The Glory of the Gita's Fourth Chapter: The Two Jujube Maidens

Verse 1 (padma.6.178.1)

श्रीभगवानुवाच। चतुर्थस्यापि माहात्म्यमाख्यास्याम्यधुना शृणु । बदरीत्वं समुत्सृज्य येन कन्ये दिवं गते

śrībhagavānuvāca caturthasyāpi māhātmyamākhyāsyāmyadhunā śṛṇu badarītvaṃ samutsṛjya yena kanye divaṃ gate

The Blessed Lord said: I shall now tell the glory of the fourth chapter as well; listen. By which two maidens, abandoning their state as jujube trees, went to heaven.

Verse 2 (padma.6.178.2)

श्रीरुवाच। कथं कन्ये दिवं याते बदरीत्वं विसृज्य वै । ते कचास्तां पुरा देव कथं प्राप्ते तु मुख्यताम्

śrīruvāca kathaṃ kanye divaṃ yāte badarītvaṃ visṛjya vai te kacāstāṃ purā deva kathaṃ prāpte tu mukhyatām

Shri said: How did those two maidens, abandoning their state as jujube trees, go to heaven? And how, O god, did they formerly come to attain that foremost condition of theirs?

Verse 3 (padma.6.178.3)

एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि नाथ वक्तुं त्वमर्हसि । न तु तृप्यामि शृण्वंती परमां च कथामिमाम्

etadveditumicchāmi nātha vaktuṃ tvamarhasi na tu tṛpyāmi śṛṇvaṃtī paramāṃ ca kathāmimām

This I wish to know, O lord; you should tell me. I am never satisfied, hearing this most excellent story.

Verse 4 (padma.6.178.4)

श्रीभगवानुवाच। अस्ति भागीरथी तीरे नाम्ना वाराणसी पुरी । भरतो नाम युक्तात्मा तत्र विश्वेश्वरालये

śrībhagavānuvāca asti bhāgīrathī tīre nāmnā vārāṇasī purī bharato nāma yuktātmā tatra viśveśvarālaye

The Blessed Lord said: On the bank of the Bhagirathi there is a city named Varanasi. There, in the temple of Vishveshvara, lived a man of disciplined soul named Bharata,

Verse 5 (padma.6.178.5)

नित्यमात्मरतस्तुर्यं जपत्यध्यायमादरात् । तदभ्यासाददुष्टात्मा न द्वंद्वैरभिभूयते

nityamātmaratasturyaṃ japatyadhyāyamādarāt tadabhyāsādaduṣṭātmā na dvaṃdvairabhibhūyate

ever delighting in the Self, reverently reciting the fourth chapter daily. By that practice his sinless soul was never overcome by the pairs of opposites.

Verse 6 (padma.6.178.6)

काले कदाचन क्रीडन्ययौ स नगराद्बहिः । उपांत्यवर्तिनो देवान्दिदृक्षुः स तपोधनः

kāle kadācana krīḍanyayau sa nagarādbahiḥ upāṃtyavartino devāndidṛkṣuḥ sa tapodhanaḥ

Once, at a certain time, wandering for recreation, that ascetic went out beyond the city, wishing to behold the gods dwelling nearby.

Verse 7 (padma.6.178.7)

विशश्राम तयोर्मूले बदर्योर्न्यपतत्फले । उपधाय तयोरेकामन्यामालंब्य चांघ्रिणा

viśaśrāma tayormūle badaryornyapatatphale upadhāya tayorekāmanyāmālaṃbya cāṃghriṇā

He rested at the foot of two jujube trees, from which fruit fell; resting his head against one of them, and leaning his foot upon the other.

Verse 8 (padma.6.178.8)

तपस्विनि ततो याते बदर्योश्च तथार्द्वयम् । शुष्कं निष्पत्रशाखं च दिवसैः पंचषैरभूत्

tapasvini tato yāte badaryośca tathārdvayam śuṣkaṃ niṣpatraśākhaṃ ca divasaiḥ paṃcaṣairabhūt

When that ascetic then departed, both those two jujube trees, within five or six days, became withered, their branches stripped of leaves.

Verse 9 (padma.6.178.9)

गृहे क्वचन विप्राणां जज्ञाते कन्यके ततः । वर्द्धमानं तयोर्युग्मं सप्तभिः परिवत्सरैः

gṛhe kvacana viprāṇāṃ jajñāte kanyake tataḥ varddhamānaṃ tayoryugmaṃ saptabhiḥ parivatsaraiḥ

Then, in the house of certain brahmins, two maidens were born; and that pair grew up over seven full years.

Verse 10 (padma.6.178.10)

विहृत्य दूरदेशेभ्यो यतिमायांत मैक्ष्यत । गृहीत्वा चरणौ तस्य वचः सूनृतमब्रवीत्

vihṛtya dūradeśebhyo yatimāyāṃta maikṣyata gṛhītvā caraṇau tasya vacaḥ sūnṛtamabravīt

Having wandered from distant lands, they saw that ascetic approaching; taking hold of his feet, they spoke to him this honest word:

Verse 11 (padma.6.178.11)

त्वत्प्रसादादेव मुने मोचितं द्वंद्वमावयोः । उत्सृज्य बदरीभावं मानुष्यं प्रतिपद्यते

tvatprasādādeva mune mocitaṃ dvaṃdvamāvayoḥ utsṛjya badarībhāvaṃ mānuṣyaṃ pratipadyate

'By your grace alone, O sage, the pair of opposites afflicting us both have been dispelled. Having abandoned our state as jujube trees, we have now attained human birth.'

Verse 12 (padma.6.178.12)

एवमुक्तो मुनिस्ताभ्यां विस्मृतः प्रत्युवाच सः । कदा वत्से युवां केन हेतुना मोचिते मया

evamukto munistābhyāṃ vismṛtaḥ pratyuvāca saḥ kadā vatse yuvāṃ kena hetunā mocite mayā

Thus addressed by them, the sage, having forgotten the matter, replied: 'When, my children, and by what cause were you two released by me?'

Verse 13 (padma.6.178.13)

युवयोर्बदरीत्वे च हेतुं ब्रूतां न वेद्म्यहम् । ऊचतुः कन्यके तस्मै बादर्ये हेतुमात्मनः

yuvayorbadarītve ca hetuṃ brūtāṃ na vedmyaham ūcatuḥ kanyake tasmai bādarye hetumātmanaḥ

'And tell me the cause of your having become jujube trees -- I do not know it.' The two maidens then told him the cause of their own having been jujube trees.

Verse 14 (padma.6.178.14)

आदौ विमोचने तस्माद्दुस्त्यजादपि कारणम् । अस्ति गोदावरी तीरे तीर्थं पुण्यप्रदं नृणाम्

ādau vimocane tasmāddustyajādapi kāraṇam asti godāvarī tīre tīrthaṃ puṇyapradaṃ nṛṇām

First, regarding their release, they told the cause, even from that state so hard to abandon: 'On the bank of the Godavari is a tirtha that bestows merit upon men,'

Verse 15 (padma.6.178.15)

च्छिन्नपापमिति ख्यातं परां कोटिमवापयत् । तत्र सत्यतपा नाम तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्

cchinnapāpamiti khyātaṃ parāṃ koṭimavāpayat tatra satyatapā nāma tapastepe sudāruṇam

'known as Chinnapapa, which grants the highest excellence. There, one named Satyatapas performed a most severe austerity.'

Verse 16 (padma.6.178.16)

ग्रीष्मे महति दीप्तानां मध्यगो जातवेदसाम् । वर्षासु जलधाराभिर्नित्यमासिक्तमूर्द्धजः

grīṣme mahati dīptānāṃ madhyago jātavedasām varṣāsu jaladhārābhirnityamāsiktamūrddhajaḥ

'In the great heat of summer he stood amidst blazing fires; in the rainy season his matted locks were ever drenched by streams of water;'

Verse 17 (padma.6.178.17)

शिशिरे च वसन्नप्सु बिभ्रत्कंटकितां तनुम् । विशुद्धः सततं काले तपस्तप्त्वा स संयमी

śiśire ca vasannapsu bibhratkaṃṭakitāṃ tanum viśuddhaḥ satataṃ kāle tapastaptvā sa saṃyamī

'and in winter he dwelt in water, his body bearing the marks of gooseflesh from the cold. Ever purified, that self-controlled man performed austerity constantly through time.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.178.18)

आत्मन्येव मतिं चक्रे परां प्राप्य सुनिर्वृतिम् । सदा फलानि बिभ्रत्सु सांद्रच्छायेषु शाखिषु

ātmanyeva matiṃ cakre parāṃ prāpya sunirvṛtim sadā phalāni bibhratsu sāṃdracchāyeṣu śākhiṣu

'He fixed his mind upon the Self alone, having attained the highest peace, dwelling always among trees laden with fruit and dense with shade,'

Verse 19 (padma.6.178.19)

निर्मत्सरेषु सत्वेषु बध्वा प्रीतिपरामपि । तपःफलानुसंधाने वैदुष्येनोपपादितम्

nirmatsareṣu satveṣu badhvā prītiparāmapi tapaḥphalānusaṃdhāne vaiduṣyenopapāditam

'binding all creatures free of envy in the highest affection, guided by his own learning in the pursuit of the fruit of austerity.'

Verse 20 (padma.6.178.20)

ब्रह्माप्येनं स्वयं पृच्छन्नुपतस्थे तमन्वहम् । तेन संकोचहीनत्वाद्ब्रह्यण्यनुगतेन्वहम्

brahmāpyenaṃ svayaṃ pṛcchannupatasthe tamanvaham tena saṃkocahīnatvādbrahyaṇyanugatenvaham

'Even Brahma himself, questioning him, would attend upon him daily; and because of his freedom from all constraint, that austerity, followed by Brahma daily,'

Verse 21 (padma.6.178.21)

तद्ध्यानानुगतव्यक्ति ववृधे तस्य तत्तपः । विमुक्तकल्पं मन्वानः समृद्धादात्मनः पदात्

taddhyānānugatavyakti vavṛdhe tasya tattapaḥ vimuktakalpaṃ manvānaḥ samṛddhādātmanaḥ padāt

'grew ever manifest, followed by his own meditation, so that he considered himself already as good as liberated, from his own well-established state.'

Verse 22 (padma.6.178.22)

अंतरायशतं चक्रे ततो भीतः पुरंदरः । आहूयाप्सरसां मध्यादावां तुल्यं समादिशत्

aṃtarāyaśataṃ cakre tato bhītaḥ puraṃdaraḥ āhūyāpsarasāṃ madhyādāvāṃ tulyaṃ samādiśat

'Then Purandara, frightened, created a hundred obstacles; summoning us two from among the Apsarases, he equally commanded us both:'

Verse 23 (padma.6.178.23)

कुरुतं तत्तपोविघ्नमनेनाचरितं युवाम् । यो मां पदादवष्टभ्य स्वराज्यं भोक्तुमिच्छति

kurutaṃ tattapovighnamanenācaritaṃ yuvām yo māṃ padādavaṣṭabhya svarājyaṃ bhoktumicchati

'-- Create an obstruction to that austerity practiced by that man, who wishes to seize my very throne and enjoy my own sovereignty.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.178.24)

इति संदेशमापन्ने पुरस्ताच्च बिडौजसः । गोदावरीमगच्छावः स मुनिर्यत्र वर्तते

iti saṃdeśamāpanne purastācca biḍaujasaḥ godāvarīmagacchāvaḥ sa muniryatra vartate

'Having received this command from mighty Indra, we two went to the Godavari, where that sage dwelt.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.178.25)

मृदंगैर्मंदगंभीरैर्वेणुभिः कलवादिभिः । कलं गीतं समारब्धं तन्वंगीभिः समन्वितम्

mṛdaṃgairmaṃdagaṃbhīrairveṇubhiḥ kalavādibhiḥ kalaṃ gītaṃ samārabdhaṃ tanvaṃgībhiḥ samanvitam

'With mridangas soft and deep, with flutes of gentle, melodious sound, a sweet song was begun by us two slender-limbed women, together,'

Verse 26 (padma.6.178.26)

उद्वहंत्यौ पृथुश्रोणीं घनपीनपयोधरे । स्मयस्मेरमुखांभोजे किंचिदाकुंचितालके

udvahaṃtyau pṛthuśroṇīṃ ghanapīnapayodhare smayasmeramukhāṃbhoje kiṃcidākuṃcitālake

'-- bearing broad hips, our breasts full and firm, our lotus-faces smiling with delight, our locks somewhat curled,'

Verse 27 (padma.6.178.27)

मणिकुंडलदृष्टांसे पुंडरीकोज्ज्वलेक्षणे । तनुमध्ये सुवृत्तोरु वहंत्यौ च समे पदे

maṇikuṃḍaladṛṣṭāṃse puṃḍarīkojjvalekṣaṇe tanumadhye suvṛttoru vahaṃtyau ca same pade

'-- our shoulders visible through jeweled earrings, our eyes bright as white lotuses, our waists slender, our thighs rounded, dancing with even, matching steps,'

Verse 28 (padma.6.178.28)

आनर्तां यो वनस्यार्थे स्वरताललयानुगाम् । दर्शयंत्यौ स्वतः कृत्स्नां गतिं भावानुगामिनीम्

ānartāṃ yo vanasyārthe svaratālalayānugām darśayaṃtyau svataḥ kṛtsnāṃ gatiṃ bhāvānugāminīm

'-- we danced for the sake of the whole forest, our movements following the melody, rhythm, and tempo of the music, displaying, on our own, our every gesture, following the very feeling of the song.'

Verse 29 (padma.6.178.29)

मृदूपक्रममुत्पन्नं मंदं मंदं विवर्द्धनम् । गर्जयामास दिक्चक्रं तत्तयोर्नृत्यमानयोः

mṛdūpakramamutpannaṃ maṃdaṃ maṃdaṃ vivarddhanam garjayāmāsa dikcakraṃ tattayornṛtyamānayoḥ

'That music, begun gently, slowly and gradually growing louder, made the entire circle of the directions resound, as we two danced.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.178.30)

ततोंगहारवेगेन वायुर्वासः सुशीतलः । ईषदुच्छ्वसिते चैले दर्शयंत्यौ पयोधरौ

tatoṃgahāravegena vāyurvāsaḥ suśītalaḥ īṣaducchvasite caile darśayaṃtyau payodharau

'Then, through the swift movement of our limbs, a cool breeze slightly lifted our garments, revealing our breasts to view.'

Verse 31 (padma.6.178.31)

उद्वर्धयंती कंदर्प्पमुल्बणा गतिरावयोः । कोपमुत्पादयामासु मुने रविकृतात्मनः

udvardhayaṃtī kaṃdarppamulbaṇā gatirāvayoḥ kopamutpādayāmāsu mune ravikṛtātmanaḥ

'Our over-vigorous movements, arousing desire, produced anger in the mind of that sage whose very soul had been made pure as the sun.'

Verse 32 (padma.6.178.32)

ततः शापं ददौ कोपाज्जलमुत्सृज्य पाणिना । बदरीत्वं प्रपद्येथां जाह्नवी रोधसीति नौ

tataḥ śāpaṃ dadau kopājjalamutsṛjya pāṇinā badarītvaṃ prapadyethāṃ jāhnavī rodhasīti nau

'Then, in his anger, releasing water from his hand, he pronounced this curse upon us: May you both become jujube trees upon the bank of the Ganges.'

Verse 33 (padma.6.178.33)

आवाभ्यां पारतंत्र्येण यद्दुश्चरितमास्थितम् । तत्क्षमस्व विनम्राभ्यां मुनिः पश्चात्प्रसादितः

āvābhyāṃ pārataṃtryeṇa yadduścaritamāsthitam tatkṣamasva vinamrābhyāṃ muniḥ paścātprasāditaḥ

Being ourselves dependent, whatever wrongful conduct we thus fell into -- 'forgive it,' we said, bowing low; and the sage, after that, was appeased,

Verse 34 (padma.6.178.34)

ततः शापविमोक्षं नौ कल्पयामास पुण्यधीः । भरतागमनांतोयमिति सत्यतया मुनिः

tataḥ śāpavimokṣaṃ nau kalpayāmāsa puṇyadhīḥ bharatāgamanāṃtoyamiti satyatayā muniḥ

and, pure of mind, he ordained the means of our release from the curse: the sage said in truth that it would end at Bharata's arrival --

Verse 35 (padma.6.178.35)

मर्त्येषु जन्मलाभश्च स्मृतिश्चातीतजन्मनाम् । आवयोरंतिकं गत्वा बदरीभूतयोस्ततः

martyeṣu janmalābhaśca smṛtiścātītajanmanām āvayoraṃtikaṃ gatvā badarībhūtayostataḥ

-- namely, birth among mortals, and the memory of our past lives; and, having come close to us two, having become jujube trees,

Verse 36 (padma.6.178.36)

स्मरता तुर्यमध्यायं भवता निष्कृतिः कृता । तत्तावत्प्रणमावस्त्वां शापादेव न केवलात

smaratā turyamadhyāyaṃ bhavatā niṣkṛtiḥ kṛtā tattāvatpraṇamāvastvāṃ śāpādeva na kevalāta

'-- by you, who recited the fourth chapter as you remembered it, our redemption has been accomplished. Therefore we bow down to you now, not merely from the curse alone --'

Verse 37 (padma.6.178.37)

घोरादेव तु संसारात्त्वयैतेन विमोचिते । श्रीभगवानुवाच। एवमुक्तो मुनिस्ताभ्यामतिप्रीतमनास्ततः

ghorādeva tu saṃsārāttvayaitena vimocite śrībhagavānuvāca evamukto munistābhyāmatiprītamanāstataḥ

'-- but from the terrible cycle of worldly existence itself, by which you have set us free.' The Blessed Lord said: Thus addressed by them, the sage, his mind now filled with great delight,

Verse 38 (padma.6.178.38)

पूजितस्ते समामंत्र्य यथागतमसौ ययौ । कन्ये चतुर्थमध्यायं जपेतां नित्यमादरात्

pūjitaste samāmaṃtrya yathāgatamasau yayau kanye caturthamadhyāyaṃ japetāṃ nityamādarāt

worshipped by them, took leave of them and went back the way he had come; and the two maidens ever recited the fourth chapter, daily, with reverence.