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Mahābhārata • Parva 13 (Anuśāsanaparva) • Adhyāya 19

Anuśāsanaparva Adhyāya 19

अनुशासनपर्व • अध्यायः 19

Anuśāsanaparva Adhyāya 19 of the classical Mahābhārata with 26 verses.

Total: 26 Verses • Citations: MBh 13.19.1–26 • 250 Lexicon Terms
यदिदं सहधर्मेति प्रोच्यते भरतर्षभ । पाणिग्रहणकाले तु स्त्रीणामेतत्कथं स्मृतम् ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said I ask, O foremost of Bharata's race, what is the origin of the declaration, about satisfying all duties jointly, which is made on the occasion of person's marriage.
आर्ष एष भवेद्धर्मः प्राजापत्योऽथ वासुरः । यदेतत्सहधर्मेति पूर्वमुक्तं महर्षिभिः ॥
English Translation
Is that declaration about satisfying all duties together due only to what is laid down by the great Rishis in days of yore, or does it refer to the duty of procreating children from religious motives, or has it reference to only the carnal pleasure that is expected from such an intercourse of the sexes?
संदेहः सुमहानेष विरुद्ध इति मे मतिः । इह यः सहधर्मो वै प्रेत्यायं विहितः क्व नु ॥
English Translation
Grcat is the doubt that fills my mind about. Indeed, I think that the declaration to which I refer is contrary to the natural impulses which lead to a union of the sexes. The union in this world for performing duties together ceases with death and is not to be seen to exit hereafter.
स्वर्गे मृतानां भवति सहधर्मः पितामह । पूर्वमेकस्तु म्रियते क्व चैकस्तिष्ठते वद ॥
English Translation
This union for doing all duties together leads to heaven. But heaven, O grandfather, is attained to by persons that are dead. It is seen of a married couple that only one dies at a time. Where does the other then remain. Do tell me this.
नानाकर्मफलोपेता नानाकर्मनिवासिनः । नानानिरयनिष्ठान्ता मानुषा बहवो यदा ॥
English Translation
Men obtain various kinds of fruits by performing various kinds of duties. The occupations, again, to which men-follow are of various kinds. Various, again are the hells to which they go on account of such diversity of duties and acts.
अनृताः स्त्रिय इत्येवं सूत्रकारो व्यवस्यति । यदानृताः स्त्रियस्तात सहधर्मः कुतः स्मृतः ॥
English Translation
The Rishis have said that women, in particular are false in behaviour. When human beings are such, land when women in particular are described in the Shastras to be false, how, O sire, can there be a union between the sexes for purposes of performing all duties together.
अनृताः स्त्रिय इत्येवं वेदेष्वपि हि पठ्यते । धर्मोऽयं पौर्विकी संज्ञा उपचारः क्रियाविधिः ॥
English Translation
In the very Vedas one may read that women are false, The word 'Duty', as used in the Vedas, appears to have been coined first for general application. Therefore the application of that word to the rites of marriage is, instead of being correct, only a form of speech forcibly applied where it has no application.
गह्वरं प्रतिभात्येतन्मम चिन्तयतोऽनिशम् । निःसंदेहमिदं सर्वं पितामह यथा श्रुतिः ॥
English Translation
The subject appears to be inexplicable although I think of it always. O grandfather, O you of great wisdom, you should explain this to me fully, clearly and according to the Shruti. In fact, do you explain to me what it is, what its characteristics are, and the way in which it has come to pass. to me
यदेतद्यादृशं चैतद्यथा चैतत्प्रवर्तितम् । निखिलेन महाप्राज्ञ भवानेतद्ब्रवीतु मे ॥
English Translation
The subject appears to be inexplicable although I think of it always. O grandfather, O you of great wisdom, you should explain this to me fully, clearly and according to the Shruti. In fact, do you explain to me what it is, what its characteristics are, and the way in which it has come to pass. to me
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । अष्टावक्रस्य संवादं दिशया सह भारत ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old discourse between Ashtavakra and the lady known by the name of Disha.
निवेष्टुकामस्तु पुरा अष्टावक्रो महातपाः । ऋषेरथ वदान्यस्य कन्यां वव्रे महात्मनः ॥
English Translation
Formerly Ashtavakra of austere penances, desirous of marriage, begged the great Rishi Vadanya of his daughter.
सुप्रभां नाम वै नाम्ना रूपेणाप्रतिमां भुवि । गुणप्रबर्हां शीलेन साध्वीं चारित्रशोभनाम् ॥
English Translation
The name by which the lady was known was Suprabha. In beauty she was peerless on Earth. In virtues dignity, conduct, and manners, she was superior to all girls.
सा तस्य दृष्ट्वैव मनो जहार शुभलोचना । वनराजी यथा चित्रा वसन्ते कुसुमाचिता ॥
English Translation
By a look only that girl of beautiful eyes had robbed him of his heart even as a delightful grove in spring, decked with flowers robs the spectator of his heart.
ऋषिस्तमाह देया मे सुता तुभ्यं शृणुष्व मे । गच्छ तावद्दिशं पुण्यामुत्तरां द्रक्ष्यसे ततः ॥
English Translation
The Rishi addressed Ashtavakra and said Yes, I shall give my daughter to you. Listen, however, to me. Make a journey to the sacred North. You will see inany things there.
किं द्रष्टव्यं मया तत्र वक्तुमर्हति मे भवान् । तथेदानीं मया कार्यं यथा वक्ष्यति मां भवान् ॥
English Translation
Ashtavakra said You should tell me what I shall see in that region. Indeed, I am ready to carry out whatever command may be laid upon me by you.
धनदं समतिक्रम्य हिमवन्तं तथैव च । रुद्रस्यायतनं दृष्ट्वा सिद्धचारणसेवितम् ॥
English Translation
Passing over the dominions of the Lord of Treasures you will cross the Himavat mountains. You will then see the plateau on which Rudra lives. It is inhabited by Siddhas and Charanas.
प्रहृष्टैः पार्षदैर्जुष्टं नृत्यद्भिर्विविधाननैः । दिव्याङ्गरागैः पैशाचैर्वन्यैर्नानाविधैस्तथा ॥
English Translation
It is full of the companions of Mahadeva, frolicsome and fond of dance and possessed of various faces. It is peopled with also many Pishachas, O lord, of various forms and all daubed with fragrant powders of various colours and dancing with joyous hearts in accompaniment with brazen instruments of different kinds. Encircled by these who dance with electric rapidity or refrain at times altogether from forward or backward or transverse motion of every sort, Mahadeva lives there.
पाणितालसतालैश्च शम्यातालैः समैस्तथा । संप्रहृष्टैः प्रनृत्यद्भिः शर्वस्तत्र निषेव्यते ॥
English Translation
It is full of the companions of Mahadeva, frolicsome and fond of dance and possessed of various faces. It is peopled with also many Pishachas, O lord, of various forms and all daubed with fragrant powders of various colours and dancing with joyous hearts in accompaniment with brazen instruments of different kinds. Encircled by these who dance with electric rapidity or refrain at times altogether from forward or backward or transverse motion of every sort, Mahadeva lives there.
इष्टं किल गिरौ स्थानं तद्दिव्यमनुशुश्रुम । नित्यं संनिहितो देवस्तथा पारिषदाः शुभाः ॥
English Translation
That charining spot on the mountains, we have heard, is the favourite abode of the great god. It is said that great god as his companions are always present there.
तत्र देव्या तपस्तप्तं शंकरार्थं सुदुश्चरम् । अतस्तदिष्टं देवस्य तथोमाया इति श्रुतिः ॥
English Translation
It was there that the goddess Uma had practised the severest austerities for the sake of the three-eyed god. Hence, it is said, that spot is much liked by both Mahadeva and Uma.
तत्र कूपो महान्पार्श्वे देवस्योत्तरतस्तथा । ऋतवः कालरात्रिश्च ये दिव्या ये च मानुषाः ॥
English Translation
Formerly there, on the summit of the Mahaparshva mountains, which are situate to the north of the mountains sacred to Mahadeva, the Seasons, and the last Night, and many gods, and many human beings also in their embodied forms, had worshipped Mahadeva. You will cross that region also in your northward journey.
सर्वे देवमुपासन्ते रूपिणः किल तत्र ह । तदतिक्रम्य भवनं त्वया यातव्यमेव हि ॥
ततो नीलं वनोद्देशं द्रक्ष्यसे मेघसंनिभम् । रमणीयं मनोग्राहि तत्र द्रक्ष्यसि वै स्त्रियम् ॥
English Translation
You will then see a beautiful and charining forest blue of colour and resembling a mass of clouds. There in that forest, you will see a beautiful female ascetic loO king like the goddess of prosperity herself.
तपस्विनीं महाभागां वृद्धां दीक्षामनुष्ठिताम् । द्रष्टव्या सा त्वया तत्र संपूज्या चैव यत्नतः ॥
English Translation
Venerable for age and highly blessed, she is going through the initiatory rite. Seeing her there you should duly adore her with reverence.
तां दृष्ट्वा विनिवृत्तस्त्वं ततः पाणिं ग्रहीष्यसि । यद्येष समयः सत्यः साध्यतां तत्र गम्यताम् ॥
English Translation
Returning to this place after having seen her, you will take the hand of my daughter in marriage. If you can make this agreement, proceed then on your journey and do what I order you.
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