Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ततस्तीर्थवरं रामो ययौ बदरपाचनम् तपस्विसिद्धचरितं यत्र कन्या धृतव्रता
AI Translation: Vaishmapayana said Then Rama went to the best of holy places, Badarpachana, where the girl of firm vows lived, where the ascetics had performed their deeds.
भरद्वाजस्य दुहिता रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि स्रुचावती नाम विभो कुमारी ब्रह्मचारिणी
AI Translation: The daughter of Bharadvaja, incomparable in beauty on earth, The maiden named Srucavati, a virgin, a celibate.
तपश्चचार सात्युग्रं नियमैर्बहुभिर्नृप भर्ता मे देवराजः स्यादिति निश्चित्य भामिनी
M. N. Dutt: That beautiful damsel, observing various kinds of vows, practised the austerest of penances, moved by the desire of obtaining the Lord of the celestials for her husband.
समास्तस्या व्यतिक्रान्ता बह्व्यः कुरुकुलोद्वह चरन्त्या नियमांस्तांस्तान्स्त्रीभिस्तीव्रान्सुदुश्चरान्
M. N. Dutt: Many years passed away, O chief of Kuru's race, during which that damsel continually practised those various kinds of vows exceedingly difficult for women to practise.
तस्यास्तु तेन वृत्तेन तपसा च विशां पते भक्त्या च भगवान्प्रीतः परया पाकशासनः
M. N. Dutt: The worshipful chastiser of Paka at last became pleased with her, for her penances and reverence shown to him.
आजगामाश्रमं तस्यास्त्रिदशाधिपतिः प्रभुः आस्थाय रूपं विप्रर्षेर्वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: The powerful Lord of the celestials then came to that hermitage, having assumed the form of the great Rishi Vashishtha.
सा तं दृष्ट्वोग्रतपसं वसिष्ठं तपतां वरम् आचारैर्मुनिभिर्दृष्टैः पूजयामास भारत
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that best of ascetics, viz., Vashishtha, of the austerest penances, she adored him, O Bharata, according to the rites observed by ascetics.
उवाच नियमज्ञा च कल्याणी सा प्रियंवदा भगवन्मुनिशार्दूल किमाज्ञापयसि प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: Conversant with vows, the auspicious and sweet-speeched damsel addressed him, saying-"O worshipful one, O foremost of ascetics, tell me your commands, O lord.
सर्वमद्य यथाशक्ति तव दास्यामि सुव्रत शक्रभक्त्या तु ते पाणिं न दास्यामि कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: O you of excellent vows, I shall serve you, as much as I can. I will, however, not be able to marry you, for I seek Shakra.
व्रतैश्च नियमैश्चैव तपसा च तपोधन शक्रस्तोषयितव्यो वै मया त्रिभुवनेश्वरः
M. N. Dutt: I am propitiating Shakra, the lord of the three worlds, with vows and rigid observances and ascetic penances.'
इत्युक्तो भगवान्देवः स्मयन्निव निरीक्ष्य ताम् उवाच नियमज्ञां तां सान्त्वयन्निव भारत
AI Translation: Thus addressed, the Blessed Lord, smiling as it were, looked at her and said to her who knew the rules, as it were comforting her, O descendant of Bharata.
उग्रं तपश्चरसि वै विदिता मेऽसि सुव्रते यदर्थमयमारम्भस्तव कल्याणि हृद्गतः
AI Translation: You are practicing a fierce penance. I know you, O you of good vows. For what purpose is this undertaking, O fortunate one, that is in your heart.
तच्च सर्वं यथाभूतं भविष्यति वरानने तपसा लभ्यते सर्वं सर्वं तपसि तिष्ठति
AI Translation: And all that will be as it really is, O you of beautiful face. Everything is attained through asceticism, everything abides in asceticism.
यानि स्थानानि दिव्यानि विबुधानां शुभानने तपसा तानि प्राप्यानि तपोमूलं महत्सुखम्
AI Translation: O you of a beautiful face, the divine abodes of the gods are attained by asceticism. The great happiness is rooted in asceticism.
इह कृत्वा तपो घोरं देहं संन्यस्य मानवाः देवत्वं यान्ति कल्याणि शृणु चेदं वचो मम
M. N. Dutt: Those men that renounce their bodies after having practised austere penances, obtain the status of gods, O auspicious one. Remember these words of mine.
पचस्वैतानि सुभगे बदराणि शुभव्रते पचेत्युक्त्वा स भगवाञ्जगाम बलसूदनः
AI Translation: Cook these jujube fruits, O fortunate one, O one of good vows. Having said "Cook," the Blessed One, the destroyer of Bala, went.
आमन्त्र्य तां तु कल्याणीं ततो जप्यं जजाप सः अविदूरे ततस्तस्मादाश्रमात्तीर्थ उत्तमे इन्द्रतीर्थे महाराज त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुते
AI Translation: Having invited that auspicious one, he then recited the mantra. Not far from that hermitage, in the supreme tirtha, In Indra's tirtha, O great king, renowned in the three worlds,
Supplementary Passages:
9.47.17 After 17d, T3.4 G ins.: *285 तच्च तीर्थं महाराज यत्र जप्यं जजाप सः
तस्या जिज्ञासनार्थं स भगवान्पाकशासनः बदराणामपचनं चकार विबुधाधिपः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, It was for testing the damsel's devotion that the king of the celestials acted in that way for obstructing the boiling of the jujubes.
ततः स प्रयता राजन्वाग्यता विगतक्लमा तत्परा शुचिसंवीता पावके समधिश्रयत् अपचद्राजशार्दूल बदराणि महाव्रता
M. N. Dutt: The damsel, O king, having purified himself, began her task; restraining speech and with fixed attention, she sat to her task, without experiencing the least fatigue.
तस्याः पचन्त्याः सुमहान्कालोऽगात्पुरुषर्षभ न च स्म तान्यपच्यन्त दिनं च क्षयमभ्यगात्
AI Translation: O bull among men, a long time passed while she was cooking, and the food was not cooked, and the day was coming to an end.
हुताशनेन दग्धश्च यस्तस्याः काष्ठसंचयः अकाष्ठमग्निं सा दृष्ट्वा स्वशरीरमथादहत्
AI Translation: The heap of wood that was burnt by the fire, Seeing the fire without wood, she burnt her own body.
पादौ प्रक्षिप्य सा पूर्वं पावके चारुदर्शना दग्धौ दग्धौ पुनः पादावुपावर्तयतानघा
M. N. Dutt: The beautiful maiden first dropped her feet into the fire. The innocent damsel sat still while her feet began to be consumed.
चरणौ दह्यमानौ च नाचिन्तयदनिन्दिता दुःखं कमलपत्राक्षी महर्षेः प्रियकाम्यया
M. N. Dutt: The beautiful girl did not at all mind her burning feet. Though it was a hard work, she did it from desire of doing good to the Rishi that had been her guest.
Supplementary Passages:
9.47.23 After 23, B D S Ca.v ins.: *286 न वैमनस्यं तस्यास्तु मुखभेदोऽथ वाभवत् शरीरमग्निनादीप्य जलमध्येव हर्षिता तच्चास्या वचनं नित्यमवर्तद्धृदि भारत सर्वथा बदराण्येव पक्तव्यानीति कन्यका सा तन्मनसि कृत्वैव महर्षेर्वचनं शुभा अपचद्बदराण्येव न चापच्यन्त भारत तस्यास्तु चरणौ वह्निर्ददाह भगवान्स्वयम् न च तस्या मनोदुःखं स्वल्पमप्यभवत्तदा
अथ तत्कर्म दृष्ट्वास्याः प्रीतस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः ततः संदर्शयामास कन्यायै रूपमात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding this act of her, the lord of the three worlds, became highly pleased. He then appeared in his own proper form before the damsel.
उवाच च सुरश्रेष्ठस्तां कन्यां सुदृढव्रताम् प्रीतोऽस्मि ते शुभे भक्त्या तपसा नियमेन च
M. N. Dutt: The king of the celestials then addressed that maiden of very austere vows, saying-"I am pleased with your devotion, penances and VOWS.
तस्माद्योऽभिमतः कामः स ते संपत्स्यते शुभे देहं त्यक्त्वा महाभागे त्रिदिवे मयि वत्स्यसि
M. N. Dutt: Your wish, therefore, O auspicious one, shall be accomplished. Renouncing body, O blessed one, you shall in heaven live with me,
इदं च ते तीर्थवरं स्थिरं लोके भविष्यति सर्वपापापहं सुभ्रु नाम्ना बदरपाचनम् विख्यातं त्रिषु लोकेषु ब्रह्मर्षिभिरभिप्लुतम्
M. N. Dutt: This hermitage, again, shall become the foremost of Tirthas in the world, capable of cleansing from every sin. O you of fair eyebrows and shall pass by the name of Vadarapachana. It shall be celebrated in the three worlds and shall be lauded by great Rishis.
अस्मिन्खलु महाभागे शुभे तीर्थवरे पुरा त्यक्त्वा सप्तर्षयो जग्मुर्हिमवन्तमरुन्धतीम्
M. N. Dutt: In this very Tirtha, O auspicious, sinless and highly blessed one, the seven Rishis had once left Arundhati (the wife of one of them) while they went to Himavat.
ततस्ते वै महाभागा गत्वा तत्र सुसंशिताः वृत्त्यर्थं फलमूलानि समाहर्तुं ययुः किल
M. N. Dutt: Those regenerate ones, of very rigid vows, had gone there for collecting fruits and roots for their sustenance.
तेषां वृत्त्यर्थिनां तत्र वसतां हिमवद्वने अनावृष्टिरनुप्राप्ता तदा द्वादशवार्षिकी
M. N. Dutt: While they thus lived in a forest of Himavat for procuring their food, a drought took place extending for twelve years.
ते कृत्वा चाश्रमं तत्र न्यवसन्त तपस्विनः अरुन्धत्यपि कल्याणी तपोनित्याभवत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Those ascetics, having made a hermitage for themselves, continued to live there. Meanwhile Arundhati devoted herself to ascetic penances.
अरुन्धतीं ततो दृष्ट्वा तीव्रं नियममास्थिताम् अथागमत्त्रिनयनः सुप्रीतो वरदस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Arundhati practising the austerest of vows, the boon-giving and threecyed deity Mahadeva, highly gratified, came there.
ब्राह्मं रूपं ततः कृत्वा महादेवो महायशाः तामभ्येत्याब्रवीद्देवो भिक्षामिच्छाम्यहं शुभे
M. N. Dutt: Assuming the form of a Brahmana, the illustrious Mahadeva, came to her and said-I desire almas, O auspicious one!
प्रत्युवाच ततः सा तं ब्राह्मणं चारुदर्शना क्षीणोऽन्नसंचयो विप्र बदराणीह भक्षय ततोऽब्रवीन्महादेवः पचस्वैतानि सुव्रते
M. N. Dutt: The beautiful Arundhati said to him-Our food has been exhausted, O Brahmana. Do thou eat jujubes.
इत्युक्ता सापचत्तानि ब्राह्मणप्रियकाम्यया अधिश्रित्य समिद्धेऽग्नौ बदराणि यशस्विनी
AI Translation: Thus addressed, she, desiring to please the Brahmanas, having placed the jujube fruits on the well-kindled fire, the glorious one,
दिव्या मनोरमाः पुण्याः कथाः शुश्राव सा तदा अतीता सा त्वनावृष्टिर्घोरा द्वादशवार्षिकी
M. N. Dutt: Placing those jujubes on the fire, the celebrated Arundhati listened to to various excellent and sound and sacred discourses (from the lips of Mahadeva). That twelve years, drought then passed away.
अनश्नन्त्याः पचन्त्याश्च शृण्वन्त्याश्च कथाः शुभाः अहःसमः स तस्यास्तु कालोऽतीतः सुदारुणः
M. N. Dutt: Without food and employed in cooking and listening to those sacred topics, that terrible period passed away as if like a single day.
ततस्ते मुनयः प्राप्ताः फलान्यादाय पर्वतात् ततः स भगवान्प्रीतः प्रोवाचारुन्धतीं तदा
AI Translation: Then those sages, having obtained fruits from the mountain, Then the Blessed One, being pleased, said to Arundhati then,
उपसर्पस्व धर्मज्ञे यथापूर्वमिमानृषीन् प्रीतोऽस्मि तव धर्मज्ञे तपसा नियमेन च
AI Translation: Approach these sages, O knower of Dharma, as before. I am pleased with you, O knower of Dharma, by your austerities and self-restraint.
ततः संदर्शयामास स्वरूपं भगवान्हरः ततोऽब्रवीत्तदा तेभ्यस्तस्यास्तच्चरितं महत्
M. N. Dutt: The adorable Hara appeared there in his own form. Pleased, he spoke to them about the noble conduct of Arundhati (in these words).
भवद्भिर्हिमवत्पृष्ठे यत्तपः समुपार्जितम् अस्याश्च यत्तपो विप्रा न समं तन्मतं मम
M. N. Dutt: The ascetic merit, you Rishis, that this lady has acquired, is, I think, much greater than what you have earned on the breast of Himavat!
अनया हि तपस्विन्या तपस्तप्तं सुदुश्चरम् अनश्नन्त्या पचन्त्या च समा द्वादश पारिताः
M. N. Dutt: The penances practised by this lady have been highly austere, for she passed twelve years in cooking, herself fasting all the time.
ततः प्रोवाच भगवांस्तामेवारुन्धतीं पुनः वरं वृणीष्व कल्याणि यत्तेऽभिलषितं हृदि
M. N. Dutt: Then, addressing Arundhati, Mahadeva said, Pray for any boon, O auspicious dame, you like.
साब्रवीत्पृथुताम्राक्षी देवं सप्तर्षिसंसदि भगवान्यदि मे प्रीतस्तीर्थं स्यादिदमुत्तमम् सिद्धदेवर्षिदयितं नाम्ना बदरपाचनम्
M. N. Dutt: Then that lady of large and red eyes addressed that god in the midst of the seven Rishis, saying-If, O divine one, you are pleased with me, then let this place be an excellent Tirtha. Let it be known by the name of Vadarapachana and let it be the favorite resort of Siddhas and celestial Rishis!
तथास्मिन्देवदेवेश त्रिरात्रमुषितः शुचिः प्राप्नुयादुपवासेन फलं द्वादशवार्षिकम् एवमस्त्विति तां चोक्त्वा हरो यातस्तदा दिवम्
AI Translation: Thus, O Lord of the gods, having stayed here for three nights, pure, one would attain the fruit of a twelve-year fast by fasting. Having said this, Hara went to
Supplementary Passages:
9.47.45 After 45e, B (except B3) D (except D2.3.11) S ins.: *287 प्रत्युवाच तपस्विनीम् सप्तर्षिभिः स्तुतो देवस्
ऋषयो विस्मयं जग्मुस्तां दृष्ट्वा चाप्यरुन्धतीम् अश्रान्तां चाविवर्णां च क्षुत्पिपासासहां सतीम्
AI Translation: The sages were amazed to see her, and also Arundhati, who was tireless, unblemished, and able to endure hunger and thirst.
एवं सिद्धिः परा प्राप्ता अरुन्धत्या विशुद्धया यथा त्वया महाभागे मदर्थं संशितव्रते
AI Translation: Thus, the supreme accomplishment was attained by the pure Arundhati, Just as you, O noble one, O you of steadfast vows, for my sake,
विशेषो हि त्वया भद्रे व्रते ह्यस्मिन्समर्पितः तथा चेदं ददाम्यद्य नियमेन सुतोषितः
AI Translation: You have been especially devoted to this vow, O fortunate one. And so, I am pleased with you and give this to you.
विशेषं तव कल्याणि प्रयच्छामि वरं वरे अरुन्धत्या वरस्तस्या यो दत्तो वै महात्मना
AI Translation: O fortunate one, I shall grant you a special boon. The boon that was granted by the great-souled one to Arundhati.
तस्य चाहं प्रसादेन तव कल्याणि तेजसा प्रवक्ष्याम्यपरं भूयो वरमत्र यथाविधि
AI Translation: And by his grace, O fortunate one, by your radiance, I shall further proclaim another boon here according to proper procedure.
यस्त्वेकां रजनीं तीर्थे वत्स्यते सुसमाहितः स स्नात्वा प्राप्स्यते लोकान्देहन्यासाच्च दुर्लभान्
AI Translation: One who, with full control over the senses, stays at the tirtha for one night will, after bathing, attain the worlds that are difficult to attain even by giving up the body.
इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्देवः सहस्राक्षः प्रतापवान् स्रुचावतीं ततः पुण्यां जगाम त्रिदिवं पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words of the pure Shrutavati, the thousand-eyed Shakra then went back to heaven.
गते वज्रधरे राजंस्तत्र वर्षं पपात ह पुष्पाणां भरतश्रेष्ठ दिव्यानां दिव्यगन्धिनाम्
M. N. Dutt: After the wielder of the thunderbolt, O king, had gone, a shower of celestial flowers of sweet fragrance fell there, O Bharata's chief.
नेदुर्दुन्दुभयश्चापि समन्तात्सुमहास्वनाः मारुतश्च ववौ युक्त्या पुण्यगन्धो विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: Celestial kettle-drums also, of loud sound, were beat there. Auspicious and perfumed breezes also blew there, O king.
उत्सृज्य तु शुभं देहं जगामेन्द्रस्य भार्यताम् तपसोग्रेण सा लब्ध्वा तेन रेमे सहाच्युत
M. N. Dutt: The auspicious Shrutavati then renouncing her body, became the wife of Indra. Obtaining that dignity through austere penances, she began to pass her time, sporting with him."
जनमेजय उवाच का तस्या भगवन्माता क्व संवृद्धा च शोभना श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं ब्रह्मन्परं कौतूहलं हि मे
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said "Who was the mother of Shrutavati and how was that fair damsel brought up. I desire to hear this, O Brahmana, for great is my curiosity."
वैशंपायन उवाच भारद्वाजस्य विप्रर्षेः स्कन्नं रेतो महात्मनः दृष्ट्वाप्सरसमायान्तीं घृताचीं पृथुलोचनाम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said "The vital seed of the great Rishi Bharadvaja fell upon beholding the large eyed Apsara Ghritachi as the latter was passing by at one time.
स तु जग्राह तद्रेतः करेण जपतां वरः तदावपत्पर्णपुटे तत्र सा संभवच्छुभा
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of ascetics thereupon held it in his hand. It was then kept in a cup made of the Icaves of a tree. In that cup was born the girl Shruvavati.
तस्यास्तु जातकर्मादि कृत्वा सर्वं तपोधनः नाम चास्याः स कृतवान्भारद्वाजो महामुनिः
M. N. Dutt: Having performed the usual birth rites, the great ascetic Bharadvaja, gave her a name.
स्रुचावतीति धर्मात्मा तदर्षिगणसंसदि स च तामाश्रमे न्यस्य जगाम हिमवद्वनम्
M. N. Dutt: The name the pious Rishi gave her on the presence of the gods and Rishis was Shruvavati. Leaving the girl in his hermitage, Bharadvaja went to the forest of Himavat.
तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य महानुभावो; वसूनि दत्त्वा च महाद्विजेभ्यः जगाम तीर्थं सुसमाहितात्मा; शक्रस्य वृष्णिप्रवरस्तदानीम्
M. N. Dutt: That best of the Yadus, the heroic Baladeva, of great dignity, having bathed in that Tirtha and distributed much wealth amongst the Brahmanas, then went with a concentrated mind to the Tirtha of Shakra.'