Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 3 • CHAPTER 22
Ch 22 Verse 1 Verse
Sanskrit Text
३.२२ द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः । सुदर्शनशशिकलयोर्विवाहवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच । श्रुत्वा सुतावाक्यमनिन्दितात्मा नृपांश्च गत्वा नृपतिर्जगाद । व्रजन्तु कामं शिविराणि भूपाः श्वो वा विवाहं किल संविधास्ये ॥ १ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Then, on hearing his daughter’s words, that high souled king of Benares, Subāhu, came to the spot where the kings were staying and said :-- “O kings! Now you can go to your own camps; tomorrow I will perform my daughter’s marriage ceremony.
Ch 22 Verse 2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भक्ष्याणि पेयानि मयाऽर्पितानि गृह्णन्तु सर्वे मयि सुप्रसन्नाः । श्वो भावि कार्यं किल मण्डपेऽत्र समेत्य सर्वैरिह संविधेयम् ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
Let you all be pleased with me and graciously accept the food and drink, given by me. Tomorrow let you all come here and perform my daughter’s marriage ceremony.
Ch 22 Verse 3 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नायाति पुत्री किल मण्डपेऽद्य करोमि किं भूपतयोऽत्र कामम् । प्रातः समाश्वास्य सुतां नयिष्ये गच्छन्तु तस्माच्छिविराणि भूपाः ॥ ३ ॥
English Translation
O Kings! My daughter is not coming today to this hall of Svayamvara; what can I do now; I will console her and bring her here tomorrow. Therefore do you all go now to your own camps respectively.
Ch 22 Verse 4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न विग्रहो बुद्धिमतां निजाश्रिते कृपा विधेया सततं ह्यपत्ये । विधाय तां प्रातारिहानयिष्ये सुतां तु गच्छन्तु नृपा यथेष्टम् ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
Intelligent persons should not quarrel with the members of their own family. But they should always shew kindness towards their own sons and daughters who are under their protection. However, I will make my daughter understand and bring her tomorrow morning. You may all go now to your places as you desire.
Ch 22 Verse 5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इच्छापणं वा परिचिन्त्य चित्ते प्रातः करिष्याम्यथ संविवाहम् । सर्वैः समेत्यात्र नृपैः समेतैः स्वयंवरः सर्वमतेन कार्यः ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
Tomorrow morning we will settle about the pledge, whether by choice or by fulfilling a promise, that requires strength, and have the marriage celebrated; or better you all together would decide what mode of Svayamvara is to be adopted.”
Ch 22 Verse 6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
श्रुत्वा नृपास्तेऽवितथं विदित्वा वचो ययुः स्वानि निकेतनानि । विधाय पार्श्वे नगरस्य रक्षां चक्रुः क्रिया मध्यदिनोदिताश्च ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
The kings heard Subāhu and trusted him. Then seeing that the city is well guarded on all sides, they went to their own camps and performed their mid-day duties.
Ch 22 Verse 7-8 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सुबाहुरप्यार्यजनैः समेत- श्चकार कार्याणि विवाहकाले । पुत्रीं समाहूय गृहे सुगुप्ते पुरोहितैर्वेदविदां वरिष्ठैः ॥ ७ ॥ स्नानादिकं कर्म वरस्य कृत्वा विवाहभूषाकरणं तथैव । आनाय्य वेदीरचिते गृहे वै तस्यार्हणां भूमिपतिश्चकार ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
king Subāhu on this side began to perform all the duties regarding the marriage of his daughter, after duly consulting with all the chief members of the family. At the appointed time of marriage he brought his daughter in a well concealed and guarded chamber, had the bathing ceremony of the bridegroom elect performed by the priests, versed in the Vedas, and had him well dressed and did other requisite things. Then he brought the bridegroom in the house, made him seat on a Vedī (platform) and duly worshipped him.
Ch 22 Verse 9 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सविष्टरं चाचमनीयमर्घ्यं वस्त्रद्वयं गामथ कुण्डले द्वे । समर्प्य तस्मै विधिवन्नरेन्द्र ऐच्छत्सुतादानमहीनसत्त्वः ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
Then the large-hearted king gave to the bridegroom seat, Ācamanīya (water for rinsing the mouth and such articles of food as require rinsing one’s mouth after eating them), Arghya (articles for worshipping deservedly, pādyam, e.g., water for washing the feet with an offer of green grass, rice, etc., made in worshipping a God or a Brāhmaṇ), the two silken cloths and sheet, cows, and two ear-rings and then wanted to give Sudarśana his daughter.
Ch 22 Verse 10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सोऽप्यग्रहीत्सर्वमदीनचेताः शशाम चिन्ताऽथ मनोरमायाः । कन्यां सुकेशीं निधिकन्यकासमां मेने तदाऽऽत्मानमनुत्तमञ्च ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
The high minded Sudarśana accepted all the offerings given by the king. Seeing this, Manoramā was relieved of her anxiety. Manoramā began to think that beautiful and well adorned daughter as if the daughter of Kuvera (the God of wealth); and thanked herself and thought as if all her duties were over.
Ch 22 Verse 11 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सुपूजितं भूषणवस्त्रदानै- र्वरोत्तमं तं सचिवास्तदानीम् । निन्युश्च ते कौतुकमण्डपान्त- र्मुदान्विता वीतभयाश्च सर्वे ॥ ११ ॥
English Translation
Then the royal ministers carried gladly and fearlessly the beautiful Sudarśana, worshipped with ornaments and clothings, in a good nice carriage to the centre of the amusement court.
Ch 22 Verse 12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
समाप्तभूषां विधिवद्विधिज्ञाः स्त्रियश्च तां राजसुतां सुयाने । आरोप्य निन्युर्वरसन्निधानण् चतुष्कयुक्ते किल मण्डपे वै ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
On the other hand, the elderly female members, who knew all about the prescribed rules, performed the dressing of the princess in a befitting manner and placing her in a beautiful conveyance took her before the bridegroom elect, in the marriage hall, where there was the platform regularly built.
Ch 22 Verse 13-14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अग्निं समाधाय पुरोहितः स हुत्वा यथावच्च तदन्तराले । आह्वाययत्तौ कृतकौतुकौ तु वधूवरौ प्रेमयुतौ निकामम् ॥ १३ ॥ लाजाविसर्गं विधिवद्विधाय कृत्वा हुताशस्य प्रदक्षिणाञ्च । तौ चक्रतुस्तत्र यथोचित्तं तत् सर्वं विधानं कुलगोत्रजातम् ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
The Sacred Fire was then lit, the royal priest began to perform the Homa ceremony duly; when the amusement ceremony of the bridegroom and bride united in love was duly performed, the priest called them there. After this the bridegroom and bride performed duly the Lājā Homa ceremony and circumambulated the Sacred Fire. Thus all the ceremonies, befitting the gotra and family, were all fully performed according to the prescribed rules.
Ch 22 Verse 15-17 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शतद्वयं चाश्चयुजां रथानां सुभूषितं चापि शरौघसंयुतम् । ददौ नृपेन्द्रस्तु सुदर्शनाय सुपूजितं पारिबर्हं विवाहे ॥ १५ ॥ मदोत्कटान्हेमविभूषितांश्च गजान्गिरेः शृङ्गसमानदेहान् । शतं सपादं नृपसूनवेऽसौ ददावथ प्रेमयुतो नृपेन्द्रः ॥ १६ ॥ दासीशतं काञ्चनभूषितं च करेणुकानां च शतं सुचारु । समर्पयामास वराय राजा विवाहकाले मुदितोऽनुवेलम् ॥ १७ ॥
English Translation
Then the king Subāhu, excited by feelings of love, in the marriage time, gave to the prince Sudarśana the following presents: well adorned two hundred chariots, with horses and the arrow cases filled with arrows, one hundred and twenty five elephants, dressed with golden ornaments, looking like so many mountains, one hundred beautiful female elephants and one hundred maid servants, all dressed in golden ornaments.
Ch 22 Verse 18-20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अदात्पुनर्दाससहस्रमेकं सर्वायुधैः सम्भृतभूषितञ्च । रत्नानि वासांसि यथोचितानि दिव्यानि चित्राणि तथाविकानि ॥ १८ ॥ ददौ पुनर्वासगृहाणि तस्मै रम्याणि दीर्घाणि विचित्रितानि । सिन्धूद्भवानां तुरगोत्तमाना- मदात्सहस्रद्वितयं सुरम्यम् ॥ १९ ॥ क्रमेलकानाञ्च शतत्रयं वै प्रत्यादिशद्भारभृतां सुचारु । शतद्वयं वै शकटोत्तमानां तस्मै ददौ धान्यरसैः प्रपूरितम् ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
The king gave the bridegroom also one thousand servants well adorned, bearing the complete set of all sorts of weapons, many gems and jewels, clothings, nice variegated woolen clothes, beautiful capacious rooms to live in, and two thousand excellent horses born in the Sindhu country, three hundred good camels able to carry sufficient loads, and two hundred carriages, filled with grains, etc.
Ch 22 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मनोरमां राजसुतां प्रणम्य जगाद वाक्यं विहिताञ्जलिः पुरः । दासोऽस्मि ते राजसुते वरिष्ठे तद्ब्रूहि यत्स्यात्तु मनोगतं ते ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
Then the king bowed to the king’s daughter Manoramā and with clasped hands, said :-- “O royal daughter! I am now become your servant; now kindly say what is your desire?”
Ch 22 Verse 22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तं चारुवाक्यं निजगाद सापि स्वस्त्यस्तु ते भूप कुलस्य वृद्धिः । सम्मानिताऽहं मम सूनवे त्वया दत्ता यतो रत्नवरा स्वकन्या ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
Hearing these beautiful words of the king, Manoramā said :-- “O king! all good to you and let your family increase in sons and grandsons. You have increased my honour by giving in marriage your daughter (jewel) to my son. I have no other desire than to see your welfare constant and the increase in your family, posterity and prosperity.
Ch 22 Verse 23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न बन्दिपुत्री नृप मागधी वा स्तौमीह किं त्वां स्वजनं महत्तरम् । सुमेरुतुल्यस्तु कृतः सुतोऽद्य मे सम्बन्धिना भूपतिनोत्तमेन ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
O king! Your are the chief amongst the kings. Your have made my son great and strong like the Sumeru mountain by giving him your daughter in marriage. You are high and my related. I am not the daughter of a panegyrist or a bard; how can I then praise you for this noble act of yours.
Ch 22 Verse 24-25 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अहोऽतिचित्रं नृपतेश्चरित्रं परं पवित्रं तव किं वदामि । यद्भ्रष्टराज्याय सुताय मेऽद्य दत्ता त्वया पूज्यसुता वरिष्ठा ॥ २४ ॥ वनाधिवासाय किलाधनाय पित्रा विहीनाय विसैन्यकाय । सर्वानिमान्भूमिपतीन्विहाय फलाशनायार्थविवर्जिताय ॥ २५ ॥
English Translation
O king! Your character is wonderful and pure. What more shall I say to you than this that you all, in the face of many other kings, have given your daughter to my son in marriage, who is banished from his kingdom, is deprived of his father and is living in the forest, penniless, armyless, subsisting himself on roots and fruits only.
Ch 22 Verse 26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
समानवित्तेऽथ कुले बले च ददाति पुत्रीं नृपतिश्च भूयः । न कोऽपि मे भूपसुतेऽर्थहीने गुणान्वितां रूपवतीञ्च दद्यात् ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
In these cases the kings as a rule make relations with those only, who are their equals in rank and position, of noble families of equal grade, having forces and wealth equal to each other. No other king would have offered his beautiful well-qualified daughter in marriage to my prince who is without any wealth.
Ch 22 Verse 27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वैरं तु सर्वैः सह संविधाय नृपैर्वरिष्ठैर्बलसंयुतैश्च । सुदर्शनायाथ सुताऽर्पिता मे किं वर्णये धैर्यमिदं त्वदीयम् ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
O king! On your this act, all the other kings, holding great influence and possessing armies, have turned out your enemies. I, being a woman am unable to describe the amount of patience in you.”
Ch 22 Verse 28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
निशम्य वाक्यानि नृपः प्रहृष्टः कृताञ्जलिर्वाक्यमुवाच भूयः । गृहाण राज्यं मम सुप्रसिद्धं भवामि सेनापतिरद्य चाहम् ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
The king Subāhu of Benares, hearing the sweet words of Manoramā was highly pleased and, with folded hands, began to say, “O Devī, you better take my this celebrated kingdom; I will become the commander of your forces and will try my best to guard this city.
Ch 22 Verse 29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नोचेत्तदर्धं प्रतिगृह्य चात्र सुतान्वितो राज्यफलानि भुङ्क्ष्व । विहाय वाराणसिकानिवासं वने पुरे वासमतो न मेऽस्ति ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
Or you can take half of my kingdom and remain here with your son. It is not my desire that you leave this Benares and go and live in the forest.
Ch 22 Verse 30-31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नृपास्तु सन्त्येव रुषान्विता वै गत्वा करिष्ये प्रथमं तु सान्त्वनम् । ततः परं द्वावपरावुपायौ नोचेत्ततो युद्धमहं करिष्ये ॥ ३० ॥ जयाजयो दैववशो तथापि धर्मे जयो नैव कृतेऽप्यधर्मे । तेषां किलाधर्मवतां नृपाणां कथं भविष्यत्यनुचिन्तितं वै ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
The kings have become very offended; I will first try to appease them; if they be not satisfied, I will adopt the means of “gift” or sowing dissensions amongst them; and even, if, in that, I fail, I will ultimately take to war. O Devī! Victory or defeat is under the hands of the Destiny; still victory comes to those who are in the right path and defeat to those who are in the wrong path. How then can the victor arise to those sinful kings?”
Ch 22 Verse 32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
आकर्ण्य तद्भाषितमर्थवच्च जगाद वाक्यं हितकारकं तम् । मनोरमा मानमवाप्य तस्मात् सर्वात्मना मोदयुता प्रसन्ना ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
Hearing the king’s words, pregnant with meaning, Manoramā felt herself highly respected; and, with a cheerful heart, said the following good words.
Ch 22 Verse 33 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राजञ्छिवं तेऽस्तु कुरुष्व राज्यं त्यक्त्वा भयं त्वं स्वसुतैः समेतः । सुतोऽपि मे नूनमवाप्य राज्यं साकेतपुर्यां प्रचरिष्यतीह ॥ ३३ ॥
English Translation
“O king! let all good come on you! you better discard all fear and reign with your sons here; my son Sudarśana, too, will become the king of Ayodhya by the Grace of Śrī Bhagavatī Bhuvaneśvarī, the Supreme Cause of the innumerable worlds, and will roam in this world; there is no doubt in this.
Ch 22 Verse 34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विसर्जयास्मान्निजसद्म गन्तुं शिवं भवानी तव संविधास्यति । न काऽपि चिन्ता मम भूप वर्तते सञ्चिन्तयन्त्या परमाम्बिकां वै ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
May Bhagavatī Bhavanī bring all good unto you; now kindly permit us to depart to our homes, O king! I always contemplate the Highest Goddess Ambikā; and I have no time to indulge in other thoughts.”
Ch 22 Verse 35 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दोषा गता विविधवाक्यपदै रसालै- रन्योन्यभाषणपदैरमृतोपमैश्च । प्रातर्नृपाः समधिगम्य कृतं विवाहं रोषान्विता नगरबाह्यगतास्तथोचुः ॥ ३५ ॥
English Translation
Thus, on various subjects, Manoramā and the king Subāhu began to talk with each other, causing satisfaction to both like nectar, when the morning broke out.
Ch 22 Verse 36 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अद्यैव तं नृपकलङ्कधरञ्च हत्वा बालं तथैव किल तं न विवाहयोग्यम् । गृह्णीम तां शशिकलां नृपतेश्च लक्ष्मीं लज्जामवाप्य निजसद्म कथं व्रजेम ॥ ३६ ॥
English Translation
The kings, knowing early in the morning, that the princess had been given away in marriage, became very much enraged and went out of the city and began to discuss with one another. “We will kill today the king Subāhu, the disgrace amongst the kings as well that boy Sudarśana, totally unfit to marry the princess, and take away the kingdom and the princess Śaśikalā. How can we return to our homes, with this severe disgrace, stamped on our heads.
Ch 22 Verse 37 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शृण्वन्तु तूर्यनिनदान्किल वाद्यमाना- ञ्छङ्खस्वनानभिभवन्ति मृदङ्गशब्दाः । गीतध्वनिं च विविधं निगमस्वनञ्च मन्यामहे नृपतिनाऽत्र कृतो विवाहः ॥ ३७ ॥
English Translation
Hear, O kings! the sound of the drums, mridaṅgas, other instruments; the sounds of the conchshells have even been overpowered. Hark! The various musical sounds and the chanting of the Vedas. It is then certain that the King Subāhu has finished the marriage ceremony of his daughter Śaśikalā with Sudarśana.
Ch 22 Verse 38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अस्मान्प्रतार्य वचनैर्विधिवच्चकार वैवाहिकेन विधिना करपीडनं वै । कर्तव्यमद्य किमहो प्रविचिन्तयन्तु भूपाः परस्परमतिं च समर्थयन्तु ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
Oh! This king has deceived us with his words and performed the marriage ceremony, according to ordinary religious rules.
Ch 22 Verse 39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवं वदत्सु नृपतिष्वथ कन्याकायाः कृत्वा विवाहविधिमप्रतिमप्रभावः । भूपान्निमन्त्रयितुमाशु जगाम राजा काशीपतिः स्वसुहृदैः प्रथितप्रभावैः ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
Now O kings! decide unanimously what to do and come to a definite conclusion.” When the kings were thus discussing, the king of Benares, of indomitable prowess, the king Subāhu, after finishing his daughter’s marriage, came there with his famous friends to invite them.
Ch 22 Verse 40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
आगच्छन्तं च तं दृष्ट्वा नृपाः काशीपतिं तदा । नोचुः किञ्चिदपि क्रोधान्मौनमाधाय संस्थिताः ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
Seeing the King of Benares present, all the other kings did not utter a single word, but they remained silent, beaming with anger.
Ch 22 Verse 41 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स गत्वा प्रणिपत्याह कृताञ्जलिरभाषत । आगन्तव्यं नृपैः सर्वैर्भोजनार्थं गृहे मम ॥ ४१ ॥
English Translation
Subāhu then approached to the kings, bowed down, and, with folded hands, said :-- “Be kind enough to come to my house for dinner.
Ch 22 Verse 42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कन्ययाऽसौ वृतो भूपः किं करोमि हिताहितम् । भवद्भिस्तु शुभः कार्यो महान्तो हि दयालवः ॥ ४२ ॥
English Translation
O kings! My daughter Śaśikalā after all has selected Sudarśana; I could not help in this. You are all kind and noble; therefore you all be peaceful and let the matter drop.”
Ch 22 Verse 43 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तन्निशम्य वचस्तस्य नृपाः क्रोधपरिप्लुताः । प्रत्यूचुर्भुक्तमस्माभिः स्वगृहं नृपते व्रज ॥ ४३ ॥
English Translation
The kings hearing him were filled with rage and said, “We have all taken food; our desires have been fulfilled; you better now go back to your own home.
Ch 22 Verse 44-45 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कुरु कार्याण्यशेषाणि यथेष्टं सुकृतं कृतम् । नृपाः सर्वे प्रयान्त्वद्य स्वानि स्वानि गृहाणि वै ॥ ४४ ॥ सुबाहुरपि तच्छ्रुत्वा जगाम शङ्कितो गृहम् । किं करिष्यन्ति संविग्नाः क्रोधयुक्ता नृपोत्तमाः ॥ ४५ ॥
English Translation
Your behaviour with us is all right and proper; now do your other duties and let the kings go back to their homes.” Hearing these words of the kings, the king of Benares was very much terrified and returned home, thinking that the kings were all filled with rage and might do serious harm to him. Thus he began to pass away his time in dire anxiety.
Ch 22 Verse 46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
गते तस्मिन्महीपालाश्चक्रुश्च समयं पुनः । रुद्ध्वा मार्गं ग्रहीष्यामः कन्यां हत्वा सुदर्शनम् ॥ ४६ ॥
English Translation
Then the king Subāhu disappeared; the kings united made this resolve that they would block the passage of Sudarśana, kill him, and take the girl away.
Ch 22 Verse 47 Verse
Sanskrit Text
केचनोचुः किमस्माकं हन्त तेन नृपेण वै । दृष्ट्वा तु कौतुकं सर्वं गमिष्यामो यथागतम् ॥ ४७ ॥
English Translation
Some of these kings rather said :-- “What is the use in killing the king’s son. We will all go willingly to see the fun.”
Ch 22 Verse 48-49 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इत्युक्त्वा ते नृपाः सर्वे मार्गमाक्रम्य संस्थिताः । चकारोत्तरकार्याणि सुबाहुः स्वगृहं गतः ॥ ४८ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां तृतीयस्कन्धे सुदर्शनशशिकलयोर्विवाहवर्णनं नाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ३.२२॥
English Translation
Thus the kings went and remained blocking the path of Sudarśana; and the king Subāhu, on returning home, began to make arrangements for the departure of the bridegroom and the bride. Thus ends the 22nd Chapter on Sudarśana’s marriage in Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.