Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 6 • CHAPTER 27
Ch 27 Verse 1-2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
६.२७ सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः । नारदस्य मायादमयन्त्या सह विवाहवर्णनम् । नारद उवाच । तत्पुत्र्या वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा धात्रीमुखात्ततः । भार्यां प्रोवाच कैकेयीं समीपस्थां सुलोचनाम् ॥ १ ॥ राजोवाच । यदुक्तं वचनं कान्ते धात्र्या तत्तु त्वया श्रुतम् । वृतोऽयं नारदः कामं मुनिर्वानरवक्त्रभाक् ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
Nārada said :-- On hearing these words of her daughter from her nurse, the King addressed the queen Kaikeyī, of lovely eyes, standing close by, thus :-- “Have you heard what the nurse has said? Damayantī has mentally chosen the monkey-faced Nārada as her husband.
Ch 27 Verse 3-4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
किमिदं चिन्तितं पुत्र्या बुद्धिहीनं विचेष्टितम् । कथमस्मै मया देया कन्या हरिमुखाय सा ॥ ३ ॥ क्वासौ भिक्षुः कुरूपः क्व दमयन्ती ममात्मजा । विपरीतमिदं कार्यं न विधेयं कदाचन ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
What has she thought? Whatever it be, it is no doubt, an act of great foolishness. His face is monkey-like; how can I betroth my daughter to him? Where is an ugly beggar Nārada? And where is my daughter Damayantī? The marriage between them is quite unjust; never it should take place.
Ch 27 Verse 5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तामेकान्ते सुकेशान्ते निवारय हठात्सुताम् । युक्त्या मुनिरतां मुग्धां शास्त्रवृद्धानुसारया ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
O Beautiful One of good hairs! Better call her before you in private and show her reasons approved of the Śāstras and of the aged persons and make her desist from such a rash course.”
Ch 27 Verse 6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इति भर्तृवचः श्रुत्वा जननी तामथाब्रवीत् । च ते रूपं मुनिः क्वासौ वानरास्योऽधनः पुनः ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
On hearing her husband’s words, the mother of Damayantī called her in private and said :-- “O Child! Where is your this beautiful face? And where is the monkey-like face of Nārada? You are smart and quick; how have you been, then, deluded by such a Moha?
Ch 27 Verse 7-8 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कथं मोहमवाप्तासि भिक्षुके चतुरा पुनः । लताकोमलदेहा त्वं भस्मरूक्षतनुस्त्वयम् ॥ ७ ॥ वार्ता वानरवक्त्रेण कथं युक्ता तवानघे । का प्रीतिः कुत्सिते पुंसि भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
O Child! You are the daughter of a king! Your body is gentle like a creeper. And Nārada always besmears his body with ashes; so his body is very rough.
Ch 27 Verse 9 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वरस्ते राजपुत्रोऽस्तु मा कुरु त्वं वृथा हठम् । पिता ते दुःखमाप्नोति श्रुत्वा धात्रीमुखाद्वचः ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
O Spotless One! How will you change your words with him? Why do you shew your attachment to an ugly person? What pleasure do you feel thereby?
Ch 27 Verse 10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
लग्नां बुबूलवृक्षेण कोमलां मालतीलताम् । दृष्ट्वा कस्य मनः खेदं चतुरस्य न गच्छति ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
You would be married to a beautiful prince; never follow this rash course; your father is very sorry to hear these from your nurse.
Ch 27 Verse 11 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दासेरकाय ताम्बूलीदलानि कोमलानि कः । ददाति भक्षणार्थाय मूर्खोऽपि धरणीतले ॥ ११ ॥
English Translation
O One of soft body! Judge this yourself, what intelligent man is there that is not sorry at the soft Mālatī creeper entwining a thorny tree? Even a stupid silly man would never feed a camel, that likes thorns, with soft betel-leaves.
Ch 27 Verse 12-13 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वीक्ष्य त्वां करसंलग्नां नारदस्य समीपतः । विवाहे वर्तमाने तु कस्य चेतो न दह्यति ॥ १२ ॥ कुमुखेन समं वार्ता न रुचिं जनयत्यतः । आमृतेस्तु कथं कालः क्षपितव्यस्त्वयामुना ॥ १३ ॥
English Translation
When your marriage time arrives, say yourself, who will not be sorry to see you going to Nārada and embracing him by his arms! Nobody likes to speak with an ugly faced one; how will you be able to spend your time with him till your death!”
Ch 27 Verse 14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नारद उवाच । इति मातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा दमयन्ती भृशातुरा । मातरं प्राह तन्वङ्गी मयि सा कृतनिश्चया ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
Nārada said :-- On hearing the mother’s words, the gentle Damayantī, with her mind intently fixed on me, spoke to her mother, very much depressed in her spirits.
Ch 27 Verse 15-16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
किं मुखेन च रूपेण मूर्खस्य च धनेन किम् । किं राज्येनाविदग्धस्य रसमार्गाविदोऽस्य च ॥ १५ ॥ हरिण्योऽपि वने धन्या या नादेन विमोहिताः । मातः प्राणान्प्रयच्छन्ति धिङ्मूर्खान्मानुषान्भुवि ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
And what will the wealth and kingdoms of that unskilled illiterate person avail! The deer, that roam in the forest, getting enchanted by the Nāda (sound) Rasa, give up their lives even to the singers. So they are fortunate.
Ch 27 Verse 17 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नारदो वेत्ति यां विद्यां मातः सप्तस्वरात्मिकाम् । तृतीयः कोऽपि नो वेद शिवादन्यः पुमान्किल ॥ १७ ॥
English Translation
But fie to the persons who are illiterate and void of feelings of love! O Mother! Nārada Ṛṣi is well conversant with the science of music with seven Svaras. No other man save Mahā Deva knows this.
Ch 27 Verse 18 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मूर्खेण सह संवासो मरणं तत्क्षणे क्षणे । रूपवान्धनवांस्त्याज्यो गुणहीनो नरः सदा ॥ १८ ॥
English Translation
Living with an illiterate person is courting death at every moment. One devoid of qualifications should be always avoided, by all means, though he be wealthy and of a beautiful form.
Ch 27 Verse 19 Verse
Sanskrit Text
धिङ्मैत्रीं मूर्खभूपाले वृथा गर्वसमन्विते । गुणज्ञे भिक्षुके श्रेष्ठा वचनात्सुखदायिनी ॥ १९ ॥
English Translation
Fie on the friendship with kings that are illiterate and puffed up with vain arrogance! A well-qualified man, be he even a beggar, is far better to be cultivated friendship with. Leaving other circumstances out of account, even to change words with such a well qualified man, makes one highly delighted.
Ch 27 Verse 20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स्वरज्ञो ग्रामवित्कामं मूर्च्छनाज्ञानभेदभाक् । दुर्लभः पुरुषश्चाष्टरसज्ञो दुर्बलोऽपि वै ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
The man is very rare in this world, though he be weak, if he be well versed in the science of music and if he knows Svara, Grāma, Murccanā and be skilled in eight sentiments of love. [Note :-- Svara - Ṣaḍaja, Ṛṣabha, Gāṇdhāra, Madhyama, Pañcama, Dhaivata and Niṣāda. Grāma - the gradual increase and decrease in Svaras. Murccana - the rising of sounds, an intonation; a duly regulated rise and fall of sound conducting the air and the harmony through the keys in a pleasing manner; changing the key or passing from one key to another; modulation; melody].
Ch 27 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यथा न्याति कैतलासं गड़ा चैव सरस्वती । तथा न्याति कैतलासं स्वराजानविशारादः ॥ 21 ॥
English Translation
The man versed in the knowledge of Svara leads one to the Heaven of Kailāśa as the rivers Ganges and Sarasvatī by their own merits lead one to Kailāśa.
Ch 27 Verse 22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यथा नयति कैलासं गङ्गा चैव सरस्वती । तथा नयति कैलासं स्वरज्ञानविशारदः । २१॥ स्वरमानं तु यो वेद स देवो मानुषोऽपि सन् । सप्तभेदं न यो वेद स पशुः सुरराडपि ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
There is not the least doubt in this. He is a Deva in his human body who knows the Svara measure; and he who does not know the Svara and its seven grades is a beast though he has a human form - he who finds no delight when he hears the tune regulated by Murccanā and the seven Svaras.
Ch 27 Verse 23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मूर्च्छनातानमार्गं तु श्रुत्वा मोदं न याति यः । स पशुः सर्वथा ज्ञेयो हरिणाः पशवो न हि ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
Do not consider the deer as beasts for they get enchanted when they hear the musical notes. The venomous snakes, though they have no ears, get delighted to hear the enchanting Svara Nāda by their eyes.
Ch 27 Verse 24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वरं विषधरः सर्पः श्रुत्वा नादं मनोहरम् । अश्रोत्रोऽपि मुदं याति धिक्सकर्णांश्च मानवान् ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
They even are to be praised; but fie on those human beings who have ears but who do not find any delight when they hear the Nāda!
Ch 27 Verse 25 Verse
Sanskrit Text
बालोऽपि सुस्वरं गेयं श्रुत्वा मुदितमानसः । जायते किन्तु ते वृद्धा न जानन्ति धिगस्तु तान् ॥ २५ ॥
English Translation
The little children feel intense pleasure to hear the music, but fie, fie on those elders who are void of this musical sentiments!
Ch 27 Verse 26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पिता मे किं न जानाति नारदस्य गुणान् बत । द्वितीयः सामगो नास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु तत्समः ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
Does not my father know that Nārada is ornamented with many qualifications? Who is there in the three worlds like him in singing the Sāma songs!
Ch 27 Verse 27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तस्मादसौ मया नूनं वृतः पूर्वं समागमात् । पश्चाच्छापवशाज्जातो वानरास्यो गुणाकरः ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
For this very reason, indeed! I have already selected him as my husband; afterwards, due to a curse, the Muni, the ocean of qualifications, got his face changed into that of a monkey. The Kinnaras, skilled in the science of music, have their faces horse-like; but are they not dear to all?
Ch 27 Verse 28-29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
किन्नरा न प्रियाः कस्य भवन्ति तुरगाननाः । गानविद्यासमायुक्ताः किं मुखेन वरेण ह ॥ २८ ॥ पितरं ब्रूहि मे मातर्वृतोऽयं मुनिसत्तमः । तस्मात्त्वमाग्रहं त्यक्त्वा देहि तस्मै च मां मुदा ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
What business have they to get good faces? They enchant the Devas even by their sweet ravishing songs. O Mother! Kindly tell my father that I have already chosen Nārada as my husband. Therefore let him deliver me to his hands, without making any further requests in this matter.”
Ch 27 Verse 30-31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नारद उवाच । इति पुत्र्या वचः श्रुत्वा राज्ञी राज्ञे न्यवेदयत् । आग्रहं सुन्दरी ज्ञात्वा सुताया नारदे मुनौ ॥ ३० ॥ विवाहं कुरु राजेन्द्र दमयन्त्याः शुभे दिने । मुनिना स च सर्वज्ञो वृतोऽसौ मनसानया ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
Nārada said :-- On hearing the words of her daughter Damayantī, that unblameable pure queen knowing her attachment deep towards me, spoke to the King thus :-- “O King! Now celebrate in an auspicious day and on an auspicious moment the auspicious marriage of Damayantī; the daughter has said that she has already selected Nārada as her bridegroom and it cannot be other-wise.”
Ch 27 Verse 32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नारद उवाच । इति सञ्चोदितो राज्ञ्या सञ्जयः पृथिवीपतिः । चकार विथिवत्सर्वं विधिं वैवाहिकं ततः ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
Thus prompted by the queen, the King Śañjaya performed the marriage ceremony of her daughter in accordance with due rites and customs and in an exceedingly becoming manner.
Ch 27 Verse 33 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवं दारग्रहं कृत्वा वानरास्यः परन्तप । स्थितस्तत्रैव मनसा दह्यमानेन चान्वहम् ॥ ३३ ॥
English Translation
O Ṛṣi! Thus I entered into the married life and remained there though my heart constantly burned with the thought of my monkey-face.
Ch 27 Verse 34-35 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यदाऽऽगच्छद्राजसुता सेवार्थं मम सन्निधौ । अभवं दुःखसन्तप्तस्तदाहं वानराननः ॥ ३४ ॥ दमयन्ती तु मां वीक्ष्य प्रफुल्लवदनाम्बुजा । शोकं वानरवक्त्रत्वान्न चकार कदाचन ॥ ३५ ॥
English Translation
Whenever the princess used to come to me for my service, I used to get tormented with the remembrance of my monkey-face; but her face beamed with gladness whenever she saw me; never she became sorry nor dejected, even for a moment, to see my face monkey-like. Thus time passed on.
Ch 27 Verse 36-37 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवं गच्छति काले तु सहसा पर्वतो मुनिः । कुर्वंस्तीर्थान्यनेकानि द्रष्टुं मां समुपागतः ॥ ३६ ॥ मयातिमानितः प्रेम्णा पूजितश्च यथाविधि । आसीन आसने दिव्ये वीक्ष्य मां दुःखितो ह्यभूत् ॥ ३७ ॥
English Translation
One day the Muni Parvata suddenly came there, after making his sojourn to many places of pilgrimages. I showed him a great respect and gladly loved him and greeted him duly; he got himself seated in an excellent Āsana and became very sorry to see me. I am his uncle and have entered into a married life; my face has become monkey-like.
Ch 27 Verse 38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कृतदारं वानरास्यं दीनं चिन्तातुरं भृशम् । दयावान्मामुवाचेदं पर्वतो मातुलं कृशम् ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
Therefore I am very much depressed in spirits and worried with the sad thought and has become lean and thin.
Ch 27 Verse 39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मया नारद कोपात्त्वं शप्तोऽसि मुनिसत्तम । निष्कृतिं तस्य शापस्य करोम्यद्य निशामय ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
Seeing this he was overwhelmed with pity. He then said :-- “O Muni! The curse that I cast on you before out of my anger, I now withdraw.
Ch 27 Verse 40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भव त्वं चारुवदनो मम पुण्येन नारद । दृष्ट्वा राजसुतां चित्ते कृपा जाता ममाधुना ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
Hear. O Maharṣi! Let your face be by my merits, again as good as it was before; I now feel pity for the daughter of the King.”
Ch 27 Verse 41-42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नारद उवाच । मयापि प्रवणं चित्तं कृत्वा श्रुत्वास्य भाषितम् । अनुग्रहः कृतः सद्यस्तस्य शापस्य तत्क्षणात् ॥ ४१ ॥ भागिनेय तवाप्यस्तु गमनं सुरसद्मनि । शापस्यानुग्रहः कामं कृतोऽयं पर्वताधुना ॥ ४२ ॥
English Translation
Hearing thus, my heart also became gentle and instantly with a view to free him of my curse, I said :-- “Let your journey to the Heavens be re-established. I now make this special favour on you as regards my curse on you before.”
Ch 27 Verse 43-44 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नारद उवाच । जातोऽहं चारुवदनो वचनात्तस्य पश्यतः । राजपुत्री तु सन्तुष्टा मातरं प्राह सत्वरम् ॥ ४३ ॥ मातस्ते सुमुखो जातो जामाता च महाद्युतिः । वचनात्पर्वतस्याद्य मुक्तशापो मुनेरभूत् ॥ ४४ ॥
English Translation
O Dvaipāyana! At his word, before our sight, my face became exceedingly handsome as it was before. The princess Damayantī became very glad and instantly she went to the mother and said :-- “O Mother! At the word of Parvata, the great Muni, the curse of your son-in-law has been removed and his face has become handsome as before and the lustre of his body has also increased.”
Ch 27 Verse 45-46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञ्या कथितं तत्तु राजनि । ययौ द्रष्टुं मुनिं तत्र सञ्जयः प्रीतिमांस्तदा ॥ ४५ ॥ धनं समर्पितं राज्ञा सन्तुष्टेन तदा महत् । मह्यं च भागिनेयाय पारिबर्हं महात्मना ॥ ४६ ॥
English Translation
The queen was very much filled with ecstasy and joy at Damayantī’s words and went hurriedly and informed the King. The King Śañjaya gladly went at once to see the Muni. The great King became very glad and gave lots of wealth, gems and jewels to me and my nephew Parvata as a dowry.
Ch 27 Verse 47 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं वर्तनं यत्पुरातनम् । मायाया बलमाहात्म्यं ह्यनुभूतं यथा मया ॥ ४७ ॥
English Translation
O Dvaipāyana! Thus I have described to you my old story how I felt the strong influence of Māyā.
Ch 27 Verse 48 Verse
Sanskrit Text
संसारेऽस्मिन्महाभाग मायागुणकृतेऽनृते । तनुभृत्तु सुखी नास्ति न भूतो न भविष्यति ॥ ४८ ॥
English Translation
O Fortunate One! Owing to the illusory nature of the Guṇas, like a magic, no embodied being in this world could have been happy before, or he is happy now or he will be happy hereafter.
Ch 27 Verse 49 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कामक्रोधौ तथा लोभो मत्सरो ममता तथा । अहङ्कारो मदः केन जिताः सर्वे महाबलाः ॥ ४९ ॥
English Translation
Lust, anger, greed, jealousy, attachment, egoism, and vanity, each one of these is very powerful; nobody is able to conquer these.
Ch 27 Verse 50 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चैव गुणास्त्रय इमे किल । कारणं प्राणिनां देहसम्भवे सर्वथा मुने ॥ ५० ॥
English Translation
O Muni! The three Guṇas Sāttva, Rājas and Tāmas are the entire causes of the coming into this bodily existence of every being.
Ch 27 Verse 51 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कस्मिंश्चित्समये व्यास वनेऽहं विष्णुना सह । गच्छन्हास्यविनोदेन स्त्रीभावं गमितः क्षणात् ॥ ५१ ॥
English Translation
O Dvaipāyana! Once I was passing with Bhagavān Viṣṇu, laughing and joking, making merriments through a forest, when suddenly I was transformed into a woman.
Ch 27 Verse 52 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राजपत्नीत्वमापन्नो मायाबलविमोहितः । पुत्राः प्रसूता बहवो गेहे तस्य नृपस्य ह ॥ ५२ ॥
English Translation
Next I became the wife of a king enchanted by Māyā, I remained in his house and gave birth to many children.
Ch 27 Verse 53 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच । संशयोऽयं महान्साधो श्रुत्वा ते वचनं किल । कथं नारीत्वमापन्नस्त्वं मुने ज्ञानवान्भृशम् ॥ ५३ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O Devarṣi! A great doubt has now arisen in my mind at your word. O Muni! You are very wise; how then did you get womanhood; how again did you regain your manhood?
Ch 27 Verse 54 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कथं च पुरुषो जातो ब्रूहि सर्वमशेषतः । कथं पुत्रास्त्वया जाताः कस्य राज्ञो गृहेऽञ्जसा ॥ ५४ ॥
English Translation
Who was the king at whose house you stayed and how did you give birth to children; describe fully and satisfy my curiosity.
Ch 27 Verse 55 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एतदाख्याहि चरितं मायाया महदद्भुतम् । मोहितं च यया सर्वमिदं स्थावरजङ्गमम् ॥ ५५ ॥
English Translation
Describe to me, now, the nature of Māyā, extremely wonderful, by which this entire universe, moving and non-moving, all are enchanted.
Ch 27 Verse 56-57 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामि शृण्वंस्तव कथामृतम् । सर्वग्रन्थार्थतत्त्वं च सर्वसंशयनाशनम् ॥ ५६ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठस्कन्धे नारदस्य मायादमयन्त्या सह विवाहवर्णनं नाम सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ६.२७॥
English Translation
O Muni! Though I have heard your nectar-like words, capable to remove all the doubts, embodying the essence of all the Śāstras, yet I am not fully satiated. Here ends the Twenty-seventh Chapter of the Sixth Book on the marriage of Nārada and his face getting transformed into that of a monkey in Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.