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Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 203

Chapter 203

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Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 203

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देवल उवाच। अथोषसि नराधीशः पूजितां कुसुमादिभिः । महिष्या नंदिनीं धेनुं नीत्वारण्यं जगाम सः १। गच्छंतीमनु तां देवीं छायेव नृपतिर्ययौ । खादंतीमनुशष्पादि सोऽपि मूलाद्यभक्षयत् २। तरुच्छायामुपासीनामनु सोऽप्युपविष्टवान् । पिबंतीमनुपानीयं राजापि सलिलं पपौ ३। स च राजा मृदुग्रासैर्दंशापनयनेन च । कंडूयनैः कामधेनुं गुरोरेवमसेवत ४। अथ प्रत्याश्रमं सायं न्यवर्त्तंत महीपतेः । अंगं पवित्रयंती सा खुरोद्धूतैरजःकणैः ५। अधोभारेण गुरुणा गच्छंती मंथरं बभौ । महीपालमहत्कार्यभाराक्रांतेव नंदिनी ६। तां मुनेराश्रमाभ्याशे राज्ञी प्रत्युज्जगाम ह । चंदनाक्षतनैवेद्यधूपादीनुपनीय च ७। तां पूजयित्वा विधिवत्प्रणम्य च पुनः पुनः । कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं राज्ञी तस्थौ प्रांजलिरग्रतः ८। सा गृहीत्वा च तां पूजां विहितां श्रद्धया तया । राज्ञा निश्चलमास्थाय ययौ ताभ्यां सहाश्रमम् ९। आराधयति तामेवं दिलीपे तु दृढव्रते । एकाधिका व्यतीयाय दिनानां वैश्य विंशतिः १०। अथ भूमिपतेस्तस्य भावजिज्ञासया तु सा । विवेश निर्भयस्वांता सशष्पां हिमवद्गुहाम् ११। पश्यता हिमवत्सानु शोभामथ महीभृता । अलक्षितागमः सिंहो बलाज्जग्राह नंदिनीम् १२। सा चक्रंद भृशं धेनुर्दुःखितेव दयास्वना । चित्ते धनुर्भृतस्तस्य जनयंती दयोदयम् १३। तदाक्रंदितमाकर्ण्य तस्याः स जगतीपतिः । हिमवत्सानुसंलग्नां निजदृष्टिं न्यवर्त्तयत् १४। उपर्युपरि तां धेनुं स्रवदश्रुमुखीं नृपः । तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रनखं सिंहं दृष्ट्वा स व्यथितोऽभवत् १५। गृहीतां तेन सिंहेन तामालक्ष्य धनुर्द्धरः । निषंगाद्बाणमुद्धर्तुं प्राहिणोद्दक्षिणं भुजम् १६। बाणमुद्धृत्य तूणीरान्निहंतुं तं मृगाधिपम् । गुणेनापूर्णमायोज्य चकर्ष वसुधाधिपः १७। जडीभूतः समस्तांगस्तत्सिंहालोकनेन सः । नाशकद्बाणमुत्सृष्टुं राजासीद्विस्मितस्ततः १८। तादृशं नृपमालक्ष्य जगाद स मृगाधिपः । नरवाचा भृशं भूयो विस्मयं प्रापयन्निदम् १९। सिंह उवाच- दिलीपं त्वामहं राजन्जानामि रविवंशजम् । त्वं च जानीहि मां शंभोर्गणं कुंभोदराभिधम् २०। देवदारुरयं यस्ते वर्त्तते दृष्टगोचरे । पार्वत्यापुत्रवद्वीर पालितः स्निग्धचित्तया २१। एकदामुष्यवन्येन गजेनाघर्षता कटम् । उदपाटि महाराज वल्कलं मृदुलं भृशम् २२। एनं तादृशमालक्ष्य मृडानी करुणान्विता । मामत्र स्थापयामास सिंहं कृत्वास्य रक्षणे २३। ममाह चेति सा देवी कुंभोदर निशम्यताम् । योऽत्र जंतुः समागच्छेत्तं खादेस्त्वं वसन्निह २४। ततः प्रभृति राजेंद्र तदाज्ञां पालयन्नहम् । पालितां त्रिदशैः सर्वैः कंदरेऽत्र वसाम्यहम् २५। जडीभावे स्वदेहस्य त्वया कार्यो न विस्मयः । महती शांभवी माया वर्त्ततेऽत्र हिमाचले २६। अन्यस्मिन्निव सिंहे त्वं प्रहर्तुं न मयि क्षमः । यतो मत्पृष्ठमारुह्य वृषमारोहति प्रभुः २७। निवर्त्तस्व निजं देहं रक्ष सर्वार्थसाधनम् । दैवेनासादिता वीर गौरियं भक्षणाय मे २८। देवल उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य वीरसंबोधनान्वितम् । प्रत्युवाच दिलीपस्तं स जडीभूतविग्रहः २९। राजोवाच- सर्गस्थितिविसर्गाणां कारणं जगतः शिवम् । अंबिकां जगदंबां च नमामि मृगराज तौ ३०। त्वं च तत्सेवकत्वेन मान्यो मम मृगाधिप । ब्रवीमि यदहं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा शाधि करोमि किम् ३१। वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो गुरुर्नो विदितस्तव । तस्येयं नंदिनीनाम धेनुः सर्वार्थसाधिका ३२। संतानोत्पत्तये तेन दत्ताराधयितुं मम । येयमाराधिता सम्यक्दिनानि कतिचिन्मया ३३। लघुतर्णक मातेयं धृता ते गिरिकंदरे । शुंभुभृत्याद्बलात्त्वत्तोशक्तामोचयितुंमया ३४। अहं तस्य मुनेरग्रे गच्छाम्येनामृते कथम् । कामधेनोस्तु दौहित्री जगत्सेव्या यशस्विनी ३५। अनया सदृशी नान्या गौर्यया तोषयामि तम् । तस्माद्विमुच्य गामेनामग्र्यां कुरु निजाशनम् ३६। ददामि देहमात्मीयमपकीर्तिमलीमसम् । एवं न धर्महानिः स्यादृषेस्तव तु भोजनम् । गवार्थे त्यजतः प्राणान्ममापि गतिरुत्तमा ३७। देवल उवाच- एवमाकर्ण्य सिंहेन कृते मौने विशांपते । तदग्रेऽवाङ्मुखो राजा न्यपतद्धर्मकोविदः ३८। तस्य प्रतीक्षमाणस्य सिंहपातं सुदुःसहम् । पपातोपरि पुष्पाणां वृष्टिर्मुक्ता सुरेश्वरैः ३९। पुत्रोत्तिष्ठेति वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा स उत्थितः । जननीमिव तां धेनुं ददर्श न मृगाधिपम् ४०। तं विस्मितमुवाचेदं नंदिनी नृपसत्तमम् । नंदिन्युवाच- मायया सिंहरूपिण्या त्वं मयासि परीक्षितः ४१। मुनिप्रभावान्मां राजन्गृहीतुं न क्षमोंऽतकः । मनसापि कुतोऽन्येषां यद्ग्रहे शक्तिरंगिनाम् ४२। स्वशरीरस्य दानेन त्वं मां रक्षितुमुद्यतः । अतस्तेऽहं प्रसन्नास्मि वृणीष्व वरमीप्सितम् ४३। राजोवाच- न गुप्तं देहिनामंतर्वर्तिवृत्तं भवादृशम् । अतो जननि जानासि वांच्छितं मम देहि तत् ४४। मगधेशसुतायां मे वंशकर्तारमात्मजम् । प्रयच्छ किंचित्स्वच्छानां नासाध्यं हि भवादृशाम् ४५। इत्युक्त्वांजलिमाधाय तत्पुरस्तस्थिवान्नृपः । तूष्णीं तदुत्तरापेक्षी तत्पुरोबद्धलोचनः ४६। देवल उवाच- निशम्येति वचस्तस्य भूपतेरिदमब्रवीत् । नंदिनी पितृदेवर्षिनरभूतार्थसाधिका ४७। नन्दिन्युवाच- पुत्र पत्रपुटे दुग्ध्वा पयो मम पिबेप्सितम् । आश्रमे गुरुणाज्ञप्तः पुनः पास्यसि शेषितम् ४८। भविता वंशकर्ता ते सुतः शस्त्रास्त्रतत्ववित् । देवल उवाच- इत्युक्तः सौरभेय्या तामुवाच विनयेन सः ४९। दिलीप उवाच- मातस्तवैव पास्यामि शेषं सर्वक्रियाविधेः । तृप्तोऽहं मातरासाद्य मिष्टं ते वचनामृतम् ५०। नान्यदिच्छामि सारंगः कादंबिन्या यथा जलम् । तव शुश्रूषणान्मातरभवं सकलोद्भवः ५१। समस्तजनपूज्याया विद्याया इव मूढधीः । तव मातामही दत्तः शापोऽप्यासीद्वरो मम ५२। तमृते पुत्रलाभो मे कुतस्तव च दर्शनम् । वरायैव तथाप्यंब समाराध्या भवादृशः । न हि कश्चिद्विषाकांक्षी महादेवात्त्रिवर्गदात् ५३। देवल उवाच- श्रुत्वेति तद्वचः सा गौः प्रसन्ना साधुसाध्विति । आभाष्य हि महादर्पा ययौ तेन सहाश्रमम् ५४। पूर्वेद्युरिव तत्रापि पूजिता राजभार्यया । प्रसन्ना सा बभौ धेनुः कार्यसिद्धिरिवांगभाक् ५५। मुखं प्रसन्नमालक्ष्य मृगाक्षी सा क्षितीशितुः । अज्ञासीत्तं निजं कार्यं सिद्धं यत्नस्तु यत्कृते ५६। अथ तौ दंपती धेन्वा विधिवद्विहितार्चया । तया सह गुरोरग्रे कृतकृत्यस्य जग्मतुः ५७। निरीक्ष्य तौ मुनिवरः प्रसन्नमुखपंकजौ । अतींद्रियज्ञाननिधिः प्रोवाचेदं प्रहर्षयन् ५८। वसिष्ठ उवाच- राजञ्जानामि गौरेषा प्रसन्ना वामभूत्किल । अपूर्वा युवयोरद्य मुखकांतिर्हि लक्ष्यते ५९। सुरभिः सुरशाखी च विश्रुतौ कामपूरिणौ । तदपत्यं समाराध्य सिद्धोऽथ स्यात्किमद्भुतम् ६०। यो ददाति निखिलं मनोरथं कीर्तितेयमनघापि दूरतः । श्रद्धया निकट एव सेविता किं पुनः सुरतरंगिणीव सा ६१। ज्ञानतो विदितमद्भुतं मया त्वत्कृतं यदनया परीक्षणम् । भूपते त्वमपि धर्ममात्मनो रक्षसि स्म च यथा च तत् ६२। त्वय्यसौ मम मनोऽनुकूलतां भावमात्मनि विबुध्यते तथा । तुष्यति स्म कमला यथा हरेः पार्वतीव गिरिशस्य सज्जते ६३। रात्रिरत्र सहाभार्ययानया धेनुपूजनपरेण नीयताम् । भूपभव्य भवता गमिष्यते श्वः समाप्तविधिना निजांपुरीम् ६४। देवल उवाच- वैश्यैवं धेनुमाराध्य सभार्यः प्राप्तवांछितः । प्रातर्युक्तरथः प्राप्य गुरोराज्ञामगाद्गृहम् ६५। कतिचिद्वासरैस्तस्य दिलीपस्याभवद्रघुः । यस्य नाम्ना रघोर्वंशः पृथिव्यां विश्रुतोऽभवत् ६६। यः पठिष्यति भूपस्य दिलीपस्य कथामिमाम् । धनं धान्यं सुतं वैश्य लप्स्यते स पुमानिह ६७। शरभवरसुताप्तये स्वबुद्ध्या सममनया परितोषयाशु गौरीम् । त्वमपि कुलधुरं गुणान्वितं सा सुतमनघं खलु दास्यते च तुभ्यम् ६८। शिवशर्मोवाच- मुनिरिति चरितं दिलीपराज्ञो ललिततरं शरभाय पुण्यमुक्त्वा । अभिमतगतमात्मनः प्रपेदे विधिमुपदिश्य च पूज जनेंबिकायाः ६९। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे कालिंदीमाहात्म्ये त्र्यधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः २०३।

devala uvāca| athoṣasi narādhīśaḥ pūjitāṃ kusumādibhiḥ | mahiṣyā naṃdinīṃ dhenuṃ nītvāraṇyaṃ jagāma saḥ 1| gacchaṃtīmanu tāṃ devīṃ chāyeva nṛpatiryayau | khādaṃtīmanuśaṣpādi so'pi mūlādyabhakṣayat 2| tarucchāyāmupāsīnāmanu so'pyupaviṣṭavān | pibaṃtīmanupānīyaṃ rājāpi salilaṃ papau 3| sa ca rājā mṛdugrāsairdaṃśāpanayanena ca | kaṃḍūyanaiḥ kāmadhenuṃ gurorevamasevata 4| atha pratyāśramaṃ sāyaṃ nyavarttaṃta mahīpateḥ | aṃgaṃ pavitrayaṃtī sā khuroddhūtairajaḥkaṇaiḥ 5| adhobhāreṇa guruṇā gacchaṃtī maṃtharaṃ babhau | mahīpālamahatkāryabhārākrāṃteva naṃdinī 6| tāṃ munerāśramābhyāśe rājñī pratyujjagāma ha | caṃdanākṣatanaivedyadhūpādīnupanīya ca 7| tāṃ pūjayitvā vidhivatpraṇamya ca punaḥ punaḥ | kṛtvā pradakṣiṇaṃ rājñī tasthau prāṃjaliragrataḥ 8| sā gṛhītvā ca tāṃ pūjāṃ vihitāṃ śraddhayā tayā | rājñā niścalamāsthāya yayau tābhyāṃ sahāśramam 9| ārādhayati tāmevaṃ dilīpe tu dṛḍhavrate | ekādhikā vyatīyāya dinānāṃ vaiśya viṃśatiḥ 10| atha bhūmipatestasya bhāvajijñāsayā tu sā | viveśa nirbhayasvāṃtā saśaṣpāṃ himavadguhām 11| paśyatā himavatsānu śobhāmatha mahībhṛtā | alakṣitāgamaḥ siṃho balājjagrāha naṃdinīm 12| sā cakraṃda bhṛśaṃ dhenurduḥkhiteva dayāsvanā | citte dhanurbhṛtastasya janayaṃtī dayodayam 13| tadākraṃditamākarṇya tasyāḥ sa jagatīpatiḥ | himavatsānusaṃlagnāṃ nijadṛṣṭiṃ nyavarttayat 14| uparyupari tāṃ dhenuṃ sravadaśrumukhīṃ nṛpaḥ | tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭranakhaṃ siṃhaṃ dṛṣṭvā sa vyathito'bhavat 15| gṛhītāṃ tena siṃhena tāmālakṣya dhanurddharaḥ | niṣaṃgādbāṇamuddhartuṃ prāhiṇoddakṣiṇaṃ bhujam 16| bāṇamuddhṛtya tūṇīrānnihaṃtuṃ taṃ mṛgādhipam | guṇenāpūrṇamāyojya cakarṣa vasudhādhipaḥ 17| jaḍībhūtaḥ samastāṃgastatsiṃhālokanena saḥ | nāśakadbāṇamutsṛṣṭuṃ rājāsīdvismitastataḥ 18| tādṛśaṃ nṛpamālakṣya jagāda sa mṛgādhipaḥ | naravācā bhṛśaṃ bhūyo vismayaṃ prāpayannidam 19| siṃha uvāca- dilīpaṃ tvāmahaṃ rājanjānāmi ravivaṃśajam | tvaṃ ca jānīhi māṃ śaṃbhorgaṇaṃ kuṃbhodarābhidham 20| devadārurayaṃ yaste varttate dṛṣṭagocare | pārvatyāputravadvīra pālitaḥ snigdhacittayā 21| ekadāmuṣyavanyena gajenāgharṣatā kaṭam | udapāṭi mahārāja valkalaṃ mṛdulaṃ bhṛśam 22| enaṃ tādṛśamālakṣya mṛḍānī karuṇānvitā | māmatra sthāpayāmāsa siṃhaṃ kṛtvāsya rakṣaṇe 23| mamāha ceti sā devī kuṃbhodara niśamyatām | yo'tra jaṃtuḥ samāgacchettaṃ khādestvaṃ vasanniha 24| tataḥ prabhṛti rājeṃdra tadājñāṃ pālayannaham | pālitāṃ tridaśaiḥ sarvaiḥ kaṃdare'tra vasāmyaham 25| jaḍībhāve svadehasya tvayā kāryo na vismayaḥ | mahatī śāṃbhavī māyā varttate'tra himācale 26| anyasminniva siṃhe tvaṃ prahartuṃ na mayi kṣamaḥ | yato matpṛṣṭhamāruhya vṛṣamārohati prabhuḥ 27| nivarttasva nijaṃ dehaṃ rakṣa sarvārthasādhanam | daivenāsāditā vīra gauriyaṃ bhakṣaṇāya me 28| devala uvāca- ityākarṇya vacastasya vīrasaṃbodhanānvitam | pratyuvāca dilīpastaṃ sa jaḍībhūtavigrahaḥ 29| rājovāca- sargasthitivisargāṇāṃ kāraṇaṃ jagataḥ śivam | aṃbikāṃ jagadaṃbāṃ ca namāmi mṛgarāja tau 30| tvaṃ ca tatsevakatvena mānyo mama mṛgādhipa | bravīmi yadahaṃ vākyaṃ śrutvā śādhi karomi kim 31| vasiṣṭho brahmaṇaḥ putro gururno viditastava | tasyeyaṃ naṃdinīnāma dhenuḥ sarvārthasādhikā 32| saṃtānotpattaye tena dattārādhayituṃ mama | yeyamārādhitā samyakdināni katicinmayā 33| laghutarṇaka māteyaṃ dhṛtā te girikaṃdare | śuṃbhubhṛtyādbalāttvattośaktāmocayituṃmayā 34| ahaṃ tasya muneragre gacchāmyenāmṛte katham | kāmadhenostu dauhitrī jagatsevyā yaśasvinī 35| anayā sadṛśī nānyā gauryayā toṣayāmi tam | tasmādvimucya gāmenāmagryāṃ kuru nijāśanam 36| dadāmi dehamātmīyamapakīrtimalīmasam | evaṃ na dharmahāniḥ syādṛṣestava tu bhojanam | gavārthe tyajataḥ prāṇānmamāpi gatiruttamā 37| devala uvāca- evamākarṇya siṃhena kṛte maune viśāṃpate | tadagre'vāṅmukho rājā nyapataddharmakovidaḥ 38| tasya pratīkṣamāṇasya siṃhapātaṃ suduḥsaham | papātopari puṣpāṇāṃ vṛṣṭirmuktā sureśvaraiḥ 39| putrottiṣṭheti vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā sa utthitaḥ | jananīmiva tāṃ dhenuṃ dadarśa na mṛgādhipam 40| taṃ vismitamuvācedaṃ naṃdinī nṛpasattamam | naṃdinyuvāca- māyayā siṃharūpiṇyā tvaṃ mayāsi parīkṣitaḥ 41| muniprabhāvānmāṃ rājangṛhītuṃ na kṣamoṃ'takaḥ | manasāpi kuto'nyeṣāṃ yadgrahe śaktiraṃginām 42| svaśarīrasya dānena tvaṃ māṃ rakṣitumudyataḥ | ataste'haṃ prasannāsmi vṛṇīṣva varamīpsitam 43| rājovāca- na guptaṃ dehināmaṃtarvartivṛttaṃ bhavādṛśam | ato janani jānāsi vāṃcchitaṃ mama dehi tat 44| magadheśasutāyāṃ me vaṃśakartāramātmajam | prayaccha kiṃcitsvacchānāṃ nāsādhyaṃ hi bhavādṛśām 45| ityuktvāṃjalimādhāya tatpurastasthivānnṛpaḥ | tūṣṇīṃ taduttarāpekṣī tatpurobaddhalocanaḥ 46| devala uvāca- niśamyeti vacastasya bhūpateridamabravīt | naṃdinī pitṛdevarṣinarabhūtārthasādhikā 47| nandinyuvāca- putra patrapuṭe dugdhvā payo mama pibepsitam | āśrame guruṇājñaptaḥ punaḥ pāsyasi śeṣitam 48| bhavitā vaṃśakartā te sutaḥ śastrāstratatvavit | devala uvāca- ityuktaḥ saurabheyyā tāmuvāca vinayena saḥ 49| dilīpa uvāca- mātastavaiva pāsyāmi śeṣaṃ sarvakriyāvidheḥ | tṛpto'haṃ mātarāsādya miṣṭaṃ te vacanāmṛtam 50| nānyadicchāmi sāraṃgaḥ kādaṃbinyā yathā jalam | tava śuśrūṣaṇānmātarabhavaṃ sakalodbhavaḥ 51| samastajanapūjyāyā vidyāyā iva mūḍhadhīḥ | tava mātāmahī dattaḥ śāpo'pyāsīdvaro mama 52| tamṛte putralābho me kutastava ca darśanam | varāyaiva tathāpyaṃba samārādhyā bhavādṛśaḥ | na hi kaścidviṣākāṃkṣī mahādevāttrivargadāt 53| devala uvāca- śrutveti tadvacaḥ sā gauḥ prasannā sādhusādhviti | ābhāṣya hi mahādarpā yayau tena sahāśramam 54| pūrvedyuriva tatrāpi pūjitā rājabhāryayā | prasannā sā babhau dhenuḥ kāryasiddhirivāṃgabhāk 55| mukhaṃ prasannamālakṣya mṛgākṣī sā kṣitīśituḥ | ajñāsīttaṃ nijaṃ kāryaṃ siddhaṃ yatnastu yatkṛte 56| atha tau daṃpatī dhenvā vidhivadvihitārcayā | tayā saha guroragre kṛtakṛtyasya jagmatuḥ 57| nirīkṣya tau munivaraḥ prasannamukhapaṃkajau | atīṃdriyajñānanidhiḥ provācedaṃ praharṣayan 58| vasiṣṭha uvāca- rājañjānāmi gaureṣā prasannā vāmabhūtkila | apūrvā yuvayoradya mukhakāṃtirhi lakṣyate 59| surabhiḥ suraśākhī ca viśrutau kāmapūriṇau | tadapatyaṃ samārādhya siddho'tha syātkimadbhutam 60| yo dadāti nikhilaṃ manorathaṃ kīrtiteyamanaghāpi dūrataḥ | śraddhayā nikaṭa eva sevitā kiṃ punaḥ surataraṃgiṇīva sā 61| jñānato viditamadbhutaṃ mayā tvatkṛtaṃ yadanayā parīkṣaṇam | bhūpate tvamapi dharmamātmano rakṣasi sma ca yathā ca tat 62| tvayyasau mama mano'nukūlatāṃ bhāvamātmani vibudhyate tathā | tuṣyati sma kamalā yathā hareḥ pārvatīva giriśasya sajjate 63| rātriratra sahābhāryayānayā dhenupūjanapareṇa nīyatām | bhūpabhavya bhavatā gamiṣyate śvaḥ samāptavidhinā nijāṃpurīm 64| devala uvāca- vaiśyaivaṃ dhenumārādhya sabhāryaḥ prāptavāṃchitaḥ | prātaryuktarathaḥ prāpya gurorājñāmagādgṛham 65| katicidvāsaraistasya dilīpasyābhavadraghuḥ | yasya nāmnā raghorvaṃśaḥ pṛthivyāṃ viśruto'bhavat 66| yaḥ paṭhiṣyati bhūpasya dilīpasya kathāmimām | dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ sutaṃ vaiśya lapsyate sa pumāniha 67| śarabhavarasutāptaye svabuddhyā samamanayā paritoṣayāśu gaurīm | tvamapi kuladhuraṃ guṇānvitaṃ sā sutamanaghaṃ khalu dāsyate ca tubhyam 68| śivaśarmovāca- muniriti caritaṃ dilīparājño lalitataraṃ śarabhāya puṇyamuktvā | abhimatagatamātmanaḥ prapede vidhimupadiśya ca pūja janeṃbikāyāḥ 69| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe kāliṃdīmāhātmye tryadhikadviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 203|

English translation

Devala said :

1-19. Then in the morning, the king taking (with him) the cow Nandinī worshipped by the queen with flowers went to the forest. Like her shadow the king followed the divine (cow). He too ate roots etc. after she had eaten young grass etc. After she had sat in the shade of a tree, he sat there. He drank water after she had drunk. The king thus served the preceptor’s desire-yielding cow by (offering her) soft grass, driving away flies and scratching her (body). Purifying the king’s body with dust-particles raised by her hoofs, she returned to the hermitage in the evening. Nandinī, as it were, loaded with the great burden of the mission of the king, appeared to be going slowly bent by the great burden. The queen taking to her sandal, sacred rice grains, articles of food, incense etc. went forth to (greet) her near the hermitage in the evening. The queen after duly worshipping and repeatedly saluting her and having gone round her keeping her to her right, stood before her with the palms of her hands joined. She (i.e. the cow) remaining steady accepted that worship devoutly offered by the queen and went to the hermitage with the two. O vaiśya , when Dilīpa of a firm vow was thus propitiating her, twenty-one days passed. Then, with a desire to know that king’s devotion, she, of a fearless heart, entered Himālaya ’s cave containing young grass. A lion whose arrival was not noticed by the king observing the beauty of the Himālayan peaks, forcibly seized Nandinī. The cow, as it were, afflicted, wailed much with a piteous sound, (thus) producing pity in the heart of the king. Then hearing her wailing, the lord of the world withdrew his eyes from the peaks of Himālaya. The king seeing a lion of sharp claws (seated) upon the cow with tears flowing on her face, was afflicted. Seeing her seized by the lion, the archer put his right hand (on his back) to take out an arrow from the quiver. The lord of the earth, taking out an arrow from the quiver, fixing the arrow on the string, fully drew the string to kill the lion. When the lion looked towards him, his entire body was paralysed. The king could not discharge the arrow. He, therefore, was amazed. Seeing the king like that, the lion, making him still more amazed, spoke in a human voice.

The lion said :

20-28. O king, I know you to be Dilīpa, born in the solar family. You too know me to be Śiva ’s attendant called Kumbhodara. O hero, this devadāru (tree) which is within the range of your sight is protected by Pārvatī of an affectionate heart like her (own) son. Once, O great king, the soft bark of this (tree) was very much torn by a wild elephant scratching his temples (against it). Noticing it like that, Pārvatī, full of pity, kept me, turning me into a lion, here, to protect it. And she said to me: “O Kumbhodara, listen. Living here you eat whichever animal would come here.” Since then, O best king, I, obeying her order, obeyed by all gods, have been staying in this cave. You should not be amazed at your body being paralysed. On this Himalaya Mountain Śambhu ’s great Māyā prevails. You cannot strike me like another (ordinary) lion, as the lord (Śiva) mounts on Nandin after getting on my back. O hero, go back; protect this (your) body, the means of (accomplishing) all objects. This cow has come as my prey through destiny.

Devala said :

29. Hearing these words of him, along with the address as ‘O hero’, the king with his body paralysed replied to him:

The king said :

30-37. O lord of beasts, I salute Śiva, the cause of the creation, maintenance and destruction of the world, and Pārvatī, the mother of the world. O lord of beasts, as their servant you are respectable to me. Having heard the words which I (shall) speak, direct me as to what I (should) do. You know, Vasiṣṭha , Brahmā ’s son, is our preceptor. This is his cow, Nandinī by name, accomplishing all objects. He has given (i.e entrusted) her to me to propitiate her for the birth of a child (to me). For a few days she has been properly propitiated by me. This mother of a young calf is seized by you in the mountain-cave. It is not possible for me to release her forcibly from (you), a servant of Śiva. How can I go to that sage without her? She is the granddaughter of the desire-yielding cow, fit to be served by the world. There is no other cow like this with which I shall please him. Therefore, release this best cow, and have me for your meal. I give you my body tarnished by infamy. (Having done) like this, there will not be the loss of the sage’s religious rite, and you will also have your meal. I, giving up my life for the cow, shall reach an excellent position (i.e. salvation).

Devala said :

38-41a. O best merchant, when the lion, on hearing this, remained silent, the king, conversant with religious practices, lay, looking up, before him. On him who was expecting the very unbearable jump of the lion fell the shower of flowers dropped by best gods. Hearing the words, ‘O son, get up’, the king got up. He saw (there) the cow like (his) mother and not the lion. To him, who was amazed, Nandinī said:

Nandinī said :

41b-43. By means of the illusion in the form of the lion, I tested you. O king, due to the sage’s power (even) Yama cannot think of seizing me; then what other animals can to do so? By offering your own body you were ready to protect me. Therefore, I am pleased with you. Ask for your desired boon.

The king said :

44-47. For (deities) like you there is nothing that is concealed in the (hearts of) beings. Therefore, O mother, you know it. Give it to me. Give me a son, continuing my family, born to the daughter of the king of Magadha . For pure ones like you, nothing is impossible.

Saying so the king with his eyes fixed stood before her in silence with his palms joined and expecting a reply from her.

Devala said :

Hearing these words of the king, Nandinī, accomplishing the objects of the manes, gods, sages, men and (other) beings said these words:

Nandinī said :

48-49a. From a cup made of leaves drink to your satisfaction my milk, O son. Ordered by the preceptor you will again drink the remaining in the hermitage. You will have a son, continuing your family and knowing (the use of) weapons and missiles.

Devala said :

49b. Thus addressed by that granddaughter of Surabhi , he politely said to her:

Dilīpa said :

50-53. O mother, I shall drink the remnant of your (milk) only after the completion of the rite. Having drunk the nectar of your favourable words I am satiated. I do not desire anything else like a cātaka desiring water from the row of clouds (only). Having served you I have had the source of everything as a dullard has due to learning honoured by all men. Even the curse given by your grandmother has become a boon for me. Wherefrom, except you, can I get a son? How could I have had your sight? It has led to a boon only. O mother, (deities) like you are to be propitiated. Nobody would desire poison from Mahādeva , giving the three goals of human life.

Devala said :

54-58. Hearing these words, the cow, being pleased, said: “Well (said), well (said)”, and being very proud, went with him to the hermitage. As on the previous day, the king’s wife worshipped her on that day also. The cow, as it were, the accomplishment of (the king’s) object embodied, became pleased. The lotus-eyed (wife) of the king, seeing the pleased face of the king, knew that the object for which an effort was made, has been accomplished. Then the couple, along with the cow to whom worship was duly offered, went to the blessed preceptor. The best sage, the treasure of suprasensual knowledge, seeing them with their lotus-like faces pleased, delighting them, said:

Vasiṣṭha said :

59-64. O king, I know the cow is pleased (with you), for the lustre on your face today appears to be unprecedented. Surabhi (the divine, desire-yielding cow) and the divine tree are known to fulfil desires (of beings). Having propitiated her (grand-)child, if the object is accomplished, what wonder is there? The tree gives every desired (object). She (i.e. Surabhi), the innocent one, even though remembered from a distance (gives the desired object). Then, what will she not give like the divine river, when devoutly served (by remaining) in her vicinity only? Through my (supernatural) knowledge, I knew the test given to you by her. O king, you too preserve your righteousness as I am favourably inclined to you, as devotion is to the supreme soul, Lakṣmī is pleased with Viṣṇu , or Pārvatī is attached to Śiva. Highly devoted to the worship of the cow, you with your wife, pass the night here. O great king, you who have completed the rite will go to your city tomorrow.

Devala said :

65-68. O merchant, he, having, along with his wife, thus propitiated the cow, having obtained his desired object, having furnished his chariot, secured his preceptor’s order, and went home. After a few days Raghu was born to that Dilīpa. The race of Raghu is well-known on the earth by his (i.e. Raghu’s) name. O merchant, that man who will read this account of Dilīpa, will obtain wealth, grains, sons on the earth. O excellent Śarabha , you too, along with this (your wife), worship according to your own way and quickly propitiate Gaurī . She will also give you a son, the chief of your family, endowed with virtues, and sinless.

Śivaśarman said :

69. The sage, having narrated this very charming and auspicious account of Dilīpa to Śarabha, and having instructed him as to the manner of worshipping Ambikā , took to his desired path.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44945, revision 336616 (2022-04-25T13:36:53Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365787.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.