Prakṛti-khaṇḍa · Chapter 14
Sourceनारायण उवाच ।। लक्ष्मीं तौ च समाराध्य चोग्रेण तपसा मुने ।। प्रत्येकं वरमिष्टं च संप्रापतुरभीप्सितम् ।। १ ।। महालक्ष्म्या वरेणैव तौ पृध्वीशौ बभूवतुः।। धनवन्तौ पुत्रवन्तौ धर्मध्वजकुशध्वजौ।।२।। कुशध्वजस्य पत्नी च देवी मालावती सती ।। सा सुषाव च कालेन कमलांशां सुतां सतीम् ।। ३ ।। सा च भूतलसम्बन्धाज्ज्ञानयुक्ता बभूव ह ।। कृत्वा वेदध्वनिं स्पष्टमुत्तस्थौ सूतिकागृहे। ।। ४ ।। वेदध्वनिं सा चकार जातमात्रेण कन्यका ।। तस्मात्तां ते वेदवतीं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः ।। ५ ।। जातमात्रेण सुस्नाता जगाम तपसे वनम् ।। सर्वैर्निषिद्धा यत्नेन नारायणपरायणा ।। ६ ।। एकमन्वन्तरं चैव पुष्करे च तपस्विनी ।। अत्युग्रां वै तपस्यां तु लीलया च चकार सा ।। ७ ।। तथाऽपि पुष्टा न कृशा नवयौवनसंयुता ।। शुश्राव खे च सहसा सा वाचमशरीरिणीम् ।। ।। ८ ।। जन्मान्तरे ते भर्त्ता च भविष्यति हरिः स्वयम् ।। ब्रह्मादिभिर्दुराराध्यं पतिं लप्स्यसि सुन्दरि ।। ९ ।। इति श्रुत्वा तु सा रुष्टा चकार च पुनस्तपः ।। अतीव निर्जनस्थाने पर्वते गन्धमादने ।। 2.14.१० ।। तत्रैवं सुचिरं तप्त्वा विश्वस्य समुवास सा ।। ददर्श पुरतस्तत्र रावणं दुर्निवारणम् ।। ११ ।। दृष्ट्वा साऽतिथिभक्त्या च पाद्यं तस्मै ददौ किल ।। सुस्वादु फलमूलं च जलं चापि सुशीतलम् ।। १२ ।। तच्च भुक्त्वा स पापिष्ठश्चावात्सीत्तत्समीपतः ।। चकार प्रश्नमिति तां का त्वं कल्याणि चेति च ।। १३ ।। तां च दृष्ट्वा वरारोहां पीनोन्नतपयोधराम् ।। शरत्पद्मनिभास्यां च सस्मितां सुदतीं सतीम् ।। १४ ।। मूर्च्छामवाप कृपणः कामबाणप्रपीडितः ।। तां करेण समाकृष्य सम्भोगं कर्तुमुद्यतः ।। १५ ।। सा सती कोपदृष्ट्या च स्तम्भितं तं चकार ह ।। स जडो हस्तपादैश्च किंचिद्वक्तुं न च क्षमः ।। १६ ।। तुष्टाव मनसा देवीं पद्मांशां पद्मलोचनाम्।। सा तत्स्तवेन सन्तुष्टा प्राकृतं तं मुमोच ह।।१७।। शशाप च मदर्थे त्वं विनश्यसि सबान्धवः ।। स्पृष्टाऽहं च त्वया कामाद्विसृजाम्यवलोकय ।। १८ ।। इत्युक्त्वा सा च योगेन देहत्यागं चकार ह ।। गंगायां तां च संन्यस्य स्व गृहं रावणो ययौ ।। १९ ।। अहो किमद्भुतं दृष्टं किं कृतं वा मयाऽधुना ।। इति संचिन्त्य संस्मृत्य विललाप पुनः पुनः ।। ।। 2.14.२० ।। सा च कालान्तरे साध्वी बभूव जनकात्मजा।। सीतादेवीति विख्याता यदर्थे रावणो हतः ।। २१ ।। महातपस्विनी सा च तपसा पूर्वजन्मनः ।। लेभे रामं च भर्त्तारं परिपूर्णतमं हरिम् ।।२२।। संप्राप्य तपसाऽऽराध्य स्वामिनं च जगत्पतिम्।। सा रमा सुचिरं रेमे रामेण सह सुन्दरी ।।२३।। जातिस्मरा स्म स्मरति तपसश्च क्रमं पुरा ।। सुखेन तज्जहौ सर्वं दुःखं चापि सुखं लभेत् ।। ।। २४ ।। नानाप्रकारविभवं चकार सुचिरं सती ।। सम्प्राप्य सुकुमारं तमतीव नवयौवनम् ।। २५ ।। गुणिनं रसिकं शान्तं कान्तवेषमनुत्तमम् ।। स्त्रीणां मनोज्ञं रुचिरं तथा लेभे यथेप्सितम् ।। २६ ।। पितुर्वचःपालनार्थं सत्यसन्धो रघूत्तमः।। जगाम काननं पश्चात्कालेन च बलीयसा ।। २७ ।। तस्थौ समुद्रनिकटे सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च ।। ददर्श तत्र वह्निं च विप्ररूपधरं हरिः ।। २८ ।। तं रामं दुःखितं दृष्ट्वा स च दुःखी बभूव ह ।। उवाच किंचित्सत्येष्टं सत्यं सत्यपरायणः ।। २९ ।। वह्निरुवाच।। भगवञ्छ्रूयतां वाक्यं कालेन यदुपस्थितम् ।। सीताहरणकालोऽयं तवैव समुपस्थितः ।। 2.14.३० ।। दैवं च दुर्निवार्य्यं वै न च दैवात्परं बलम् ।। मत्प्रसू मयि संन्यस्य च्छायां रक्षान्तिकेऽधुना ।।३१।। दास्यामि सीतां तुभ्यं च परीक्षासमये पुनः ।। देवैः प्रस्थापितोऽहं च न च विप्रो हुताशनः ।। ३२ ।। रामस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा न प्रकाश्य च लक्ष्मणम् ।। स्वच्छन्दं स्वीचकारासौ हृदयेन विदूयता ।।३३।। वह्निर्योगेन सीतावन्मायासीतां चकार ह ।। तत्तुल्यगुणरूपां तां ददौ रामाय नारद ।। ३४ ।। सीतां गृहीत्वा स ययौ गोप्यं वक्तुं निषेध्य च ।। लक्ष्मणो नैव बुबुधे गोप्यमन्यस्य का कथा ।। ३९ ।। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे रामो ददर्श कनकं मृगम् ।। सीता तं प्रेरयामास तदर्थे यत्नपूर्वकम् ।। ३६ ।। संन्यस्य लक्ष्मणं रामो जानक्या रक्षणे वने ।। स्वयं जगाम हन्तुं तं विव्यधे सायकेन च ।। ३७ ।। लक्ष्मणेति च शब्दं वै कृत्वा मायामृगस्तदा ।। प्राणांस्तत्याज सहसा पुरो दृष्ट्वा हरिं स्मरन् ।। ३८ ।। मृगरूपं परित्यज्य दिव्यरूपं विधाय च ।। रत्ननिर्मितयानेन वैकुण्ठं स जगाम ह ।। ३९ ।। वैकुण्ठस्य महाद्वारं किङ्करो द्वारपालयोः ।। जय विजययोश्चैव बलवांश्च जयाभिधः ।। 2.14.४० ।। शापेन सनकादीनां सम्प्राप्तो राक्षसीं तनुम् ।। पुनर्जगाम तद्द्वारमादौ स द्वारपालयोः ।।४१।। अथ शब्दं च सा श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणेति च विक्लवम् ।। सीता तं प्रेरयामास लक्ष्मणं रामसन्निधौ ।।४२।। गते च लक्ष्मणे रामं रावणो दुर्निवारणः ।। सीतां गृहीत्वा प्रययौ लङ्कामेव स्वलीलया ।। ४३ ।। विषसाद च रामश्च वने दृष्ट्वा च लक्ष्मणम् ।। तूर्णं च स्वाश्रमं गत्वा सीतां नैव ददर्श सः ।। ४४ ।। मूर्च्छां सम्प्राप्य सुचिरं विललाप भृशं पुनः ।। पुनर्बभ्राम गहने तदन्वेषणपूर्वकम् ।। ४५ ।। काले संप्राप्य तद्वार्तां गृधद्वारा नदीतटे ।। सहायं वानरं कृत्वा चाबध्नात्सागरं हरिः ।। ।। ४६ ।। लङ्कां गत्वा रघुश्रेष्ठश्चावधीत्सायकेन च ।। सबान्धवं रावणं च सीतां सम्प्राप दुःखिताम् ।। ४७ ।। तां च वह्निपरीक्षां व कारयामास सत्वरम् ।। हुताशनस्तत्र काले वास्तवीं जानकीं ददौ ।। ४८ ।। छाया चोवाच वह्निं च रामं च विनयान्विता ।। करिष्यामीति किमहं तदुपायं वदस्व मे ।। ४९ ।। वह्निरुवाच ।। त्वं गच्छ तपसे देवि पुष्करं च सुपुण्यदम् ।। कृत्वा तपस्यां तत्रैव स्वर्गलक्ष्मीर्भविष्यसि ।। 2.14.५० ।। सा च तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रतेपे पुष्करे तपः ।। दिव्यं त्रिलक्षवर्ष च स्वर्गे लक्ष्मीर्बभूव ह।।५१।। सा च कालेन तपसा यज्ञकुण्डसमुद्भवा ।। कामिनी पाण्डवानां च द्रौपदी द्रुपदात्मजा ।। ५२ ।। कृते युगे वेदवती कुशध्वजसुता शुभा ।। त्रेतायां रामपत्नी च सीतेति जनकात्मजा ।। ५३ ।। तच्छाया द्रौपदी देवी द्वापरे द्रुपदात्मजा ।। त्रिहायणीति सा प्रोक्ता विद्यमाना युगत्रये ।।५४।। नारद उवाच ।। प्रियाः पञ्च कथं तस्या बभूवुर्मुनिपुङ्गव ।। इति वै चित्तसन्देहं दूरीकुरु महाप्रभो।।५५।। नारायण उवाच ।। लङ्कायां वस्तुतः सीता रामं संप्राप नारद ।। रूपयौवनसम्पन्ना छाया सा बहुविह्वला ।।५६।। रामाग्न्योराज्ञया तप्त्वा ययाचे शङ्करं वरम्।। कामातुरा पतिव्यग्रा प्रार्थयन्ती पुनः पुनः।।५७।। पतिं देहि पतिं देहि पतिं देहि त्रिलोचन।। पतिं देहि पतिं देहि पञ्चवारं पतिव्रता ।।५८।। शिवस्तत्प्रार्थनां श्रुत्वा सस्मितो रसिकेश्वरः ।। प्रिये तव प्रियाः पञ्च भवन्तीति वरं ददौ ।। ५९ ।। तेनासीत्पाण्डवानां च पञ्चानां कामिनी प्रिया ।। इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं प्रस्तुतं वस्तुतः शृणु।।2.14.६०।। अथ संप्राप्य लङ्कायां सीतां रामो मनोहराम्।। विभीषणाय तां लङ्कां दत्त्वाऽयोध्यां ययौ पुनः।।६१।। एकादशसहस्राब्दं कृत्वा राज्यं च भारते ।। जगाम सर्वैर्लोकैश्च सार्द्धं वैकुण्ठमेव च ।।६२।। कमलांशा वेदवती कमलायां विवेश सा ।। कथितं पुण्यमाख्यानं पुण्यदं पापनाशनम् ।। ६३ ।। सततं मूर्तिमन्तश्च वेदाश्चत्वार एव च ।। सन्ति यस्याश्च जिह्वाग्रे सा च वेदवती स्मृता ।। ६४ ।। कुशध्वजसुताख्यानमुक्तं संक्षेपतस्तव ।। धर्मध्वजसुताख्यानं निबोध कथयामि ते ।। ६५ ।। इति श्रीब्रह्मवैवर्त्ते महापुराणे द्वितीये प्रकृतिखण्डे नारदनारायणसंवादे तुलस्युपाख्याने वेदवतीप्रस्तावे चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः ।। १४ ।।
nārāyaṇa uvāca || lakṣmīṃ tau ca samārādhya cogreṇa tapasā mune || pratyekaṃ varamiṣṭaṃ ca saṃprāpaturabhīpsitam || 1 || mahālakṣmyā vareṇaiva tau pṛdhvīśau babhūvatuḥ|| dhanavantau putravantau dharmadhvajakuśadhvajau||2|| kuśadhvajasya patnī ca devī mālāvatī satī || sā suṣāva ca kālena kamalāṃśāṃ sutāṃ satīm || 3 || sā ca bhūtalasambandhājjñānayuktā babhūva ha || kṛtvā vedadhvaniṃ spaṣṭamuttasthau sūtikāgṛhe| || 4 || vedadhvaniṃ sā cakāra jātamātreṇa kanyakā || tasmāttāṃ te vedavatīṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ || 5 || jātamātreṇa susnātā jagāma tapase vanam || sarvairniṣiddhā yatnena nārāyaṇaparāyaṇā || 6 || ekamanvantaraṃ caiva puṣkare ca tapasvinī || atyugrāṃ vai tapasyāṃ tu līlayā ca cakāra sā || 7 || tathā'pi puṣṭā na kṛśā navayauvanasaṃyutā || śuśrāva khe ca sahasā sā vācamaśarīriṇīm || || 8 || janmāntare te bharttā ca bhaviṣyati hariḥ svayam || brahmādibhirdurārādhyaṃ patiṃ lapsyasi sundari || 9 || iti śrutvā tu sā ruṣṭā cakāra ca punastapaḥ || atīva nirjanasthāne parvate gandhamādane || 2.14.10 || tatraivaṃ suciraṃ taptvā viśvasya samuvāsa sā || dadarśa puratastatra rāvaṇaṃ durnivāraṇam || 11 || dṛṣṭvā sā'tithibhaktyā ca pādyaṃ tasmai dadau kila || susvādu phalamūlaṃ ca jalaṃ cāpi suśītalam || 12 || tacca bhuktvā sa pāpiṣṭhaścāvātsīttatsamīpataḥ || cakāra praśnamiti tāṃ kā tvaṃ kalyāṇi ceti ca || 13 || tāṃ ca dṛṣṭvā varārohāṃ pīnonnatapayodharām || śaratpadmanibhāsyāṃ ca sasmitāṃ sudatīṃ satīm || 14 || mūrcchāmavāpa kṛpaṇaḥ kāmabāṇaprapīḍitaḥ || tāṃ kareṇa samākṛṣya sambhogaṃ kartumudyataḥ || 15 || sā satī kopadṛṣṭyā ca stambhitaṃ taṃ cakāra ha || sa jaḍo hastapādaiśca kiṃcidvaktuṃ na ca kṣamaḥ || 16 || tuṣṭāva manasā devīṃ padmāṃśāṃ padmalocanām|| sā tatstavena santuṣṭā prākṛtaṃ taṃ mumoca ha||17|| śaśāpa ca madarthe tvaṃ vinaśyasi sabāndhavaḥ || spṛṣṭā'haṃ ca tvayā kāmādvisṛjāmyavalokaya || 18 || ityuktvā sā ca yogena dehatyāgaṃ cakāra ha || gaṃgāyāṃ tāṃ ca saṃnyasya sva gṛhaṃ rāvaṇo yayau || 19 || aho kimadbhutaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ kiṃ kṛtaṃ vā mayā'dhunā || iti saṃcintya saṃsmṛtya vilalāpa punaḥ punaḥ || || 2.14.20 || sā ca kālāntare sādhvī babhūva janakātmajā|| sītādevīti vikhyātā yadarthe rāvaṇo hataḥ || 21 || mahātapasvinī sā ca tapasā pūrvajanmanaḥ || lebhe rāmaṃ ca bharttāraṃ paripūrṇatamaṃ harim ||22|| saṃprāpya tapasā''rādhya svāminaṃ ca jagatpatim|| sā ramā suciraṃ reme rāmeṇa saha sundarī ||23|| jātismarā sma smarati tapasaśca kramaṃ purā || sukhena tajjahau sarvaṃ duḥkhaṃ cāpi sukhaṃ labhet || || 24 || nānāprakāravibhavaṃ cakāra suciraṃ satī || samprāpya sukumāraṃ tamatīva navayauvanam || 25 || guṇinaṃ rasikaṃ śāntaṃ kāntaveṣamanuttamam || strīṇāṃ manojñaṃ ruciraṃ tathā lebhe yathepsitam || 26 || piturvacaḥpālanārthaṃ satyasandho raghūttamaḥ|| jagāma kānanaṃ paścātkālena ca balīyasā || 27 || tasthau samudranikaṭe sītayā lakṣmaṇena ca || dadarśa tatra vahniṃ ca viprarūpadharaṃ hariḥ || 28 || taṃ rāmaṃ duḥkhitaṃ dṛṣṭvā sa ca duḥkhī babhūva ha || uvāca kiṃcitsatyeṣṭaṃ satyaṃ satyaparāyaṇaḥ || 29 || vahniruvāca|| bhagavañchrūyatāṃ vākyaṃ kālena yadupasthitam || sītāharaṇakālo'yaṃ tavaiva samupasthitaḥ || 2.14.30 || daivaṃ ca durnivāryyaṃ vai na ca daivātparaṃ balam || matprasū mayi saṃnyasya cchāyāṃ rakṣāntike'dhunā ||31|| dāsyāmi sītāṃ tubhyaṃ ca parīkṣāsamaye punaḥ || devaiḥ prasthāpito'haṃ ca na ca vipro hutāśanaḥ || 32 || rāmastadvacanaṃ śrutvā na prakāśya ca lakṣmaṇam || svacchandaṃ svīcakārāsau hṛdayena vidūyatā ||33|| vahniryogena sītāvanmāyāsītāṃ cakāra ha || tattulyaguṇarūpāṃ tāṃ dadau rāmāya nārada || 34 || sītāṃ gṛhītvā sa yayau gopyaṃ vaktuṃ niṣedhya ca || lakṣmaṇo naiva bubudhe gopyamanyasya kā kathā || 39 || etasminnantare rāmo dadarśa kanakaṃ mṛgam || sītā taṃ prerayāmāsa tadarthe yatnapūrvakam || 36 || saṃnyasya lakṣmaṇaṃ rāmo jānakyā rakṣaṇe vane || svayaṃ jagāma hantuṃ taṃ vivyadhe sāyakena ca || 37 || lakṣmaṇeti ca śabdaṃ vai kṛtvā māyāmṛgastadā || prāṇāṃstatyāja sahasā puro dṛṣṭvā hariṃ smaran || 38 || mṛgarūpaṃ parityajya divyarūpaṃ vidhāya ca || ratnanirmitayānena vaikuṇṭhaṃ sa jagāma ha || 39 || vaikuṇṭhasya mahādvāraṃ kiṅkaro dvārapālayoḥ || jaya vijayayoścaiva balavāṃśca jayābhidhaḥ || 2.14.40 || śāpena sanakādīnāṃ samprāpto rākṣasīṃ tanum || punarjagāma taddvāramādau sa dvārapālayoḥ ||41|| atha śabdaṃ ca sā śrutvā lakṣmaṇeti ca viklavam || sītā taṃ prerayāmāsa lakṣmaṇaṃ rāmasannidhau ||42|| gate ca lakṣmaṇe rāmaṃ rāvaṇo durnivāraṇaḥ || sītāṃ gṛhītvā prayayau laṅkāmeva svalīlayā || 43 || viṣasāda ca rāmaśca vane dṛṣṭvā ca lakṣmaṇam || tūrṇaṃ ca svāśramaṃ gatvā sītāṃ naiva dadarśa saḥ || 44 || mūrcchāṃ samprāpya suciraṃ vilalāpa bhṛśaṃ punaḥ || punarbabhrāma gahane tadanveṣaṇapūrvakam || 45 || kāle saṃprāpya tadvārtāṃ gṛdhadvārā nadītaṭe || sahāyaṃ vānaraṃ kṛtvā cābadhnātsāgaraṃ hariḥ || || 46 || laṅkāṃ gatvā raghuśreṣṭhaścāvadhītsāyakena ca || sabāndhavaṃ rāvaṇaṃ ca sītāṃ samprāpa duḥkhitām || 47 || tāṃ ca vahniparīkṣāṃ va kārayāmāsa satvaram || hutāśanastatra kāle vāstavīṃ jānakīṃ dadau || 48 || chāyā covāca vahniṃ ca rāmaṃ ca vinayānvitā || kariṣyāmīti kimahaṃ tadupāyaṃ vadasva me || 49 || vahniruvāca || tvaṃ gaccha tapase devi puṣkaraṃ ca supuṇyadam || kṛtvā tapasyāṃ tatraiva svargalakṣmīrbhaviṣyasi || 2.14.50 || sā ca tadvacanaṃ śrutvā pratepe puṣkare tapaḥ || divyaṃ trilakṣavarṣa ca svarge lakṣmīrbabhūva ha||51|| sā ca kālena tapasā yajñakuṇḍasamudbhavā || kāminī pāṇḍavānāṃ ca draupadī drupadātmajā || 52 || kṛte yuge vedavatī kuśadhvajasutā śubhā || tretāyāṃ rāmapatnī ca sīteti janakātmajā || 53 || tacchāyā draupadī devī dvāpare drupadātmajā || trihāyaṇīti sā proktā vidyamānā yugatraye ||54|| nārada uvāca || priyāḥ pañca kathaṃ tasyā babhūvurmunipuṅgava || iti vai cittasandehaṃ dūrīkuru mahāprabho||55|| nārāyaṇa uvāca || laṅkāyāṃ vastutaḥ sītā rāmaṃ saṃprāpa nārada || rūpayauvanasampannā chāyā sā bahuvihvalā ||56|| rāmāgnyorājñayā taptvā yayāce śaṅkaraṃ varam|| kāmāturā pativyagrā prārthayantī punaḥ punaḥ||57|| patiṃ dehi patiṃ dehi patiṃ dehi trilocana|| patiṃ dehi patiṃ dehi pañcavāraṃ pativratā ||58|| śivastatprārthanāṃ śrutvā sasmito rasikeśvaraḥ || priye tava priyāḥ pañca bhavantīti varaṃ dadau || 59 || tenāsītpāṇḍavānāṃ ca pañcānāṃ kāminī priyā || ityevaṃ kathitaṃ sarvaṃ prastutaṃ vastutaḥ śṛṇu||2.14.60|| atha saṃprāpya laṅkāyāṃ sītāṃ rāmo manoharām|| vibhīṣaṇāya tāṃ laṅkāṃ dattvā'yodhyāṃ yayau punaḥ||61|| ekādaśasahasrābdaṃ kṛtvā rājyaṃ ca bhārate || jagāma sarvairlokaiśca sārddhaṃ vaikuṇṭhameva ca ||62|| kamalāṃśā vedavatī kamalāyāṃ viveśa sā || kathitaṃ puṇyamākhyānaṃ puṇyadaṃ pāpanāśanam || 63 || satataṃ mūrtimantaśca vedāścatvāra eva ca || santi yasyāśca jihvāgre sā ca vedavatī smṛtā || 64 || kuśadhvajasutākhyānamuktaṃ saṃkṣepatastava || dharmadhvajasutākhyānaṃ nibodha kathayāmi te || 65 || iti śrībrahmavaivartte mahāpurāṇe dvitīye prakṛtikhaṇḍe nāradanārāyaṇasaṃvāde tulasyupākhyāne vedavatīprastāve caturdaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 14 ||
English translation
The stories of Vedavati, STta and Narayana said—O sage, both Dharmadhvaja and Kusadhvaja performed severe tapas for Laks and achieved their desired boons.
With the boon of MahalaksmI both Dharmadhvaja and Kus'adhvaja received all the riches and sons.
After the passage of the some time the chaste wife of Kusadhvaja named Malavatl gave birth to a daughter who had the ray of LaksmI in her.
On appearing on earth, she was bestowed with all knowledge. At the very birth of the daughter the labour room was echoed with the reciting of the Vedic hymns and she at once got up.
Therefore people called her by the name of Vedavati, after her birth she took a bath properly and at once proceeded to the forest inspite of the people of the country opposing her. She did not listen and being a devotee of Narayana went to the forest and performed tapas. Though the ascetic lady performed tapas in the Puskara region for a manvantara, yet she was not reduced in her strength but her strength remained stable and she continued to be well-built and youthful.
Suddenly she heard a divine voice from the sky.
beautiful one, after many births you will get lord Visnu as your husband. The one who is beyond the reach of the gods like Brahma and others will surely be your husband.” On hearing this she got annoyed and she went to Gandhamadaiia mountain and started performing tapas at a lonely place.
She performed tapas at that place for a long lime but once she had an encounter with the On his arrival before her, she offered him the cuslomaiy welcome besides sweet faiits and cold water. After consuming everything Ravana remained there and ask her, ''O beautiful one, who are you'"?
The beautiful and chaste lady was having round and stiff breasts and a face like the lotus of the winter season. She wore a serene smile on her face, her teeth were attractive. Finding that Ravana was getting passionate she fainted. He then pulled the chaste lady towards him with evil Finding him so jnisbehaving, the chaste lady made him stand still and he became motionless.
He was unable to move his hand nor could he Thereafter he offered prayers to the lady mentally who was born of the rays of Laksmi.
Getting pleased with his prayers the damsel released him.
Thereafter she pronounced a curse on him, will be completely destroyed because of me since you have touched me with evil intentions. I am, therefore, ending my life here TtTTfT m4vji^h: I Thus speaking with the applications of the Yogic practices, she burnt her body. Thereafter Ravana said: “What a sinprise have I met with today? What type of an evil act did I perform?” Thus thinking Ravana started repenting again and again. The chaste lady in due course of time was born in the house of Janaka as a result of which Ravana was killed. The chaste lady in earlier times performed tapas as a result of which she got Rama as her husband.
The beautiful damsel perfonned tapas for Rama and getting him she served him for a long time, enjoying his company. She remembered the events of her earlier birth but she did not mind the difficulties she had to thee for performing tapas. Keeping in view her present pleasure she forgot about her earlier troubles.
Achieving Rama as her husband, who was quite tender, youthful, virtuous, passionate, peacefiil, extremely beautiful, attractive to the females, Vedavatl enjoyed many of the worldly pleasures with him for a long time.
The truthful Rama who was the best king of the race of Raghu, honouring the words of his father went to the forest.
Thereafter with the moves of the destiny, Rama stayed near the oceans with Sita and Laks mana. There, lord Rama met with Agni who had taken to the form of a Brahma.
Finding Rama in a melancholy mood his heart was moved. Being truthful and a lover of truth, he spoke to Rama, who indeed was the form of Agni said—You kindly listen to my words.
The time for the abduction of Sita is drawing, nearer. The moves of the destiny are sometimes cruel and one cannot escape from them. The destiny is always powerful; therefore you entrust the care of mother Sita to me and in her place you keep her shadow with you. i thWlPu W fCT ^ MpItymUiT I I shall return her to you at the time of the fire ordeal. The gods have entrusted this job to me. I am not a Brahmana but I am the god of fire.” On hearing this, Rama without disclosing anything to Laksmana, with a painful heart agreed to the proposal.
O Narada, the god of fire then at once created an illusory Sita who resembled the real Sita in all respects. He then entrusted the care of the shadow Sita to Rama.
Soon after that, the Brahmana left the place along with Sita asking Rama not to disclose the secret to anyone. That is why this secret remained unknown to Laksmana even, what to speak of others. In the meantime R^ma spotted the golden deer and Sita desired Rama to get it by following it.
Lord Rama entrusted the care of JanakI to Laksmana and he himself went after the deer in the forest and he killed it with his arrow.
While meeting its death, the deer cried aloud, Thus crying, finding Rama before him and remembering Laksmana he met with his death.
Discarding the body of the deer, he achieved the divine form and proceeded on to Vaikuntha mounted on a divine plane studded with gems.
ii x o it On the gate-way of the Vaikunta, there were two gate-keepers by name of.laya and Vijaya. In the both.Taya was veiy powerful.
of the curse of Sanaka and Sanataiia, he vv'as turned into a demon but he again got back his original position.
Thereafter Sita hearing the cry calling for Laks inana, asked him to go in search of Rama.
After Laksmana left the place in search of Rama, tlie wicked Ravana with the application of his illusion kidnapped JanakI and proceeded Finding Laksmana in the forest, the mind of Rama was disturbed and he fainted. Thereafter, he at once went back to his abode with Laks mana and finding Sita missing from the hermitage, he continued lamenting for a long lime. Thereafter they started wandering in the forest in search of Sita.
After some time they met with Jatayu at the bank of Godavari who conveyed the news to them about JanakI. Thereafter, with the help of the monkeys they reached Lanka, constructing a bridge over the ocean. Reaching Lanka, Rama killed Ravana together with his entire family and friends. He got back the grief-stricken Sita.
m t cfiK'iu'um Tfr^i Soon thereafter he made Sita to perform the fire-ordeal when the god Agni himself appeared out of the fire and handed over the real Sita to lord Rama.
Thereafter the shadow Sita meekly stood there. And asked both Rtoa, Agni “What should I do now you tell me”?
Agni said—0 goddess you go to the sacred region of Pusakara and perform tapas there. By doing so, you will become Laksmi of the heaven.
On hearing the words of Agni, she performed great tapas for divine three lakhs of years and thereafter she went to heaven. Again after emerging from the fire-altar, she became the daughter of Drupada and was known as DraupadI and became the wife of the five Thus in the kriayuga Vedavatl happened to be the daughter of Kusadhvaja, she became the daughter of Janaka known as Sita in the tretdyiiga and became the wife of Rama. In the Dvapara that shadow Sita emerged from the firc- altcr as DraupadI. Because she remain present in all the three she is known as TrihayaiiL Narada said—O great lord, how did DraupadI get five husbands. You kindly remove this doubt of my mind.
TR WtT RT?I Narayana said—0 Nerada, after Rama got back the real Sita in Lanka, the youthful shadow Sita was upset.
Thereafter at the command of Rama and Agni she performed tapas and with the blessings of Siva and she begged Siva for her husband. She repeated this desire five times.
Lord Siva smiled on hearing to her request and said: “O dear you will get five husbands."
Therefore she became the wife of five Pandavas. I have told you the broad out lines and now listen to me about the details.
After getting back the charming Sita, Rama entrusted the care of Lanka to VibhTsana and returned to Ayodhya.
He ruled in Bharata for eleven thousand years, enjoying all the royal pleasures and thereafter he proceeded on to Vaikuntlia to all his pedple.
And Vedavat! who was bom of the rays of entered into the body of Lak§ml. Thus you have listened to the divine story which removes sins and grants merits.
She was called Vedavatl because all the four Vedas resided at the tip of her tongue in Thus I have narrated in detail the story of the daughter of Kus'adhvaja. Now you listen to the stoiy of the daughter of Dharmadhvaja.
Chapter-aligned complete witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource revision 117445 (2017-08-08T13:48:04Z); Shanti Lal Nagar English scan pages n256–n261: https://archive.org/details/brahma-vaivarta-purana-all-four-kandas-english-translation/page/n256/mode/1up. The historic English OCR transcription is lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.