मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।
३.२७८.१
अथ मद्राधिपो राजा नारदेन समागतः ।
उपविष्टः सभामध्ये कथायोगेन भारत ॥
उपविष्टः सभामध्ये कथायोगेन भारत ॥
M N Dutt
Markandeya said : OBharata, (one day) when that monarch, the king of the Madra, joined by Narada and seated in the midst of his court, was conversing with him.
३.२७८.२
ततोऽभिगम्य तीर्थानि सर्वाण्येवाश्रमांस्तथा ।
आजगाम पितुर्वेश्म सावित्री सह मन्त्रिभिः ॥
आजगाम पितुर्वेश्म सावित्री सह मन्त्रिभिः ॥
M N Dutt
Savitri, after visiting all the Tirthas and the hermitages, came to the abode of her father together with the ministers.
३.२७८.३
नारदेन सहासीनं दृष्ट्वा सा पितरं शुभा ।
उभयोरेव शिरसा चक्रे पादाभिवन्दनम् ॥
उभयोरेव शिरसा चक्रे पादाभिवन्दनम् ॥
M N Dutt
That auspicious one, seeing her father seated with Narada, bowed down to the feet of both with her head.
नारद उवाच ।
३.२७८.४
क्व गताभूत्सुतेयं ते कुतश्चैवागता नृप ।
किमर्थं युवतीं भर्त्रे न चैनां संप्रयच्छसि ॥
किमर्थं युवतीं भर्त्रे न चैनां संप्रयच्छसि ॥
M N Dutt
Narada said: O king, where did this your daughter go to and where does she come from? Why do you not bestow this youthful (damsel) on a husband?
अश्वपतिरुवाच ।
३.२७८.५
कार्येण खल्वनेनैव प्रेषिताद्यैव चागता ।
तदस्याः शृणु देवर्षे भर्तारं योऽनया वृतः ॥
तदस्याः शृणु देवर्षे भर्तारं योऽनया वृतः ॥
M N Dutt
Ashyapati said : She was sent on that very business and she is just now come. Hear, O divine sage, from her, whom she has chosen for her husband.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।
३.२७८.६
सा ब्रूहि विस्तरेणेति पित्रा संचोदिता शुभा ।
दैवतस्येव वचनं प्रतिगृह्येदमब्रवीत् ॥
दैवतस्येव वचनं प्रतिगृह्येदमब्रवीत् ॥
M N Dutt
Markandeya said : That auspicious one, at the command of her father to relate everything in detail, regarded his words like those of a god and said thus,
३.२७८.७
आसीच्छाल्वेषु धर्मात्मा क्षत्रियः पृथिवीपतिः ।
द्युमत्सेन इति ख्यातः पश्चादन्धो बभूव ह ॥
द्युमत्सेन इति ख्यातः पश्चादन्धो बभूव ह ॥
M N Dutt
Savitri said : There was, in Shalya, a pious Kshatriya king, Dyumatsena by name, who lost his eyes in course of time.
३.२७८.८
विनष्टचक्षुषस्तस्य बालपुत्रस्य धीमतः ।
सामीप्येन हृतं राज्यं छिद्रेऽस्मिन्पूर्ववैरिणा ॥
सामीप्येन हृतं राज्यं छिद्रेऽस्मिन्पूर्ववैरिणा ॥
M N Dutt
That intellectual (monarch) who had an only infant son, having lost his eyes, a neighbouring enemy who bore him an old grudge, taking advantage of his blindness, seized his kingdom.
३.२७८.९
स बालवत्सया सार्धं भार्यया प्रस्थितो वनम् ।
महारण्यगतश्चापि तपस्तेपे महाव्रतः ॥
महारण्यगतश्चापि तपस्तेपे महाव्रतः ॥
M N Dutt
(Deprived of his kingdom), he (Dyumatsena) accompanied by his wife with the infant at her breast, retired to the woods. And having gone to a great forest, he, observant of rigid vows, began to practise asceticism.
३.२७८.१०
तस्य पुत्रः पुरे जातः संवृद्धश्च तपोवने ।
सत्यवाननुरूपो मे भर्तेति मनसा वृतः ॥
सत्यवाननुरूपो मे भर्तेति मनसा वृतः ॥
M N Dutt
His son, Satyavana (by name), born in the city and brought up in the hermitage, is my fit husband and I have wedded him in my mind.
नारद उवाच ।
३.२७८.११
अहो बत महत्पापं सावित्र्या नृपते कृतम् ।
अजानन्त्या यदनया गुणवान्सत्यवान्वृतः ॥
अजानन्त्या यदनया गुणवान्सत्यवान्वृतः ॥
M N Dutt
Narada said: Alas, O king, Savitri has done a very foolish act in as much as she, has through ignorance, chosen for her husband, Satyavana endued with (high) qualities.
३.२७८.१२
सत्यं वदत्यस्य पिता सत्यं माता प्रभाषते ।
ततोऽस्य ब्राह्मणाश्चक्रुर्नामैतत्सत्यवानिति ॥
ततोऽस्य ब्राह्मणाश्चक्रुर्नामैतत्सत्यवानिति ॥
M N Dutt
It is because his father is (ever) truthful and his mother speaks the truth, that the Brahmanas have named him Satyavana (i.e. truthful).
३.२७८.१३
बालस्याश्वाः प्रियाश्चास्य करोत्यश्वांश्च मृन्मयान् ।
चित्रेऽपि च लिखत्यश्वांश्चित्राश्व इति चोच्यते ॥
चित्रेऽपि च लिखत्यश्वांश्चित्राश्व इति चोच्यते ॥
M N Dutt
In his boyhood he was very fond of horses, made horses of clay and painted them. Therefore he is (sometimes) called Chitrashva (i.e. one who paints horses)
राजोवाच ।
३.२७८.१४
अपीदानीं स तेजस्वी बुद्धिमान्वा नृपात्मजः ।
क्षमावानपि वा शूरः सत्यवान्पितृनन्दनः ॥
क्षमावानपि वा शूरः सत्यवान्पितृनन्दनः ॥
M N Dutt
The King said: Is now the prince Satyavana, who is attached to his father, energetic, intelligent, forgiving and brave?
नारद उवाच ।
३.२७८.१५
विवस्वानिव तेजस्वी बृहस्पतिसमो मतौ ।
महेन्द्र इव शूरश्च वसुधेव क्षमान्वितः ॥
महेन्द्र इव शूरश्च वसुधेव क्षमान्वितः ॥
M N Dutt
Narada said: He is energetic as Vibhavasu (the sun), wise as Brihaspati, heroic as Mahendra and forgiving as the earth.
अश्वपतिरुवाच ।
३.२७८.१६
अपि राजात्मजो दाता ब्रह्मण्यो वापि सत्यवान् ।
रूपवानप्युदारो वाप्यथ वा प्रियदर्शनः ॥
रूपवानप्युदारो वाप्यथ वा प्रियदर्शनः ॥
M N Dutt
Ashvapati said : Is the king's son, Satyavana, charitable, devoted to the Brahmanas, handsome, largehearted and of amiable appearance?
नारद उवाच ।
३.२७८.१७
साङ्कृते रन्तिदेवस्य स शक्त्या दानतः समः ।
ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवादी च शिबिरौशीनरो यथा ॥
ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवादी च शिबिरौशीनरो यथा ॥
M N Dutt
Narada said : With regard to charity commensurate with his means, he is equal to Rantideva, the son of Sankriti and he is as devoted to the Brahmanas and as truthful as Shibi, the son of Ushinara.
३.२७८.१८
ययातिरिव चोदारः सोमवत्प्रियदर्शनः ।
रूपेणान्यतमोऽश्विभ्यां द्युमत्सेनसुतो बली ॥
रूपेणान्यतमोऽश्विभ्यां द्युमत्सेनसुतो बली ॥
M N Dutt
The heroic Satyavana is equal to Yayati in magnanimity, is as lovely to look at as the moon and is as beautiful as either of the twin Ashvinis.
३.२७८.१९
स दान्तः स मृदुः शूरः स सत्यः स जितेन्द्रियः ।
स मैत्रः सोऽनसूयश्च स ह्रीमान्धृतिमांश्च सः ॥
स मैत्रः सोऽनसूयश्च स ह्रीमान्धृतिमांश्च सः ॥
M N Dutt
He is (moreover) possessed of self-restraint, is meek, heroic, truthful, of subdued senses, faithful to his friends, free from malice, modest and patient.
३.२७८.२०
नित्यशश्चार्जवं तस्मिन्स्थितिस्तस्यैव च ध्रुवा ।
संक्षेपतस्तपोवृद्धैः शीलवृद्धैश्च कथ्यते ॥
संक्षेपतस्तपोवृद्धैः शीलवृद्धैश्च कथ्यते ॥
M N Dutt
To be brief, men of great asceticism and of high character say that he (Satyavana) is ever plain and firm in honour.
अश्वपतिरुवाच ।
३.२७८.२१
गुणैरुपेतं सर्वैस्तं भगवन्प्रब्रवीषि मे ।
दोषानप्यस्य मे ब्रूहि यदि सन्तीह केचन ॥
दोषानप्यस्य मे ब्रूहि यदि सन्तीह केचन ॥
M N Dutt
Ashvapati said: O adorable one, you have described him as possessed of all noble qualities. Now tell me of his defects, if there be any.
नारद उवाच ।
३.२७८.२२
एको दोषोऽस्य नान्योऽस्ति सोऽद्य प्रभृति सत्यवान् ।
संवत्सरेण क्षीणायुर्देहन्यासं करिष्यति ॥
संवत्सरेण क्षीणायुर्देहन्यासं करिष्यति ॥
M N Dutt
He has only one defect and no other. Satyavana who has a little of life in store for him, will, within a year from this day, breathe his last.
राजोवाच ।
३.२७८.२३
एहि सावित्रि गच्छ त्वमन्यं वरय शोभने ।
तस्य दोषो महानेको गुणानाक्रम्य तिष्ठति ॥
तस्य दोषो महानेको गुणानाक्रम्य तिष्ठति ॥
M N Dutt
The King said: O beautiful Savitri, go and seek another for your husband. He has a great defect which lies surpassing all his merits.
३.२७८.२४
यथा मे भगवानाह नारदो देवसत्कृतः ।
संवत्सरेण सोऽल्पायुर्देहन्यासं करिष्यति ॥
संवत्सरेण सोऽल्पायुर्देहन्यासं करिष्यति ॥
M N Dutt
The divine Narada, who is honoured by the celestials, tells me that within a year, he, of short life, will give up the ghost.
सावित्र्युवाच ।
३.२७८.२५
सकृदंशो निपतति सकृत्कन्या प्रदीयते ।
सकृदाह ददानीति त्रीण्येतानि सकृत्सकृत् ॥
सकृदाह ददानीति त्रीण्येतानि सकृत्सकृत् ॥
M N Dutt
Savitri said: The die falls but once and the daughter can once be bestowed. The words "I bestow" are uttered but once and once only these three things occur.
३.२७८.२६
दीर्घायुरथ वाल्पायुः सगुणो निर्गुणोऽपि वा ।
सकृद्वृतो मया भर्ता न द्वितीयं वृणोम्यहम् ॥
सकृद्वृतो मया भर्ता न द्वितीयं वृणोम्यहम् ॥
M N Dutt
Whether his life be long or short, whether he be gifted with (noble) qualities or destitute of them, I have for once, chosen him for my husband and will not select any other a second time.
३.२७८.२७
मनसा निश्चयं कृत्वा ततो वाचाभिधीयते ।
क्रियते कर्मणा पश्चात्प्रमाणं मे मनस्ततः ॥
क्रियते कर्मणा पश्चात्प्रमाणं मे मनस्ततः ॥
M N Dutt
Having (first) settled a thing in mind, it is then expressed in words and is ultimately given effect to by (external) acts. My (own) mind is a proof of this.
नारद उवाच ।
३.२७८.२८
स्थिरा बुद्धिर्नरश्रेष्ठ सावित्र्या दुहितुस्तव ।
नैषा चालयितुं शक्या धर्मादस्मात्कथंचन ॥
नैषा चालयितुं शक्या धर्मादस्मात्कथंचन ॥
M N Dutt
Narada said: O best of men, your daughter is firm in her resolve. It is impossible to wean her away from virtue.
३.२७८.२९
नान्यस्मिन्पुरुषे सन्ति ये सत्यवति वै गुणाः ।
प्रदानमेव तस्मान्मे रोचते दुहितुस्तव ॥
प्रदानमेव तस्मान्मे रोचते दुहितुस्तव ॥
M N Dutt
The qualities that are present in Satyavana are wanting in any other person. Therefore I command the bestowal of your daughter (on Satyavana).
राजोवाच ।
३.२७८.३०
अविचार्यमेतदुक्तं हि तथ्यं भगवता वचः ।
करिष्याम्येतदेवं च गुरुर्हि भगवान्मम ॥
करिष्याम्येतदेवं च गुरुर्हि भगवान्मम ॥
M N Dutt
The King said: The words of your respectable self are true and should never be dishonoured. Since O adorable one, you are my preceptor I will do as directed by you.
नारद उवाच ।
३.२७८.३१
अविघ्नमस्तु सावित्र्याः प्रदाने दुहितुस्तव ।
साधयिष्यामहे तावत्सर्वेषां भद्रमस्तु वः ॥
साधयिष्यामहे तावत्सर्वेषां भद्रमस्तु वः ॥
M N Dutt
Narada said: May your daughter Savitri, be given away without any obstruction. I shall now go away. May you be all happy.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।
३.२७८.३२
एवमुक्त्वा खमुत्पत्य नारदस्त्रिदिवं गतः ।
राजापि दुहितुः सर्वं वैवाहिकमकारयत् ॥
राजापि दुहितुः सर्वं वैवाहिकमकारयत् ॥
M N Dutt
Markandeya said : Saying this, Narada, soaring upwards, returned to heaven. And the king too began to ..jake preparations for the marriage of his daughter.
॥ इति ३.२७८ ॥
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