Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 3 • CHAPTER 19
Ch 19 Verse 1-2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
३.१९ एकोनविंशोऽध्यायः । राजसंवादवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच । भर्त्रा साऽभिहिता बालां पुत्रीं कृत्वाङ्कसंस्थिताम् । उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं समाश्वास्य शुचिस्मिताम् ॥ १ ॥ किं वृथा सुदति त्वं हि विप्रियं मम भाषसे । पिता ते दुःखमाप्नोति वाक्येनानेन सुव्रते ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- After the king Subāhu had spoken thus, the Queen made her daughter Śaśikalā, who had always sweet smiles on her lips sit on her lap and after consoling her with sweet words, began to say “O fair eyed! You always practise vows and other religious performances; why are you, then, speaking these unpleasant words? The King has heard all what you wanted to say and has been very sorry.
Ch 19 Verse 3-5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सुदर्शनोऽतिदुर्भाग्यो राज्यभ्रष्टो निराश्रयः । बलकोशविहीनश्च परित्यक्तस्तु बान्धवैः ॥ ३ ॥ मात्रा सह वनं प्राप्तः फलमूलाशनः कृशः । न ते योग्यो वरोऽयं वै वनवासी च दुर्भगः ॥ ४ ॥ राजपुत्राः कृतप्रज्ञा रूपवन्तः सुसम्मताः । तवार्हाः पुत्रि सन्त्यन्ये राजचिह्नैरलङ्कृताः ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
That Sudarśana is very unfortunate, deprived of his kingdom, helpless, void of wealth and army, abandoned by his friends, exiled with his mother in the forest, subsisting on roots and fruits, lean and thin. Thus he is not worthy of becoming the husband of yours. There are many learned, beautiful, approved of all, qualified with all royal marks, princes fit to become your husband. They all will come in this Svayamvara.
Ch 19 Verse 6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भ्राताऽस्य वर्तते कान्तः स राज्यं कोसलेषु वै । करोति रूपसम्पन्नः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
There is one brother of this Sudarśana, who is endowed with all kingly qualifications, beautiful, and qualified in various other ways. He is the king of the Kosala country.
Ch 19 Verse 7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अन्यच्च कारणं सुभ्रु शृणु यच्च यथा श्रुतम् । युधाजित्सततं तस्य वधकामोऽस्ति भूमिपः ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
There is another point worth consideration; please hear it. The King Yudhājit is trying his best to kill Sudarśana on a befitting opportunity.
Ch 19 Verse 8 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दौहित्रः स्थापितस्तेन राज्ये कृत्वाऽतिसङ्गरम् । वीरसेनं नृपं हत्वा सम्मन्त्र्य सचिवैः सह ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
He already counselled with his ministers and killed in a desperate fight the king Vīrasena and installed his daughter’s son on the throne.
Ch 19 Verse 9 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भारद्वाजाश्रमं प्राप्तं हन्तुकामः सुदर्शनम् । मुनिना वारितः पश्चाज्जगाम निजमन्दिरम् ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
Even he came up so far as the hermitage of Bhāradvāja to kill Sudarśana; afterwards he was prevented by the Munis from doing so then he returned home.”
Ch 19 Verse 10-11 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शशिकलोवाच । मातर्ममेप्सितः कामं वनस्थोऽपि नृपात्मजः । शर्यातिवचनेनैव सुकन्या च पतिव्रता ॥ १० ॥ च्यवनञ्च यथा प्राप्य पतिशुश्रूषणे रता । भर्तृशुश्रूषणं स्त्रीणां स्वर्गदं मोक्षदं तथा ॥ ११ ॥
English Translation
Śaśikalā replied :-- “Mother! That prince, though staying in the forest, is approved of by me; under the advice Śaryāti, the chaste Sukanyā married Cyavana Muni and served her husband all along; so I will marry this king’s son and will always be engaged in serving him. The women are able to attain heaven and emancipation, if they serve their husbands; therefore if we be sincere in serving our husbands, we will no doubt be happy.
Ch 19 Verse 12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अकैतवकृतं नूनं सुखदं भवति स्त्रियाः । भगवत्या समादिष्टं स्वप्ने वरमनुत्तमम् ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
I have seen in my dream that the Goddess Bhagavatī has ordained him to be my husband; how can I now accept any other body as my husband than him?
Ch 19 Verse 13 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तमृतेऽहं कथं चान्यं संश्रयामि नृपात्मजम् । मच्चित्तभित्तौ लिखितो भगवत्या सुदर्शनः ॥ १३ ॥
English Translation
The Devī Bhuvaneśvarī has pictured his frame firmly in my heart; I will never be able to leave my dearest beautiful husband and to contract marriage with any other person.”
Ch 19 Verse 14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तं विहाय प्रियं कान्तं करिष्येऽहं न चापरम् । व्यास उवाच । प्रत्यादिष्टाऽथ वैदर्भी तया बहुनिदर्शनैः ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- Thus the mother, the daughter of the King of Videha, found many signs and at last desisted. She then reported to the King all the words of Śaśikalā.
Ch 19 Verse 15-16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भर्तारं सर्वमाचष्ट पुत्र्योक्तं वचनं भृशम् । विवाहस्य दिनादर्वागाप्तं श्रुतसमन्वितम् ॥ १५ ॥ द्विजं शशिकला तत्र प्रेषयामास सत्वरम् । यथा न वेद मे तातस्तथा गच्छ सुदर्शनम् ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
When Śaśikalā, on the day before the marriage day, became very anxious and, sent in a great hurry, one trustworthy Brāhmin, versed in the Vedas to the hermitage of Bhāradvāja with this message “O Brāhmaṇ, go in such a way to Sudarśana, as my father be not able to know about it and tell Sudarśana all my words.
Ch 19 Verse 17-18 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भारद्वाजाश्रमे ब्रूहि मद्वाक्यात्तरसा विभो । पित्रा मे सम्भृतः कामं मदर्थेन स्वयंवरः ॥ १७ ॥ आगमिष्यन्ति राजानो बलयुक्ता ह्यनेकशः । मया त्वं वै वृतश्चित्ते सर्वथा प्रीतिपूर्वकम् ॥ १८ ॥
English Translation
My father has called in for my marriage a Svayambara ceremony; many powerful kings will attend with their armies; O Deva! The Goddess Bhagavatī has ordered me in dream and accordingly I, with full gladness of my heart, have become yours already in my heart.
Ch 19 Verse 19 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भगवत्या समादिष्टः स्वप्ने मम सुरोपम । विषमद्मि हुताशे वा प्रपतामि प्रदीपिते ॥ १९ ॥
English Translation
Rather I will take poison or I will jump in a blazing fire, than I can obey my father’s and mother’s words and marry another.
Ch 19 Verse 20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वरये त्वदृते नान्यं पितृभ्यां प्रेरिताऽपि वा । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा संवृतस्त्वं मया वरः ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
By my mind, word, and deed, I have selected you my husband; and pleasure and happiness is sure to attend on us by the blessings of the Bhagavatī.
Ch 19 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भगवत्याः प्रसादेन शर्मावाभ्यां भविष्यति । आगन्तव्यं त्वयात्रैव दैवं कृत्वा परं बलम् ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
Please depend unto Her, at Whose command this whole universe, moving and unmoving is resting, unto that Great Destiny and come to this place without fail.
Ch 19 Verse 22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यदधीनं जगत्सर्वं वर्तते सचराचरम् । भगवत्या यदादिष्टं न तन्मिथ्या भविष्यति ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
What the Goddess, whose commands Śaṅkara all the other Devas obey, has ordered, can never turn out false.
Ch 19 Verse 23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यद्वशे देवताः सर्वा वर्तन्ते शङ्करादयः । वक्तव्योऽसौ त्वया ब्रह्मन्नेकान्ते वै नृपात्मजः ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
O Brāhmin! You the foremost amongst the virtuous; do therefore call on that King’s son in privacy and speak out all there to him. What shall I say more to you. Do all that my object may be fullfilled.”
Ch 19 Verse 24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यथा भवति मे कार्यं तत्कर्तव्यं त्वयानघ । इत्युक्त्वा दक्षिणां दत्त्वा मुनिर्व्यापारितस्तया ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
Thus saying, she gave the Brāhmin his Dakṣinā and sent him to Sudarśana. He went there and reported all the matter duly to him and quickly returned back.
Ch 19 Verse 25 Verse
Sanskrit Text
गत्वा सर्वं निवेद्याशु तत्र प्रत्यागतो द्विजः । सुदर्शनस्तु तज्ज्ञात्वा निश्चयं गमने तदा ॥ २५ ॥
English Translation
On coming to know all this, Sudarśana determined to start; and the Mahārṣi Bhāradvāja, with gladness, sent him.
Ch 19 Verse 26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
चकार मुनिना तेन प्रेरितः परमादरात् । व्यास उवाच । गमनायोद्यतं पुत्रं तमुवाच मनोरमा ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- Seeing her son ready to start, the mother Manoramā became very sorry and, trembling and shedding tears, thus spoke to her son.
Ch 19 Verse 27-28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वेपमानाऽतिदुःखार्ता जातत्रासाऽश्रुलोचना । कुत्र गच्छसि पुत्राद्य समाजे भूभृतां किल ॥ २७ ॥ एकाकी कृतवैरश्च किं विचिन्त्य स्वयंवरे । युधाजिद्धन्तुकामस्त्वां समेष्यति महीपतिः ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
“Sudarśana! Where are you going now? How do you dare to go there in the Svayamvara alone, where are present kings and all your terrible enemies. O Son! You are as yet a boy. The King Yudhājit will certainly go there with the object of killing you; there will then is no other body to help you. So you should never go to that place.
Ch 19 Verse 29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न तेऽन्योऽस्ति सहायश्च तस्मान्मा व्रज पुत्रक । एकपुत्रातिदीनास्मि तवाधारा निराश्रया ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
You are my only son; I am very poor and helpless; I have no other to lean upon than you; therefore you ought not to throw me in despair at this moment.
Ch 19 Verse 30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नार्हसि त्वं महाभाग निराशां कर्तुम्मद्य माम् । पिता ते निहतो येन सोऽपि तत्रागतो नृपः ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
See Sudarśana! The King Yudhājit who had slain my father, that uncontrollable king will come there; if you go there alone, he will certainly kill you.”
Ch 19 Verse 31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एकाकिनं गतं तत्र युधाजित्त्वां हनिष्यति । सुदर्शन उवाच । भवितव्यं भवत्येव नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
Sudarśana replied “Mother! What is inevitable will certainly come to pass; there is no need to discuss further on the subject. I will go at the command of the World Mother to that assembly hall of Swayamvara.
Ch 19 Verse 32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
आदेशाच्च जगन्मातुर्गच्छाम्यद्य स्वयंवरे । मा शोकं कुरु कल्याणि क्षत्रियाऽसि वरानने ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
O Auspicious one! Do not give vent to sorrow; I do fear none by the grace of the Bhagavatī.”
Ch 19 Verse 33 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न बिभेमि प्रसादेन भगवत्या निरन्तरम् । व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा रथमारुह्य गन्तुकामं सुदर्शनम् ॥ ३३ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- Thus saying, Sudarśana mounted on his chariot and was ready to start. Seeing this Manoramā began to bless him and so cheer him.
Ch 19 Verse 34-37 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दृष्ट्वा मनोरमा पुत्रमाशीर्भिश्चान्वमोदयत् । अग्रतस्तेऽम्बिका पातु पार्वती पातु पृष्ठतः ॥ ३४ ॥ पार्वती पार्श्वयोः पातु शिवा सर्वत्र साम्प्रतम् । वाराही विषमे मार्गे दुर्गा दुर्गेषु कर्हिचित् । कालिका कलहे घोरे पातु त्वां परमेश्वरी ॥ ३५ ॥ मण्डपे तत्र मातङ्गी तथा सौम्या स्वयंवरे । भवानी भूपमध्ये तु पातु त्वां भवमोचनी ॥ ३६ ॥ गिरिजा गिरिदुर्गेषु चामुण्डा चत्वरेषु च । कामगा काननेष्वेवं रक्षतु त्वां सनातनी ॥ ३७ ॥
English Translation
O Son! Let Ambikā Devī protect your front; Padmalocanā protect your back; Pārvatī, your two sides; Śivā Devī, all around you; Vārāhī, in dreadful paths; Durgā, in royal forts, Kālikā, in terrible fights; Parameśvarī, in the platform hall; Mātamgī, in the Svayamvara hall; Bhavanī, the Avertress of world, amidst the kings; Girijā, in mountain passes; Camunḍā, in the sacrificial ground, and let the eternal Kāmagā, protect you in the forests.
Ch 19 Verse 38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विवादे वैष्णवी शक्तिरवतात्त्वां रघूद्वह । भैरवी चरणे सौम्य शत्रूणां वै समागमे ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
O Descendant of Raghu family! Let the Vaiṣnavī force protect you in quarrels; let Bhairavī protect you in battles and amongst your enemies.
Ch 19 Verse 39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सर्वदा सर्वदेशेषु पातु त्वां भुवनेश्वरी । महामाया जगद्धात्री सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणी ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
O Son! Let the Mahā Māyā Jagaddhātrī Bhuvaneśvarī protect you everywhere and at all times.
Ch 19 Verse 40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तं तदा माता वेपमाना भयाकुला । उवाचाहं त्वया सार्धमागमिष्यामि सर्वथा ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- Then Manoramā, speaking thus to him, trembled with fear and again said :-- “O Sudarśana, I will also accompany you; there will not be otherwise.
Ch 19 Verse 41 Verse
Sanskrit Text
निमिषार्धं विना त्वां वै नाहं स्थातुमिहोत्सहे । सहैव नय मां वत्स यत्र ते गमने मतिः ॥ ४१ ॥
English Translation
I will never be able to remain anywhere without you and even for the twinkling of an eye. O Son, carrry me thither where you are desiring to go.”
Ch 19 Verse 42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इत्युक्त्वा निःसृता माता धात्रेयीसंयुता तदा । विप्रैर्दत्ताशिषः सर्वे निर्ययुर्हर्षसंयुताः ॥ ४२ ॥
English Translation
Thus saying, his mother with her attendants was ready to start. The Brāhmaṇas pronounced their blessings. All then went out.
Ch 19 Verse 43 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वाराणस्यां ततः प्राप्तो रथेनैकेन राघवः । ज्ञातः सुबाहुना तत्र पूजितश्चार्हणादिभिः ॥ ४३ ॥
English Translation
Sudarśan, the descendant of the Raghu family, mounted then alone on his chariot and reached Benares. There the King Subāhu, hearing that he had come, welcomed him and worshipped him with various presents.
Ch 19 Verse 44 Verse
Sanskrit Text
निवेशार्थं गृहं दत्तमन्नपानादिकं तथा । सेवकं समनुज्ञाप्य परिचर्यार्थमेव च ॥ ४४ ॥
English Translation
He gave him, the house for his residence, and made arrangements for his food and drink and other necessary requirements and gave order to his servants to wait on the prince.
Ch 19 Verse 45 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मिलितास्त्वथ राजानो नानादेशाधिपाः किल । युधाजिदपि सम्प्राप्तो दौहित्रेण समन्वितः ॥ ४५ ॥
English Translation
Then, from various quarters, the kings assembled together; and Yudhājit, too, came there accompanied by his daughter’s son, Śatrujit.
Ch 19 Verse 46-48 Verse
Sanskrit Text
करूषाधिपतिश्चैव तथा मद्रेश्वरो नृपः । सिन्धुराजस्तथा वीरो योद्धा माहिष्मतीपतिः ॥ ४६ ॥ पाञ्चालः पर्वतीयश्च कामरूपोऽतिवीर्यवान् । कार्णाटश्चोलदेशीयो वैदर्भश्च महाबलः ॥ ४७ ॥ अक्षौहिणी त्रिषष्टिश्च मिलिता सङ्ख्यया तदा । वेष्टिता नगरी सा तु सैन्यैः सर्वत्र संस्थितैः ॥ ४८ ॥
English Translation
the King of Māhīsmatī, the valiant warriors, the King of Pāñcāla, the kings of the mountainous tract, the King of Karnat, the powerful King of Kāmarūpa, the King of Chola, and the very powerful King of Vidarbhas with 180 Akṣauhinī soldiers all arrived and assembled there. Benares was then crowded all over with soldiers and soldiers.
Ch 19 Verse 49 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एते चान्ये च बहवः स्वयंवरदिदृक्षया । मिलितास्तत्र राजानो वरवारणसंयुताः ॥ ४९ ॥
English Translation
Many other kings came there on their beautiful elephants to witness the Svayamvara ceremony.
Ch 19 Verse 50 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अन्योन्यं नृपपुत्रास्त इत्यूचुर्मिलितास्तदा । सुदर्शनो नृपसुतो ह्यागतोऽस्ति निराकुलः ॥ ५० ॥
English Translation
Then the princes began to talk amongst them “The King’s son Sudarśana, too, had come there and is staying unconfused and calm.
Ch 19 Verse 51 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एकाकी रथमारुह्य मात्रा सह महामतिः । विवाहार्थमिहायातः काकुत्स्थः किं नु साम्प्रतम् ॥ ५१ ॥
English Translation
Is it that the high minded Sudarśana, born of the Kākutstha family, had come there on a chariot, helpless, to marry?
Ch 19 Verse 52 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एतान् राजसुतांस्त्यक्त्वा ससैन्यान्सायुधानथ । किमेनं राजपुत्री सा वरिष्यति महाभुजम् ॥ ५२ ॥
English Translation
Can it be that the princess will overlook these Kings with soldiers and weapons, and select the long armed Sudarśana?”
Ch 19 Verse 53 Verse
Sanskrit Text
युधाजिदथ राजेशस्तानुवाच महीपतीन् । अहमेनं हनिष्यामि कन्यार्थे नात्र संशयः ॥ ५३ ॥
English Translation
Then the King Yudhājit addressed all the other kings “I will slay Sudarśana for the sake of the daughter; there is no doubt in this.”
Ch 19 Verse 54-55 Verse
Sanskrit Text
केरलाधिपतिः प्राह तं तदा नीतिसत्तमः । नात्र युद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं राजन्निच्छास्वयंवरे ॥ ५४ ॥ बलेन हरणं नास्ति नात्र शुल्कस्वयंवरः । कन्येच्छयाऽत्र वरणं विवादः कीदृशस्त्विह ॥ ५५ ॥
English Translation
Hearing Yudhājit’s words, the king of Keral, the foremost of those who know morals, began to say :-- “O king! In this Icchā svayamvara, it is not proper to fight. Here there will be no marriage for the prowess; there is no arrangement fixed to steal away the bride elect by force; here the bride will select of her own free choice; what cause can then there crop up here for quarrels?
Ch 19 Verse 56 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अन्यायेन त्वया पूर्वमसौ राज्यात्प्रवासितः । दौहित्रायार्पितं राज्यं बलवन्नृपसत्तम ॥ ५६ ॥
English Translation
Before, you had driven him out of his kingdom; and though you are the superior king, you have taken his kingdom by force and installed your daughter’s son on the throne.
Ch 19 Verse 57 Verse
Sanskrit Text
काकुत्स्थोऽयं महाभाग कोसलाधिपतेः सुतः । कथमेनं राजपुत्रं हनिष्यसि निरागसम् ॥ ५७ ॥
English Translation
O King! This Sudarśan is born of the Kākutstha family and the son of the King of Kosala. Why would you kill this innocent boy?
Ch 19 Verse 58 Verse
Sanskrit Text
लप्स्यसे तत्फलं नूनमनयस्य नृपोत्तम । शास्तास्ति कश्चिदायुष्मञ्जगतोऽस्य जगत्पतिः ॥ ५८ ॥
English Translation
O Long lived! Better be sure that there is some God of this Universe; He is governing all; and if you commit anything wrongful know that you will get the fruit of that due to you; there is no doubt it this.
Ch 19 Verse 59 Verse
Sanskrit Text
धर्मो जयति नाधर्मः सत्यं जयति नानृतम् । मानयं कुरु राजेन्द्र त्यज पापमतिं किल ॥ ५९ ॥
English Translation
O King! There is victory everywhere of the Truth and Dharma, always you find Adharma and Falsehood defeated. Therefore dost thou forsake your evil and mean intentions and pacify your vile mind.
Ch 19 Verse 60 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दौहित्रस्तव सम्प्राप्तः सोऽपि रूपसमन्वितः । राज्ययुक्तस्तथा श्रीमान्कथं तं न वरिष्यति ॥ ६० ॥
English Translation
Your daughter’s son is also present here; he is beautiful and prosperous and is reigning a kingdom. Why will not that bride elect him as bridegroom?
Ch 19 Verse 61-63 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अन्ये राजसुताः कामं वर्तन्ते बलवत्तराः । कन्यास्वयंवरे कन्या स्वीकरिष्यति साम्प्रतम् ॥ ६१ ॥ वृते तथा विवादः कः प्रवदन्तु महीभुजः । परस्परं विरोधोऽत्र न कर्तव्यो विजानता ॥ ६२ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां तृतीयस्कन्धे राजसंवादवर्णनं नामैकोनविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ३.१९॥
English Translation
Consider again that there are many other powerful princes and kings in this Svayamvara; the princess may select them also. Therefore let all the kings assembled here say that if the selection of the bridegroom be performed in that way, what cause of a quarrel can there crop up? Knowing all these, you ought not to quarrel here.” Thus ends the Nineteenth Chapter on the going to the Svayamvara assembly of Sudarśana and the other kings in the Mahā Purāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses, by Mahārṣi Veda Vyāsa.