Sixth Skandha · Chapter 9
Sourceव्यास उवाच तां वीक्ष्य विपुलापाङ्गीं रहः शोकसमन्विताम् । आखण्डलः प्रियां भार्यां विस्मितश्चाब्रवीत्तदा ॥ १ ॥ कथमत्रागता कान्ते कथं ज्ञातस्त्वया ह्यहम् । दुर्ज्ञेयः सर्वभूतानां संस्थितोऽस्मि शुभानने ॥ २ ॥ शच्युवाच देव देव्याः प्रसादेन ज्ञातोऽस्यद्य भवानिह । पुनस्तस्याः प्रसादेन प्राप्तास्मि त्वां दिवस्पते ॥ ३ ॥ नहुषो नाम राजर्षिः स्थापितो भवदासने । त्रिदशैर्मुनिभिश्चैव स मां बाधति नित्यशः ॥ ४ ॥ पतिं मां कुरु चार्वङ्गि: तुरासाहं सुराधिपम् । एवं वदति मां पाप्मा किं करोमि बलार्दन ॥ ५ ॥ इन्द्र उवाच कालाकाङ्क्षी वरारोहे संस्थितोऽस्मि यदृच्छया । तथा त्वमपि कल्याणि सुस्थिरं स्वमनः कुरु ॥ ६ ॥ व्यास उवाच इत्युक्ता तेन सा देवी पतिनातिप्रशंसिना । निःश्वसन्त्याह तं शक्रं वेपमानातिदुःखिता ॥ ७ ॥ कथं तिष्ठे महाभाग पापात्मा मां वशानुगाम् । करिष्यति मदोन्मत्तो वरदानेन गर्वितः ॥ ८ ॥ देवाश्च मुनयः सर्वे मामूचुस्तद्भयाकुलाः । तं भजस्व वरारोहे देवराजं स्मरातुरम् ॥ ९ ॥ बृहस्पतिस्तु शत्रुघ्न वाडवो बलवर्जितः । कथं मां रक्षितुं शक्तो भवेद्देवानुगः सदा ॥ १० ॥ तस्माच्चिन्तास्ति महती नार्यहं वशवर्तिनी । अनाथा किं करिष्यामि विपरीते विधौ विभो ॥ ११ ॥ नार्यस्म्यहं न कुलटा त्वच्चित्तातिपतिव्रता । नास्ति मे शरणं तत्र यो मां रक्षति दुःखिताम् ॥ १२ ॥ इन्द्र उवाच उपायं प्रब्रवीम्यद्य तं कुरुष्व वरानने । शीलं ते दुःखिते काले परित्रातं भविष्यति ॥ १३ ॥ परेण रक्षिता नारी न भवेच्च पतिव्रता । उपायैः कोटिभिः कामभिन्नचित्तातिचञ्चला ॥ १४ ॥ शीलमेव हि नारीणां सदा रक्षति पापतः । तस्मात्त्वं शीलमास्थाय स्थिरा भव शुचिस्मिते ॥ १५ ॥ यदा त्वां नहुषो राजा बलादाकर्षयेत्खलः । तदा त्वं समयं कृत्वा गजं वञ्चय भूपतिम् ॥ १६ ॥ एकान्ते तत्समीपे त्वं गत्वा वद मदालसे । ऋषियानेन दिव्येन मामुपैहि जगत्पते ॥ १७ ॥ एवं तव वशे प्रीता भविष्यामीति मे ततम् । इति तं वद सुश्रोणि तदा तु परिमोहितः ॥ १८ ॥ कामान्धः स मुनीन् याने योजयिष्यति पार्थिवः । अवश्यं तापसो भूपं शापदग्धं करिष्यति ॥ १९ ॥ साहाय्यं जगदम्बा ते करिष्यति न संशयः । जगदम्बापदस्मर्तुः सङ्कटं न कदाचन ॥ २० ॥ यदि जायेत तच्चापि ज्ञेयं तत्स्वस्तये किल । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन मणिद्वीपाधिवासिनीम् ॥ २१ ॥ भज त्वं भुवनेशानीं गुरुवाक्यानुसारतः । व्यास उवाच इत्याख्याता शची तेन जगाम नहुषं प्रति ॥ २२ ॥ तथेत्युक्त्वातिविश्वस्ता भाविकार्ये कृतोद्यमा । नहुषस्तां समालोक्य मुदितो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ २३ ॥ स्वागतं सत्यवचनैस्त्वदधीनोऽस्मि कामिनि । दासोऽहं तव सत्येन पालितं वचनं त्वया ॥ २४ ॥ यदागता समीपे मे तुष्टोऽस्मि मितभाषिणि । न च व्रीडा त्वया कार्या भक्तं मां भज सुस्मिते ॥ २५ ॥ कार्यं वद विशालाक्षि करिष्यामि तव प्रियम् । शच्युवाच सर्वं कृतं त्वया कार्यं मम कृत्रिमवासव ॥ २६ ॥ मनोरथोऽस्ति मे देव शृणु चित्तेऽधुना विभो । वाञ्छितं कुरु कल्याण त्वद्वशाहमतः परम् ॥ २७ ॥ ब्रवीमि मानसोत्साहं त्वं तं कर्तुमिहार्हसि । नहुष उवाच कार्यं त्वं ब्रूहि चन्द्रास्ये करोमि तव वाञ्छितम् ॥ २८ ॥ अलभ्यमपि दास्यामि तुभ्यं सुभ्रु वदस्व माम् । शच्युवाच कथं ब्रवीमि राजेन्द्र प्रत्ययो नास्ति मे तव ॥ २९ ॥ शपथं कुरु राजेन्द्र यत्करोमि प्रियं तव । राजानः सत्यवचसो दुर्लभा एव भूतले ॥ ३० ॥ पश्चाद्ब्रवीम्यहं राजन् ज्ञात्वा सत्येन यन्त्रितम् । कृते चेद्वाञ्छिते भूप सदा ते वशवर्तिनी ॥ ३१ ॥ भविष्यामि तुराषाड् वै सत्यमेतद्वचो मम । नहुष उवाच अवश्यमेव कर्तव्यं वचनं तव सुन्दरि ॥ ३२ ॥ शपामि सुकृतेनाहं यज्ञदानकृतेन वै । शच्युवाच इन्द्रस्य हरयो वाहा गजश्चैव रथस्तथा ॥ ३३ ॥ गरुडो वासुदेवस्य यमस्य महिषस्तथा । वृषभः शङ्करस्यापि ब्रह्मणो वरटापतिः ॥ ३४ ॥ मयूरः कार्तिकेयस्य गजास्यस्य तु मूषकः । इच्छाम्यहमपूर्वं वै वाहनं ते सुराधिप ॥ ३५ ॥ यन्न विष्णोर्न रुद्रस्य नासुराणां न रक्षसाम् । वहन्तु त्वां महाराज मुनयः संशितव्रताः ॥ ३६ ॥ सर्वे शिबिकया राजन्नेतद्धि मम वाञ्छितम् । सर्वदेवाधिकं त्वां वै जानामि वसुधाधिप ॥ ३७ ॥ तेन ते तेजसो वृद्धिं वाञ्छाम्यहमतन्द्रिता । व्यास उवाच तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य ज्ञानदुर्बलः ॥ ३८ ॥ मोहितस्तु महादेव्या कृतमोहेन तत्क्षणम् । उवाच वचनं भूपः संस्तुवन्वासवप्रियाम् ॥ ३९ ॥ नहुष उवाच सत्यमुक्तं त्वया तन्वि वाहनं रुचिरं मम । करिष्यामि सुकेशान्ते वचनं तव सर्वथा ॥ ४० ॥ न ह्यल्पवीर्यो भवति यो वाहान्कुरुते मुनीन् । अहमारुह्य यानेन त्वामेष्यामि शुचिस्मिते ॥ ४१ ॥ सप्तर्षयो मां वक्ष्यन्ति सर्वे देवर्षयस्तथा । समर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु ज्ञात्वा मां तपसाधिकम् ॥ ४२ ॥ व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तां सुसन्तुष्टो विससर्ज हरिप्रियाम् । मुनीनाहूय सर्वास्तानित्युवाच स्मरान्वितः ॥ ४३ ॥ नहुष उवाच अहमिन्द्रोऽद्य भो विप्राः सर्वशक्तिसमन्वितः । कार्यमत्र प्रकुर्वन्तु भवन्तो विगतस्मयाः ॥ ४४ ॥ इन्द्रासनं मया प्राप्तं नेन्द्राणी मामुपैति च । आकारिता च मां सूते प्रेमपूर्वमिदं वचः ॥ ४५ ॥ मुनियानेन देवेन्द्र मामुपैहि सुराधिप । देवदेव महाराज मत्प्रियं कुरु मानद ॥ ४६ ॥ एतत्कार्यं मुनिश्रेष्ठा ममात्यन्तं दुरासदम् । भवद्भिस्तु प्रकर्तव्यं सर्वथैव दयालुभिः ॥ ४७ ॥ मनो दहति मे कामः शक्रपत्न्यां प्रवर्तितम् । भवन्तः शरणं मेऽद्य कुरुध्वं कार्यमद्भुतम् ॥ ४८ ॥ अगस्तिप्रमुखास्तस्य श्रुत्वा वाक्यमसत्करम् । अङ्गीचक्रुश्च भावित्वात्कृपया परमर्षयः ॥ ४९ ॥ अङ्गीकृतेऽथ तद्वाक्ये मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । मुदं प्राप नृपः कामं पौलोमीकृतमानसः ॥ ५० ॥ आरुह्य शिबिकां रम्यां संस्थितस्त्वरयान्वितः । वाहान्कृत्वा मुनीन्दिव्यान्सर्प सर्पेति चाब्रवीत् ॥ ५१ ॥ कामार्तः सोऽस्पृशन्मूढः पादेन मुनिमस्तकम् । अगस्तिं तापसश्रेष्ठं लोपामुद्रापतिं तदा ॥ ५२ ॥ वातापिभक्षकर्तारं समुद्रस्यापि शोषकम् । कशया ताडयामास पञ्चबाणशराहतः ॥ ५३ ॥ इन्द्राणीहृतचित्तोऽसौ सर्पेति प्रब्रुवन्मुनिम् । तं शशाप मुनिः क्रुद्धः कशाघातमनुस्मरन् ॥ ५४ ॥ सर्पो भव दुराचार वने घोरवपुर्महान् । बहुवर्षसहस्राणि यत्र क्लेशो महान्भवेत् ॥ ५५ ॥ विचरिष्यसि वीर्येण पुनः स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि । दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरं नाम तव मोक्षो भविष्यति ॥ ५६ ॥ प्रश्नानामुत्तरं श्रुत्वा धर्मपुत्रमुखात्ततः । व्यास उवाच एवं शप्तः स राजर्षिः स्तुत्वा तं मुनिसत्तमम् ॥ ५७ ॥ स्वर्गात्पपात सहसा सर्परूपधरोऽभवत् । बृहस्पतिस्ततो गत्वा तरसा मानसं प्रति ॥ ५८ ॥ इन्द्राय सर्ववृत्तान्तं कथयामास विस्तरात् । तच्छ्रुत्वा मघवा राज्ञः स्वर्गात्प्रच्यवनादिकम् ॥ ५९ ॥ मुदितोऽभून्महाराज स्थितस्तत्रैव वासवः । देवाश्च मुनयो दृष्ट्वा नहुषं पतितं भुवि ॥ ६० ॥ जग्मुः सर्वेऽपि तत्रैव यत्रेन्द्रः सरसि स्थितः । तमाश्वास्य सुराः सर्वे मुनिभिः सहितास्तदा ॥ ६१ ॥ स्वर्गे समानयामासुर्मानपूर्वं शचीपतिम् । समागतं ततः शक्रं सर्वे ते मुनयः सुराः ॥ ६२ ॥ स्थापयित्वाऽऽसने पश्चादभिषेकं दधुः शिवम् । इन्द्रोऽपि स्वासनं प्राप्य शच्या सह सुरालये ॥ ६३ ॥ चिक्रीड नन्दने रम्ये कानने प्रेमयुक्तया । व्यास उवाच एवमिन्द्रेण सम्प्राप्तं दुःखं परमदारुणम् ॥ ६४ ॥ हत्वासुरं कामरूपं विश्वरूपं महामुनिम् । पुनर्देव्याः प्रसादेन स्वस्थानं प्राप्तवान्नृप ॥ ६५ ॥ एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं वृत्रासुरवधाश्रयम् । यत्पृष्टोऽहं त्वया राजन् कथानकमनुत्तमम् ॥ ६६ ॥ यादृशं कुरुते कर्म तादृशं फलमाप्नुयात् । अवश्यमेव भोक्तव्यं कृतं कर्म शुभाशुभम् ॥ ६७ ॥
vyāsa uvāca tāṃ vīkṣya vipulāpāṅgīṃ rahaḥ śokasamanvitām | ākhaṇḍalaḥ priyāṃ bhāryāṃ vismitaścābravīttadā || 1 || kathamatrāgatā kānte kathaṃ jñātastvayā hyaham | durjñeyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ saṃsthito'smi śubhānane || 2 || śacyuvāca deva devyāḥ prasādena jñāto'syadya bhavāniha | punastasyāḥ prasādena prāptāsmi tvāṃ divaspate || 3 || nahuṣo nāma rājarṣiḥ sthāpito bhavadāsane | tridaśairmunibhiścaiva sa māṃ bādhati nityaśaḥ || 4 || patiṃ māṃ kuru cārvaṅgi: turāsāhaṃ surādhipam | evaṃ vadati māṃ pāpmā kiṃ karomi balārdana || 5 || indra uvāca kālākāṅkṣī varārohe saṃsthito'smi yadṛcchayā | tathā tvamapi kalyāṇi susthiraṃ svamanaḥ kuru || 6 || vyāsa uvāca ityuktā tena sā devī patinātipraśaṃsinā | niḥśvasantyāha taṃ śakraṃ vepamānātiduḥkhitā || 7 || kathaṃ tiṣṭhe mahābhāga pāpātmā māṃ vaśānugām | kariṣyati madonmatto varadānena garvitaḥ || 8 || devāśca munayaḥ sarve māmūcustadbhayākulāḥ | taṃ bhajasva varārohe devarājaṃ smarāturam || 9 || bṛhaspatistu śatrughna vāḍavo balavarjitaḥ | kathaṃ māṃ rakṣituṃ śakto bhaveddevānugaḥ sadā || 10 || tasmāccintāsti mahatī nāryahaṃ vaśavartinī | anāthā kiṃ kariṣyāmi viparīte vidhau vibho || 11 || nāryasmyahaṃ na kulaṭā tvaccittātipativratā | nāsti me śaraṇaṃ tatra yo māṃ rakṣati duḥkhitām || 12 || indra uvāca upāyaṃ prabravīmyadya taṃ kuruṣva varānane | śīlaṃ te duḥkhite kāle paritrātaṃ bhaviṣyati || 13 || pareṇa rakṣitā nārī na bhavecca pativratā | upāyaiḥ koṭibhiḥ kāmabhinnacittāticañcalā || 14 || śīlameva hi nārīṇāṃ sadā rakṣati pāpataḥ | tasmāttvaṃ śīlamāsthāya sthirā bhava śucismite || 15 || yadā tvāṃ nahuṣo rājā balādākarṣayetkhalaḥ | tadā tvaṃ samayaṃ kṛtvā gajaṃ vañcaya bhūpatim || 16 || ekānte tatsamīpe tvaṃ gatvā vada madālase | ṛṣiyānena divyena māmupaihi jagatpate || 17 || evaṃ tava vaśe prītā bhaviṣyāmīti me tatam | iti taṃ vada suśroṇi tadā tu parimohitaḥ || 18 || kāmāndhaḥ sa munīn yāne yojayiṣyati pārthivaḥ | avaśyaṃ tāpaso bhūpaṃ śāpadagdhaṃ kariṣyati || 19 || sāhāyyaṃ jagadambā te kariṣyati na saṃśayaḥ | jagadambāpadasmartuḥ saṅkaṭaṃ na kadācana || 20 || yadi jāyeta taccāpi jñeyaṃ tatsvastaye kila | tasmātsarvaprayatnena maṇidvīpādhivāsinīm || 21 || bhaja tvaṃ bhuvaneśānīṃ guruvākyānusārataḥ | vyāsa uvāca ityākhyātā śacī tena jagāma nahuṣaṃ prati || 22 || tathetyuktvātiviśvastā bhāvikārye kṛtodyamā | nahuṣastāṃ samālokya mudito vākyamabravīt || 23 || svāgataṃ satyavacanaistvadadhīno'smi kāmini | dāso'haṃ tava satyena pālitaṃ vacanaṃ tvayā || 24 || yadāgatā samīpe me tuṣṭo'smi mitabhāṣiṇi | na ca vrīḍā tvayā kāryā bhaktaṃ māṃ bhaja susmite || 25 || kāryaṃ vada viśālākṣi kariṣyāmi tava priyam | śacyuvāca sarvaṃ kṛtaṃ tvayā kāryaṃ mama kṛtrimavāsava || 26 || manoratho'sti me deva śṛṇu citte'dhunā vibho | vāñchitaṃ kuru kalyāṇa tvadvaśāhamataḥ param || 27 || bravīmi mānasotsāhaṃ tvaṃ taṃ kartumihārhasi | nahuṣa uvāca kāryaṃ tvaṃ brūhi candrāsye karomi tava vāñchitam || 28 || alabhyamapi dāsyāmi tubhyaṃ subhru vadasva mām | śacyuvāca kathaṃ bravīmi rājendra pratyayo nāsti me tava || 29 || śapathaṃ kuru rājendra yatkaromi priyaṃ tava | rājānaḥ satyavacaso durlabhā eva bhūtale || 30 || paścādbravīmyahaṃ rājan jñātvā satyena yantritam | kṛte cedvāñchite bhūpa sadā te vaśavartinī || 31 || bhaviṣyāmi turāṣāḍ vai satyametadvaco mama | nahuṣa uvāca avaśyameva kartavyaṃ vacanaṃ tava sundari || 32 || śapāmi sukṛtenāhaṃ yajñadānakṛtena vai | śacyuvāca indrasya harayo vāhā gajaścaiva rathastathā || 33 || garuḍo vāsudevasya yamasya mahiṣastathā | vṛṣabhaḥ śaṅkarasyāpi brahmaṇo varaṭāpatiḥ || 34 || mayūraḥ kārtikeyasya gajāsyasya tu mūṣakaḥ | icchāmyahamapūrvaṃ vai vāhanaṃ te surādhipa || 35 || yanna viṣṇorna rudrasya nāsurāṇāṃ na rakṣasām | vahantu tvāṃ mahārāja munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ || 36 || sarve śibikayā rājannetaddhi mama vāñchitam | sarvadevādhikaṃ tvāṃ vai jānāmi vasudhādhipa || 37 || tena te tejaso vṛddhiṃ vāñchāmyahamatandritā | vyāsa uvāca tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā prahasya jñānadurbalaḥ || 38 || mohitastu mahādevyā kṛtamohena tatkṣaṇam | uvāca vacanaṃ bhūpaḥ saṃstuvanvāsavapriyām || 39 || nahuṣa uvāca satyamuktaṃ tvayā tanvi vāhanaṃ ruciraṃ mama | kariṣyāmi sukeśānte vacanaṃ tava sarvathā || 40 || na hyalpavīryo bhavati yo vāhānkurute munīn | ahamāruhya yānena tvāmeṣyāmi śucismite || 41 || saptarṣayo māṃ vakṣyanti sarve devarṣayastathā | samarthaṃ triṣu lokeṣu jñātvā māṃ tapasādhikam || 42 || vyāsa uvāca ityuktvā tāṃ susantuṣṭo visasarja haripriyām | munīnāhūya sarvāstānityuvāca smarānvitaḥ || 43 || nahuṣa uvāca ahamindro'dya bho viprāḥ sarvaśaktisamanvitaḥ | kāryamatra prakurvantu bhavanto vigatasmayāḥ || 44 || indrāsanaṃ mayā prāptaṃ nendrāṇī māmupaiti ca | ākāritā ca māṃ sūte premapūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ || 45 || muniyānena devendra māmupaihi surādhipa | devadeva mahārāja matpriyaṃ kuru mānada || 46 || etatkāryaṃ muniśreṣṭhā mamātyantaṃ durāsadam | bhavadbhistu prakartavyaṃ sarvathaiva dayālubhiḥ || 47 || mano dahati me kāmaḥ śakrapatnyāṃ pravartitam | bhavantaḥ śaraṇaṃ me'dya kurudhvaṃ kāryamadbhutam || 48 || agastipramukhāstasya śrutvā vākyamasatkaram | aṅgīcakruśca bhāvitvātkṛpayā paramarṣayaḥ || 49 || aṅgīkṛte'tha tadvākye munibhistattvadarśibhiḥ | mudaṃ prāpa nṛpaḥ kāmaṃ paulomīkṛtamānasaḥ || 50 || āruhya śibikāṃ ramyāṃ saṃsthitastvarayānvitaḥ | vāhānkṛtvā munīndivyānsarpa sarpeti cābravīt || 51 || kāmārtaḥ so'spṛśanmūḍhaḥ pādena munimastakam | agastiṃ tāpasaśreṣṭhaṃ lopāmudrāpatiṃ tadā || 52 || vātāpibhakṣakartāraṃ samudrasyāpi śoṣakam | kaśayā tāḍayāmāsa pañcabāṇaśarāhataḥ || 53 || indrāṇīhṛtacitto'sau sarpeti prabruvanmunim | taṃ śaśāpa muniḥ kruddhaḥ kaśāghātamanusmaran || 54 || sarpo bhava durācāra vane ghoravapurmahān | bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi yatra kleśo mahānbhavet || 55 || vicariṣyasi vīryeṇa punaḥ svargamavāpsyasi | dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiraṃ nāma tava mokṣo bhaviṣyati || 56 || praśnānāmuttaraṃ śrutvā dharmaputramukhāttataḥ | vyāsa uvāca evaṃ śaptaḥ sa rājarṣiḥ stutvā taṃ munisattamam || 57 || svargātpapāta sahasā sarparūpadharo'bhavat | bṛhaspatistato gatvā tarasā mānasaṃ prati || 58 || indrāya sarvavṛttāntaṃ kathayāmāsa vistarāt | tacchrutvā maghavā rājñaḥ svargātpracyavanādikam || 59 || mudito'bhūnmahārāja sthitastatraiva vāsavaḥ | devāśca munayo dṛṣṭvā nahuṣaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi || 60 || jagmuḥ sarve'pi tatraiva yatrendraḥ sarasi sthitaḥ | tamāśvāsya surāḥ sarve munibhiḥ sahitāstadā || 61 || svarge samānayāmāsurmānapūrvaṃ śacīpatim | samāgataṃ tataḥ śakraṃ sarve te munayaḥ surāḥ || 62 || sthāpayitvā''sane paścādabhiṣekaṃ dadhuḥ śivam | indro'pi svāsanaṃ prāpya śacyā saha surālaye || 63 || cikrīḍa nandane ramye kānane premayuktayā | vyāsa uvāca evamindreṇa samprāptaṃ duḥkhaṃ paramadāruṇam || 64 || hatvāsuraṃ kāmarūpaṃ viśvarūpaṃ mahāmunim | punardevyāḥ prasādena svasthānaṃ prāptavānnṛpa || 65 || etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ vṛtrāsuravadhāśrayam | yatpṛṣṭo'haṃ tvayā rājan kathānakamanuttamam || 66 || yādṛśaṃ kurute karma tādṛśaṃ phalamāpnuyāt | avaśyameva bhoktavyaṃ kṛtaṃ karma śubhāśubham || 67 ||
English translation
1-2. Vyasa said Indra was quite surprised to see in this state of solitude his dear wife S'achi, large-eyed and overwheinned with much sorrow and spoke thus “O Beloved! I am remaining here alone this desolate place unnoticed by all the Jivas; O Auspicious faced One! How have you come to know this! And how is it that you have come here!”
3-5. S'achi said O Lord of the Devas! I have been able to know this place where you are staying by the grace of Bhagavati's Feet and I will get you back by Her grace. The Devas and Munis all united have installed the King Nahusa in your throne. That fellow says “O fair One! I am now made the King Indra; therefore you worship me as your husband.” And thus oppresses me always. O Destroyer of other's strength! That vicious one speaks to me thus; I am weak; What can I do to him?
6. Indra said “O Beautiful One! I am now here waiting for the proper opportunity; O auspicious One! You should also make your mind calm and remain there, and wait for the proper time.”
7-12. Vyasa said: - O King! After Indra had spoken thus, S'achi Devi became sorrowful, drew a deep sigh and, trembling, said “O Fortunate One! How can I stay there? That vicious man, puffed up with vanity and proud of his position will forcibly bring me under his control. The Devas and Munis say this to me out of his fearO Beautiful One! The Lord of the Devas is now very much distressed
with the arrows of the Cupid; therefore go and worship him. O Tormentor of foes! How can the Brahmin Brihaspati protect me, being himself powerless and under the control of the Devas. O Lord! This is now my grave anxiety; I am a weak woman, having none to protect me and therefore always under the guidance of a man. Fate is now against me; how can I keep myself religious? I am a chaste woman, devoted to my husband; I have got no shelter there; who will protect me when I fall into misery!
13-21. Indra said “O Beautiful One! I will now tell you one means which, if you adopt, will no doubt preserve your character in times of crisis. Women cannot preserve their chastity when they are protected by others by thousand and one means; for lust penetrates into their restless minds and carries them to impure ways. It is the good and pure character that preserves a woman from a vicious course; therefore O Smiling One! You adopt this good conduct and character and remain steady in your place. In case that deceitful wicked King Nahusa shows his violence upon you, then take time and secretly cheat him, O Madalase! Go to him when there will be no other body present and say:"“0 Lord of the world! Please come to me on a conveyance carried by the Risis (great ascetics), I will then be very delighted and gladly yield myself to you; this is certainly my vow.” O Beautiful One! When you will say thus, that King, blinded by passion, will engage the Munis for the carriers of his conveyance. The ascetics, then, will be angry and curse him; the Munis will certainly burn him by the fire of their wrath; and the Divine Mother will no doubt help you. He who remembers the lotus-feet of the Ambika Devi never meets with any difficulties; and if there arises any difficulty, know certainly that it is for his immeasurable benefit. Therefore worship, with your whole heart, the Mother of the Universe, Who resides in the jewelled island (Mani Dvipa) according to the words of the Guru Brihaspati.
22-25. Vyasa said O King! Hearing thus the Indra's words, S'achi Devi said “Let it be so” and went to Nahusa, filled with confidence and inspiration to carry on the future work. Nahusa was very glad to see S'achi Devi and spoke thus “O Sweet-speaking One! Are you all right? I am now completely yours; you have fulfilled my word; therefore I say truly that I am your servant. O Gentle-speaking One! When you have come to me, know that I am very glad. O Smiling One! Do not feel any shame before me. I am now your devotee; worship me. O large eyed One! Speak out what is that dear thing that I can do for you? I will carry that out at once.”
26-27. S'achi said “O Lord Vasava! You have done all the works; now I have got one desire to ask from you, kindly fulfil this and then I will be yours. O One full of auspiciousness! Now fulfil my desire; I am speaking this to you.”
28. Nahusa said “O Thou, having a face sweet like the Moon! Speak out your desire; I will carry it out. O Beautiful One with nice eye-brows! Even if that be unattainable, I will give that to you.”
29-31. S'achi said “O King of Kings! I cannot trust you; Swear on oath that you will fulfill my desire. O King! A truthful King very rare on this earth; I will speak out my desire when I will be convinced that you are bound by truth. O King! When you will fulfil my desire, I will always remain under your control; this I speak truly to you.”
32. Nahusa said “O Beautiful One! On all the sacrifices and gifts that I have ever made, I swear, on all my merits, that I will certainly carry out your word.”
33-37. S'achi said “Indra has got for his vehicles the horse Uchchais'rava, the Airavata elephant and the chariot; Vasudeva has got vehicle Garuda; Yama has got his buffalo; S'ankara his Bull; Brahma his Swan; Kartika has got his peacock and Ganes'a has got his mouse. But now, O Lord of the Devas! I want to see your vehicle, never witnessed before: I want to see the Munis and the great ascetics, observing vows, to be your vehicle; this is not Visnu's, Rudra's nor of the Devas, and Raks'asas. O King! Let the Munis carry your conveyance, this is my ever burning desire. O King of this earth! I know you the highest of all Devas; let your glory and splendour increase ever and ever; this is the intense desire reigning in my heart.”
38-56. Vyasa said O King! Hearing S'achi's words, Nahusa, weak in intellect, laughed and beguiled by the Maya of Bhagavati began to praise her and said at once “O Beautiful One! Truly you have made a nice suggestion of my vehicle. O One having luxuriant hairs!
I will soon carry out your words. O Sweet-smiling One! Whoever is effeminate and of weak virility, he is never able to engage the Munis as his carriers; no doubt, my unbounded strength will be rendered manifest when I come to you on a vehicle carried by the Munis. What wonder is there that the seven Risis (the seven stars of the constellation Great Bear) and all the Devarsis would carry me, knowing me as the most capable and superior in all the three worlds by virtue of my sheer asceticism?” Vyasa said O King! The King Nahusa became very pleased and dismissed S'achi Devi. He, then, with a heart flamed with passion, called the Munis and said: -“0 Munis! I am now become Indra and endowed with all powers thereof; therefore you all do my work without being at all surprised. I have got the seat of Indra but Indrani is not coming to me. I called her to my presence and when I informed her of my desire. She had spoken to me with affection the following words:- O Indra of the Devas! O Giver of one's honour! Better come to me on a vehicle carried by the Munis and do thus the one thing for me that I like. O Maharsis! To
carry out this task is, indeed, difficult for me; therefore do you all unite and, out of mercy, do this for me in all its completeness. My heart is being always burnt, as I am very much attached to the wife of Indra; so I take refuge unto you to do this wonderful work for me.” Though this request was very indecent and greatly humiliating yet the Munis agreed to it, out of pity, and also impelled, as it were, by the great Fate. When the Great Seers, the Munis consented to this proposal, the King, whose heart was very much attached to the daughter of Puloma, became very glad and getting on the beautiful vehicle carried by the Munis, told them, move on quickly (Sarpa, Sarpa). Then the King Nahusa, getting very much impassioned, touched with his feet the heads of the Munis, and, being as it were smitten by the arrows of cupid, began to whip frequently the Risi Agastya, the best of the ascetics, who devoured the Raksasa Vatapi, who was the husband of Lopamudra and who drank out the ocean, saying move on, move on (Sarpa, Sarpa another meaning of which is Snake). The Muni, then, became very angry, on being thus whipped, and cursed him saying “'O Wicked One! As you are whipping me, saying Sarpa, Sarpa, so go and remain in the dense forest as a huge snake. When many years will elapse and when you will crawl on your own limb and suffer intense troubles, after that you will again come to heaven. You will be free from the curse when you will see the King Yudhisthira and hear from him the answers to several questions.”
57-67. Vyasa said O King! Thus cursed, the King Nahusa began to chant hymns to that best of the Munis, and, while praising, fell from the Heavens and instantly turned into a snake. Brihaspati, then, quickly went to the Manasarovara Lake and informed Indra everything in detail. Indra became very glad on hearing in detail of the downfall of the King Nahusa from Heaven and remained there gladly. When the Devas and Munis saw this downfall into the earth of Nahusa, they all went to the Lake Manasarovara where Indra was staying. They then all encouraged Indra and honoured him by
bringing hinn back to the Heavens. All the Devas and Risis installed Indra on the throne and then performed the Inauguration ceremony of the all auspicious Devi. On getting back his own throne. Indra, too, began to sport in the beautiful Nandana Garden with his dear consort S'achi, in the home of the Devas. Vyasa said O King!
Indra had to suffer such severe hardships on account of his slaying the Maharsi VisVarupa, the Lord of the Asuras. Subsequently through the grace of the Devi, he got back his own seat. O King! Thus I have narrated before you to my best, this excellent story of the killing of Vritrasura and thus have answered your question. O Ornament of the Kuru family! The fruits will be exactly according to the Karma done. The effects of the Karma done must be borne whether they be auspicious or inauspicious. (So Indra had to suffer for his Karma, the killing of a Brahmana.)
Here ends the Ninth Chapter of the Sixth Book on Indra's getting the fruits of his killing a Brahmana and on the downfall of the King Nahusa from the Heavens in the Mahapuranam S'ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 25324, revision 154759 (2018-07-28T22:42:59Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk06ch09.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.