Third Skandha · Chapter 18
Sourceव्यास उवाच श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं श्यामा प्रेमयुक्ता बभूव ह । प्रतस्थे ब्राह्मणस्तस्मात्स्थानादुक्त्वा समाहितः ॥ १ ॥ सा तु पूर्वानुरागाद्वै मग्ना प्रेम्णाऽतिचञ्चला । कामबाणहतेवास गते तस्मिन्द्विजोत्तमे ॥ २ ॥ अथ कामार्दिता प्राह सखीं छन्दोऽनुवर्तिनीम् । विकारश्च समुत्पन्नो देहे यच्छ्रवणादनु ॥ ३ ॥ अज्ञातरसविज्ञानं कुमारं कुलसम्भवम् । दुनोति मदनः पापः किं करोमि क्व यामि च ॥ ४ ॥ स्वप्नेषु वा मया दृष्टः पञ्चबाण इवापरः । तपते मे मनोऽत्यर्थं विरहाकुलितं मृदु ॥ ५ ॥ चन्दनं देहलग्नं मे विषवद्भाति भामिनि । स्रगियं सर्पवच्चैव चन्द्रपादाश्च वह्निवत् ॥ ६ ॥ न च हर्म्ये वने शं मे दीर्घिकायां न पर्वते । न दिवा न निशायां वा न सुखं सुखसाधनैः ॥ ७ ॥ न शय्या न च ताम्बूलं न गीतं न च वादनम् । प्रीणयन्ति मनो मेऽद्य न तृप्ते मम लोचने ॥ ८ ॥ प्रयाम्यद्य वने तत्र यत्रासौ वर्तते शठः । भीतास्मि कुललज्जायाः परतन्त्रा पितुस्तथा ॥ ९ ॥ स्वयंवरं पिता मेऽद्य न करोति करोमि किम् । दास्यामि राजपुत्राय कामं सुदर्शनाय वै ॥ १० ॥ सन्त्यन्ये पृथिवीपालाः शतशः सम्भृतर्द्धयः । रमणीया न मे तेऽद्य राज्यहीनोऽप्यसौ मतः ॥ ११ ॥ व्यास उवाच एकाकी निर्धनश्चैव बलहीनः सुदर्शनः । वनवासी फलाहारस्तस्याश्चित्ते सुसंस्थिता ॥ १२ ॥ वाग्बीजस्य जपात्सिद्धिस्तस्या एषाप्युपस्थिता । सोपि ध्यानपरोऽत्यन्तं जजाप मन्त्रमुत्तमम् ॥ १३ ॥ स्वप्ने पश्यत्यसौ देवीं विष्णुमायामखण्डिताम् । विश्वमातरमव्यक्तां सर्वसम्पत्कराम्बिकाम् ॥ १४ ॥ शृङ्गवेरपुराध्यक्षो निषादः समुपेत्य तम् । ददौ रथवरं तस्मै सर्वोपस्करसंयुतम् ॥ १५ ॥ चतुर्भिस्तुरगैर्युक्तं पताकावरमण्डितम् । जैत्रं राजसुतं ज्ञात्वा ददौ चोपायनं तदा ॥ १६ ॥ सोऽपि जग्राह तं प्रीत्या मित्रत्वेन सुसंस्थितम् । वन्यैर्मूलफलैः सम्यगर्चयामास शम्बरम् ॥ १७ ॥ कृतातिथ्ये गते तस्मिन्निषादाधिपतौ तदा । मुनयः प्रीतियुक्तास्ते तमूचुस्तापसा मिथः ॥ १८ ॥ राजपुत्र ध्रुवं राज्यं प्राप्स्यसि त्वं च सर्वथा । स्वल्पैरहोभिरव्यग्रः प्रतापान्नात्र संशयः ॥ १९ ॥ प्रसन्ना तेऽम्बिका देवी वरदा विश्वमोहिनी । सहायस्तु सुसम्पन्नो न चिन्तां कुरु सुव्रत ॥ २० ॥ मनोरमां तथोचुस्ते मुनयः संशितव्रताः । पुत्रस्तेऽद्य धराधीशो भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते ॥ २१ ॥ सा तानुवाच तन्वङ्गी वचनं वोऽस्तु सत्फलम् । दासोऽयं भवतां विप्राः किं चित्रं सदुपासनात् ॥ २२ ॥ न सैन्यं सचिवाः कोशो न सहायश्च कश्चन । केन योगेन पुत्रो मे राज्यं प्राप्तुमिहार्हति ॥ २३ ॥ आशीर्वादैश्च वो नूनं पुत्रोऽयं मे महीपतिः । भविष्यति न सन्देहो भवन्तो मन्त्रवित्तमाः ॥ २४ ॥ व्यास उवाच रथारूढः स मेधावी यत्र याति सुदर्शनः । अक्षौहिणीसमावृत्त इवाभाति स तेजसा ॥ २५ ॥ प्रतापो मन्त्रबीजस्य नान्यः कश्चन भूपते । एवं वै जपतस्तस्य प्रीतियुक्तस्य सर्वथा ॥ २६ ॥ सम्प्राप्य सद्गुरोर्बीजं कामराजाख्यमद्भुतम् । जपेद्यस्तु शुचिः शान्तः सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् ॥ २७ ॥ न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि वापि सुदुर्लभम् । प्रसन्नायाः शिवायाश्च यदप्राप्यं नृपोत्तम ॥ २८ ॥ ते मन्दास्तेऽतिदुर्भाग्या रोगैस्ते समभिद्रुताः । येषां चित्ते न विश्वासो भवेदम्बार्चनादिषु ॥ २९ ॥ या माता सर्वदेवानां युगादौ परिकीर्तिता । आदिमातेति विख्याता नाम्ना तेन कुरूद्वह ॥ ३० ॥ बुद्धिः कीर्तिर्धृतिर्लक्ष्मीः शक्तिः श्रद्धा मतिः स्मृतिः । सर्वेषां प्राणिनां सा वै प्रत्यक्षं वै विभासते ॥ ३१ ॥ न जानन्ति नरा ये वै मोहिता मायया किल । न भजन्ति कुतर्कज्ञा देवीं विश्वेश्वरीं शिवाम् ॥ ३२ ॥ ब्रह्मा विष्णुस्तथा शम्भुर्वासवो वरुणो यमः । वायुरग्निः कुबेरश्च त्वष्टा पूषाश्विनौ भगः ॥ ३३ ॥ आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा विश्वेदेवा मरुद्गणाः । सर्वे ध्यायन्ति तां देवीं सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणीम् ॥ ३४ ॥ को न सेवेत विद्वान्वै तां शक्तिं परमात्मिकाम् । सुदर्शनेन सा ज्ञाता देवी सर्वार्थदा शिवा ॥ ३५ ॥ ब्रह्मैव साऽतिदुष्प्राप्या विद्याविद्यास्वरूपिणी । योगगम्या परा शक्तिर्मुमुक्षूणां च वल्लभा ॥ ३६ ॥ परमात्मस्वरूपं को वेत्तुमर्हति तां विना । या सृष्टिं त्रिविधां कृत्वा दर्शयत्यखिलात्मने ॥ ३७ ॥ सुदर्शनस्तु तां देवीं मनसा परिचिन्तयन् । राज्यलाभात्परं प्राप्य सुखं वै कानने स्थितः ॥ ३८ ॥ सापि चन्द्रकलात्यर्थं कामबाणप्रपीडिता । नानोपचारैरनिशं दधार दुःखितं वपुः ॥ ३९ ॥ तावत्तस्याः पिता ज्ञात्वा कन्यां पुत्रवरार्थिनीम् । सुबाहुः कारयामास स्वयंवरमतन्द्रितः ॥ ४० ॥ स्वयंवरस्तु त्रिविधो विद्वद्भिः परिकीर्तितः । राज्ञां विवाहयोग्यौ वै नान्येषां कथितः किल ॥ ४१ ॥ इच्छास्वयंवरश्चैको द्वितीयश्च पणाभिधः । यथा रामेण भग्नं वै त्र्यम्बकस्य शरासनम् ॥ ४२ ॥ तृतीयः शौर्यशुल्कश्च शूराणां परिकीर्तितः । इच्छास्वयंवरं तत्र चकार नृपसत्तमः ॥ ४३ ॥ शिल्पिभिः कारिता मञ्चाः शुभैरास्तरणैर्युताः । ततश्च विविधाकाराः सु्क्लृप्ताः सभ्यमण्डपाः ॥ ४४ ॥ एवं कृतेऽतिसम्भारे विवाहार्थं सुविस्तरे । सखीं शशिकला प्राह दुःखिता चारुलोचना ॥ ४५ ॥ इदं मे मातरं ब्रूहि त्वमेकान्ते वचो मम । मया वृतः पतिश्चित्ते ध्रुवसन्धिसुतः शुभः ॥ ४६ ॥ नान्यं वरं वरिष्यामि तमृते वै सुदर्शनम् । स मे भर्ता नृपसुतो भगवत्या प्रतिष्ठितः ॥ ४७ ॥ व्यास उवाच इत्युक्ता सा सखी गत्वा मातरं प्राह सत्वरा । वैदर्भीं विजने वाक्यं मधुरं मञ्जुभाषिणी ॥ ४८ ॥ पुत्री ते दुःखिता प्राह साध्वी त्वां मन्मुखेन यत् । शृणु त्वं कुरु कल्याणि तद्धितं त्वरिताऽधुना ॥ ४९ ॥ भारद्वाजाश्रमे पुण्य़े ध्रुवसन्धिसुतोऽस्ति यः । स मे भर्ता वृतश्चित्ते नान्यं भूपं वृणोम्यहम् ॥ ५० ॥ व्यास उवाच राज्ञी तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स्वपतौ गृहमागते । निवेदयामास तदा पुत्रीवाक्यं यथातथम् ॥ ५१ ॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा विस्मितः प्रहसन्मुहुः । भार्यामुवाच वैदर्भीं सुबाहुस्तु ऋतं वचः ॥ ५२ ॥ सुभ्रु जानासि बालोऽसौ राज्यान्निष्कासितो वने । एकाकी सह मात्रा वै वसते निर्जने वने ॥ ५३ ॥ तत्कृते निहतो राजा वीरसेनो युधाजिता । स कथं निर्धनो भर्ता योग्यः स्याच्चारुलोचने ॥ ५४ ॥ ब्रूहि पुत्रीं ततो वाक्यं कदाचिदपि विप्रियम् । आगमिष्यन्ति राजानः स्थितिमन्तः स्वयंवरे ॥ ५५ ॥
vyāsa uvāca śrutvā tadvacanaṃ śyāmā premayuktā babhūva ha | pratasthe brāhmaṇastasmātsthānāduktvā samāhitaḥ || 1 || sā tu pūrvānurāgādvai magnā premṇā'ticañcalā | kāmabāṇahatevāsa gate tasmindvijottame || 2 || atha kāmārditā prāha sakhīṃ chando'nuvartinīm | vikāraśca samutpanno dehe yacchravaṇādanu || 3 || ajñātarasavijñānaṃ kumāraṃ kulasambhavam | dunoti madanaḥ pāpaḥ kiṃ karomi kva yāmi ca || 4 || svapneṣu vā mayā dṛṣṭaḥ pañcabāṇa ivāparaḥ | tapate me mano'tyarthaṃ virahākulitaṃ mṛdu || 5 || candanaṃ dehalagnaṃ me viṣavadbhāti bhāmini | sragiyaṃ sarpavaccaiva candrapādāśca vahnivat || 6 || na ca harmye vane śaṃ me dīrghikāyāṃ na parvate | na divā na niśāyāṃ vā na sukhaṃ sukhasādhanaiḥ || 7 || na śayyā na ca tāmbūlaṃ na gītaṃ na ca vādanam | prīṇayanti mano me'dya na tṛpte mama locane || 8 || prayāmyadya vane tatra yatrāsau vartate śaṭhaḥ | bhītāsmi kulalajjāyāḥ paratantrā pitustathā || 9 || svayaṃvaraṃ pitā me'dya na karoti karomi kim | dāsyāmi rājaputrāya kāmaṃ sudarśanāya vai || 10 || santyanye pṛthivīpālāḥ śataśaḥ sambhṛtarddhayaḥ | ramaṇīyā na me te'dya rājyahīno'pyasau mataḥ || 11 || vyāsa uvāca ekākī nirdhanaścaiva balahīnaḥ sudarśanaḥ | vanavāsī phalāhārastasyāścitte susaṃsthitā || 12 || vāgbījasya japātsiddhistasyā eṣāpyupasthitā | sopi dhyānaparo'tyantaṃ jajāpa mantramuttamam || 13 || svapne paśyatyasau devīṃ viṣṇumāyāmakhaṇḍitām | viśvamātaramavyaktāṃ sarvasampatkarāmbikām || 14 || śṛṅgaverapurādhyakṣo niṣādaḥ samupetya tam | dadau rathavaraṃ tasmai sarvopaskarasaṃyutam || 15 || caturbhisturagairyuktaṃ patākāvaramaṇḍitam | jaitraṃ rājasutaṃ jñātvā dadau copāyanaṃ tadā || 16 || so'pi jagrāha taṃ prītyā mitratvena susaṃsthitam | vanyairmūlaphalaiḥ samyagarcayāmāsa śambaram || 17 || kṛtātithye gate tasminniṣādādhipatau tadā | munayaḥ prītiyuktāste tamūcustāpasā mithaḥ || 18 || rājaputra dhruvaṃ rājyaṃ prāpsyasi tvaṃ ca sarvathā | svalpairahobhiravyagraḥ pratāpānnātra saṃśayaḥ || 19 || prasannā te'mbikā devī varadā viśvamohinī | sahāyastu susampanno na cintāṃ kuru suvrata || 20 || manoramāṃ tathocuste munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ | putraste'dya dharādhīśo bhaviṣyati śucismite || 21 || sā tānuvāca tanvaṅgī vacanaṃ vo'stu satphalam | dāso'yaṃ bhavatāṃ viprāḥ kiṃ citraṃ sadupāsanāt || 22 || na sainyaṃ sacivāḥ kośo na sahāyaśca kaścana | kena yogena putro me rājyaṃ prāptumihārhati || 23 || āśīrvādaiśca vo nūnaṃ putro'yaṃ me mahīpatiḥ | bhaviṣyati na sandeho bhavanto mantravittamāḥ || 24 || vyāsa uvāca rathārūḍhaḥ sa medhāvī yatra yāti sudarśanaḥ | akṣauhiṇīsamāvṛtta ivābhāti sa tejasā || 25 || pratāpo mantrabījasya nānyaḥ kaścana bhūpate | evaṃ vai japatastasya prītiyuktasya sarvathā || 26 || samprāpya sadgurorbījaṃ kāmarājākhyamadbhutam | japedyastu śuciḥ śāntaḥ sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt || 27 || na tadasti pṛthivyāṃ vā divi vāpi sudurlabham | prasannāyāḥ śivāyāśca yadaprāpyaṃ nṛpottama || 28 || te mandāste'tidurbhāgyā rogaiste samabhidrutāḥ | yeṣāṃ citte na viśvāso bhavedambārcanādiṣu || 29 || yā mātā sarvadevānāṃ yugādau parikīrtitā | ādimāteti vikhyātā nāmnā tena kurūdvaha || 30 || buddhiḥ kīrtirdhṛtirlakṣmīḥ śaktiḥ śraddhā matiḥ smṛtiḥ | sarveṣāṃ prāṇināṃ sā vai pratyakṣaṃ vai vibhāsate || 31 || na jānanti narā ye vai mohitā māyayā kila | na bhajanti kutarkajñā devīṃ viśveśvarīṃ śivām || 32 || brahmā viṣṇustathā śambhurvāsavo varuṇo yamaḥ | vāyuragniḥ kuberaśca tvaṣṭā pūṣāśvinau bhagaḥ || 33 || ādityā vasavo rudrā viśvedevā marudgaṇāḥ | sarve dhyāyanti tāṃ devīṃ sṛṣṭisthityantakāriṇīm || 34 || ko na seveta vidvānvai tāṃ śaktiṃ paramātmikām | sudarśanena sā jñātā devī sarvārthadā śivā || 35 || brahmaiva sā'tiduṣprāpyā vidyāvidyāsvarūpiṇī | yogagamyā parā śaktirmumukṣūṇāṃ ca vallabhā || 36 || paramātmasvarūpaṃ ko vettumarhati tāṃ vinā | yā sṛṣṭiṃ trividhāṃ kṛtvā darśayatyakhilātmane || 37 || sudarśanastu tāṃ devīṃ manasā paricintayan | rājyalābhātparaṃ prāpya sukhaṃ vai kānane sthitaḥ || 38 || sāpi candrakalātyarthaṃ kāmabāṇaprapīḍitā | nānopacārairaniśaṃ dadhāra duḥkhitaṃ vapuḥ || 39 || tāvattasyāḥ pitā jñātvā kanyāṃ putravarārthinīm | subāhuḥ kārayāmāsa svayaṃvaramatandritaḥ || 40 || svayaṃvarastu trividho vidvadbhiḥ parikīrtitaḥ | rājñāṃ vivāhayogyau vai nānyeṣāṃ kathitaḥ kila || 41 || icchāsvayaṃvaraścaiko dvitīyaśca paṇābhidhaḥ | yathā rāmeṇa bhagnaṃ vai tryambakasya śarāsanam || 42 || tṛtīyaḥ śauryaśulkaśca śūrāṇāṃ parikīrtitaḥ | icchāsvayaṃvaraṃ tatra cakāra nṛpasattamaḥ || 43 || śilpibhiḥ kāritā mañcāḥ śubhairāstaraṇairyutāḥ | tataśca vividhākārāḥ suklṛptāḥ sabhyamaṇḍapāḥ || 44 || evaṃ kṛte'tisambhāre vivāhārthaṃ suvistare | sakhīṃ śaśikalā prāha duḥkhitā cārulocanā || 45 || idaṃ me mātaraṃ brūhi tvamekānte vaco mama | mayā vṛtaḥ patiścitte dhruvasandhisutaḥ śubhaḥ || 46 || nānyaṃ varaṃ variṣyāmi tamṛte vai sudarśanam | sa me bhartā nṛpasuto bhagavatyā pratiṣṭhitaḥ || 47 || vyāsa uvāca ityuktā sā sakhī gatvā mātaraṃ prāha satvarā | vaidarbhīṃ vijane vākyaṃ madhuraṃ mañjubhāṣiṇī || 48 || putrī te duḥkhitā prāha sādhvī tvāṃ manmukhena yat | śṛṇu tvaṃ kuru kalyāṇi taddhitaṃ tvaritā'dhunā || 49 || bhāradvājāśrame puṇẏe dhruvasandhisuto'sti yaḥ | sa me bhartā vṛtaścitte nānyaṃ bhūpaṃ vṛṇomyaham || 50 || vyāsa uvāca rājñī tadvacanaṃ śrutvā svapatau gṛhamāgate | nivedayāmāsa tadā putrīvākyaṃ yathātatham || 51 || tacchrutvā vacanaṃ rājā vismitaḥ prahasanmuhuḥ | bhāryāmuvāca vaidarbhīṃ subāhustu ṛtaṃ vacaḥ || 52 || subhru jānāsi bālo'sau rājyānniṣkāsito vane | ekākī saha mātrā vai vasate nirjane vane || 53 || tatkṛte nihato rājā vīraseno yudhājitā | sa kathaṃ nirdhano bhartā yogyaḥ syāccārulocane || 54 || brūhi putrīṃ tato vākyaṃ kadācidapi vipriyam | āgamiṣyanti rājānaḥ sthitimantaḥ svayaṃvare || 55 ||
English translation
1. Vyasa said The King's lovely daughter was very glad on hearing the words of the Brahmana, and drowned herself in ecstacy of love. The Brahmin also departed, thinking of the whole affair.
2. The daughter was already attached to the prince, and now she became the more merged in love for him and became very anxious. Now, on the departure of the Brahmin, she felt herself struck by the arrows of love.
3-4. Then S’as’ikala, oppressed by love, addressed her dear companion, who followed her inclinations thus “O my companion!
I have not as yet had any knowledge of the king's son; still the signs of love have sprung up in my body and mind, from the moment that I heard about him from the Brahmin. The love is giving me much trouble; tell, my companion what am I to do now? and whither shall I go?
5. O dear companion! I saw him like a second God of Love in my dreams; and, since then, my innocent mind is being troubled with his being away from me.
6. O fair one! The sandal paste on my body appears to me like a poison, this garland is like a serpent and the moon's rays seem like a fire.
7. O companion! My mind gets not rest anywhere, in palaces, gardens, in lakes, in hills, at any time, during the day or night; all the enjoyable things have assumed now contrary aspects and are paining me.
8. The bedding, betel leaves, music, singing, and dancing, all now fail to give me satisfaction and peace.
9. O companion! I would have gone to-day where is residing that deceiver; but I fear for my father as well for the honour of my family.
10. My father is not yet declaring the svayamvara for my marriage. What shall I do? Had he given me in marriage to that Sudars’an, I would have allowed him embrace me and satisfy his passions to¬ day!
11.0 friend! look at the strange ideas of the Creator! There are hundreds of kings today who are influential and I do not consider them beautiful; and that King's son is exiled from his kingdom and yet he has stolen away my heart.”
12. Vyasa said Thus that King's son, Sudars’ana, though helpless, and living in a forest on roots and fruits, deprived of wealth, power, and army, began to reign in the heart of that princess.
13-14. S’as’ikala, too, began to recite slowly the root mantra of Sarasvati and therefore her love towards this prince held out signs of success.
Once engaged in meditation on that excellent root mantra on Kama, and, while repeatedly reciting it mentally, he got in a dream the vision of that Ever Full, the World Mother Ambika, that cannot be expressed in words, the VaisnavT S’akti and capable to bestow all wealth and property.
15-16. At this time the King of Nisadas, the lord of S’rimgaverpur came to the hermitage and presented an excellent chariot together with all other necessary things. This chariot was drawn by four horses, decorated with nice flags and was endowed with the prospect of getting victory everywhere; thinking it thus a befitting present to be given to the King, he gave it to Sudars’ana.
17. Sudars'ana, too, accepted the offer of a friend and worshipped him well in return, with roots and fruits of the forest.
18-19. The lord of the Nisadas, thus worshipped as a guest, went away. The Munis and ascetics then began to address Sudars'ana, with fondness “O son of the king! Don't be anxious and restless; within a very short time, you will get your kingdom, no doubt, by your own good luck and prowess.
20. O one attached to one’s vows! The Goddess that enchants the whole universe, the Giver of boons, S’ri Ambika, has been pleased with you; assistance is also rendered well to you; therefore do not trouble yourself with contrary thoughts any more.”
21. The Munis, who have taken vows, addressed Manorama also “Your son will soon become the lord of the world; you need not care any more.”
22. Then the lean and thin Manorama, hearing the Muni's words said “O Brahmanas! Let your asiss (words of benedictions) be justified with success. What wonder that a kingdom be obtained by the good will of the Sadhus!
23. There is no force, no minister, no help, no property; how, under what combinations, can then my son get kingship?
24. You are the best of the knowers of mantrams; due to the influence of your good will, my son will surely be a king; there is no doubt in this.”
25. Vyasa said Wherever that intelligent Sudars'ana used to go on his chariot, there he seemed by his own prowess, as if he were surrounded by a whole army consisting of 109, 350 foot, 65,610 horse, 21,870 chariots and 21,870 elephants.
26. This is the influence of the seed mantra; it is not an ordinary acquisition. It is because Sudars’ana, with gladness and one- pointedness of his mind, meditated on his seed mantra, that he acquired the above powers; there is no doubt in this.
27. Becoming pure and peaceful, whoever gets this wonderul seed mantra from a true spiritual guide and meditates on it incessantly, is destined certainly to attain all desires.
28. O best of kings! There is no such thing either in the heavens above or in the worlds below, that a man won’t get, when the Supreme Goddess becomes pleased.
29. Those are certainly very unfortunate and of dull intellect, who cannot place their faith on the worship of this Goddess and consequently suffer incessantly all sorts of troubles.
30. O best of the Kurus! At the beginning of the creation, this Amba Devi was the Mother of all the Gods, and is therefore known as the First Mother.
31. She is practically seen in this world in the shape of Buddhi (iutellgence), Kirti (fame), Dhriti (fortitude), Laksmi (Goddess of wealth), S’akti (the Force), S’raddha (Faith), Mati (Intellect), Smriti (memory), etc.
32. It is only the deluded souls that do not realise the nature of the Devi; it is only those, whose hearts are destroyed by the glare of false argument, that do not worship this All-auspicious Goddess of the Universe.
33-34. O king! Brahma, Visnu, S’ambhu, Indra, Varuna, Yama, Vayu, Agni, Kuvera, Vis'vakarma, Pusa, Bhaga, the two Asvins, Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, VisVedevas, Maruts, all worship the Supreme Deity of Creation, Preservation and Dissolution.
35. Who is there amongst tho wise that does not serve this Highest Energy? The real nature of that Auspicious Goddess, the Bestower all desires, Sudars’ana came to know very well.
36. She is the Real Essence, Brahma, very rarely realised; She is the Higher Vidya and the Lower Vidya (Avidya) and She is the vital energy, the Mukhya Prana, of the best of the Yogis, who are desirous of liberation.
37. O king! What individual is there that is able to realise the nature of Pramatma (the Highest Universal Self) without having recourse to Her, Who is manifesting this universal consciousness, by bringing into existence these Satvik, Rajasik, and Tamasik creations.
38. Sudars'ana, though he dwelt in the forest, realised a greater happiness than that in obtaining the sovereignty of a kingdom, by constantly meditating on that Goddess.
39. S’as’ikala, too, being too much oppressed with the arrows of love, any how remained with her soul in her body, having had to be always cared for her health in various ways by her attendants.
40. Then the king Subahu, on coming to know that her daughter is desirous of getting her husband, made arrangements for her Svayambara (a marriage in which the girl chooses her husband from among a number of suitors assembled together) without any delay.
41-44. The Svayambara of the royal family, the Pundits say, is of three kinds 1st Ichchha Svayambara (optional); 2nd Panya
Svayamvara by fulfilling a promise, e.g. Ramachandra broke in two the bow of S’iva and married Sita; 3rd the Svayambara, preferring one who will prove the strongest hero by one’s own prowess. Of these three kinds of Svayambaras, the king Subahu preferred Ichcha Svayamvara (according to the bride's free choice).
Accordingly the king employed many artisans, had platforms covered with beautiful carpets and big halls decorated beautifully in various ways.
45-47. Thus the assembly hall for Svayambara built and decorated and all the necessary articles and equipments brought thither, the fair eyed S’as’ikala, told her companions with sorrow “Better go to my mother and say her privately that I have already selected mentally my husband the beautiful Sudars'ana, the son of the king Dhruvasandhi in my mind; I won't marry any other prince than him; the Goddess Bhagavati has settled him for my husband.”
48-50. Vyasa said, the companion of S’as’ikala hearing thus, went quickly to her mother Vaidarbhi and addressed her sweetly in private “O chaste one! Your daughter, with a sorrowful heart, has sent me to you to say the following; Please hear and do at your earliest convenience, what is good and beneficial.” She said “There is staying in the hermitage of Bharadvaja, the son of the king Dhruvasandhi; I have mentally selected him as my husband; I won't select any other prince.”
51. Vyasa said The queen, hearing her words, told to her husband, when he returned to the palace, all her daughter's words as she had heard them.
52-53. Hearing this, the king Subahu was astonished and then laughed frequently and then began to say to his wife, the daughter of the king of Vidarbha the following true words “O fair one! That king’s son Sudars’ana is a minor, he has been exiled to the forest; now he is helpless and is residing with his mother in a dense forest.
54. For his sake, the king Virasena was slain in battle by the king Yudhajit. O fair eyed! how can that helpless exiled poor boy become her husband.
55. Do say therefore to S’as’ikala that, in the assembly hall for her Svayamvara, many kings commanding honour and respect would be present. She would then choose whomever she likes. She need not repeat such words any more.”
Thus ends the Eighteenth Chapter of the 3rd Skandha about the Svayambara of S’as’ikala, the daughter of the king Kasiraja in the Maha Puranam S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24743, revision 75596 (2016-08-03T12:13:43Z). 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/bk03ch18.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.