Ch 16 Verse 1 Verse

Sanskrit Text

५.१६ षोडशोऽध्यायः । महिषद्वारा देवीप्रबोधनम् । व्यास उवाच । तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा क्रोधयुक्तो नराधिपः । दारुकं प्राह तरसा रथमानय मेऽद्भुतम् ॥ १ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing those words, the King Mahiṣa in anger addressed the charioteer Darūka :-- “Bring over my chariot quickly.

Ch 16 Verse 2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सहस्रखरसंयुक्तं पताकाध्वजभूषितम् । आयुधैः संयुतं शुभ्रं सुचक्रं चारुकूबरम् ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

That chariot is drawn by one thousand excellent horses, is bedecked with banners, flags, and ensigns, is furnished with various arms and weapons, and is endowed with good wheels of a white colour, and beautiful poles in which the yoke is fixed.”

Ch 16 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सूतोऽपि रथमानीय तमुवाच त्वरान्वितः । राजन् रथोऽयमानीतो द्वारि तिष्ठति भूषितः ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

The charioteer brought the chariot instantly and duly informed the king, “O King! I have got the chariot ready at your door, your beautiful chariot, bedecked with beautiful carpets and various arms and weapons.”

Ch 16 Verse 4-5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सर्वायुधसमायुक्तो वरास्तरणसंयुतः । आनीतं तं रथं ज्ञात्वा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः ॥ ४ ॥ मानुषं देहमास्थाय सङ्ग्रामे गन्तुमुद्यतः । विचार्य मनसा चेति देवी मां प्रेक्ष्य दुर्मुखम् ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

Hearing that the chariot had been brought, Mahiṣa thought, the Devī might not care him, seeing him ugly faced with a pair of horns and therefore decided to assume a human shape and then go to the battle.

Ch 16 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शृङ्गिणं महिषं नूनं विमना सा भविष्यति । नारीणां च प्रियं रूपं तथा चातुर्यमित्यपि ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

The beauty and cleverness are the delights of women; therefore I will go before Her, with a beautiful body and with all the cleverness and dexterities.

Ch 16 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्माद्रूपं च चातुर्यं कृत्वा यास्यामि तां प्रति । यथा मां वीक्ष्य सा बाला प्रेमयुक्ता भविष्यति ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

For I will never be delighted with anything but that woman looking at me with fondness and becoming passionately attached to me.

Ch 16 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ममापि च तदैव स्यात्सुखं नान्यस्वरूपतः । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

Thus thinking, the powerful King of the Demons quitted the buffalo appearance and assumed a beautiful human shape.

Ch 16 Verse 9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

त्यक्त्वा तन्माहिषं रूपं बभूव पुरुषः शुभः । सर्वायुधधरः श्रीमांश्चारुभूषणभूषितः ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

He put on beautiful ornaments, armplates, etc., and wore divine cloths and had garlands on his neck and thus shone like a second Kandarpa, the god of Love.

Ch 16 Verse 10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दिव्याम्बरधरः कान्तः पुष्पबाण इवापरः । रथोपविष्टः केयूरस्रग्वी बाणधनुर्धरः ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

Taking, then, all the arrows and weapons, he mounted on the chariot, and attended by his army, went to the Devī, elated with power and vanity.

Ch 16 Verse 11-12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सेनापरिवृतो देवीं जगाम मदगर्वितः । मनोज्ञं रूपमास्थाय मानिनीनां मनोहरम् ॥ ११ ॥ तमागतं समालोक्य दैत्यानामधिपं तदा । बहुभिः संवृतं वीरैर्देवी शङ्खमवादयत् ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

The Devī blew Her conchshell when She saw Mahiṣāsura, the lord of the Dānavas, come before Her with a handsome appearance, tending to captivate the minds of mistresses and surrounded by many powerful and valiant warriors.

Ch 16 Verse 13-14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स शङ्खनिनदं श्रुत्वा जनविस्मयकारकम् । समीपमेत्य देव्यास्तु तामुवाच हसन्निव ॥ १३ ॥ देवि संसारचक्रेऽस्मिन्वर्तमानो जनः किल । नरो वाथ तथा नारी सुखं वाञ्छति सर्वथा ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

The King of the Demons heard the blow of the conchshell, wondrous to all, came up before the Devī and smilingly spoke to Her thus :-- O Devī! Whatever person there exists in this world, this wheel of Samsāra (the eternal round of births and deaths), be he or she a man or a woman, everyone always hankers after pleasure or happiness.

Ch 16 Verse 15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सुखं संयोगजं नॄणां नासंयोगे भवेदिह । संयोगो बहुधा भिन्नस्तान्ब्रवीमि शृणुष्व ह ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

And that pleasure is derived in this world by the combination of persons with each other; never is it seen where this combination is absent.

Ch 16 Verse 16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भेदान्सुप्रीतिहेतूत्थान्स्वभावोत्थाननेकशः । तत्र प्रीतिभवानादौ कथयामि यथामति ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

Again this combination is of various kinds; I will mention them; Hear. Union is of various kinds according as it arises out of affection or out of natural consequences. Of these, I will now speak of unions coming out of affection, as far as my understanding goes.

Ch 16 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मातापित्रोस्तु पुत्रेण संयोगस्तूत्तमः स्मृतः । भ्रातुर्भ्रात्रा तथा योगः कारणान्मध्यमो मतः ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

The union that comes between father, mother and their sons arises out of affection; it is therefore good. The union between brother and brother is middling, for mutual interests of give and take are there between the two.

Ch 16 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उत्तमस्य सुखस्यैव दातृत्वादुत्तमः स्मृतः । तस्मादल्पसुखस्यैव प्रदातृत्वाच्च मध्यमः ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

In fact, that union is considered as excellent which leads to happiness of the best sort and that union which leads to lesser happiness is known as mediocre.

Ch 16 Verse 19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नाविकानां तु संयोगः स्मृतः स्वाभाविको बुधैः । विविधावृतचित्तानां प्रसङ्गपरिवर्तिनाम् ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

The union amongst the sailors, coming from distant lands, is known as natural. They come on various errands concerning their varied interests.

Ch 16 Verse 20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अत्यल्पसुखदातृत्वात्कनिष्ठोऽयं स्मृतो बुधैः । अत्युत्तमस्तु संयोगः संसारे सुखदः सदा ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

This combination, because it offers the least amount of happiness, is considered as worst. The best union leads in this world to best happiness.

Ch 16 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नारीपुरुषयोः कान्ते समानवयसो सदा । संयोगो यः समाख्यातः स एवात्युत्तमः स्मृतः ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

O Beloved! The constant union of men and women of the same age is considered as par excellence; for it gives happiness of the very best sort.

Ch 16 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अत्युत्तमसुखस्यैव दातृत्वात्स तथाविधः । चातुर्यरूपवेषाद्यैः कुलशीलगुणैस्तथा ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

Both the parties, men and women, are elevated when they want to excel each other in their family connections, qualities, beauty; cleverness, dress, humility and propriety of conduct.

Ch 16 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

परस्परसमुत्कर्षः कथ्यते हि परस्परम् । तं चेत्करोषि संयोगं वीरेण च मया सह ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

Therefore, O Dear! If you establish with me that conjugal relation, you will get, no doubt, all the excellent happiness.

Ch 16 Verse 24-25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अत्युत्तमसुखस्यैव प्राप्तिः स्यात्ते न संशयः । नानाविधानि रूपाणि करोमि स्वेच्छया प्रिये ॥ २४ ॥ इन्द्रादयः सुराः सर्वे सङ्ग्रामे विजिता मया । रत्नानि यानि दिव्यानि भवनेऽस्मिन्ममाधुना ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

Specially I will assume different forms at my mere will. All the Divine jewels and precious things that I have acquired after defeating Indra and the other Devas in battle, and others are lying in my palace; you can enjoy all of them as my queen consort or you can make a charity of them as you like.

Ch 16 Verse 26-27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भुङ्क्ष्व त्वं तानि सर्वाणि यथेष्टं देहि वा यथा । पट्टराज्ञी भवाद्य त्वं दासोऽस्मि तव सुन्दरि ॥ २६ ॥ वैरं त्यजेऽहं देवैस्तु तव वाक्यान्न संशयः । यथा त्वं सुखमाप्नोषि तथाहं करवाणि वै ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

O Beautiful One! I am your servant; consequently, at your word, I will no doubt quit my enmity with the Devas. In short, I will do anything that leads to your pleasure and happiness.

Ch 16 Verse 28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

आज्ञापय विशालाक्षि तथाहं प्रकरोम्यथ । चित्तं मे तव रूपेण मोहितं चारुभाषिणि ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

O Sweet speaking One! O Large-eyed One! My heart is enchanted very much with your beauty; I will do, therefore, as you order me. O One having a broad hip! I am very much distressed; I now take refuge unto You.

Ch 16 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

आतुरोऽस्मि वरारोहे प्राप्तस्ते शरणं किल । प्रपन्नं पाहि रम्भोरु कामबाणैः प्रपीडितम् ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

O One having beautiful thighs! I am very much struck with the arrows of Cupid, and I am very much discomforted; therefore, save me. To protect one who has come under one’s refuge is the best of all virtues.

Ch 16 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

धर्माणामुत्तमो धर्मः शरणागतरक्षणम् । त्वदीयोऽस्म्यसितापाङ्गि सेवकोऽहं कृशोदरि ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

O One of a somewhat whitish body! O One having a slender waist! I will spend the remaining portion of my life in serving you as your obedient servant. Never will I act contrary to your orders to the risk even of my life. Take this as literally true and do accordingly.

Ch 16 Verse 31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मरणान्तं वचः सत्यं नान्यथा प्रकरोम्यहम् । पादौ नतोऽस्मि तन्वङ्गि त्यक्त्वा नानायुधानि ते ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

I now throw aside all my weapons before Your feet; O Large eyed! I am very much distressed by the arrows of Cupid; dost Thou therefore show Thy mercy on me.

Ch 16 Verse 32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दयां कुरु विशालाक्षि तप्तोऽस्मि काममार्गणैः । जन्मप्रभृति चार्वङ्गि दैन्यं नाचरितं मया ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

O Beautiful One! Never I showed my weakness to Brahmā and the other Devas; but today I acknowledge that before You. I have defeated Brahmā and others; they are fully acquainted with my prowess in the battlefield.

Ch 16 Verse 33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्रह्मादीनीश्वरान्प्राप्य त्वयि तद्विदधाम्यहम् । चरितं मम जानन्ति रणे ब्रह्मादयः सुराः ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

But, O Honoured Woman! Though I am so powerful, I now acknowledge myself as your servant. Better look at me and grant your mercy.

Ch 16 Verse 34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सोऽप्यहं तव दासोऽस्मि मन्मुखं पश्य भामिनि । व्यास उवाच । इति ब्रुवाणं तं दैत्यं देवी भगवती हि सा ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Mahiṣa, the lord of the Daityas, having said so, that beautiful Bhagavatī laughed loudly and spoke smiling :--

Ch 16 Verse 35-36 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रहस्य सस्मितं वाक्यमुवाच वरवर्णिनी । देव्युवाच । नाहं पुरुषमिच्छामि परमं पुरुषं विना ॥ ३५ ॥ तस्य चेच्छास्म्यहं दैत्य सृजामि सकलं जगत् । स मां पश्यति विश्वात्मा तस्याहं प्रकृतिः शिवा ॥ ३६ ॥

English Translation

The Devī said :-- I do not desire any other body than the Supreme One! O Demon! I am His Will-power; I therefore create all these worlds. I am His Śivā (auspicious) Prakriti (Nature); That Universal Soul is seeing Me.

Ch 16 Verse 37-38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तत्सान्निध्यवशादेव चैतन्यं मयि शाश्वतम् । जडाहं तस्य संयोगात्प्रभवामि सचेतना ॥ ३७ ॥ अयस्कान्तस्य सान्निध्यादयसश्चेतना यथा । न ग्राम्यसुखवाञ्छा मे कदाचिदपि जायते ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

It is owing to His proximity that I am appearing as the Eternal Consciousness, manifesting Itself as this Cosmos. As irons move owing to the proximity of magnets, I, too, though inert, owing to His proximity, work consciously.

Ch 16 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मूर्खस्त्वमसि मन्दात्मन् यत्स्त्रीसङ्गं चिकीर्षसि । नरस्य बन्धनार्थाय शृङ्खला स्त्री प्रकीर्तिता ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

I do not desire to enjoy the ordinary pleasures; you are very dull and stupid; there is no doubt in this, when you desire sexual union. For women are considered as chains to hold men in bondage.

Ch 16 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

लोहबद्धोऽपि मुच्येत स्त्रीबद्धो नैव मुच्यते । किमिच्छसि च मन्दात्मन् मूत्रागारस्य सेवनम् ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

Men bound up by iron chains can obtain freedom at any time, but when they are fastened by women, they can never obtain freedom. O Stupid! You now want to serve the source of urine, etc.

Ch 16 Verse 41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शमं कुरु सुखाय त्वं शमात्सुखमवाप्स्यसि । नारीसङ्गे महद्दुःखं जानन्किं त्वं विमुह्यसि ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

Take refuge under Peace; peace will lead you to happiness. Great pain arises from connection with women; you know this; then why are you deluded?

Ch 16 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

त्यज वैरं सुरैः सार्धं यथेष्टं विचरावनौ । पातालं गच्छ वा कामं जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

Better avoid your enmity with the Devas and roam over the world anywhere you like. Or, if you desire to live, go to Pātāla; or fight with Me. Know this for certain that I am stronger than you.

Ch 16 Verse 43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अथवा कुरु सङ्ग्रामं बलवत्यस्मि साम्प्रतम् । प्रेषिताहं सुरैः सर्वैस्तव नाशाय दानव ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

O Dānava! The Devas collected have sent Me here; I tell you this very truly; I am satisfied with you by your words of friendship; therefore dost thou fly away while you are living.

Ch 16 Verse 44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सत्यं ब्रवीमि येनाद्य त्वया वचनसौहृदम् । दर्शितं तेन तुष्टास्मि जीवन्गच्छ यथासुखम् ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

See! When words are uttered seven times amongst each other, friendship is established between saints.

Ch 16 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सतां सप्तपदी मैत्री तेन मुञ्चामि जीवितम् । मरणेच्छास्ति चेद्युद्धं कुरु वीर यथासुखम् ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

That has been done so amongst us; so there is friendship now between you and me; I won’t take away your life. O hero! If you desire to die, fight gladly; O powerful one! I will, no doubt, kill you.

Ch 16 Verse 46-47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

हनिष्यामि महाबाहो त्वामहं नात्र संशयः । व्यास उवाच । इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा दानवः काममोहितः ॥ ४६ ॥ उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा मधुरं वचनं ततः । बिभेम्यहं वरारोहे त्वां प्रहर्तुं वरानने ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing the Bhagavatī’s words, the Dānava, deluded by passion, began to speak in beautiful sweet words :-- O Beautiful One! Your body and the several parts thereof are very delicate and beautiful. A mere sight of such a lady makes one enchanted.

Ch 16 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कोमलां चारुसर्वाङ्गीं नारीं नरविमोहिनीम् । जित्वा हरिहरादींश्च लोकपालांश्च सर्वशः ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

Therefore, O Beautiful faced one! I fear very much to strike against your body. O Lotus-eyed One! I have subjugated Hari, Hara, the Lokapālas and the several other Devatās; I therefore ask whether it is proper for me to fight with you!

Ch 16 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

किं त्वया सह युद्धं मे युक्तं कमललोचने । रोचते यदि चार्वङ्गि विवाहं कुरु मां भज ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

O Fair one! If you like, you marry and worship me, or you can return to your desired place whence you have come.

Ch 16 Verse 50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नोचेद् गच्छ यथेष्टं ते देशं यस्मात्समागता । नाहं त्वां प्रहरिष्यामि यतो मैत्री कृता त्वया ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

You have declared friendship with me; I therefore do not like to strike any weapons on you. I have now spoken for your good and welfare. You can gladly go away.

Ch 16 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

हितमुक्तं शुभं वाक्यं तस्माद् गच्छ यथासुखम् । का शोभा मे भवेदन्ते हत्वा त्वां चारुलोचनाम् ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

O beautiful one! You are a fair woman with beautiful eyes; what fame shall I earn by killing you! O One of slender waist! Murdering a woman, a child, and a Brāhmin certainly makes the murderer liable to suffer the consequences thereof.

Ch 16 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्त्रीहत्या बालहत्या च ब्रह्महत्या दुरत्यया । गृहीत्वा त्वां गृहं नूनं गच्छाम्यद्य वरानने ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

I will certainly carry you today to my place without killing you. If I use force to you, I will not get happiness; for, in such cases, the application of force leads to no happiness.

Ch 16 Verse 53 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तथापि मे फलं न स्याद्बलाद्भोगसुखं कुतः । प्रब्रवीमि सुकेशि त्वां विनयावनतो यतः ॥ ५३ ॥

English Translation

O One having good hairs! I salute before you and speak that a man cannot be happy without the lotus face of a woman; similarly a woman cannot be happy without a man’s lotus face.

Ch 16 Verse 54 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पुरुषस्य सुखं न स्यादृते कान्तामुखाम्बुजात् । तत्तथैव हि नारीणां न स्याच्च पुरुषं विना ॥ ५४ ॥

English Translation

Where comes off the good combination between these two, then the highest pitch of happiness is conceived and pain arises on the disjunction thereof.

Ch 16 Verse 55 Verse

Sanskrit Text

संयोगे सुखसम्भूतिर्वियोगे दुःखसम्भवः । कान्तासि रूपसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता ॥ ५५ ॥

English Translation

True that you are well decked with ornaments all over your body but you seem wanting in cleverness; for you are not worshipping me. Who has advised you to renounce enjoyments?

Ch 16 Verse 56-57 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चातुर्यं त्वयि किं नास्ति यतो मां न भजस्यहो । तवोपदिष्टं केनेदं भोगानां परिवर्जनम् ॥ ५६ ॥ वञ्चितासि प्रियालापे वैरिणा केनचित्त्विह । मुञ्चाग्रहमिमं कान्ते कुरु कार्यं सुशोभनम् ॥ ५७ ॥

English Translation

O Sweet speaking One! If this be true; then surely he is your enemy; he has deceived you. O Dear! Leave your this stubbornness and marry me; both of us shall then be happy. Viṣṇu shines well with Kamalā, Brahmā looks splendid with Savitrī, Rudra is well associated with Parvatī and Indra with Śacī, so I will shine well with you; there is no doubt in this.

Ch 16 Verse 58-60 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सुखं तव ममापि स्याद्विवाहे विहिते किल । विष्णुर्लक्ष्या सहाभाति सावित्र्या च सहात्मभूः ॥ ५८ ॥ रुद्रो भाति च पार्वत्या शच्या शतमखस्तथा । का नारी पतिहीना च सुखं प्राप्नोति शाश्वतम् ॥ ५९ ॥ येन त्वमसितापाङ्गि न करोषि पतिं शुभम् । कामः क्वाद्य गतः कान्ते यस्त्वां बाणैः सुकोमलैः ॥ ६० ॥

English Translation

No woman can ever be happy without any good husband. And why are you not then, acknowledging me your husband even when you have got him. O Beloved! Where is now that Cupid of dull intellect? Why is he not troubling you with his maddening delicate five arrows?

Ch 16 Verse 61-63 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मादनैः पञ्चभिः कामं न ताडयति मन्दधीः । मन्येऽहमिव कामोऽपि दयावांस्त्वयि सुन्दरि ॥ ६१ ॥ अबलेति च मन्वानो न प्रेरयति मार्गणान् । मनोभवस्य वैरं वा किमप्यस्ति मया सह ॥ ६२ ॥ तेन च त्वय्यरालाक्षि न मुञ्चति शिलीमुखान् । अथवा मेऽहितैर्देवैर्वारितोऽसौ झषध्वजः ॥ ६३ ॥

English Translation

O Fair one! I think that Madana (the god of Love) out of his pity to you, seeing that you are very weak is not striking his arrows on you as he has done to me. O One looking askance! Or it may be that I have got some enmity with that Cupid; else why is he not shooting arrows at you? Or my enemies the Devas have advised the God of Love not to dart his arrows on you.

Ch 16 Verse 64-65 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सुखविध्वंसिभिस्तेन त्वयि न प्रहरत्यपि । त्यक्त्वा मां मृगशावाक्षि पश्चात्तापं करिष्यसि ॥ ६४ ॥ मन्दोदरीव तन्वङ्गि परित्यज्य शुभं नृपम् । अनुकूलं पतिं पश्चात्सा चकार शठं पतिम् । कामार्ता च यदा जाता मोहेन व्याकुलान्तरा ॥ ६५ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चमस्कन्धे महिषद्वारा देवीप्रबोधनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः ॥ ५.१६॥

English Translation

O One of slender body! As Mandodarī had to marry afterwards, when she became passionate, a hypocrite, and so she had to repent thinking that she had not married before a beautiful auspicious king, so I think, O One, having eyes like the young of a deer! You, too, will have to repent like her if you decline to marry me now. Here ends the Sixteenth Chapter of the Fifth Book on the conversation between the Devī and Mahiṣāsura in Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahāpurāṇam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.