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Sixth Skandha · Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Unit 149 of 318Sixth Skandha · Chapter 27Sixth Skandha · Chapter 271 source entries

Sixth Skandha · Chapter 27

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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 ॥ किमिदं चिन्तितं पुत्र्या बुद्धिहीनं विचेष्टितम् । कथमस्मै मया देया कन्या हरिमुखाय सा ॥ ३ ॥ क्वासौ भिक्षुः कुरूपः क्व दमयन्ती ममात्मजा । विपरीतमिदं कार्यं न विधेयं कदाचन ॥ ४ ॥ तामेकान्ते सुकेशान्ते निवारय हठात्सुताम् । युक्त्या मुनिरतां मुग्धां शास्त्रवृद्धानुसारया ॥ ५ ॥ इति भर्तृवचः श्रुत्वा जननी तामथाब्रवीत् । च ते रूपं मुनिः क्वासौ वानरास्योऽधनः पुनः ॥ ६ ॥ कथं मोहमवाप्तासि भिक्षुके चतुरा पुनः । लताकोमलदेहा त्वं भस्मरूक्षतनुस्त्वयम् ॥ ७ ॥ वार्ता वानरवक्त्रेण कथं युक्ता तवानघे । का प्रीतिः कुत्सिते पुंसि भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते ॥ ८ ॥ वरस्ते राजपुत्रोऽस्तु मा कुरु त्वं वृथा हठम् । पिता ते दुःखमाप्नोति श्रुत्वा धात्रीमुखाद्वचः ॥ ९ ॥ लग्नां बुबूलवृक्षेण कोमलां मालतीलताम् । दृष्ट्वा कस्य मनः खेदं चतुरस्य न गच्छति ॥ १० ॥ दासेरकाय ताम्बूलीदलानि कोमलानि कः । ददाति भक्षणार्थाय मूर्खोऽपि धरणीतले ॥ ११ ॥ वीक्ष्य त्वां करसंलग्नां नारदस्य समीपतः । विवाहे वर्तमाने तु कस्य चेतो न दह्यति ॥ १२ ॥ कुमुखेन समं वार्ता न रुचिं जनयत्यतः । आमृतेस्तु कथं कालः क्षपितव्यस्त्वयामुना ॥ १३ ॥ नारद उवाच इति मातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा दमयन्ती भृशातुरा । मातरं प्राह तन्वङ्गी मयि सा कृतनिश्चया ॥ १४ ॥ किं मुखेन च रूपेण मूर्खस्य च धनेन किम् । किं राज्येनाविदग्धस्य रसमार्गाविदोऽस्य च ॥ १५ ॥ हरिण्योऽपि वने धन्या या नादेन विमोहिताः । मातः प्राणान्प्रयच्छन्ति धिङ्‌मूर्खान्मानुषान्भुवि ॥ १६ ॥ नारदो वेत्ति यां विद्यां मातः सप्तस्वरात्मिकाम् । तृतीयः कोऽपि नो वेद शिवादन्यः पुमान्किल ॥ १७ ॥ मूर्खेण सह संवासो मरणं तत्क्षणे क्षणे । रूपवान्धनवांस्त्याज्यो गुणहीनो नरः सदा ॥ १८ ॥ धिङ्‌मैत्रीं मूर्खभूपाले वृथा गर्वसमन्विते । गुणज्ञे भिक्षुके श्रेष्ठा वचनात्सुखदायिनी ॥ १९ ॥ स्वरज्ञो ग्रामवित्कामं मूर्च्छनाज्ञानभेदभाक् । दुर्लभः पुरुषश्चाष्टरसज्ञो दुर्बलोऽपि वै ॥ २० ॥ 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 ॥ मूर्च्छनातानमार्गं तु श्रुत्वा मोदं न याति यः । स पशुः सर्वथा ज्ञेयो हरिणाः पशवो न हि ॥ २३ ॥ वरं विषधरः सर्पः श्रुत्वा नादं मनोहरम् । अश्रोत्रोऽपि मुदं याति धिक्सकर्णांश्च मानवान् ॥ २४ ॥ बालोऽपि सुस्वरं गेयं श्रुत्वा मुदितमानसः । जायते किन्तु ते वृद्धा न जानन्ति धिगस्तु तान् ॥ २५ ॥ पिता मे किं न जानाति नारदस्य गुणान् बत । द्वितीयः सामगो नास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु तत्समः ॥ २६ ॥ तस्मादसौ मया नूनं वृतः पूर्वं समागमात् । पश्चाच्छापवशाज्जातो वानरास्यो गुणाकरः ॥ २७ ॥ 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 ॥ 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 ॥ नारद उवाच इति सञ्चोदितो राज्ञ्या सञ्जयः पृथिवीपतिः । चकार विथिवत्सर्वं विधिं वैवाहिकं ततः ॥ ३२ ॥ एवं दारग्रहं कृत्वा वानरास्यः परन्तप । स्थितस्तत्रैव मनसा दह्यमानेन चान्वहम् ॥ ३३ ॥ यदाऽऽगच्छद्‌राजसुता सेवार्थं मम सन्निधौ । अभवं दुःखसन्तप्तस्तदाहं वानराननः ॥ ३४ ॥ दमयन्ती तु मां वीक्ष्य प्रफुल्लवदनाम्बुजा । शोकं वानरवक्त्रत्वान्न चकार कदाचन ॥ ३५ ॥ एवं गच्छति काले तु सहसा पर्वतो मुनिः । कुर्वंस्तीर्थान्यनेकानि द्रष्टुं मां समुपागतः ॥ ३६ ॥ मयातिमानितः प्रेम्णा पूजितश्च यथाविधि । आसीन आसने दिव्ये वीक्ष्य मां दुःखितो ह्यभूत् ॥ ३७ ॥ कृतदारं वानरास्यं दीनं चिन्तातुरं भृशम् । दयावान्मामुवाचेदं पर्वतो मातुलं कृशम् ॥ ३८ ॥ मया नारद कोपात्त्वं शप्तोऽसि मुनिसत्तम । निष्कृतिं तस्य शापस्य करोम्यद्य निशामय ॥ ३९ ॥ भव त्वं चारुवदनो मम पुण्येन नारद । दृष्ट्वा राजसुतां चित्ते कृपा जाता ममाधुना ॥ ४० ॥ नारद उवाच मयापि प्रवणं चित्तं कृत्वा श्रुत्वास्य भाषितम् । अनुग्रहः कृतः सद्यस्तस्य शापस्य तत्क्षणात् ॥ ४१ ॥ भागिनेय तवाप्यस्तु गमनं सुरसद्मनि । शापस्यानुग्रहः कामं कृतोऽयं पर्वताधुना ॥ ४२ ॥ नारद उवाच जातोऽहं चारुवदनो वचनात्तस्य पश्यतः । राजपुत्री तु सन्तुष्टा मातरं प्राह सत्वरम् ॥ ४३ ॥ मातस्ते सुमुखो जातो जामाता च महाद्युतिः । वचनात्पर्वतस्याद्य मुक्तशापो मुनेरभूत् ॥ ४४ ॥ 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 ॥ एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं वर्तनं यत्पुरातनम् । मायाया बलमाहात्म्यं ह्यनुभूतं यथा मया ॥ ४७ ॥ संसारेऽस्मिन्महाभाग मायागुणकृतेऽनृते । तनुभृत्तु सुखी नास्ति न भूतो न भविष्यति ॥ ४८ ॥ कामक्रोधौ तथा लोभो मत्सरो ममता तथा । अहङ्कारो मदः केन जिताः सर्वे महाबलाः ॥ ४९ ॥ सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चैव गुणास्त्रय इमे किल । कारणं प्राणिनां देहसम्भवे सर्वथा मुने ॥ ५० ॥ कस्मिंश्चित्समये व्यास वनेऽहं विष्णुना सह । गच्छन्हास्यविनोदेन स्त्रीभावं गमितः क्षणात् ॥ ५१ ॥ राजपत्‍नीत्वमापन्नो मायाबलविमोहितः । पुत्राः प्रसूता बहवो गेहे तस्य नृपस्य ह ॥ ५२ ॥ व्यास उवाच संशयोऽयं महान्साधो श्रुत्वा ते वचनं किल । कथं नारीत्वमापन्नस्त्वं मुने ज्ञानवान्भृशम् ॥ ५३ ॥ कथं च पुरुषो जातो ब्रूहि सर्वमशेषतः । कथं पुत्रास्त्वया जाताः कस्य राज्ञो गृहेऽ‍ञ्जसा ॥ ५४ ॥ एतदाख्याहि चरितं मायाया महदद्‌भुतम् । मोहितं च यया सर्वमिदं स्थावरजङ्गमम् ॥ ५५ ॥ न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामि शृण्वंस्तव कथामृतम् । सर्वग्रन्थार्थतत्त्वं च सर्वसंशयनाशनम् ॥ ५६ ॥ इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठस्कन्धे नारदस्य मायादमयन्त्या सह विवाहवर्णनं नाम सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ २७ ॥

nārada uvāca tatputryā vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā dhātrīmukhāttataḥ | bhāryāṃ provāca kaikeyīṃ samīpasthāṃ sulocanām || 1 || rājovāca yaduktaṃ vacanaṃ kānte dhātryā tattu tvayā śrutam | vṛto'yaṃ nāradaḥ kāmaṃ munirvānaravaktrabhāk || 2 || kimidaṃ cintitaṃ putryā buddhihīnaṃ viceṣṭitam | kathamasmai mayā deyā kanyā harimukhāya sā || 3 || kvāsau bhikṣuḥ kurūpaḥ kva damayantī mamātmajā | viparītamidaṃ kāryaṃ na vidheyaṃ kadācana || 4 || tāmekānte sukeśānte nivāraya haṭhātsutām | yuktyā muniratāṃ mugdhāṃ śāstravṛddhānusārayā || 5 || iti bhartṛvacaḥ śrutvā jananī tāmathābravīt | ca te rūpaṃ muniḥ kvāsau vānarāsyo'dhanaḥ punaḥ || 6 || kathaṃ mohamavāptāsi bhikṣuke caturā punaḥ | latākomaladehā tvaṃ bhasmarūkṣatanustvayam || 7 || vārtā vānaravaktreṇa kathaṃ yuktā tavānaghe | kā prītiḥ kutsite puṃsi bhaviṣyati śucismite || 8 || varaste rājaputro'stu mā kuru tvaṃ vṛthā haṭham | pitā te duḥkhamāpnoti śrutvā dhātrīmukhādvacaḥ || 9 || lagnāṃ bubūlavṛkṣeṇa komalāṃ mālatīlatām | dṛṣṭvā kasya manaḥ khedaṃ caturasya na gacchati || 10 || dāserakāya tāmbūlīdalāni komalāni kaḥ | dadāti bhakṣaṇārthāya mūrkho'pi dharaṇītale || 11 || vīkṣya tvāṃ karasaṃlagnāṃ nāradasya samīpataḥ | vivāhe vartamāne tu kasya ceto na dahyati || 12 || kumukhena samaṃ vārtā na ruciṃ janayatyataḥ | āmṛtestu kathaṃ kālaḥ kṣapitavyastvayāmunā || 13 || nārada uvāca iti māturvacaḥ śrutvā damayantī bhṛśāturā | mātaraṃ prāha tanvaṅgī mayi sā kṛtaniścayā || 14 || kiṃ mukhena ca rūpeṇa mūrkhasya ca dhanena kim | kiṃ rājyenāvidagdhasya rasamārgāvido'sya ca || 15 || hariṇyo'pi vane dhanyā yā nādena vimohitāḥ | mātaḥ prāṇānprayacchanti dhiṅ‌mūrkhānmānuṣānbhuvi || 16 || nārado vetti yāṃ vidyāṃ mātaḥ saptasvarātmikām | tṛtīyaḥ ko'pi no veda śivādanyaḥ pumānkila || 17 || mūrkheṇa saha saṃvāso maraṇaṃ tatkṣaṇe kṣaṇe | rūpavāndhanavāṃstyājyo guṇahīno naraḥ sadā || 18 || dhiṅ‌maitrīṃ mūrkhabhūpāle vṛthā garvasamanvite | guṇajñe bhikṣuke śreṣṭhā vacanātsukhadāyinī || 19 || svarajño grāmavitkāmaṃ mūrcchanājñānabhedabhāk | durlabhaḥ puruṣaścāṣṭarasajño durbalo'pi vai || 20 || yathā nayati kailāsaṃ gaṅgā caiva sarasvatī | tathā nayati kailāsaṃ svarajñānaviśāradaḥ | 21 || svaramānaṃ tu yo veda sa devo mānuṣo'pi san | saptabhedaṃ na yo veda sa paśuḥ surarāḍapi || 22 || mūrcchanātānamārgaṃ tu śrutvā modaṃ na yāti yaḥ | sa paśuḥ sarvathā jñeyo hariṇāḥ paśavo na hi || 23 || varaṃ viṣadharaḥ sarpaḥ śrutvā nādaṃ manoharam | aśrotro'pi mudaṃ yāti dhiksakarṇāṃśca mānavān || 24 || bālo'pi susvaraṃ geyaṃ śrutvā muditamānasaḥ | jāyate kintu te vṛddhā na jānanti dhigastu tān || 25 || pitā me kiṃ na jānāti nāradasya guṇān bata | dvitīyaḥ sāmago nāsti triṣu lokeṣu tatsamaḥ || 26 || tasmādasau mayā nūnaṃ vṛtaḥ pūrvaṃ samāgamāt | paścācchāpavaśājjāto vānarāsyo guṇākaraḥ || 27 || kinnarā na priyāḥ kasya bhavanti turagānanāḥ | gānavidyāsamāyuktāḥ kiṃ mukhena vareṇa ha || 28 || pitaraṃ brūhi me mātarvṛto'yaṃ munisattamaḥ | tasmāttvamāgrahaṃ tyaktvā dehi tasmai ca māṃ mudā || 29 || nārada uvāca iti putryā vacaḥ śrutvā rājñī rājñe nyavedayat | āgrahaṃ sundarī jñātvā sutāyā nārade munau || 30 || vivāhaṃ kuru rājendra damayantyāḥ śubhe dine | muninā sa ca sarvajño vṛto'sau manasānayā || 31 || nārada uvāca iti sañcodito rājñyā sañjayaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ | cakāra vithivatsarvaṃ vidhiṃ vaivāhikaṃ tataḥ || 32 || evaṃ dāragrahaṃ kṛtvā vānarāsyaḥ parantapa | sthitastatraiva manasā dahyamānena cānvaham || 33 || yadā''gacchad‌rājasutā sevārthaṃ mama sannidhau | abhavaṃ duḥkhasantaptastadāhaṃ vānarānanaḥ || 34 || damayantī tu māṃ vīkṣya praphullavadanāmbujā | śokaṃ vānaravaktratvānna cakāra kadācana || 35 || evaṃ gacchati kāle tu sahasā parvato muniḥ | kurvaṃstīrthānyanekāni draṣṭuṃ māṃ samupāgataḥ || 36 || mayātimānitaḥ premṇā pūjitaśca yathāvidhi | āsīna āsane divye vīkṣya māṃ duḥkhito hyabhūt || 37 || kṛtadāraṃ vānarāsyaṃ dīnaṃ cintāturaṃ bhṛśam | dayāvānmāmuvācedaṃ parvato mātulaṃ kṛśam || 38 || mayā nārada kopāttvaṃ śapto'si munisattama | niṣkṛtiṃ tasya śāpasya karomyadya niśāmaya || 39 || bhava tvaṃ cāruvadano mama puṇyena nārada | dṛṣṭvā rājasutāṃ citte kṛpā jātā mamādhunā || 40 || nārada uvāca mayāpi pravaṇaṃ cittaṃ kṛtvā śrutvāsya bhāṣitam | anugrahaḥ kṛtaḥ sadyastasya śāpasya tatkṣaṇāt || 41 || bhāgineya tavāpyastu gamanaṃ surasadmani | śāpasyānugrahaḥ kāmaṃ kṛto'yaṃ parvatādhunā || 42 || nārada uvāca jāto'haṃ cāruvadano vacanāttasya paśyataḥ | rājaputrī tu santuṣṭā mātaraṃ prāha satvaram || 43 || mātaste sumukho jāto jāmātā ca mahādyutiḥ | vacanātparvatasyādya muktaśāpo munerabhūt || 44 || tacchrutvā vacanaṃ rājñyā kathitaṃ tattu rājani | yayau draṣṭuṃ muniṃ tatra sañjayaḥ prītimāṃstadā || 45 || dhanaṃ samarpitaṃ rājñā santuṣṭena tadā mahat | mahyaṃ ca bhāgineyāya pāribarhaṃ mahātmanā || 46 || etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ vartanaṃ yatpurātanam | māyāyā balamāhātmyaṃ hyanubhūtaṃ yathā mayā || 47 || saṃsāre'sminmahābhāga māyāguṇakṛte'nṛte | tanubhṛttu sukhī nāsti na bhūto na bhaviṣyati || 48 || kāmakrodhau tathā lobho matsaro mamatā tathā | ahaṅkāro madaḥ kena jitāḥ sarve mahābalāḥ || 49 || sattvaṃ rajastamaścaiva guṇāstraya ime kila | kāraṇaṃ prāṇināṃ dehasambhave sarvathā mune || 50 || kasmiṃścitsamaye vyāsa vane'haṃ viṣṇunā saha | gacchanhāsyavinodena strībhāvaṃ gamitaḥ kṣaṇāt || 51 || rājapat‍nītvamāpanno māyābalavimohitaḥ | putrāḥ prasūtā bahavo gehe tasya nṛpasya ha || 52 || vyāsa uvāca saṃśayo'yaṃ mahānsādho śrutvā te vacanaṃ kila | kathaṃ nārītvamāpannastvaṃ mune jñānavānbhṛśam || 53 || kathaṃ ca puruṣo jāto brūhi sarvamaśeṣataḥ | kathaṃ putrāstvayā jātāḥ kasya rājño gṛhe'‍ñjasā || 54 || etadākhyāhi caritaṃ māyāyā mahadad‌bhutam | mohitaṃ ca yayā sarvamidaṃ sthāvarajaṅgamam || 55 || na tṛptimadhigacchāmi śṛṇvaṃstava kathāmṛtam | sarvagranthārthatattvaṃ ca sarvasaṃśayanāśanam || 56 || iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ ṣaṣṭhaskandhe nāradasya māyādamayantyā saha vivāhavarṇanaṃ nāma saptaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 27 ||

English translation

1-13. Narada said On hearing these words of her daughter from her nurse, the King addressed the queen Kaikeyi, of lovely eyes, standing close by, thus “Have you heard what the nurse has said? Damayanti has mentally chosen the monkey-faced Narada as her husband. 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 Narada? And where is my daughter Damayanti? The marriage between them is quite unjust; never it should take place. O Beautiful One of good hairs! Better call her before you in private and show her reasons approved of the S’astras and of the aged persons and make her desist from such a rash course.” On hearing her husband’s words, the mother of Damayanti called her in private and said “O Child! Where is your this beautiful face? And where is the monkey-like face of Narada? You are smart and quick; how have you been, then, deluded by such a Moha? O Child! You are the daughter of a king! Your body is gentle like a creeper. And Narada always besmears his body with ashes; so his body is very rough. 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? You would be married to a beautiful prince; never follow this rash course; your father is very sorry to hear these from your nurse. O One of soft body! Judge this yourself, what intelligent man is there that is not sorry at the soft Malati creeper entwining a thorny tree? Even a stupid silly man would never feed a camel, that likes thorns, with soft betel-leaves. When your marriage time arrives, say yourself, who will not be sorry to see you going to Narada 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!”

14-29. Narada said On hearing the mother’s words, the gentle Damayanti, with her mind intently fixed on me, spoke to her mother, very much depressed in her spirits. “O Mother! What good face and beautiful form will avail, who is not in the path of love and who is quite ignorant of amorous feelings and sentiments! And what will the wealth and kingdoms of that unskilled illiterate person avail! The deer, that roam in the forest, getting enchanted by the Nada (sound) Rasa, give up their lives even to the singers. So they are fortunate. But fie to the persons who are illiterate and void of feelings of love! O Mother! Narada Risi is well conversant with the science of music with seven Svaras. No other man save Maha Deva knows this. 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. 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. 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, Grama, Murchchana and be skilled in eight sentiments of love. [Note Svara - Sadaja, Risabha, Gandhara, Madhyama, Panchama, Dhaivata and Nisada. Grama - the gradual increase and decrease in Svaras. Murchchana - 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]. The man versed in the knowledge of Svara leads one to the Heaven of Kailas’a as the rivers Ganges and Sarasvati by their own merits lead one to Kailas’a. 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 Murchchana and the seven Svaras. 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 Nada by their eyes. 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 Nada! The little children feel intense pleasure to hear the music, but fie, fie on those elders who are void of this musical sentiments! Does not my father know that Narada is ornamented with many qualifications? Who is there in the three worlds like him in singing the Sama songs! 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? 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 Narada as my husband. Therefore let him deliver me to his hands, without making any further requests in this matter.”

30-40. Narada said On hearing the words of her daughter Damayanti, 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 Damayanti; the daughter has said that she has already selected Narada as her bridegroom and it cannot be other-wise.” Thus prompted by the queen, the King S’anjaya performed the marriage ceremony of her daughter in accordance with due rites and customs and in an exceedingly becoming manner. O Risi! Thus I entered into the married life and remained there though my heart constantly burned with the thought of my monkey-face. 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. 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 Asana and became very sorry to see me. I am his uncle and have entered into a married life; my face has become monkey-like. Therefore I am very much depressed in spirits and worried with the sad thought and has become lean and thin. 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. Hear. O Maharsi! Let your face be by my merits, again as good as it was before; I now feel pity for the daughter of the King.”

41-52. 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.” O Dvaipayana! At his word, before our sight, my face became exceedingly handsome as it was before. The princess Damayanti 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.” The queen was very much filled with ecstasy and joy at Damayanti’s words and went hurriedly and informed the King. The King S’anjaya 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. O Dvaipayana! Thus I have described to you my old story how I felt the strong influence of Maya. O Fortunate One! Owing to the illusory nature of the Gunas, 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. Lust, anger, greed, jealousy, attachment, egoism, and vanity, each one of these is very powerful; nobody is able to conquer these. O Muni! The three Gunas Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are the entire causes of the coming

into this bodily existence of every being. O Dvaipayana! Once I was passing with Bhagavan Visnu, laughing and joking, making merriments through a forest, when suddenly I was transformed into a woman. Next I became the wife of a king enchanted by Maya, I remained in his house and gave birth to many children.

53-56. Vyasa said O Devarsi! 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? Who was the king at whose house you stayed and how did you give birth to children; describe fully and satisfy my curiosity. Describe to me, now, the nature of Maya, extremely wonderful, by which this entire universe, moving and non-moving, all are enchanted. O Muni! Though I have heard your nectar-like words, capable to remove all the doubts, embodying the essence of all the S’astras, yet I am not fully satiated.

Here ends the Twenty-seventh Chapter of the Sixth Book on the marriage of Narada and his face getting transformed into that of a monkey in S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 53181, revision 118187 (2017-08-23T21:20:13Z). 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/bk06ch27.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.