The Tale of the Chandogya Brahmin's Daughter

Verse 1 (skanda.6.195.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः शूद्री च ब्राह्मणी चापि ये त्वया परिकीर्तिते हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे तीर्थद्वयमनुत्तमम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ śūdrī ca brāhmaṇī cāpi ye tvayā parikīrtite hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre tīrthadvayamanuttamam

The sages said: The two supreme tirthas in the sacred field born at Hatakeshvara, which you have described as made by a shudra maiden and a brahmin maiden —

Verse 2 (skanda.6.195.2)

तत्कथं तत्र संजातं केन वा तद्विनिर्मितम् एतच्च सर्वमाचक्ष्व विस्तरेण महामते

tatkathaṁ tatra saṁjātaṁ kena vā tadvinirmitam etacca sarvamācakṣva vistareṇa mahāmate

— how did they come to be there, and by whom were they made? Tell us all of this at length, O wise one.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.195.3)

पादुकाभ्यां समुत्पत्तिः श्रुताऽस्माभिः पुरा तव वद तच्चापि माहात्म्यं ताभ्यां चैव समुद्भवम्

pādukābhyāṁ samutpattiḥ śrutā'smābhiḥ purā tava vada taccāpi māhātmyaṁ tābhyāṁ caiva samudbhavam

We have already heard from you of the origin of the two sandal-footprints. Tell us also of their greatness, and of how they came to be.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.195.4)

सूत उवाच पुरासीन्नागरो विप्रश्छांदोग्य इति विश्रुतः यस्याऽन्वयेऽपि विप्रेन्द्राश्छान्दोग्या इति विश्रुताः

sūta uvāca purāsīnnāgaro vipraśchāṁdogya iti viśrutaḥ yasyā'nvaye'pi viprendrāśchāndogyā iti viśrutāḥ

Suta said: Long ago there was a Nagara brahmin renowned as Chandogya, in whose lineage the foremost brahmins are known to this day as the Chandogyas.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.195.5)

सामवेदविदस्तस्य गृहस्थाश्रमधर्मिणः पश्चिमे वयसि प्राप्ते कन्या जाता सुशोभना

sāmavedavidastasya gṛhasthāśramadharmiṇaḥ paścime vayasi prāpte kanyā jātā suśobhanā

He was learned in the Sama Veda and devoted to the duties of the householder's life. When he had reached his later years, a very beautiful daughter was born to him.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.195.6)

सर्वैरपि गुणैर्युक्ता सर्वलक्षणलक्षिता सप्तरक्ता त्रिगंभीरा पञ्चसूक्ष्माऽबृहत्कटिः

sarvairapi guṇairyuktā sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitā saptaraktā trigaṁbhīrā pañcasūkṣmā'bṛhatkaṭiḥ

She was endowed with every virtue and marked with every auspicious sign — red in seven places, deep in three, delicate in five, and slender of waist.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.195.7)

पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षी लंबकेशी सुशोभना बिंबोष्ठी ह्रस्वलोमा च पूर्णचन्द्रसमप्रभा

padmapatraviśālākṣī laṁbakeśī suśobhanā biṁboṣṭhī hrasvalomā ca pūrṇacandrasamaprabhā

Her eyes were wide as lotus petals, her hair long and lovely, her lips red as the bimba fruit, her body-hair fine, and her radiance equal to the full moon.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.195.8)

तस्या नाम पिता चक्रे ब्राह्मणीति द्विजोत्तमाः यस्मात्सा ब्राह्मणैर्दत्ता मण्डपान्ते सुपूजितैः

tasyā nāma pitā cakre brāhmaṇīti dvijottamāḥ yasmātsā brāhmaṇairdattā maṇḍapānte supūjitaiḥ

O best of brahmins, her father gave her the name Brahmani, because she had been granted, at the close of a sacrificial pavilion, by well-worshipped brahmins.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.195.9)

पश्चिमे वयसि प्राप्ते अपत्यरहितस्य च ववृधे सा च तन्वङ्गी चन्द्रलेखा यथा तथा

paścime vayasi prāpte apatyarahitasya ca vavṛdhe sā ca tanvaṅgī candralekhā yathā tathā

To him, who had been childless until his later years, she had been born; and that slender-limbed girl grew, just as a crescent of the moon waxes.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.195.10)

शुक्लपक्षे तु संप्राप्ते जनलोचनतुष्टिदा यस्मिन्नहनि संजाता छान्दोग्यस्य महात्मनः आनर्ताधिपतेस्तस्मिंस्तादृग्रूपा सुताऽभवत्

śuklapakṣe tu saṁprāpte janalocanatuṣṭidā yasminnahani saṁjātā chāndogyasya mahātmanaḥ ānartādhipatestasmiṁstādṛgrūpā sutā'bhavat

Delighting the eyes of all, on the very day the bright fortnight had come and this daughter was born to the great soul Chandogya, a daughter of like beauty was born to the ruler of Anarta as well.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.195.11)

यस्याः कायप्रभौघेण सर्वं तत्सूतिकागृहम् निशागमेऽपि संजातं रत्नौघैरिव सुप्रभम् ततस्तस्याः पिता नाम चक्रे रत्नवतीति च

yasyāḥ kāyaprabhaugheṇa sarvaṁ tatsūtikāgṛham niśāgame'pi saṁjātaṁ ratnaughairiva suprabham tatastasyāḥ pitā nāma cakre ratnavatīti ca

By the mass of radiance from her body, that entire lying-in chamber, even as night fell, shone bright as if filled with heaps of jewels. Therefore her father gave her the name Ratnavati.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.195.12)

अथ सख्यं समापन्ना ब्राह्मण्या सह सा शुभा नैरन्तर्येण ताभ्यां च वियोगो नैव जायते

atha sakhyaṁ samāpannā brāhmaṇyā saha sā śubhā nairantaryeṇa tābhyāṁ ca viyogo naiva jāyate

Then that auspicious girl formed a friendship with Brahmani, and between the two of them there was never, ever, any separation.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.195.13)

एकाशनं तथा शय्या एकान्नेन च भोजनम् अष्टमेऽब्दे च संजाते पिता तस्या द्विजोत्तमाः

ekāśanaṁ tathā śayyā ekānnena ca bhojanam aṣṭame'bde ca saṁjāte pitā tasyā dvijottamāḥ

They shared a single seat, a single bed, and ate their food from a single portion. O best of brahmins, when her eighth year had come, her father —

Verse 14 (skanda.6.195.14)

विवाहं चिन्तयामास प्रदानाय वरे तथा सा ज्ञात्वा चेष्टितं तस्य पितुर्दुःखसमन्विता

vivāhaṁ cintayāmāsa pradānāya vare tathā sā jñātvā ceṣṭitaṁ tasya piturduḥkhasamanvitā

— began to think of her marriage, of giving her to a bridegroom. Learning of her father's intention, she was overcome with sorrow.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.195.15)

सख्या वियोगभीता च प्रोचे रत्नवती तदा अश्रुपूर्णेक्षणा दीना बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा

sakhyā viyogabhītā ca proce ratnavatī tadā aśrupūrṇekṣaṇā dīnā bāṣpagadgadayā girā

Then Ratnavati, fearful of separation from her friend, spoke, her eyes brimming with tears, wretched, her voice choked with weeping.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.195.16)

सखि तातो विवाहं मे प्रकरिष्यति सांप्रतम् विवाहितायाश्च सख्यं न भविष्यति कर्हिचित्

sakhi tāto vivāhaṁ me prakariṣyati sāṁpratam vivāhitāyāśca sakhyaṁ na bhaviṣyati karhicit

'Friend, father is now about to arrange my marriage — and once I am wed, this friendship of ours can never continue.'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.195.17)

वज्रपातोपमं वाक्यं तस्याः श्रुत्वा सखी च सा रुरोद कण्ठमाश्लिष्य स्नेहव्याकुलितेन्द्रिया

vajrapātopamaṁ vākyaṁ tasyāḥ śrutvā sakhī ca sā ruroda kaṇṭhamāśliṣya snehavyākulitendriyā

Hearing her words, like the fall of a thunderbolt, her friend too, senses overwhelmed with affection, embraced her neck and wept.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.195.18)

अथ तद्रुदितं श्रुत्वा माता तस्या मृगावती ससंभ्रमा समागत्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

atha tadruditaṁ śrutvā mātā tasyā mṛgāvatī sasaṁbhramā samāgatya vākyametaduvāca ha

Then, hearing that weeping, her mother Mrigavati came in alarm and spoke these words.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.195.19)

किमर्थं रुद्यते पुत्रि केन ते विप्रियं कृतम् करोमि निग्रहं येन तस्याद्यैव दुरात्मनः

kimarthaṁ rudyate putri kena te vipriyaṁ kṛtam karomi nigrahaṁ yena tasyādyaiva durātmanaḥ

'Why are you weeping, daughter? Who has wronged you? I shall punish that wicked person this very day.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.195.20)

रत्नवत्युवाच शृणु मे सुप्रियातीव ब्राह्मणी प्राणसंमता विवाहं प्राप्य कल्याणी प्रयास्यति पतेर्गृहम्

ratnavatyuvāca śṛṇu me supriyātīva brāhmaṇī prāṇasaṁmatā vivāhaṁ prāpya kalyāṇī prayāsyati patergṛham

Ratnavati said: Listen — Brahmani, most dear to me, cherished as my own life, having attained marriage, that blessed girl will now go to her husband's house.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.195.21)

अनया रहिताहं च न जीवामि कथंचन एतस्मात्कारणाद्देवि प्ररोदिमि सुदुःखिता

anayā rahitāhaṁ ca na jīvāmi kathaṁcana etasmātkāraṇāddevi prarodimi suduḥkhitā

Without her, I cannot live at all. For this reason, O queen, I weep, overwhelmed with sorrow.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.195.22)

मृगावत्युवाच यद्येवं पुत्रि यत्र त्वं प्रयास्यसि पतेर्गृहे तस्य राज्ञस्तु यो विप्रः पौरोहित्ये व्यवस्थितः

mṛgāvatyuvāca yadyevaṁ putri yatra tvaṁ prayāsyasi patergṛhe tasya rājñastu yo vipraḥ paurohitye vyavasthitaḥ

Mrigavati said: If it is so, daughter, then wherever you go to your husband's house, whichever brahmin serves as priest to that king —

Verse 23 (skanda.6.195.23)

तस्य पुत्राय दास्यामि सखीमेनां तव प्रियाम् तत्रापि येन ते संगो भविष्यत्यनया सह

tasya putrāya dāsyāmi sakhīmenāṁ tava priyām tatrāpi yena te saṁgo bhaviṣyatyanayā saha

— to his son I shall give this dear friend of yours, so that there too you shall have her company.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.195.24)

एवमुक्त्वा ततो राज्ञी छादोग्यं द्विजसत्तमम् समानीयाब्रवीदेनं विनयावनता स्थिता

evamuktvā tato rājñī chādogyaṁ dvijasattamam samānīyābravīdenaṁ vinayāvanatā sthitā

Having said this, the queen summoned the Chandogya brahmin, that best of brahmins, and, bowing humbly, spoke to him.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.195.25)

इयं तव सुता ब्रह्मन्सुताया मम सुप्रिया न वियोगं सहत्यस्या मुहूर्तमपि भामिनी

iyaṁ tava sutā brahmansutāyā mama supriyā na viyogaṁ sahatyasyā muhūrtamapi bhāminī

'O brahmin, this daughter of yours is most dear to my own daughter. This lovely girl cannot bear separation from her, even for a moment.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.195.26)

तथा तव सुतायाश्च सुतेयं मम सुप्रिया तस्मात्कुरु वचो मह्यं यच्च वक्ष्यामि सुव्रत

tathā tava sutāyāśca suteyaṁ mama supriyā tasmātkuru vaco mahyaṁ yacca vakṣyāmi suvrata

And equally, this daughter of mine is most dear to your daughter. Therefore, O virtuous one, do as I now say to you.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.195.27)

यस्य मे दीयते कन्या कदाचिन्नृपतेरियम् पुरोधास्तस्य यो विप्रस्तस्मै देया निजा सुता

yasya me dīyate kanyā kadācinnṛpateriyam purodhāstasya yo viprastasmai deyā nijā sutā

To whatever king my daughter shall someday be given — to the son of that king's brahmin priest, your own daughter should be given.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.195.28)

येन न स्यान्मिथो भेदस्ताभ्यां द्विजवरोत्तम एकस्थाने स्थिताभ्यां च प्रसादात्तव सत्तम

yena na syānmitho bhedastābhyāṁ dvijavarottama ekasthāne sthitābhyāṁ ca prasādāttava sattama

By this, O foremost of brahmins, there will be no mutual separation between the two of them; by your kindness, O worthy one, they shall remain together in one place.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.195.29)

छांदोग्य उवाच नागरो नागरं मुक्त्वा योऽन्यस्मै संप्रयच्छति कन्यकां यः प्रगृह्णाति विवाहार्थं कथंचन

chāṁdogya uvāca nāgaro nāgaraṁ muktvā yo'nyasmai saṁprayacchati kanyakāṁ yaḥ pragṛhṇāti vivāhārthaṁ kathaṁcana

Chandogya said: Whatever Nagara brahmin, forsaking a Nagara groom, gives his daughter to someone else, and whoever accepts a bride from outside the Nagara community for marriage, in whatever way —

Verse 30 (skanda.6.195.30)

स पंक्तिदूषकः पापान्नागरो न भवेदिह तस्मान्नाहं प्रदास्यामि कथंचिन्निजकन्यकाम् अन्यस्मै नागरं मुक्त्वा निश्चयोऽयं मया कृतः

sa paṁktidūṣakaḥ pāpānnāgaro na bhavediha tasmānnāhaṁ pradāsyāmi kathaṁcinnijakanyakām anyasmai nāgaraṁ muktvā niścayo'yaṁ mayā kṛtaḥ

— he becomes a defiler of the sacred assembly, a sinner, and here ceases to be reckoned a Nagara. Therefore I shall never, under any circumstance, give my own daughter to anyone other than a Nagara — this resolve I have made.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.195.31)

ब्राह्मण्युवाच नाहं पतिं प्रयास्यामि कुमारी ब्रह्मचारिणी देया प्रिया सखी यत्र तावद्यास्यामि तत्र च

brāhmaṇyuvāca nāhaṁ patiṁ prayāsyāmi kumārī brahmacāriṇī deyā priyā sakhī yatra tāvadyāsyāmi tatra ca

Brahmani said: I shall not go to a husband's house; I shall remain a celibate maiden. Wherever my beloved friend is given, there I too shall go.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.195.32)

यदि तात बलान्मह्यं विवाहं त्वं करिष्यसि विषं वा भक्षयिष्यामि साधयिष्यामि पावकम्

yadi tāta balānmahyaṁ vivāhaṁ tvaṁ kariṣyasi viṣaṁ vā bhakṣayiṣyāmi sādhayiṣyāmi pāvakam

'Father, if you force marriage upon me, I shall swallow poison, or resort to fire,

Verse 33 (skanda.6.195.33)

शस्त्रेण वा हनिष्यामि स्वदेहं तात निश्चयम् एवं ज्ञात्वा तु तात त्वं यत्क्षमं तत्समाचर

śastreṇa vā haniṣyāmi svadehaṁ tāta niścayam evaṁ jñātvā tu tāta tvaṁ yatkṣamaṁ tatsamācara

or I shall slay my own body with a weapon — this is my firm resolve, father. Knowing this, do whatever seems fitting to you.'

Verse 34 (skanda.6.195.34)

सूत उवाच तस्यास्तं निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा स विप्रो दुःखसंयुतः स्त्रीहत्यापापभीतस्तु तां त्यक्त्वा स्वगृहं ययौ

sūta uvāca tasyāstaṁ niścayaṁ jñātvā sa vipro duḥkhasaṁyutaḥ strīhatyāpāpabhītastu tāṁ tyaktvā svagṛhaṁ yayau

Suta said: Learning of her firm resolve, that brahmin was overcome with sorrow, and, fearing the sin of causing a woman's death, he gave up the matter and returned to his own home.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.195.35)

सापि रेमे तया सार्धं रत्नवत्या द्विजोत्तमाः संहृष्टहृदया नित्यं संत्यक्तपितृसौहृदा

sāpi reme tayā sārdhaṁ ratnavatyā dvijottamāḥ saṁhṛṣṭahṛdayā nityaṁ saṁtyaktapitṛsauhṛdā

O best of brahmins, she too then lived joyfully together with Ratnavati, her heart ever glad, having set aside her father's insistence on the matter.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.195.36)

यौवनं सा तु संप्राप्ता रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि

yauvanaṁ sā tu saṁprāptā rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi

Thus she came to attain youth, unmatched in beauty upon the earth.