Madhavi's Penance and Her Attaining Subhadra-hood

Verse 1 (skanda.6.84.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः। यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तं देवदेवेन विष्णुना ॥ माधवीं भगिनीं प्राप्य जन्मांतरमुपस्थिताम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yadetadbhavatā proktaṁ devadevena viṣṇunā mādhavīṁ bhaginīṁ prāpya janmāṁtaramupasthitām

The sages said: "You have told us that Vishnu, the God of gods, having found his sister Madhavi again in another birth,"

Verse 2 (skanda.6.84.2)

अश्ववक्त्रां करिष्यामि तपसा सुशुभाननाम् ॥ सा कथं विहिता तेन तपस्तप्तं तथा कथम् ॥ सर्वं विस्तरतो ब्रूहि परं कौतूहलं हि नः

aśvavaktrāṁ kariṣyāmi tapasā suśubhānanām sā kathaṁ vihitā tena tapastaptaṁ tathā katham sarvaṁ vistarato brūhi paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

"-- had vowed: 'Through austerity I shall make that horse-faced one fair of face.' How was this fulfilled by him, and what austerity did he perform? Tell us all in full detail, for we are filled with great curiosity."

Verse 3 (skanda.6.84.3)

सूत उवाच। नारदस्य समाकर्ण्य तं सन्देशं सुरोद्भवम् ॥ गत्वा विष्णुः सुरैः सार्द्धं प्रचक्रे मंत्रनिश्चयम्

sūta uvāca nāradasya samākarṇya taṁ sandeśaṁ surodbhavam gatvā viṣṇuḥ suraiḥ sārddhaṁ pracakre maṁtraniścayam

Suta said: Having heard that message of divine origin brought by Narada, Vishnu went and, together with the gods, resolved on a plan of counsel.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.84.4)

भारावतरणार्थाय दानवानां वधाय च ॥ वसुदेवगृहे श्रीमान्द्वापरांते ततो हरिः

bhārāvataraṇārthāya dānavānāṁ vadhāya ca vasudevagṛhe śrīmāndvāparāṁte tato hariḥ

Then, in order to lighten the earth's burden and to slay the demons, at the end of the Dvapara age, the glorious Hari descended into the house of Vasudeva.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.84.5)

देवक्या जठरे देवः संजातो दैत्यदर्पहा ॥ तथान्या रोहिणीनाम भार्या तस्य च याऽभवत्

devakyā jaṭhare devaḥ saṁjāto daityadarpahā tathānyā rohiṇīnāma bhāryā tasya ca yā'bhavat

That god, the destroyer of the demons' arrogance, was born from Devaki's womb. And his other wife was named Rohini.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.84.6)

तस्यां जज्ञे हलीनाम बलभद्रः प्रतापवान् ॥ तृतीया सुप्रभानाम वसुदेवप्रिया च या

tasyāṁ jajñe halīnāma balabhadraḥ pratāpavān tṛtīyā suprabhānāma vasudevapriyā ca yā

From her was born the mighty Balabhadra, who bears the plough. And Vasudeva's third beloved wife was named Suprabha.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.84.7)

तस्यां सा माधवी जज्ञे अश्ववक्त्रस्वरूपधृक् ॥ तां दृष्ट्वा विकृताकारां सुतां जातां च सुप्रभा ॥ वासुदेवसमायुक्ता विषादं परमं गता

tasyāṁ sā mādhavī jajñe aśvavaktrasvarūpadhṛk tāṁ dṛṣṭvā vikṛtākārāṁ sutāṁ jātāṁ ca suprabhā vāsudevasamāyuktā viṣādaṁ paramaṁ gatā

From her was born that very Madhavi, bearing a horse's face. Seeing her daughter born so disfigured, Suprabha, along with Vasudeva, fell into the deepest grief.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.84.8)

अथ ते यादवाः सर्वे कृतशान्तिकपौष्टिकाः ॥ स्वस्तिस्वस्तीति संत्रस्ताः प्रोचुर्भूयात्कुलेऽत्र नः

atha te yādavāḥ sarve kṛtaśāntikapauṣṭikāḥ svastisvastīti saṁtrastāḥ procurbhūyātkule'tra naḥ

Then all the Yadavas performed rites of appeasement and prosperity, and, alarmed, cried "Peace, peace!" and prayed, "May this bring good fortune upon our family."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.84.9)

एवं सा यौवनोपेता तथा दुःखसमन्विता ॥ न कश्चिद्वरयामास वाजिवक्त्रां विलोक्य ताम्

evaṁ sā yauvanopetā tathā duḥkhasamanvitā na kaścidvarayāmāsa vājivaktrāṁ vilokya tām

Thus, though she reached youth, she remained full of sorrow; seeing her horse-faced form, no one would choose her in marriage.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.84.10)

ततश्च भगवान्विष्णुर्ज्ञात्वा तां भगिनीं तथा ॥ मातरं पितरं चैव तथा दुःखसमन्वितौ

tataśca bhagavānviṣṇurjñātvā tāṁ bhaginīṁ tathā mātaraṁ pitaraṁ caiva tathā duḥkhasamanvitau

Then the Lord Vishnu, learning of his sister's plight, and of her mother and father likewise sunk in sorrow,

Verse 11 (skanda.6.84.11)

तामादाय गतस्तूर्णं बलदेवसमन्वितः ॥ हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे तपस्तप्तुं ततः परम्

tāmādāya gatastūrṇaṁ baladevasamanvitaḥ hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre tapastaptuṁ tataḥ param

took her with him and, together with Baladeva, swiftly went to the field of Hatakeshvara to perform austerity.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.84.12)

ब्रह्माणं तोषयामास सम्यग्यज्ञपरायणः ॥ व्रतैश्च विविधैर्दानैर्ब्राह्मणानां च तर्पणैः

brahmāṇaṁ toṣayāmāsa samyagyajñaparāyaṇaḥ vrataiśca vividhairdānairbrāhmaṇānāṁ ca tarpaṇaiḥ

Devoted wholly to sacrificial rites, he pleased Brahma thoroughly through various vows, gifts, and offerings made to the brahmins.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.84.13)

ततस्तुष्टिं गतो ब्रह्मा वर्षांते तस्य शार्ङ्गिणः ॥ उवाच वरदोऽस्मीति प्रार्थयस्वाभिवांछितम्

tatastuṣṭiṁ gato brahmā varṣāṁte tasya śārṅgiṇaḥ uvāca varado'smīti prārthayasvābhivāṁchitam

Then, at the end of a year, Brahma, pleased with the bearer of the Sharnga bow, said: "I am ready to grant a boon; ask for what you desire."

Verse 14 (skanda.6.84.14)

विष्णुरुवाच। एषा मे भगिनी देव जाताऽश्ववदना किल ॥ तव प्रसादात्सद्वक्त्रा भूयादेतन्ममेप्सितम्

viṣṇuruvāca eṣā me bhaginī deva jātā'śvavadanā kila tava prasādātsadvaktrā bhūyādetanmamepsitam

Vishnu said: "O Lord, this is my sister, who was born, alas, with a horse's face. This is my desire: that by your grace her face become fair."

Verse 15 (skanda.6.84.15)

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच। एषा शुभानना साध्वी मत्प्रसादाद्भविष्यति ॥ सुभद्रा नाम विख्याता वीरसूः पतिवल्लभा

śrībrahmovāca eṣā śubhānana sādhvī matprasādādbhaviṣyati subhadrā nāma vikhyātā vīrasūḥ pativallabhā

Shri Brahma said: "This virtuous one shall become fair-faced by my grace, and shall be renowned by the name Subhadra, the mother of a hero, and beloved of her husband."

Verse 16 (skanda.6.84.16)

एतद्रूपां पुमान्योऽत्र पूजयिष्यति भक्तितः ॥ एतां विष्णो त्वया सार्धं तथानेन च सीरिणा

etadrūpāṁ pumānyo'tra pūjayiṣyati bhaktitaḥ etāṁ viṣṇo tvayā sārdhaṁ tathānena ca sīriṇā

"O Vishnu, whatever man worships her in this very form, together with you and with this plough-bearer Balarama,"

Verse 17 (skanda.6.84.17)

द्वादश्यां माघमासस्य गंधपुष्पानुलेपनैः ॥ सोऽप्यवाप्स्यति यच्चित्ते वर्तते नात्र संशयः

dvādaśyāṁ māghamāsasya gaṁdhapuṣpānulepanaiḥ so'pyavāpsyati yaccitte vartate nātra saṁśayaḥ

"-- on the twelfth day of the month of Magha, with sandal-paste, flowers, and unguents—shall surely obtain whatever is in his heart; of this there is no doubt."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.84.18)

या नारी पतिना त्यक्ता वंध्या वा भक्तिसंयुता ॥ तृतीयादिवसे चैतां पूजयिष्यति केशव

yā nārī patinā tyaktā vaṁdhyā vā bhaktisaṁyutā tṛtīyādivase caitāṁ pūjayiṣyati keśava

"O Keshava, any woman abandoned by her husband, or a barren woman, who worships her with devotion on the third lunar day --"

Verse 19 (skanda.6.84.19)

भविष्यति सुपुत्राढ्या सुभगा सा सुखान्विता ॥ ऐश्वर्यसहिता नित्यं सर्वैः समुदिता गुणैः

bhaviṣyati suputrāḍhyā subhagā sā sukhānvitā aiśvaryasahitā nityaṁ sarvaiḥ samuditā guṇaiḥ

"-- shall become blessed with excellent sons, fortunate, and full of happiness, ever endowed with prosperity and adorned with every virtue."

Verse 20 (skanda.6.84.20)

एवमुक्त्वा चतुर्वक्त्रो विरराम ततः परम् ॥ वासुदेवोऽपि हृष्टात्मा ययौ द्वारवतीं पुरीम्

evamuktvā caturvaktro virarāma tataḥ param vāsudevo'pi hṛṣṭātmā yayau dvāravatīṁ purīm

Having said this, the four-faced Brahma fell silent. Then Vasudeva too, his heart rejoicing, set out for the city of Dvaravati.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.84.21)

तामादाय विशालाक्षीं चंद्रबिंबसमाननाम् ॥ बलदेवसमायुक्तो ह्यनुज्ञाप्य पिताम हम्

tāmādāya viśālākṣīṁ caṁdrabiṁbasamānanām baladevasamāyukto hyanujñāpya pitāma ham

Taking with him that wide-eyed sister, her face like the orb of the moon, and accompanied by Baladeva, having taken leave of the Grandsire.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.84.22)

सूत उवाच। एवं सा माधवी विप्राः सुभगारूपमास्थिता ॥ अवतीर्णा धरापृष्ठे लक्ष्मीशापप्रपीडिता

sūta uvāca evaṁ sā mādhavī viprāḥ subhagārūpamāsthitā avatīrṇā dharāpṛṣṭhe lakṣmīśāpaprapīḍitā

Suta said: O brahmins, thus Madhavi, having thereby attained a lovely form, was that same one who, afflicted by Lakshmi's curse, had incarnated upon the earth.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.84.23)

उपयेमे सुतः पांडोर्यां पार्थश्चारुहासिनीम् ॥ जज्ञे तस्याः सुतो वीरोऽभिमन्युरिति विश्रुतः

upayeme sutaḥ pāṁḍoryāṁ pārthaścāruhāsinīm jajñe tasyāḥ suto vīro'bhimanyuriti viśrutaḥ

Partha, the son of Pandu, married her, she of the lovely smile. From her was born that heroic son known far and wide as Abhimanyu.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.84.24)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं माधबीजन्मसम्भवम् ॥ सुपर्णाख्यस्य देवस्य कथासंगाद्द्विजोत्तमाः

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ mādhabījanmasambhavam suparṇākhyasya devasya kathāsaṁgāddvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, all this I have related to you—the story of Madhavi's birth—in connection with the account of the deity called Suparna.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.84.25)

यश्चैतत्पठते मर्त्यो भक्त्या युक्तः शृणोति वा ॥ मुच्यते स नरः पापात्तद्दिनैकसमुद्भवात्

yaścaitatpaṭhate martyo bhaktyā yuktaḥ śṛṇoti vā mucyate sa naraḥ pāpāttaddinaikasamudbhavāt

Whatever mortal reads this, or hears it with devotion, is freed from whatever sin arises within that single day.