The Merchant Sadhu and King Ulkamukha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.390.1)

सूत उवाच। पुनरग्रे प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं मुनिसत्तमाः। पुरा चोल्कामुखो नाम नृपश्चासीन्महामतिः॥

sūta uvāca| punaragre pravakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṁ munisattamāḥ| purā colkāmukho nāma nṛpaścāsīnmahāmatiḥ||

Suta said: I shall tell further, listen, O best of sages; long ago there was a king named Ulkamukha, of great wisdom.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.390.2)

जितेन्द्रियः सत्यवादी ययौ देवालयं प्रति। दिने दिने धनं दत्त्वा द्विजान्सन्तोषयत्सुधीः॥

jitendriyaḥ satyavādī yayau devālayaṁ prati| dine dine dhanaṁ dattvā dvijānsantoṣayatsudhīḥ||

He was self-controlled and truthful, and would go to the temple; that wise king, giving wealth day after day, satisfied the brahmins.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.390.3)

भार्या तस्य प्रमुग्धा च सरोजवदना सती। भद्रशीलानदीतीरे सत्यस्य व्रतमाचरत्॥

bhāryā tasya pramugdhā ca sarojavadanā satī| bhadraśīlānadītīre satyasya vratamācarat||

His wife was most lovely, lotus-faced, and chaste; on the bank of the river Bhadrashila she performed the vow of Satyanarayana.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.390.4)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र साधुरेकः समागतः। वाणिज्यार्थं बहुधनैरनेकैः परिवारितः॥

etasminnantare tatra sādhurekaḥ samāgataḥ| vāṇijyārthaṁ bahudhanairanekaiḥ parivāritaḥ||

Meanwhile a merchant (Sadhu) arrived there, surrounded by much wealth and many companions, for the sake of trade.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.390.5)

नावं संस्थाप्य तत्तीरे जगाम नृपतिं प्रति। दृष्ट्वा स व्रतिनं भूपं पप्रच्छ विनयान्वितः॥

nāvaṁ saṁsthāpya tattīre jagāma nṛpatiṁ prati| dṛṣṭvā sa vratinaṁ bhūpaṁ papraccha vinayānvitaḥ||

Mooring his boat at that bank, he went to the king; seeing the king engaged in the vow, he asked with humility.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.390.6)

साधुरुवाच। किमिदं कुरुषे राजन् भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा। प्रकाशं कुरु तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि साम्प्रतम्॥

sādhuruvāca| kimidaṁ kuruṣe rājan bhaktiyuktena cetasā| prakāśaṁ kuru tatsarvaṁ śrotumicchāmi sāmpratam||

The Sadhu said: O king, what is this you are doing with a heart full of devotion? Reveal all of it - I wish to hear it now.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.390.7)

राजोवाच। पूजनं क्रियते साधो विष्णोरतुलतेजसः। व्रतं च स्वजनैः सार्धं पुत्राद्यावाप्तिकाम्यया॥

rājovāca| pūjanaṁ kriyate sādho viṣṇoratulatejasaḥ| vrataṁ ca svajanaiḥ sārdhaṁ putrādyāvāptikāmyayā||

The king said: O Sadhu, I am worshipping Vishnu, of incomparable splendour, and performing this vow with my kinsfolk, desiring to obtain a son and the like.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.390.8)

भूपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा साधुः प्रोवाच सादरम्। सर्वं कथय मे राजन्करिष्येऽहं तवोदितम्॥

bhūpasya vacanaṁ śrutvā sādhuḥ provāca sādaram| sarvaṁ kathaya me rājankariṣye'haṁ tavoditam||

Hearing the king's words, the Sadhu said respectfully: O king, tell me all of that - I too shall do what you have said.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.390.9)

ममापि सन्ततिर्नास्ति ह्येतस्माज्जायते ध्रुवम्। ततो निवृत्य वाणिज्यात्सानन्दो गृहमागतः॥

mamāpi santatirnāsti hyetasmājjāyate dhruvam| tato nivṛtya vāṇijyātsānando gṛhamāgataḥ||

I too have no offspring; from this vow offspring surely comes - hearing this, he ceased his trading and returned home with a joyful heart.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.390.10)

भार्यायै कथितं सर्वं व्रतं सन्ततिदायकम्। तदा व्रतं करिष्यामि यदा मे सन्ततिर्भवेत्॥

bhāryāyai kathitaṁ sarvaṁ vrataṁ santatidāyakam| tadā vrataṁ kariṣyāmi yadā me santatirbhavet||

He told his wife everything about that vow which grants offspring - "I shall perform this vow when I have a child."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.390.11)

इति लीलावतीं प्राह पत्नीं साधुः स सत्तमः। एकस्मिन्दिवसे तस्य भार्या लीलावती सती॥

iti līlāvatīṁ prāha patnīṁ sādhuḥ sa sattamaḥ| ekasmindivase tasya bhāryā līlāvatī satī||

Thus did that excellent Sadhu speak to his wife Lilavati; one day his chaste wife Lilavati,

Verse 12 (skanda.5.390.12)

भर्तृयुक्तानन्दचित्ताभवद्धर्मपरायणा। गर्भिणी साभवत्तस्य भार्या सत्यप्रसादतः॥

bhartṛyuktānandacittābhavaddharmaparāyaṇā| garbhiṇī sābhavattasya bhāryā satyaprasādataḥ||

joined with her husband, of joyful heart and devoted to righteousness, became pregnant by the grace of Satyadeva.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.390.13)

दशमे मासि वै तस्याः कन्यारत्नमजायत। दिने दिने सा ववृधे शुक्लपक्षे यथा शशी॥

daśame māsi vai tasyāḥ kanyāratnamajāyata| dine dine sā vavṛdhe śuklapakṣe yathā śaśī||

In the tenth month a jewel-like daughter was born to her; day by day she grew as the moon grows in the bright fortnight.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.390.14)

नाम्ना कलावतीति च तन्नामकरणं कृतम्। ततो लीलावती प्राह स्वामिनं मधुरं वचः॥

nāmnā kalāvatīti ca tannāmakaraṇaṁ kṛtam| tato līlāvatī prāha svāminaṁ madhuraṁ vacaḥ||

She was named Kalavati; then Lilavati spoke sweet words to her husband.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.390.15)

न करोषि किमद्य वै पुरा सङ्कल्पितं व्रतम्। साधुरुवाच। विवाहसमये त्वस्याः करिष्यामि व्रतं प्रिये॥

na karoṣi kimadya vai purā saṅkalpitaṁ vratam| sādhuruvāca| vivāhasamaye tvasyāḥ kariṣyāmi vrataṁ priye||

"Why do you not perform the vow you resolved upon before?" - the Sadhu said: O beloved, at the time of her marriage I shall perform this vow.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.390.16)

इति भार्यां समाश्वास्य जगाम नगरं प्रति। ततः कलावती कन्या ववृधे पितृवेश्मनि॥

iti bhāryāṁ samāśvāsya jagāma nagaraṁ prati| tataḥ kalāvatī kanyā vavṛdhe pitṛveśmani||

Saying this, having reassured his wife, he went off to the city; meanwhile the girl Kalavati grew up in her father's house.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.390.17)

दृष्ट्वा कन्यां ततः साधुर्नगरे सखिभिः सह। मन्त्रयित्वा द्रुतं दूतं प्रेषयामास धर्मवित्॥

dṛṣṭvā kanyāṁ tataḥ sādhurnagare sakhibhiḥ saha| mantrayitvā drutaṁ dūtaṁ preṣayāmāsa dharmavit||

Seeing his daughter with her companions in the city, the Sadhu, knowing what was right, deliberated and quickly sent a messenger.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.390.18)

विवाहार्थे च कन्यायाः वरं श्रेष्ठं विचारय। तेनाज्ञप्तश्च दूतोऽसौ काञ्चनं नगरं ययौ॥

vivāhārthe ca kanyāyāḥ varaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ vicāraya| tenājñaptaśca dūto'sau kāñcanaṁ nagaraṁ yayau||

"Seek out the best bridegroom for my daughter's marriage" - commanded thus, that messenger went to the city of Kanchana.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.390.19)

तस्मादेकं वणिक्पुत्रं समादायागतो हि सः। दृष्ट्वा तु सुन्दरं बालं वणिक्पुत्रं गुणान्वितम्॥

tasmādekaṁ vaṇikputraṁ samādāyāgato hi saḥ| dṛṣṭvā tu sundaraṁ bālaṁ vaṇikputraṁ guṇānvitam||

From there he brought back a merchant's son; seeing that handsome, virtuous merchant's son -

Verse 20 (skanda.5.390.20)

ज्ञातिभिर्बन्धुभिः सार्धं परितुष्टेन चेतसा। दत्तवान् साधुः पुत्राय कन्यां विधिविधानतः॥

jñātibhirbandhubhiḥ sārdhaṁ parituṣṭena cetasā| dattavān sādhuḥ putrāya kanyāṁ vidhividhānataḥ||

with a satisfied heart, together with kinsmen and relatives, the Sadhu gave his daughter to that bridegroom according to the proper rites.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.390.21)

ततो भाग्यवशात्तेन विस्मृतं व्रतमुत्तमम्। विवाहसमये तस्यास्तेन रुष्टोऽभवत्प्रभुः॥

tato bhāgyavaśāttena vismṛtaṁ vratamuttamam| vivāhasamaye tasyāstena ruṣṭo'bhavatprabhuḥ||

But by fate he forgot to perform that excellent vow; at the time of the marriage, the Lord Satyanarayana became displeased with him.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.390.22)

ततः कालेन नियतो निजकर्मविशारदः। वाणिज्यार्थं ततः शीघ्रं जामातृसहितो वणिक्॥

tataḥ kālena niyato nijakarmaviśāradaḥ| vāṇijyārthaṁ tataḥ śīghraṁ jāmātṛsahito vaṇik||

Then, in due course, that Sadhu, skilled in his craft, quickly set out for trade together with his son-in-law,

Verse 23 (skanda.5.390.23)

रत्नसारपुरे रम्ये गत्वा सिन्धुसमीपतः। वाणिज्यमकरोत्साधुर्जामात्रा श्रीमता सह॥

ratnasārapure ramye gatvā sindhusamīpataḥ| vāṇijyamakarotsādhurjāmātrā śrīmatā saha||

going to the lovely city of Ratnasarapura near the ocean, and began trading there together with his prosperous son-in-law.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.390.24)

तौ गतौ नगरे रम्ये चन्द्रकेतोर्नृपस्य च। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सत्यनारायणः प्रभुः॥

tau gatau nagare ramye candraketornṛpasya ca| etasminneva kāle tu satyanārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ||

Both of them went to the beautiful city of King Chandraketu; at that very time the Lord Satyanarayana -

Verse 25 (skanda.5.390.25)

भ्रष्टप्रतिज्ञमालोक्य शापं तस्मै प्रदत्तवान्। दारुणं कठिनं चास्य महद्दुःखं भविष्यति॥

bhraṣṭapratijñamālokya śāpaṁ tasmai pradattavān| dāruṇaṁ kaṭhinaṁ cāsya mahadduḥkhaṁ bhaviṣyati||

seeing his broken vow, cursed him: "A terrible and severe great sorrow shall befall him."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.390.26)

एकस्मिन्दिवसे राज्ञो धनमादाय तस्करः। तत्रैव चागतश्चौरो वणिजौ यत्र संस्थितौ॥

ekasmindivase rājño dhanamādāya taskaraḥ| tatraiva cāgataścauro vaṇijau yatra saṁsthitau||

One day a thief, having taken the king's wealth and fleeing, arrived at the very place where the two merchants were staying.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.390.27)

तत्पश्चाद्धावकान् दूतान्दृष्ट्वा भीतेन चेतसा। धनं संस्थाप्य तत्रैव स तु शीघ्रमलक्षितः॥

tatpaścāddhāvakān dūtāndṛṣṭvā bhītena cetasā| dhanaṁ saṁsthāpya tatraiva sa tu śīghramalakṣitaḥ||

Seeing the pursuing guards, with a frightened heart, he left the wealth right there and swiftly slipped away unseen.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.390.28)

ततो दूताः समायाता यत्रास्ते सज्जनो वणिक्। दृष्ट्वा नृपधनं तत्र बद्ध्वानीतौ वणिक्सुतौ॥

tato dūtāḥ samāyātā yatrāste sajjano vaṇik| dṛṣṭvā nṛpadhanaṁ tatra baddhvānītau vaṇiksutau||

Then the guards arrived where that honest merchant was staying; seeing the king's wealth there, they bound and seized both the merchant's sons.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.390.29)

हर्षेण धावमानाश्च ऊचुर्नृपसमीपतः। तस्करौ द्वौ समानीतौ विलोक्याज्ञापय प्रभो॥

harṣeṇa dhāvamānāśca ūcurnṛpasamīpataḥ| taskarau dvau samānītau vilokyājñāpaya prabho||

Running joyfully, they went to the king and said: O lord, we have brought two thieves - look and give your command.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.390.30)

राज्ञाज्ञप्तास्ततः शीघ्रं दृढं बद्ध्वा तु तावुभौ। स्थापितौ द्वौ महादुर्गे कारागारेऽविचारतः॥

rājñājñaptāstataḥ śīghraṁ dṛḍhaṁ baddhvā tu tāvubhau| sthāpitau dvau mahādurge kārāgāre'vicārataḥ||

By the king's order, both were tightly bound and, without deliberation, thrown into the prison of the great fortress.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.390.31)

मायया सत्यदेवस्य न श्रुतं कैस्तयोर्वचः। अतस्तयोर्धनं राज्ञा गृहीतं चन्द्रकेतुना॥

māyayā satyadevasya na śrutaṁ kaistayorvacaḥ| atastayordhanaṁ rājñā gṛhītaṁ candraketunā||

By the illusion of Satyadeva, no one heard their pleas; therefore King Chandraketu also seized all their wealth.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.390.32)

तच्छापाच्च तयोर्गेहे भार्या चैवातिदुःखिता। चौरेणापहृतं सर्वं गृहे यच्च स्थितं धनम्॥

tacchāpācca tayorgehe bhāryā caivātiduḥkhitā| caureṇāpahṛtaṁ sarvaṁ gṛhe yacca sthitaṁ dhanam||

Because of that curse, the wives in both their homes also became exceedingly distressed; whatever wealth was kept at home, a thief carried it away.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.390.33)

आधिव्याधिसमायुक्ता क्षुत्पिपासातिदुःखिता। अन्नचिन्तापरा भूत्वा बभ्राम च गृहे गृहे। कलावती तु कन्यापि बभ्राम प्रतिवासरम्॥

ādhivyādhisamāyuktā kṣutpipāsātiduḥkhitā| annacintāparā bhūtvā babhrāma ca gṛhe gṛhe| kalāvatī tu kanyāpi babhrāma prativāsaram||

Afflicted with bodily and mental pain, tormented by hunger and thirst, anxious for food, she wandered from house to house; the girl Kalavati too wandered thus, day after day.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.390.34)

एकस्मिन्दिवसे जाता क्षुधार्ता द्विजमन्दिरम्। गत्वापश्यद्व्रतं तत्र सत्यनारायणस्य च॥

ekasmindivase jātā kṣudhārtā dvijamandiram| gatvāpaśyadvrataṁ tatra satyanārāyaṇasya ca||

One day, tormented by hunger, she went to a brahmin's house, and there she saw the vow of Lord Satyanarayana being performed.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.390.35)

उपविश्य कथां श्रुत्वा वरं प्रार्थितवत्यपि। प्रसादभक्षणं कृत्वा ययौ रात्रौ गृहं प्रति॥

upaviśya kathāṁ śrutvā varaṁ prārthitavatyapi| prasādabhakṣaṇaṁ kṛtvā yayau rātrau gṛhaṁ prati||

Sitting there and hearing the story, she also prayed for a boon; having eaten the sacred food, she returned home at night.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.390.36)

माता कलावतीं कन्यां कथयामास प्रेमतः। पुत्रि रात्रौ स्थिता कुत्र किं ते मनसि वर्तते॥

mātā kalāvatīṁ kanyāṁ kathayāmāsa premataḥ| putri rātrau sthitā kutra kiṁ te manasi vartate||

Her mother lovingly asked her daughter Kalavati: O daughter, where were you at night? What is in your mind?

Verse 37 (skanda.5.390.37)

कन्या कलावती प्राह मातरं प्रति सत्वरम्। द्विजालये व्रतं मातर्दृष्टं वाञ्छितसिद्धिदम्॥

kanyā kalāvatī prāha mātaraṁ prati satvaram| dvijālaye vrataṁ mātardṛṣṭaṁ vāñchitasiddhidam||

The girl Kalavati quickly said to her mother: O mother, I saw at a brahmin's house a vow that fulfills desires.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.390.38)

तच्छ्रुत्वा कन्यकावाक्यं व्रतं कर्तुं समुद्यता। सा तदा तु वणिग्भार्या सत्यनारायणस्य च॥

tacchrutvā kanyakāvākyaṁ vrataṁ kartuṁ samudyatā| sā tadā tu vaṇigbhāryā satyanārāyaṇasya ca||

Hearing her daughter's words, that merchant's wife too became ready to perform that vow of Lord Satyanarayana.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.390.39)

व्रतं चक्रे सैव साध्वी बन्धुभिः स्वजनैः सह। भर्तृजामातरौ क्षिप्रमागच्छेतां स्वमाश्रमम्॥

vrataṁ cakre saiva sādhvī bandhubhiḥ svajanaiḥ saha| bhartṛjāmātarau kṣipramāgacchetāṁ svamāśramam||

That virtuous woman performed the vow together with her relatives and kinsfolk, and prayed that her husband and son-in-law might quickly return to their own home.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.390.40)

अपराधं च मे भर्तुर्जामातुः क्षन्तुमर्हसि। व्रतेनानेन तुष्टोऽसौ सत्यनारायणः पुनः॥

aparādhaṁ ca me bharturjāmātuḥ kṣantumarhasi| vratenānena tuṣṭo'sau satyanārāyaṇaḥ punaḥ||

"Forgive the fault of my husband and son-in-law" - pleased by this vow, Lord Satyanarayana again,

Verse 41 (skanda.5.390.41)

दर्शयामास स्वप्नं हि चन्द्रकेतुं नृपोत्तमम्। बन्दिनौ मोचय प्रातर्वणिजौ नृपसत्तम॥

darśayāmāsa svapnaṁ hi candraketuṁ nṛpottamam| bandinau mocaya prātarvaṇijau nṛpasattama||

appearing to the excellent King Chandraketu in a dream, said: O best of kings, at dawn release the two imprisoned merchants.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.390.42)

देयं धनं च तत्सर्वं गृहीतं यत्त्वयाधुना। नो चेत्त्वां नाशयिष्यामि सराज्यं धनपुत्रकम्॥

deyaṁ dhanaṁ ca tatsarvaṁ gṛhītaṁ yattvayādhunā| no cettvāṁ nāśayiṣyāmi sarājyaṁ dhanaputrakam||

And return to them all the wealth you have now taken from them; otherwise I shall destroy you along with your kingdom, wealth, and sons.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.390.43)

एवमाभाष्य राजानं ध्यानगम्योऽभवत्प्रभुः। ततः प्रभातसमये राजा च स्वजनैः सह॥

evamābhāṣya rājānaṁ dhyānagamyo'bhavatprabhuḥ| tataḥ prabhātasamaye rājā ca svajanaiḥ saha||

Having spoken thus to the king, the Lord became perceivable only through meditation (vanished); then, at dawn, the king, together with his kinsfolk,

Verse 44 (skanda.5.390.44)

उपविश्य सभामध्ये प्राह स्वप्नं जनं प्रति। वृद्धौ महाजनौ शीघ्रं मोचयद्वौ वणिक्सुतौ॥

upaviśya sabhāmadhye prāha svapnaṁ janaṁ prati| vṛddhau mahājanau śīghraṁ mocayadvau vaṇiksutau||

sitting in the assembly, began telling the people of his dream: "Quickly free those two venerable merchant's sons."

Verse 45 (skanda.5.390.45)

इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा मोचयित्वा महाजनौ। समानीय नृपस्याग्रे प्राहुस्ते विनयान्विताः॥

iti rājño vacaḥ śrutvā mocayitvā mahājanau| samānīya nṛpasyāgre prāhuste vinayānvitāḥ||

Hearing the king's words, they freed those two eminent men and, bringing them humbly before the king, said -

Verse 46 (skanda.5.390.46)

आनीतौ द्वौ वणिक्पुत्रौ मुक्तौ निगडबन्धनात्। ततो महाजनौ नत्वा चन्द्रकेतुं नृपोत्तमम्॥

ānītau dvau vaṇikputrau muktau nigaḍabandhanāt| tato mahājanau natvā candraketuṁ nṛpottamam||

"The two merchant's sons have been brought, freed from the bondage of fetters." Then those two eminent men, bowing to King Chandraketu,

Verse 47 (skanda.5.390.47)

स्मरन्तौ पूर्ववृत्तान्तं नोचतुर्भयविह्वलौ। राजा वणिक्सुतौ वीक्ष्य वचः प्रोवाच सादरम्॥

smarantau pūrvavṛttāntaṁ nocaturbhayavihvalau| rājā vaṇiksutau vīkṣya vacaḥ provāca sādaram||

remembering the earlier event, overwhelmed with fear, said nothing; the king, seeing the two merchant's sons, spoke to them with respect.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.390.48)

दैवात्प्राप्तं महद्दुःखमिदानीं नास्ति वै भयम्। तदा निगडसंत्यागं क्षौरकर्माद्यकारयत्॥

daivātprāptaṁ mahadduḥkhamidānīṁ nāsti vai bhayam| tadā nigaḍasaṁtyāgaṁ kṣaurakarmādyakārayat||

"By fate a great sorrow befell you; now there is no cause for fear" - then the king had their fetters removed and had them shaved and groomed.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.390.49)

वस्त्रालङ्कारकं दत्त्वा परितोष्य नृपश्च तौ। पुरस्कृत्य वणिक्पुत्रौ वचसातोषयद्भृशम्॥

vastrālaṅkārakaṁ dattvā paritoṣya nṛpaśca tau| puraskṛtya vaṇikputrau vacasātoṣayadbhṛśam||

Giving them garments and ornaments, and satisfying them, the king honoured the merchant's sons and greatly pleased them with kind words.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.390.50)

पुरानीतं तु यद्द्रव्यं द्विगुणीकृत्य दत्तवान्। प्रोवाच तौ ततो राजा गच्छ साधो निजाश्रमम्॥

purānītaṁ tu yaddravyaṁ dviguṇīkṛtya dattavān| provāca tau tato rājā gaccha sādho nijāśramam||

He returned, doubled, the wealth he had taken from them earlier; then the king said to them: "Go, O worthy ones, to your own abode."

Verse 51 (skanda.5.390.51)

राजानं प्रणिपत्याह गन्तव्यं त्वत्प्रासादतः। इत्युक्त्वा तौ महावैश्यौ जग्मतुः स्वगृहं प्रति॥

rājānaṁ praṇipatyāha gantavyaṁ tvatprāsādataḥ| ityuktvā tau mahāvaiśyau jagmatuḥ svagṛhaṁ prati||

Bowing to the king, they said: "Now it is fitting that we depart from your palace." Saying this, those two great merchants set off toward their own home.