Skip to main content

Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 202

Chapter 202

Unit 614 of 693Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 202Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 2021 source entries

Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 202

Source

देवल उवाच- शृणुष्व भो महाप्राज्ञ दिलीपस्य महीपतेः । कथां दिव्यां विचित्रां च शृणुतां पापनाशिनीम् १। वैवस्वतमनोर्वंशे दिलीपो भूभुजां वरः । आसीत्प्राचीनबर्हिस्तु स्वायंभुवमनोरिव २। स तु धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो धर्मेण प्रतिपालयन् । महीं महीपतिर्लोकान्गुणैराद्धैररंजयत् ३। मगधाधिपतेः पुत्री महिषी तस्य भूपतेः । सुदक्षणाख्यया ख्याता शचीवासीद्दिवस्पतेः ४। गते महति काले तु महिष्यां नाभवत्सुतः । दध्याविति निजस्वांते स सम्राट्कोशलाधिपः ५। रत्नाकरसुमेर्वादि नगरत्नैर्विराजितम् । धृतं भूवलयं दोषो भूषायै नाप्रजस्य मे ६। वर्गत्रयी यथाकालं सेविता न विरोधिता । तथापि मेऽनपत्यस्य न सौख्यं विद्यते हृदि ७। यज्ञैराराधितो विष्णुरिंद्राद्याश्च सुरोत्तमाः । दीर्घिकारामकूपाश्च कारिताः सर्वतो भुवि ८। गोभूहिरण्यवासोभिः षड्रसान्वितभोजनैः । विप्रा अतिथयश्चैव भक्त्या संतोषिता मया ९। वृत्यर्थं पृथिवीपालानुद्धृत्य युधि धर्मतः । धनेन महता कोशो मया हि बहुलीकृतः १०। उन्मार्गगामिनो मत्ता निजधर्मविलंघिनः । विमुखः पितृदेवेभ्यो दंड्यास्ते दंडिता मया ११। पंचपर्वसु वैष्णव्यां रवौ पित्र्ये च कर्मणि । दशम्यैकादशीतिथ्योर्न स्त्रीसेवा कृता मया १२। ऋतुकालावधौ स्नातां स्वस्त्रियं नाहमत्यजम् । अनृतावपि तद्योग्ये काले चेत्प्रार्थितस्तया १३। तदा तस्यां सकामिन्यां सकामं रमितं मया । एवं धर्मार्थकामा मे यथाकालं निषेविताः १४। महिष्यां केन दोषेण जायते मे न संततिः । अतीतानागतज्ञानो वसिष्ठो गुरुरेव नः १५। कथयिष्यति तं दोषं यन्मे पुत्रो न जायते । देवल उवाच- इत्यालोच्य स भूपालो गमिष्यन्नाश्रमं गुरोः । मंत्रिष्वारोपयामास कोशलामृद्धिकोशलाम् १६। अथ प्रजासृजं देवं पूजयित्वाश्रमं गुरोः । प्रतस्थाते पुत्रकामौ दंपती तौ शुभेऽहनि १७। कतिचिद्वासरैर्मार्गमुल्लंघ्यैकरथे स्थितौ । तौ दंपती गुरोः सायमाश्रमं प्रापतुः शुभम् १८। वैश्वदेवांत संप्राप्तातिथिसत्कारकृन्मुनिम् । हुताशनहुतद्रव्यप्रसरद्धूममालया १९। पवित्रयंतमात्मस्थान्मुनीनागंतुकानपि । मृगैर्दूर्वाप्रतानौघप्रपूर्णोदरमंथरम् २०। अभ्यागच्छद्भिरभितो मंडपं स मृगीगणैः । वासवृक्षमिलत्पक्षिकुलकोलाहलाकुलम् २१। परस्परविनिर्मुक्तवैरव्याघ्रमृगादिकम् । जपध्यानपरर्षीणां क्षणश्रांतश्रुतिध्वनिम् २२। अनध्ययनकालोत्थ क्रीडारक्तकुमारकम् । तस्मिन्वसिष्ठमद्राष्टां दंपती तौ कृतक्रियम् २३। बृस्यां निषणमव्यग्रमरुंधत्योपसेवितम् । स ववंदे गुरोः पादौ महिषी सा च तत्स्त्रियः २४। आशिषा गुरुरप्येनं युयोजारुंधती च ताम् । अतिथिं तमथाभ्यर्च्य मधुपर्कादिभिर्गुरुः २५। अर्हणैरर्हतां श्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठ इति पृष्टवान् । वसिष्ठ उवाच- भो भो भूमिभृतां श्रेष्ठ राज्ये कुशलमस्ति ते २६। कुले च कच्चिल्लोके च निजधर्मानुवर्त्तिनि । धर्मेण पालिता कच्चित्वया वीरवसुंधरा २७। संवर्द्धयति ते कोशं धर्मधीरिव सात्विकी । तव जानपदा राजन्पौराश्च स्थितिमात्मनः २८। सारवंतो विमुंचंति कच्चिन्नांबुधयो यथा । स्नेहेन साहचर्येण सहवासतया प्रभो २९। लक्ष्मीनारायणायेते कच्चित्ते पुरदंपती । काम्यव्रतानि राजेंद्र प्रजानां नगरे तव । फलंति वांछितं कच्चिद्धरिचंदनवद्दिवि ३०। देवल उवाच- पृष्ट्वैवं स मुनिश्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः । योगप्रभावोपनतैर्नृपं भोज्यैरभोजयत् ३१। अरुंधतीच तां राज्ञीं बह्वादरसमन्विता । नानाव्यंजनपक्वान्नैरभोजयदुदारधीः ३२। कृतभोजनमासीनं स्वस्थः स्वस्थं मुनिर्नृपम् । पुनः पप्रच्छ संगृह्य पाणिना पाणिमानतम् ३३। वसिष्ठ उवाच- सप्तांग संयुतं राज्यं निजधर्मरतप्रजम् । प्रीतबंधुजनामात्यं शस्त्रास्त्रविधिवद्भटम् ३४। वश्यमित्रं हृतामित्रं कृष्णार्चापरमानसम् । यस्यास्ति नृपते राज्यं स्वर्गराज्येन तस्य किम् ३५। इक्ष्वाकुवंशराजानः पुत्रानुत्पाद्य धार्मिकाः । राज्यं च तेषु विन्यस्य प्रपन्नास्तपसि प्रभो ३६। त्वं युवा दृष्टपुत्रास्यो नाधिकारी तपोविधौ । किमर्थमागतो ह्यत्र राज्यं त्यक्त्वा तथाविधम् ३७। राजोवाच- ब्रह्मन्नाहं तपः कर्तुमागतस्तावकाश्रमे । स्वर्गकामनया त्यक्त्वा राज्यमत्र तथाविधम् ३८। ब्रह्मन्सत्यमिदं चोक्तं भवता यत्तपोवनम् । राज्यमारोप्य पुत्रेषु प्राप्ता इक्ष्वाकुवंशजाः ३९। न तैस्त्यक्तं महीराज्यमिदं स्वर्गगतैरपि । तन्मूर्तिरस्यां विमनास्तिष्ठति ह्येव संततिः ४०। यथा बाल्यं गतं तात यौवनं च समागतम् । यास्यत्यदोपि च तथा जराप्येष्यति निश्चितम् ४१। जरसोऽनतरं मृत्युः पुरुषस्य न संशयः । मृत्युंगते मयि ब्रह्मन्विनातनयसंभवम् ४२। कस्येदं जगतीराज्यं भविष्यति गुरो वद । तस्मादपत्यहीनस्य राज्येऽपि मम तिष्ठतः ४३। ममत्वं विद्यते नात्र पुरस्तात्तदभावतः । वर्गत्रयस्य वै सम्यक्संवेत्ता त्वं गुरो मम ४४। केन दोषेण मे पुत्रो जायते न तपोनिधे । ध्यानेन दोषमालोक्य तं गुरो कथयाशुमे ४५। तस्य प्रतिक्रियां कुर्यां श्रुत्वा संतानलब्धये । देवल उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य वसिष्ठस्तु वचस्तस्य महीपतेः ४६। उवाच संततिस्तंभहेतुं वीक्ष्य समाधिना । वसिष्ठ उवाच- त्वं पुरा राजशार्दूल संसेव्य सुरनायकम् ४७। स्नातामिमां वधूं स्मृत्वा चलितो निजमंदिरम् । गच्छतस्त्वरया तात संतानोत्कंठितस्य ते ४८। आसीत्सुरतरोर्मूले कामेधनुः स्थिता पथि । उत्पादिता त्वया तस्याः पूज्यांघ्रिरजसोऽतिरुट् ४९। प्रदक्षिणनमस्कारसदाचारमकुर्वता । साऽशपत्त्वामतिक्रोधात्पुत्रो नोत्पत्स्यते तव ५०। मम संतानशुश्रूषां यावत्त्वं न करिष्यसि । गच्छंस्त्वमृतुदानाय त्वरया सुतकामुकः ५१। तन्मना नाश्रृणोः शापं नयंताक्षनिनादतः । तस्याः सुतासुतां धेनुं नंदिनीं ससुतां मम ५२। आराधयानया वध्वा सार्द्धं सा दास्यते सुतम् । देवल उवाच- इत्युक्तवति तत्रर्षौ वसिष्ठे सा तु नंदिनी ५३। तपोवनात्समायाता वत्सस्नेहस्नुतस्तनी । तां दृष्ट्वा हृष्टहृदयो वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः । उवाच भूपतिं भूयो दर्शयित्वा च नंदिनीम् ५४। वसिष्ठ उवाच- राजन्समागता ह्येषा स्मृतमात्रशुभाह्वया । अतो विद्धि समीपस्थां कार्यसिद्धिमिहात्मनः ५५। आराधितानुगत्येयं त्वयारण्ये तथाश्रमे । वध्वा प्रसादात्ते पुत्रं दास्यते नात्र संशयः ५६। यथानाभिभवेदेनां जंतुः कश्चिद्वनोद्भवः । तथा चारय राजेंद्र वने हिंस्रो धनुर्द्धर ५७। देवल उवाच- तथेति लघुवादिने नृपतये स्नुषायै च सक्षपाशयनहेतवे सदुटजं ददौ तापसः । स तत्र सहभार्यया समधिशय्यदर्भास्तृतां महीमगमयन्निशां नियतमानसो विश्पतिः ५८। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायामुत्तरखंडे कालिंदीमाहात्म्ये द्व्यधिकद्विशततमोध्यायः २०२। ।

devala uvāca- śṛṇuṣva bho mahāprājña dilīpasya mahīpateḥ | kathāṃ divyāṃ vicitrāṃ ca śṛṇutāṃ pāpanāśinīm 1| vaivasvatamanorvaṃśe dilīpo bhūbhujāṃ varaḥ | āsītprācīnabarhistu svāyaṃbhuvamanoriva 2| sa tu dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭho dharmeṇa pratipālayan | mahīṃ mahīpatirlokānguṇairāddhairaraṃjayat 3| magadhādhipateḥ putrī mahiṣī tasya bhūpateḥ | sudakṣaṇākhyayā khyātā śacīvāsīddivaspateḥ 4| gate mahati kāle tu mahiṣyāṃ nābhavatsutaḥ | dadhyāviti nijasvāṃte sa samrāṭkośalādhipaḥ 5| ratnākarasumervādi nagaratnairvirājitam | dhṛtaṃ bhūvalayaṃ doṣo bhūṣāyai nāprajasya me 6| vargatrayī yathākālaṃ sevitā na virodhitā | tathāpi me'napatyasya na saukhyaṃ vidyate hṛdi 7| yajñairārādhito viṣṇuriṃdrādyāśca surottamāḥ | dīrghikārāmakūpāśca kāritāḥ sarvato bhuvi 8| gobhūhiraṇyavāsobhiḥ ṣaḍrasānvitabhojanaiḥ | viprā atithayaścaiva bhaktyā saṃtoṣitā mayā 9| vṛtyarthaṃ pṛthivīpālānuddhṛtya yudhi dharmataḥ | dhanena mahatā kośo mayā hi bahulīkṛtaḥ 10| unmārgagāmino mattā nijadharmavilaṃghinaḥ | vimukhaḥ pitṛdevebhyo daṃḍyāste daṃḍitā mayā 11| paṃcaparvasu vaiṣṇavyāṃ ravau pitrye ca karmaṇi | daśamyaikādaśītithyorna strīsevā kṛtā mayā 12| ṛtukālāvadhau snātāṃ svastriyaṃ nāhamatyajam | anṛtāvapi tadyogye kāle cetprārthitastayā 13| tadā tasyāṃ sakāminyāṃ sakāmaṃ ramitaṃ mayā | evaṃ dharmārthakāmā me yathākālaṃ niṣevitāḥ 14| mahiṣyāṃ kena doṣeṇa jāyate me na saṃtatiḥ | atītānāgatajñāno vasiṣṭho gurureva naḥ 15| kathayiṣyati taṃ doṣaṃ yanme putro na jāyate | devala uvāca- ityālocya sa bhūpālo gamiṣyannāśramaṃ guroḥ | maṃtriṣvāropayāmāsa kośalāmṛddhikośalām 16| atha prajāsṛjaṃ devaṃ pūjayitvāśramaṃ guroḥ | pratasthāte putrakāmau daṃpatī tau śubhe'hani 17| katicidvāsarairmārgamullaṃghyaikarathe sthitau | tau daṃpatī guroḥ sāyamāśramaṃ prāpatuḥ śubham 18| vaiśvadevāṃta saṃprāptātithisatkārakṛnmunim | hutāśanahutadravyaprasaraddhūmamālayā 19| pavitrayaṃtamātmasthānmunīnāgaṃtukānapi | mṛgairdūrvāpratānaughaprapūrṇodaramaṃtharam 20| abhyāgacchadbhirabhito maṃḍapaṃ sa mṛgīgaṇaiḥ | vāsavṛkṣamilatpakṣikulakolāhalākulam 21| parasparavinirmuktavairavyāghramṛgādikam | japadhyānapararṣīṇāṃ kṣaṇaśrāṃtaśrutidhvanim 22| anadhyayanakālottha krīḍāraktakumārakam | tasminvasiṣṭhamadrāṣṭāṃ daṃpatī tau kṛtakriyam 23| bṛsyāṃ niṣaṇamavyagramaruṃdhatyopasevitam | sa vavaṃde guroḥ pādau mahiṣī sā ca tatstriyaḥ 24| āśiṣā gururapyenaṃ yuyojāruṃdhatī ca tām | atithiṃ tamathābhyarcya madhuparkādibhirguruḥ 25| arhaṇairarhatāṃ śreṣṭho vasiṣṭha iti pṛṣṭavān | vasiṣṭha uvāca- bho bho bhūmibhṛtāṃ śreṣṭha rājye kuśalamasti te 26| kule ca kaccilloke ca nijadharmānuvarttini | dharmeṇa pālitā kaccitvayā vīravasuṃdharā 27| saṃvarddhayati te kośaṃ dharmadhīriva sātvikī | tava jānapadā rājanpaurāśca sthitimātmanaḥ 28| sāravaṃto vimuṃcaṃti kaccinnāṃbudhayo yathā | snehena sāhacaryeṇa sahavāsatayā prabho 29| lakṣmīnārāyaṇāyete kaccitte puradaṃpatī | kāmyavratāni rājeṃdra prajānāṃ nagare tava | phalaṃti vāṃchitaṃ kacciddharicaṃdanavaddivi 30| devala uvāca- pṛṣṭvaivaṃ sa muniśreṣṭho vasiṣṭho munipuṃgavaḥ | yogaprabhāvopanatairnṛpaṃ bhojyairabhojayat 31| aruṃdhatīca tāṃ rājñīṃ bahvādarasamanvitā | nānāvyaṃjanapakvānnairabhojayadudāradhīḥ 32| kṛtabhojanamāsīnaṃ svasthaḥ svasthaṃ munirnṛpam | punaḥ papraccha saṃgṛhya pāṇinā pāṇimānatam 33| vasiṣṭha uvāca- saptāṃga saṃyutaṃ rājyaṃ nijadharmarataprajam | prītabaṃdhujanāmātyaṃ śastrāstravidhivadbhaṭam 34| vaśyamitraṃ hṛtāmitraṃ kṛṣṇārcāparamānasam | yasyāsti nṛpate rājyaṃ svargarājyena tasya kim 35| ikṣvākuvaṃśarājānaḥ putrānutpādya dhārmikāḥ | rājyaṃ ca teṣu vinyasya prapannāstapasi prabho 36| tvaṃ yuvā dṛṣṭaputrāsyo nādhikārī tapovidhau | kimarthamāgato hyatra rājyaṃ tyaktvā tathāvidham 37| rājovāca- brahmannāhaṃ tapaḥ kartumāgatastāvakāśrame | svargakāmanayā tyaktvā rājyamatra tathāvidham 38| brahmansatyamidaṃ coktaṃ bhavatā yattapovanam | rājyamāropya putreṣu prāptā ikṣvākuvaṃśajāḥ 39| na taistyaktaṃ mahīrājyamidaṃ svargagatairapi | tanmūrtirasyāṃ vimanāstiṣṭhati hyeva saṃtatiḥ 40| yathā bālyaṃ gataṃ tāta yauvanaṃ ca samāgatam | yāsyatyadopi ca tathā jarāpyeṣyati niścitam 41| jaraso'nataraṃ mṛtyuḥ puruṣasya na saṃśayaḥ | mṛtyuṃgate mayi brahmanvinātanayasaṃbhavam 42| kasyedaṃ jagatīrājyaṃ bhaviṣyati guro vada | tasmādapatyahīnasya rājye'pi mama tiṣṭhataḥ 43| mamatvaṃ vidyate nātra purastāttadabhāvataḥ | vargatrayasya vai samyaksaṃvettā tvaṃ guro mama 44| kena doṣeṇa me putro jāyate na taponidhe | dhyānena doṣamālokya taṃ guro kathayāśume 45| tasya pratikriyāṃ kuryāṃ śrutvā saṃtānalabdhaye | devala uvāca- ityākarṇya vasiṣṭhastu vacastasya mahīpateḥ 46| uvāca saṃtatistaṃbhahetuṃ vīkṣya samādhinā | vasiṣṭha uvāca- tvaṃ purā rājaśārdūla saṃsevya suranāyakam 47| snātāmimāṃ vadhūṃ smṛtvā calito nijamaṃdiram | gacchatastvarayā tāta saṃtānotkaṃṭhitasya te 48| āsītsuratarormūle kāmedhanuḥ sthitā pathi | utpāditā tvayā tasyāḥ pūjyāṃghrirajaso'tiruṭ 49| pradakṣiṇanamaskārasadācāramakurvatā | sā'śapattvāmatikrodhātputro notpatsyate tava 50| mama saṃtānaśuśrūṣāṃ yāvattvaṃ na kariṣyasi | gacchaṃstvamṛtudānāya tvarayā sutakāmukaḥ 51| tanmanā nāśrṛṇoḥ śāpaṃ nayaṃtākṣaninādataḥ | tasyāḥ sutāsutāṃ dhenuṃ naṃdinīṃ sasutāṃ mama 52| ārādhayānayā vadhvā sārddhaṃ sā dāsyate sutam | devala uvāca- ityuktavati tatrarṣau vasiṣṭhe sā tu naṃdinī 53| tapovanātsamāyātā vatsasnehasnutastanī | tāṃ dṛṣṭvā hṛṣṭahṛdayo vasiṣṭho munipuṃgavaḥ | uvāca bhūpatiṃ bhūyo darśayitvā ca naṃdinīm 54| vasiṣṭha uvāca- rājansamāgatā hyeṣā smṛtamātraśubhāhvayā | ato viddhi samīpasthāṃ kāryasiddhimihātmanaḥ 55| ārādhitānugatyeyaṃ tvayāraṇye tathāśrame | vadhvā prasādātte putraṃ dāsyate nātra saṃśayaḥ 56| yathānābhibhavedenāṃ jaṃtuḥ kaścidvanodbhavaḥ | tathā cāraya rājeṃdra vane hiṃsro dhanurddhara 57| devala uvāca- tatheti laghuvādine nṛpataye snuṣāyai ca sakṣapāśayanahetave saduṭajaṃ dadau tāpasaḥ | sa tatra sahabhāryayā samadhiśayyadarbhāstṛtāṃ mahīmagamayanniśāṃ niyatamānaso viśpatiḥ 58| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsahasrasaṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe kāliṃdīmāhātmye dvyadhikadviśatatamodhyāyaḥ 202| |

English translation

Devala said :

1-16a. O very wise one, listen to the divine, wonderful account of king Dilīpa , which removes the sin of those who hear it. In Vaivasvata Manu ’s family was (born) the best king Dilīpa like Prācīnabarhis in Svāyambhuva Manu ’s (family). That king, best among the religious, protecting the earth justly, pleased the people with his rich virtues. The queen, the wife of that king, the daughter of the lord of Magadha , named Sudakṣiṇā , was like Śacī to the lord of heaven. Even after a long time had passed, a son was not born to the queen. The sovereign, the lord of Kośala , thus thought in his mind: ‘I have held (under my control) the earth adorned with the gems like the ocean, the great Meru mountain etc. There is nothing wanting that should lead to my disgrace. At the proper time I have practised the three objects of human life. I have not opposed it. Yet in the mind of me who am childless, there is no happiness. With sacrifices I have worshipped Viṣṇu ; so also the best gods like Indra . Everywhere on the earth I have got fashioned tanks , groves and wells. I have, with devotion, satisfied brāhmaṇas and guests with (presents of) cows, land, gold, garments, and with meals having the six (kinds of) tastes. Having justly uprooted the kings in battles for the maintenance (of piety), I have increased my treasury with great wealth. Those who went astray, who were arrogant, who violated their duties, who were averse to their dead ancestors and deities, and who (therefore) deserved punishment, were punished by me. On the five parvan days, the day sacred to Viṣṇu, to the Sun, on a day on which a rite in honour of the dead ancestors is performed, on the tenth and eleventh days I have not waited upon my wife. I never ignored my wife who had bathed at (the end of her) menstrual period; so also (I approached her) even at other times when requested by her. At that time I had sexual intercourse with her who had a passion for it. Thus I have resorted to religious practices, worldly pursuits and carnal pleasures at the proper time. Due to what defect in my queen am I not having a child? Vasiṣṭha , my preceptor, who knows the past and the future will alone tell me the defect due to which a son is not born to me.’

Devala said

16b-26a. Thinking like this, the king, deciding to go to his preceptor’s hermitage, entrusted Kośala with rich treasures to his ministers. Then having worshipped God, the creator of beings, the couple, desiring a son, proceeded to the preceptor’s hermitage on an auspicious day. The couple, seated in a chariot, having gone over the path, reached after some days the holy hermitage of the preceptor. There the sage received the guests that had come there after the offering made to all deities. It purified the sages in it and the guests also with the rising mass of smoke of the material offered into the fire. It was dull due to the (slow-moving) deer whose bellies were full due to the mass of shoots of dūrvās . In the hall of the hermitage the flock of female deer was entering from all sides. It was full of noise of groups of birds gathering on the trees which they had turned into their abodes. There were tigers and (other) beasts, that had given up their mutual hostility. The sound of the recitation of the Vedas made by great sages engaged there in muttering (hymns) and meditation, had ceased for a while. There the boys were engaged in sports during intermission of study. In it the couple saw Vasiṣṭha performing the rites. He was seated on a holy seat and was steady, and was waited upon by Arundhatī . He (i.e. Dilīpa) saluted the preceptor’s feet, and his wife saluted the ladies of (the family of) him. The preceptor gave him a blessing, and Arundhatī gave her one. Preceptor Vasiṣṭha, the greatest among the adorable, honoured the guest with respectful offerings, and asked him like this:

Vasiṣṭha said :

26b-30. O greatest among kings, I hope everything is all right in your kingdom, in your family and with the people following their respective practices. O hero, I hope you have protected the earth righteously. (I hope) your treasury is growing like a righteous thought for good practices. O king, I hope your excellent villagers and citizens are not transgressing their limit like the oceans. I hope due to love, due to moving together and association, the couples in your cities act like Lakṣmī and Viṣṇu. O best king, I hope, the voluntary vows of your subjects are fruitful like the Haricandana [1] tree in heaven.

Devala said :

31-33. Having asked like this, that greatest sage, Vasiṣṭha, pre-eminent among sages, fed the king with eatables procured through the power of his abstract meditation. That old Arundhatī, of a generous mind, and full of respect, fed the queen with various dishes of cooked food. The steady sage, having held the hand of the king who was fed and had saluted him and who was seated comfortably, again asked him.

Vasiṣṭha said :

34-46a. O king, what is the use of the kingdom of heaven to that king whose kingdom has the seven constituents, [2] in which the subjects are engaged in their duties, in which kinsmen and relatives are pleased, where the soldiers know the science of weapons and missiles, in which friends are obedient, where the enemies are subdued, where the minds (of men) are devoted to Kṛṣṇa ’s worship? O lord, the religious kings of the Ikṣvāku family, having produced sons, and having entrusted the kingdom to them, proceed to practise penance. You are young. You have not (as yet) seen the face of your son. Why have you, abandoning your kingdom like that, come here?

The king said :

O brāhmaṇa , with a desire for (going to) heaven, I, having abandoned my kingdom like that, have come to your hermitage to practise penance. O brāhmaṇa, you have told the truth that (kings) born in Ikṣvāku’s family, entrusted their kingdom to their sons, and went to the penance-grove. As childhood has passed, so this youth that has come will also pass; and certainly old age will come. There is no doubt that a man meets death after old age. O brāhmaṇa, when I die, to whom will this kingdom, without a son’s birth, go? Tell me that, O preceptor. Therefore, I who remain in the kingdom without a child, have no feeling of mineness for it, without it. O you my preceptor, you know the three objects of human life. O you treasure of penance, quickly tell me the defect after seeing it through meditation, due to which a son is not born to me. Having heard it, I shall adopt a remedy against it to obtain a child.

Devala said :

46b-47a. Having heard these words of the king, Vasiṣṭha, seeing through concentration the cause of the obstruction in (the birth of) a child, spoke:

Vasiṣṭha said :

47b-53a. Formerly, O king, you, having waited upon the chief of gods, and remembering this your young wife who had bathed (after her menstrual period) started for your home. O king, on the way of you who, being eager to have a child, were hurriedly going, stood under a divine tree the desire-yielding cow. You produced great anger in her by not saluting and not doing pious acts like saluting the dust of her venerable feet. With great anger she cursed you: “A son will not be born to you til you do not serve my progeny.” You desiring a son, and therefore going quickly to give her (your semen after) menstruation, and thinking of that only, did not hear the curse nor did your charioteer hear it due to the noise caused by the axles. With this your young wife propitiate her young granddaughter, the cow Nandinī , along with her calf. She will give you a son.

Devala said :

53b-54. While Vasiṣṭha, the sage, was speaking like this that Nandinī, with her udders having (milk) flowing from them through affection, came there. Seeing her, the best sage Vasiṣṭha, with his heart delighted, saw her, and showing her to the king, again said to him:

Vasiṣṭha said :

55-57. O king, this (cow) of an auspicious name has come just when remembered. Therefore, know that the accomplishment of your object is near. There is no doubt that when you propitiate her by going after her in the forest and your young wife propitiates her in the hermitage, she will, through her favour, give you a son. O best king, O archer, graze her in such a way that no wild ferocious animal would attack her.

Devala said :

58. Then the ascetic (Vasiṣṭha) gave the king who talked little and to the daughter-in-law a good hut to pass their night in. There the king with his mind controlled along with his wife passed the night, sleeping on the ground covered with grass.

[1]: [1] : Haricandana: One of the five trees of Paradise. The five trees are: Mandāra, Pārijātaka, Santāna, Kalpa, and Haricandana.

[2]: [2] : Saptāṅga: the seven constituents of a kingdom: king, ministers, friend, treasury, people, forts, and army.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44944, revision 333687 (2022-03-15T05:26:22Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365786.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.