Sanjna and the Curse of Yama

Verse 1 (markandeya.77.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच मार्तण्ड रस्यवेर्भार्या तनया विश्वकर्मणः । संज्ञा नाम महाभाग तस्यां भानुरजीजनत् ॥ 77.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca mārtaṇḍa rasyaverbhāryā tanayā viśvakarmaṇaḥ saṁjñā nāma mahābhāga tasyāṁ bhānurajījanat

Martanda's wife was the daughter of Vishvakarman, named Sanjna, O illustrious one; upon her the radiant Sun begot offspring.

Verse 2 (markandeya.77.2)

मनुं प्रख्यातयशसमनेकज्ञानपारगम् । विवस्वतः सुतो यस्मात्तस्माद्वैवस्वतस्तु सः ॥ 77.2 ॥

manuṁ prakhyātayaśasamanekajñānapāragam vivasvataḥ suto yasmāttasmādvaivasvatastu saḥ

He begot a Manu of renowned fame, versed in manifold knowledge; and because he was the son of Vivasvat, he is called Vaivasvata.

Verse 3 (markandeya.77.3)

संज्ञा च रविणा दृष्टा निमीलयति लोचने । यतस्ततः सरोषोर्ऽकः संज्ञां निष्ठुरमब्रवीत् ॥ 77.3 ॥

saṁjñā ca raviṇā dṛṣṭā nimīlayati locane yatastataḥ saroṣor'kaḥ saṁjñāṁ niṣṭhuramabravīt

Now Sanjna, whenever gazed upon by the Sun, would close her eyes; because of this the Sun, angered, spoke harshly to Sanjna.

Verse 4 (markandeya.77.4)

मयि दृष्टे सदा यस्मात् कुरुषे नेत्रसंयमम् । तस्माज्जनिष्यसे मूढे प्रजासंयमनं यमम् ॥ 77.4 ॥

mayi dṛṣṭe sadā yasmāt kuruṣe netrasaṁyamam tasmājjaniṣyase mūḍhe prajāsaṁyamanaṁ yamam

"Since, whenever you look at me, you always close your eyes in restraint, you foolish woman, you shall bring forth Yama, the restrainer of creatures."

Verse 5 (markandeya.77.5)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः सा चपलां दृष्टिं देवी चक्रे भयाकुला । विलोलितदृशं दृष्ट्वा पुनराह च तां रविः ॥ 77.5 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ sā capalāṁ dṛṣṭiṁ devī cakre bhayākulā vilolitadṛśaṁ dṛṣṭvā punarāha ca tāṁ raviḥ

Then the goddess, overcome with fear, made her gaze unsteady; and seeing her eyes wavering thus, the Sun spoke to her again.

Verse 6 (markandeya.77.6)

यस्माद्विलोलिता दृष्टिर्मयि दृष्टे त्वयाधुना । तस्माद्विलोलां तनयां नदीं त्वं प्रसविष्यसि ॥ 77.6 ॥

yasmādvilolitā dṛṣṭirmayi dṛṣṭe tvayādhunā tasmādvilolāṁ tanayāṁ nadīṁ tvaṁ prasaviṣyasi

"Since your gaze has now become unsteady when you looked at me, you shall bring forth a restless daughter — a river."

Verse 7 (markandeya.77.7)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततस्तस्यान्तु संजज्ञे भर्तृशापेन तेन वै । यमश्च यमुना चेयं प्रख्याता सुमहानदी ॥ 77.7 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tatastasyāntu saṁjajñe bhartṛśāpena tena vai yamaśca yamunā ceyaṁ prakhyātā sumahānadī

Thus, by that curse of her husband, were born to her Yama, and this greatly renowned river, Yamuna.

Verse 8 (markandeya.77.8)

सापि संज्ञा रवेस्तेजः सेहे दुः खेन भामिनी । असहन्ती च सा तेजश्चिन्तयामास वै तदा ॥ 77.8 ॥

sāpi saṁjñā ravestejaḥ sehe duḥ khena bhāminī asahantī ca sā tejaścintayāmāsa vai tadā

That lovely Sanjna endured the Sun's blazing radiance only with great suffering; unable to bear his splendor any longer, she pondered.

Verse 9 (markandeya.77.9)

किङ्करोमि क्व गच्छामि क्व गतायाश्च निर्वृतिः । भवेन्मम कथं भर्ता कोपमर्कश्च नैष्यति ॥ 77.9 ॥

kiṅkaromi kva gacchāmi kva gatāyāśca nirvṛtiḥ bhavenmama kathaṁ bhartā kopamarkaśca naiṣyati

"What shall I do? Where shall I go? Where, once gone, would I find peace? And how might my husband, the Sun, not grow angry at my leaving?"

Verse 10 (markandeya.77.10)

इति संचिन्त्य बहुधा प्रजापतिसुता तदा । बहु मेने महाभागा पितृसंश्रयमेव सा ॥ 77.10 ॥

iti saṁcintya bahudhā prajāpatisutā tadā bahu mene mahābhāgā pitṛsaṁśrayameva sā

Having pondered thus in many ways, the illustrious daughter of Prajapati resolved above all upon taking refuge with her father.

Verse 11 (markandeya.77.11)

ततः पितृगृहे गन्तुं कृतबुद्धिर्यशस्विनी । छायामयीमात्मतनुं निर्ममे दयितां रवेः ॥ 77.11 ॥

tataḥ pitṛgṛhe gantuṁ kṛtabuddhiryaśasvinī chāyāmayīmātmatanuṁ nirmame dayitāṁ raveḥ

Then, the glorious one, having resolved to go to her father's house, fashioned from her own body a shadow-double, dear to the Sun.

Verse 12 (markandeya.77.12)

ताञ्चोवाच त्वया वेश्मन्यत्र भानोर्यथा मया । तथा सम्यगपत्येषु वर्तितव्यं यथा रवौ ॥ 77.12 ॥

tāñcovāca tvayā veśmanyatra bhānoryathā mayā tathā samyagapatyeṣu vartitavyaṁ yathā ravau

She said to her: "In this house, you must behave toward the Sun's children exactly as I would — and likewise toward the Sun himself."

Verse 13 (markandeya.77.13)

पृष्टयापि न वाच्यन्ते तथैतद्गमनं मम । सैवास्मि नाम संज्ञेति वाच्यमेतत्सदा वचः ॥ 77.13 ॥

pṛṣṭayāpi na vācyante tathaitadgamanaṁ mama saivāsmi nāma saṁjñeti vācyametatsadā vacaḥ

"And even if asked, do not reveal this — my going away. Always say only this: 'I myself am Sanjna.'"

Verse 14 (markandeya.77.14)

छायसंज्ञोवाच आकेशग्रहणाद् देवि ! आशापाच्च वचस्तव । करिष्ये कथयिष्यामि वृत्तन्तु शापकर्षणात् ॥ 77.14 ॥

chāyasaṁjñovāca ākeśagrahaṇād devi ! āśāpācca vacastava kariṣye kathayiṣyāmi vṛttantu śāpakarṣaṇāt

Chhaya-Sanjna said: "O goddess, up to the point of being seized by the hair, and short of a curse, I will do as you say. But should it come to a curse, I shall tell what has truly happened."

Verse 15 (markandeya.77.15)

इत्युक्ता सा तदा देवी जगाम भवनं पितुः । ददर्श तत्र त्वष्टारं तपसा धूतकल्मषम् ॥ 77.15 ॥

ityuktā sā tadā devī jagāma bhavanaṁ pituḥ dadarśa tatra tvaṣṭāraṁ tapasā dhūtakalmaṣam

Thus addressed, the goddess then went to her father's house, and there she saw Tvashtri, purified of all fault through austerity.

Verse 16 (markandeya.77.16)

बहुमानाच्च तेनापि पूजिता विश्वकर्मणा । तस्थौ पितृगृहे सा तु कञ्चित्कालमनिन्दिता ॥ 77.16 ॥

bahumānācca tenāpi pūjitā viśvakarmaṇā tasthau pitṛgṛhe sā tu kañcitkālamaninditā

Honored greatly by Vishvakarman, she, above reproach, dwelt for some time in her father's house.

Verse 17 (markandeya.77.17)

ततस्तां प्राह चार्वङ्गी पिता नातिचिरोषिताम् । स्तुत्वा च तनयां प्रेमबहुमानपुरः सरम् ॥ 77.17 ॥

tatastāṁ prāha cārvaṅgī pitā nāticiroṣitām stutvā ca tanayāṁ premabahumānapuraḥ saram

Then her father, praising his lovely-limbed daughter who had not stayed very long, spoke to her with love and great respect.

Verse 18 (markandeya.77.18)

त्वान्तु मे पश्यतो वत्से दिनानि सुबहून्यपि । मुहूर्तार्धसमानि स्युः किन्तु धर्मो विलुप्यते ॥ 77.18 ॥

tvāntu me paśyato vatse dināni subahūnyapi muhūrtārdhasamāni syuḥ kintu dharmo vilupyate

"To me, watching you, child, even very many days would seem no longer than half a moment — but dharma is thereby violated."

Verse 19 (markandeya.77.19)

बान्धवेषु चिरं वासो नारीणां न यशस्करः । मनोरथो बान्धवानां नार्या भर्तृगृहे स्थितिः ॥ 77.19 ॥

bāndhaveṣu ciraṁ vāso nārīṇāṁ na yaśaskaraḥ manoratho bāndhavānāṁ nāryā bhartṛgṛhe sthitiḥ

"A long stay among kinsfolk brings no honor to women; it is the heartfelt wish of kinsmen that a woman abide in her husband's house."

Verse 20 (markandeya.77.20)

सा त्वं त्रैलोक्यनाथेन भर्त्रा सूर्येण सङ्गता । पितृगेहे चिरं कालं वस्तुं नार्हसि पुत्रिके ॥ 77.20 ॥

sā tvaṁ trailokyanāthena bhartrā sūryeṇa saṅgatā pitṛgehe ciraṁ kālaṁ vastuṁ nārhasi putrike

"You, who are joined as wife to the Sun, lord of the three worlds — it is not fitting, my daughter, that you dwell long in your father's house."

Verse 21 (markandeya.77.21)

सा त्वं भर्तृगृहं गच्छ तुष्टोऽहं पूजितासि मे । पुनरागमनं कार्यं दर्शनाय शुभे मम ॥ 77.21 ॥

sā tvaṁ bhartṛgṛhaṁ gaccha tuṣṭo 'haṁ pūjitāsi me punarāgamanaṁ kāryaṁ darśanāya śubhe mama

"Go, then, to your husband's house; I am content, and you have honored me. But you must come again, auspicious one, so that I may see you."

Verse 22 (markandeya.77.22)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युक्ता सा तदा पित्रा तथेत्युक्त्वा च सा मुने । संपूजयित्वा पितरं जगामाथोत्तरान् कुरून् ॥ 77.22 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ityuktā sā tadā pitrā tathetyuktvā ca sā mune saṁpūjayitvā pitaraṁ jagāmāthottarān kurūn

Thus addressed by her father, she said, "So be it," O sage, and, having duly honored her father, she went then to the land of the Uttara Kurus.

Verse 23 (markandeya.77.23)

सूर्यतापमनिच्छन्ती तेजसस्तस्य बिभ्यती । तपश्चचार तत्रापि वडवारूपधारिणी ॥ 77.23 ॥

sūryatāpamanicchantī tejasastasya bibhyatī tapaścacāra tatrāpi vaḍavārūpadhāriṇī

Not wishing for the Sun's heat, and afraid of his radiance, she practiced austerity there too, taking the form of a mare.

Verse 24 (markandeya.77.24)

संज्ञेयमिति मन्वानो द्वितीयायामहस्पतिः । जनयामास तनयौ कन्याञ्चैकां मनोरमाम् ॥ 77.24 ॥

saṁjñeyamiti manvāno dvitīyāyāmahaspatiḥ janayāmāsa tanayau kanyāñcaikāṁ manoramām

The lord of the day, believing this second one to be Sanjna herself, begot upon her two sons and one lovely daughter.

Verse 25 (markandeya.77.25)

छायासंज्ञा त्वपत्येषु यथा स्वेष्वतिवत्सला । तथा न संज्ञाकन्यायां पुत्रयोश्चान्ववर्तत ॥ 77.25 ॥

chāyāsaṁjñā tvapatyeṣu yathā sveṣvativatsalā tathā na saṁjñākanyāyāṁ putrayoścānvavartata

But Chhaya-Sanjna, though most tender toward her own children, did not behave the same way toward Sanjna's daughter and her two sons.

Verse 26 (markandeya.77.26)

लालनाद्युपभोगेषु विशेषमनुवासरम् । मनुस्तत् क्षान्तवानस्य यमस्तस्या न चक्षमे ॥ 77.26 ॥

lālanādyupabhogeṣu viśeṣamanuvāsaram manustat kṣāntavānasya yamastasyā na cakṣame

Day after day she showed a difference in her fondling and other favors. Manu bore this patiently, but Yama could not forgive it.

Verse 27 (markandeya.77.27)

ताडनाय च वै कोपात् पादस्तेन समुद्यतः । तस्याः पुनः क्षान्तिमता न तु देहे निपातितः ॥ 77.27 ॥

tāḍanāya ca vai kopāt pādastena samudyataḥ tasyāḥ punaḥ kṣāntimatā na tu dehe nipātitaḥ

In anger he raised his foot to strike her, but, still restraining himself, he did not let it actually fall upon her body.

Verse 28 (markandeya.77.28)

ततः शशाप तं कोपाच्छायासंज्ञा यमं द्विज । किञ्चित् प्रस्फुरमाणौष्ठी विचलत्पाणिपल्लवा ॥ 77.28 ॥

tataḥ śaśāpa taṁ kopācchāyāsaṁjñā yamaṁ dvija kiñcit prasphuramāṇauṣṭhī vicalatpāṇipallavā

Then, O brahmin, Chhaya-Sanjna, her lips trembling slightly and her tender hands shaking in anger, cursed Yama.

Verse 29 (markandeya.77.29)

पितुः पत्नीममर्यादं यन्मां तर्जयसे पदा । भुवि तस्मादयं पदास्तवाद्यैव पतिष्यति ॥ 77.29 ॥

pituḥ patnīmamaryādaṁ yanmāṁ tarjayase padā bhuvi tasmādayaṁ padāstavādyaiva patiṣyati

"Since you, transgressing all bounds, threaten me, your father's wife, with your foot, therefore this very foot of yours shall fall to the earth today."

Verse 30 (markandeya.77.30)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य यमः शापं मात्रा दत्तं भयातुरः । अभ्येत्य पितरं प्राह प्रणिपातपुरः सरम् ॥ 77.30 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ityākarṇya yamaḥ śāpaṁ mātrā dattaṁ bhayāturaḥ abhyetya pitaraṁ prāha praṇipātapuraḥ saram

Hearing this curse pronounced by his mother, Yama, stricken with fear, went to his father and, bowing low first, spoke to him.

Verse 31 (markandeya.77.31)

यम उवाच तातैतन्महदाश्चर्यं न दृष्टमिति केनचित् । माता वात्सल्यमुत्सृज्य शापं पुत्रे प्रयच्छति ॥ 77.31 ॥

yama uvāca tātaitanmahadāścaryaṁ na dṛṣṭamiti kenacit mātā vātsalyamutsṛjya śāpaṁ putre prayacchati

Yama said: "Father, this is a great wonder such as no one has ever seen — a mother, abandoning her natural affection, pronouncing a curse upon her own son!"

Verse 32 (markandeya.77.32)

यथा मनुर्ममाचष्टे नेयं मता तथा मम । विगुणेष्वपि पुत्रेषु न माता विगुणा भवेत् ॥ 77.32 ॥

yathā manurmamācaṣṭe neyaṁ matā tathā mama viguṇeṣvapi putreṣu na mātā viguṇā bhavet

"As Manu tells me of her — this does not seem to me her true nature; even toward sons who lack good qualities, a mother should not become without affection."

Verse 33 (markandeya.77.33)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच यमस्यैतद्वचः श्रुत्वा भगवांस्तिमिरापहः । छायासंज्ञां समाहूय पप्रच्छ क्व गतेति सा ॥ 77.33 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca yamasyaitadvacaḥ śrutvā bhagavāṁstimirāpahaḥ chāyāsaṁjñāṁ samāhūya papraccha kva gateti sā

Hearing these words of Yama, the blessed dispeller of darkness summoned Chhaya-Sanjna and asked her: "Where has she gone?"

Verse 34 (markandeya.77.34)

सा चाह तनया त्वष्टुरहं संज्ञा विभावसो । पत्नी तव त्वयापत्यान्येतानि जनितानि मे ॥ 77.34 ॥

sā cāha tanayā tvaṣṭurahaṁ saṁjñā vibhāvaso patnī tava tvayāpatyānyetāni janitāni me

She said: "O radiant one, I am Sanjna, the daughter of Tvashtri, your own wife; these children have been begotten by you upon me."

Verse 35 (markandeya.77.35)

इत्थं विवस्वतः सा तु बहुशः पृच्छतो यदा । नाचचक्षे ततः क्रुद्धो भास्वांस्तां शप्तुमुद्यतः ॥ 77.35 ॥

itthaṁ vivasvataḥ sā tu bahuśaḥ pṛcchato yadā nācacakṣe tataḥ kruddho bhāsvāṁstāṁ śaptumudyataḥ

When, though Vivasvat questioned her thus again and again, she still would not tell the truth, the radiant one grew angry and made ready to curse her.

Verse 36 (markandeya.77.36)

ततः सा कथयामास यथावृत्तं विवस्वतः । विदितार्थश्च भगवान् जगाम त्वष्टुरालयम् ॥ 77.36 ॥

tataḥ sā kathayāmāsa yathāvṛttaṁ vivasvataḥ viditārthaśca bhagavān jagāma tvaṣṭurālayam

Then she told Vivasvat all that had truly happened; and the blessed one, now knowing the truth, went to the dwelling of Tvashtri.

Verse 37 (markandeya.77.37)

ततः स पूजयामास तदा त्रैलोक्यपूजितम् । भास्वन्तं परया भक्त्या निजगेहमुपागतम् ॥ 77.37 ॥

tataḥ sa pūjayāmāsa tadā trailokyapūjitam bhāsvantaṁ parayā bhaktyā nijagehamupāgatam

Then he honored, with the highest devotion, the radiant one, worshipped throughout the three worlds, who had come to his own house.

Verse 38 (markandeya.77.38)

संज्ञां पृष्टस्तदा तस्मै कथयामास विश्वकृत् । आगतैवेह मे वेश्म भवतः प्रेषितेति वै ॥ 77.38 ॥

saṁjñāṁ pṛṣṭastadā tasmai kathayāmāsa viśvakṛt āgataiveha me veśma bhavataḥ preṣiteti vai

When asked about Sanjna, Vishvakarman told him: "She indeed came here to my house, saying she had been sent by you."

Verse 39 (markandeya.77.39)

दिवाकरः समाधिस्थो वडवारूपधारिणीम् । तपश्चरन्तीं ददृशे उत्तरेषु कुरुष्वथ ॥ 77.39 ॥

divākaraḥ samādhistho vaḍavārūpadhāriṇīm tapaścarantīṁ dadṛśe uttareṣu kuruṣvatha

The maker of the day, entering meditation, then beheld her, in the form of a mare, practicing austerity in the land of the Uttara Kurus.

Verse 40 (markandeya.77.40)

सौम्यमूर्तिः शुभाकारो मम भर्ता भवेदिति । अभिसन्धिञ्च तपसो बुबुधेऽस्या दिवाकरः ॥ 77.40 ॥

saumyamūrtiḥ śubhākāro mama bhartā bhavediti abhisandhiñca tapaso bubudhe 'syā divākaraḥ

The Sun understood the intent behind her austerity — that her husband should become gentle in form and auspicious in appearance.

Verse 41 (markandeya.77.41)

शातनं तेजसो मेऽद्य क्रियतामिति भास्करः । तञ्चाह विश्वकर्माणं संज्ञायाः पितरं द्विज ॥ 77.41 ॥

śātanaṁ tejaso me 'dya kriyatāmiti bhāskaraḥ tañcāha viśvakarmāṇaṁ saṁjñāyāḥ pitaraṁ dvija

"Let a paring-away of my radiance now be done," said the radiant one; and, O brahmin, he spoke thus to Vishvakarman, Sanjna's father.

Verse 42 (markandeya.77.42)

संवत्सरभ्रमेस्तस्य विश्वकर्मा करवेस्ततः । तेजसः शातनञ्चक्रे स्तूयमानश्च दैवतैः ॥ 77.42 ॥

saṁvatsarabhramestasya viśvakarmā karavestataḥ tejasaḥ śātanañcakre stūyamānaśca daivataiḥ

Then Vishvakarman, through the turning of the year upon his lathe, pared away the Sun's radiance, while he was being praised by the gods.