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2024-03-29, 7:17 PM |
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Chapter 3:
The
Marriage
of
Sukanyâ
and Cyavana Muni
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The son of Manu king
S'aryâti was a highly developed brahmin who for that reason gave
instructions on the functions to be performed on the second day in the
arena of sacrifice of the descendants of Angirâ. (2) He had a lotus-eyed daughter called
Sukanyâ with whom he went to the forest to visit the âs'rama
of the sage Cyavana. (3) While she in
the company of her friends was collecting fruits and flowers from the
trees, she saw in an anthill some kind of two shining lights [compare 7.3: 15-16]. (4) As
the young girl, ignorantly trying, poked in the light objects with a
thorn, there oozed blood from them. (5) The guards being startled stood nailed to
the ground so that the king, who saw what had happened, had to address
his surprised men. (6) 'Alas,
we
have
done
something
wrong
in
approaching
the
enlightened
sage. We have, with
this action of one of us, evidently violated his âs'rama!'
(7) Sukanyâ said afraid to her father:
'It was me who, unaware of what I was doing, with a thorn have pierced
two shiny things.'
(8) When king
S'aryâti
heard his
daughter say this, he was of the greatest concern to appease the sage
who happened to reside quietly in the anthill. (9) Understanding
what
was
needed
to
set
things
right
he,
in
order
to
leave, with the greatest
trouble handed over his daughter to the muni and then returned home with his permission. (10)
Sukanyâ after having
Cyavana for her husband, had understanding for him who remained very
grumpy with her. She tried to please him by complying with him
attentively. (11) When
some
time
had
passed
this
way
the
two
As'vins
['the
healers of heaven'] reached the âs'rama.
Offering
them his respects the sage
said:
'Please give me youthfulness oh masters! (12) I
know you cannot drink any soma,
but I will offer you a pot full of soma-rasa when you give me
the strength and beauty that is so desirable to young women.'
(13) 'So be it' the two great healers said confirming the scholar. 'Just dive into this lake. That
will make you perfect.'
(14) The aged man with his gray hair, loose skin
and frail body the veins of which one could see, after thus being addressed was by the As'vins helped into the lake. (15) When the three of them reappeared from the
lake they were of the greatest beauty a woman could wish for: with
lotus garlands, earrings, similar features and nice clothes. (16) After the young beauty saw them, the chaste
woman could not tell who of them was her husband for they were all
equally beautiful, radiating like the sun and thus she resorted to the
As'vins. (17) Pleased with the strength of her faith they
pointed out her husband and thereupon, taking leave of the sage, returned
to the heavenly worlds in
their celestial chariot. (18)
King
S'aryâti wishing to perform a yajña
left for Cyavana's âs'rama and thereupon saw a man
at his
daughter's side who radiated like the sun. (19)
But the
king after
she
had paid her respect, gave his daughter
not his blessings because he was not pleased at all with her: (20)
'What do you think you are doing? Are you now cheating on your husband,
the great sage honored by all the people? Have you, because he's
decrepit of age oh unfaithful one, not deeming him very attractive,
given up on him and taken this man, this street beggar, for a lover? (21) Are you out of your mind? In keeping this
lover you, as a daughter from the most respectable family, are a
disgrace to the entire dynasty. You are shamelessly throwing
your father and also your husband into the deepest darkness.'
(22) She
laughed
and
said
with
a
smile
to her
father
who
was
thus rebuking her: 'Oh father this one here is your son-in-law, the son
of Bhrigu!'
(23) She described to her father the entire story
how his age had changed and he had acquired his beauty, whereupon he
utterly
pleased and surprised embraced his daughter. (24) Cyavana
Muni
with
his spiritual power enabled the great man to perform the soma
sacrifice and delivered the As'vins
the pot full of the soma-rasa they could not drink themselves. (25)
Indra full of indignation angrily took up his thunderbolt to
kill him immediately, but the man of
Bhrigu paralyzed the arm of Indra that held the thunderbolt. (26) With
the permission of all [the demigods] there was ever since a full cup of soma-rasa for the As'vins, who as physicians before
this had happened were excluded from a share in the soma-yajña.
(27) Uttânabarhi, Ânarta and
Bhûrishena were the three sons begotten by S'aryâti. Ânarta thereupon fathered Revata. (28) After in the
ocean [on an island near the cost] having built a town called
Kus'asthalî [Dvârakâ], he lived materially happy
ruling regions like
Ânarta and others oh subduer of the enemies. A hundred fine sons
were born because of him. Kakudmî
was
the eldest of them. (29)
Kakudmî took
his daughter
Revatî to Brahmâ's
abode
beyond the modes, to ask the
Almighty One for a husband for the girl. (30) Because
the
original
teacher
of
the
universe
was
engaged
in
enjoying the music of the Gandharvas he had no
time for him at all, but as soon as
it was over Kakudmî, after offering his obeisances, could submit
his
desire to him. (31) The
all-powerful Lord had to
laugh about what he heard and said to him: 'Alas oh King, whosoever you
had in mind [as a suitable husband for your daughter] has disappeared a
long time ago! (32) We do
not hear anymore about them nor
about their sons, grandsons, descendants or dynasties because [while
you were waiting here] a period of three times nine mahâ-yugas
has passed! (33)
Go therefore to Lord Baladeva. He constitutes a most powerful aspect of
the God of Gods [Lord Vishnu]. Give Him, the Excellence of Man, your
excellent daughter oh King. (34)
The Supreme Lord, the Eternal
Well-wisher who diminishes the burden of the world, the virtue of
hearing and singing in person, has now descended together with this
partial aspect of Him
[see also 5.25].' (35) The
king, after paying the Unborn One his respects, returned with
these directions to his residence that was abandoned by [the offspring
of] his brothers. Afraid of ghosts they had spread in all directions. (36)
After handing his perfectly shaped daughter
over to the most powerful one, Lord Baladeva, the king went to
Badarikâs'rama, the place of
Nara-Nârâyana, to perform austerities there.'
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