Vyāsa (attributed) · Complete work
Chapter 7 (Mahābhārata 3.299)
Chapter 7 (Mahābhārata 3.299) of 8. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
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299.1 मार्कण्डेय उवाच।एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु द्युमत्सेनो महाबलः।लब्धचक्षुः प्रसन्नायां दृष्ट्यां सर्वं ददर्श ह ।।
299.2 स सर्वानाश्रमान्गत्वा शैब्यया सह भार्यया।पुत्रहेतोः परामार्तिं जगाम भरतर्षभ ।।
299.3 तावाश्रमान्नदीश्चैववनानि च सरांसि च।तस्यां निशि विचिन्वन्तौ दम्पती परिजग्मतुः ।।
299.4 श्रुत्वा शब्दं तु यं कंचिदुन्मुखौ सुतशङ्कया।सावित्रीसहितोऽभ्येति सत्यवानित्यभाषताम् ।।
299.5 भिन्नैश्च परुषैः पादैः सव्रणैः शोणितोक्षितैः।कुशकणअटकविद्धाङ्गावुनमत्ताविव धावतः ।।
299.6 ततोऽभिसृत्य तैर्विप्रैः सर्वैराश्रमवासिभिः।परिवार्य समाश्वास्य तावानीतौ स्वमाश्रमम् ।।
299.7 तत्रभार्यासहायः स वृतो वृद्धैस्तपोधनैः।आश्वासितोपि चित्रार्थैः पूर्वराजकथाश्रयैः ।।
299.8 ततस्तौ पुनराश्वस्तौ वृद्धौ पुत्रदिदृक्षया।बाल्यवृत्तानि पुत्रस्य सावित्र्या दर्शनानि च।शोकं जग्मतुरन्योन्यं स्मरन्तौ भृशदुःखितौ ।।
299.9 हापुत्र हासाध्वि वधु क्वासिक्वासीत्यरोदताम्।ब्राह्मणः सत्यवाक्येषामुवाचेदं तयोर्वचः ।।
299.10 सुवर्चा उवाच।यथास्य भार्या सावित्री तपसा च दमेन च।आचारेण च संयुक्ता तथा जीवति सत्यवान् ।।
299.11 गौतम उवाच।वेदाः साङ्गा मयाऽधीतास्तपो मे संचितं महत्।कौमारब्रह्मचर्यं च गुरवोऽग्निश्च तोषिताः ।।
299.12 समाहितेन चीर्णानि सर्वाण्येव व्रतानि मे।वायुभक्षोपवासश्च कृतोमे विधिवत्सदा ।।
299.13 अनेन तपसा वेद्मि सर्वं परचीकीर्षितम्।सत्यमेतन्निबोधध्वं ध्रियते सत्यवानिति ।।
299.14 शिष्य उवाच।उपाध्यायस्य मे वक्राद्यथा वाक्यं विनिःसृतम्।नैव जातु भवेन्मिथ्या तथा जीवति सत्यवान् ।।
299.15 ऋषय ऊचुः।यथाऽस्य भार्या सावित्री सर्वैरेव सुलक्षणैः।अवैधव्यकरैर्युक्ता तथा जीवति सत्यवान् ।।
299.16 भारद्वाज उवाच।यथाऽस्य भार्या सावित्री तपसा च दमेन च।आचारेण च संयुक्ता तथा जीवति सत्यवान् ।।
299.17 दाल्भ्या रउवाच।यथा दृष्टिः प्रवृत्ता ते सावित्र्याश्च यथा व्रतम्।गताऽऽहारमकृत्वैव तथा जीवति सत्यवान् ।।
299.18 आपस्तम्ब उवाच।यथा वदन्ति शान्तायां दिशि वै मृगपक्षिणः।पार्थिवीं चैववृद्धिं ते तथा जीवति सत्यवान् ।।
299.19 धौम्य उवाच।सर्वैर्गुणैरुपेतस्ते यथा पुत्रो जनप्रियः।दीर्घायुर्लक्षणोपेतस्तथा जीवति स्यवान् ।।
299.20 मार्कण्डेय उवाच।एवमाश्वासितस्तैस्तु सत्यवाग्भिस्तपस्विभिः।तांस्तान्विगणयन्सर्वांस्ततः स्थिर इवाभवत् ।।
299.21 ततो मुहूर्तात्सावित्री भर्त्रा सत्वता सह।आजगामाश्रमं रात्रौ प्रहृष्टा प्रविवेश ह ।।
299.22 `दृष्ट्वा चोत्पतिताः सर्वेहर्षं जग्मुश्च ते द्विजाः।कण्ठं माता पिता चास्य समालिङ्ग्याभ्यरोदतां' ।।
299.23 ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः।पुत्रेण संगतं त्वां तु चक्षुष्मन्तं निरीक्ष्य च।सर्वे वयं वै पृच्छामो वृद्धिं वै पृथिवीपते ।।
299.24 समागमेन पुत्रस्य सावित्र्या दर्शनेन च।चक्षुषश्चात्मनो लाभात्रिभिर्दिष्ठ्या विवर्धसे ।।
299.25 सर्वैरस्माभिरुक्तं यत्तथा तन्नात्रसंशयः।भूयोभूयः समृद्धिस्ते क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति ।।
299.26 मार्कण्डेय उवाच।ततोऽग्निं तत्र संज्वाल्य द्विजास्ते सर्व एव हि।उपासांचक्रिरे पार्थ द्युमत्सेनं महीपतिम् ।।
299.27 शैव्या च सत्यवांश्चैव सावित्री चैकतः स्थिताः।सर्वैस्तैरभ्यनुज्ञाता विशोका समुपाविशन् ।।
299.28 ततो राज्ञा सहासीनाः सर्वे ते वनवासिनः।जातकौतूहलाः पार्थ पप्रच्छुर्नृपतेः सुतम् ।।
299.29 प्रागेव नागतं कस्मात्सभार्येण त्वया विभो।विरात्रे चागतं कस्मात्कोनु बन्धस्तवाभवत् ।।
299.30 संतापितः पिता माता वयं चैव नृपात्मज।कस्मादिति न जानीमस्तत्सर्वं वक्तुमर्हिसि ।।
299.31 सत्यवानुवाच।पित्राऽहमभ्यनुज्ञातः सावित्रीसहितो गतः।अथ मेऽभूच्छिरोदुःखं वने काष्ठानि भिन्दतः ।।
299.32 सुप्तश्चाहं वेदनया चिरमित्युपलक्षये।तावत्कालं न च मया सुप्तपूर्वं कदाचन ।।
299.33 सर्वेषामेव भवतां संतापो मा भवेदिति।अतो विरात्रागमनं नान्यदस्तीह कारणम् ।।
299.34 गौतम उवाच।अकस्माच्चक्षुः प्राप्तिर्द्युमत्सेनस्य ते पितुः।नास्य त्वं कारणं वेत्सि सावित्री वक्तुमर्हति ।।
299.35 श्रोतुमिच्छामि सावित्रि त्वं हि वेत्थ परावरम्।त्वां हि जानामि सावित्रि सावित्रीमिव तेजसा ।।
299.36 त्वमत्र हेतुं जानीषे तस्मात्सत्यं निरुच्यताम्।रहस्यं यदि ते नास्ति किंचिदत्र वदस्व नः ।।
299.37 सावित्र्युवाच।एवमेतद्यथा वेत्थ संकल्पो नान्यथा हि वः।न हि किंचिद्रहस्यं मे श्रूयतां तथ्यमेव यत् ।।
299.38 मृत्युर्मे पत्युराख्यातो नारदेन महात्मना।स चाद्य दिवसः प्राप्तस्ततो नैनं जहाम्यहम् ।।
299.39 सुप्तं चैनं साक्षादुपागच्छत्सकिंकरः।स एनमनयद्बद्ध्वा दिशं पितृनिषेविताम् ।।
299.40 अस्तौषं तमहं देवं सत्येन वचसा विभुम्।पञ्च वै तेन मे दत्ता वराः शृणुत तान्मम ।।
299.41 चक्षुषी च स्वराज्यंच द्वौ वरौ श्वशुरस्य मे।लब्धं पितुः पुत्रशतं पुत्राणां चात्मनः शतम् ।।
299.42 चतुर्वर्षशतायुर्मे भर्ता लब्धश्च सत्यवान्।भर्तुर्हि जीवितार्थं तु मया चीर्णं त्विदं व्रतम्।
299.43 एतत्सर्वं मयाऽऽख्यातं कारणं विस्तरण वः।यथावृत्तं सुखोदर्कमिदं दुःखं महन्मम ।।
299.44 ऋषय ऊचुः।निमज्ज्मानं व्यसनैरभिद्रुतंकुलं नरन्द्रस्य तमोमये ह्रदे।त्वया सुशीलव्रतपुण्यया कुलंरसमुद्धृतं साध्वि पुनः कुलीनया ।।
299.45 मार्कण्डेय उवाच।तथा प्रशस्य ह्यभिपूज्य चैववरस्त्रियं तामृषयः समागताः।नरेन्द्रमामन्त्र्य सपुत्रभञ्जसाशिवेन रजग्मुर्मुदिताः स्वमालयम् ।।
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the Sanskrit, passage for passage, covering the whole Savitri episode of the Mahabharata (Book 3, chapters 293–300 of the vulgate), 321 verses.
299.1 Markandeya said:At that very moment mighty Dyumatsena regained his sight;his eyes cleared, and he saw everything.
299.2 With his wife Shaivya he visited all the hermitages,beside himself with anguish for his son, bull of the Bharatas.
299.3 Through that night the couple wandered,searching hermitages, rivers, woods and lakes.
299.4 At every sound they raised their heads, hoping it was their son:“Satyavan is coming with Savitri,” they said.
299.5 With feet split and rough, wounded and stained with blood,limbs pierced by blades of kusha and thorns, they ran like mad people.
299.6 Then all the brahmins living in the hermitage hurried to them,surrounded and consoled them, and brought them home.
299.7 There the king and his wife were surrounded by aged ascetics,who consoled them with tales of former kings, rich in strange turns.
299.8 Even as they grew calmer, the old couple longed to see their son;remembering his childhood ways and their meetings with Savitri,they fell together into grief again, overcome with sorrow.
299.9 “Ah, son! Ah, noble daughter-in-law! Where are you?” they wept.Then a brahmin whose words were true addressed them:
299.10 Suvarcas said:“Because Savitri, his wife, is endowed with austerity, self-restraintand right conduct, Satyavan lives.”
299.11 Gautama said:“I have studied the Vedas with all their branches and amassed great austerity;I have kept celibacy since youth, and pleased my teachers and the sacred fire.
299.12 With an attentive mind I have observed all my vows,and always fasted according to rule, living only on air.
299.13 Through this austerity I know all that others intend;know this as truth: Satyavan is alive.”
299.14 A student said:“The words spoken by my teachercan never be false; therefore Satyavan is alive.”
299.15 The sages said:“Because Savitri his wife bears every auspicious signthat wards off widowhood, Satyavan is alive.”
299.16 Bharadvaja said:“Because Savitri his wife is endowed with austerity, self-restraintand right conduct, Satyavan is alive.”
299.17 Dalbhya said:“Because your sight has returned, because Savitri kept her vowand went without breaking her fast, Satyavan is alive.”
299.18 Apastamba said:“Because the beasts and birds call in the peaceful quarter,and your earthly fortune grows, Satyavan is alive.”
299.19 Dhaumya said:“Because your son has every virtue, is beloved by the people,and bears the signs of long life, Satyavan is alive.”
299.20 Markandeya said:Consoled by these truthful ascetics,he pondered all they had said and at last grew steady.
299.21 A little while later Savitri came with her husband Satyavan,and entered the hermitage rejoicing in the night.
299.22 “At the sight of them all the brahmins sprang up in joy;his mother and father embraced him around the neck and wept.”
299.23 The brahmins said:“Seeing you reunited with your son, and seeing that you have sight,we all ask after your prosperity, lord of the earth.
299.24 Blessed are you three times over: for meeting your son,for seeing Savitri and for recovering your sight.
299.25 All we foretold has come to pass, without doubt;your good fortune will soon increase again and again.”
299.26 Markandeya said:Then all those brahmins kindled the fire, son of Pritha,and sat beside King Dyumatsena.
299.27 Shaivya, Satyavan and Savitri sat together,free of sorrow, with the leave of all those present.
299.28 Sitting with the king, the forest dwellers grew curious,son of Pritha, and questioned the prince.
299.29 “Why did you not return sooner with your wife, lord?Why have you come so late at night? What held you back?
299.30 Your father and mother were in anguish, and we too, prince;we do not know why. You must tell us all.”
299.31 Satyavan said:“With my father's leave I went out with Savitri;then, while splitting wood in the forest, my head began to ache.
299.32 I fell asleep from the pain, for a long time, it seems;I have never slept for so long before.
299.33 I came late only to spare you all distress;there was no other reason.”
299.34 Gautama said:“Your father Dyumatsena suddenly regained his sight;you do not know the cause, but Savitri should tell us.
299.35 I wish to hear you, Savitri, for you know what is near and far;I know your brilliance to be like the goddess Savitri's.
299.36 You know the cause, so speak the truth;if it is no secret, tell us something of it.”
299.37 Savitri said:“It is as you understand; your thought is not mistaken.I have no secret. Hear what truly happened.
299.38 Great-souled Narada foretold my husband's death;this was the appointed day, so I would not leave him.
299.39 While he slept, Yama himself came with his attendant;he bound my husband and led him toward the realm of the ancestors.
299.40 I praised that powerful god with truthful words;he granted me five blessings. Hear what they were.
299.41 Two blessings, sight and his kingdom, were for my father-in-law;my father received a hundred sons, and I a hundred sons of my own.
299.42 I regained my husband Satyavan, with four hundred years of life;it was to save his life that I kept this vow.
299.43 I have now told you in full the cause of all this:my great sorrow, which ended in joy.”
299.44 The sages said:“Your noble conduct and holy vow, good woman,have drawn the king's family out of a dark lakewhere it sank, beset by troubles;you, noble-born, have raised that family up again.”
299.45 Markandeya said:Thus the assembled sages praised and honoredthat most excellent woman;then, taking leave of the king and his son,they went gladly home in peace.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the Sanskrit, covering the whole Savitri episode of the Mahabharata (Book 3, chapters 293–300 of the vulgate), 321 verses.
299.1 Markandeya said:“At that very time, the powerful Dyumatsena regained his sight.His vision cleared and he could see everything.
299.2 With his wife Shaibya he went to every retreat.He was in great distress over his son, best of the Bharatas.
299.3 That night the couple searched the retreats, the streams,the woods, and the lakes, looking for him.
299.4 At every sound they lifted their heads, thinking it was their son.‘Satyavan is coming with Savitri,’ they said.
299.5 Their feet were cut and scraped, wounded and bloody.Grass and thorns pierced their bodies as they ran about like people out of their minds.
299.6 All the priests living in the retreat ran to them,surrounded and comforted them, and brought them back to their own retreat.
299.7 There, with his wife and the older people devoted to disciplined practice around him,the king received comfort through many stories about kings of the past.
299.8 The two old people calmed down, but then longed to see their son.They remembered his childhood ways and their meetings with Savitri.Thinking of these things together, they grew deeply sad again.
299.9 ‘Our son! Our good daughter-in-law! Where are you?’ they cried.One of the priests, whose words were true, spoke to them.
299.10 Suvarcha said:‘Because his wife Savitri is disciplined, self-controlled,and well behaved, Satyavan is alive.’
299.11 Gautama said:‘I have studied the Vedas and their branches, and practiced great discipline.I kept my chastity from childhood and pleased my teachers and the sacred fire.
299.12 With a focused mind I have kept all my vows.I have always fasted as prescribed, taking nothing but air.
299.13 This discipline lets me know everything others plan to do.Believe this truth: Satyavan is alive.’
299.14 A student said:‘My teacher's words have never proved false.He has spoken, so Satyavan is alive.’
299.15 The sages said:‘His wife Savitri has every good qualitythat keeps a woman from becoming a widow. Satyavan is alive.’
299.16 Bharadvaja said:‘His wife Savitri practices discipline and self-controland behaves well. Satyavan is alive.’
299.17 Dalbhya said:‘You have regained your sight, and Savitri has kept her vow.She left without eating; Satyavan is alive.’
299.18 Apastamba said:‘Animals and birds are calling calmly in a peaceful quarter,and your royal fortunes are increasing. Satyavan is alive.’
299.19 Dhaumya said:‘Your son has every good quality, is loved by the people,and shows the signs of a long life. Satyavan is alive.’
299.20 Markandeya said:“These disciplined men, who spoke truthfully, comforted him.He went over each of their words and grew calmer.
299.21 Soon afterward Savitri arrived at the retreat at nightwith her husband Satyavan, and they entered gladly.
299.22 At the sight, all the priests sprang up in joy.His mother and father embraced him around the neck and cried.
299.23 The priests said:‘Seeing you reunited with your son and able to see again,we all ask about your good fortune, king.
299.24 You have three reasons to celebrate: being reunited with your son,seeing Savitri, and regaining your sight.
299.25 Everything we said has proved true; there is no doubt.You will soon enjoy still more good fortune.’
299.26 Markandeya said:“All the priests lit a fire there, descendant of Pritha,and sat with King Dyumatsena.
299.27 Shaibya, Satyavan, and Savitri stayed together to one side.With the permission of everyone there, they sat down, free of sorrow.
299.28 Then all the forest dwellers sitting with the kingbecame curious and questioned the prince, descendant of Pritha.
299.29 ‘Why didn't you come back earlier with your wife, sir?Why have you come so late at night? What held you back?
299.30 Your mother and father were worried, and so were we, prince.We do not know why this happened. You must tell us everything.’
299.31 Satyavan said:‘My father gave me permission to go with Savitri.Then, as I was chopping wood in the forest, my head began to hurt.
299.32 I think the pain made me sleep for a long time.I had never slept for so long before.
299.33 I returned late so that none of you would worry about me.There is no other reason.’
299.34 Gautama said:‘Your father Dyumatsena has suddenly regained his sight.You do not know how it happened. Savitri should tell us.’
299.35 ‘I want to hear you, Savitri, because you know what is near and far.Savitri, I know you shine with power like the goddess Savitri.
299.36 You know what caused this, so tell us the truth.If it is not a secret, tell us something about it.’
299.37 Savitri said:‘You have understood correctly; your thought is not mistaken.I have no secret. Hear the truth of what happened.
299.38 The great Narada told me when my husband would die.That day came today, so I did not leave his side.
299.39 As he slept, Yama himself came with his servants.He bound him and took him south, to the region of the dead.
299.40 I spoke truthful words in praise of that mighty god.He gave me five gifts. Listen to what they were.
299.41 Two gifts were for my father-in-law: his sight and his kingdom.My father was granted a hundred sons, and I too was granted a hundred sons.
299.42 I also got Satyavan back as my husband, with a life of four hundred years.I kept this vow for the sake of my husband's life.
299.43 Now I have told you the whole reason for what happened:my great distress, which has ended in happiness.’
299.44 The sages said:‘Your king's family was sinking under its troublesinto a dark lake.But your good conduct and your faithful practice, good woman,have lifted his family back out of it.’
299.45 Markandeya said:“The gathered sages praised and honored that excellent woman.Then they said goodbye to the king and his sonand happily returned to their own homes in peace.”