युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
१३.२२.१
न बिभेति कथं सा स्त्री शापस्य परमद्युतेः ।
कथं निवृत्तो भगवांस्तद्भवान्प्रब्रवीतु मे ॥
कथं निवृत्तो भगवांस्तद्भवान्प्रब्रवीतु मे ॥
M N Dutt
Yudhishthira said Tell me why had that lady no fear of Ashtavakra's curse although Ashtavakra was gified with great energy? How also did Ashtavakra succeed in returning from that palace?
भीष्म उवाच ।
१३.२२.२
अष्टावक्रोऽन्वपृच्छत्तां रूपं विकुरुषे कथम् ।
न चानृतं ते वक्तव्यं ब्रूहि ब्राह्मणकाम्यया ॥
न चानृतं ते वक्तव्यं ब्रूहि ब्राह्मणकाम्यया ॥
M N Dutt
Bhishma said Ashtavakra asked her, saying How do you change your form so? You should not say anything false. I wish to know this. Do you speak truly before a Brahmana.
स्त्र्युवाच ।
१३.२२.३
द्यावापृथिवीमात्रैषा काम्या ब्राह्मणसत्तम ।
शृणुष्वावहितः सर्वं यदिदं सत्यविक्रम ॥
शृणुष्वावहितः सर्वं यदिदं सत्यविक्रम ॥
M N Dutt
The lady said O best of Brahmanas, wherever you may live, in the celestial region or on Earth. This desire of union between the sexes is to be observed. O you of infallible prowess, hear with rapt attention, what it all is.
१३.२२.४
उत्तरां मां दिशं विद्धि दृष्टं स्त्रीचापलं च ते ।
अव्युत्थानेन ते लोका जिताः सत्यपराक्रम ॥
अव्युत्थानेन ते लोका जिताः सत्यपराक्रम ॥
M N Dutt
Know me as the embodiment of the Northern point of the compass. You have seen the lightness of the female character. Even old women are tortured by the desires of sexual union.
१३.२२.६
तुष्टः पितामहस्तेऽद्य तथा देवाः सवासवाः ।
स त्वं येन च कार्येण संप्राप्तो भगवानिह ॥
स त्वं येन च कार्येण संप्राप्तो भगवानिह ॥
M N Dutt
The grandfather himself and all the gods with Indra have been pleased with you. I know the object for which your illustrious self has come here.
१३.२२.७
प्रेषितस्तेन विप्रेण कन्यापित्रा द्विजर्षभ ।
तवोपदेशं कर्तुं वै तच्च सर्वं कृतं मया ॥
तवोपदेशं कर्तुं वै तच्च सर्वं कृतं मया ॥
M N Dutt
O foremost of twice born persons, you have been sent here by the Rishi Vadanya the father of your bride in order that I may instruct you. According to the wishes of that Rishi I have already instructed you.
१३.२२.८
क्षेमी गमिष्यसि गृहाञ्श्रमश्च न भविष्यति ।
कन्यां प्राप्स्यसि तां विप्र पुत्रिणी च भविष्यति ॥
कन्यां प्राप्स्यसि तां विप्र पुत्रिणी च भविष्यति ॥
M N Dutt
You will return home safely. Your journey back will not be toilsome. You will get for wife the girl you have chosen. She will bear you a son.
१३.२२.९
काम्यया पृष्टवांस्त्वं मां ततो व्याहृतमुत्तरम् ।
अनतिक्रमणीयैषा कृत्स्नैर्लोकैस्त्रिभिः सदा ॥
अनतिक्रमणीयैषा कृत्स्नैर्लोकैस्त्रिभिः सदा ॥
M N Dutt
Through desire I had solicited you. You gave me the very best answer. People of the three worlds cannot get over the desire for sexual union.
१३.२२.१०
गच्छस्व सुकृतं कृत्वा किं वान्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि ।
यावद्ब्रवीमि विप्रर्षे अष्टावक्र यथातथम् ॥
यावद्ब्रवीमि विप्रर्षे अष्टावक्र यथातथम् ॥
M N Dutt
Return to your quarters, having achieved such merit. What else is there which yo!' wish to hear (from me)? I shall truly describe it to you, O Ashtavakra.
१३.२२.११
ऋषिणा प्रसादिता चास्मि तव हेतोर्द्विजर्षभ ।
तस्य संमाननार्थं मे त्वयि वाक्यं प्रभाषितम् ॥
तस्य संमाननार्थं मे त्वयि वाक्यं प्रभाषितम् ॥
M N Dutt
I was gratified by the Rishi Vadanya in the first instance for your sake, Otwice born ascetic! For the sake of honouring him, I have said all this to you.
१३.२२.१२
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्याः स विप्रः प्राञ्जलिः स्थितः ।
अनुज्ञातस्तया चापि स्वगृहं पुनराव्रजत् ॥
अनुज्ञातस्तया चापि स्वगृहं पुनराव्रजत् ॥
M N Dutt
Bhishma said Hearing these words of hers, the twiceborn Ashtavakra joined his hands respectfully. He then begged the lady for her permission to return. Getting the permission he sought, he returned to his own hermitage.
१३.२२.१३
गृहमागम्य विश्रान्तः स्वजनं प्रतिपूज्य च ।
अभ्यगच्छत तं विप्रं न्यायतः कुरुनन्दन ॥
अभ्यगच्छत तं विप्रं न्यायतः कुरुनन्दन ॥
M N Dutt
Resting himself for sometime at home and getting the permission of his kinsmen and friends, he then, in a proper way, went, O delighter of the Kurus, to the Brahmana Vadanya.
१३.२२.१४
पृष्टश्च तेन विप्रेण दृष्टं त्वेतन्निदर्शनम् ।
प्राह विप्रं तदा विप्रः सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना ॥
प्राह विप्रं तदा विप्रः सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना ॥
M N Dutt
Welcomed with the usual enquiries by Vadanya the Rishi Ashtavakra, with a wellpleased heart described all that he had seen.
१३.२२.१५
भवताहमनुज्ञातः प्रस्थितो गन्धमादनम् ।
तस्य चोत्तरतो देशे दृष्टं तद्दैवतं महत् ॥
तस्य चोत्तरतो देशे दृष्टं तद्दैवतं महत् ॥
M N Dutt
He said ordered by you I proceeded to the mountains of Gandhamadana. In the quarter lying to the north of those mountains I saw a very superior goddess,
१३.२२.१६
तया चाहमनुज्ञातो भवांश्चापि प्रकीर्तितः ।
श्रावितश्चापि तद्वाक्यं गृहमभ्यागतः प्रभो ॥
श्रावितश्चापि तद्वाक्यं गृहमभ्यागतः प्रभो ॥
M N Dutt
I was received by her with courtesy. She named you before me, and also instructed me in various matters. Having listened to her I have returned,Olord.
१३.२२.१७
तमुवाच ततो विप्रः प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मे सुताम् ।
नक्षत्रतिथिसंयोगे पात्रं हि परमं भवान् ॥
नक्षत्रतिथिसंयोगे पात्रं हि परमं भवान् ॥
M N Dutt
The learned Vadanya said to him take my daughter's hand according to due rites and under the proper constellations. You are the fittest bridegroom I can select for the girl.
भीष्म उवाच ।
१३.२२.१८
अष्टावक्रस्तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रतिगृह्य च तां प्रभो ।
कन्यां परमधर्मात्मा प्रीतिमांश्चाभवत्तदा ॥
कन्यां परमधर्मात्मा प्रीतिमांश्चाभवत्तदा ॥
M N Dutt
Bhishma said Ashtavakra said So be it! and espoused the girl. Indeed, having married the girl, the highly pious Rishi became filled with joy.
१३.२२.१९
कन्यां तां प्रतिगृह्यैव भार्यां परमशोभनाम् ।
उवास मुदितस्तत्र आश्रमे स्वे गतज्वरः ॥
उवास मुदितस्तत्र आश्रमे स्वे गतज्वरः ॥
M N Dutt
Having taken as his wife that beautiful lady, the Rishi continued to live in his own hermitage freed from every sort of mental trouble.
॥ इति १३.२२ ॥
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