Chapter Three

               The Marriage of Sukanya and Cyavana Muni

 

   This chapter describes the dynasty of Saryati, another son of Manu, and also tells about Sukanya and Revati.

   Devajna Saryati gave instructions about what to do in the ritualistic ceremony observed on the second day of the yajna of the Angirasas. One day, Saryati, along with his daughter, known as Sukanya, went to the asrama of Cyavana Muni. There Sukanya saw two glowing substances within a hole of earthworms, and by chance she pierced those two glowing substances. As soon as she did this, blood began to ooze from that hole. Consequently, King Saryati and his companions suffered from constipation and inability to pass urine. When the King asked why circumstances had suddenly changed, he found that Sukanya was the cause of this misfortune. Then they all offered prayers to Cyavana Muni just to satisfy him according to his own desire, and Devajna Saryati offered his daughter to Cyavana Muni, who was a very old man.

   When the heavenly physicians the Asvini-kumara brothers once visited Cyavana Muni, the muni requested them to give him back his youth. These two physicians took Cyavana Muni to a particular lake, in which they bathed and regained full youth. After this, Sukanya could not distinguish her husband. She then surrendered unto the Asvini-kumaras, who were very satisfied with her chastity and who therefore introduced her again to her husband. Cyavana Muni then engaged King Saryati in performing the soma-yajna and gave the Asvini-kumaras the privilege to drink soma-rasa. The King of heaven, Lord Indra, became very angry at this, but he could do no harm to Saryati. Henceforward, the Asvini-kumara physicians were able to share in the soma-rasa.

   Saryati later had three sons, named Uttanabarhi, Anarta and Bhurisena. Anarta had one son, whose name was Revata. Revata had one hundred sons, of whom the eldest was Kakudmi. Kakudmi was advised by Lord Brahma to offer his beautiful daughter, Revati, to Baladeva, who belongs to the visnu-tattva category. After doing this, Kakudmi retired from family life and entered the forest of Badarikasrama to execute austerities and penances.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                         saryatir manavo raja

                      brahmisthah sambabhuva ha

                        yo va angirasam satre

                         dvitiyam ahar ucivan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; saryatih--the king named Saryati; manavah--the son of Manu; raja--ruler; brahmisthah--completely in awareness of Vedic knowledge; sambabhuva ha--so he became; yah--one who; va--either; angirasam--of the descendants of Angira; satre--in the arena of sacrifice; dvitiyam ahah--the functions to be performed on the second day; ucivan--narrated.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King, Saryati, another son of Manu, was a ruler completely aware of Vedic knowledge. He gave instructions about the functions for the second day of the yajna to be performed by the descendants of Angira.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

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                        sukanya nama tasyasit

                         kanya kamala-locana

                        taya sardham vana-gato

                       hy agamac cyavanasramam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sukanya--Sukanya; nama--by name; tasya--of him (Saryati); asit--there was; kanya--a daughter; kamala-locana--lotus-eyed; taya sardham--with her; vana-gatah--having entered the forest; hi--indeed; agamat--he went; cyavana-asramam--to the asrama cottage of Cyavana Muni.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Saryati had a beautiful lotus-eyed daughter named Sukanya, with whom he went to the forest to see the asrama of Cyavana Muni.

 

                                TEXT 3

 

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                        sa sakhibhih parivrta

                      vicinvanty anghripan vane

                        valmika-randhre dadrse

                         khadyote iva jyotisi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sa--that Sukanya; sakhibhih--by her friends; parivrta--surrounded; vicinvanti--collecting; anghripan--fruits and flowers from the trees; vane--in the forest; valmika-randhre--in the hole of an earthworm; dadrse--observed; khadyote--two luminaries; iva--like; jyotisi--two shining things.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While that Sukanya, surrounded by her friends, was collecting various types of fruits from the trees in the forest, she saw within the hole of an earthworm two things glowing like luminaries.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

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                         te daiva-codita bala

                        jyotisi kantakena vai

                       avidhyan mugdha-bhavena

                        susravasrk tato bahih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   te--those two; daiva-codita--as if impelled by providence; bala--that young daughter; jyotisi--two glowworms within the hole of the earthworm; kantakena--with a thorn; vai--indeed; avidhyat--pierced; mugdha-bhavena--as if without knowledge; susrava--came out; asrk--blood; tatah--from there; bahih--outside.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As if induced by providence, the girl ignorantly pierced those two glowworms with a thorn, and when they were pierced, blood began to ooze out of them.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

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                      sakrn-mutra-nirodho 'bhut

                       sainikanam ca tat-ksanat

                        rajarsis tam upalaksya

                       purusan vismito 'bravit

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sakrt--of stool; mutra--and of urine; nirodhah--stoppage; abhut--so became; sainikanam--of all the soldiers; ca--and; tat-ksanat--immediately; rajarsih--the King; tam upalaksya--seeing the incident; purusan--to his men; vismitah--being surprised; abravit--began to speak.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereupon, all the soldiers of Saryati were immediately obstructed from passing urine and stool. Upon perceiving this, Saryati spoke to his associates in surprise.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

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                      apy abhadram na yusmabhir

                        bhargavasya vicestitam

                       vyaktam kenapi nas tasya

                         krtam asrama-dusanam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   api--alas; abhadram--something mischievous; nah--among us; yusmabhih--by ourselves; bhargavasya--of Cyavana Muni; vicestitam--has been attempted; vyaktam--now it is clear; kena api--by someone; nah--among ourselves; tasya--of him (Cyavana Muni); krtam--has been done; asrama-dusanam--pollution of the asrama.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   How strange it is that one of us has attempted to do something wrong to Cyavana Muni, the son of Bhrgu. It certainly appears that someone among us has polluted this asrama.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

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                        sukanya praha pitaram

                       bhita kincit krtam maya

                        dve jyotisi ajanantya

                       nirbhinne kantakena vai

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sukanya--the girl Sukanya; praha--said; pitaram--unto her father; bhita--being afraid; kincit--something; krtam--has been done; maya--by me; dve--two; jyotisi--luminous objects; ajanantya--because of ignorance; nirbhinne--have been pierced; kantakena--with a thorn; vai--indeed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Being very much afraid, the girl Sukanya said to her father: I have done something wrong, for I have ignorantly pierced these two luminous substances with a thorn.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

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                       duhitus tad vacah srutva

                       saryatir jata-sadhvasah

                         munim prasadayam asa

                       valmikantarhitam sanaih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   duhituh--of his daughter; tat vacah--that statement; srutva--after hearing; saryatih--King Saryati; jata-sadhvasah--becoming afraid; munim--unto Cyavana Muni; prasadayam asa--tried to appease; valmika-antarhitam--who was sitting within the hole of the earthworm; sanaih--gradually.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After hearing this statement by his daughter, King Saryati was very much afraid. In various ways, he tried to appease Cyavana Muni, for it was he who sat within the hole of the earthworm.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

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                        tad-abhiprayam ajnaya

                        pradad duhitaram muneh

                     krcchran muktas tam amantrya

                        puram prayat samahitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tat--of Cyavana Muni; abhiprayam--the purpose; ajnaya--understanding; pradat--delivered; duhitaram--his daughter; muneh--unto Cyavana Muni; krcchrat--with great difficulty; muktah--released; tam--the muni; amantrya--taking permission; puram--to his own place; prayat--went away; samahitah--being very contemplative.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   King Saryati, being very contemplative and thus understanding Cyavana Muni's purpose, gave his daughter in charity to the sage. Thus released from danger with great difficulty, he took permission from Cyavana Muni and returned home.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The King, after hearing the statement of his daughter, certainly told the great sage Cyavana Muni everything about how his daughter had ignorantly committed such an offense. The muni, however, inquired from the King whether the daughter was married. In this way, the King, understanding the purpose of the great sage Cyavana Muni (tad-abhiprayam ajnaya), immediately gave the muni his daughter in charity and escaped the danger of being cursed. Thus with the permission of the great sage the King returned home.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       sukanya cyavanam prapya

                         patim parama-kopanam

                        prinayam asa citta-jna

                         apramattanuvrttibhih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sukanya--the girl named Sukanya, the daughter of King Saryati; cyavanam--the great sage Cyavana Muni; prapya--after obtaining; patim--as her husband; parama-kopanam--who was always very angry; prinayam asa--she satisfied him; citta-jna--understanding the mind of her husband; apramatta anuvrttibhih--by executing services without being bewildered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Cyavana Muni was very irritable, but since Sukanya had gotten him as her husband, she dealt with him carefully, according to his mood. Knowing his mind, she performed service to him without being bewildered.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This is an indication of the relationship between husband and wife. A great personality like Cyavana Muni has the temperament of always wanting to be in a superior position. Such a person cannot submit to anyone. Therefore, Cyavana Muni had an irritable temperament. His wife, Sukanya, could understand his attitude, and under the circumstances she treated him accordingly. If any wife wants to be happy with her husband, she must try to understand her husband's temperament and please him. This is victory for a woman. Even in the dealings of Lord Krsna with His different queens, it has been seen that although the queens were the daughters of great kings, they placed themselves before Lord Krsna as His maidservants. However great a woman may be, she must place herself before her husband in this way; that is to say, she must be ready to carry out her husband's orders and please him in all circumstances. Then her life will be successful. When the wife becomes as irritable as the husband, their life at home is sure to be disturbed or ultimately completely broken. In the modern day, the wife is never submissive, and therefore home life is broken even by slight incidents. Either the wife or the husband may take advantage of the divorce laws. According to the Vedic law, however, there is no such thing as divorce laws, and a woman must be trained to be submissive to the will of her husband. Westerners contend that this is a slave mentality for the wife, but factually it is not; it is the tactic by which a woman can conquer the heart of her husband, however irritable or cruel he may be. In this case we clearly see that although Cyavana Muni was not young but indeed old enough to be Sukanya's grandfather and was also very irritable, Sukanya, the beautiful young daughter of a king, submitted herself to her old husband and tried to please him in all respects. Thus she was a faithful and chaste wife.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

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                       kasyacit tv atha kalasya

                         nasatyav asramagatau

                        tau pujayitva provaca

                        vayo me dattam isvarau

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kasyacit--after some (time); tu--but; atha--in this way; kalasya--time having passed; nasatyau--the two Asvini-kumaras; asrama--that place of Cyavana Muni; agatau--reached; tau--unto those two; pujayitva--offering respectful obeisances; provaca--said; vayah--youth; me--unto me; dattam--please give; isvarau--because you two are able to do so.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, some time having passed, the Asvini-kumara brothers, the heavenly physicians, happened to come to Cyavana Muni's asrama. After offering them respectful obeisances, Cyavana Muni requested them to give him youthful life, for they were able to do so.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The heavenly physicians like the Asvini-kumaras could give youthful life even to one who was advanced in age. Indeed, great yogis, with their mystic powers, can even bring a dead body back to life if the structure of the body is in order. We have already discussed this in connection with Bali Maharaja's soldiers and their treatment by Sukracarya. Modern medical science has not yet discovered how to bring a dead body back to life or bring youthful energy to an old body, but from these verses we can understand that such treatment is possible if one is able to take knowledge from the Vedic information. The Asvini-kumaras were expert in Ayur-veda, as was Dhanvantari. In every department of material science, there is a perfection to be achieved, and to achieve it one must consult the Vedic literature. The highest perfection is to become a devotee of the Lord. To attain this perfection, one must consult Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is understood to be the ripe fruit of the Vedic desire tree (nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam).

 

                               TEXT 12

 

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                       graham grahisye somasya

                       yajne vam apy asoma-poh

                        kriyatam me vayo-rupam

                        pramadanam yad ipsitam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   graham--a full pot; grahisye--I shall give; somasya--of soma-rasa; yajne--in sacrifice; vam--of both of you; api--although; asoma-poh--of you two, who are not eligible to drink soma-rasa; kriyatam--just execute; me--my; vayah--young age; rupam--beauty of a young man; pramadanam--of women as a class; yat--which is; ipsitam--desirable.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Cyavana Muni said: Although you are ineligible to drink soma-rasa in sacrifices, I promise to give you a full pot of it. Kindly arrange beauty and youth for me, because they are attractive to young women.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

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                       badham ity ucatur vipram

                        abhinandya bhisaktamau

                       nimajjatam bhavan asmin

                        hrade siddha-vinirmite

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   badham--yes, we shall act; iti--thus; ucatuh--they both replied, accepting the proposal of Cyavana; vipram--unto the brahmana (Cyavana Muni); abhinandya--congratulating him; bhisak-tamau--the two great physicians, the Asvini-kumaras; nimajjatam--just dive; bhavan--yourself; asmin--in this; hrade--lake; siddha-vinirmite--which is especially meant for all kinds of perfection.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The great physicians, the Asvini-kumaras, very gladly accepted Cyavana Muni's proposal. Thus they told the brahmana, "Just dive into this lake of successful life." [One who bathes in this lake has his desires fulfilled.]

 

                               TEXT 14

 

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                       ity ukto jaraya grasta-

                        deho dhamani-santatah

                      hradam pravesito 'svibhyam

                         vali-palita-vigrahah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   iti uktah--thus being addressed; jaraya--by old age and invalidity; grasta-dehah--the body being so diseased; dhamani-santatah--whose veins were visible everywhere on the body; hradam--the lake; pravesitah--entered; asvibhyam--helped by the Asvini-kumaras; vali-palita-vigrahah--whose body had loose skin and white hair.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After saying this, the Asvini-kumaras caught hold of Cyavana Muni, who was an old, diseased invalid with loose skin, white hair, and veins visible all over his body, and all three of them entered the lake.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Cyavana Muni was so old that he could not enter the lake alone. Thus the Asvini-kumaras caught hold of his body, and the three of them entered the lake.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

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                       purusas traya uttasthur

                         apivya vanita-priyah

                       padma-srajah kundalinas

                        tulya-rupah suvasasah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purusah--men; trayah--three; uttasthuh--arose (from the lake); apivyah--extremely beautiful; vanita-priyah--as a man becomes very attractive to women; padma-srajah--decorated with garlands of lotuses; kundalinah--with earrings; tulya-rupah--all of them had the same bodily features; su-vasasah--very nicely dressed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, three men with very beautiful bodily features emerged from the lake. They were nicely dressed and decorated with earrings and garlands of lotuses. All of them were of the same standard of beauty.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

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                        tan niriksya vararoha

                        sarupan surya-varcasah

                         ajanati patim sadhvi

                        asvinau saranam yayau

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tan--unto them; niriksya--after observing; vara-aroha--that beautiful Sukanya; sa-rupan--all of them equally beautiful; surya-varcasah--with a bodily effulgence like the effulgence of the sun; ajanati--not knowing; patim--her husband; sadhvi--that chaste woman; asvinau--unto the Asvini-kumaras; saranam--shelter; yayau--took.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The chaste and very beautiful Sukanya could not distinguish her husband from the two Asvini-kumaras, for they were equally beautiful. Not understanding who her real husband was, she took shelter of the Asvini-kumaras.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Sukanya could have selected any one of them as her husband, for one could not distinguish among them, but because she was chaste, she took shelter of the Asvini-kumaras so that they could inform her who her actual husband was. A chaste woman will never accept any man other than her husband, even if there be someone equally as handsome and qualified.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

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                       darsayitva patim tasyai

                        pati-vratyena tositau

                        rsim amantrya yayatur

                         vimanena trivistapam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   darsayitva--after showing; patim--her husband; tasyai--unto Sukanya; pati-vratyena--because of her strong faith in her husband; tositau--being very pleased with her; rsim--unto Cyavana Muni; amantrya--taking his permission; yayatuh--they went away; vimanena--taking their own airplane; trivistapam--to the heavenly planets.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The Asvini-kumaras were very pleased to see Sukanya's chastity and faithfulness. Thus they showed her Cyavana Muni, her husband, and after taking permission from him, they returned to the heavenly planets in their plane.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

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                       yaksyamano 'tha saryatis

                        cyavanasyasramam gatah

                        dadarsa duhituh parsve

                        purusam surya-varcasam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yaksyamanah--desiring to perform a yajna; atha--thus; saryatih--King Saryati; cyavanasya--of Cyavana Muni; asramam--to the residence; gatah--having gone; dadarsa--he saw; duhituh--of his daughter; parsve--by the side; purusam--a man; surya-varcasam--beautiful and effulgent like the sun.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, King Saryati, desiring to perform a sacrifice, went to the residence of Cyavana Muni. There he saw by the side of his daughter a very beautiful young man, as bright as the sun.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

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                         raja duhitaram praha

                         krta-padabhivandanam

                         asisas caprayunjano

                          natipriti-mana iva

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   raja--the King (Saryati); duhitaram--unto the daughter; praha--said; krta-pada-abhivandanam--who had already finished offering respectful obeisances to her father; asisah--blessings upon her; ca--and; aprayunjanah--without offering to the daughter; na--not; atipriti-manah--very much pleased; iva--like that.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After receiving obeisances from his daughter, the King, instead of offering blessings to her, appeared very displeased and spoke as follows.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

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                  cikirsitam te kim idam patis tvaya

                   pralambhito loka-namaskrto munih

                yat tvam jara-grastam asaty asammatam

                  vihaya jaram bhajase 'mum adhvagam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   cikirsitam--which you desire to do; te--of you; kim idam--what is this; patih--your husband; tvaya--by you; pralambhitah--has been cheated; loka-namaskrtah--who is honored by all people; munih--a great sage; yat--because; tvam--you; jara-grastam--very old and invalid; asati--O unchaste daughter; asammatam--not very attractive; vihaya--giving up; jaram--paramour; bhajase--you have accepted; amum--this man; adhvagam--comparable to a street beggar.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O unchaste girl, what is this that you have desired to do? You have cheated the most respectable husband, who is honored by everyone, for I see that because he was old, diseased and therefore unattractive, you have left his company to accept as your husband this young man, who appears to be a beggar from the street.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   This shows the values of Vedic culture. According to the circumstances, Sukanya had been given a husband who was too old to be compatible with her. Because Cyavana Muni was diseased and very old, he was certainly unfit for the beautiful daughter of King Saryati. Nonetheless, her father expected her to be faithful to her husband. When he suddenly saw that his daughter had accepted someone else, even though the man was young and handsome, he immediately chastised her as asati, unchaste, because he assumed that she had accepted another man in the presence of her husband. According to Vedic culture, even if a young woman is given an old husband, she must respectfully serve him. This is chastity. It is not that because she dislikes her husband she may give him up and accept another. This is against Vedic culture. According to Vedic culture, a woman must accept the husband given to her by her parents and remain chaste and faithful to him. Therefore King Saryati was surprised to see a young man by the side of Sukanya.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 katham matis te 'vagatanyatha satam

                  kula-prasute kula-dusanam tv idam

                  bibharsi jaram yad apatrapa kulam

                pitus ca bhartus ca nayasy adhas tamah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   katham--how; matih te--your consciousness; avagata--has gone down; anyatha--otherwise; satam--of the most respectable; kula-prasute--O my daughter, born in the family; kula-dusanam--who are the degradation of the family; tu--but; idam--this; bibharsi--you are maintaining; jaram--a paramour; yat--as it is; apatrapa--without shame; kulam--the dynasty; pituh--of your father; ca--and; bhartuh--of your husband; ca--and; nayasi--you are bringing down; adhah tamah--downward into darkness or hell.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O my daughter, who were born in a respectable family, how have you degraded your consciousness in this way? Mow is it that you are shamelessly maintaining a paramour? You will thus degrade the dynasties of both your father and your husband to hellish life.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   It is quite clear that according to Vedic culture a woman who accepts a paramour or second husband in the presence of the husband she has married is certainly responsible for the degradation of her father's family and the family of her husband. The rules of Vedic culture in this regard are strictly observed in the respectable families of brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas even today; only the sudras are degraded in this matter. For a woman of the brahmana, ksatriya or vaisya class to accept another husband in the presence of the husband she has married, or to file for divorce or accept a boyfriend or paramour, is unacceptable in the Vedic culture. Therefore King Saryati, who did not know the real facts of Cyavana Muni's transformation, was surprised to see the behavior of his daughter.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

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                        evam bruvanam pitaram

                         smayamana suci-smita

                          uvaca tata jamata

                        tavaisa bhrgu-nandanah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   evam--in this way; bruvanam--who was talking and chastising her; pitaram--unto her father; smayamana--smiling (because she was chaste); suci-smita--laughingly; uvaca--replied; tata--O my dear father; jamata--son-in-law; tava--your; esah--this young man; bhrgu-nandanah--is Cyavana Muni (and no one else).

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukanya, however, being very proud of her chastity, smiled upon hearing the rebukes of her father. She smilingly told him, "My dear father, this young man by my side is your actual son-in-law, the great sage Cyavana, who was born in the family of Bhrgu."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Although the father chastised the daughter, assuming that she had accepted another husband, the daughter knew that she was completely honest and chaste, and therefore she was smiling. When she explained that her husband, Cyavana Muni, had now been transformed into a young man, she was very proud of her chastity, and thus she smiled as she talked with her father.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       sasamsa pitre tat sarvam

                        vayo-rupabhilambhanam

                        vismitah parama-pritas

                         tanayam parisasvaje

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sasamsa--she described; pitre--unto her father; tat--that; sarvam--everything; vayah--of the change of age; rupa--and of beauty; abhilambhanam--how there was achievement (by her husband); vismitah--being surprised; parama-pritah--was extremely pleased; tanayam--unto his daughter; parisasvaje--embraced with pleasure.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus Sukanya explained how her husband had received the beautiful body of a young man. When the King heard this he was very surprised, and in great pleasure he embraced his beloved daughter.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         somena yajayan viram

                       graham somasya cagrahit

                        asoma-por apy asvinos

                        cyavanah svena tejasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   somena--with the soma; yajayan--causing to perform the sacrifice; viram--the King (Saryati); graham--the full pot; somasya--of the soma-rasa; ca--also; agrahit--delivered; asoma-poh--who were not allowed to drink the soma-rasa; api--although; asvinoh--of the Asvini-kumaras; cyavanah--Cyavana Muni; svena--his own; tejasa--by prowess.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Cyavana Muni, by his own prowess, enabled King Saryati to perform the soma-yajna. The muni offered a full pot of soma-rasa to the Asvini-kumaras, although they were unfit to drink it.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       hantum tam adade vajram

                        sadyo manyur amarsitah

                       savajram stambhayam asa

                      bhujam indrasya bhargavah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hantum--to kill; tam--him (Cyavana); adade--Indra took up; vajram--his thunderbolt; sadyah--immediately; manyuh--because of great anger, without consideration; amarsitah--being very much perturbed; sa-vajram--with the thunderbolt; stambhayam asa--paralyzed; bhujam--the arm; indrasya--of Indra; bhargavah--Cyavana Muni, the descendant of Bhrgu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   King Indra, being perturbed and angry, wanted to kill Cyavana Muni, and therefore he impetuously took up his thunderbolt. But Cyavana Muni, by his powers, paralyzed Indra's arm that held the thunderbolt.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        anvajanams tatah sarve

                       graham somasya casvinoh

                       bhisajav iti yat purvam

                        somahutya bahis-krtau

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   anvajanan--with their permission; tatah--thereafter; sarve--all the demigods; graham--a full pot; somasya--of soma-rasa; ca--also; asvinoh--of the Asvini-kumaras; bhisajau--although only physicians; iti--thus; yat--because; purvam--before this; soma-ahutya--with a share in the soma-yajna; bahih-krtau--who had been disallowed or excluded.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although the Asvini-kumaras were only physicians and were therefore excluded from drinking soma-rasa in sacrifices, the demigods agreed to allow them henceforward to drink it.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         uttanabarhir anarto

                         bhurisena iti trayah

                        saryater abhavan putra

                        anartad revato 'bhavat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   uttanabarhih--Uttanabarhi; anartah--Anarta; bhurisenah--Bhurisena; iti--thus; trayah--three; saryateh--of King Saryati; abhavan--were begotten; putrah--sons; anartat--from Anarta; revatah--Revata; abhavat--was born.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   King Saryati begot three sons, named Uttanabarhi, Anarta and Bhurisena. From Anarta came a son named Revata.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       so 'ntah-samudre nagarim

                        vinirmaya kusasthalim

                       asthito 'bhunkta visayan

                          anartadin arindama

                       tasya putra-satam jajne

                       kakudmi-jyestham uttamam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sah--Revata; antah-samudre--in the depths of the ocean; nagarim--a town; vinirmaya--after constructing; kusasthalim--named Kusasthali; asthitah--lived there; abhunkta--enjoyed material happiness; visayan--kingdoms; anarta-adin--Anarta and others; arim-dama--O Maharaja Pariksit, subduer of enemies; tasya--his; putra-satam--one hundred sons; jajne--were born; kakudmi-jyestham--of whom the eldest was Kakudmi; uttamam--most powerful and opulent.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O Maharaja Pariksit, subduer of enemies, this Revata constructed a kingdom known as Kusasthali in the depths of the ocean. There he lived and ruled such tracts of land as Anarta, etc. He had one hundred very nice sons, of whom the eldest was Kakudmi.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        kakudmi revatim kanyam

                       svam adaya vibhum gatah

                       putrya varam pariprastum

                         brahmalokam apavrtam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kakudmi--King Kakudmi; revatim--named Revati; kanyam--the daughter of Kakudmi; svam--his own; adaya--taking; vibhum--before Lord Brahma; gatah--he went; putryah--of his daughter; varam--a husband; pariprastum--to inquire about; brahmalokam--Brahmaloka; apavrtam--transcendental to the three qualities.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Taking his own daughter, Revati, Kakudmi went to Lord Brahma in Brahmaloka, which is transcendental to the three modes of material nature, and inquired about a husband for her.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   It appears that Brahmaloka, the abode of Lord Brahma, is also transcendental, above the three modes of material nature (apavrtam).

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         avartamane gandharve

                     sthito 'labdha-ksanah ksanam

                        tad-anta adyam anamya

                       svabhiprayam nyavedayat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   avartamane--because of being engaged; gandharve--in hearing songs from the Gandharvas; sthitah--situated; alabdha-ksanah--there was no time to talk; ksanam--even a moment; tat-ante--when it ended; adyam--unto the original teacher of the universe (Lord Brahma); anamya--after offering obeisances; sva-abhiprayam--his own desire; nyavedayat--Kakudmi submitted.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Kakudmi arrived there, Lord Brahma was engaged in hearing musical performances by the Gandharvas and had not a moment to talk with him. Therefore Kakudmi waited, and at the end of the musical performances he offered his obeisances to Lord Brahma and thus submitted his long-standing desire.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     tac chrutva bhagavan brahma

                        prahasya tam uvaca ha

                        aho rajan niruddhas te

                         kalena hrdi ye krtah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tat--that; srutva--hearing; bhagavan--the most powerful; brahma--Lord Brahma; prahasya--after laughing; tam--unto King Kakudmi; uvaca ha--said; aho--alas; rajan--O King; niruddhah--all gone; te--all of them; kalena--by the course of time; hrdi--within the core of the heart; ye--all of them; krtah--who have been decided upon for acceptance as your son-in-law.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After hearing his words, Lord Brahma, who is most powerful, laughed loudly and said to Kakudmi: O King, all those whom you may have decided within the core of your heart to accept as your son-in-law have passed away in the course of time.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      tat putra-pautra-naptrnam

                        gotrani ca na srnmahe

                       kalo 'bhiyatas tri-nava-

                        catur-yuga-vikalpitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tat--there; putra--of the sons; pautra--of the grandsons; naptrnam--and of the descendants; gotrani--the family dynasties; ca--also; na--not; srnmahe--we do hear of; kalah--time; abhiyatah--have passed; tri--three; nava--nine; catur-yuga--four yugas (Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali); vikalpitah--thus measured.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Twenty-seven catur-yugas have already passed. Those upon whom you may have decided are now gone, and so are their sons, grandsons and other descendants. You cannot even hear about their names.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   During Lord Brahma's day, fourteen Manus or one thousand maha-yugas pass away. Brahma informed King Kakudmi that twenty-seven maha-yugas, each consisting of the four periods Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali, had already passed. All the kings and other great personalities born in those yugas had now departed from memory into obscurity. This is the way of time as it moves through past, present and future.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tad gaccha deva-devamso

                         baladevo maha-balah

                       kanya-ratnam idam rajan

                        nara-ratnaya dehi bhoh

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tat--therefore; gaccha--you go; deva-deva-amsah--whose plenary portion is Lord Visnu; baladevah--known as Baladeva; maha-balah--the supreme powerful; kanya-ratnam--your beautiful daughter; idam--this; rajan--O King; nara-ratnaya--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always youthful; dehi--just give to Him (in charity); bhoh--O King.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King, leave here and offer your daughter to Lord Baladeva, who is still present. He is most powerful. Indeed, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose plenary portion is Lord Visnu. Your daughter is fit to be given to Him in charity.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         bhuvo bharavataraya

                       bhagavan bhuta-bhavanah

                          avatirno nijamsena

                        punya-sravana-kirtanah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhuvah--of the world; bhara-avataraya--to lessen the burden; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhuta-bhavanah--always the well-wisher of all the living entities; avatirnah--now He has descended; nija-amsena--with all the paraphernalia that is part of Him; punya-sravana-kirtanah--He is simply worshiped by hearing and chanting, by which one becomes purified.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Baladeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One who hears and chants about Him is purified. Because He is always the well-wisher of all living entities, He has descended with all His paraphernalia to purify the entire world and lessen its burden.

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       ity adisto 'bhivandyajam

                        nrpah sva-puram agatah

                      tyaktam punya-jana-trasad

                     bhratrbhir diksv avasthitaih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   iti--thus; adistah--being ordered by Lord Brahma; abhivandya--after offering obeisances; ajam--unto Lord Brahma; nrpah--the King; sva-puram--to his own residence; agatah--returned; tyaktam--which was vacant; punya-jana--of higher living entities; trasat--because of their fear; bhratrbhih--by his brothers; diksu--in different directions; avasthitaih--who were residing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Having received this order from Lord Brahma, Kakudmi offered obeisances unto him and returned to his own residence. He then saw that his residence was vacant, having been abandoned by his brothers and other relatives, who were living in all directions because of fear of such higher living beings as the Yaksas.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       sutam dattvanavadyangim

                          balaya bala-saline

                       badary-akhyam gato raja

                        taptum narayanasramam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sutam--his daughter; dattva--after delivering; anavadya-angim--having a perfect body; balaya--unto Lord Baladeva; bala-saline--unto the most powerful, the supreme powerful; badari-akhyam--named Badarikasrama; gatah--he went; raja--the King; taptum--to perform austerities; narayana-asramam--to the place of Nara-Narayana.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, the King gave his most beautiful daughter in charity to the supremely powerful Baladeva and then retired from worldly life and went to Badarikasrama to please Nara-Narayana.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Third Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "The Marriage of Sukanya and Cyavana Muni."


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