Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 2 • CHAPTER 1
Ch 1 Verse 1-2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
२.१ प्रथमोऽध्यायः । मस्त्यगन्धोत्पत्तिवर्णनम् । ऋषय ऊचुः । आश्चर्यकरमेतत्ते वचनं गर्भहेतुकम् । सन्देहोऽत्र समुत्पन्नः सर्वेषां नस्तपस्विनाम् ॥ १ ॥ माता व्यासस्य मेधाविन्नाम्ना सत्यवतीति च । विवाहिता पुरा ज्ञाता राज्ञा शन्तनुना यथा ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
The Ṛṣis said :-- “O Sūta! Your words sound wonderful to us indeed! but you have not as yet definitely spoken to us the original events in detail; so a great doubt has arisen in our minds. We know that the king Śantanu married Vyāsa’s mother, Satyavatī.
Ch 1 Verse 3-4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तस्याः पुत्रः कथं व्यासः सती स्वभवने स्थिता । ईदृशी सा कथं राज्ञा पुनः शन्तनुना वृता ॥ ३ ॥ तस्यां पुत्रावुभौ जातौ तत्त्वं कथय सुव्रत । विस्तरेण महाभाग कथां परमपावनीम् ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
Now say, in detail in how Vyāsa became her son? How such a chaste woman Satyavatī, remaining in her own house, came to be married again by Śantanu? and how the two sons came to be born of Śantanu’s sperm and Satyavatī’ś ovum? Now O highly fortunate Suvrata? Kindly describe in detail this highly sanctifying historical fact.
Ch 1 Verse 5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
उत्पत्तिं वद व्यासस्य सत्यवत्यास्तथा पुनः । श्रोतुकामाः पुनः सर्वे ऋषयः संशितव्रताः ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
These Ṛṣis, who are observing vows, are desirous to hear of the birth of Veda Vyāsa and Satyavatī.”
Ch 1 Verse 6-7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सूत उवाच । प्रणम्य परमां शक्तिं चतुर्वर्गप्रदायिनीम् । आदिशक्तिं वदिष्यामि कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् ॥ ६ ॥ यस्योच्चारणमात्रेण सिद्धिर्भवति शाश्वती । व्याजेनापि हि बीजस्य वाग्भवस्य विशेषतः ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
Sūta said :-- I bow down with devotion to the Highest Primordial Force, the bestower of the four fold aims of existence of human life, who grants to all, their desires when so prayed by the help of the Vāgbhava Vījamantra with their heart and soul, for the success of all their desires.
Ch 1 Verse 8-9 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सम्यक् सर्वात्मना सर्वैः सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये । स्मर्तव्या सर्वथा देवी वाञ्छितार्थप्रदायिनी ॥ ८ ॥ राजोपरिचरो नाम धार्मिकः सत्यसङ्गरः । चेदिदेशपतिः श्रीमान् बभूव द्विजपूजकः ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
The above vīja is so potent in its effect that even pronounced very lightly, even under a pretext, it grants all siddhis. So the Devī should be remembered by all means; and now saluting Her, I begin my narration of the auspicious Purāṇic events. In days gone by there reigned a king, named Uparicara; he ruled over the Chedi country and respected the Brāhmins; he was truthful and very religious.
Ch 1 Verse 10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तपसा तस्य तुष्टेन विमानं स्फाटिकं शुभम् । दत्तमिन्द्रेण तत्तस्मै सुन्दरं प्रियकाम्यया ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
Indra, the lord of the Devas, became very pleased by his asceticism and presented him an auspicious celestial car (going in the air) made of pearls, and crystals, helping him in doing what he liked best.
Ch 1 Verse 11-12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तेनारूढस्तु सर्वत्र याति दिव्येन भूपतिः । न भूमावुपरिस्थोऽसौ तेनोपरिचरो वसुः ॥ ११ ॥ विख्यातः सर्वलोकेषु धर्मनित्यः स भूपतिः । तस्य भार्या वरारोहा गिरिका नाम सुन्दरी ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
Mounting on that divine chariot, that religious king used to go everywhere; he never remained on earth; he used to remain always in the atmosphere and therefore be had his name as “Uparicara Vasu” (moving in the upper regions). He had a very beautiful wife, named Girikā; and five powerful sons, of indomitable vigour, were born to him.
Ch 1 Verse 13-14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पुत्राश्चास्य महावीर्याः पञ्चासन्नमितौजसः । पृथग्देशेषु राजानः स्थापितास्तेन भूभुजा ॥ १३ ॥ वसोस्तु पत्नी गिरिका कामान् काले न्यवेदयत् । ऋतुकालमनुप्राप्ता स्नाता पुंसवने शुचिः ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
The king give separate kingdoms to each of his sons and made them kings. Once on an occasion, Girikā, the wife of the Uparicara Vasu, after her bath after the menstruation and becoming pure came to the king and informed him of her desire to get a son; but that very day his Pitris (ancestors) requested him also to kill deer, etc., for their Srāddha (solemn obsequies performed in honour of the manes of deceased ancestors).
Ch 1 Verse 15-19 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तदहः पितरश्चैनमूचुर्जहि मृगानिति । तच्छ्रुत्वा चिन्तयामास भार्यामृतुमतीं तथा ॥ १५ ॥ पितृवाक्यं गुरुं मत्वा कर्तव्यमिति निश्चितम् । चचार मृगयां राजा गिरिकां मनसा स्मरन् ॥ १६ ॥ वने स्थितः स राजर्षिश्चित्ते सस्मार भामिनीम् । अतीव रूपसम्पन्नां साक्षाच्छ्रियमिवापराम् ॥ १७ ॥ तस्य रेतः प्रचस्कन्द स्मरतस्तां च कामिनीम् । वटपत्रे तु तद्राजा स्कन्नमात्रं समाक्षिपत् ॥ १८ ॥ इदं वृथा परिस्कन्नं रेतो वै न भवेत्कथम् । ऋतुकालं च विज्ञाय मतिं चक्रे नृपस्तदा ॥ १९ ॥
English Translation
Hearing the Pitris, the king of Chedi became somewhat anxious for his menstruous wife; but thinking his Pitris words more powerful and more worthy to be obeyed, went out on an hunting expedition to kill deer and other animals, with the thought of his wife Girikā in his breast.
Ch 1 Verse 20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अमोघं सर्वथा वीर्यं मम चैतन्न संशयः । प्रियायै प्रेषयाम्येतदिति बुद्धिमकल्पयत् ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
Then while he was in the forest, he remembered his Girikā, who was equal in her beauty and loveliness to Kamalā, and the emission of semen virile took place.
Ch 1 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शुक्रप्रस्थापने कालं महिष्याः प्रसमीक्ष्य सः । अभिमन्त्र्याथ तद्वीर्यं वटपर्णपुटे कृतम् ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
He kept this semen on the leaf of a banyan tree and thought “How the above semen be not futile; my semen cannot remain unfruitful; my wife has just now passed her menstruous condition; I will send this semen to my dear wife.”
Ch 1 Verse 22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पार्श्वस्थं श्येनमाभाष्य राजोवाच द्विजं प्रति । गृहाणेदं महाभाग गच्छ शीघ्रं गृहं मम ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
Thus thinking the time ripe, he closed the semen under the leaves of the banyan tree and charging it with the mantra power (some power) addressed a falcon close by thus :-- “O highly fortunate one! Take this my semen virile and go to my palace.
Ch 1 Verse 23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मत्प्रियार्थमिदं सौम्य गृहीत्वा त्वं गृहं नय । गिरिकायै प्रयच्छाशु तस्यास्त्वार्तवमद्य वै ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
O Beautiful one! Do this my work: take this semen virile and go quick to my palace and hand it over to my wife Girikā for to-day is her menstruation period.”
Ch 1 Verse 24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा प्रददौ पर्णं श्येनाय नृपसत्तमः । स गृहीत्वोत्पपाताशु गगनं गतिवित्तमः ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
Sūta said :-- “O Ṛṣis! Thus saying, the king gave that leaf with the virile therein to the falcon, who is capable of going quick in the air, took it and immediately rose high up in the air.
Ch 1 Verse 25-26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
गच्छन्तं गगनं श्येनं धृत्वा चञ्चुपुटे पुटम् । तमपश्यदथायान्तं खगं श्येनस्तथापरः ॥ २५ ॥ आमिषं स तु विज्ञाय शीघ्रमभ्यद्रवत्खगम् । तुण्डयुद्धमथाकाशे तावुभौ सम्प्रचक्रतुः ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
Another falcon, seeing this one flying in the air with leaf in his beak, considered it to be some piece of flesh and fell upon him. Immediately a gallant fighting ensued between the two birds with their beaks.
Ch 1 Verse 27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
युद्ध्यतोरपतद्रेतस्तज्जापि यमुनाम्भसि । खगौ तौ निर्गतौ कामं पुटके पतिते तदा ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
While the fighting was going on, that leaf with semen virile fell down from their beaks on the waters of the Jumnā river. Then the two faIcons flew away as they liked.
Ch 1 Verse 28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एतस्मिन्समये काचिदद्रिका नाम चाप्सराः । ब्राह्मणं समनुप्राप्तं सन्ध्यावन्दनतत्परम् ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
O Ṛṣis! While the two falcons were fighting with each other, one Apsarā (celestial nymph) named Adrikā came to a Brāhmin, who was performing his Sandhyā Bandanam on the banks of the Jumnā.
Ch 1 Verse 29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कुर्वन्ती जलकेलिं सा जले मग्ना चचार सा । जग्राह चरणं नारी द्विजस्य वरवर्णिनी ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
That beautiful woman began to bathe in the waters and took a plunge for playing sports and caught hold of the feet of the Brāhmaṇa.
Ch 1 Verse 30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्राणायामपरः सोऽथ दृष्ट्वा तां कामचारिणीम् । शशाप भव मत्स्यी त्वं ध्यानविघ्नकरी यतः ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
The Dvija, engaged in Prāṇāyāma (deep breathing exercise), saw that the woman had amorous intentions, and cursed her, saying :--
Ch 1 Verse 31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सा शप्ता विप्रमुख्येन बभूव यमुनाचरी । शफरी रूपसम्पन्ना ह्यद्रिका च वराप्सराः ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
“As you have interrupted me in my meditation, so be a fish.” Adrikā, one of the best Apsarās, thus cursed, assumed the form of a fish Safari and spent her days in the Jumnā waters.
Ch 1 Verse 32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
श्येनपादपरिभ्रष्टं तच्छुक्रमथ वासवी । जग्राह तरसाभ्येत्य साद्रिका मत्स्यरूपिणी ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
When the semen virile of Uparicara Vasu fell from the beak of the falcon, that fish Adrikā came quickly and ate that and became pregnant.
Ch 1 Verse 33 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अथ कालेन कियता मत्स्यीं तां मत्स्यजीवनः । सम्प्राप्ते दशमे मासि बबन्ध तां मनोरमाम् ॥ ३३ ॥
English Translation
When ten months passed, a fisherman came there and caught in a net that fish Adrikā.
Ch 1 Verse 34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
उदरं विददाराशु स तस्या मत्स्यजीवनः । युग्मं विनिःसृतं तस्मादुदरान्मानुषाकृति ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
When the fish’s belly was torn asunder, two human beings instantly came out the the womb.
Ch 1 Verse 35 Verse
Sanskrit Text
बालः कुमारः सुभगस्तथा कन्या शुभानना । दृष्ट्वाश्चर्यमिदं सोऽथ विस्मयं परमं गतः ॥ ३५ ॥
English Translation
One was a lovely boy and the other a beautiful girl. The fisherman was greatly astonished to see this.
Ch 1 Verse 36 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राज्ञे निवेदयामास पुत्रौ द्वौ तु झषोद्भवौ । राजापि विस्मयाविष्टः सुतं जग्राह तं शुभम् ॥ ३६ ॥
English Translation
He went and informed the king of that place who was Uparicara Vasu that the boy and the girl were born of the womb of a fish. The king also was greatly surprised and accepted the boy who seemed auspicious.
Ch 1 Verse 37 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स मत्स्यो नाम राजासौ धार्मिकः सत्यसङ्गरः । वसुपुत्रो महातेजाः पित्रा तुल्यपराक्रमः ॥ ३७ ॥
English Translation
This Vasu’s son was highly energetic and powerful, truthful and religious like his father and became famous by the name of the king Matsyarāj.
Ch 1 Verse 38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कालिका वसुना दत्ता तरसा जलजीविने । नाम्ना कालीति विख्याता तथा मत्स्योदरीति च ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
Uparicara Vasu gave away the girl to the fisherman. This girl was named Kāli and she became famous by the name of Matsyodarī.
Ch 1 Verse 39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मत्स्यगन्धेति नाम्ना वै गणेन समजायत । विवर्धमाना दाशस्य गृहे सा वासवी शुभा ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
The smell of the fish came out of her body and she was named also Matsyagandhā. Thus the auspicious Vasu’s daughter remained and grew in that fisherman’s house.
Ch 1 Verse 40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ऋषय ऊचुः । अद्रिका मुनिना शप्ता मत्स्यी जाता वराप्सराः । विदारिता च दाशेन मृता च भक्षिता पुनः ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
The Ṛṣis said :-- The beautiful Apsarā, cursed by the Muni, turned into fish; she was afterwards cut asunder and eaten up by the fisherman.
Ch 1 Verse 41 Verse
Sanskrit Text
किं बभूव पुनस्तस्या अप्सराया वदस्व तत् । शापस्यान्तं कथं सूत कथं स्वर्गमवाप सा ॥ ४१ ॥
English Translation
Very well! What happened afterwards to that Apsarā? How was she freed of that curse? and how did she go back to the Heavens?
Ch 1 Verse 42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सूत उवाच । शप्ता यदा सा मुनिना विस्मिता सम्बभूव ह । स्तुतिं चकार विप्रस्य दीनेव रुदती तदा ॥ ४२ ॥
English Translation
Thus questioned by the Ṛṣis, Sūta spoke as follows :-- When the Apsarā was first cursed by the Muni, she was greatly astonished; she began to weep and cry like one greatly distressed and afterwards began to praise him.
Ch 1 Verse 43 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दयावान्ब्राह्मणः प्राह तां तदा रुदतीं स्त्रियम् । मा शोकं कुरु कल्याणि शापान्तं ते वदाम्यहम् ॥ ४३ ॥
English Translation
The Brāhmin, seeing her weeping, took pity on her and said :-- “O good one! Don’t weep; I am telling you how your curse will expire.
Ch 1 Verse 44 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मत्क्रोधशापयोगेन मत्स्ययोनिं गता शुभे । मानुषौ जनयित्वा त्वं शापमोक्षमवाप्स्यसि ॥ ४४ ॥
English Translation
As an effect of having iñcurred my wrath, you will be born as a fish and when you will give birth to two human children, you will be freed of your curse.”
Ch 1 Verse 45 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इत्युक्ता तेन सा प्राप मत्स्यदेहं नदीजले । बालकौ जनयित्वा सा मृता मुक्ता च शापतः ॥ ४५ ॥
English Translation
The Brāhmin having spoken thus, Adrikā got a fish-body in the waters of the Jumnā.
Ch 1 Verse 46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सन्त्यज्य रूपं मत्स्यस्य दिव्यरूपमवाप्य च । जगामामरमार्गं च शापान्ते वरवर्णिनी ॥ ४६ ॥
English Translation
Afterwards she gave birth to two human children and became freed of the curse when she, quitting the fish form assumed the divine form and went up to the Heavens.
Ch 1 Verse 47 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवं जाता वरा पुत्री मत्स्यगन्धा वरानना । पुत्रीव पाल्यमाना सा दाशगेहे व्यवर्धत ॥ ४७ ॥
English Translation
O Ṛṣis! The beautiful girl Matsyagandhā thus took her birth and was nourished in the fisherman’s house and grew up there.
Ch 1 Verse 48 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मत्स्यगन्धा तदा जाता किशोरी चातिसुप्रभा । तस्य कार्याणि कुर्वाणा वासवी चातिसुप्रभा ॥ ४८ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीयस्कन्धे मस्त्यगन्धोत्पत्तिवर्णनं नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः ॥ २.१॥
English Translation
When the extraordinarily lovely girl of Vasu, Matsyagandhā attained her youth, she continued to do all the household duties of the fisherman and remained there. Thus ends the first chapter of the Second Skandha on the birth of Matsyagandhā in the Mahāpurāṇa Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.