The Story of the Old Maiden (ch52)

CHAPTER 52
(Gadayuddha Parva)-Continued

The story of the old maiden

SYNOPSIS

This narrative, recounted by Vaishampayana, details the extraordinary story of a maiden born of the ascetic power of the sage Kuni-Garga.

Kuni-Garga, an illustrious Rishi, created a daughter through his penances and departed for heaven after her birth. Left alone, the beautiful and virtuous maiden devoted her life to severe penances in a solitary forest, worshiping the gods and Pitris with unshakable determination. Despite her father’s intention for her to marry, she chose a life of celibacy, considering no one worthy of her.

Over the years, her devotion and austerities emaciated her body, yet she found joy in her ascetic life. When she reached an advanced age and prepared to relinquish her body, the celestial sage Narada appeared. He revealed that despite her immense penance, she could not attain a blissful afterlife because she had not undergone the rite of marriage.

Determined to fulfill this requirement, the aged maiden approached a gathering of Rishis, offering half her accumulated penances to anyone who would marry her. A sage named Shringavat, the son of Galava, agreed to wed her under the condition that their union would last only one night.

Upon marriage, the maiden transformed into a radiant young woman, adorned in celestial beauty. Enchanted by her splendor, Shringavat spent a joyful night with her. By morning, the maiden, having fulfilled her vow, bid farewell to her husband and departed for heaven, leaving behind a declaration about the sanctity of the Tirtha where they had united. She proclaimed that anyone observing Brahmacharya and offering oblations there for one night would gain immense merit equivalent to years of penance.

Shringavat, deeply enamored by her beauty and sorrowful at her departure, soon renounced his life and followed her to the celestial regions.

This tale serves as an account of the maiden's unwavering commitment to her vow of celibacy, her extraordinary penance, and her eventual attainment of the celestial realms. It underscores the sacred nature of duty, the transformative power of vows, and the spiritual significance of penance and ritual in achieving higher states of existence.

CHAPTER 52

जनमेजय उवाच
कथं कुमारी भगवंस्तपोयुक्ता ह्यभूत् पुरा ।
किमर्थं च तपस्तेपे को वास्या नियमोऽभवत् ॥ १ ॥
सुदुष्करमिदं ब्रह्मस्त्वत्तः श्रुतमनुत्तमम् ।
आख्याहि तत्त्वमखिलं यथा तपसि सा स्थिता ॥ २ ॥

janamejaya uvāca
kathaṃ kumārī bhagavaṃstapoyuktā hyabhūt purā |
kimarthaṃ ca tapastepe ko vāsyā niyamo’bhavat || 1 ||
suduṣkaramidaṃ brahmastvattaḥ śrutamanuttamam |
ākhyāhi tattvamakhilaṃ yathā tapasi sā sthitā || 2 ||

Janamejaya said

"Why, O Rishi did that maiden practice ascetic penances in the day of yore? Why did she practice penances and what was her vow?" Matchless and mysterious is the topic that I have already heard from you. Describe particularly how that maid practiced penances."

वैशम्पायन उवाच
ऋषिरासीन्महावीर्यः कुणिर्गर्गो महायशाः ।
स तप्त्वा विपुलं राजंस्तपो वै तपतां वरः ॥ ३ ॥
मनसाऽथ सुतां सुभ्रं समुत्पादितवान् विभुः ।
तां च दृष्ट्वा मुनिः प्रीतः कुणिर्गर्गो महायशाः ॥ ४ ॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca
ṛṣirāsīnmahāvīryaḥ kuṇirgargo mahāyaśāḥ |
sa taptvā vipulaṃ rājaṃstapo vai tapatāṃ varaḥ || 3 ||
manasā’tha sutāṃ subhraṃ samutpāditavān vibhuḥ |
tāṃ ca dṛṣṭvā muniḥ prītaḥ kuṇirgargo mahāyaśāḥ || 4 ||

Vaishampayana said

"There was a highly illustrious and energetic Rishi, named Kuni-Garga. Having practiced the austerest of penances, O king, that best of ascetics, created a fair-browed daughter by his desire. Seeing her, the celebrated ascetic Kuni-Garga was filled with joy. He renounced his body, O king, and then went to heaven.

जगाम त्रिदिवं राजन् संत्यज्येह कलेवरम् ।
सुभ्रूः सा थ कल्याणी पुण्डीरीकनिभेक्षणा ॥ ५ ॥

jagāma tridivaṃ rājan saṃtyajyeha kalevaram |
subhrūḥ sā tha kalyāṇī puṇḍīrīkanibhekṣaṇā || 5 ||

Meanwhile, that faultless and amiable and fair-browed maiden, having eyes like lotus petals, continued to practice severe and very rigid penances. She adored the Pitris and the gods with fasts.

महता तपसोग्रेण कृत्वाऽऽश्रममनिन्दिता ।
उपवासैः पूजयन्ती पितॄन् देवांश्च सा पुरा ॥ ६ ॥
तस्यास्तु तपसोग्रेण महान् कालोऽत्यगान्नृप ।
सा पित्रा दीयमानापि तत्र नैच्छदनिन्दिता ॥ ७ ॥
आत्मनः सदृशं सा तु भर्तारं नान्वपश्यत ।

mahatā tapasogreṇa kṛtvā’’śramamaninditā |
upavāsaiḥ pūjayantī pitṝn devāṃśca sā purā || 6 ||
tasyāstu tapasogreṇa mahān kālo’tyagānnṛpa |
sā pitrā dīyamānāpi tatra naicchadaninditā || 7 ||
ātmanaḥ sadṛśaṃ sā tu bhartāraṃ nānvapaśyata |

She passed a long time in the practice of such severe penances. Though her father had been for giving her away in marriage, she did not wish for it, for she was no husband worthy of her.

ततः सा तपसोग्रेण पीडयित्वाऽऽत्मनस्तनुम् ॥ ८ ॥
पितृदेवार्चनरता बभूव विजने वने ।

tataḥ sā tapasogreṇa pīḍayitvā’’tmanastanum || 8 ||
pitṛdevārcanaratā babhūva vijane vane |

Emaciating her body with austere penances, she began to worship the Pitris and the gods in that solitary forest.

साऽऽत्मानं मन्यमानापि कृतकृत्यं श्रमान्विता ॥ ९॥

sā’’tmānaṃ manyamānāpi kṛtakṛtyaṃ śramānvitā || 9||

Although engaged in such a hard task, O king, and although she emaciated herself by age and austerities, she thought herself happy.

वार्धकेन च राजेन्द्र तपसा चैव कर्शिता ।
सा नाशकद् यदा गन्तुं पदात् पदमपि स्वयम् ॥ १० ॥

vārdhakena ca rājendra tapasā caiva karśitā |
sā nāśakad yadā gantuṃ padāt padamapi svayam || 10 ||

At last, when she became very old and physically incapable of moving even a single step without being helped by anyone, she made up her mind to depart to the other world.

मोकामां तु तां दृष्ट्वा शरीरं नारदोऽब्रवीत् ।। ११॥
असंस्कृतायाः कन्यायाः कुतो लोकास्तवानघे ।

mokāmāṃ tu tāṃ dṛṣṭvā śarīraṃ nārado’bravīt || 11||
asaṃskṛtāyāḥ kanyāyāḥ kuto lokāstavānaghe |

Seeing her about to relinquish her body, Narada said to her - O sinless one, you cannot attain any blissful region since you have not cleansed yourself by the rite of marriage.

एवं तु श्रुतमस्माभिर्देवलोके महाव्रते ॥ १२ ॥
तपः परमकं प्राप्तं न तु लोकास्त्वया जिताः ।

evaṃ tu śrutamasmābhirdevaloke mahāvrate || 12 ||
tapaḥ paramakaṃ prāptaṃ na tu lokāstvayā jitāḥ |

O you of great vows, we have heard this in heaven. Great has been your ascetic merit, but you have no claim to blissful regions.

तन्नारदवचः श्रुत्वा साब्रवीदृषिसंसदि ॥ १३ ॥
तपसोऽर्धं प्रयच्छामि पाणिग्राहस्य सत्तम ।

tannāradavacaḥ śrutvā sābravīdṛṣisaṃsadi || 13 ||
tapaso’rdhaṃ prayacchāmi pāṇigrāhasya sattama |

Hearing these words of Narada, the old lady went to an assemblage of Rishis and said- 'I shall give him half my penances who will marry me.'

इत्युक्ते चास्या जग्राह पाणि गालवसम्भवः ॥ १४ ॥
ऋषिः प्राक् शृङ्गवान्नाम समयं चेममब्रवीत् ।
समयेन तवाद्याहं पाणि स्प्रक्ष्यामि शोभने ॥ १५ ॥
यद्येकरात्रं वस्त्वयं त्वया सह मयेति ह ।
तथेति सा प्रतिश्रुत्य तस्मै पाणिं ददौ तदा ॥ १६ ॥

ityukte cāsyā jagrāha pāṇi gālavasambhavaḥ || 14 ||
ṛṣiḥ prāk śṛṅgavānnāma samayaṃ cemamabravīt |
samayena tavādyāhaṃ pāṇi sprakṣyāmi śobhane || 15 ||
yadyekarātraṃ vastvayaṃ tvayā saha mayeti ha |
tatheti sā pratiśrutya tasmai pāṇiṃ dadau tadā || 16 ||

After she had said these words, the Galava's son, a Rishi known by the name of Shringavat married her on the following condition. On this term, O fair one, I shall marry you, viz., that you, shall live with me for only one night!' Having agreed to that term, she gave him her hand.

यथादृष्टेन विधिना हुत्वा चाग्निं विधानतः ।

चक्रे च पाणिग्रहणं तस्योद्वाहं च गालविः ॥ १७ ॥

yathādṛṣṭena vidhinā hutvā cāgniṃ vidhānataḥ |

cakre ca pāṇigrahaṇaṃ tasyodvāhaṃ ca gālaviḥ || 17 ||

According to the rites, and having duly poured libations on the fire, Galava's son accepted her hand and married her.

सा रात्रावभवद् राजंस्तरुणी वरवर्णिनी ।
दिव्याभरणवस्त्रा च दिव्यगन्धानुलेपना ।। १८ ।।

sā rātrāvabhavad rājaṃstaruṇī varavarṇinī |
divyābharaṇavastrā ca divyagandhānulepanā || 18 ||

On the night, she became a handsome young lady robed in celestial dress, decked in celestial ornaments, and smeared with celestial unguents and perfumes.

तां दृष्ट्वा गालविः प्रीतो दीपयन्तीमिव श्रिया ।
उवास च क्षपामेकां प्रभाते साऽब्रवीच्च तम् ॥ १९ ॥
यस्त्वया समया विप्र कृतो मे तपतां वर ।
नोषितास्मि भद्रं ते स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु ब्रजाम्यहम् ॥ २० ॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā gālaviḥ prīto dīpayantīmiva śriyā |
uvāsa ca kṣapāmekāṃ prabhāte sā’bravīcca tam || 19 ||
yastvayā samayā vipra kṛto me tapatāṃ vara |
noṣitāsmi bhadraṃ te svasti te’stu brajāmyaham || 20 ||

Seeing her beauty, Galava's son became very happy and spent one night in her company. In the morning she said to him the agreement, O Brahmana, I had made with you, has been satisfied, O best of ascetic! Blessed be you, I shall now leave you.'

सा निर्गताऽब्रवीद् भूयो योऽस्मिंस्तीर्थे समाहितः ।
वसन्ते रजनीमेकां तर्पयित्वा दिवौकसः ॥ २१॥
चत्वारिंशतमष्टौ च द्वौ चाष्टौ सम्यगाचरेत् ।
यो ब्रह्मचर्यं वर्षाणि फलं तस्य लभेत सः ॥ २२ ॥

sā nirgatā’bravīd bhūyo yo’smiṃstīrthe samāhitaḥ |
vasante rajanīmekāṃ tarpayitvā divaukasaḥ || 21||
catvāriṃśatamaṣṭau ca dvau cāṣṭau samyagācaret |
yo brahmacaryaṃ varṣāṇi phalaṃ tasya labheta saḥ || 22 ||

After getting his permission, she once more said- 'He who will with attention, pass one night in this Tirtha after having satisfied the celestials it oblations of water, shall obtain that merit which one, observing the vow of Brahmacharya for eight and fifty years, reaps.'

 
एवमुक्त्वा ततः साध्वी देहं त्यक्त्वा दिवं गता ।
ऋषिरप्यभवद् दीनस्तस्या रूपं विचिन्तयन् ।। २३ ।।

evamuktvā tataḥ sādhvī dehaṃ tyaktvā divaṃ gatā |
ṛṣirapyabhavad dīnastasyā rūpaṃ vicintayan || 23 ||

Having said these words, that chaste lady left for heaven. Her husband Rishi, became very disappointed by thinking of her beauty.

समयेन तपोऽर्थं त कृच्छ्रात् प्रतिगृहीतवान् ।
साधयित्वा तदाऽऽत्मानं तस्याः स गतिमन्वियात् ॥ २४ ॥
दुःखितो भरतश्रेष्ठ तस्या रूपबलात्कृतः ।

samayena tapo’rthaṃ ta kṛcchrāt pratigṛhītavān |
sādhayitvā tadā’’tmānaṃ tasyāḥ sa gatimanviyāt || 24 ||
duḥkhito bharataśreṣṭha tasyā rūpabalātkṛtaḥ |

On account of the agreement he had made, he accepted with difficulty half her penances. Casting off his body he soon followed her, O Bharata's chief, drawn by sorrow and her beauty.

एतत्ते वृद्धकन्याया व्याख्यातं चरितं महत् ॥ २५ ॥
तथैव ब्रह्मचर्यं च स्वर्गस्य च गतिः शुभा ।

etatte vṛddhakanyāyā vyākhyātaṃ caritaṃ mahat || 25 ||
tathaiva brahmacaryaṃ ca svargasya ca gatiḥ śubhā |

This is the illustrious history of the old has narrated. This is the account maid of her Brahmacharya and her sacred departure for the celestial regions.

तत्रस्थश्चापि शुश्राव हतं शल्यं हलायुधः ॥ २६ ॥
तत्रापि दत्त्वा दानानि द्विजातिभ्यः परंतपः ।
शुश्राव शल्यं संग्रामे निहतं पाण्डवैस्तदा ॥ २७ ॥

tatrasthaścāpi śuśrāva hataṃ śalyaṃ halāyudhaḥ || 26 ||
tatrāpi dattvā dānāni dvijātibhyaḥ paraṃtapaḥ |
śuśrāva śalyaṃ saṃgrāme nihataṃ pāṇḍavaistadā || 27 ||

While there, Baladeva heard of the destruction of Shalya. Having made presents to the Brahmanas there, he bewailed, O destroyer of foes, for Shalya, who had been killed by the Pandavas in battle.

समन्तपञ्चकद्वारात् ततो निष्क्रम्य माधवः ।
पप्रच्छर्षिगणान् रामः कुरुक्षेत्रस्य यत् फलम् ॥ २८ ॥

 
samantapañcakadvārāt tato niṣkramya mādhavaḥ |
papraccharṣigaṇān rāmaḥ kurukṣetrasya yat phalam || 28 ||

Then having come out of Samantapanchaka, Baladeva enquired the Rishis about the results of the battle at Kurukshetra.

ते पृष्टा यदुसिंहेन कुरुक्षेत्रफलं विभो ।
समाचख्युर्महात्मानस्तस्मै सर्वं यथातथम्॥ २९॥

te pṛṣṭā yadusiṃhena kurukṣetraphalaṃ vibho |
samācakhyurmahātmānastasmai sarvaṃ yathātatham|| 29||

Asked by that Yadu's chief about the results of the battle at Kurukshetra, those great ones told him everything as it had taken place.