Ch 26 Verse 1-2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

६.२६ षड्विंशोऽध्यायः । दमयन्तीविवाहप्रस्ताववर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच । इति मे वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदः परमार्थवित् । मामाह च स्मितं कृत्वा पृच्छन्तं मोहकारणम् ॥ १ ॥ नारद उवाच । पाराशर्य पुराणज्ञ किं पृच्छसि सुनिश्चयम् । संसारेऽस्मिन्विना मोहं कोऽपि नास्ति शरीरवान् ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! When I asked him why this delusion overtook me, Maharṣi Nārada smiled and said :-- “O son of Parāśara! You are thoroughly acquainted with all the Purāṇas. Why then are you making this question about the cause of my Moha (delusion).

Ch 26 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्रह्माविष्णुस्तथा रुद्रः सनकः कपिलस्तथा । मायया वेष्टिताः सर्वे भ्रमन्ति भववर्त्मनि ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

No embodied soul can exist in this Samsāra without this Moha. Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and the other Devas, Śanaka, Kapila and the other Ṛṣis, all these are surrounded by Māyā and are thus travelling in this path of Samsāra.

Ch 26 Verse 4-5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ज्ञानिनं मां जनो वेत्ति भ्रान्तोऽहं सर्वलोकवत् । शृणु मे पूर्ववृत्तान्तं प्रब्रवीमि सुनिश्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥ दुःखं मया यथा पूर्वमनुभूतं महत्तरम् । स्वकृतेन च मोहेन भार्यार्थे वासवीसुत ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

The people know me as a Jñānin; but I, too, am deluded like an ordinary man. I am now speaking to you as certain as anything my of previous history now. I was deluded by Māyā; hear it attentively. O Son of Vāsavī! Great troubles and pains were felt by me before, due to this Moha, for my wife.

Ch 26 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एकदा पर्वतश्चाहं देवलोकान्महीतलम् । प्राप्तो विलोकनार्थाय भारतं खण्डमुत्तमम् ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

One day Parvata and I, the two Devarṣis, went out together from the Devaloka to see the excellent portion of the earth named Bhārata and came to the Martyaloka or the land of the mortals.

Ch 26 Verse 7-8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भ्रमन्तौ सहितावुर्व्यां पश्यन्तौ तीर्थमण्डलम् । पावनानि च स्थानानि मुनीनामाश्रमाञ्छुभान् ॥ ७ ॥ शपथं देवलोकात्तु कृत्वा पूर्वं परस्परम् । चलितौ समयं चेमं सम्मन्त्र्य निश्चयेन वै ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

We then began to travel over various places and saw the places of pilgrimages and the holy places and the beautiful hermitages of the Munis.

Ch 26 Verse 9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चित्तवृत्तिस्तु वक्तव्या यादृशी यस्य जायते । शुभा वाप्यशुभा वापि न गोप्तव्या कदाचन ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

Before we went out from the Devaloka, we consulted with each other and entered into this agreement that we would not hide our feelings from each other, whether they be good or bad, while we would travel over the face of the earth.

Ch 26 Verse 10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भोजनेच्छा धनेच्छापि रतीच्छा वा भवेदपि । यादृशी यस्य चित्ते तु कथनीया परस्परम् ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

Whether it be our desire to get food, or wealth or women for enjoyment, whatever arises in the mind of any of us, we would express that freely amongst ourselves.

Ch 26 Verse 11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इत्यावां समयं कृत्वा स्वर्गाद्भूलोकमागतौ । एकचित्तौ मुनीभूतौ विचरन्तौ यथेच्छया ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

Thus making an agreement, we went out in right earnest as Munis to travel over the face of this earth.

Ch 26 Verse 12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एवं भ्रमन्तौ लोकेऽस्मिन्ग्रीष्मान्ते समुपागते । सञ्जयस्य पुरं रम्यं सम्प्राप्तौ नृपते पुनः ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

Thus roaming all over the face of the earth, at the end of the summer season, when the rainy season commenced we came to the beautiful city of the King named Śañjaya.

Ch 26 Verse 13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तेन सम्पूजितौ भक्त्या राज्ञा सम्मानितौ भृशम् । स्थितौ तत्र गृहे तस्य चातुर्मास्यं महात्मनः ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

The King showed us great respect and worshipped us with devotion. Since then we remained for four months at his house.

Ch 26 Verse 14-15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वार्षिकाश्चतुरो मासा दुर्गमाः पथि सर्वदा । तस्मादेकत्र विबुधैः स्थातव्यमिति निश्चयः ॥ १४ ॥ अष्टौ मासांस्तु प्रवसेत्सदा कार्यवशाद्द्विजः । वर्षाकाले न गन्तव्यं प्रवासे सुखमिच्छता ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

During the four months of the rainy season, the roads are always almost impassable; it is, therefore, wise to stay at one place. For eight months, the Dvījas should always remain abroad on some work or other. Thinking all these, we two began to stay in the house of the King Śañjaya.

Ch 26 Verse 16-17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा सञ्जयस्य गृहे तदा । संस्थितौ मानितौ राज्ञा कृतातिथ्यौ महात्मना ॥ १६ ॥ दमयन्तीति विख्याता तस्य पुत्री महीपतेः । आज्ञप्ता परिचर्यार्थं सुदती सुन्दरी भृशम् ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

That liberal minded King gladly and with respect kept us as his guests and tendered to us all our requirements. The King had a very beautiful daughter named Damayantī, with good teeth. The King ordered her to take care of us.

Ch 26 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विवेकज्ञा विशालाक्षी राजपुत्री कृतोद्यमा । सेवनं सर्वकाले च व्यदधादुभयोरपि ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

That large-eyed princess, of great discrimination, was very energetic, day and night. She began to serve both of us.

Ch 26 Verse 19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्नानार्थमुदकं काले भोजनं मृष्टमायतम् । मुखवासं तथा चान्यं यदिष्टं तद्ददाति सा ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

In due time she gave us water for our bath, excellent meat, food, towels for cleaning and rubbing our faces, in fact, everything what we desired.

Ch 26 Verse 20-21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मनोऽभिलषितान्कामानुभयोरपि कन्यका । व्यजनासनशय्यादीन्वाञ्छितानप्यकल्पयत् ॥ २० ॥ एवं संसेव्यमानौ तु स्थितौ राज्ञो गृहे किल । वेदाध्ययनसंशीलावावां वेदव्रते रतौ ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

She kept ready for us whatever we desired, fans, seats, beds, whatever were necessary for us. Thus she began to serve. We were also engaged in the study of our Vedas and in those practises that were approved by the Vedas.

Ch 26 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अहं वीणां करे कृत्वा साधयित्वा स्वरोत्तमम् । गायत्रं साम सुस्वादमगां कर्णरसायनम् ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

O Dvaipāyana! I used to sing, then, with lute in my hands, the sweet lovely Sāma Gāyatrī songs in tunes and good Svaras.

Ch 26 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

राजपुत्री तु तच्छ्रुत्वा सामगानं मनोहरम् । बभूव मयि रागाढ्या प्रीतियुक्ता विशारदा ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

The princess herself appreciated the songs and when she heard these Sāma songs ravishing to one’s mind, she became attached to me and showed signs of affection.

Ch 26 Verse 24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दिने दिनेऽनुरागोऽस्या मयि वृद्धिं गतः परः । ममापि प्रीतियुक्तायां मनो जातं स्पृहापरम् ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

Day by day the attachment towards me grew stronger. Seeing her attached to me, my mind also became attached to her.

Ch 26 Verse 25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मम तस्य च सा कन्या भोजनादिषु कर्हिचित् । अकरोदन्तरं किञ्चित्सेवाभेदं रसान्विता ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

Thus that princess indulged in amorous sentiments towards me and began to make slight distinctions between the food and other things offered to me and Parvata.

Ch 26 Verse 26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्नानायोष्णजलं मह्यं पर्वताय च शीतलम् । दधि मह्यं तथा तक्रं पर्वतायाप्यकल्पयत् ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

I got warm water for my bath and Parvata used to get cold water; I got nice curds when food was served to me whereas Parvata got only whey.

Ch 26 Verse 27-28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शयनास्तरणं शुभ्रं मदर्थे पर्यकल्पयत् । प्रीत्या परमया यद्वत्पर्वताय न तादृशम् ॥ २७ ॥ विलोकयति मां प्रेम्णा सुन्दरी न च पर्वतम् । ततोऽस्यास्तादृशं दृष्ट्वा पर्वतः प्रेमकारणम् ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

I got nice white bedding for myself to sleep on whereas Parvata had merely a dirty sheet to lie down. Thus the princess began to serve me with great love and devotion but not so she served Parvata. The fair lady began to look at me with eyes of love; not so towards Parvata.

Ch 26 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मनसा चिन्तयामास किमेतदिति विस्मितः । पप्रच्छ मां रहः सम्यग्ब्रूहि नारद सर्वथा ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

Parvata was very much surprised to see all this and thought within himself, “What is this?” Parvata, then, asked me in private :-- “O Nārada! Speak out to me truly in detail.

Ch 26 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

राजपुत्री त्वयि प्रेम करोति मुदिता भृशम् । ददाति भक्ष्यभोज्यानि स्नेहयुक्ता समन्ततः ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

The princess shews with much gladness and affection her deep love towards you; she serves you with dainty dishes but she behaves not so with me.

Ch 26 Verse 31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न तथा मयि भेदोऽत्र सन्देहं जनयत्यसौ । मन्यते त्वां पतिं कर्तुं सर्वथा सञ्जयात्मजा ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

I therefore suspect when I see all these distinctions made between you and me, that the daughter of the King Śañjaya wants with her heart and soul to make you her husband. And you also want to make her your wife.

Ch 26 Verse 32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तवापि तादृशं भावं जानामि लक्षणैरहम् । नेत्रवक्त्रविकारैश्च ज्ञायते प्रीतिकारणम् ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

1 have come to know this by signs and symptoms; for affection and love reigning inside can be made out by outward expressions of eyes and face.

Ch 26 Verse 33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सत्यं वद न ते मिथ्या वक्तव्यं वचनं मुने । स्वर्गतः समयं कृत्वा चलितौ संस्मराधुना ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

Whatever this be, O Muni! Now speak truly to me; do never tell a lie. When we went out from the Heavens, we made out that agreement; now remember that.”

Ch 26 Verse 34-35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नारद उवाच । पृष्टोऽहं पर्वतेनेदं कारणं तु हठाद्यदा । तदाहं ह्रीसमाक्रान्तः सञ्जातश्चाब्रुवं पुनः ॥ ३४ ॥ पर्वतैषा विशालाक्षी पतिं मां कर्तुमुद्यता । ममापि मानसो भावो वर्ततेऽस्यां विशेषतः ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

Nārada said :-- Thus questioned suddenly by Parvata, I became very much abashed and said :-- “O Parvata! This large-eyes princess is ready to marry me and I am also very much attracted towards her.”

Ch 26 Verse 36-37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं सत्यं पर्वतः कोपसंयुतः । मामुवाच मुनिर्वाक्यं धिग्धिगिति पुनः पुनः ॥ ३६ ॥ प्रथमं शपथान्कृत्वा वञ्चितोऽहं त्वया यतः । भव वानरवक्त्रस्त्वं शापाच्च मम मित्रधुक् ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

When Parvata heard all these, he became very much angry and uttered repeatedly, “Fie! O Nārada! Fie! O Nārada! First you swore on oath and then you deceived me afterwards. Therefore, O Deceiver of friends! I curse you and let your face become that of a monkey.”

Ch 26 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इति शप्तस्तु तेनाहं कुपितेन महात्मना । सहसा ह्यभवं क्रूरः शाखामृगमुखस्तदा ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

When the high-souled Parvata cursed thus, the face turned immediately into that of a monkey, elongated and distorted.

Ch 26 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मयापि न कृता तस्मिन्क्षमा तु भगिनीसुते । सोऽपि शप्तोऽतिकोपाद्वै मा स्वर्गे ते गतिः किल ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

I did not excuse him, though he was my sister’s son. I also got angry and cursed him, “Certainly, your journey to the Heavens will be stopped. You will not be able to go to Heaven.

Ch 26 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्वल्पेऽपराधे यस्मान्मां शप्तवानसि पर्वत । तस्मात्तवापि मन्दात्मन् मृत्युलोके स्थितिः किल ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

O Parvata! When you cursed me so heavily for so trivial a fault of mine, I see you are very mean. Whatever it be, you will have to remain on earth so long.”

Ch 26 Verse 41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पर्वतस्तु गतस्तस्मान्नगराद्विमना भृशम् । अहं वानरवक्त्रस्तु सञ्जातस्तत्क्षणादपि ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

At this Parvata became very sad and went out of the city. My face became immediately like that of a monkey.

Ch 26 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दृष्ट्वा मां वानरं क्रूरं राजपुत्री विलक्षणा । विमनातीव सञ्जाता वीणाश्रवणलालसा ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

The daughter of the King became very sorry to see my face thus distorted into that of a monkey. I did not see her glad as she was before; but her desire to hear my playing with my lute remained the same as before.

Ch 26 Verse 43-44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । ततः किमभवद्ब्रह्मन् कथं शापान्निवर्तितः । मानुषास्यः पुनर्जातो भवान्ब्रूहि यथाविधि ॥ ४३ ॥ पर्वतः क्व गतो भूयः सङ्गमो युवयोरभूत् । कदा कुत्र कथं सर्वं विस्तरेण वदस्व ह ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O Muni! What happened next? How did you get yourself rid of your curse and how did you get your man-like face? Whither did Parvata Ṛṣi go! When and how did you again re-unite with each other? Kindly describe all these to me in detail.

Ch 26 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नारद उवाच । किं ब्रवीमि महाभाग मायायाश्चरितं महत् । दुःखितोऽहं भृशं तत्र पर्वते रुषिते गते ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

Nārada said :-- “O Highly Intelligent One! What shall I say about the nature of Māyā?

Ch 26 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पुनः सेवापरात्यर्थं राजपुत्री ममाभवत् । गतेऽथ पर्वते कामं स्थितस्तत्रैव सद्मनि ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

When Parvata went away angrily, the daughter of the King began to serve me with greater care than before.

Ch 26 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अहं दुःखान्वितो दीनस्तथा वानरवन्मुखः । विशेषेण तु चिन्तार्तः किं मे स्यादिति चिन्तयन् ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

I remained there, though Parvata went away, and seeing my face monkey-like, I became very dejected and sorry and was specially troubled with the care and anxiety what would happen to me hereafter?

Ch 26 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सञ्जयोऽथ सुतां दृष्ट्वा किञ्चित्प्रकटयौवनाम् । विवाहार्थे राजसुतामपृच्छत्सचिवं तदा ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

The King Śañjaya saw that his daughter Damayantī was slipping into her youth and asked the prime minister about her marriage.

Ch 26 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विवाहकालः सम्प्राप्तः सुताया मम साम्प्रतम् । योग्यं वरं मम ब्रूहि राजपुत्रं सुसम्मतम् ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

He said :-- “The time of marriage of my dear daughter has now come; I will now marry her in accordance with due rites and ceremonies.

Ch 26 Verse 50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रूपौदार्यगुणैर्युक्तं शूरं सुकुलसम्भवम् । विवाहं विधिवत्पुत्र्याः करोमि किल साम्प्रतम् ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

Now tell me particularly about a prince worthy of her, as we like, in beauty, qualifications, largeheartedness, calmness, patience and heroism and who is of a good family.”

Ch 26 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रधानस्त्वब्रवीद्राजन् राजपुत्रा ह्यनेकशः । वर्तन्ते भुवि पुत्र्यास्ते योग्याः सर्वगुणान्विताः ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

The minister said :-- “O King! There are many princes on the face of this earth, worthy in all respects, of your daughter.

Ch 26 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यस्मिन् रुचिस्ते राजेन्द्र तमाहूय नृपात्मजम् । देहि कन्यां धनं भूरि हस्त्यश्वरथसंयुतम् ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

Whomever you like, you can call on him and give him your daughter with elephants, horses, chariots, wealth, gems and jewels.”

Ch 26 Verse 53 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नारद उवाच । पितुश्चिकीर्षितं ज्ञात्वा दमयन्ती तदा नृपम् । धात्र्या मुखेन वाक्यज्ञा तमुवाच रहः स्थितम् ॥ ५३ ॥

English Translation

Damayantī, knowing the intention of his father informed the King of her own desire by her nurse and attendant.

Ch 26 Verse 54-56 Verse

Sanskrit Text

धात्र्युवाच । दमयन्ती महाराज पुत्री ते मामथाब्रवीत् । पितरं ब्रूहि धात्रेयि वचनान्मे सुखान्वितम् ॥ ५४ ॥ मया वृतोऽथ मेधावी नारदो महतीयुतः । नादमोहितया कामं नान्यः कोऽपि प्रियो मम ॥ ५५ ॥ कुरु मे वाञ्छितं तात विवाहं मुनिना सह । नान्यं वरिष्ये धर्मज्ञ नारदं तु पतिं विना ॥ ५६ ॥

English Translation

The nurse went to the King and said :-- “When my father will sit at his ease and comfort you would go and speak to him in private that I am enchanted with the enchanting Nāda sound of the great lute played by the Maharṣi Nārada and have selected him as my bridegroom. No other person will be dear to me. O Father! Marry me with Nārada and thus fulfil my desire; O Knower of Dharma! I won’t marry anybody but Nārada.

Ch 26 Verse 57 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मग्नाहं नादसिन्धौ वै नक्रहीने रसात्मके । अक्षारे सुखसम्पूर्णे तिमिङ्गिलविवर्जिते ॥ ५७ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठस्कन्धे दमयन्तीविवाहप्रस्ताववर्णनं नाम षड्विंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ६.२६॥

English Translation

O Father! I am now merged in the Nāda-ocean (sound ocean) of bliss, sweet and joyful, void of anything destructive of happiness, void of Nakra, alligators, and fishes, Timiṅgala, etc. (injurious animals) and without any salty taste; my mind won’t be satisfied with any other thing.” Here ends the Twenty sixth Chapter of the Sixth Book on the description by Nārada of his own Moha in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa