

कलावतीसुतस्यापि प्रभावस्य निवेशितम् । पुरं तालमिति ख्यातं दक्षिणापथमाश्रितम् ॥ 66.10 ॥

kalāvatīsutasyāpi prabhāvasya niveśitam puraṁ tālamiti khyātaṁ dakṣiṇāpathamāśritam

For Prabhava, the son of Kalavati too, he established the renowned city called Tala, situated in the southern region.

Verse 11 (markandeya.66.11)

एवं निवेश्य पुत्रान्स पुरेषु पुरुषर्षभ । रेमे ताभिः समं विप्र मनोज्ञास्वद्रिभूमिषु ॥ 66.11 ॥

evaṁ niveśya putrānsa pureṣu puruṣarṣabha reme tābhiḥ samaṁ vipra manojñāsvadribhūmiṣu

Thus, O best of men, having established his sons in their cities, he, O brahmana, continued to dwell happily with those wives in the delightful mountain lands.

Verse 12 (markandeya.66.12)

एकदा तु गतोऽरण्ये विहरन्स धनुर्द्धरः । चकर्ष धनुरालोक्य वराहमतिदूरगम् ॥ 66.12 ॥

ekadā tu gato’raṇye viharansa dhanurddharaḥ cakarṣa dhanurālokya varāhamatidūragam

One day, roaming the forest bow in hand, he drew his bow upon sighting a boar fleeing far into the distance.

Verse 13 (markandeya.66.13)

अथाह काचिदभ्येत्य तं तदा हरिणाङ्गना । मय्येव पात्यतां बाणः प्रसीदेति पुनः पुनः ॥ 66.13 ॥

athāha kācidabhyetya taṁ tadā hariṇāṅganā mayyeva pātyatāṁ bāṇaḥ prasīdeti punaḥ punaḥ

Then a certain deer-eyed woman approached and said to him, "Let the arrow fall upon me instead — have mercy," again and again she begged this of him.

Verse 14 (markandeya.66.14)

किमनेन हतेनाद्य मामाशु विनिपातय । त्वया निपातितो बाणो दुःखान्मां मोक्षयिष्यति ॥ 66.14 ॥

kimanena hatenādya māmāśu vinipātaya tvayā nipātito bāṇo duḥkhānmāṁ mokṣayiṣyati

"What is to be gained today by killing this boar? Strike me down at once instead — the arrow you loose will free me from my sorrow."

Verse 15 (markandeya.66.15)

स्वरोचिरुवाच न ते शरीरं सरुजमस्माभिरुपलक्ष्यते । किन्नु तत्कारणं येन त्वं प्राणान्हातुमिच्छसि ॥ 66.15 ॥

svarociruvāca na te śarīraṁ sarujamasmābhirupalakṣyate kinnu tatkāraṇaṁ yena tvaṁ prāṇānhātumicchasi

Svarochi said: We see no illness in your body — what, then, is the reason you wish to give up your life?

Verse 16 (markandeya.66.16)

मृग्युवाच अन्यास्वासक्तहृदये यस्मिंश्चेतः कृतास्पदम् । मम तेन विना मृत्युरौषधं किमिहापरम् ॥ 66.16 ॥

mṛgyuvāca anyāsvāsaktahṛdaye yasmiṁścetaḥ kṛtāspadam mama tena vinā mṛtyurauṣadhaṁ kimihāparam

The deer-woman said: He in whom my heart has taken root is attached to another; without him, what remedy is there for me but death?

Verse 17 (markandeya.66.17)

स्वरोचिरुवाच कस्त्वां नाभिलषेद्भीरु सानुरागासि कुत्र वा । यदप्रात्तौ निजान्प्राणान्परित्यक्तुं व्यवस्यसि ॥ 66.17 ॥

svarociruvāca kastvāṁ nābhilaṣedbhīru sānurāgāsi kutra vā yadaprāttau nijānprāṇānparityaktuṁ vyavasyasi

Svarochi said: O timid one, who would not desire you? With whom are you in love, that failing to attain him you resolve to give up your very life?

Verse 18 (markandeya.66.18)

मृग्युवाच त्वामेवेच्छामि भद्रं ते त्वया मेऽपहृतं मनः । वृणोम्यहमतो मृत्युं मयि बाणो निपात्यताम् ॥ 66.18 ॥

mṛgyuvāca tvāmevecchāmi bhadraṁ te tvayā me’pahṛtaṁ manaḥ vṛṇomyahamato mṛtyuṁ mayi bāṇo nipātyatām

The deer-woman said: Blessings upon you — it is you alone whom I desire; you it is who have stolen my heart. Therefore I choose death: let the arrow fall upon me.

Verse 19 (markandeya.66.19)

स्वरोचिरुवाच त्वं मृगी चञ्चलापाङ्गी नररूपधरा वयम् । कथं त्वया समं योगो मद्विधस्य भविष्यति ॥ 66.19 ॥

svarociruvāca tvaṁ mṛgī cañcalāpāṅgī nararūpadharā vayam kathaṁ tvayā samaṁ yogo madvidhasya bhaviṣyati

Svarochi said: You are a deer with restless glancing eyes, while I bear the form of a man — how then could union with one such as me ever come to pass?

Verse 20 (markandeya.66.20)

मृग्युवाच यदि सापेक्षितं चित्तं मयि ते मां परिष्वज । यदि वाऽसाधु चित्तं ते करिष्यामि यथेप्सितम् ॥ 66.20 ॥

mṛgyuvāca yadi sāpekṣitaṁ cittaṁ mayi te māṁ pariṣvaja yadi vā’sādhu cittaṁ te kariṣyāmi yathepsitam

The deer-woman said: If your heart inclines toward me, then take me in your embrace; but if your mind judges this improper, I shall do whatever you wish.

Verse 21 (markandeya.66.21)

एतावताहं भवता भविष्याम्यतिमानिता । मार्कण्डेय उवाच आलिलिङ्ग ततस्तां स स्वरोचिर्हरिणाङ्गनाम् ॥ 66.21 ॥

etāvatāhaṁ bhavatā bhaviṣyāmyatimānitā mārkaṇḍeya uvāca āliliṅga tatastāṁ sa svarocirhariṇāṅganām

"By this much alone I shall consider myself greatly honored by you." Markandeya said: Then Svarochi embraced that deer-maiden.

Verse 22 (markandeya.66.22)

तेन चालिङ्गिता सद्यः साभूद्दिव्यवपुर्धरा । ततः सविस्मयाविष्टः का त्वमित्थभ्यभाषत ॥ 66.22 ॥

tena cāliṅgitā sadyaḥ sābhūddivyavapurdharā tataḥ savismayāviṣṭaḥ kā tvamitthabhyabhāṣata

The moment he embraced her, she instantly took on a divine form; astonished, he then asked her, "Who are you?"

Verse 23 (markandeya.66.23)

सा चास्मै कथयामास प्रेमलज्जाजडाक्षरम् । अहमम्यर्थिता देवैः काननस्यास्य देवता ॥ 66.23 ॥

sā cāsmai kathayāmāsa premalajjājaḍākṣaram ahamamyarthitā devaiḥ kānanasyāsya devatā

In a voice choked with love and shyness, she told him: "I have been entreated by the gods — I am the presiding goddess of this forest."

Verse 24 (markandeya.66.24)

उत्पादनीयो हि मनुस्त्वया मयि महामते । प्रीतिमत्यां मयि सुतं भूर्लोकपरिपालकम् ॥ 66.24 ॥

utpādanīyo hi manustvayā mayi mahāmate prītimatyāṁ mayi sutaṁ bhūrlokaparipālakam

"O wise one, a Manu is destined to be begotten by you in me — beget in me, who am devoted to you, that son who shall be the guardian of the earth."

Verse 25 (markandeya.66.25)

तमुत्पादय देवानां त्वामहं वचनाद्वदे । मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः स तस्यां तनयं सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम् ॥ 66.25 ॥

tamutpādaya devānāṁ tvāmahaṁ vacanādvade mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ sa tasyāṁ tanayaṁ sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam

"It is at the word of the gods that I speak thus to you — beget him." Markandeya said: Then he begot in her, at that very moment, a son endowed with every auspicious mark.

Verse 26 (markandeya.66.26)

तेजस्विनमिवात्मानं जनयामास तत्क्षणात् । जातमात्रस्य तस्याथ देववाद्यानि सस्वनुः । जगुर्गन्धर्वपतयो ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः ॥ 66.26 ॥

tejasvinamivātmānaṁ janayāmāsa tatkṣaṇāt jātamātrasya tasyātha devavādyāni sasvanuḥ jagurgandharvapatayo nanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ

He begot a son who seemed effulgence itself; the instant the child was born, the instruments of the gods resounded, the lords of the gandharvas sang, and troupes of apsaras danced.

Verse 27 (markandeya.66.27)

सिषिचुः शीकरैर्मेघा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः ॥ 66.27 ॥

siṣicuḥ śīkarairmeghā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ

Clouds sprinkled him with fine mist, and the sages rich in austerity did likewise.

Verse 28 (markandeya.66.28)

देवाश्च पुष्पवर्षं च मुमुचुश्च समन्ततः । तस्य तेजः समालोक्य नाम चक्रे पिता स्वयम् ॥ 66.28 ॥

devāśca puṣpavarṣaṁ ca mumucuśca samantataḥ tasya tejaḥ samālokya nāma cakre pitā svayam

The gods too rained down flowers on every side; and beholding his radiance, his father himself gave him a name.

Verse 29 (markandeya.66.29)

द्युतिमानिति येनास्य तेजसा भासिता दिशः । स बालो द्युतिमान्नाम महाबलपराक्रमः ॥ 66.29 ॥

dyutimāniti yenāsya tejasā bhāsitā diśaḥ sa bālo dyutimānnāma mahābalaparākramaḥ

He called him Dyutimant, since by his radiance the very quarters of the sky were lit up; and that boy of great strength and valor became famed by the name Dyutimant.

Verse 30 (markandeya.66.30)

स्वरोचिषः सुतो यस्मात्तस्मात्स्वारोचिषोऽभवत् । स चापि विचरन्रम्ये कदाचिद्गिरिनिर्झरे ॥ 66.30 ॥

svarociṣaḥ suto yasmāttasmātsvārociṣo’bhavat sa cāpi vicaranramye kadācidgirinirjhare

Since he was the son of Svarochi, he came to be called Svarochisha. He too, one day, was roaming about a beautiful mountain waterfall.

Verse 31 (markandeya.66.31)

स्वरोचिर्ददृशे हंसं निजपत्नीसमन्वितम् । उवाच स तदा हंसी साभिलाषां पुनः पुनः ॥ 66.31 ॥

svarocirdadṛśe haṁsaṁ nijapatnīsamanvitam uvāca sa tadā haṁsī sābhilāṣāṁ punaḥ punaḥ

There Svarochi beheld a swan together with his mate; and the female swan spoke to him then, again and again, in a tone of longing.

Verse 32 (markandeya.66.32)

उपसंह्रियतामात्मा चिरं ते क्रीडितं मया । किं सर्वकालं भोगैस्ते आसन्नं चरमं वयः ॥ 66.32 ॥

upasaṁhriyatāmātmā ciraṁ te krīḍitaṁ mayā kiṁ sarvakālaṁ bhogaiste āsannaṁ caramaṁ vayaḥ

"Now restrain yourself — long enough have you sported with me. Is there ever a time without end for pleasures? Your final age draws near even now."

Verse 33 (markandeya.66.33)

परित्यागस्य कालो मे तव चापि जलेचरि । हंस्युवाच अकालः को हि भोगानां सर्वं भोगात्मकं जगत् ॥ 66.33 ॥

parityāgasya kālo me tava cāpi jalecari haṁsyuvāca akālaḥ ko hi bhogānāṁ sarvaṁ bhogātmakaṁ jagat

"O dweller of the waters, the time for renunciation has come, for me as much as for you." The swan said: "What untimeliness can there be for enjoyments? This entire world itself is made of enjoyment."

Verse 34 (markandeya.66.34)

यज्ञाः क्रियन्ते भोगार्थं ब्राह्मणैः संयतात्मभिः । दृष्टादृष्टांस्तथा भोगान्वाञ्छमाना विवेकिनः ॥ 66.34 ॥

yajñāḥ kriyante bhogārthaṁ brāhmaṇaiḥ saṁyatātmabhiḥ dṛṣṭādṛṣṭāṁstathā bhogānvāñchamānā vivekinaḥ

Even self-controlled brahmanas perform sacrifices for the sake of enjoyment, and even discerning men, desiring pleasures seen and unseen, act accordingly.

Verse 35 (markandeya.66.35)

दानानि च प्रयच्छन्ति पूतान्धर्मांश्च कुर्वते । स त्वं नेच्छसि किं भोगान्भोगश्चेष्टफलं नृणाम् ॥ 66.35 ॥

dānāni ca prayacchanti pūtāndharmāṁśca kurvate sa tvaṁ necchasi kiṁ bhogānbhogaśceṣṭaphalaṁ nṛṇām

They give gifts and perform pure acts of dharma — why then do you alone not desire pleasures? Enjoyment, after all, is the very fruit of men's actions.

Verse 36 (markandeya.66.36)

विवेकिनां तिरश्चां च किं पुनः संयतात्मनाम् । हंस उवाच भोगेष्वासक्तचित्तानां परमार्थान्विता मतिः । भविष्यति कदा सङ्गमुपेतानां च बन्धुषु ॥ 66.36 ॥

vivekināṁ tiraścāṁ ca kiṁ punaḥ saṁyatātmanām haṁsa uvāca bhogeṣvāsaktacittānāṁ paramārthānvitā matiḥ bhaviṣyati kadā saṅgamupetānāṁ ca bandhuṣu

"What then of unreasoning beasts, and what of the self-controlled?" The swan said: "When will the understanding of those whose minds are bound to pleasures ever turn toward the highest truth, so long as they remain attached to their kin?"

Verse 37 (markandeya.66.37)

पुत्रमित्रकलत्रेषु सक्ताः सीदन्ति जन्तवः । सरःपङ्कार्णवे मग्ना जीर्णा वनगजा इव ॥ 66.37 ॥

putramitrakalatreṣu saktāḥ sīdanti jantavaḥ saraḥpaṅkārṇave magnā jīrṇā vanagajā iva

Creatures attached to sons, friends, and wives sink down just as aged forest elephants, mired in the muddy shallows of a lake, sink helplessly.

Verse 38 (markandeya.66.38)

किं न पश्यसि वा भद्रे जातसङ्गं स्वरोचिषम् । आबाल्यात्कामसंसक्तं मग्नं स्नेहाम्बुकर्दमे ॥ 66.38 ॥

kiṁ na paśyasi vā bhadre jātasaṅgaṁ svarociṣam ābālyātkāmasaṁsaktaṁ magnaṁ snehāmbukardame

Do you not see, O gracious one, this Svarochi, entangled from his very boyhood in desire, sunk deep in the mire of attachment?

Verse 39 (markandeya.66.39)

यौवनेऽतीव भार्यासु साम्प्रतं पुत्रनप्तृषु । स्वरोचिषो मनो मग्नमुद्धारं प्राप्स्यते कुतः ॥ 66.39 ॥

yauvane’tīva bhāryāsu sāmprataṁ putranaptṛṣu svarociṣo mano magnamuddhāraṁ prāpsyate kutaḥ

In youth utterly given to his wives, and now to his sons and grandsons — Svarochi's mind, sunk so deep, from where shall it ever find deliverance?

Verse 40 (markandeya.66.40)

नाहं स्वरोचिषस्तुल्यः स्त्रीवश्यो वा जलेचरि । विवेकवांश्च भोगानां निवृत्तोऽस्मि च साम्प्रतम् ॥ 66.40 ॥

nāhaṁ svarociṣastulyaḥ strīvaśyo vā jalecari vivekavāṁśca bhogānāṁ nivṛtto’smi ca sāmpratam

O dweller of the waters, I am not like Svarochi, nor am I subject to a woman's sway; I am possessed of discernment and have now turned away from all enjoyments.

Verse 41 (markandeya.66.41)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच स्वरोचिरेतदाकर्ण्य जातोद्वेगः खगेरितम् । आदाय भार्यास्तपसे ययावन्यत्तपोवनम् ॥ 66.41 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca svarociretadākarṇya jātodvegaḥ khageritam ādāya bhāryāstapase yayāvanyattapovanam

Markandeya said: Hearing these words spoken by the bird, Svarochi was seized with dispassion; taking his wives with him, he departed to another forest of austerities to perform tapas.

Verse 42 (markandeya.66.42)

तत्र तप्त्वा तपो घोरं सह ताभिरुदारधीः । जगाम लोकानमलान्निवृत्ताखिलकल्मषः ॥ 66.42 ॥

tatra taptvā tapo ghoraṁ saha tābhirudāradhīḥ jagāma lokānamalānnivṛttākhilakalmaṣaḥ

There, that noble-minded one, performing severe austerity together with those wives, freed from every taint, attained the pure worlds.