Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तया राजा तां देवीं पुनरब्रवीत् धर्मविद्धर्मसंयुक्तमिदं वचनमुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed, the king (Pandu), learned in the precepts of religious spoke these words of virtuous import to that lady (his wife).
एवमेतत्पुरा कुन्ति व्युषिताश्वश्चकार ह यथा त्वयोक्तं कल्याणि स ह्यासीदमरोपमः
M. N. Dutt: Pandu said: O Kunti, what you have said is true. Vyushitashva of old did exactly as you said; he was like a celestial.
अथ त्विमं प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मं त्वेतं निबोध मे पुराणमृषिभिर्दृष्टं धर्मविद्भिर्महात्मभिः
M. N. Dutt: But I shall tell you the religious precepts which the illustrious Rishis, learned in the precepts of virtue, said in the Puranas.
अनावृताः किल पुरा स्त्रिय आसन्वरानने कामचारविहारिण्यः स्वतन्त्राश्चारुलोचने
M. N. Dutt: O beautiful featured lady, O lady of sweet smiles, women were not formerly kept within the house. They used to go about freely and enjoyed as they liked.
तासां व्युच्चरमाणानां कौमारात्सुभगे पतीन् नाधर्मोऽभूद्वरारोहे स हि धर्मः पुराभवत्
M. N. Dutt: O fortunate lady, O beautiful one, they had promiscuous intercourse form their maidenhood and they were not regarded sinful, for it was the custom of the age.
तं चैव धर्मं पौराणं तिर्यग्योनिगताः प्रजाः अद्याप्यनुविधीयन्ते कामद्वेषविवर्जिताः पुराणदृष्टो धर्मोऽयं पूज्यते च महर्षिभिः
M. N. Dutt: That very usage of the olden time is up to date followed by birds and beasts and they are free from anger and passions (for this promiscuous intercourse).
उत्तरेषु च रम्भोरु कुरुष्वद्यापि वर्तते स्त्रीणामनुग्रहकरः स हि धर्मः सनातनः
AI Translation: O you whose thighs are like the plantain tree, that ancient law which is beneficial to women still exists in the northern countries.
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.7 D2 (with lines 5-7 in marg.).4 (marg. sec. m.) S ins. after 7: D5, after line 6 of passage No. 64 of App. I: *1189 नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः नान्तकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचनाः एवं तृष्णा तु नारीणां पुरुषं पुरुषं प्रति अगम्यागमनं स्त्रीणां नास्ति नित्यं शुचिस्मिते पुत्रं वा किल पौत्रं वा कासांचिद्भ्रातरं तथा रहसीह नरं दृष्ट्वा योनिरुत्क्लिद्यते ततः एतत्स्वाभाविकं स्त्रीणां न निमित्तकृतं शुभे
अस्मिंस्तु लोके नचिरान्मर्यादेयं शुचिस्मिते स्थापिता येन यस्माच्च तन्मे विस्तरतः शृणु
M. N. Dutt: O lady of sweet smiles, this eternal usage, very favourable to the women, had the sanction of antiquity; the present practice has been established only very lately. Hear, I shall narrate to you in detail who established it and why.
बभूवोद्दालको नाम महर्षिरिति नः श्रुतम् श्वेतकेतुरिति ख्यातः पुत्रस्तस्याभवन्मुनिः
M. N. Dutt: We have heard that there was a great Rishi, named Uddalaka. He had a son, known by the name of Svetaketu, who was also a Rishi.
मर्यादेयं कृता तेन मानुषेष्विति नः श्रुतम् कोपात्कमलपत्राक्षि यदर्थं तन्निबोध मे
M. N. Dutt: O lotus eyed one, the present virtuous practice was established by that Svetaketu in anger. I shall tell you why he did it.
श्वेतकेतोः किल पुरा समक्षं मातरं पितुः जग्राह ब्राह्मणः पाणौ गच्छाव इति चाब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: One day, in the time of yore, in the very presence of Shvetaketu's father, a Brahmana came and taking his (Shvetaketu's) mother by the hand said, “Let us go".
ऋषिपुत्रस्ततः कोपं चकारामर्षितस्तदा मातरं तां तथा दृष्ट्वा नीयमानां बलादिव
M. N. Dutt: Having seen his mother taken away as if by force, the son of the Rishi grew angry and became very much affected with sorrow.
क्रुद्धं तं तु पिता दृष्ट्वा श्वेतकेतुमुवाच ह मा तात कोपं कार्षीस्त्वमेष धर्मः सनातनः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing him angry, his father told Shvetaketu, “O child, do not be angry. This is an eternal usage.
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.13 After 13ab, D5 ins.: *1190 संगृह्य मातरं हस्ते
अनावृता हि सर्वेषां वर्णानामङ्गना भुवि यथा गावः स्थितास्तात स्वे स्वे वर्णे तथा प्रजाः
M. N. Dutt: The women of all the orders on earth are free. O son, men, in this matter as regards their respective orders, act as kine."
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.14 After 14, S ins.: *1191 तथैव च कुटुम्बेषु न प्रमाद्यन्ति कर्हिचित् ऋतुकाले तु संप्राप्ते भर्तारं न जहुस्तदा
ऋषिपुत्रोऽथ तं धर्मं श्वेतकेतुर्न चक्षमे चकार चैव मर्यादामिमां स्त्रीपुंसयोर्भुवि
M. N. Dutt: The son of the Rishi, Svetaketu, disapproved of this usage and he established the following practice on earth as regards men and women.
मानुषेषु महाभागे न त्वेवान्येषु जन्तुषु तदा प्रभृति मर्यादा स्थितेयमिति नः श्रुतम्
M. N. Dutt: O greatly illustrious lady, we have heard that the present practice among men and women dates from that day but not among other animals.
व्युच्चरन्त्याः पतिं नार्या अद्य प्रभृति पातकम् भ्रूणहत्याकृतं पापं भविष्यत्यसुखावहम्
M. N. Dutt: Svetaketu said: The wife, not adhering to her husband, will be sinful from this date; she will commit as great and painful sin as the killing of an embryo.
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.17 After 17, S ins.: *1192 अद्याप्यनुविधीयन्ते कामद्वेषविवर्जिताः उत्तरेषु महाभागे कुरुष्वेवं यशस्विनी
भार्यां तथा व्युच्चरतः कौमारीं ब्रह्मचारिणीम् पतिव्रतामेतदेव भविता पातकं भुवि
M. N. Dutt: The men who will go to other women neglecting a chaste and loving wife who has from her maidenhood observed a vow of purity, will commit the same sin.
पत्या नियुक्ता या चैव पत्न्यपत्यार्थमेव च न करिष्यति तस्याश्च भविष्यत्येतदेव हि
M. N. Dutt: The woman, who being commanded by her husband to raise offspring, will refuse to do it, will commit also the some sin.
इति तेन पुरा भीरु मर्यादा स्थापिता बलात् उद्दालकस्य पुत्रेण धर्म्या वै श्वेतकेतुना
M. N. Dutt: Pandu said: O timid lady, it was thus established by force in olden time the present virtuous usage by Uddalaka's son Shvetaketu.
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.20 After 20, S ins.: *1193 तेन भूयस्ततो दृष्टं यस्मिन्नर्थे निबोध तत् नियुक्ता पतिना भार्या यद्यपत्यस्य कारणात् न कुर्यात्तत्तदा भीरु सैनः सुमहदाप्नुयात्
सौदासेन च रम्भोरु नियुक्तापत्यजन्मनि मदयन्ती जगामर्षिं वसिष्ठमिति नः श्रुतम्
M. N. Dutt: O lady of the tapering thighs, we have heard that Madayanti, being appointed by (her husband) Saudasa, went to Rishi Vasishtha to raise up offspring.
तस्माल्लेभे च सा पुत्रमश्मकं नाम भामिनी भार्या कल्माषपादस्य भर्तुः प्रियचिकीर्षया
M. N. Dutt: That lady obtained from his a son, named Asmaka. She did this, moved by the desire of doing good to her husband.
अस्माकमपि ते जन्म विदितं कमलेक्षणे कृष्णद्वैपायनाद्भीरु कुरूणां वंशवृद्धये
M. N. Dutt: O louts-eyed one, O timid girl, you know our birth, begotten by Krishna Dvaipayana, in order to expand the Kuru race.
अत एतानि सर्वाणि कारणानि समीक्ष्य वै ममैतद्वचनं धर्म्यं कर्तुमर्हस्यनिन्दिते
M. N. Dutt: O faultless one, seeing all these precedents, you should do my bidding which is not inconsistent with virtue.
ऋतावृतौ राजपुत्रि स्त्रिया भर्ता यतव्रते नातिवर्तव्य इत्येवं धर्मं धर्मविदो विदुः
M. N. Dutt: O princess, O devoted wife, the men learned in the precepts of virtue, said that a wife in her season must seek her husband, though she may be free at other times.
शेषेष्वन्येषु कालेषु स्वातन्त्र्यं स्त्री किलार्हति धर्ममेतं जनाः सन्तः पुराणं परिचक्षते
AI Translation: In other seasons, a woman is free to do as she pleases. This is the ancient law that the good people of old have described.
भर्ता भार्यां राजपुत्रि धर्म्यं वाधर्म्यमेव वा यद्ब्रूयात्तत्तथा कार्यमिति धर्मविदो विदुः
M. N. Dutt: The wise have said that this was the ancient practice. But, O princess, men, learned in the Vedas, have declared that whether the act be sinful or sinless, it is the duty of the wife to do what her husband commands.
विशेषतः पुत्रगृद्धी हीनः प्रजननात्स्वयम् यथाहमनवद्याङ्गि पुत्रदर्शनलालसः
AI Translation: Especially, being deprived of a son, I am deprived of procreation myself. As I am, O you of faultless limbs, eager to see my son.
तथा रक्ताङ्गुलितलः पद्मपत्रनिभः शुभे प्रसादार्थं मया तेऽयं शिरस्यभ्युद्यतोऽञ्जलिः
AI Translation: And with red palms and fingers, like lotus petals, O auspicious one, For the sake of favor, this folded hands is raised to your head by me.
मन्नियोगात्सुकेशान्ते द्विजातेस्तपसाधिकात् पुत्रान्गुणसमायुक्तानुत्पादयितुमर्हसि त्वत्कृतेऽहं पृथुश्रोणि गच्छेयं पुत्रिणां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: O lady of beautiful hair, you should raise accomplished sons at my command by the help of same Brahmanas possessed of great ascetic merits. O lady of beautiful hips, by your doing this, I shall go to the way reserved for those that are blessed with sons.
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.30 After 30, K3 ins.: *1194 तत्कुरुष्व महाभागे वचनं धर्मसंमतम्
एवमुक्ता ततः कुन्ती पाण्डुं परपुरंजयम् प्रत्युवाच वरारोहा भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed by that subjugator of hostile cities, Pandu, the beautiful Kunti, ever engaged in doing good to her husband, thus replied-
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.31 After 31, D4 (marg. sec. m.) S ins.: *1195 अधर्मः सुमहानेष स्त्रीणां भरतसत्तम यत्प्रसादयते भर्ता प्रसाद्यः क्षत्रियर्षभ शृणु चेदं महाबाहो मम प्रीतिकरं वचः
पितृवेश्मन्यहं बाला नियुक्तातिथिपूजने उग्रं पर्यचरं तत्र ब्राह्मणं संशितव्रतम्
AI Translation: In my father's house, I was appointed to serve the guests as a young girl. There I served a fierce brahmin of firm vows.
निगूढनिश्चयं धर्मे यं तं दुर्वाससं विदुः तमहं संशितात्मानं सर्वयत्नैरतोषयम्
AI Translation: He who is known as Durvāsas, who has a hidden determination in the Dharma, I satisfied him with all my efforts, that one of controlled self.
स मेऽभिचारसंयुक्तमाचष्ट भगवान्वरम् मन्त्रग्रामं च मे प्रादादब्रवीच्चैव मामिदम्
M. N. Dutt: Pleased with the attention with which waited upon him, that illustrious (Brahmana) gave me a boon in the form of a Mantra. He told me-
यं यं देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि अकामो वा सकामो वा स ते वशमुपैष्यति
M. N. Dutt: “Any of the celestials, whom you will call by this (Mantra), will be obedient to you, whether he likes it or not.
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.35 Ś1 K0.3.4 Ñ3 M6-8 ins. after 35ab: Ñ1.2 B D, after 35 (D5, after 35ab): *1196 तस्य तस्य प्रसादात्ते राज्ञि पुत्रो भविष्यति
इत्युक्ताहं तदा तेन पितृवेश्मनि भारत ब्राह्मणेन वचस्तथ्यं तस्य कालोऽयमागतः
AI Translation: Thus addressed by him in my father's house, O descendant of Bharata, the truth of his words has now come to pass.
अनुज्ञाता त्वया देवमाह्वयेयमहं नृप तेन मन्त्रेण राजर्षे यथा स्यान्नौ प्रजा विभो
M. N. Dutt: O king, the words, uttered by the Brahmana, can never be false; the time has come when they may yield fruits. Commanded by you, I can call the celestial.
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.37 S (which om. 37cd) ins. after 37ab: D4 (om. lines 1-2), after 38: *1197 यां मे विद्यां महाराज अददात्स महायशाः तयाहूतः सुरः पुत्रं प्रदास्यति सुरोपमम् अनपत्यकृतं यस्ते शोकं वीर विनेष्यति D4 S cont.: कुन्ती अपत्यकाम एवं स्यान्ममापत्यं भवेदिति विप्रं वा गुणसंपन्नं सर्वभूतहिते रतम् अनुजानीहि भद्रं ते दैवतं हि पतिः स्त्रियः यं त्वं वक्ष्यसि धर्मज्ञ देवं ब्राह्मणमेव च यथोद्दिष्टं त्वया वीर तत्कर्तास्मि महाभुज देवात्पुत्रफलं सद्यो विप्रात्कालान्तरे भवेत्
आवाहयामि कं देवं ब्रूहि तत्त्वविदां वर त्वत्तोऽनुज्ञाप्रतीक्षां मां विद्ध्यस्मिन्कर्मणि स्थिताम्
M. N. Dutt: By that Mantra to rise up good offspring. O royal sage, O foremost of truthful men, tell me which of the celestials I shall call. Know, wait your commands in this matter.
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.38 After 38, D4 ins. 1197*. S ins. after 38: D4, after 1197*: *1198 पाण्डुः धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि त्वं नो धात्री कुलस्य हि नमो महर्षये तस्मै येन दत्तो वरस्तव न चाधर्मेण धर्मज्ञे शक्याः पालयितुं प्रजाः तस्मात्त्वं पुत्रलाभाय संतानाय ममैव च प्रवरं सर्वदेवानां धर्ममावाहयाबले वैशंपायनः पाण्डुना समनुज्ञाता भारतेन यशस्विना मतिं चक्रे महाराज धर्मस्यावाहने तदा
पाण्डुरुवाच अद्यैव त्वं वरारोहे प्रयतस्व यथाविधि धर्ममावाहय शुभे स हि देवेषु पुण्यभाक्
M. N. Dutt: Pandu said : O beautiful lady, O amiable one try to do it today in the proper form. Call Dharma (the god of justice), for he is the most virtuous in the world.
अधर्मेण न नो धर्मः संयुज्येत कथंचन लोकश्चायं वरारोहे धर्मोऽयमिति मंस्यते
AI Translation: By unrighteousness, our righteousness should not be connected in any way. And this world, O beautiful lady, would think that this is righteousness.
धार्मिकश्च कुरूणां स भविष्यति न संशयः दत्तस्यापि च धर्मेण नाधर्मे रंस्यते मनः
AI Translation: He will be righteous, there is no doubt, for the Kurus. And even when he gives, his mind will not delight in unrighteousness.
Supplementary Passages:
1.113.41 After 41, D4 S ins.: *1199 धर्मादिकं हि धर्मज्ञे धर्मान्तं धर्ममध्यमम् अपत्यमिष्टं लोकेषु यशःकीर्तिविवर्धनम्
तस्माद्धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य नियता त्वं शुचिस्मिते उपचाराभिचाराभ्यां धर्ममाराधयस्व वै
AI Translation: Therefore, O you of pure smile, with Dharma as your foremost, be steadfast. Worship Dharma through service and practice.
वैशंपायन उवाच सा तथोक्ता तथेत्युक्त्वा तेन भर्त्रा वराङ्गना अभिवाद्याभ्यनुज्ञाता प्रदक्षिणमवर्तत
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : That best of women, (Kunti), having been thus addressed, said-"Be it so". She then went round him (for seven times) and resolved to do his bidding.