Mahabharata 1.113: trayodaśādhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.113.1

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
evamuktastayā rājā tāṃ devīṃ punarabravīt |
dharmaviddharmasaṃyuktamidaṃ vacanamuttamam || 1 ||

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by his loving wife, king Pandu, well-acquainted with all rules of morality, replied in these words of virtuous import, 'O Kunti, what thou hast said is quite true. Vyushitaswa of old did even as thou hast said. Indeed he was equal unto the celestials themselves. But I shall now tell thee about the practices of old indicated by illustrious Rishis, fully acquainted with every rule of morality. O thou of handsome face and sweet smiles, women formerly were not immured within houses and dependent on husbands and other relatives. They used to go about freely, enjoying themselves as best as they liked. O thou of excellent qualities, they did not then adhere to their husbands faithfully, and yet, O handsome one, they were not regarded sinful, for that was the sanctioned usage of the times. That very usage is followed to this day by birds and beasts without any (exhibition of) jealousy. That practice, sanctioned by precedent, is applauded by great Rishis. O thou of taper thighs, the practice is yet regarded with respect amongst the Northern Kurus. Indeed, that usage, so lenient to women, hath the sanction of antiquity. The present practice, however (of women's being confined to one husband for life) hath been established but lately. I shall tell thee in detail who established it and why.

1.113.2

evametatpurā kunti vyuṣitāśvaścakāra ha |
yathā tvayoktaṃ kalyāṇi sa hyāsīdamaropamaḥ || 2 ||

1.113.3

atha tvimaṃ pravakṣyāmi dharmaṃ tvetaṃ nibodha me |
purāṇamṛṣibhirdṛṣṭaṃ dharmavidbhirmahātmabhiḥ || 3 ||

1.113.4

anāvṛtāḥ kila purā striya āsanvarānane |
kāmacāravihāriṇyaḥ svatantrāścārulocane || 4 ||

1.113.5

tāsāṃ vyuccaramāṇānāṃ kaumārātsubhage patīn |
nādharmo'bhūdvarārohe sa hi dharmaḥ purābhavat || 5 ||

1.113.6

taṃ caiva dharmaṃ paurāṇaṃ tiryagyonigatāḥ prajāḥ |
adyāpyanuvidhīyante kāmadveṣavivarjitāḥ |
purāṇadṛṣṭo dharmo'yaṃ pūjyate ca maharṣibhiḥ || 6 ||

1.113.7

uttareṣu ca rambhoru kuruṣvadyāpi vartate |
strīṇāmanugrahakaraḥ sa hi dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ || 7 ||

1.113.8

asmiṃstu loke nacirānmaryādeyaṃ śucismite |
sthāpitā yena yasmācca tanme vistarataḥ śṛṇu || 8 ||

1.113.9

babhūvoddālako nāma maharṣiriti naḥ śrutam |
śvetaketuriti khyātaḥ putrastasyābhavanmuniḥ || 9 ||

"It hath been heard by us that there was a great Rishi of the name of Uddalaka, who had a son named Swetaketu who also was an ascetic of merit. O thou of eyes like lotus-petals, the present virtuous practice hath been established by that Swetaketu from anger. Hear thou the reason. One day, in the presence of Swetaketu's father a Brahmana came and catching Swetaketu's mother by the hand, told her, 'Let us go.' Beholding his mother seized by the hand and taken away apparently by force, the son was greatly moved by wrath. Seeing his son indignant, Uddalaka addressed him and said, 'Be not angry. O son! This is the practice sanctioned by antiquity. The women of all orders in this world are free, O son; men in this matter, as regards their respective orders, act as kine.' The Rishi's son, Swetaketu, however, disapproved of the usage and established in the world the present practice as regards men and women. It hath been heard by us, O thou of great virtue, that the existing practice dates from that period among human beings but not among beings of other classes. Accordingly, since the establishment of the present usage, it is sinful for women not to adhere to their husbands. Women transgressing the limits assigned by the Rishi became guilty of slaying the embryo. And, men, too, viol ting a chaste and loving wife who hath from her maidenhood observed the vow of purity, became guilty of the same sin. The woman also who, being commanded by her husband to raise offspring, refuses to do his bidding, becometh equally sinful.

1.113.10

maryādeyaṃ kṛtā tena mānuṣeṣviti naḥ śrutam |
kopātkamalapatrākṣi yadarthaṃ tannibodha me || 10 ||

1.113.11

śvetaketoḥ kila purā samakṣaṃ mātaraṃ pituḥ |
jagrāha brāhmaṇaḥ pāṇau gacchāva iti cābravīt || 11 ||

1.113.12

ṛṣiputrastataḥ kopaṃ cakārāmarṣitastadā |
mātaraṃ tāṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā nīyamānāṃ balādiva || 12 ||

1.113.13

kruddhaṃ taṃ tu pitā dṛṣṭvā śvetaketumuvāca ha |
mā tāta kopaṃ kārṣīstvameṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ || 13 ||

1.113.14

anāvṛtā hi sarveṣāṃ varṇānāmaṅganā bhuvi |
yathā gāvaḥ sthitāstāta sve sve varṇe tathā prajāḥ || 14 ||

1.113.15

ṛṣiputro'tha taṃ dharmaṃ śvetaketurna cakṣame |
cakāra caiva maryādāmimāṃ strīpuṃsayorbhuvi || 15 ||

1.113.16

mānuṣeṣu mahābhāge na tvevānyeṣu jantuṣu |
tadā prabhṛti maryādā sthiteyamiti naḥ śrutam || 16 ||

1.113.17

vyuccarantyāḥ patiṃ nāryā adya prabhṛti pātakam |
bhrūṇahatyākṛtaṃ pāpaṃ bhaviṣyatyasukhāvaham || 17 ||

1.113.18

bhāryāṃ tathā vyuccarataḥ kaumārīṃ brahmacāriṇīm |
pativratāmetadeva bhavitā pātakaṃ bhuvi || 18 ||

1.113.19

patyā niyuktā yā caiva patnyapatyārthameva ca |
na kariṣyati tasyāśca bhaviṣyatyetadeva hi || 19 ||

1.113.20

iti tena purā bhīru maryādā sthāpitā balāt |
uddālakasya putreṇa dharmyā vai śvetaketunā || 20 ||

"Thus, O timid one, was the existing usage established of old by Swetaketu, the son of Uddalaka, in defiance of antiquity. O thou of taper thighs, it hath also been heard by us that Madayanti, the wife of Saudasa, commanded by her husband to raise offspring went unto Rishi Vasishtha. And on going in unto him, the handsome Madayanti obtained a son named Asmaka. She did this, moved by the desire of doing good to her husband. O thou of lotus-eyes, thou knowest, O timid girl, how we ourselves, for the perpetuation of the Kuru race, were begotten by Krishna-Dwaipayana. O faultless one, beholding all these precedents it behoveth thee to do my bidding, which is not inconsistent with virtue, O princess, who is devoted to her husband, it hath also been said by those acquainted with the rules of morality that a wife, when her monthly season cometh, must ever seek her husband, though at other times she deserveth liberty. The wise have declared this to be the ancient practice. But, be the act sinful or sinless, those acquainted with the Vedas have declared that it is the duty of wives to do what their husbands bid them do. Especially, O thou of faultless features, I, who am deprived of the power of procreation, having yet become desirous of beholding offspring, deserve the more to be obeyed by thee. O amiable one, joining my palms furnished with rosy fingers, and making of them a cup as of lotus leaves, I place them on my head to propitiate thee. O thou of lair looks, it behoveth thee to raise offspring, at my command, through some Brahmana possessed of high ascetic merit. For then, owing to thee, O thou of fair hips, I may go the way that is reserved for those that are blessed with children.'

1.113.21

saudāsena ca rambhoru niyuktāpatyajanmani |
madayantī jagāmarṣiṃ vasiṣṭhamiti naḥ śrutam || 21 ||

1.113.22

tasmāllebhe ca sā putramaśmakaṃ nāma bhāminī |
bhāryā kalmāṣapādasya bhartuḥ priyacikīrṣayā || 22 ||

1.113.23

asmākamapi te janma viditaṃ kamalekṣaṇe |
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanādbhīru kurūṇāṃ vaṃśavṛddhaye || 23 ||

1.113.24

ata etāni sarvāṇi kāraṇāni samīkṣya vai |
mamaitadvacanaṃ dharmyaṃ kartumarhasyanindite || 24 ||

1.113.25

ṛtāvṛtau rājaputri striyā bhartā yatavrate |
nātivartavya ityevaṃ dharmaṃ dharmavido viduḥ || 25 ||

1.113.26

śeṣeṣvanyeṣu kāleṣu svātantryaṃ strī kilārhati |
dharmametaṃ janāḥ santaḥ purāṇaṃ paricakṣate || 26 ||

1.113.27

bhartā bhāryāṃ rājaputri dharmyaṃ vādharmyameva vā |
yadbrūyāttattathā kāryamiti dharmavido viduḥ || 27 ||

1.113.28

viśeṣataḥ putragṛddhī hīnaḥ prajananātsvayam |
yathāhamanavadyāṅgi putradarśanalālasaḥ || 28 ||

1.113.29

tathā raktāṅgulitalaḥ padmapatranibhaḥ śubhe |
prasādārthaṃ mayā te'yaṃ śirasyabhyudyato'ñjaliḥ || 29 ||

1.113.30

manniyogātsukeśānte dvijātestapasādhikāt |
putrānguṇasamāyuktānutpādayitumarhasi |
tvatkṛte'haṃ pṛthuśroṇi gaccheyaṃ putriṇāṃ gatim || 30 ||

1.113.31

evamuktā tataḥ kuntī pāṇḍuṃ parapuraṃjayam |
pratyuvāca varārohā bhartuḥ priyahite ratā || 31 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by Pandu, that subjugator of hostile cities, the handsome Kunti, ever attentive to what was agreeable and beneficial to her lord, then replied unto him, saying, 'In my girlhood, O lord, I was in my father's house engaged in attending upon all guests. I used to wait respectfully upon Brahmanas of rigid vows and great ascetic merit. One day I gratified with my attentions that Brahmana whom people call Durvasa, of mind under full control and possessing knowledge of all the mysteries of religion. Pleased with my services, that Brahmana gave me a boon in the form of a mantra (formula of invocation) for calling into my presence any one of the celestials I liked. And the Rishi, addressing me, said, 'Anyone among the celestials whom thou callest by this shall, O girl, approach thee and be obedient to thy will, whether he liketh it or not. And, O princess, thou shall also have offspring through his grace.' O Bharata, that Brahmana told me this when I lived in my father's house. The words uttered by the Brahmana can never be false. The time also hath come when they may yield fruit. Commanded by thee, O royal sage, I can by that mantra summon any of the celestials, so that we may have good children. O foremost of all truthful men, tell me which of the celestials I shall summon. Know that, as regards this matter, I await your commands.'

1.113.32

pitṛveśmanyahaṃ bālā niyuktātithipūjane |
ugraṃ paryacaraṃ tatra brāhmaṇaṃ saṃśitavratam || 32 ||

1.113.33

nigūḍhaniścayaṃ dharme yaṃ taṃ durvāsasaṃ viduḥ |
tamahaṃ saṃśitātmānaṃ sarvayatnairatoṣayam || 33 ||

1.113.34

sa me'bhicārasaṃyuktamācaṣṭa bhagavānvaram |
mantragrāmaṃ ca me prādādabravīccaiva māmidam || 34 ||

1.113.35

yaṃ yaṃ devaṃ tvametena mantreṇāvāhayiṣyasi |
akāmo vā sakāmo vā sa te vaśamupaiṣyati || 35 ||

1.113.36

ityuktāhaṃ tadā tena pitṛveśmani bhārata |
brāhmaṇena vacastathyaṃ tasya kālo'yamāgataḥ || 36 ||

1.113.37

anujñātā tvayā devamāhvayeyamahaṃ nṛpa |
tena mantreṇa rājarṣe yathā syānnau prajā vibho || 37 ||

1.113.38

āvāhayāmi kaṃ devaṃ brūhi tattvavidāṃ vara |
tvatto'nujñāpratīkṣāṃ māṃ viddhyasminkarmaṇi sthitām || 38 ||

1.113.39

pāṇḍuruvāca |
adyaiva tvaṃ varārohe prayatasva yathāvidhi |
dharmamāvāhaya śubhe sa hi deveṣu puṇyabhāk || 39 ||

"Hearing this, Pandu replied, 'O handsome one, strive duly this very day to gratify our wishes. Fortunate one, summon thou the god of justice. He is the most virtuous of the celestials. The god of justice and virtue will never be able to pollute us with sin. The world also, O beautiful princess, will then think that what we do can never be unholy. The son also that we shall obtain from him shall in virtue be certainly the foremost among the Kurus. Begotten by the god of justice and morality, he would never set his heart upon anything that is sinful or unholy. Therefore, O thou of sweet smiles, steadily keeping virtue before thy eyes, and duly observing holy vows, summon thou the god of justice and virtue by the help of thy solicitations and incantations.'

1.113.40

adharmeṇa na no dharmaḥ saṃyujyeta kathaṃcana |
lokaścāyaṃ varārohe dharmo'yamiti maṃsyate || 40 ||

1.113.41

dhārmikaśca kurūṇāṃ sa bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ |
dattasyāpi ca dharmeṇa nādharme raṃsyate manaḥ || 41 ||

1.113.42

tasmāddharmaṃ puraskṛtya niyatā tvaṃ śucismite |
upacārābhicārābhyāṃ dharmamārādhayasva vai || 42 ||

1.113.43

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
sā tathoktā tathetyuktvā tena bhartrā varāṅganā |
abhivādyābhyanujñātā pradakṣiṇamavartata || 43 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Kunti, that best of women, thus addressed by her lord, said, 'So be it.' And bowing down to him and reverently circumambulating his person, she resolved to do his bidding.'"