Third Skandha · Chapter 21
Sourceव्यास उवाच सुबाहुरपि तच्छ्रुत्वा युक्तमुक्तं तया तदा । चिन्ताविष्टो बभूवाशु किं कर्तव्यमतः परम् ॥ १ ॥ सङ्गताः पृथिवीपालाः ससैन्याः सपरिग्रहाः । उपविष्टाश्च मञ्चेषु योद्धुकामा महाबलाः ॥ २ ॥ यदि ब्रवीमि तान्सर्वान्सुता नायाति साम्प्रतम् । तथापि कोपसंयुक्ता हन्युर्मा दुष्टबुद्धयः ॥ ३ ॥ न मे सैन्यबलं तादृङ्न दुर्गबलमद्भुतम् । येनाहं नृपतीन्सर्वान् प्रत्यादेष्टुमिहोत्सहे ॥ ४ ॥ सुदर्शनस्तथैकाकी ह्यसहायोऽधनः शिशुः । किं कर्तव्यं निमग्नोऽहं सर्वथा दुःखसागरे ॥ ५ ॥ इति चिन्तापरो राजा जगाम नृपसन्निधौ । प्रणम्य तानुवाचाथ प्रश्रयावनतो नृपः ॥ ६ ॥ किं कर्तव्यं नृपाः कामं नैति मे मण्डपे सुता । बहुशः प्रेर्यमाणाऽपि सा मात्राऽपि मयाऽपि च ॥ ७ ॥ मूर्घ्ना पतामि पादेषु राज्ञां दासोऽस्मि साम्प्रतम् । पूजादिकं गृहीत्वाऽद्य व्रजन्तु सदनानि वः ॥ ८ ॥ ददामि बहुरत्नानि वस्त्राणि च गजान् रथान् । गृहीत्वाऽद्य कृपां कृत्वा व्रजन्तु भवनान्युत ॥ ९ ॥ न वशे मे सुता बाला म्रियते यदि खेदिता । तदा मे स्यान्महद्दुःखं तेन चिन्तातुरोऽस्म्यहम् ॥ १० ॥ भवन्तः करुणावन्तो महाभाग्या महौजसः । किं मे तया दुहित्रा तु मन्दया दुर्विनीतया ॥ ११ ॥ अनुग्राह्योऽस्मि वः कामं दासोऽहमिति सर्वथा । सुता सुतेव मन्तव्या भवद्भिः सर्वथा मम ॥ १२ ॥ व्यास उवाच श्रुत्वा सुबाहुवचनं नोचुः केचन भूमिपाः । युधाजित्क्रोधताम्राक्षस्तमुवाच रुषान्वितः ॥ १३ ॥ राजन्मूर्खोऽसि किं ब्रूषे कृत्वा कार्य सुनिन्दितम् । स्वयंवरः कथं मोहाद्रचितः संशये सति ॥ १४ ॥ मिलिता भूभुजः सर्वे त्वयाहूताः स्वयंवरे । कथमद्य नृपा गन्तुं योग्यास्ते स्वगृहान्प्रति ॥ १५ ॥ अवमान्य नृपान्सर्वांस्त्वं किं सुदर्शनाय वै । दातुमिच्छसि पुत्रीञ्च किमनार्यमतः परम् ॥ १६ ॥ विचार्य पुरुषेणादौ कार्यं वै शुभमिच्छता । आरब्धव्यं त्वया तत्तु कृतं राजन्नजानता ॥ १७ ॥ एतान्विहाय नृपतीन्बलवाहनसंयुतान् । वरं सुदर्शनं कर्तुं कथमिच्छसि साम्प्रतम् ॥ १८ ॥ अहं त्वां हन्मि पापिष्ठं तथा पश्चात्सुदर्शनम् । दौहित्रायाद्य ते कन्यां दास्यामीति विनिश्चयः ॥ १९ ॥ मयि तिष्ठति कोऽन्योस्ति यः कन्यां हर्तुमिच्छति । सुदर्शनः कियानद्य निर्धनो निर्बलः शिशुः ॥ २० ॥ भारद्वाजाश्रमे पूर्वं मुक्तो मुनिकृते मया । नाद्याहं मोचयिष्यामि सर्वथा जीवितं शिशोः ॥ २१ ॥ तस्माद्विचार्य सम्यक्त्वं पुत्र्या च भार्यया सह । दौहित्राय प्रियां कन्यां देहि मे सुभ्रुवं किल ॥ २२ ॥ सम्बन्धी भव दत्त्वा त्वं पुत्रीमेतां मनोरमाम् । उच्चाश्रयः प्रकर्तव्यः सर्वदा शुभमिच्छता ॥ २३ ॥ सुदर्शनाय दत्त्वा त्वं पुत्रीं प्राणप्रियां शुभाम् । एकाकिनेऽप्यराज्याय किं सुखं प्राप्तुमिच्छसि ॥ २४ ॥ ( कुलं वित्तं बलं रूपं राज्यं दुर्गं सुहृज्जनम् । दृष्ट्वा कन्या प्रदातव्या नान्यथा सुखमृच्छति) ॥ परिचिन्तय धर्मं त्वं राजनीतिञ्च शाश्वतीम् । कुरु कार्यं यथायोग्यं मा कृथा मतिमन्यथा ॥ २५ ॥ सुहृदसि ममात्यर्थं हितं ते प्रब्रवीम्यहम् । समानय सुतां राजन् मण्डपे तां सखीवृताम् ॥ २६ ॥ सुदर्शनमृते चेयं वरिष्यति यदाऽप्यसौ । विग्रहो मे तदा न स्याद्विवाहोऽस्तु तवेप्सितः ॥ २७ ॥ अन्ये नृपतयः सर्वे कुलीनाः सबलाः समाः । विरोधः कीदृशस्त्वेनं वृणोद्यदि नृपोत्तम ॥ २८ ॥ अन्यथाऽहं हरिष्येऽद्य बलात्कन्यामिमां शुभाम् । मा विरोधं सुदुःसाध्यं गच्छ पार्थिवसत्तम ॥ २९ ॥ व्यास उवाच युधाजिता समादिष्टः सुबाहुः शोकसंयुतः । निःश्वसन्भवनं गत्वा भार्यां प्राह शुचावृतः ॥ ३० ॥ पुत्रीं ब्रूहि सुधर्मज्ञे कलहे समुपस्थिते । किं कर्त्तव्यं मया शक्यं त्वद्वशोऽस्मि सुलोचने ॥ ३१ ॥ व्यास उवाच सा श्रुत्वा पतिवाक्यं तु गत्वा प्राह सुतान्तिकम् । वत्से राजातिदुःखार्तः पिता तेऽद्यापि वर्तते ॥ ३२ ॥ त्वदर्थे विग्रहः कामं समुत्पन्नोऽद्य भूभृताम् । अन्यं वरय सुश्रोणि सुदर्शनमृते नृपम् ॥ ३३ ॥ यदि सुदर्शनं वत्से हठात्त्वं वै वरिष्यसि । युधाजित्त्वां च मां चैव हनिष्यति बलान्वितः ॥ ३४ ॥ सुदर्शनं च राजाऽसौ बलमत्तः प्रतापवान् । द्वितीयस्ते पतिः पश्चाद्भविता कलहे सति ॥ ३५ ॥ तस्मात्सुदर्शनं त्यक्त्वा वरयान्यं नृपोत्तमम् । सुखमिच्छसि चेन्मह्यं तुभ्यं वा मृगलोचने । इति मात्रा बोधितां तां पश्चाद्राजाप्यबोधयत् ॥ ३६ ॥ उभयोर्वचनं श्रुत्वा निर्भयोवाच कन्यका कन्योवाच सत्यमुक्तं नृपश्रेष्ठ जानासि च व्रतं मम ॥ ३७ ॥ नान्यं वृणोमि भूपाल सुदर्शनमृते क्वचित् । बिभेषि यदि राजेन्द्र नृपेभ्यः किल कातरः ॥ ३८ ॥ सुदर्शनाय दत्त्वा मां विसर्जय पुराद्बहिः । स मां रथे सामारोप्य निर्गमिष्यति ते पुरात् ॥ ३९ ॥ भवितव्यं तु पश्चाद्वै भविष्यति न चान्यथा । नात्र चिन्ता त्वया कार्या भवितव्ये नृपोत्तम ॥ ४० ॥ यद्भावि तद्भवत्येव सर्वथात्र न संशयः । राजोवाच न पुत्रि साहसं कार्यं मतिमद्भिः कदाचन ॥ ४१ ॥ बहुभिर्न विरोद्धव्यमिति वेदविदो विदुः । विस्रक्ष्यामि कथं कन्यां दत्त्वा राजसुताय च ॥ ४२ ॥ राजानो वरसंयुक्ताः किं न कुर्युरसाम्प्रतम् । यदि ते रोचते वत्से पणं संविदधाम्यहम् ॥ ४३ ॥ जनकेन यथा पूर्वं कृतः सीतास्वयंवरे । शैवं धनुर्यथा तेन धृतं कृत्वा पणं तथा ॥ ४४ ॥ तथाहमपि तन्वङ्गि करोम्यद्य दुरासदम् । विवादो येन राज्ञां वै कृते सति शमं व्रजेत् ॥ ४५ ॥ पालयिष्यति यः कामं स ते भर्ता भविष्यति । सुदर्शनस्तथाऽन्यो वा यः कश्चिद्बलवत्तरः ॥ ४६ ॥ पालयित्वा पणं त्वां वै वरयिष्यति सर्वथा । एवं कृते नृपाणां तु विवादः शमितो भवेत् ॥ ४७ ॥ सुखेनाहं विवाहं ते करिष्यामि ततः परम् । कन्योवाच सन्देहे नैव मज्जामि मूर्खकृत्यमिदं यतः ॥ ४८ ॥ मया सुदर्शनः पूर्वं धृतश्चेतसि नान्यथा । कारणं पुण्यपापानां मन एव महीपते ॥ ४९ ॥ मनसा विधृतं त्यक्त्वा कथमन्यं वृणे पितः । कृते पणे महाराज सर्वेषां वशगा ह्यहम् ॥ ५० ॥ एकः पालयिता द्वौ वा बहवो वा भवन्ति चेत् । किं कर्तव्यं तदा तात विवादे समुपस्थिते ॥ ५१ ॥ संशयाधिष्ठिते कार्ये मतिं नाहं करोम्यतः । मा चिन्तां कुरु राजेन्द्र देहि सुदर्शनाय माम् ॥ ५२ ॥ विवाहं विधिना कृत्वा शं विधास्यति चण्डिका । यन्नामकीर्तनादेव दुःखौघो विलयं व्रजेत् ॥ ५३ ॥ तां स्मृत्वा परमां शक्तिं कुरु कार्यमतन्द्रितः । गत्वा वद नृपेभ्यस्त्वं कृताञ्जलिपुटोऽद्य वै ॥ ५४ ॥ आगन्तव्यञ्च श्वः सर्वैरिह भूपैः स्वयंवरे । इत्युक्त्वा त्वं विसृज्याशु सर्वं नृपतिमण्डलम् ॥ ५५ ॥ विवाहं कुरु रात्रौ मे वेदोक्तविधिना नृप । पारिबर्हं यथायोग्यं दत्त्वा तस्मै विसर्जय ॥ ५६ ॥ गमिष्यति गृहीत्वा मां ध्रुवसन्धिसुतः किल । कदाचित्ते नृपाः क्रुद्धाः सङ्ग्रामं कर्त्तुमुद्यताः ॥ ५७ ॥ भविष्यति तदा देवी साहाय्यं नः करिष्यति । सोऽपि राजसुतस्तैस्तु सङ्ग्रामं संविधास्यति ॥ ५८ ॥ दैवान्मृधे मृते तस्मिन्मरिष्याम्यहमप्युत । स्वस्ति तेस्तु गृहे तिष्ठ दत्त्वा मां सहसैन्यकः ॥ ५९ ॥ एकैवाहं गमिष्यामि तेन सार्धं रिरंसया । व्यास उवाच इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा राजाऽसौ कृतनिश्चयः । मतिं चक्रे तथा कर्तुं विश्वासं प्रतिपद्य च ॥ ६० ॥
vyāsa uvāca subāhurapi tacchrutvā yuktamuktaṃ tayā tadā | cintāviṣṭo babhūvāśu kiṃ kartavyamataḥ param || 1 || saṅgatāḥ pṛthivīpālāḥ sasainyāḥ saparigrahāḥ | upaviṣṭāśca mañceṣu yoddhukāmā mahābalāḥ || 2 || yadi bravīmi tānsarvānsutā nāyāti sāmpratam | tathāpi kopasaṃyuktā hanyurmā duṣṭabuddhayaḥ || 3 || na me sainyabalaṃ tādṛṅna durgabalamadbhutam | yenāhaṃ nṛpatīnsarvān pratyādeṣṭumihotsahe || 4 || sudarśanastathaikākī hyasahāyo'dhanaḥ śiśuḥ | kiṃ kartavyaṃ nimagno'haṃ sarvathā duḥkhasāgare || 5 || iti cintāparo rājā jagāma nṛpasannidhau | praṇamya tānuvācātha praśrayāvanato nṛpaḥ || 6 || kiṃ kartavyaṃ nṛpāḥ kāmaṃ naiti me maṇḍape sutā | bahuśaḥ preryamāṇā'pi sā mātrā'pi mayā'pi ca || 7 || mūrghnā patāmi pādeṣu rājñāṃ dāso'smi sāmpratam | pūjādikaṃ gṛhītvā'dya vrajantu sadanāni vaḥ || 8 || dadāmi bahuratnāni vastrāṇi ca gajān rathān | gṛhītvā'dya kṛpāṃ kṛtvā vrajantu bhavanānyuta || 9 || na vaśe me sutā bālā mriyate yadi kheditā | tadā me syānmahadduḥkhaṃ tena cintāturo'smyaham || 10 || bhavantaḥ karuṇāvanto mahābhāgyā mahaujasaḥ | kiṃ me tayā duhitrā tu mandayā durvinītayā || 11 || anugrāhyo'smi vaḥ kāmaṃ dāso'hamiti sarvathā | sutā suteva mantavyā bhavadbhiḥ sarvathā mama || 12 || vyāsa uvāca śrutvā subāhuvacanaṃ nocuḥ kecana bhūmipāḥ | yudhājitkrodhatāmrākṣastamuvāca ruṣānvitaḥ || 13 || rājanmūrkho'si kiṃ brūṣe kṛtvā kārya suninditam | svayaṃvaraḥ kathaṃ mohādracitaḥ saṃśaye sati || 14 || militā bhūbhujaḥ sarve tvayāhūtāḥ svayaṃvare | kathamadya nṛpā gantuṃ yogyāste svagṛhānprati || 15 || avamānya nṛpānsarvāṃstvaṃ kiṃ sudarśanāya vai | dātumicchasi putrīñca kimanāryamataḥ param || 16 || vicārya puruṣeṇādau kāryaṃ vai śubhamicchatā | ārabdhavyaṃ tvayā tattu kṛtaṃ rājannajānatā || 17 || etānvihāya nṛpatīnbalavāhanasaṃyutān | varaṃ sudarśanaṃ kartuṃ kathamicchasi sāmpratam || 18 || ahaṃ tvāṃ hanmi pāpiṣṭhaṃ tathā paścātsudarśanam | dauhitrāyādya te kanyāṃ dāsyāmīti viniścayaḥ || 19 || mayi tiṣṭhati ko'nyosti yaḥ kanyāṃ hartumicchati | sudarśanaḥ kiyānadya nirdhano nirbalaḥ śiśuḥ || 20 || bhāradvājāśrame pūrvaṃ mukto munikṛte mayā | nādyāhaṃ mocayiṣyāmi sarvathā jīvitaṃ śiśoḥ || 21 || tasmādvicārya samyaktvaṃ putryā ca bhāryayā saha | dauhitrāya priyāṃ kanyāṃ dehi me subhruvaṃ kila || 22 || sambandhī bhava dattvā tvaṃ putrīmetāṃ manoramām | uccāśrayaḥ prakartavyaḥ sarvadā śubhamicchatā || 23 || sudarśanāya dattvā tvaṃ putrīṃ prāṇapriyāṃ śubhām | ekākine'pyarājyāya kiṃ sukhaṃ prāptumicchasi || 24 || ( kulaṃ vittaṃ balaṃ rūpaṃ rājyaṃ durgaṃ suhṛjjanam | dṛṣṭvā kanyā pradātavyā nānyathā sukhamṛcchati) || paricintaya dharmaṃ tvaṃ rājanītiñca śāśvatīm | kuru kāryaṃ yathāyogyaṃ mā kṛthā matimanyathā || 25 || suhṛdasi mamātyarthaṃ hitaṃ te prabravīmyaham | samānaya sutāṃ rājan maṇḍape tāṃ sakhīvṛtām || 26 || sudarśanamṛte ceyaṃ variṣyati yadā'pyasau | vigraho me tadā na syādvivāho'stu tavepsitaḥ || 27 || anye nṛpatayaḥ sarve kulīnāḥ sabalāḥ samāḥ | virodhaḥ kīdṛśastvenaṃ vṛṇodyadi nṛpottama || 28 || anyathā'haṃ hariṣye'dya balātkanyāmimāṃ śubhām | mā virodhaṃ suduḥsādhyaṃ gaccha pārthivasattama || 29 || vyāsa uvāca yudhājitā samādiṣṭaḥ subāhuḥ śokasaṃyutaḥ | niḥśvasanbhavanaṃ gatvā bhāryāṃ prāha śucāvṛtaḥ || 30 || putrīṃ brūhi sudharmajñe kalahe samupasthite | kiṃ karttavyaṃ mayā śakyaṃ tvadvaśo'smi sulocane || 31 || vyāsa uvāca sā śrutvā pativākyaṃ tu gatvā prāha sutāntikam | vatse rājātiduḥkhārtaḥ pitā te'dyāpi vartate || 32 || tvadarthe vigrahaḥ kāmaṃ samutpanno'dya bhūbhṛtām | anyaṃ varaya suśroṇi sudarśanamṛte nṛpam || 33 || yadi sudarśanaṃ vatse haṭhāttvaṃ vai variṣyasi | yudhājittvāṃ ca māṃ caiva haniṣyati balānvitaḥ || 34 || sudarśanaṃ ca rājā'sau balamattaḥ pratāpavān | dvitīyaste patiḥ paścādbhavitā kalahe sati || 35 || tasmātsudarśanaṃ tyaktvā varayānyaṃ nṛpottamam | sukhamicchasi cenmahyaṃ tubhyaṃ vā mṛgalocane | iti mātrā bodhitāṃ tāṃ paścādrājāpyabodhayat || 36 || ubhayorvacanaṃ śrutvā nirbhayovāca kanyakā kanyovāca satyamuktaṃ nṛpaśreṣṭha jānāsi ca vrataṃ mama || 37 || nānyaṃ vṛṇomi bhūpāla sudarśanamṛte kvacit | bibheṣi yadi rājendra nṛpebhyaḥ kila kātaraḥ || 38 || sudarśanāya dattvā māṃ visarjaya purādbahiḥ | sa māṃ rathe sāmāropya nirgamiṣyati te purāt || 39 || bhavitavyaṃ tu paścādvai bhaviṣyati na cānyathā | nātra cintā tvayā kāryā bhavitavye nṛpottama || 40 || yadbhāvi tadbhavatyeva sarvathātra na saṃśayaḥ | rājovāca na putri sāhasaṃ kāryaṃ matimadbhiḥ kadācana || 41 || bahubhirna viroddhavyamiti vedavido viduḥ | visrakṣyāmi kathaṃ kanyāṃ dattvā rājasutāya ca || 42 || rājāno varasaṃyuktāḥ kiṃ na kuryurasāmpratam | yadi te rocate vatse paṇaṃ saṃvidadhāmyaham || 43 || janakena yathā pūrvaṃ kṛtaḥ sītāsvayaṃvare | śaivaṃ dhanuryathā tena dhṛtaṃ kṛtvā paṇaṃ tathā || 44 || tathāhamapi tanvaṅgi karomyadya durāsadam | vivādo yena rājñāṃ vai kṛte sati śamaṃ vrajet || 45 || pālayiṣyati yaḥ kāmaṃ sa te bhartā bhaviṣyati | sudarśanastathā'nyo vā yaḥ kaścidbalavattaraḥ || 46 || pālayitvā paṇaṃ tvāṃ vai varayiṣyati sarvathā | evaṃ kṛte nṛpāṇāṃ tu vivādaḥ śamito bhavet || 47 || sukhenāhaṃ vivāhaṃ te kariṣyāmi tataḥ param | kanyovāca sandehe naiva majjāmi mūrkhakṛtyamidaṃ yataḥ || 48 || mayā sudarśanaḥ pūrvaṃ dhṛtaścetasi nānyathā | kāraṇaṃ puṇyapāpānāṃ mana eva mahīpate || 49 || manasā vidhṛtaṃ tyaktvā kathamanyaṃ vṛṇe pitaḥ | kṛte paṇe mahārāja sarveṣāṃ vaśagā hyaham || 50 || ekaḥ pālayitā dvau vā bahavo vā bhavanti cet | kiṃ kartavyaṃ tadā tāta vivāde samupasthite || 51 || saṃśayādhiṣṭhite kārye matiṃ nāhaṃ karomyataḥ | mā cintāṃ kuru rājendra dehi sudarśanāya mām || 52 || vivāhaṃ vidhinā kṛtvā śaṃ vidhāsyati caṇḍikā | yannāmakīrtanādeva duḥkhaugho vilayaṃ vrajet || 53 || tāṃ smṛtvā paramāṃ śaktiṃ kuru kāryamatandritaḥ | gatvā vada nṛpebhyastvaṃ kṛtāñjalipuṭo'dya vai || 54 || āgantavyañca śvaḥ sarvairiha bhūpaiḥ svayaṃvare | ityuktvā tvaṃ visṛjyāśu sarvaṃ nṛpatimaṇḍalam || 55 || vivāhaṃ kuru rātrau me vedoktavidhinā nṛpa | pāribarhaṃ yathāyogyaṃ dattvā tasmai visarjaya || 56 || gamiṣyati gṛhītvā māṃ dhruvasandhisutaḥ kila | kadācitte nṛpāḥ kruddhāḥ saṅgrāmaṃ karttumudyatāḥ || 57 || bhaviṣyati tadā devī sāhāyyaṃ naḥ kariṣyati | so'pi rājasutastaistu saṅgrāmaṃ saṃvidhāsyati || 58 || daivānmṛdhe mṛte tasminmariṣyāmyahamapyuta | svasti testu gṛhe tiṣṭha dattvā māṃ sahasainyakaḥ || 59 || ekaivāhaṃ gamiṣyāmi tena sārdhaṃ riraṃsayā | vyāsa uvāca iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā rājā'sau kṛtaniścayaḥ | matiṃ cakre tathā kartuṃ viśvāsaṃ pratipadya ca || 60 ||
English translation
1. Vyasa said On hearing the sound words of his daughter S’as’ikala, pregnant with reason, Subahu the king of Benares, became very anxious and began to think what he would now, so short a space of time in this momentous occasion, thus
2-3. “The powerful kings, all, have come here on intention that they would fight and therefore they are all attended with their armies and followers respectively; and they are now sitting on their respective daises in the Svayamvara hall. If I go now and tell them that my daughter S’as’ikala is not willing to come of her own accord in the hall, the evil minded kings will certainly kill me out of their wrath.
4. I have not so much strength, whether in my army or in forts, as to be able to decline these kings and drive them away from my kingdom.
5. Sudars’ana, too is, alone, helpless, wealthless, and a mere boy. What shall I do now? Alas! I am now plunged in deep sorrow.”
6. Thinking thus, with head bowed down by humility, the king went to the kings, and said thus
7. “O Kings! The girl, though requested repeatedly by me and her mother, is not willing to come to this hall. What can I do now?
8-9. I am your servant and, bowing my head at the feet of you all, pray to you, to accept my worship and return to your own cities respectively. I am ready to give a sufficient quantity of gems and jewels, clothes, elephants, chariots. Kindly accept these and go back to your own homes.
10. My daughter is as yet a girl; if I chastise her, she may commit suicide; and I will be exceedingly sorry; therefore I am very much distressed with this thought.
11. You all are fortunate, energetic, and of a merciful disposition; what will it serve you to accept the daughter of mine, who is disobedient and unfortunate?
12. I am your obedient servant; shew your mercy on me and it is your duty to consider my daughter as your own daughter.”
13. Vyasa said Hearing Subahu's words, the kings did not utter a single word; but Yudhajit, with his eyes reddened out of wrath, began to address the king of Benares in an angry tone
14. “O King! You are a veteran fool; what do you say now after committing a most blameable act? Had you any doubt as to your proceedings, why have you, out of sheer delusion, called this meeting hall of Svayamvara, without thinking the matter before-hand.
15. You have invited the kings and princes in this marriage ceremony Svayamvara; and they all have assembled here; how can they now go back to their homes?
16. Are you going now to insult these? and will you give your daughter in marriage to Sudars’ana? Nothing can be more ignoble than this?
17. The welfare-seeking person ought to judge before-hand and then to act. But you have started your work without any previous judgment and decision. You will have to reap its fruit; there is no doubt this.
18. Why are you now thinking of giving your daughter to this helpless, wealthless Sudars’ana in the presence of kings that are powerful and that command a great militia.
19. O thou most sinful! Today I will certainly kill you; next I will kill Sudars’ana and then give your daughter to my daughter’s son; know that this is my firm resolve.
20. Who is there, when I am standing, in this assembly that can aspire to carry away the bridegroom elect by force or theft? Nothing to speak of Sudars’ana who is powerless, wealthless and a mere boy!
21. I spared his life before in the hermitage of Bharadvaja at the Muni’s request; but today I will not spare the boy under any circumstances whatsoever.
22. Therefore, please go and consult with your wife and daughter and give your dear beautiful daughter to my daughter’s son.
23. Be engaged in a marriage tie with me by giving your exquisitely beautiful daughter to my daughter’s son. You can very well judge that it is always proper and advisable that a great man shall come under the protection of another great man.
24. What happiness can you expect from this Sudars’ana, who is helpless and banished from his kingdom, that you are going to give him your dear and auspicious daughter!
25. Family, wealth, army, appearance, kingdoms, forts and true friends and other helping persons; these a man should consider when he is going to give away his daughter in marriage to anybody; else there is no surety of happiness. Think over the royal custom and the never failing Dharma and do what is proper. Never it is advisable to do any act, abandoning the path of Dharma and morals.
26. You are my intimate friend; therefore I am telling you these good words. O king! Better bring your daughter, surrounded by her attendant maids, in this hall of Svayamvara.
27. Let this daughter select any man other than Sudars’ana; I have got no cause of quarrel; and the marriage will then be celebrated according to your will.
28-29. O best of kings! The other kings are all of high descent; and they have armies and are all in positions befitting your connection! If
the daughter chooses any one annongst them, then no quarrels would arise. But if the daughter chooses Sudars’ana, then certainly I will carry her by force. Therefore, O king! act in such a way that no quarrels occur in future.”
30-31. Vyasa said Thus addressed by Yudhajit, the king of Benares was very sorrowful, and, after a heavy sigh, went to his palace and told with a grieved heart to his wife, thus “O fair eyed one! Now I am completely under your control; you better explain to S’as’ikala that a dreadful quarrel is now to occur; what am I to do now?”
32-33. Vyasa said Hearing her husband's words, the queen went to her daughter and spoke thus “O child! Quarrels have now ensued amongst the kings for your sake; your father has become very sorrowful; therefore, O fair one! Choose any other man your husband than Sudars’ana.
34-35. O Child! If you do not judge and rashly choose Sudars’ana, then the powerful king Yudhajit, possessing a large army, will no doubt kill you, me and Sudars’ana. It might be, if quarrels ensue, you might be married to another husband; therefore better think now and act.
36. O dear eyed! It is now your incumbent duty to choose another king for your husband, if you want your and my welfare and happiness. Leave Sudars’ana.”
37. The mother thus advised her daughter; the king, too, afterwards explained and tried to convince her. The girl spoke fearlessly.
38. “O king! What you have said is all true; but you know my firm resolve already. I won't ever select any other king than Sudars’ana.
39-40. O king! If you are afraid and be in agony, then do this thing: better give me in marriage to Sudars’ana and then drive us away from your city. He will put me in his chariot and go away out of your city. After that what is inevitable will surely come to pass. There cannot be anything otherwise.
41. O king! You need not fear anything about what is kept in the womb of future by Destiny. What is inevitable will happen; there is no doubt in this.”
42. The king said “O child! The intelligent persons never show too much rashness and insolence. The learned people, versed in the Vedas, say it is never advisable to quarrel with many persons.
43. How can I give my daughter in marriage to one and then banish them both? The kings have turned out enemies. There is no heinous crime, that they cannot commit now.
44. O child! If it be your opinion, I can pledge something as a pawn for your marriage, as the king Janaka pledged in days of yore for her daughter Sita.
45-47. I will also put forward a pawn very difficult to be carried out, as Janaka originally made an offer of the hands of Sita to
whomsoever, who would break the S’iva’s strong bow. Thus the quarrels amongst the kings might be diminished; for he who will be able to fulfill the promise, will be able to accept you. Then, be he Sudars’ana or any other king, whoever will be strong to fulfill the promise will take you as his wife.
48. Thus the quarrels will cease and I will also be able to perform your marriage ceremony in peace and happiness.”
49. The daughter said “Father! On hearing from you, I am merged in an ocean of doubt, for it seems to me what you are saying is the act of a fool; already, I have chosen in my mind Sudars’ana for my husband; now it cannot be otherwise.
50. O king! The mind is the source of virtue and vice. When I have mentally selected, how can I now forego him and choose another?
51-52. O king! If you keep any pledge, then I will be subject to any and everybody; if one, two, or more fulfill the same pledge, I will be then subject to any or all of them. Father! in that case quarrels may arise. What shall I do then? I cannot give my vote on this doubtful point.
53. O king! You need not fear anything. Better give me in marriage to Sudars’ana according to the prescribed rules; then, in that case, the Goddess Chandika will certainly protect us.
54. O king! Taking Whose Name destroys a whole host of sins, take Her Name and think the Almighty and perform carefully our marriage
ceremony.
55. Better go to the king's assembly today, and, with folded hands, tell them come tomorrow to the hall of Svayamvara.
56-57. Thus bidding goodbye to the kings, perform in the right spirit, according to the prescribed rites, our marriage ceremony. Next, after giving fit dowries and other articles after the marriage, better tell the prince Sudars’ana to depart. The son of Dhruvasandhi will take me away with him.
58. If, at this, the kings get angry and be ready to quarrel with you, then in that case, the Goddess Bhagavati will no doubt help us.
59. Sudars’ana then will fight against those kings; and if he loses his life perchance in the battle, then I will also follow him and die.
60. O king! Let all good come unto you! Better give me in marriage to Sudars’ana and remain here with your army. I will go alone with him, the object of my love.”
61. Vyasa said Hearing these words from her daughter, the king Subahu trusted her, and firmly resolved to act according to that, and to celebrate the marriage of S’as’ikala.
Thus ends the 21st chapter on the king of Benares fulfilling the advice of his daughter in S’rimad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24746, revision 75600 (2016-08-03T12:23:45Z). 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/bk03ch21.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.