The Deception and Curse of Vrinda

Verse 1 (padma.6.103.1)

नारद उवाच । विष्णुर्जालंधरं गत्वा तद्दैत्यपुटभेदनम् । पातिव्रत्यस्य भंगाय वृंदायाश्चाकरोन्मतिम्

nārada uvāca viṣṇurjālaṁdharaṁ gatvā taddaityapuṭabhedanam pātivratyasya bhaṁgāya vṛṁdāyāścākaronmatim

Narada said: Vishnu, having gone to the city of Jalandhara, in order to breach that demon's stronghold, resolved to break the chastity of Vrinda.

Verse 2 (padma.6.103.2)

अथ वृंदारका देवी स्वप्नमध्ये ददर्श ह । भर्त्तारं महिषारूढं तैलाभ्यक्तं दिगंबरम्

atha vṛṁdārakā devī svapnamadhye dadarśa ha bharttāraṁ mahiṣārūḍhaṁ tailābhyaktaṁ digaṁbaram

Then the devoted lady Vrinda saw in a dream her husband mounted upon a buffalo, smeared with oil, and unclothed —

Verse 3 (padma.6.103.3)

कृष्णप्रसूनभूषाढ्यं क्रव्यादगणसेवितम् । दक्षिणाशां गतं मुंडं तमसा व्यावृतं तदा

kṛṣṇaprasūnabhūṣāḍhyaṁ kravyādagaṇasevitam dakṣiṇāśāṁ gataṁ muṁḍaṁ tamasā vyāvṛtaṁ tadā

— adorned with garlands of black flowers, attended by flesh-eating spirits, going toward the southern direction, his head shaven, and enveloped in darkness.

Verse 4 (padma.6.103.4)

स्वपुरं सागरे मग्नं सहसैवात्मना सह । ततः प्रबुद्धा सा बाला स्वस्वप्नं प्रविचिन्वती

svapuraṁ sāgare magnaṁ sahasaivātmanā saha tataḥ prabuddhā sā bālā svasvapnaṁ pravicinvatī

She saw her own city, together with herself, suddenly sinking into the ocean. Then, awakening, that young woman began to ponder over her dream.

Verse 5 (padma.6.103.5)

ददर्शोदितमादित्यं सच्छिद्रं निश्चलं मुहुः । तदनिष्टमिति ज्ञात्वा रुदती भयविह्वला

dadarśoditamādityaṁ sacchidraṁ niścalaṁ muhuḥ tadaniṣṭamiti jñātvā rudatī bhayavihvalā

She saw the rising sun full of holes and repeatedly motionless. Knowing this to be inauspicious, she wept, overwhelmed with fear.

Verse 6 (padma.6.103.6)

कुत्रचिन्नालभच्छर्म गोपुराट्टालभूमिषु । ततः सखीद्वययुता नगरोद्यानमागमत्

kutracinnālabhaccharma gopurāṭṭālabhūmiṣu tataḥ sakhīdvayayutā nagarodyānamāgamat

She found peace nowhere — not at the city gates, not upon the terraces. Then, accompanied by two companions, she went to the city garden.

Verse 7 (padma.6.103.7)

तत्रापि सागता बाला नालभत्कुत्रचित्सुखम् । वनाद्वनांतरं याता नैव वेदात्मनस्तदा

tatrāpi sāgatā bālā nālabhatkutracitsukham vanādvanāṁtaraṁ yātā naiva vedātmanastadā

Even having arrived there, that young woman found happiness nowhere. Wandering from forest to forest, she then lost all awareness of herself.

Verse 8 (padma.6.103.8)

ततो भ्रमंते सा बाला ददर्शातिविभीषणौ । राक्षसौ सिंहवदनौ दंष्ट्रानयनभीषणौ

tato bhramaṁte sā bālā dadarśātivibhīṣaṇau rākṣasau siṁhavadanau daṁṣṭrānayanabhīṣaṇau

Thus wandering, that young woman saw two exceedingly terrible rakshasas, lion-faced, frightful with tusks and eyes.

Verse 9 (padma.6.103.9)

तौ दृष्ट्वा विह्वलातीव पलायनपरा तदा । ददर्श तापसंशांतं सशिष्यं मौनमास्थितम्

tau dṛṣṭvā vihvalātīva palāyanaparā tadā dadarśa tāpasaṁśāṁtaṁ saśiṣyaṁ maunamāsthitam

Seeing them, greatly distraught, she began to flee. Then she saw a calm ascetic, observing a vow of silence, together with a disciple.

Verse 10 (padma.6.103.10)

ततस्तत्कंठ आसज्य निजां बाहुलतां भयात् । मुने मां रक्ष शरणमागतामित्यभाषत

tatastatkaṁṭha āsajya nijāṁ bāhulatāṁ bhayāt mune māṁ rakṣa śaraṇamāgatāmityabhāṣata

Then, out of fear, she threw her vine-like arm around his neck and said: 'O sage, protect me, who have come to you for refuge.'

Verse 11 (padma.6.103.11)

मुनिस्तां विह्वलां दृष्ट्वा राक्षसानुगतां तदा । हुंकारेणैव तौ घोरौ चकार विमुखौ रुषा

munistāṁ vihvalāṁ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasānugatāṁ tadā huṁkāreṇaiva tau ghorau cakāra vimukhau ruṣā

That sage, seeing that distraught woman pursued by the rakshasas, with a mere angry roar drove those two terrible demons back.

Verse 12 (padma.6.103.12)

यद्धुंकारभयत्रस्तौ दृष्ट्वा तौ गगनं गतौ । प्रणम्य दंडवद्भूमौ वृंदा वचनमब्रवीत्

yaddhuṁkārabhayatrastau dṛṣṭvā tau gaganaṁ gatau praṇamya daṁḍavadbhūmau vṛṁdā vacanamabravīt

Terrified by that roar, both of them fled into the sky. Seeing this, Vrinda, prostrating flat upon the ground, spoke these words.

Verse 13 (padma.6.103.13)

वृंदोवाच। रक्षिताहं त्वया घोराद्भयात्तस्मात्कृपानिधे । किंचिद्विज्ञप्तुमिच्छामि कृपया तन्निशामय

vṛṁdovāca rakṣitāhaṁ tvayā ghorādbhayāttasmātkṛpānidhe kiṁcidvijñaptumicchāmi kṛpayā tanniśāmaya

Vrinda said: 'O treasury of compassion, you have saved me from that terrible danger. I wish to make a certain petition; please, out of kindness, hear it.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.103.14)

जलंधरो हि मे भर्त्ता रुद्रं योद्धुं गतः प्रभो । स तत्रास्ति कथं युद्धे तन्मे कथय सुव्रत

jalaṁdharo hi me bharttā rudraṁ yoddhuṁ gataḥ prabho sa tatrāsti kathaṁ yuddhe tanme kathaya suvrata

'O Master, Jalandhara, my husband, has gone to fight Rudra. O excellent one of holy vows, tell me how he fares in that battle.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.103.15)

नारद उवाच। मुनिस्तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य कृपयोर्ध्वमवैक्षत । तावत्कपीशावायातौ तं प्रणम्याग्रतः स्थितौ

nārada uvāca munistadvākyamākarṇya kṛpayordhvamavaikṣata tāvatkapīśāvāyātau taṁ praṇamyāgrataḥ sthitau

Narada said: The sage, hearing her words, gazed upward with compassion. At that moment, two monkey-lords arrived, bowed to him, and stood before him.

Verse 16 (padma.6.103.16)

ततस्तद्भ्रूलतासंज्ञा नियुक्तौ गगनं गतौ । गत्वा क्षणार्द्धादागत्य वानरावग्रतः स्थितौ

tatastadbhrūlatāsaṁjñā niyuktau gaganaṁ gatau gatvā kṣaṇārddhādāgatya vānarāvagrataḥ sthitau

Then, commanded by a gesture of his eyebrows, the two went off into the sky. Departing and returning within half a moment, the two monkeys stood before him.

Verse 17 (padma.6.103.17)

शिरः कबंधहस्तौ तौ दृष्ट्वाब्धितनयस्य सा । पपात मूर्छिता भूमौ भर्तृव्यसनदुःखिता

śiraḥ kabaṁdhahastau tau dṛṣṭvābdhitanayasya sā papāta mūrchitā bhūmau bhartṛvyasanaduḥkhitā

Seeing them holding the head and trunk of the ocean's son (Jalandhara) in their hands, she, stricken with grief at her husband's fate, fell senseless to the ground.

Verse 18 (padma.6.103.18)

कमंडलुजलैः सिक्ता मुनिनाश्वासिता तदा । स्वभर्तृभाले सा भालं कृत्वा खिन्ना रुरोद ह

kamaṁḍalujalaiḥ siktā munināśvāsitā tadā svabhartṛbhāle sā bhālaṁ kṛtvā khinnā ruroda ha

Revived and comforted by the sage, who sprinkled her with water from his kamandalu, she, placing her forehead upon her husband's head, wept in anguish.

Verse 19 (padma.6.103.19)

वृंदोवाच। यः पुरा सुखसंवादैर्विनोदयसि मां विभो । स कथं न वदस्यद्य वल्लभां मामनागसम्

vṛṁdovāca yaḥ purā sukhasaṁvādairvinodayasi māṁ vibho sa kathaṁ na vadasyadya vallabhāṁ māmanāgasam

Vrinda said: 'O Lord, you who once used to delight me with pleasant conversation — why do you not speak today to me, your innocent beloved?'

Verse 20 (padma.6.103.20)

येन देवाः सगंधर्वा निर्जिता हरिणा सह । स कथं तापसेन त्वं त्रैलोक्यविजयी हतः

yena devāḥ sagaṁdharvā nirjitā hariṇā saha sa kathaṁ tāpasena tvaṁ trailokyavijayī hataḥ

'You, who conquered the gods together with the gandharvas, along with Hari — how have you, the conqueror of the three worlds, been slain by a mere ascetic?'

Verse 21 (padma.6.103.21)

नारद उवाच। रुदित्वेति तदा वृंदा तं मुनिं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । वृंदोवाच । कृपानिधे मुनिश्रेष्ठ जीवनं मेऽस्य सुप्रियम्

nārada uvāca ruditveti tadā vṛṁdā taṁ muniṁ vākyamabravīt vṛṁdovāca kṛpānidhe muniśreṣṭha jīvanaṁ me'sya supriyam

Narada said: Having wept thus, Vrinda spoke these words to that sage. Vrinda said: 'O treasury of compassion, O best of sages, his life is most dear to me.'

Verse 22 (padma.6.103.22)

त्वमेवास्य पुनः शक्तो जीवनाय मतो मम । अथ तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य प्रहस्य मुनिरब्रवीत्

tvamevāsya punaḥ śakto jīvanāya mato mama atha tadvākyamākarṇya prahasya munirabravīt

'In my judgment, you alone have the power to bring him back to life.' Then, hearing her words, the sage, laughing, said —

Verse 23 (padma.6.103.23)

मुनिरुवाच। नायं जीवयितुं शक्यो रुद्रेण निहतो युधि । तथापि त्वत्कृपाविष्ट एवं संजीवयाम्यहम्

muniruvāca nāyaṁ jīvayituṁ śakyo rudreṇa nihato yudhi tathāpi tvatkṛpāviṣṭa evaṁ saṁjīvayāmyaham

The sage said: 'This one, slain by Rudra in battle, cannot be brought back to life. Yet, moved by compassion for you, I shall revive him in this manner.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.103.24)

नारद उवाच। इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे यावत्तावत्सागरनंदनः । वृंदामालिंग्य तद्वक्त्रं चुचुंबे प्रीतमानसः

nārada uvāca ityuktvāṁtardadhe yāvattāvatsāgaranaṁdanaḥ vṛṁdāmāliṁgya tadvaktraṁ cucuṁbe prītamānasaḥ

Narada said: Having said this, that corpse vanished, and at that very moment the ocean's son (Vishnu in that disguised form) appeared, and, his mind delighted, embraced Vrinda and kissed her face.

Verse 25 (padma.6.103.25)

अथ वृंदापि भर्त्तारं दृष्ट्वा हर्षितमानसा । रेमे तद्वनमध्यस्था तद्युक्ता बहुवासरम्

atha vṛṁdāpi bharttāraṁ dṛṣṭvā harṣitamānasā reme tadvanamadhyasthā tadyuktā bahuvāsaram

Then Vrinda too, seeing her husband alive, her mind filled with joy, remained there in the midst of that forest and sported with him for many days.

Verse 26 (padma.6.103.26)

कदाचित्सुरतस्यांते दृष्ट्वा विष्णुं तमेव हि । निर्भर्त्स्य क्रोधसंयुक्ता वृंदा वचनमब्रवीत्

kadācitsuratasyāṁte dṛṣṭvā viṣṇuṁ tameva hi nirbhartsya krodhasaṁyuktā vṛṁdā vacanamabravīt

Once, at the end of their union, recognizing that it was in fact Vishnu, Vrinda, filled with rage, rebuking him, spoke these words.

Verse 27 (padma.6.103.27)

वृंदोवाच। धिक्त वेदं हरे शीलं परदाराभिगामिनः । ज्ञातोऽसि त्वं मया सम्यङ्माया प्रत्यक्ष तापसः

vṛṁdovāca dhikta vedaṁ hare śīlaṁ paradārābhigāminaḥ jñāto'si tvaṁ mayā samyaṅmāyā pratyakṣa tāpasaḥ

Vrinda said: 'O Hari, shame upon this conduct of yours, going to another man's wife. I have recognized you fully — that ascetic was but a visible illusion.'

Verse 28 (padma.6.103.28)

यौ त्वया मायया द्वास्थौ स्वकीयौ दर्शितौ मम । तावेव राक्षसौ भूत्वा भार्यां तव हरिष्यथ

yau tvayā māyayā dvāsthau svakīyau darśitau mama tāveva rākṣasau bhūtvā bhāryāṁ tava hariṣyatha

'Those two of your own doorkeepers, whom you showed me through your illusion as demons — they themselves shall now become demons and abduct your own wife.'

Verse 29 (padma.6.103.29)

त्वं चापि भार्यादुःखार्तो वने कपिसहायवान् । भ्रम सर्वेश्वरेणायं यस्ते शिष्यत्वमागतः

tvaṁ cāpi bhāryāduḥkhārto vane kapisahāyavān bhrama sarveśvareṇāyaṁ yaste śiṣyatvamāgataḥ

'And you too, tormented with grief for your own wife, shall wander in the forest with the aid of monkeys. O Lord of all — this form of yours that took on the guise of a disciple —'

Verse 30 (padma.6.103.30)

इत्युक्त्वा सा तदा वृंदा प्राविशद्धव्यवाहनम् । विष्णुना वार्यमाणापि तस्मिन्नासक्तमानसा

ityuktvā sā tadā vṛṁdā prāviśaddhavyavāhanam viṣṇunā vāryamāṇāpi tasminnāsaktamānasā

Having said this, Vrinda then entered the fire. Even as Vishnu tried to restrain her, her mind clinging only to her own husband, she did so.

Verse 31 (padma.6.103.31)

ततो हरिस्तामनुसंस्मरन्मुहुर्वृंदाचिताभस्मरजोवगुंठितः । तत्रैव तस्थौ मुनिसिद्धसंघैः प्रबोध्यमानोपि ययौ न शांतिंम्

tato haristāmanusaṁsmaranmuhurvṛṁdācitābhasmarajovaguṁṭhitaḥ tatraiva tasthau munisiddhasaṁghaiḥ prabodhyamānopi yayau na śāṁtiṁm

Then Hari, ceaselessly remembering her, covered with the ash-dust of Vrinda's funeral pyre, remained fixed right there. Even though comforted by hosts of sages and siddhas, he found no peace.