Ch 17 Verse 1-2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

५.१७ सप्तदशोऽध्यायः । राजपुत्रीमन्दोदरीवृत्तवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य देवी पप्रच्छ दानवम् । का सा मन्दोदरी नारी कोऽसौ त्यक्तो नृपस्तया ॥ १ ॥ शठः को वा नृपः पश्चात्तन्मे ब्रूहि कथानकम् । विस्तरेण यथा प्राप्तं दुःखं वनितया पुनः ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing thus, the Devī asked the Dānava, “Who is that Mandodarī? Who is that king who was not first taken by her? And who is that king whom she married afterwards? And how did she repent afterwards? Describe all these in detail to me.”

Ch 17 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिष उवाच । सिंहलो नाम देशोऽस्ति विख्यातः पृथिवीतले । घनपादपसंयुक्तो धनधान्यसमृद्धिमान् ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

Thus asked by the Devī, Mahiṣa began to say :-- “O Devī! There is a place, named Simhala, noted in this earth and decorated with various trees and prosperous with wealth and grains.

Ch 17 Verse 4-5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चन्द्रसेनाभिधस्तत्र राजा धर्मपरायणः । न्यायदण्डधरः शान्तः प्रजापालनतत्परः ॥ ४ ॥ सत्यवादी मृदुः शूरस्तितिक्षुर्नीतिसागरः । शास्त्रवित्सर्वधर्मज्ञो धनुर्वेदेऽतिनिष्ठितः ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

A virtuous king, named Candrasena, used to reign there; he was calm, peaceful, truthful, heroic, charitable, steady, forbearing, well versed in polities, ethics and morals vast as a wide ocean, learned in Śāstras, knowing all forms of religions and much skilled in archery. He was mindful in governing his subjects and he used to punish according to the laws of Justice.

Ch 17 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्य भार्या वरारोहा सुन्दरी सुभगा शुभा । सदाचारातिसुमुखी पतिभक्तिपरायणा ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

The king had a beautiful well-qualified wife, very handsome and broad-hipped. She was very much devoted to her husband and always engaged in religious acts and of good conduct.

Ch 17 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नाम्ना गुणवती कान्ता सर्वलक्षणसंयुता । सुषुवे प्रथमे गर्भे पुत्रीं सा चातिसुन्दरीम् ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

This wife, endowed with all auspicious signs, gave birth to a beautiful daughter in her first delivery.

Ch 17 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पिता चातीव सन्तुष्टः पुत्रीं प्राप्य मनोरमाम् । मन्दोदरीति नामास्याः पिता चक्रे मुदान्वितः ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

The King Candrasena, the father, was very pleased to have this beautiful daughter and gladly called her by the name of Mandodarī.

Ch 17 Verse 9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इन्दोः कलेव चात्यर्थं ववृधे सा दिने दिने । दशवर्षा यदा जाता कन्या चातिमनोहरा ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

This daughter began to grow daily like the phases of the Moon. When she grew ten years old, she became very handsome.

Ch 17 Verse 10-12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वरार्थं नृपतिश्चिन्तामवाप च दिने दिने । मद्रदेशाधिपः शूरः सुधन्वा नाम पार्थिवः ॥ १० ॥ तस्य पुत्रोऽतिमेधावी कम्बुग्रीवोऽतिविश्रुतः । ब्राह्मणैः कथितो राज्ञे स युक्तोऽस्या वरः शुभः ॥ ११ ॥ सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नः सर्वविद्यार्थपारगः । राज्ञा पृष्टा तदा राज्ञी नाम्ना गुणवती प्रिया ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

The King now became anxious to have a suitable bridegroom and used to think of it everyday. The Brāhmins then told the king that there was a prince named Kambugrīva, the intelligent son of the powerful king Sudhanvā of Madra; this prince was endowed, with all kingly qualifications and versed in all knowledge and was therefore a fit match for your daughter.

Ch 17 Verse 13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कम्बुग्रीवाय कन्यां स्वां दास्यामि वरवर्णिनीम् । सा तु पत्युर्वचः श्रुत्वा पुत्रीं पप्रच्छ सादरम् ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

The king then asked his dear qualified wife that he would like to marry his daughter to Kambugrīva. The queen, hearing this, asked her daughter Mandodarī that her father was desiring to marry her to Kambugrīva, the son of the king of Madra.

Ch 17 Verse 14-15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विवाहं ते पिता कर्तुं कम्बुग्रीवेण वाञ्छति । तच्छ्रुत्वा मातरं प्राह वाक्यं मन्दोदरी तदा ॥ १४ ॥ नाहं पतिं करिष्यामि नेच्छा मेऽस्ति परिग्रहे । कौमारं व्रतमास्थाय कालं नेष्यामि सर्वथा ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

Hearing her mother’s words, Mandodarī spoke thus :-- “O Mother! I have got no desire to marry; I will not accept any husband; I will take the vow of leading a chaste virgin life and thus pass the rest of my life.

Ch 17 Verse 16-17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्वातन्त्र्येण चरिष्यामि तपस्तीव्रं सदैव हि । पारतन्त्र्यं परं दुःखं मातः संसारसागरे ॥ १६ ॥ स्वातन्त्र्यान्मोक्षमित्याहुः पण्डिताः शास्त्रकोविदाः । तस्मान्मुक्ता भविष्यामि पत्या मे न प्रयोजनम् ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

O Mother! There is nothing more miserable in this ocean of world than dependence; I therefore prefer to lead incessantly a life of severe asceticism. The Pundits versed in the Śāstras say that taking up the vow of separateness and independence leads to salvation; I will thus be liberated; I have no need for a husband.

Ch 17 Verse 18-19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विवाहे वर्तमाने तु पावकस्य च सन्निधौ । वक्तव्यं वचनं सम्यक्त्वदधीनास्मि सर्वदा ॥ १८ ॥ श्वश्रूदेवरवर्गाणां दासीत्वं श्वशुरालये । पतिचित्तानुवर्तित्वं दुःखाद्दुःखतरं स्मृतम् ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

At the time of marriage ceremony, one has to say before the consecrated Fire that one will remain always a dependent to one’s husband in every way; besides in a father-in-law’s house, one has to pass one’s time as a slave, as it were, to one’s mother-in-law and to husband’s (younger) brothers; again one will have to think oneself as happy when one’s husband is happy and as unhappy when one’s husband is unhappy; this is the worst of all miseries.

Ch 17 Verse 20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कदाचित्पतिरन्यां वा कामिनीं च भजेद्यदि । तदा महत्तरं दुःखं सपत्नीसम्भवं भवेत् ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

Again if the husband marries again another woman, then this misery of having a co-wife is extreme. O Mother! Jealousy arises then towards even one’s own husband and therefore suffering is endless.

Ch 17 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तदेर्ष्या जायते पत्यौ क्लेशश्चापि भवेदथ । संसारे क्व सुखं मातर्नारीणां च विशेषतः ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

Therefore what happiness can there be in this dream-like worlds; especially with women who are made dependent by Nature?

Ch 17 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्वभावात्परतन्त्राणां संसारे स्वप्नधर्मिणि । श्रुतं मया पुरा मातरुत्तानचरणात्मजः ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

O Mother! I heard that in days of yore the religious son of Uttānapāda, Uttama was younger than Dhruva; and yet he became King.

Ch 17 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उत्तमः सर्वधर्मज्ञो ध्रुवादवरजो नृपः । पत्नीं धर्मपरां साध्वीं पतिभक्तिपरायणाम् ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

And the King Uttānapāda banished his dear wife, solely devoted to her husband, without any cause, to the forest.

Ch 17 Verse 24-25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अपराधं विना कान्तां त्यक्तवान्विपिने प्रियाम् । एवंविधानि दुःखानि विद्यमाने तु भर्तरि ॥ २४ ॥ कालयोगान्मृते तस्मिन्नारी स्याद्दुःखभाजनम् । वैधव्यं परमं दुःखं शोकसन्तापकारकम् ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

Therefore women have to suffer such diverse pains while their husbands are living; and if by chance the husband dies, then women get interminable pains; the widowhood becomes the only source of grief and sorrow.

Ch 17 Verse 26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

परोषितपतित्वेऽपि दुःखं स्यादधिकं गृहे । मदनाग्निविदग्धायाः किं सुखं पतिसङ्गजम् ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

Again if the husband be in foreign lands, women become subjected to the fire of Cupid, and then the house becomes an object of more agony. Thus whether the husband lives or dies, there is no happiness at any time. Thus, according to my opinion, I ought never to accept any husband.”

Ch 17 Verse 27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मात्पतिर्न कर्तव्यः सर्वथेति मतिर्मम । एवं प्रोक्ता तदा माता पतिं प्राह नृपात्मजा ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

The Mother then told her husband all about what the daughter had said. Mandodarī would accept the vow of a life-long virgin; she had no desire to marry.

Ch 17 Verse 28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न च वाञ्छति भर्तारं कौमारव्रतधारिणी । व्रतजाप्यपरा नित्यं संसाराद्विमुखी सदा ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

She had brought forward many faults in a worldly life and thus would perform vows and Japams and pass her time alone. She did not yearn after a husband.

Ch 17 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न काङ्क्षति पतिं कर्तुं बहुदोषविचक्षणा । भार्याया भाषितं श्रुत्वा तथैव संस्थितो नृपः ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

The King, hearing thus, came to know, that his daughter had no intention to marry and so began to pass his time without giving away his daughter in marriage.

Ch 17 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विवाहो न कृतः पुत्र्या ज्ञात्वा भावविवर्जिताम् । वर्तमाना गृहेष्वेव पित्रा मात्रा च रक्षिता ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

Thus the daughter lived in family protected by her father and mother; by that time signs of puberty were seen in the body of the daughter.

Ch 17 Verse 31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यौवनस्याङ्कुरा जाता नारीणां कामदीपकाः । तथापि सा वयस्याभिः प्रेरितापि पुनः पुनः ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

Her comrades requested her repeatedly to select a bridegroom; but she spoke many words of wisdom and did not show any inclination for marriage.

Ch 17 Verse 32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चकमे न पतिं कर्तुं ज्ञानार्थपदभाषिणी । एकदोद्यानदेशे सा विहर्तुं बहुपादपे ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

Once, on an occasion, that beautiful faced woman went out with her female attendants on a pleasure trip to a garden, beautified with various trees.

Ch 17 Verse 33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जगाम सुमुखी प्रेम्णा सैरन्ध्रीगणसेविता । रेमे कृशोदरी तत्रापश्यत्कुसुमिता लताः ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

There the slender bodied one began to play and enjoy with her comrades in picking up various flowers and beautiful flowering creepers.

Ch 17 Verse 34-35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पुष्पाणि चिन्वती रम्या वयस्याभिः समावृता । कोसलाधिपतिस्तत्र मार्गे दैववशात्तदा ॥ ३४ ॥ आजगाम महावीरो वीरसेनोऽतिविश्रुतः । एकाकी रथमारूढः कतिचित्सेवकैर्वृतः ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

Just at that time, the famous King of Kosala, the powerful Vīrasena came there accidentally. Alone he was on his chariot, attended by a few soldiers; his large army and retinue were coming slowly behind him at some distance.

Ch 17 Verse 36-37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सैन्यं च पृष्ठतस्तस्य समायाति शनैः शनैः । दृष्टस्तस्या वयस्याभिर्दूरतः पार्थिवस्तदा ॥ ३६ ॥ मन्दोदर्यै तथा प्रोक्तं समायाति नरः पथि । रथारूढो महाबाहू रूपवान्मदनोऽपरः ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

Her comrades, then, looking at that King from a distance, told Mandodarī, “O friend! See! Somebody, strong and beautiful, like a second God of Love is coming towards us, mounted on a chariot.

Ch 17 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मन्येऽहं नृपतिः कश्चित्प्राप्तो भाग्यवशादिह । एवं ब्रुवत्यां तत्रासौ कोसलेन्द्रः समागतः ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

I think some King he will be and we are very lucky that he has come here.” While thus talking, the King arrived there.

Ch 17 Verse 39-41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दृष्ट्वा तामसितापाङ्गीं विस्मयं प्राप भूपतिः । उत्तीर्य स रथात्तूर्णं पप्रच्छ परिचारिकाम् ॥ ३९ ॥ केयं बाला विशालाक्षी कस्य पुत्री वदाशु मे । एवं पृष्टा तु सैरन्ध्री तमुवाच शुचिस्मिता ॥ ४० ॥ प्रथमं ब्रूहि मे वीर पृच्छामि त्वां सुलोचन । कोऽसि त्वं किमिहायातः किं कार्यं वद साम्प्रतम् ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

The King, looking on that blue coloured woman with beautiful eyes became surprised and getting down from the chariot, asked the maidservant, “O Gentle one! Who is this woman with large eyes! Who is her father? Tell me this without any delay.” The attendant smiling, told him thus :-- O Beautiful-eyed One! Pray speak first who are you? What for have you come here? What do you want to do here?

Ch 17 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इति पृष्टस्तु सैरन्ध्र्या तामुवाच महीपतिः । कोसलो नाम देशोऽस्ति पृथिव्यां परमाद्भुतः ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

The female attendant thus asking him, the King replied :-- There is a very beautiful country named Kosala, in this earth; I am the King of that place; my name is Vīrasena.

Ch 17 Verse 43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्य पालयिता चाहं वीरसेनाभिधः प्रिये । वाहिनी पृष्ठतः कामं समायाति चतुर्विधा ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

My fourfold army is coming at my will at my back. I have lost my way and have come here. Know me as the King of the country Kosala.

Ch 17 Verse 44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मार्गभ्रमादिह प्राप्तं विद्धि मां कोसलाधिपम् । सैरन्ध्र्युवाच । चन्द्रसेनसुता राजन्नाम्ना मन्दोदरी किल ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

The female attendant said :-- “O King! This lotus-eyed one is the daughter of the King Candrasena; her name is Mandodarī.

Ch 17 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उद्याने रन्तुकामेयं प्राप्ता कमललोचना । श्रुत्वा तद्भाषितं राजा प्रत्युवाच प्रसाधिकाम् ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

She has come here in this garden for sporting.” Hearing thus the attendant’s words, the King replied :-- “O Sairandhri! You appear to be smart; therefore make the King’s daughter understand my following words clearly!

Ch 17 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सैरन्ध्रि चतुरासि त्वं राजपुत्रीं प्रबोधय । ककुत्स्थवंशजश्चाहं राजास्मि चारुलोचने ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

O Sweet-eyed one! I am the King descended from the Kakutstha line; O fair woman! Marry me according to the rules of Gandarbha marriage.” Note :-- Gandharva marriage: one of the eight forms of marriage; this form of marriage proceeds entirely from love or the mutual inclination of a youth and maiden without ceremonies and without consulting relatives.

Ch 17 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गान्धर्वेण विवाहेन पतिं मां कुरु कामिनि । न मे भार्यास्ति सुश्रोणि वयसोऽद्भुतयौवनाम् ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

“O broad hipped One! I have no other wife; you are a beautiful woman, of a good family and of a marriageable age; I therefore like to marry you?

Ch 17 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वाञ्छामि रूपसम्पन्नां सुकुलां कामिनीं किल । अथवा ते पिता मह्यं विधिना दातुमर्हति ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

Or your father may marry you to me according to rules and ceremonies; if so, I will no doubt be your husband as you desire.”

Ch 17 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अनुकूलः पतिश्चाहं भविष्यामि न संशयः । महिष उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य सैरन्ध्री प्राह तां तदा ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

Mahiṣa said :-- O Devī! The female attendant, expert in the science of love, hearing the King’s words, spoke to the daughter smilingly and in sweet words.

Ch 17 Verse 50-51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रहस्य मधुरं वाक्यं कामशास्त्रविशारदा । मन्दोदरि नृपः प्राप्तः सूर्यवंशसमुद्भवः ॥ ५० ॥ रूपवान्बलवान्कान्तो वयसा त्वत्समः पुनः । प्रीतिमान्नृपतिर्जातस्त्वयि सुन्दरि सर्वथा ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

“O Mandodarī! A very good-looking beautiful King of the solar dynasty has come here; he is very pretty, powerful, and of your age; O Beautiful! The King is entirely devoted to you and loves you very much.

Ch 17 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पितापि ते विशालाक्षि परितप्यति सर्वथा । विवाहकालं ते ज्ञात्वा त्वां च वैराग्यसंयुताम् ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

O Large-eyed One! Your time of marriage has come and yet you have not married; rather you are against it. Your father is, therefore, always very sorry and remorseful.

Ch 17 Verse 53-55 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इत्याहास्मान्स नृपतिर्विनिःश्वस्य पुनः पुनः । पुत्रीं प्रबोधयन्त्वेतां सैरन्ध्र्यः सेवने रताः ॥ ५३ ॥ वक्तुं शक्ता वयं न त्वां हठधर्मरतां पुनः । भर्तुः शुश्रूषणं स्त्रीणां परो धर्मोऽब्रवीन्मनुः ॥ ५४ ॥ भर्तारं सेवमाना वै नारी स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात् । तस्मात्कुरु विशालाक्षि विवाहं विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ ५५ ॥

English Translation

The Munis have said :-- To serve the husband is the highest virtue of a woman. O Large-eyed! Women get Heaven if they serve their husband; therefore you better marry according to rules and ceremonies.”

Ch 17 Verse 56 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मन्दादर्युवाच । नाहं पतिं करिष्यामि चरिष्ये तप अद्भुतम् । निवारय नृपं बाले किं मां पश्यति निस्त्रपः ॥ ५६ ॥

English Translation

Mandodarī said :-- I am not going to marry; better that I should perform an extraordinary tapasyā (asceticism); O Girls! You go and ask the King desist in his request; why is he shamelessly looking at me.

Ch 17 Verse 57 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सैरन्ध्र्युवाच । दुर्जयो देवि कामोऽसौ कालोऽसौ दुरतिक्रमः । तस्मान्मे वचनं पथ्यं कर्तुमर्हसि सुन्दरि ॥ ५७ ॥

English Translation

The female attendant then said, “O Devī! Passion is very hard to conquer; time is also surmountable with difficulty; so know my advice as the medicinal diet and keep my request. And if you do not keep it, surely danger will befall you.”

Ch 17 Verse 58-59 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्यथा व्यसनं नूनमापतेदिति निश्चयः । इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा कन्योवाचाथ तां सखीम् ॥ ५८ ॥ यद्यद्भवेत्तद्भवतु दैवयोगादसंशयम् । न विवाहं करिष्येऽहं सर्वथा परिचारिके ॥ ५९ ॥

English Translation

Hearing this, Mandodarī replied, “O attendant! I know whatever is ordained by Fate will inevitably come to pass; for the present, I am not going to marry at all.”

Ch 17 Verse 60 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिष उवाच । इति तस्यास्तु निर्बन्धं ज्ञात्वा प्राह नृपं पुनः । गच्छ राजन् यथाकामं नेयमिच्छति सत्पतिम् ॥ ६० ॥

English Translation

Mahiṣa said :-- The female attendant, knowing this her obstinate view, told the King :-- “O King! This woman likes not a good husband; you would better go wherever you like.”

Ch 17 Verse 61-62 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नृपस्तु तद्वचः श्रुत्वा निर्गतः सह सेनया । कोसलान्विमना भूत्वा कामिनीं प्रति निःस्पृहः ॥ ६१ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चमस्कन्धे देवीमहिषसंवादे राजपुत्रीमन्दोदरीवृत्तवर्णनं नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ॥ ५.१७॥

English Translation

The King heard and did not want to marry that woman any more; and, being sad and broken-hearted, went back with his army to Kosala. Here ends the Seventeenth Chapter of the Fifth Skandha on Mandodarī’s accounts in the Mahāpurāṇam, Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.