यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण महापापक्षयो भवेत्
By merely hearing of it, the destruction of great sins occurs.
रेवा चर्मण्वती क्षाता तिस्रो नद्यः पुराऽनघ
The Revā, Carmaṇvatī, and Kṣātā—three rivers—were once, O sinless one,
पुण्याः पुण्यजला रम्याः पवित्राः पापहारकाः
holy, filled with sacred waters, delightful, pure, and destroyers of sin.
एकदोपवने रम्ये मांधातृक्षेत्र उत्तमे
Once, in a beautiful grove, in the excellent field of Māndhātṛ,
किंचिद्दोषप्रसंगेन मिथो भेदो ह्यजायत
Due to a slight fault arising in their association, a separation occurred between them.
महाकालवने रम्ये समा याता सरिद्वरा 5.1.56.
In the delightful forest of Mahākāla, the noble rivers spent time together.
सर्वतीर्थवरं श्रेष्ठं नामा रुद्रसरः स्मृतम्
The best among all sacred waters, known as Rudrasara, is remembered as the foremost.
तत्रागत्य पुरा क्षाता शिप्रासंगं समाश्रिता यत्र धूतरजा जातः सद्यः प्रोक्तो विभावसुः
There, having arrived and once mingled, they took refuge in the Śiprā; where the dust was cleansed, the fire was instantly declared.
एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदांवर
I wish to know this from you, O foremost among those who know Brahman.
सनत्कुमार उवाच पुरानुसूर्यां सावित्रीं त्वष्टा स्वतनयां ददौ
Sanatkumāra said: In ancient times, Tvaṣṭṛ gave Sāvitrī, his own daughter, to Sūrya.
पतिधर्मरता नित्यं सिषेवे लोकचक्षुषे
Always devoted to the duties of a wife, she served the eye of the world.
यमो वैवस्वतो जातो यमुना लोकपावनी
Yama, son of Vivasvat, was born; Yamunā, purifier of the worlds.
मिथुनं मे तवोत्संगे धृतं त्वं परिपालय
The pair has been placed in your embrace by me; you must protect them.
रविभक्तिरता नित्यं चर त्वं मम वेश्मनि
Always devoted to the worship of the Sun, you must dwell in my house.
एवं सा समयं कृत्वा सावित्री ह्यगमत्तदा
Thus, having made this agreement, Sāvitrī departed at that time.
पित्र निवारिता सद्यो वडवारूपधारिणी 5.1.56.
Immediately restrained by her father, she assumed the form of a mare.
एकदा याचिता तेन वैवस्वतेन बुभुक्षता
Once, he was begged by Vaivasvata, who was hungry.
तदा पदाहता तेन च्छाया तं च शशाप ह
Then, struck by his foot, Chāyā cursed him.
तस्मात्त्वं च पदा खंजो भविष्यसि न संशयः
Therefore, you will be lame in your foot—there is no doubt.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे व्यास परिभूय वसुंधराम्
Meanwhile, Vyāsa, having insulted the earth,
दृष्ट्वा च तनयं पंगुमित्युवाच विभावसुः
Seeing his son crippled, Vibhāvasu spoke thus:
इति पृष्टो यदा तेन सवित्रा लोकभास्वता
When questioned by Savitṛ, the radiant lord of the worlds,
प्रातराशाय मे नाथ याचितं मातुरंतिकात्
For my morning meal, O master, I begged from my mother’s presence.
पादौ मे गलितौ सद्यो मातुः शापपराभवौ
My feet immediately fell, overcome by my mother’s curse.
विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं मातुः शापस्य कारणम्
This strange account has been told—the reason for my mother’s curse.
नेयं सा रुचिरापांगी त्वाष्ट्री लोकस्य पावनी 5.1.56.
She is not the lovely-eyed daughter of Tvaṣṭṛ, purifier of the world.
गता वै सा पितुर्गेहे वारिताहं तयाऽनघ
She has gone to her father’s house; I was forbidden by her, O sinless one.
सवित्रे नैव वक्तव्यं छाये किंचित्कथंचन
Nothing at all should be spoken to Savitṛ by Chāyā.
तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवांस्त्वष्टुः समीपं रोषमास्थितः
Hearing this, the blessed Tvaṣṭṛ approached, filled with anger.
तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय त्वष्टा लोकपितामहः
Seeing him, Tvaṣṭṛ, the patriarch of the world, rose suddenly.