Sixth Skandha · Chapter 21
Sourceव्यास उवाच जातकर्मादिसंस्कारांश्चकार नृपतिस्तदा । दिने दिने जगामाशु वृद्धिं बालः सुलालितः ॥ १ ॥ नृपः संसारजं प्राप्य सुखं पुत्रसभुद्भवम् । ऋणत्रयविमोक्षं च मेने तेन महात्मना ॥ २ ॥ षष्ठेऽन्नप्राशनं तस्य कृत्वा मासि यथाविधि । तृतीयेऽथ तथा वर्षे चूडाकरणमुत्तमम् ॥ ३ ॥ चकार ब्राह्मणान् द्रव्यैः सम्पूज्य विविधैर्धनैः । गोभिश्च विविधैर्दानैर्याचकानितरानपि ॥ ४ ॥ वर्षे चैकादशे तस्य मौञ्जीबन्धनकर्म वै । कारयित्वा धनुर्वेदमध्यापयत पार्थिवः ॥ ५ ॥ अधीतवेदं पुत्रं तं राजधर्मविशारदम् । दृष्ट्वा तस्याभिषेकाय मतिं चक्रे जनाधिपः ॥ ६ ॥ पुष्यार्कयोगसंयुक्ते दिवसे नृपसत्तमः । कारयामास सम्भारानभिषेकार्थमादरात् ॥ ७ ॥ द्विजानाहूय वेदज्ञान् सर्वशास्त्रविचक्षणान् । अभिषेकं चकारासौ विधिवत् स्वात्मजस्य ह ॥ ८ ॥ जलमानीय तीर्थेभ्यः सागरेभ्यश्च पार्थिवः । स्वयं चकार विथिवदभिषेकं शुभे दिने ॥ ९ ॥ धनं दत्त्वाथ विप्रेभ्यो राज्यं पुत्रे निवेश्य सः । जगाम वनमेवाशु स्वर्गकामः स भूपतिः ॥ १० ॥ एकवीरं नृपं कृत्वा सम्मान्य सचिवानथ । भार्यया सह भूपालः प्रविवेश वनं वशी ॥ ११ ॥ मैनाकशिखरे राजा कृत्वा तार्तीयमाश्रमम् । नित्यं पत्रफलाहारश्चिन्तयामास पार्वतीम् ॥ १२ ॥ एवं स नृपतिः कृत्वा दिष्टान्ते सह भार्यया । मृतोऽसौ वासवं लोकं गतः पुण्येन कर्मणा ॥ १३ ॥ इन्द्रलोकं पिता प्राप्त इति श्रुत्वाथ हैहयः । चकार वेदनिर्दिष्टं कर्म चैवौर्ध्वदैहिकम् ॥ १४ ॥ कृत्वोत्तराः क्रियाः सर्वाः पितुः पार्थिवनन्दनः । राज्यं चकार मेधावी पित्रा दत्तं सुसम्मतम् ॥ १५ ॥ एकवीरोऽथ धर्मज्ञः प्राप्य राज्यमनुत्तमम् । बुभुजे विविधान् भोगान्सचिवैश्च सुमानितः ॥ १६ ॥ एकस्मिन् दिवसे राजा मन्त्रिपुत्रैः समन्वितः । जगाम जाह्नवीतीरे हयारूढः प्रतापवान् ॥ १७ ॥ सम्पश्यन् पादपान् रम्यान् कोकिलालापसंयुतान् । पुष्पितान् फलसंयुक्तान् षट्पदालिविराजितान् ॥ १८ ॥ मुनीनामाश्रमान्दिव्यान् वेदध्वनिनिनादितान् । होमधूमावृताकाशान् मृगशावसमावृतान् ॥ १९ ॥ केदाराञ्छालिसम्पक्वान् गोपिकाभिः सुरक्षितान् । प्रफुल्लपङ्कजारामान्निकुञ्जांश्च मनोरमान् ॥ २० ॥ प्रेक्षमाणः प्रियालांस्तु चम्पकान् पनसद्रुमान् । बकुलांस्तिलकान्नीपान्मन्दारांश्च प्रफुल्लितान् ॥ २१ ॥ शालांस्तालांस्तमालांश्च जम्बूचूतकदम्बकान् । स गच्छञ्जाह्नवीतोये प्रफुल्लं शतपत्रकम् ॥ २२ ॥ पङ्कजं चातिगन्धाढ्यमपश्यदवनीपतिः । दक्षिणे जलजस्याथ पार्श्वे कमललोचनाम् ॥ २३ ॥ कनकाभां सुकेशीं च कम्बुग्रीवां कृशोदरीम् । बिम्बोष्ठी सुन्दरीं किञ्चित्समुद्यत्सुपयोधराम् ॥ २४ ॥ सुनासां चारुसर्वाङ्गीमपश्यत् कन्यकां नृपः । रुदतीं तां सखीं त्यक्त्वा विह्वलां दुःखपीडिताम् ॥ २५ ॥ साश्रुनेत्रां क्रन्दमानां विजने कुररीमिव । संवीक्ष्य राजा पप्रच्छ कन्यकां शोककारणम् ॥ २६ ॥ सुनसे ब्रूहि कासि त्वं कस्य पुत्री शुभानने । गन्धर्वी देवकन्याथ कथं रोदिषि सुन्दरि ॥ २७ ॥ कथमेकाकिनी बाले त्यक्ता केन पिकस्वरे । पतिस्ते क्व गतः कान्ते पिता वा ब्रूहि साम्प्रतम् ॥ २८ ॥ किं ते दुःखमरालभ्रु कथयाद्य ममान्तिके । करोमि दुःखनाशं ते सर्वथैव कृशोदरि ॥ २९ ॥ न राज्ये मम तन्वङ्गि पीडां कोऽपि करोत्यलम् । न भयं चौरजं कान्ते न राक्षसभयं तथा ॥ ३० ॥ मयि शासति भूपाले नोत्पाता दारुणा भुवि । भयं न व्याघ्रसिंहेभ्यो न भयं कस्यचिद्भवेत् ॥ ३१ ॥ वद वामोरु कस्मात्त्वं विलापं जाह्नवीतटे । करोषि त्राणहीनात्र किं ते दुःखं वदस्व मे ॥ ३२ ॥ हन्म्यहं दुःखमत्युग्रं प्राणिनां पृथिवीतले । दैवं च मानुषं कान्ते व्रतमेतन्ममाद्भुतम् ॥ ३३ ॥ विशाललोचने ब्रूहि करोमि तव चिन्तितम् । इत्युक्ते वचने राज्ञा श्रुत्वोवाच मृदुस्वना ॥ ३४ ॥ शृणु राजेन्द्र वक्ष्यामि मम शोकस्य कारणम् । विपत्तिरहितः प्राणी कथं रुदति भूपते ॥ ३५ ॥ प्रब्रवीमि महाबाहो यदर्थं रुदती त्वहम् । तव राज्यादन्यदेशे राजा परमधार्मिकः ॥ ३६ ॥ रैभ्यो नाम महाराजः सन्तानरहितो भृशम् । तस्य भार्या सुविख्याता रुक्मरेखेति नामतः ॥ ३७ ॥ सुरूपा चतुरा साध्वी सर्वलक्षणसंयुता । अपुत्रा दुःखिता कान्तमित्युवाच पुनः पुनः ॥ ३८ ॥ किं जीवितेन मे नाथ धिग्वृथा जीवितं मम । वन्ध्यायाः सुखहीनाया ह्यपुत्राया धरातले ॥ ३९ ॥ इत्येवं भार्यया भूपः प्रेरितो मखमुत्तमम् । चकार ब्राह्मणांस्तज्ज्ञानाहूय विधिवत्तदा ॥ ४० ॥ पुत्रकामो धनं भूरि ददावथ यथोदितम् । हूयमाने घृतेऽत्यर्थं पावकादतिसुप्रभात् ॥ ४१ ॥ आविर्बभूव चार्वङ्गी कन्यका शुभलक्षणा । बिम्बोष्ठी सुदती सुभ्रूः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना ॥ ४२ ॥ कनकाभा सुकेशान्ता रक्तपाणितला मृदुः । सुरक्तनयना तन्वी रक्तपादतला भृशम् ॥ ४३ ॥ हुताशनात्समुद्भूता होत्रा सा स्वीकृता तदा । होता प्रोवाच राजानं गृहीत्वा तां सुमध्यमाम् ॥ ४४ ॥ राजन् पुत्रीं गृहाणेमां सर्वलक्षणसंयुताम् । एकावलीव सम्भूता हूयमानाद्धुताशनात् ॥ ४५ ॥ नाम्ना चैकावली लोके ख्याता पुत्री भविष्यति । सुखितो भव भूपाल पुत्र्या पुत्रसमानया ॥ ४६ ॥ सन्तोषं कुरु राजेन्द्र दत्ता देवेन विष्णुना । होतुर्वाक्यं नृपः श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा तां कन्यकां शुभाम् ॥ ४७ ॥ जग्राह परमप्रीतो होत्रा दत्तां सुसम्मताम् । गृहीत्वा नृपतिस्तां तु ददौ पत्न्यै वराननाम् ॥ ४८ ॥ आभाष्य रुक्मरेखायै गृहाण सुभगे सुताम् । सा तां कमलपत्राक्षीं प्राप्य कन्यां मनोरमाम् ॥ ४९ ॥ जहर्ष मुदिता राज्ञी पुत्रं प्राप्य यथासुखम् । चकार मङ्गलं कर्म जातकर्मादिकं शुभम् ॥ ५० ॥ पुत्रजन्मसमुत्थं यत्तत्सर्वं विधिवत्ततः । समाप्य च मखं राजा द्विजेभ्यो दक्षिणां शुभाम् ॥ ५१ ॥ दत्त्वा विसृज्य विप्रेन्द्रान् मुदं प्राप महीपतिः । दिने दिनेऽसितापाङ्गी पुत्रवृद्ध्या भृशं बभौ ॥ ५२ ॥ मुदं च परमां प्राप नृपभार्या सुतान्विता । उत्सवस्तद्दिने तस्य प्रवृत्तः सुतजन्मजः ॥ ५३ ॥ पुत्री पुत्रसमात्यर्थं बभूव वल्लभा किल । राज्ञो मन्त्रिसुता चाहं सुबुद्धे मन्मथाकृते ॥ ५४ ॥ यशोवती च मे नाम समानं वय आवयोः । वयस्याहं कृता राज्ञा क्रीडनाय तया सह ॥ ५५ ॥ सदा सहचरी जाता प्रेमयुक्ता दिवानिशम् । एकावली गन्धवन्ति यत्र पद्मानि पश्यति ॥ ५६ ॥ तत्र सा रमते बाला नान्यत्र सुखमाप्नुयात् । सुदूरे जाह्नवीतीरे भवन्ति कमलान्यपि ॥ ५७ ॥ रममाणा तत्र याता मत्समेता सखीयुता । मया निवेदितं राजन् पुत्री ते कमलाकरान् ॥ ५८ ॥ प्रेक्षमाणातिदूरे सा प्रयाति निर्जने वने । निषेधिताथ पित्रासौ गृहे कृत्वा जलाशयान् ॥ ५९ ॥ कमलान् वापयित्वाथ पुष्पितान् भ्रमरावृतान् । तथापि निर्ययौ बाला कमलासक्तचेतना ॥ ६० ॥ तदा राज्ञा रक्षपालाः प्रेरिताः शस्त्रपाणयः । एवं रक्षायुता तन्वी मत्समेता सखीयुता । क्रीडार्थं जाह्नवीतोये नित्यमायाति याति च ॥ ६१ ॥
vyāsa uvāca jātakarmādisaṃskārāṃścakāra nṛpatistadā | dine dine jagāmāśu vṛddhiṃ bālaḥ sulālitaḥ || 1 || nṛpaḥ saṃsārajaṃ prāpya sukhaṃ putrasabhudbhavam | ṛṇatrayavimokṣaṃ ca mene tena mahātmanā || 2 || ṣaṣṭhe'nnaprāśanaṃ tasya kṛtvā māsi yathāvidhi | tṛtīye'tha tathā varṣe cūḍākaraṇamuttamam || 3 || cakāra brāhmaṇān dravyaiḥ sampūjya vividhairdhanaiḥ | gobhiśca vividhairdānairyācakānitarānapi || 4 || varṣe caikādaśe tasya mauñjībandhanakarma vai | kārayitvā dhanurvedamadhyāpayata pārthivaḥ || 5 || adhītavedaṃ putraṃ taṃ rājadharmaviśāradam | dṛṣṭvā tasyābhiṣekāya matiṃ cakre janādhipaḥ || 6 || puṣyārkayogasaṃyukte divase nṛpasattamaḥ | kārayāmāsa sambhārānabhiṣekārthamādarāt || 7 || dvijānāhūya vedajñān sarvaśāstravicakṣaṇān | abhiṣekaṃ cakārāsau vidhivat svātmajasya ha || 8 || jalamānīya tīrthebhyaḥ sāgarebhyaśca pārthivaḥ | svayaṃ cakāra vithivadabhiṣekaṃ śubhe dine || 9 || dhanaṃ dattvātha viprebhyo rājyaṃ putre niveśya saḥ | jagāma vanamevāśu svargakāmaḥ sa bhūpatiḥ || 10 || ekavīraṃ nṛpaṃ kṛtvā sammānya sacivānatha | bhāryayā saha bhūpālaḥ praviveśa vanaṃ vaśī || 11 || mainākaśikhare rājā kṛtvā tārtīyamāśramam | nityaṃ patraphalāhāraścintayāmāsa pārvatīm || 12 || evaṃ sa nṛpatiḥ kṛtvā diṣṭānte saha bhāryayā | mṛto'sau vāsavaṃ lokaṃ gataḥ puṇyena karmaṇā || 13 || indralokaṃ pitā prāpta iti śrutvātha haihayaḥ | cakāra vedanirdiṣṭaṃ karma caivaurdhvadaihikam || 14 || kṛtvottarāḥ kriyāḥ sarvāḥ pituḥ pārthivanandanaḥ | rājyaṃ cakāra medhāvī pitrā dattaṃ susammatam || 15 || ekavīro'tha dharmajñaḥ prāpya rājyamanuttamam | bubhuje vividhān bhogānsacivaiśca sumānitaḥ || 16 || ekasmin divase rājā mantriputraiḥ samanvitaḥ | jagāma jāhnavītīre hayārūḍhaḥ pratāpavān || 17 || sampaśyan pādapān ramyān kokilālāpasaṃyutān | puṣpitān phalasaṃyuktān ṣaṭpadālivirājitān || 18 || munīnāmāśramāndivyān vedadhvaninināditān | homadhūmāvṛtākāśān mṛgaśāvasamāvṛtān || 19 || kedārāñchālisampakvān gopikābhiḥ surakṣitān | praphullapaṅkajārāmānnikuñjāṃśca manoramān || 20 || prekṣamāṇaḥ priyālāṃstu campakān panasadrumān | bakulāṃstilakānnīpānmandārāṃśca praphullitān || 21 || śālāṃstālāṃstamālāṃśca jambūcūtakadambakān | sa gacchañjāhnavītoye praphullaṃ śatapatrakam || 22 || paṅkajaṃ cātigandhāḍhyamapaśyadavanīpatiḥ | dakṣiṇe jalajasyātha pārśve kamalalocanām || 23 || kanakābhāṃ sukeśīṃ ca kambugrīvāṃ kṛśodarīm | bimboṣṭhī sundarīṃ kiñcitsamudyatsupayodharām || 24 || sunāsāṃ cārusarvāṅgīmapaśyat kanyakāṃ nṛpaḥ | rudatīṃ tāṃ sakhīṃ tyaktvā vihvalāṃ duḥkhapīḍitām || 25 || sāśrunetrāṃ krandamānāṃ vijane kurarīmiva | saṃvīkṣya rājā papraccha kanyakāṃ śokakāraṇam || 26 || sunase brūhi kāsi tvaṃ kasya putrī śubhānane | gandharvī devakanyātha kathaṃ rodiṣi sundari || 27 || kathamekākinī bāle tyaktā kena pikasvare | patiste kva gataḥ kānte pitā vā brūhi sāmpratam || 28 || kiṃ te duḥkhamarālabhru kathayādya mamāntike | karomi duḥkhanāśaṃ te sarvathaiva kṛśodari || 29 || na rājye mama tanvaṅgi pīḍāṃ ko'pi karotyalam | na bhayaṃ caurajaṃ kānte na rākṣasabhayaṃ tathā || 30 || mayi śāsati bhūpāle notpātā dāruṇā bhuvi | bhayaṃ na vyāghrasiṃhebhyo na bhayaṃ kasyacidbhavet || 31 || vada vāmoru kasmāttvaṃ vilāpaṃ jāhnavītaṭe | karoṣi trāṇahīnātra kiṃ te duḥkhaṃ vadasva me || 32 || hanmyahaṃ duḥkhamatyugraṃ prāṇināṃ pṛthivītale | daivaṃ ca mānuṣaṃ kānte vratametanmamādbhutam || 33 || viśālalocane brūhi karomi tava cintitam | ityukte vacane rājñā śrutvovāca mṛdusvanā || 34 || śṛṇu rājendra vakṣyāmi mama śokasya kāraṇam | vipattirahitaḥ prāṇī kathaṃ rudati bhūpate || 35 || prabravīmi mahābāho yadarthaṃ rudatī tvaham | tava rājyādanyadeśe rājā paramadhārmikaḥ || 36 || raibhyo nāma mahārājaḥ santānarahito bhṛśam | tasya bhāryā suvikhyātā rukmarekheti nāmataḥ || 37 || surūpā caturā sādhvī sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutā | aputrā duḥkhitā kāntamityuvāca punaḥ punaḥ || 38 || kiṃ jīvitena me nātha dhigvṛthā jīvitaṃ mama | vandhyāyāḥ sukhahīnāyā hyaputrāyā dharātale || 39 || ityevaṃ bhāryayā bhūpaḥ prerito makhamuttamam | cakāra brāhmaṇāṃstajjñānāhūya vidhivattadā || 40 || putrakāmo dhanaṃ bhūri dadāvatha yathoditam | hūyamāne ghṛte'tyarthaṃ pāvakādatisuprabhāt || 41 || āvirbabhūva cārvaṅgī kanyakā śubhalakṣaṇā | bimboṣṭhī sudatī subhrūḥ pūrṇacandranibhānanā || 42 || kanakābhā sukeśāntā raktapāṇitalā mṛduḥ | suraktanayanā tanvī raktapādatalā bhṛśam || 43 || hutāśanātsamudbhūtā hotrā sā svīkṛtā tadā | hotā provāca rājānaṃ gṛhītvā tāṃ sumadhyamām || 44 || rājan putrīṃ gṛhāṇemāṃ sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutām | ekāvalīva sambhūtā hūyamānāddhutāśanāt || 45 || nāmnā caikāvalī loke khyātā putrī bhaviṣyati | sukhito bhava bhūpāla putryā putrasamānayā || 46 || santoṣaṃ kuru rājendra dattā devena viṣṇunā | hoturvākyaṃ nṛpaḥ śrutvā dṛṣṭvā tāṃ kanyakāṃ śubhām || 47 || jagrāha paramaprīto hotrā dattāṃ susammatām | gṛhītvā nṛpatistāṃ tu dadau patnyai varānanām || 48 || ābhāṣya rukmarekhāyai gṛhāṇa subhage sutām | sā tāṃ kamalapatrākṣīṃ prāpya kanyāṃ manoramām || 49 || jaharṣa muditā rājñī putraṃ prāpya yathāsukham | cakāra maṅgalaṃ karma jātakarmādikaṃ śubham || 50 || putrajanmasamutthaṃ yattatsarvaṃ vidhivattataḥ | samāpya ca makhaṃ rājā dvijebhyo dakṣiṇāṃ śubhām || 51 || dattvā visṛjya viprendrān mudaṃ prāpa mahīpatiḥ | dine dine'sitāpāṅgī putravṛddhyā bhṛśaṃ babhau || 52 || mudaṃ ca paramāṃ prāpa nṛpabhāryā sutānvitā | utsavastaddine tasya pravṛttaḥ sutajanmajaḥ || 53 || putrī putrasamātyarthaṃ babhūva vallabhā kila | rājño mantrisutā cāhaṃ subuddhe manmathākṛte || 54 || yaśovatī ca me nāma samānaṃ vaya āvayoḥ | vayasyāhaṃ kṛtā rājñā krīḍanāya tayā saha || 55 || sadā sahacarī jātā premayuktā divāniśam | ekāvalī gandhavanti yatra padmāni paśyati || 56 || tatra sā ramate bālā nānyatra sukhamāpnuyāt | sudūre jāhnavītīre bhavanti kamalānyapi || 57 || ramamāṇā tatra yātā matsametā sakhīyutā | mayā niveditaṃ rājan putrī te kamalākarān || 58 || prekṣamāṇātidūre sā prayāti nirjane vane | niṣedhitātha pitrāsau gṛhe kṛtvā jalāśayān || 59 || kamalān vāpayitvātha puṣpitān bhramarāvṛtān | tathāpi niryayau bālā kamalāsaktacetanā || 60 || tadā rājñā rakṣapālāḥ preritāḥ śastrapāṇayaḥ | evaṃ rakṣāyutā tanvī matsametā sakhīyutā | krīḍārthaṃ jāhnavītoye nityamāyāti yāti ca || 61 ||
English translation
1-10. Vyasa said O King! In the meanwhile the King Turvasu performed the Jatakarma (a religious ceremony performed at the birth of a child) and other ceremonies of the child. The boy was nurtured duly and began to grow older day by day. The King began to enjoy his worldly life on getting this son and thought within himself that the boy had freed him from the three debts due to the Fathers, the Risis and the Devas. Next, in the sixth month, the King performed the Annaprasana ceremony (putting the boiled rice in the mouth of the child) and in the third year performed regularly his Chuda Karana (the ceremony of the first tonsure) ceremony. He distributed on those occasions various articles, wealth and cows to the Brahmanas and other articles to various other mendicants and made them glad. In the eleventh year, he performed the boy’s holy thread (Upanayana) ceremony and tying the girdle made of a triple string of Munja grass and put the boy to learn archery. Next when the boy passed off proficiently in the study of the Vedas and in learning the kingly duties, the King desired to install him on the throne. The King Turvasu then collected with great care all the necessary articles for installation in an auspicious day, the combination of Pusya asterism and Arka Yoga. He called then the Brahmins, well versed in the Vedas and in the S’astras, and became ready, in accordance with due rites, to perform the installation ceremony of the prince. Waters were brought from various sacred places of pilgrimage and from the several oceans and on an auspicious day the King performed himself the installation of his son. When the ceremony was over the King gave away hoards of wealth to the Brahmins and giving the charge of his kingdom to his son, he went to the forest with a desire to ascend to the Heavens.
11-22. Thus placing Ekavira on the throne, the King Turvasu shewed respects to his ministers, and, controlling his senses went to the forest accompanied by his wife. On the top of the Mainaka mountain he took up the vow of Vanaprastha and sustaining his life on leaves and fruits began to meditate Parvati. Thus when his Prarabdha Karma ended, he left his mortal coil with his wife and went by virtue of his good deeds to the Indraloka. Hearing that the King had ascended to Heavens, his son Ekavira Haihaya performed his funeral ceremonies according to the rules laid down by the Vedas. The King’s son, the intelligent Haihaya, performed, one after another, all the ceremonies due and began to govern the kingdom which was free from enemies. The virtuous King Ekavira remained duly obedient to his ministers after he got possession of his kingdom and began to enjoy all the best things. The powerful King one day went on horseback to the banks of the Ganges with the minister’s son. Roaming about, he found there the boughs of trees had assumed a very graceful appearance, with loads of fruits, echoed with the sweet voice of the cuckoos and with the humming of the bees. Close by were the hermitages of the Munis, where the bucks were skipping about and at other places the Vedas were being chanted. The smoke was seen rising from the altars, where oblations were being offered and appeared to form like a black canopy in the Heavens. Full ripe grains were enhancing the beauty of the fields and the cowherdesses were merrily watching the fields. Places of recreations adorned with full blown lotuses and beautiful groves were attracting the attention of the visitors. The various trees, Piyala, Champaka, Panasa, Bakula, Tilaka, Kadamba and Mandara, and others were adorned with fruits, stealing away the minds of the people. At other places, other trees Sal, Tamala, Jack, Mango, Kali Kadamba, etc., stood gracefully. Next when the King went to the Ganges water, he saw the gay beautiful full blown lotuses were spreading their fragrant scents all around.
23-31. On the right side of these lotuses, he saw a lotus-eyed girl. She was shining like the gold, her beautiful hairs were long and curling; her throat was like a Kambu, belly thin, lips like the Bimba fruits, several other limbs well built and graceful, breasts risen a little, nose beautiful and all her body was exquisitely lovely; that lady just blooming into youth was suffering bereavements from her comrades and was very distressed and seemed bewildered. She was crying like an ewe in a dense lonely forest. Seeing her, the King asked her what was the reason of her sorrows? O Cuckoo-voiced One! You are as yet a girl; who has left you alone in this state? O Sweet One! Tell me where is your husband now or where is your father? O One looking askance! What is your trouble; explain it to me. O thin-bellied One! I will, no doubt, remove all your sorrows and troubles. O fair- limbed One! In my dominion nobody ever gives trouble to any other body. O lovely One! There is no fear in my kingdom from thieves or Raksasas; or any fear from any serious dangerous calamities on this earth, fear from lions, tigers or any other dangers while my sway is predominant.
32-41. O One of beautiful thighs! Why are you crying on this lonely bank of the Ganges? Tell me what is your pain? O Pure One! I can remove the pains and miseries, even of a serious nature, of men, whether they come from the Deva or human sources; and this is my principal vow. O Large-eyed One! Speak what is your inmost desire;
I will carry it out instantaneously. When the king thus spoke, that beautiful woman spoke in gentle words:-- O King! Hear the cause of my sorrows. O King! Why will the people cry, to no purpose, unless calamities come before them? O Mighty-armed One! I now tell you why I am weeping. O King! There was a very religious King named Rabhya in another province that is not yours. At first he had no issue. He had a very beautiful wife named Rukmarekha. She was clever, chaste and endowed with all auspicious qualities. But issueless as she was, she remained very sorry and, in a remorseful tone, she spoke to her husband Raibbya O Lord! I am barren; I
have no sons; I am therefore a very unhappy creature. My life is in vain; what use is there in my living? When the queen thus spoke very distressedly, the king called the Brahmanas, versed in the Vedas, and began to perform an excellent sacrificial ceremony, in due accordance with the Vedic rules. With a desire to get a son, he made many presents in profuse quantities. When copious quantities of ghee were offered as oblations, there arose, from the fire, a girl beautiful in all respects and endowed with all auspicious signs.
42-53. Her teeth were very nice, eyebrows very lovely, face enchanting like a Full Moon, the lustre of the body lovely and of a golden colour; her hairs were fine and curling; her lips like the Bimba flowers; her hands and face were of a red colour; her eyes were red like lotus and her limbs were soft and gentle. When the girl arose from the fire, the priest (Hota) took that lean and thin lady of a nice waist by her arms and presented her to the King and said O King! Accept this daughter, endowed with all auspicious signs. When Homa was being performed, the daughter came up like the garland Ekavali; therefore this girl became famous in this world by the name EkavalT. O Ruler of the earth! Take this girl, resembling a son and be happy.
O King! Visnu, the Deva of the Devas, has given you this Jewel, this daughter; so be contented. Hearing thus the words of the priest, the King saw this good-looking girl and with gladdened heart took the beautiful daughter from his hands. Thus with that lovely daughter he went to his wife Rukmarekha and said O Beautiful One! Take this daughter. The queen Rukmarekha felt the pleasure of having a son when she got in her arms that lotus eyed beautiful daughter. The King next performed the natal and other ceremonies of the daughter and did all other acts as if she had been a son to him duly in accordance with the rules. The King performed his own sacrificial ceremonies and gave away lots of Daksinas to the Brahmins and
dismissed them and became very glad. That beautiful girl was nursed and cared after like a son and she grew older day by day. The Queen Rukmarekha was very gladdened to get her. On that very day the birthday festival was performed as on the occasion of the birth of a son. And that daughter grew older, very affectionate and dear to all.
54-61. O Lovely One! You are a king and intelligent too; I will describe to you all the details; Hear. I am the daughter of the minister to that King. My name is Yas’ovati. That daughter and I look alike and of the same age. Therefore the king has made me her comrade.
I spend my time day and night always with her as her constant dear companion. Ekavali likes very much to remain and sport wherever she finds sweet-scented lotuses; at other places she does not find happiness. At the distant banks of the Ganges many lotuses grow; therefore Ekavali goes there with great pleasure to that place with me and her other fellow mates. One day I told the King that Ekavali used to go daily to a distant solitary forest to see the lotus-lake. Then the King addressed her not to go and he got a lake built within the compounds of his palace and planted many lotus seeds therein. Gradually the lotuses began to blossom and the bees came there to drink honey. Still she used to go outside in search of lotuses. Then the King sent armed guards to accompany her. Thus that thin-bodied daughter of the King used to go daily to the banks of the Ganges for play, guarded by armed soldiers, accompanied by myself and other companions. Again when the sporting was over, she used to return to the palace.
Here ends the Twenty-First Chapter on the Sixth Book on the installation of Ekavira and the birth of Ekavali in the Mahapuranam S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 33266, revision 86856 (2016-10-24T01:49:11Z). 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/bk06ch21.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.