Markandeya Purana

द्विसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः ७२ मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः स्वनगरं प्राप्य तं ददर्श द्विजं नृपः । समेतं भार्यया चैव शीलवत्या मुदान्वितम् ॥ ७२.

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then, having reached his own city, the king saw that brāhmaṇa together with his virtuous wife, both filled with joy.

ब्राह्मण उवाच राजवर्य ! कृतार्थोऽस्मि यतो धर्मो हि रक्षितः । धर्मज्ञनेह भवता भार्यामानयता मम ॥ ७२.

The brāhmaṇa said: O best of kings, I am fulfilled, for righteousness has been protected; by your knowledge of dharma, you have brought back my wife.

राजोवाच कृतार्थस्त्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ ! निजधर्मानुपालनात् । वयं सङ्कटिनो विप्र ! येषां पत्नी न वेश्मनि ॥ ७२.

The king said: You are fulfilled, O best of brāhmaṇas, by your adherence to your own duty; but we are in distress, O brāhmaṇa, whose wives are not at home.

ब्राह्मण उवाच नरेन्द्र ! सा हि विपिने भक्षिता श्वनापदैर्यदि । अलन्तया किमन्यस्या न पाणिर्गृह्यते त्वया । क्रोधस्य वशमागम्य धर्मो न रक्षितस्त्वया ॥ ७२.

The brāhmaṇa said: O king, if she had been eaten by wild beasts in the forest, why did you not take another wife? Overcome by anger, you did not protect righteousness.

राजोवाच न भक्षिता मे दयिता श्वापदैः सा हि जीवति । अविदूषितचारित्रा कथमेतत्करोम्यहम् ॥ ७२.

The king said: My beloved was not eaten by wild beasts; she is alive and her conduct is unblemished—how could I do such a thing?

ब्राह्मण उवाच यदि जीवति ते भार्या न चैव व्यभिचारिणी । तदपत्नीकताजन्म किं पापं क्रियते त्वया ॥ ७२.

The brāhmaṇa said: If your wife is alive and not unfaithful, then by making her as if not your wife, what sin have you committed?

राजोवाच आनीतापि हि सा विप्र ! प्रतिकूला सदैव मे । दुः खाय न सुखायालं तस्या मैत्री न वै मयि । तथा त्वं कुरु यत्नं मे यथा सा वशगामिनी ॥ ७२.

The king said: Even though she has been brought back, O brāhmaṇa, she is always unfriendly to me; she brings sorrow, not happiness, and has no affection for me. Therefore, please make an effort so that she becomes devoted to me.

ब्राह्मण उवाच तव संप्रीतये तस्या वरेष्टिरुपकारिणी । क्रियते मित्रकामैर्या मित्रविन्दां करोमि ताम् ॥ ७२.

The brāhmaṇa said: For your satisfaction, a beneficial rite will be performed by those desiring friendship; I will make her friendly to you.

अप्रीतयोः प्रीतिकरो सा हि संजननी परम् । भार्यापत्योर्मनुष्येन्द्र ! तान्तवेष्टिं करोम्यहम् ॥ ७२.

She is indeed the supreme cause of affection between husband and wife, O king of men; I will perform the tāntaveṣṭi rite for the wife and child.

यत्र तिष्ठति सा सुभ्रूस्तव भार्या महीपते । तस्मादानोयतां सा ते परां प्रीतिमुपैष्यति ॥ ७२.

Where your wife with beautiful brows resides, O king, from there she shall be brought to you, and she will attain the highest affection for you.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युक्तः स तु सम्भारानशेषानवनीपतिः । आनिनाय चकारेष्टिं स च तां द्विजसत्तमः ॥ ७२.

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Thus addressed, the king brought all the necessary materials, and that best of brāhmaṇas performed the rite.

सप्तकृत्वः स तु तदा चकारेष्टिं पुनः पुनः । तस्य राज्ञो द्विजश्रेष्ठो भार्यासम्पादनाय वै ॥ ७२.

Then, seven times, that brāhmaṇa performed the rite again and again for the king, in order to bring about the union with his wife.

यदारोपितमैत्रीन्ताममन्यत महामुनिः । स्वभर्तरि तदा विप्रस्तमुवाच नराधिपम् ॥ ७२.

When the great sage perceived that friendship had arisen in her towards her husband, the brāhmaṇa then spoke to the king.

आनीयतां नरश्रेष्ठ ! या तवेष्टात्मनोऽन्तिकम् । भुङ्क्ष्व भोगांस्तया सार्धं यज यज्ञांस्तथादृतः ॥ ७२.

Bring here, O best of men, the one whom the rite has drawn to you; enjoy pleasures with her and perform sacrifices with devotion.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युक्तस्तेन विप्रेण भूपालो विस्मितस्तदा । सस्मार तं महावीर्यं सत्यसन्धं निशाचरम् ॥ ७२.

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Thus addressed by the brāhmaṇa, the king was astonished and remembered that mighty, truthful night-wanderer.

स्मृतस्तेन तदा सद्यः समुपेत्य नराधिपम् । किं करोमीति सोऽप्याह प्रणिपत्य महामुने ॥ ७२.

Then, when remembered, he immediately approached the king and, bowing to the great sage, said, 'What shall I do?'

ततस्तेन नरेन्द्रेण विस्तरेण निवेदिते । गत्वा पातालमादाय राजपत्नीमुपाययौ ॥ ७२.

After the king had explained everything in detail, he went to the underworld, brought back the queen, and presented her.

आनीता चातिहार्देन सा ददर्श तदा पतिम् । उवाच च प्रसीदेति भूयोभूयो मुदान्विता ॥ ७२.

She, brought there with great affection, saw her husband and, filled with joy, repeatedly said, 'Be gracious.'

ततः स राजा रभसा परिष्वज्याह मानिनीम् । प्रिये ! प्रसन्न एवाहं भूयोऽप्येवं ब्रवीषि किम् ॥ ७२.

Then the king, eagerly embracing his proud wife, said, 'Beloved, I am already pleased—why do you say this again?'

पत्न्युवाच यदि प्रिसादप्रवणं नरेन्द्र ! मयि ते मनः । तदेतदभियाचे त्वां तत्कुरुष्व ममार्हणम् ॥ ७२.

The wife said: 'O king, if your mind is truly inclined toward favor for me, then I ask you for this—please grant me what I deserve.'

राजोवाच निः शङ्कं ब्रूहि मत्तो यद्भवात्या किञ्चिदीप्सितम् । तदलभ्यं न ते भीरु ! तवायत्तोऽस्मि नान्यथा ॥ ७२.

The king said: 'Speak without hesitation whatever you desire from me. There is nothing unattainable for you, O timid one! I am at your disposal, in every way.'

पत्न्युवाच मदर्थं तेन नागेन सुता शप्ता सखी मम । मूका भविष्यसीत्याह सा च मूकत्वमागता ॥ ७२.

The wife said: 'For my sake, my friend was cursed by that serpent's daughter to become mute, and so she has become mute.'

तस्याः प्रतिक्रियां प्रीत्या मम शक्नोति चेद्भवान् । वाग्विघातप्रशान्त्यर्थं ततः किं न कृतं मम ॥ ७२.

'If you are able, out of affection for me, to remedy her condition and remove her speech impediment, why would you not do this for me?'

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः स राजा तं विप्रमाहास्मिन् कीदृशी क्रिया । तन्मूकतापनोदाय स च तं प्राह पार्थिवम् ॥ ७२.

Markandeya said: Then the king asked that Brahmin, 'What should be done here to remove her muteness?' And he explained it to the king.

ब्राह्मण उवाच भूप ! सारस्वतीमिष्टिं करोमि वचनात्तव । पत्नी तवेयमानृण्यं यातु तद्वाक्प्रवर्तनात् ॥ ७२.

The Brahmin said: 'O king, at your command I will perform a Sarasvati sacrifice. Let your wife be freed from her debt, and let her speech be restored.'

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इष्टिं सारस्वतीं चक्रे तदर्थं स द्विजोत्तमः । सारस्वतानि सूक्तानि जजाप च समाहितः ॥ ७२.

Markandeya said: That excellent Brahmin performed the Sarasvati sacrifice for her sake, and with concentration recited the Sarasvati hymns.

ततः प्रवृत्तवाक्यान्तां गर्गः प्राह रसातले । उपकारः सखीभर्त्रा कृतोऽयमतिदुष्करः ॥ ७२.

Then Garga, now able to speak, said in the underworld, 'This great and difficult favor has been done for my friend by her husband.'

इत्थं ज्ञानं समासाद्य नन्दा शीघ्रगतिः पुरम् । ततो राज्ञीं परिष्वज्य स्वसखीमुरगात्मजा ॥ ७२.

Having regained her speech, Nanda quickly returned to the city, and there, embracing the queen, her friend, the serpent maiden, rejoiced.

तञ्च संस्तूय भूपालं कल्याणोक्त्या पुनः पुनः । उवाच मधुरं नागी कृतासनपरिग्रहा ॥ ७२.

Praising the king again and again with auspicious words, the serpent maiden, having taken her seat, spoke sweetly.