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2024-04-26, 8:11 AM |
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Chapter 22: The
Marriage
of Kardama Muni and Devahûti
(1) Maitreya said: 'After the sage this way had
described the greatness of the virtues and activities of emperor Manu
he fell silent. The emperor feeling somewhat embarrassed by it then
addressed him. (2) Manu said: 'You [brahmins] were in
your
being connected in penance, knowledge and yoga and being turned away
from sense gratification, by the Creator created from His mouth for the
purpose of defending Him in the form of praises [Vedic hymns]. (3)
And
we were by the Father with the Thousand Feet [the Lord of the Universal
Form] created from His thousand arms in order to protect them
again. Thus the brahmins are called His heart and the kshatriyas
[the rulers] His arms. (4) Because
the
godhead,
the
One
Imperishable
who
is
both
cause
and
effect,
defends
the
both
of
them, the brahmins
and the kshatriyas protect each other as also the [interest of the] soul. (5) By just seeing how you oh supreme one, personally so
lovingly explained what the duty of a king is to his subjects, all my doubts have resolved.
(6)
It is my good fortune oh
powerful one, that I could see you who cannot be seen easily by
those
who
are
not
acting
in
accord
with
the
soul.
Happily
enough
my
head
could
touch
the dust of your feet that bring all the blessing. (7)
I am lucky to have been granted the great favor of being instructed by
you. How lucky I am to have listened with pricked up ears
to your pure words! (8) Oh
sage, your honor, now be pleased yourself
to listen to the prayer of this humble person whose mind is full of
worries out of love for his daughter. (9) This
daughter of mine, the sister of
Priyavrata and Uttânapâda, is seeking a husband suitable
for her age, character and good qualities. (10)
The moment she heard from
Nârada Muni about your
noble character, learning,
appearance, youth and virtues, she fixed her mind upon you. (11)
Therefore,
please accept her oh best of the twice-born ones, she is offered by me
believing that she in every way is suitable for your household duties. (12) To deny a thing of one's
desire that in fact came by
itself is not commendable, not even for someone who is free from
attachment to sensual pleasures, let alone someone addicted. (13) He who rejects what is
offered [generously] and begs from a stingy person, looses his honor
and will see his reputation and renown ruined. (14)
Oh wise man,
I
heard that you intended to marry and hence have not taken the vow of
perpetual celibacy. Then please accept my offer [*].'
(15) The rishi replied: 'Yes I would like to marry
and your daughter has not promised herself to anyone. Based upon this a
marriage of us according to the rules will be proper. (16) Let
that desire of your daughter, which is recognized by scriptural
authority, be fulfilled oh King. Who would not adore your
daughter? Her bodily luster alone outshines the beauty of her ornaments! (17) [But...]
was
it
not Vis'vâvasu
[a
Gandharva, a
heavenly being] who, when he on the roof of the palace saw her with tinkling ankle bells and bewildered eyes
playing with a ball,
infatuated fell down from his elevated position ['his heavenly
vehicle'] with
a mind in disarray? (18) What man
of wisdom wouldn't welcome her, that
gem
of
womanhood
who came of her own
accord [to seek my hand] as the beloved
daughter of Manu and sister of Uttânapâda, she who is not
found by the ones who missed the feet of the goddess of fortune? (19) This is therefore my
condition: I will accept the chaste girl for as long as it takes her to
be with child from the semen of my body. I thereafter consider to take up the duties
of service as respected by the best
of the ones of perfection [the
paramahamsas], that are nonviolent and about which the Lord spoke
to me [in 3.21: 31]. (20)
To me the
highest authority is the Supreme Unlimited One, the Lord of the fathers
of
mankind [the Prajâpatis] from whom this wonderful creation
emanated, He in whom it will dissolve and by whom it presently exists.'
(21) Maitreya said: 'He, oh great warrior, spoke
this much only and became silent with his thoughts focussed on Vishnu's
lotus navel. With a beautiful smile on his face, he then captured the
mind of Devahûti. (22) After
Manu had confirmed the decision taken by the queen mother [S'atarûpâ] and also had probed his
daughter's mind about him, he extremely pleased gave her away who endowed with as many good
qualities was a
good match for him [Kardama]. (23) S'atarûpâ,
the
empress,
lovingly
gave
in
dowry
to
the bride and bridegroom valuable
presents
like
ornaments,
clothes
and
household
articles.
(24)
The emperor relieved of the responsibility of giving his daughter to a
suitable man then with an
agitated mind
full of anxiety enclosed her in
his arms. (25) Unable to
part from her he shed tears, drenching his daughter's
hair over and over with the water from his eyes and cried: 'Oh
dear mother, my dearest
daughter!'
(26-27) After asking and receiving
permission to
leave him, the best of sages, the emperor with his wife
mounted his chariot and headed along with his retinue for his
capital, on the road enjoying the tranquil scenery of the
hermitages of the sages on both
the charming banks of the river the
Sarasvatî. (28)
Elated to know who was
arriving, the subjects of Brahmâvarta went to meet him with
songs, praise and instrumental music. (29-30) The
city,
rich with all kinds of wealth, was
named Barhishmatî after the hairs of the shaking body of Lord
Boar that had fallen down and turned into the evergreen
kus'a and kâs'a grass [grasses used for sitting places and mats]
with which the sages defeated the
disturbers of their sacrifices in worship of Lord Vishnu. (31)
Having
spread that kus'a and
kâs'a grass the greatly fortunate Manu had created a seat
in
worship of the Lord of Sacrifice [Vishnu] by whom he had achieved his
position on earth. (32) Having
arrived
in
the
city
of
Barhishmatî
where
he
thus
far
had
lived,
the
mighty
one entered
his
palace that eradicated the threefold miseries of life [of body and
mind, as caused by others and
of nature]. (33) He,
not disturbed by others, enjoyed
the pleasures of life together with his wife and subjects and was
praised for his
reputation of piety, for he was in his heart very drawn to listening
with
his wives each morning to the celestial musicians and talks about
the Lord. (34) Even
though Svâyambhuva Manu
was absorbed
in the
deluding oneness of matter, he was as a saint. Being a supreme devotee
of the Lord he could not be lead astray by his material enjoyments. (35)
He didn't spend his hours idle and spent his life till his last days with listening to,
contemplating, recording and discussing the topics of Lord Vishnu. (36) In
his being connected with the topics of
Vâsudeva thus transcending
the
three destinations [according to the modes, see B.G. chapter 18], he made his
era last for the time of seventy-one mahâyugas. (37)
How can the miseries
pertaining to body and mind, the powers of nature
and other men and living beings oh Vidura, ever trouble someone who
lives
under the protection of the Lord?
(38) He
[Manu] who always cared about
the welfare of all living beings spoke, on the request of the sages,
about the many types of duties
beneficial to human
society of the status
orientations [varnas and
âs'ramas, the vocations and agegroups]. (39) This is what I could tell you about the
wonderful character of Manu the first emperor, who deserved all praise.
Now please listen to the advance of his daughter
[Devahûti].'
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