Samujjvala's Vision at Lake Manasa and the Hunter's Transformation

Verse 1 (padma.2.89.1)

विष्णुरुवाच- कुंजलस्तु सुतं वाक्यं समुज्ज्वलमथाब्रवीत् । भवान्कथय भोः पुत्र किमपूर्वं तु दृष्टवान्

viṣṇuruvāca- kuṁjalastu sutaṁ vākyaṁ samujjvalamathābravīt bhavānkathaya bhoḥ putra kimapūrvaṁ tu dṛṣṭavān

Vishnu said: "Kunjala then spoke this word to his son Samujjvala: 'You too, my son, tell me - what unprecedented thing have you seen?'"

Verse 2 (padma.2.89.2)

तन्मे कथय सुप्रीतः श्रोतुकामोऽस्मि सांप्रतम् । एवमादिश्य तं पुत्रं विरराम स कुंजलः

tanme kathaya suprītaḥ śrotukāmo'smi sāṁpratam evamādiśya taṁ putraṁ virarāma sa kuṁjalaḥ

"'Tell me that; I gladly wish to hear it now.'" Having thus addressed his son, Kunjala fell silent.

Verse 3 (padma.2.89.3)

पितरं प्रत्युवाचाथ विनयावनतस्सुतः । समुज्ज्वल उवाच- हिमवंतं नगश्रेष्ठं देववृंदसमन्वितम्

pitaraṁ pratyuvācātha vinayāvanatassutaḥ samujjvala uvāca- himavaṁtaṁ nagaśreṣṭhaṁ devavṛṁdasamanvitam

The son then, bowing in humility, replied to his father. Samujjvala said: "To the Himalaya, best of mountains, filled with hosts of gods -"

Verse 4 (padma.2.89.4)

आहारार्थं प्रगच्छामि भवतश्चात्मनः पितः । पश्यामि कौतुकं तत्र न दृष्टं न श्रुतं पुरा

āhārārthaṁ pragacchāmi bhavataścātmanaḥ pitaḥ paśyāmi kautukaṁ tatra na dṛṣṭaṁ na śrutaṁ purā

"- I go, father, for food, for your sake and my own. There I saw a wonder never before seen or heard."

Verse 5 (padma.2.89.5)

प्रदेशमृषिगणाकीर्णमप्सरोभिः प्रशोभितम् । बहुकौतुकशोभाढ्यं मंगल्यं मंगलैर्युतम्

pradeśamṛṣigaṇākīrṇamapsarobhiḥ praśobhitam bahukautukaśobhāḍhyaṁ maṁgalyaṁ maṁgalairyutam

"A region thronged with groups of sages, adorned with apsaras, rich with the beauty of many wonders, auspicious and filled with blessings."

Verse 6 (padma.2.89.6)

बहुपुण्यफलोपेतैर्वनैर्नानाविधैस्ततः । अनेककौतुकभरैर्मनसः परिमोहनम्

bahupuṇyaphalopetairvanairnānāvidhaistataḥ anekakautukabharairmanasaḥ parimohanam

"Filled with many kinds of forests bearing meritorious fruit, laden with countless wonders, and bewildering to the mind."

Verse 7 (padma.2.89.7)

तत्र दृष्टं मया तात अपूर्वं मानसांतिके । बहुहंसैः समाकीर्णो हंस एकः समागतः

tatra dṛṣṭaṁ mayā tāta apūrvaṁ mānasāṁtike bahuhaṁsaiḥ samākīrṇo haṁsa ekaḥ samāgataḥ

"There, father, near Lake Manasa, I saw an unprecedented sight: amid many swans, a single swan came forward."

Verse 8 (padma.2.89.8)

एवं कृष्णा महाभाग अन्ये तत्र समागताः । सितेतरैश्चंचुपादैरन्यतः शुक्लविग्रहाः

evaṁ kṛṣṇā mahābhāga anye tatra samāgatāḥ sitetaraiścaṁcupādairanyataḥ śuklavigrahāḥ

"Thus, O most fortunate one, other black swans came there too; some had beaks and feet of a different color, while the rest of their bodies were white,"

Verse 9 (padma.2.89.9)

तादृशास्ते च नीला वै अन्ये शुभ्रा महामते । चतस्रस्तत्र वै नार्यो रौद्राकारा विभीषणाः

tādṛśāste ca nīlā vai anye śubhrā mahāmate catasrastatra vai nāryo raudrākārā vibhīṣaṇāḥ

"- some, O wise one, were blue like that, others pure white. There were also four women there, of terrible, dreadful form,"

Verse 10 (padma.2.89.10)

दंष्ट्राकरालसंक्रूरा ऊर्ध्वकेश्यो भयानकाः । पश्चात्तास्तु समायातास्तस्मिन्सरसि मानसे

daṁṣṭrākarālasaṁkrūrā ūrdhvakeśyo bhayānakāḥ paścāttāstu samāyātāstasminsarasi mānase

"- cruel with fearsome fangs, their hair standing on end, frightening; they came afterward to that Lake Manasa."

Verse 11 (padma.2.89.11)

कृष्णा हंसास्तु संस्नाता मानसे तात मत्पुरः । विभ्रांताः परितश्चान्ये न स्नातास्तत्र मानसे

kṛṣṇā haṁsāstu saṁsnātā mānase tāta matpuraḥ vibhrāṁtāḥ paritaścānye na snātāstatra mānase

"The black swans, father, bathed there in Manasa before my eyes; others, bewildered all about, could not bathe there."

Verse 12 (padma.2.89.12)

जहसुस्ताः स्त्रियस्तात हास्यैरट्टाट्टदारुणैः । तस्मात्सराद्विनिष्क्रांतो हंस एको महातनुः

jahasustāḥ striyastāta hāsyairaṭṭāṭṭadāruṇaiḥ tasmātsarādviniṣkrāṁto haṁsa eko mahātanuḥ

"Those women, father, laughed with terrible, raucous laughter. Then, from that lake, a single swan of great form emerged."

Verse 13 (padma.2.89.13)

पश्चात्त्रयो विनिष्क्रांतास्तैश्चाहं समुपेक्षितः । याता आकाशमार्गेण विवदंतः परस्परम्

paścāttrayo viniṣkrāṁtāstaiścāhaṁ samupekṣitaḥ yātā ākāśamārgeṇa vivadaṁtaḥ parasparam

"Afterward three more emerged; they noticed me too. They went off by the path of the sky, quarreling with one another."

Verse 14 (padma.2.89.14)

तास्तु स्त्रियो महाभीमाः समंतात्परिबभ्रमुः । विंध्यस्य शिखरे पुण्ये वृक्षच्छायासुपक्षिणः

tāstu striyo mahābhīmāḥ samaṁtātparibabhramuḥ viṁdhyasya śikhare puṇye vṛkṣacchāyāsupakṣiṇaḥ

"Those most fearsome women wandered about on every side. On the holy summit of the Vindhya, in the shade of a tree, some birds -"

Verse 15 (padma.2.89.15)

निषण्णास्तत्र ते सर्वे दग्धा दुःखैः सुदारुणैः । तेषां सुवीक्षमाणानां भिल्ल एकः समागतः

niṣaṇṇāstatra te sarve dagdhā duḥkhaiḥ sudāruṇaiḥ teṣāṁ suvīkṣamāṇānāṁ bhilla ekaḥ samāgataḥ

"- sat there, all of them, scorched with most terrible sorrows. As they were watched closely, a hunter came there,"

Verse 16 (padma.2.89.16)

मृगान्स पीडयित्वा तु बाणपाणिर्धनुर्द्धरः । शिलातलं समाश्रित्य निषसाद सुखेन वै

mṛgānsa pīḍayitvā tu bāṇapāṇirdhanurddharaḥ śilātalaṁ samāśritya niṣasāda sukhena vai

"- having harried some deer, bow and arrow in hand, he took shelter on a rock-slab and sat down at ease."

Verse 17 (padma.2.89.17)

पश्चाद्भिल्ली समायाता अन्नमादाय सोदकम् । स्वं प्रियं वीक्षते राज्ञा मुदितैर्लक्षणैर्युतम्

paścādbhillī samāyātā annamādāya sodakam svaṁ priyaṁ vīkṣate rājñā muditairlakṣaṇairyutam

"Afterward his hunter-wife came, bringing food and water; she looked upon her beloved with joyful, king-like signs."

Verse 18 (padma.2.89.18)

अन्यादृशं समावीक्ष्य स्वकांतं तेजसावृतम् । दिव्यतेजः समाक्रांतं यथा सूर्यं दिविस्थितम्

anyādṛśaṁ samāvīkṣya svakāṁtaṁ tejasāvṛtam divyatejaḥ samākrāṁtaṁ yathā sūryaṁ divisthitam

"But seeing her own beloved to be something different - enveloped in splendor, overcome by a divine radiance, like the sun standing in the sky -"

Verse 19 (padma.2.89.19)

नरमन्यं परिज्ञाय तं परित्यज्य सा ययौ । व्याध उवाच- एह्येहि त्वं प्रिये चात्र कस्मान्मां त्वं न पश्यसि

naramanyaṁ parijñāya taṁ parityajya sā yayau vyādha uvāca- ehyehi tvaṁ priye cātra kasmānmāṁ tvaṁ na paśyasi

"- recognizing him as some other man, she abandoned him and went away." The hunter said: "Come, come here, my beloved! Why do you not see me?"

Verse 20 (padma.2.89.20)

क्षुधया पीड्यमानोहं त्वामहं चावलोकये । तस्य वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य शीघ्रं व्याधी समागता

kṣudhayā pīḍyamānohaṁ tvāmahaṁ cāvalokaye tasya vākyaṁ samākarṇya śīghraṁ vyādhī samāgatā

"'I am afflicted by hunger, and I am waiting for you.'" Having heard his words, the hunter-wife quickly approached -

Verse 21 (padma.2.89.21)

भर्तुः पार्श्वं समासाद्य विस्मिता साभवत्तदा । कोयं तेजः समाचारो देवोयं मां समाह्वयेत्

bhartuḥ pārśvaṁ samāsādya vismitā sābhavattadā koyaṁ tejaḥ samācāro devoyaṁ māṁ samāhvayet

"- coming near her husband, she was astonished: 'Who is this being, of such splendor and conduct? This god calls out to me!'"

Verse 22 (padma.2.89.22)

तमुवाच ततो व्याधी भर्तारं दीप्ततेजसम् । अत्र किं ते कृतं वीर भवान्को दिव्यलक्षणः

tamuvāca tato vyādhī bhartāraṁ dīptatejasam atra kiṁ te kṛtaṁ vīra bhavānko divyalakṣaṇaḥ

Then the hunter-wife said to her husband, blazing with radiance: "What have you done here, hero? Who are you, of such divine marks?"

Verse 23 (padma.2.89.23)

सूत उवाच- एवमाभाषितो व्याध्या व्याधः प्रियामभाषत । अहं ते वल्लभः कांते भवती च मम प्रिया

sūta uvāca- evamābhāṣito vyādhyā vyādhaḥ priyāmabhāṣata ahaṁ te vallabhaḥ kāṁte bhavatī ca mama priyā

Suta said: "Thus questioned by his hunter-wife, the hunter said to his beloved: 'I am your very own beloved, dear one, and you are my beloved.'"

Verse 24 (padma.2.89.24)

कस्मात्त्वं मां न जानासि कथं शंका प्रवर्तते । क्षुधया पीड्यमानेन पयश्चान्नं प्रतीक्ष्यते

kasmāttvaṁ māṁ na jānāsi kathaṁ śaṁkā pravartate kṣudhayā pīḍyamānena payaścānnaṁ pratīkṣyate

"'Why do you not recognize me? Why has this doubt arisen?' Afflicted by hunger, he looked forward to the milk and food she brought."

Verse 25 (padma.2.89.25)

व्याध्युवाच- बर्बरः कृष्णवर्णश्च रक्ताक्षः कृष्णकंचुकः । ईदृशश्चास्ति मे भर्ता सर्वसत्वभयंकरः

vyādhyuvāca- barbaraḥ kṛṣṇavarṇaśca raktākṣaḥ kṛṣṇakaṁcukaḥ īdṛśaścāsti me bhartā sarvasatvabhayaṁkaraḥ

The hunter-wife said: "My husband is a savage, dark-skinned, red-eyed, wearing a dark garment - a terror to all creatures. Such is my husband."

Verse 26 (padma.2.89.26)

भवान्को दिव्यदेहस्तु प्रियेत्युक्त्वा समाह्वयेत् । एष मे संशयो जातो वद सत्यं ममाग्रतः

bhavānko divyadehastu priyetyuktvā samāhvayet eṣa me saṁśayo jāto vada satyaṁ mamāgrataḥ

"Who are you, of divine body, that you call me 'beloved'? This doubt has arisen in me; tell me the truth before me."

Verse 27 (padma.2.89.27)

कुलं नाम स्वकं ग्रामं क्रीडां लिगं सुतं सुताम् । समाचष्ट प्रियाग्रे तु तस्याः प्रत्यय हेतवे

kulaṁ nāma svakaṁ grāmaṁ krīḍāṁ ligaṁ sutaṁ sutām samācaṣṭa priyāgre tu tasyāḥ pratyaya hetave

He told her his own lineage, village, sport, marks, sons, and daughters, to convince his beloved of the truth.

Verse 28 (padma.2.89.28)

प्रत्युवाच स्वभर्तारं सा व्याधी हृष्टमानसा । कस्मात्ते ईदृशः कायः श्वेतकंचुकधारकः

pratyuvāca svabhartāraṁ sā vyādhī hṛṣṭamānasā kasmātte īdṛśaḥ kāyaḥ śvetakaṁcukadhārakaḥ

That hunter-wife, her mind gladdened, replied to her husband: "How has your body come to be like this, clad in a white garment?"

Verse 29 (padma.2.89.29)

कथं जातः समाचक्ष्व ममाश्चर्यं प्रवर्तते । एवं संपृच्छमानस्तु भार्यया मृगघातकः

kathaṁ jātaḥ samācakṣva mamāścaryaṁ pravartate evaṁ saṁpṛcchamānastu bhāryayā mṛgaghātakaḥ

"'Tell me how this came to be - great wonder has arisen in me.'" Thus questioned by his wife, that deer-hunter -

Verse 30 (padma.2.89.30)

सूत उवाच- प्रत्युवाच ततः श्रुत्वा तां प्रियां प्रश्रयान्विताम् । नर्मदा उत्तरे कूले संगमश्चास्ति सुव्रते

sūta uvāca- pratyuvāca tataḥ śrutvā tāṁ priyāṁ praśrayānvitām narmadā uttare kūle saṁgamaścāsti suvrate

Suta said: "- having heard her, replied to his humble, dutiful beloved: 'There is a confluence on the northern bank of the Narmada, O one of good vows.'"

Verse 31 (padma.2.89.31)

आतपेनाकुलो जीवो मम जातोति सुप्रिये । अस्मिन्वै संगमे कांते श्रमश्रांतो हि सत्वरः

ātapenākulo jīvo mama jātoti supriye asminvai saṁgame kāṁte śramaśrāṁto hi satvaraḥ

"'My life, dear one, had been afflicted by the heat; at this very confluence, exhausted with fatigue, in haste -'"

Verse 32 (padma.2.89.32)

गतः स्नात्वा जलं पीत्वा पश्चाच्चाहं समागतः । तदाप्रभृति मे काय ईदृशस्तेजसावृतः

gataḥ snātvā jalaṁ pītvā paścāccāhaṁ samāgataḥ tadāprabhṛti me kāya īdṛśastejasāvṛtaḥ

"'- I went, bathed, drank the water, and then returned. From that very time my body has become enveloped in such radiance -'"

Verse 33 (padma.2.89.33)

संजातो वस्त्रसंयुक्तः कंचुकः शुभ्रतां गतः । पूर्वोक्तलिंगसंस्थानैः कुलैः स्थानेन वै तथा

saṁjāto vastrasaṁyuktaḥ kaṁcukaḥ śubhratāṁ gataḥ pūrvoktaliṁgasaṁsthānaiḥ kulaiḥ sthānena vai tathā

"'- clothed in a garment, this covering of mine has become pure white.'" By the marks, lineage, and place he had described,

Verse 34 (padma.2.89.34)

स्वप्रियं लक्षयित्वा तु ज्ञात्वा पुण्यस्य संभवम् । प्रत्युवाचाथ भर्तारं संगमं मम दर्शय

svapriyaṁ lakṣayitvā tu jñātvā puṇyasya saṁbhavam pratyuvācātha bhartāraṁ saṁgamaṁ mama darśaya

- recognizing her own husband, and understanding this to be an occurrence of merit, she said to her husband: "'Show me that confluence -'"

Verse 35 (padma.2.89.35)

तव पश्चात्प्रदास्यामि भोजनं पानसंयुतम् । इत्युक्तः प्रियया व्याधः सत्वरेण जगाम ह

tava paścātpradāsyāmi bhojanaṁ pānasaṁyutam ityuktaḥ priyayā vyādhaḥ satvareṇa jagāma ha

"'- and afterward I shall give you food together with drink.'" Thus told by his beloved, the hunter went there quickly.

Verse 36 (padma.2.89.36)

संगमो दर्शितस्तेन ततोग्रे पापनाशनः । समुड्डीना महाभाग पक्षिणो लघुविक्रमाः

saṁgamo darśitastena tatogre pāpanāśanaḥ samuḍḍīnā mahābhāga pakṣiṇo laghuvikramāḥ

He showed her that sin-destroying confluence. O most fortunate one, then birds of swift flight -

Verse 37 (padma.2.89.37)

तया सार्द्धं ययुः सर्वे रेवासंगममुत्तमम् । तेषां तु वीक्षमाणानां पक्षिणां मम पश्यतः

tayā sārddhaṁ yayuḥ sarve revāsaṁgamamuttamam teṣāṁ tu vīkṣamāṇānāṁ pakṣiṇāṁ mama paśyataḥ

- went together with her to that excellent confluence of the Reva. As I watched those birds -

Verse 38 (padma.2.89.38)

तया हि स्नापितो भर्ता पुनः स्नाता हि सा स्वयम् । दिव्यदेहधरौ चोभौ दिव्यकांतिसमन्वितौ

tayā hi snāpito bhartā punaḥ snātā hi sā svayam divyadehadharau cobhau divyakāṁtisamanvitau

- her husband was bathed by her, and then she herself bathed too; both of them, bearing divine bodies, endowed with divine radiance -

Verse 39 (padma.2.89.39)

संजातौ पक्षिणां श्रेष्ठ दिव्यवस्त्रानुलेपनौ । दिव्यमालांबरधरौ दिव्यगंधानुलेपनौ

saṁjātau pakṣiṇāṁ śreṣṭha divyavastrānulepanau divyamālāṁbaradharau divyagaṁdhānulepanau

- became, best among birds, clothed in divine garments and unguents; wearing divine garlands and robes, anointed with divine fragrance -

Verse 40 (padma.2.89.40)

वैष्णवं यानमासाद्य मुनिगंधर्वपूजितौ । गतौ तौ वैष्णवं लोकं वैष्णवैः परिपूजितौ

vaiṣṇavaṁ yānamāsādya munigaṁdharvapūjitau gatau tau vaiṣṇavaṁ lokaṁ vaiṣṇavaiḥ paripūjitau

- mounting a Vaishnava vehicle, worshipped by sages and gandharvas, that couple went to the Vaishnava world, honored by Vaishnavas.

Verse 41 (padma.2.89.41)

स्तूयमानौ महात्मानौ दंपती दृष्टवानहम् । व्रजंतौ स्वर्गमार्गेण कूजंते पक्षिणस्तथा

stūyamānau mahātmānau daṁpatī dṛṣṭavānaham vrajaṁtau svargamārgeṇa kūjaṁte pakṣiṇastathā

I saw that great-souled couple being praised, going by the path of heaven, while the birds sang around them.

Verse 42 (padma.2.89.42)

तीर्थराजं परं दृष्ट्वा हर्षव्यक्ताक्षरैस्तदा । चत्वारः कृष्णहंसास्ते संगमे पापनाशने

tīrtharājaṁ paraṁ dṛṣṭvā harṣavyaktākṣaraistadā catvāraḥ kṛṣṇahaṁsāste saṁgame pāpanāśane

Having seen that supreme king of tirthas, then, with syllables full of joy, four black swans at that sin-destroying confluence -

Verse 43 (padma.2.89.43)

स्नात्वा वै भावशुद्धास्ते प्राप्ता उज्ज्वलतां पुनः । स्नात्वा पीत्वा जलं ते तु पुनर्बहिर्विनिर्गताः

snātvā vai bhāvaśuddhāste prāptā ujjvalatāṁ punaḥ snātvā pītvā jalaṁ te tu punarbahirvinirgatāḥ

- bathed, and, their hearts purified, attained radiance once more. Having bathed and drunk the water, they came out again.

Verse 44 (padma.2.89.44)

तावत्यस्ताः स्त्रियः कृष्णा मृतास्तत्स्नानमात्रतः । क्रंदमाना विचेष्टंत्यो हाहाकार विकंपिताः

tāvatyastāḥ striyaḥ kṛṣṇā mṛtāstatsnānamātrataḥ kraṁdamānā viceṣṭaṁtyo hāhākāra vikaṁpitāḥ

But those four black women died from that very bathing; wailing, writhing, trembling with cries of woe -

Verse 45 (padma.2.89.45)

यमलोकं गतास्तास्तु तात दृष्टा मया तदा । उड्डीनास्तु ततो हंसाः स्वस्थानं प्रतिजग्मिरे

yamalokaṁ gatāstāstu tāta dṛṣṭā mayā tadā uḍḍīnāstu tato haṁsāḥ svasthānaṁ pratijagmire

- they went to the world of Yama, father; this I saw at that time. Then the swans, taking flight, returned to their own place.

Verse 46 (padma.2.89.46)

एवं तात मया दृष्टं प्रत्यक्षं कथितं तव । कृष्णपक्षा महाकाया धार्तराष्ट्रास्तु ताः स्त्रियः

evaṁ tāta mayā dṛṣṭaṁ pratyakṣaṁ kathitaṁ tava kṛṣṇapakṣā mahākāyā dhārtarāṣṭrāstu tāḥ striyaḥ

This, father, I saw with my own eyes and have told you. Those black-winged, great-bodied Dhartarashtra women -

Verse 47 (padma.2.89.47)

कथयस्व प्रसादेन के भविष्यंति वै पितः । निर्गतान्मानसान्मध्याद्धार्तराष्ट्रान्वदस्व मे

kathayasva prasādena ke bhaviṣyaṁti vai pitaḥ nirgatānmānasānmadhyāddhārtarāṣṭrānvadasva me

"Tell me graciously, father, what shall become of them? Tell me of those Dhartarashtras who emerged from the midst of Lake Manasa."

Verse 48 (padma.2.89.48)

के भविष्यंति ते तात कथय त्वं तु सांप्रतम् । कस्मात्सुकृष्णतां प्राप्ता हंसाः शुद्धाश्च ते पुनः

ke bhaviṣyaṁti te tāta kathaya tvaṁ tu sāṁpratam kasmātsukṛṣṇatāṁ prāptā haṁsāḥ śuddhāśca te punaḥ

"What shall become of them, father? Tell me this now. How did those swans, becoming pure, come to that blackness?"

Verse 49 (padma.2.89.49)

संजातास्तत्क्षणात्तात कस्मान्मृतास्तु ताः स्त्रियः । एवं मे संशयस्तात संजातो दारुणो हृदि

saṁjātāstatkṣaṇāttāta kasmānmṛtāstu tāḥ striyaḥ evaṁ me saṁśayastāta saṁjāto dāruṇo hṛdi

"And why, father, did those women die at that very moment? Such, father, is the terrible doubt that has arisen in my heart."

Verse 50 (padma.2.89.50)

छेत्तुमर्हसि अद्यैव भवाञ्ज्ञानविचक्षणः । प्रसादसुमुखो भूत्वा प्रणतस्य सदैव मे

chettumarhasi adyaiva bhavāñjñānavicakṣaṇaḥ prasādasumukho bhūtvā praṇatasya sadaiva me

"You, skilled in knowledge, alone are fit to resolve this today; be gracious toward me, who am always bowed before you."

Verse 51 (padma.2.89.51)

एवं संभाष्य पितरं विरराम समुज्ज्वलः । ततः प्रवक्तुमारेभे स शुकः कुंजलाभिधः

evaṁ saṁbhāṣya pitaraṁ virarāma samujjvalaḥ tataḥ pravaktumārebhe sa śukaḥ kuṁjalābhidhaḥ

Having thus spoken to his father, Samujjvala fell silent. Then that parrot named Kunjala began to speak.