Ch 24 Verse 1-2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

६.२४ चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः । अम्बिकायाः नियोगात्पुत्रोत्पादनाय गर्भधारणवर्णनम् । राजोवाच । भगवंस्त्वन्मुखाम्भोजाच्च्युतं दिव्यकथारसम् । न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामि पिबंस्तु सुधया समम् ॥ १ ॥ विचित्रमिदमाख्यानं कथितं भवता मम । हैहयानां समुत्पत्तिर्विस्तराद्विस्मयप्रदा ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

You have described to me in detail the wonderful and variegated story of the origin of the Haihaya dynasty; but, O Muni! There has arisen in my mind a curiosity to know something more on this subject.

Ch 24 Verse 3-4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

परं कौतूहलं मेऽत्र यद्विष्णुः कमलापतिः । देवदेवो जगन्नाथः सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारकः ॥ ३ ॥ सोऽप्यश्वभावमापन्नो भगवान्हरिरच्युतः । परतन्त्रः कथं जातः स्वतन्त्रः पुरुषोत्तमः ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

See the Bhagavān Viṣṇu, the Lord of Lakṣmī, the Deva of the Devas, the Ruler of this whole Universe and the Cause of the Creation, Preservation and Destruction; yet that Best of Puruṣas Śrī Bhagavān had to assume a horse form. He is undecaying and independent, how then He came to be dependent?

Ch 24 Verse 5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एतन्मे संशयं ब्रह्मञ्छेत्तुमर्हसि साम्प्रतम् । सर्वज्ञस्त्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रूहि वृत्तान्तमद्भुतम् ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

Clear this doubt of mine. O Best of Munis! You are omniscient; therefore satisfy my curiosity by describing this wonderful event.”

Ch 24 Verse 6-7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि सन्देहस्यास्य निर्णयम् । यथा श्रुतं मया पूर्वं नारदान्मुनिसत्तमात् ॥ ६ ॥ ब्रह्मणो मानसः पुत्रो नारदो नाम तापसः । सर्वज्ञः सर्वगः शान्तः सर्वलोकप्रियः कविः ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hear what I heard of yore from Nārada how this doubt was removed. The mind-born son of Brahmā, Maharṣi Nārada got powers to go everywhere by virtue of his Tapas, could know everything, was of a calm and quiet nature, dear to all and he was a poet.

Ch 24 Verse 8-9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स चैकदा मुनिश्रेष्ठो विचरन्पृथिवीमिमाम् । वादयन्महतीं वीणां स्वरतानसमन्विताम् ॥ ८ ॥ बृहद्रथन्तरादीनां साम्नां भेदाननेकशः । गायन्गायत्रममृतं सम्प्राप्तोऽथ ममाश्रमम् ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

On one occasion he went out on tour round the world, playing with his lute in time with Svar and Tān. One day he came to my Āśrama, singing many things concerning Brihat Rathantara Sāma Veda and the sweet nectar-like Gāyatrī, the Giver of Liberation.

Ch 24 Verse 10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शम्याप्रासं महातीर्थं सरस्वत्याः सुपावनम् । निवासं मुनिमुख्यानां शर्मदं ज्ञानदं तथा ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

O King! There was a very sacred place of hermitage, beaming as it were with happiness and self-knowledge, named Śamyāprāsa, on the banks of the river Sarasvatī. There was situated my hermitage.

Ch 24 Verse 11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तमागतमहं प्रेक्ष्य ब्रह्मपुत्रं महाद्युतिम् । अभ्युत्थानादिकं सर्वं कृतवानर्चनादिकम् ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

Seeing the lustrous Nārada the son of the Grand Sire Brahmā, coming, I got up and offered him duly Pādya (water to wash his feet) and Argha (offerings of worship), etc., and worshipped him.

Ch 24 Verse 12-13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अर्घ्यपाद्यविधिं कृत्वा तस्यासनस्थितस्य च । उपविष्टः समीपेऽहं मुनेरमिततेजसः ॥ १२ ॥ दृष्ट्वा विश्रमिणं शान्तं नारदं ज्ञानपारदम् । तमपृच्छमहं राजन् यत्पृष्टोऽहं त्वयाधुना ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

When that Muni of indomitable lustre took his seat on the Āsana, I sat beside him. When I found Nārada, the Giver of Knowledge, at rest and quiet, I duly asked him the very same question that you have asked me just now.

Ch 24 Verse 14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

असारेऽस्मिंस्तु संसारे प्राणिनां किं सुखं मुने । न पश्यामि विनिश्चित्य कदाचित्कुत्रचित्क्वचित् ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

O Best of Munis! What happiness is there on the beings taking their birth in this world. I never found it in any place or in any concern, this I can say positively.

Ch 24 Verse 15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

द्वीपे जातो जनन्याहं सन्त्यक्तस्तत्क्षणादपि । अनाश्रयो वने वृद्धिं प्राप्तः कर्मानुसारतः ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

Still why do the high minded persons do Karma, fascinated by the enchantments of the world. Look! I was born in an island.

Ch 24 Verse 16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तपस्तप्तं मया चोग्रं पर्वते बहुवार्षिकम् । पुत्रकामेन देवर्षे शङ्करः समुपासितः ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

Just after my birth, my mother forsook me. Helpless, I grew in the forest as my Karma allowed. Next I performed a very severe tapasyā before Mahādeva, the Deva of the Devas, on the mountain with a desire to have a son.

Ch 24 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ततो मया शुकः प्राप्तः पुत्रो ज्ञानवतां वरः । पाठितस्तु मया सम्यग्वेदानां सार आदितः ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

As a fruit of that I got Śuka as my son, the foremost of the Gnostics, and taught him completely the essence of the Vedas from the beginning to the end.

Ch 24 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स त्यक्त्वा मां गतः क्वापि रुदन्तं विरहातुरम् । लोकाल्लोकान्तरं साधो वचनात्तव बोधितः ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

O Devarṣī! When my son got wisdom from you, he left this world even when I became very distressed on his bereavement and wept aloud and he went away to the next world.

Ch 24 Verse 19-20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ततोऽहं पुत्रसन्तप्तस्त्यक्त्वा मेरुं महागिरिम् । मातरं मनसा कृत्वा सम्प्राप्तः कुरुजाङ्गलम् ॥ १९ ॥ पुत्रस्नेहादतितरां कृशाङ्गः शोकसंयुतः । जानन्मिथ्येति संसारं मायापाशनियन्त्रितः ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

Very much afflicted for the parting of my son, I abandoned the great Mountain Meru. I got very lean due to the absence of my dear son whom I loved very much; and becoming very distressed and knowing this whole world to be an illusion, I remembered my mother and went to the Kuru Jāṅgala district, as if bound up and controlled by the snares of Māyā.

Ch 24 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ततो राज्ञा वृतां ज्ञात्वा मातरं वासवीं शुभाम् । स्थितोऽत्रैवाश्रमं कृत्वा सरस्वत्यास्तटे शुभे ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

When I heard that the King Śāntanu had married my mother, I built my hermitage on the holy banks of the Sarasvatī and remained there.

Ch 24 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शन्तनुः स्वर्गतिं प्राप्तो विधुरा जननी स्थिता । पुत्रद्वययुता साध्वी भीष्मेण प्रतिपालिता ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

When the King Śāntanu went to the next world, my chaste mother remained with two sons. At that time Bhīṣma looked after their sustenance and maintained them.

Ch 24 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चित्राङ्गदः कृतो राजा गङ्गापुत्रेण धीमता । कालेन सोऽपि मे भ्राता मृतः कामसमद्युतिः ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

The intelligent Gaṅgā’s son Bhīṣma Deva installed Citrāṅgada on the throne. A short while after this, Citrāṅgada, too, looking like a second Cupid and extremely lovely, went to the jaws of death.

Ch 24 Verse 24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ततः सत्यवती माता निमग्ना शोकसागरे । चित्राङ्गदं मृतं पुत्रं रुरोद भृशमातुरा ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

The mother Satyavatī was drowned in the sorrows for his son Citrāṅgada and began to weep for him.

Ch 24 Verse 25-26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सम्प्राप्तोऽहं महाभाग ज्ञात्वा तां दुःखितां सतीम् । आश्वासिता मयात्यर्थं भीष्मेण च महात्मना ॥ २५ ॥ विचित्रवीर्यस्त्वपरो वीर्यवान्पृथिवीपतिः । कृतो भीष्मेण भ्राता वै स्त्रीराज्यविमुखेन ह ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

O King! Knowing my mother in that sorrowful condition, I went to her. Bhīṣma and I then consoled her with hopeful words. Bhīṣma Deva was averse to marrying and then becoming a King; and, therefore, he installed again the younger brother, the powerful Vicitravīrya on the throne.

Ch 24 Verse 27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

काशिराजसुते रम्ये विजित्य पृथिवीपतीन् । भीष्मेणानीय स्वबलात्कन्यके द्वे समर्पिते ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

O King! Bhīṣma defeated by his own prowess the kings and brought the two daughters of the King Kāśīrāj and handed them over to Satyavatī, so that she might give them over to Victiravīrya.

Ch 24 Verse 28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सत्यवत्यै शुभे काले विवाहः परिकल्पितः । भ्रातुर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य तदाहं सुखितोऽभवम् ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

Then, on an auspicious day, and in an auspicious Lagna (moment) when the marriage ceremony of my brother Vicitravīrya was performed, I became glad.

Ch 24 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पुनः सोऽपि मृतो भ्राता यक्ष्मणा पीडितो भृशम् । अनपत्यो युवा धन्वी माता मे दुःखिताभवत् ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

My brother, a good archer, was shortly afterwards attacked with consumption and thus he died without any issue.

Ch 24 Verse 30-32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

काशिराजसुते द्वे तु मृतं दृष्ट्वा पतिं तदा । पतिव्रताधर्मपरे भगिन्यौ सम्बभूवतुः ॥ ३० ॥ ते ऊचतुः सतीं श्वश्रूं रुदतीं भृशदुःखिताम् । पतिना सहगामिन्यौ भविष्यावो हुताशने ॥ ३१ ॥ पुत्रेण सह ते श्वश्रु स्वर्गे गत्वाथ नन्दने । सुखेन विहरिष्यावः पतिना सह संयुते ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

At this my mother became very sad and dejected. Seeing the husband dead, the two daughters of Kāśīrāja became ready to preserve their religion of chastity and said to their mother-in-law, sorrowful and weeping :-- We two shall accompany our husbands and become Satī (i.e., be burnt up with our husbands). O Devī! We will go to the Heavens with your son.

Ch 24 Verse 33-34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

निवारिते तदा मात्रा वध्वौ तस्मान्महोद्यमात् । स्नेहभावं समाश्रित्य भीष्मस्य वचनात्तदा ॥ ३३ ॥ गाङ्गेयेन च मात्रा मे सम्मन्त्र्य च परस्परम् । कृत्वौर्ध्वदैहिकं सर्वं संस्मृतोऽहं गजाह्वये ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

We, the two sisters united, will enjoy with him in the Nandana Garden. The mother was very much attached to them and with the permission of Bhīṣma Deva, very affectionately made them desist from this great attempt.

Ch 24 Verse 35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्मृतमात्रस्तु मात्रा वै ज्ञात्वा भावं मनोगतम् । तरसैवागतश्चाहं नगरं नागसाह्वयम् ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

When all the funeral obsequies of Vicitravīrya were over, my mother consulted with Bhīṣma and remembered me in Hastinānagara.

Ch 24 Verse 36-37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रणम्य मातरं मूर्ध्ना संस्थितोऽथ कृताञ्जलिः । तामब्रवं सुतप्ताङ्गीं पुत्रशोकेन कर्शिताम् ॥ ३६ ॥ मातस्त्वया किमाहूतो मनसाहं तपस्विनि । आज्ञापय महत्कार्ये दासोऽस्मि करवाणि किम् ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

As soon as she remembered me, immediately I knew her mental feelings and hurriedly came to Hastinānagara and, with my head bowed, fell prostrate before her feet, and with folded hands addressed my mother who was very much inflamed with the fire of sorrow for the death of her son, thus :-- O Mother! Why have you called me here mentally? I see you are very much dejected; I am your servant; order me what I can do for you.

Ch 24 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

त्वं मे तीर्थं परं मातर्देवश्च प्रथितः परः । आगतश्चिन्तितश्चात्र ब्रूहि कृत्यं तव प्रियम् ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

O Mother! You are my greatest place of pilgrimage and you are my highest deity; I am very anxious since I have come here; say what you desire.

Ch 24 Verse 39-40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वाहं स्थितस्तत्र मातुरग्रे यदा मुने । तदा सा मामुवाचेदं पश्यन्ती भीष्ममन्तिके ॥ ३९ ॥ पुत्र तेऽद्य मृतो भ्राता पीडितो राजयक्ष्मणा । तेनाहं दुःखिता जाता वंशच्छेदभयादिह ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O Best of Munis! When I said thus and waited before her, then she looked at Bhīṣma standing close by and said :-- “O Child! Your brother died of consumption; therefore I am very sorrowful, lest the family becomes extinct.

Ch 24 Verse 41-42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मात्त्वमद्य मेधाविन् मयाहूतः समाधिना । गाङ्गेयस्य मतेनात्र पाराशर्यार्थसिद्धये ॥ ४१ ॥ कुलं स्थापय नष्टं त्वं शन्तनोर्नामकारणात् । रक्ष मां दुःखतः कृष्ण वंशच्छेदोद्भवाद्द्रुतम् ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

O son of Parāśara! You re-establish the name of Śāntanu that is going now to be well nigh extinct.

Ch 24 Verse 43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

काशिराजसुते भार्ये भ्रातुस्तव यवीयसः । साधोर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य रूपयौवनभूषिते ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

O Vyāsa Deva! Relieve me soon from this sorrow of mine, lest this line be extinct. There are the two daughters of Kāśīrāja, honest and good and endowed with youth and beauty.

Ch 24 Verse 44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ताभ्यां सङ्गम्य मेधाविन् पुत्रोत्पादनकं कुरु । रक्षस्व भारतं वंशं नात्र दोषोऽस्ति कर्हिचित् ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

O Highly Intelligent One! Better you cohabit with them and save the family of Bhārata by begetting sons. You will not be touched with any sin.”

Ch 24 Verse 45-47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इति मातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा जातश्चिन्तातुरो ह्यहम् । लज्जयाऽऽकुलचित्तस्तामब्रवं विनयानतः ॥ ४५ ॥ मातः पापाधिकं कर्म परदाराभिमर्शनम् । ज्ञात्वा धर्मपथं सम्यक्करोमि कथमादरात् ॥ ४६ ॥ तथा यवीयसो भ्रातुर्वधूः कन्या प्रकीर्तिता । व्यभिचारं कथं कुर्यामधीत्य निगमानहम् ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O Devarṣī! Hearing the mother’s words, I became very anxious and humbly told her with great shame :-- “O Mother! To touch another’s wife is a very sinful act; knowing well the path of Dharma, how can I willingly and intentionally violate that?

Ch 24 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्यायेन न कर्तव्यं सर्वथा कुलरक्षणम् । न तरन्ति हि संसारात्पितरः पापकारिणः ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

So also, the Maharṣis say :-- That the wife of a younger brother is like a daughter. Studying all the Vedas, how can I do this blame-worthy and adulterous act?

Ch 24 Verse 49-50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

लोकानामुपदेष्टा यः पुराणानां प्रवर्तकः । स कथं कुत्सितं कर्म ज्ञात्वा कुर्यान्महाद्भुतम् ॥ ४९ ॥ पुनरुक्तो ह्यहं मात्रा रुदत्या भृशमन्तिके । पुत्रशोकातितप्ता या वंशरक्षणकाम्यया ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

To preserve a line of family by illegal ways is never to be done; for then the fathers of the sinners can never cross this ocean of world. How can he, who is the spiritual preceptor of all, and the writer of all the Purāṇas, do this act knowingly which is awfully strange and very bad and nasty in its nature.”

Ch 24 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पाराशर्य न ते दोषो वचनान्मम पुत्रक । गुरूणां वचनं तथ्यं सदोषमपि मानवैः ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

My mother was very much plunged into the sea of sorrows for the bereavement of her son; so to preserve the family, She came again to me, weeping and said :-- “O son of Parāśara! If you follow my word, you won’t iñcur any sin.

Ch 24 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कर्तव्यमविचार्यैव शिष्टाचारप्रमाणतः । वचनं कुरु मे पुत्र न ते दोषोऽस्ति मानद ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

O Child! If the reasonable words of the Gurus be even faulty, one should obey them according to the tradition of the Śiṣṭas. Therefore, O Child! Keep my word and preserve my honour; no sin will touch you.

Ch 24 Verse 53 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पुत्रस्य जननं कृत्वा सुखिनी कुरु मातरम् । विशेषेण तु सन्तप्तां मग्नां शोकार्णवे सुत ॥ ५३ ॥

English Translation

O Child! Think very well. Your mother is very sorry and is immersed in the ocean of afflictions; therefore it is your paramount duty to make her happy by begetting child for the continuance of the family.”

Ch 24 Verse 54-55 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इति तां ब्रुवतीं श्रुत्वा तदा सुरनदीसुतः । मामुवाच विशेषज्ञः सूक्ष्मधर्मस्य निर्णये ॥ ५४ ॥ द्वैपायन विचारोऽत्र न कर्तव्यस्त्वयानघ । मातुर्वचनमादाय विहरस्व यथासुखम् ॥ ५५ ॥

English Translation

Hearing my mother speaking to me thus, Bhīṣma, the Gaṅgā’s son, the expert in finding out truth in fine points with regard to Dharma, said to me :-- O Dvaipāyana! You are wholly sinless; you ought not therefore to argue on this point; obey your mother as she says and be happy.

Ch 24 Verse 56 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मातुश्च प्रार्थनं तथा । निःशङ्कोऽहं तदा जातः कार्ये तस्मिञ्जुगुप्सिते ॥ ५६ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing his words and my mother’s request, I decided to do this very hateful act with a fearless heart without any suspicion.

Ch 24 Verse 57-58 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अम्बिकायां प्रवृत्तोऽहमृतुमत्यां मुदा निशि । मयि विमनसायां तु तापसे कुत्सिते भृशम् ॥ ५७ ॥ शप्ता मया सा सुश्रोणी प्रसङ्गे प्रथमे तदा । अन्धस्ते भविता पुत्रो यतो नेत्रे निमीलिते ॥ ५८ ॥

English Translation

When Ambikā finished her ablutions after menstruation, I gladly cohabited with her in the night; but that young lady seeing my ugly ascetic form, was not attached to me; I then cursed that beautiful woman thus :-- As you closed your eyes at the first cohabitation with me, your son will be born blind.

Ch 24 Verse 59-60 Verse

Sanskrit Text

द्वितीयेऽह्नि मुनिश्रेष्ठ पृष्टो मात्रा रहः पुनः । भविष्यति सुतः पुत्र काशिराजसुतोदरे ॥ ५९ ॥ मयोक्ता जननी तत्र व्रीडानम्रमुखेन ह । विनेत्रो भविता पुत्रो मातः शापान्ममैव हि ॥ ६० ॥

English Translation

O Muni! On the second day my mother enquired me when I was alone :-- O Dvaipāyana! Will there be born a son of the daughter of Kāśīrāj? I then bowed my head with shame, and told, “Mother! The son will be born blind, through my curse.”

Ch 24 Verse 61 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तया निर्भर्त्सितस्तत्र कठोरवचसा मुने । कथं पुत्र त्वया शप्ता पुत्रस्तेऽन्धो भविष्यति ॥ ६१ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठस्कन्धे अम्बिकायां नियोगात्पुत्रोत्पादनाय गर्भधारणवर्णनं नाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ६.२४॥

English Translation

O Muni! The mother then rebuked me harshly, “O Child! Why did you curse that the son of Ambikā would be born blind?” Here ends the Twenty-fourth Chapter in the Sixth Book on the description of Vikṣepa Śakti in the discourse between Vyāsa and Nārada in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.