Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 2 • CHAPTER 9
Ch 9 Verse 1 Verse
Sanskrit Text
२.९ नवमोऽध्यायः । परीक्षिद्राज्ञो गुप्तगृहे वासवर्णनम् । परीक्षिदुवाच । कामार्तः स मुनिर्गत्वा रुरुः सुप्तो निजाश्रमे । पिता पप्रच्छ दीनं तं किं रुरो विमना असि ॥ १ ॥
English Translation
Parīksit said :-- When the Muni Ruru went to his room to sleep, his mind having become perturbed with passion, his father Pramati seeing him sorrowful, asked him :-- “O Ruru! Why do you look so absent minded?” Ruru was passionate then; so he said to his father :--
Ch 9 Verse 2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स तमाहातिकामार्तः स्थूलकेशस्य चाश्रमे । कन्या प्रमद्वरा नाम सा मे भार्या भवेदिति ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
:-- “I saw a girl named Pramadvarā in the hermitage of Sthūlakeśa; I wish that she might become my wife.”
Ch 9 Verse 3-4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स गत्वा प्रमतिस्तूर्णं स्थूलकेशं महामुनिम् । प्रमुह्य सुमुखं कृत्वा ययाचे तां वराननाम् ॥ ३ ॥ ददौ वाचं स्थूलकेशः प्रदास्यामि शुभेऽहनि । विवाहार्थं च सम्भारं रचयामासतुर्वने ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
Hearing this, Pramati went immediately to the hermitage of Sthūlakeśa, and pleased him by various conversations and asked for her beautiful daughter when Sthūlakeśa promised that he would give her daughter in marriage on an auspicious day.
Ch 9 Verse 5-6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्रमतिः स्थूलकेशश्च विवाहार्थं समुद्यतौ । बभूवतुर्महात्मानौ समीपस्थौ तपोवने ॥ ५ ॥ तस्मिन्नवसरे कन्या रममाणा गृहाङ्गणे । प्रसुप्तं पन्नगं पादेनास्पृशच्चारुलोचना ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
Then both the high-souled persons Pramati and Sthūlakeśa began to work in co-operation and make arrangements for marriage ceremony and collected various articles in that hermitage when the fair eyed girl Pramadvarā, while playing in the courtyard in the house, trod on a serpent and was bitten by it and consequently died.
Ch 9 Verse 7-8 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दष्टा तु पन्नगेनाथ सा ममार वराङ्गना । कोलाहलस्तदा जातो मृतां दृष्ट्वा प्रमद्वराम् ॥ ७ ॥ मिलिता मुनयः सर्वे चुक्रुशुः शोकसंयुताः । भूमौ तां पतितां दृष्ट्वा पिता तस्यातिदुःखितः ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
Seeing then Pramadvarā dead, all the Munis of the place assembled and cried and wept with sorrowful hearts, when a great tumultuous uproar ensued.
Ch 9 Verse 9-10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
रुरोद विगतप्राणां दीप्यमानां सुतेजसा । रुरुः श्रुत्वा तदाक्रन्दं दर्शनार्थं समागतः ॥ ९ ॥ ददर्श पतितां तत्र सजीवामिव कामिनीम् । रुदन्तं स्थूलकेशं च दृष्ट्वान्यानृषिसत्तमान् ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
Though the life departed from Pramadvarā’s body, yet seeing the brilliant lustre of her lifeless body lying on the ground, her nourisher and father Sthūlakeśa became very sorry and wept aloud.
Ch 9 Verse 11 Verse
Sanskrit Text
रुरुः स्थानाद्बहिर्गत्वा रुरोद विरहाकुलः । अहो दैवेन सर्पोऽयं प्रेषितः परमाद्भुतः ॥ ११ ॥
English Translation
Hearing this cry of his, Ruru came there to see what had happened and perceived the girl, though lifeless, yet seeming alive and lying on the ground.
Ch 9 Verse 12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मम शर्मविघाताय दुःखहेतुरयं किल । किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि मृता मे प्राणवल्लभा ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
Seeing Sthūlakeśa and other Risis weeping, Ruru went out from that place and with a grievous heart, began to cry aloud. “Alas! Fate has certainly sent this serpent as the cause of all my miseries and to mar all my happiness.
Ch 9 Verse 13 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न वै जीवितुमिच्छामि वियुक्तः प्रिययानया । नालिङ्गिता वरारोहा न मया चुम्बिता मुखे ॥ १३ ॥
English Translation
Alas! What am I to do now? Where to go? When my beloved has fallen unto the jaws of death, I do not want to live any longer, bereft of my wife.
Ch 9 Verse 14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न पाणिग्रहणं प्राप्तं मन्दभाग्येन सर्वथा । लाजाहोमस्तथा चाग्नौ न कृतस्त्वनया सह ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
Oh! What an unfortunate creature I am? I have not been able to embrace this beautiful darling of mine. I am deprived of kissing her face and marrying her.
Ch 9 Verse 15 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मानुष्यं धिगिदं कामं गच्छन्त्वद्य ममासवः । दुःखितस्य न वा मृत्युर्वाञ्छितः समुपैति हि ॥ १५ ॥
English Translation
Alas! Fie to my human birth! Let my life get out just now in as much as I could not, out of mere shame, throw myself on the burning pyre along with my beloved!
Ch 9 Verse 16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सुखं तर्हि कथं दिव्यमाप्यते भुवि वाञ्छितम् । प्रपतामि ह्रदे घोरे पावके प्रपताम्यहम् ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
Oh! When death comes not to the sorrowful person, even when prayed for, how then can I expect divine happiness in this world?
Ch 9 Verse 17 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विषमद्मि गले पाशं कृत्वा प्राणांस्त्यजाम्यहम् । विलप्यैवं रुरुस्तत्र विचार्य मनसा पुनः ॥ १७ ॥
English Translation
So let me now drop myself down in a lake or enter in to a burning fire or drink venom or strangle myself by tieing rope round my neck!”
Ch 9 Verse 18 Verse
Sanskrit Text
उपायं चिन्तयामास स्थितस्तस्मिन्नदीतटे । मरणात्किं फलं मे स्यादात्महत्या दुरत्यया ॥ १८ ॥
English Translation
Thus Ruru wailed much on the bank of the river and long reflecting in his mind found out a way and thought what would be the advantage in death?
Ch 9 Verse 19 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दुःखितश्च पिता मे स्याज्जननी चातिदुःखिता । दैवस्तुष्टो भवेत्कामं दृष्ट्वा मां त्यक्तजीवितम् ॥ १९ ॥
English Translation
“Rather an irretrievable sin would be iñcurred in committing suicide; and my father and mother would be sorry.
Ch 9 Verse 20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सर्वः प्रमुदितश्च स्यान्मत्क्षये नात्र संशयः । उपकारः प्रियायाः कः परलोके भवेदपि ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
Seeing me commit suicide, my bad luck and enemies will be gladdened; there is no manner of doubt; in this. What benefit will my beloved gain if I commit suicide or if I be distressed for her bereavement.
Ch 9 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मृते मय्यात्मघातेन विरहात्पीडितेऽपि च । परलोके प्रिया सापि न मे स्यादात्मघातिनः ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
Suppose I die, even then my beloved will not become mine in the next world; so there are many faults in my committing suicide but there is no fault if I preserve my life.”
Ch 9 Verse 22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एतदर्थं मृते दोषा मयि नैवामृते पुनः । विमृश्यैव रुरुस्तत्र स्नात्वाचम्य शुचिः स्थितः ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
Thus coming to a conclusion Ruru bathed, performed Ācaman and became pure. He then took water in his hand and said :--
Ch 9 Verse 23-25 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अब्रवीद्वचनं कृत्वा जलं पाणावसौ मुनिः । यन्मया सुकृतं किञ्चित्कृतं देवार्चनादिकम् ॥ २३ ॥ गुरवः पूजिता भक्त्या हुतं जप्तं तपः कृतम् । अधीतास्त्वखिला वेदा गायत्री संस्कृता यदि ॥ २४ ॥ रविराराधितस्तेन सञ्जीवतु मम प्रिया । यदि जीवेन्न मे कान्ता त्यजे प्राणानहं ततः ॥ २५ ॥
English Translation
:-- “Whatever good works, worshipping the gods, etc., that I have done and if I have performed, with devotion, the service to my preceptors and teachers and superiors, homa ceremonies, Japam, tapasyā, if I have studied all the Vedas and if I have recited Gāyatri and worshipped the Sun then let my beloved have life and get up as an outcome of my Puṇyam. If my beloved does not get back her life, I will certainly quit my life.”
Ch 9 Verse 26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इत्युक्त्वा तज्जलं भूमौ चिक्षेपाराध्य देवताः । राजोवाच । एवं विलपतस्तस्य भार्यया दुःखितस्य च ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
Thus saying, he worshipped the Devas mentally and threw that water of his hands on the ground. Thus Ruru, with a sorrowful heart, was weeping.
Ch 9 Verse 27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
देवदूतस्तदाभ्येत्य वाक्यमाह रुरुं ततः । देवदूत उवाच । माकार्षीः साहसं ब्रह्मन्कथं जीवेन्मृता प्रिया ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
The Deva’s messenger came down and said :-- “O Brāhmaṇ! Don’t make this bold attempt; how can your beloved get back her life? The life-period of this beautiful girl, born of Gandharva’s sperm and Apsarā’s ovum is now exhausted; now look for another beautiful woman.
Ch 9 Verse 28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
गतायुरेषा सुश्रोणी गन्धर्वाप्सरसोः सुता । अन्यां कामय चार्वङ्गीं मृतेयं चाविवाहिता ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
O one of very dull understanding! Why are you crying in vain? Where is the affection between you and this girl; she died in an unmarried state (without marrying you).”
Ch 9 Verse 29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
किं रोदिषि सुदुर्बुद्धे का प्रीतिस्तेऽनया सह । रुरुरुवाच । देवदूत न चान्यां वै वरिष्याम्यहमङ्गनाम् ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
At this Ruru said :-- “O Deva messenger! I won’t marry any other lady, whether my beloved gets back her life or does not get back her life; in case she does not regain this life, I will also forego my life at this instant.”
Ch 9 Verse 30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यदि जीवेन्न जीवेद्वा मर्तव्यं चाधुना मया । राजोवाच । विदित्वेति हठं तस्य देवदूतो मुदान्वितः ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
At this greatest importunity of Ruru, the Deva messenger became glad and spoke the following truthful beneficent yet beautiful words :--
Ch 9 Verse 31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
उवाच वचनं तथ्यं सत्यं चातिमनोहरम् । उपायं शृणु विप्रेन्द्र विहितं यत्सुरैः पुरा ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
“O Brāhmaṇa! I will suggest one way to you; kindly hear. The Devas ordained this long, long ago. You can give up your half life period, and with that you can make this girl alive soon.”
Ch 9 Verse 32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
आयुषोऽर्धप्रदानेन जीवयाशु प्रमद्वराम् । रुरुरुवाच । आयुषोऽर्धं प्रयच्छामि कन्यायै नात्र संशयः ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
Ruru said :-- “O Deva messenger! I give half my life-period to this girl; there is no doubt in this. Let my beloved get back her life soon and get up.”
Ch 9 Verse 33-34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अद्य प्रत्यावृतप्राणा प्रोत्तिष्ठतु मम प्रिया । विश्वावसुस्तदा तत्र विमानेन समागतः ॥ ३३ ॥ ज्ञात्वा पुत्रीं मृतां चाशु स्वर्गलोकात्प्रमद्वराम् । ततो गन्धर्वराजश्च देवदूतश्च सत्तमः ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
The king said :-- O Ministers! At this time Visvāvasu, knowing that his daughter Pramadvarā is dead, descended from the Heavens in a celestial car and came to the place; then the Gandharva king and the Deva messenger both went to Yama,
Ch 9 Verse 35 Verse
Sanskrit Text
धर्मराजमुपेत्येदं वचनं प्रत्यभाषताम् । धर्मराज रुरोः पत्नी सुता विश्वावसोस्तथा ॥ ३५ ॥
English Translation
the Dharmarāj, and spoke thus :-- “O Dharmarāj! This Visvāvasu’s daughter Pramadvarā, the wife of Ruru, the Ṛṣiś son was bitten by a snake and has now come to your place.
Ch 9 Verse 36 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मृता प्रमद्वरा कन्या दष्टा सर्पेण चाधुना । सा रुरोरायुषोऽर्धेन मर्तुकामस्य सूर्यज ॥ ३६ ॥
English Translation
The Dvija Ruru is now desirous to quit his life; so, O Sun’s son! Now let the girl again get her life through the influence of Ruru’s brahmacarya (purity) as a consequence of his giving away half his life period for the girl.”
Ch 9 Verse 37 Verse
Sanskrit Text
समुत्तिष्ठतु तन्वङ्गी व्रतचर्याप्रभावतः । धर्म उवाच । विश्वावसुसुतां कन्यां देवदूत यदीच्छसि ॥ ३७ ॥
English Translation
Dharma said :-- “O Deva messenger! if you want to make the girl alive again, let her get life as a consequence of half the life-period of Ruru being subtracted. Go immediately and give the girl to Ruru.”
Ch 9 Verse 38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
उत्तिष्ठत्वायुषोऽर्धेन रुरुं गत्वा त्वमर्पय । राजोवाच । एवमुक्तस्ततो गत्वा जीवयित्वा प्रमद्वराम् ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
The king said :-- “O Ministers! Yama having said thus to the Deva messenger, he went away immediately and made Pramadvarā alive and handed her over to Ruru.
Ch 9 Verse 39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
रुरोः समर्पयामास देवदूतस्त्वरान्वितः । ततः शुभेऽह्नि विधिना रुरुणापि विवाहिता ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
Thus, on an auspicious day, Ruru married her. Thus the Ṛṣiś daughter Pramadvarā though fallen dead, got again her life by proper means.
Ch 9 Verse 40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इत्थं चोपाययोगेन मृताप्युज्जीविता तदा । उपायस्तु प्रकर्तव्यः सर्वथा शास्त्रसम्मतः ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
So, O Councillors! to save life, one should resort one’s best duty according to the Śāstras, by the use of gems, mantras, and herbs and plants.”
Ch 9 Verse 41-42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मणिमन्त्रौषधीभिश्च विधिवत्प्राणरक्षणे । इत्युक्त्वा सचिवान् राजा कल्पयित्वा सुरक्षकान् ॥ ४१ ॥ कारयित्वाथ प्रासादं सप्तभूमिकमुत्तमम् । आरुरोहोत्तरासूनुः सचिवैः सह तत्क्षणम् ॥ ४२ ॥
English Translation
Thus speaking to the ministers, the king Parīksit had a fine building of seven floors in height erected, placed the principal guards around it and stationed also the most powerful men well versed in the knowledge of mani (gems), mantrams, and plants for protection and immediately ascended to this building.
Ch 9 Verse 43 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मणिमन्त्रधराः शूराः स्थापितास्तत्र रक्षणे । प्रेषयामास भूपालो मुनिं गौरमुखं ततः ॥ ४३ ॥
English Translation
To appease the wrath of the Muni Śriṅgī, the king sent the Muni named Gaurmukha to him and requested him repeatedly “Let the crime of the humble devotee be forgiven.”
Ch 9 Verse 44 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्रसादार्थं सेवकस्य क्षमस्वेति पुनः पुनः । ब्राह्मणान्सिद्धमन्त्रज्ञान् रक्षणार्थमितस्ततः ॥ ४४ ॥
English Translation
Then, for self preservation, the king brought from all sides the Brāhmaṇas, who are perfect in their knowledge and application of the mantras.
Ch 9 Verse 45-46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मन्त्रिपुत्रः स्थितस्तत्र स्थापयामास दन्तिनः । न कश्चिदारुहेत्तत्र प्रासादे चातिरक्षिते ॥ ४५ ॥ वातोऽपि न चरेत्तत्र प्रवेशे विनिवार्यते । भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकं राजा तत्रस्थश्च चकार सः ॥ ४६ ॥
English Translation
The minister’s son placed the elephants in proper places so that no body can ascend to the top of the building; what more can be said than the fact that even air could not find entrance there when once ordered “no admission” what to speak of others! The king Parīksit remained there and counted the number of days of the serpent Takṣaka’s coming there;
Ch 9 Verse 47-50 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स्तानसन्ध्यादिकं कर्म तत्रैव विनिवर्त्य च । राजकार्याणि सर्वाणि तत्रस्थश्चाकरोन्नृपः ॥ ४७ ॥ मन्त्रिभिः सह सम्मन्त्र्य गणयन्दिवसानपि । कश्चिच्च कश्यपो नाम ब्राह्मणो मन्त्रिसत्तमः ॥ ४८ ॥ शुश्राव च तथा शापं प्राप्तं राज्ञा महात्मना । स धनार्थी द्विजश्रेष्ठः कश्यपः समचिन्तयत् ॥ ४९ ॥ व्रजामि तत्र यत्रास्ते शप्तो राजा द्विजेन ह । इति कृत्वा मतिं विप्रः स्वगृहान्निःसृतः पथि ॥ ५० ॥
English Translation
he performed his bath, Sandhyā Bandanams and fooding; even he consulted with his ministers and governed his kingdom from there. O Ṛṣis! At this time a Brāhmaṇ named Kaśyapa, versed in the mantras, heard of the curse of the king and thought that he would get abundant wealth if he could free the king from Takṣaka’s poison and proposed to himself that he would go to the place where the cursed king Parīksit was staying with the Brāhmaṇas. Pondering thus, the Brāhmaṇa went out of his house, on the expectation of wealth from the king. Thus ends the ninth chapter of the second Skandha on the account of Ruru in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses.