Mahabharata 5.102: dvyadhika śatatamo'dhyāyaḥ

5.102.1

nārada uvāca |
sūto'yaṃ mātalirnāma śakrasya dayitaḥ suhṛt |
śuciḥ śīlaguṇopetastejasvī vīryavānbalī || 1 ||

"Narada then said, 'This one is the charioteer of the name of Matali. He is besides a dear friend of Sakra. Pure in conduct, he hath an excellent disposition and possesses numerous virtues. Endued with strength of mind, he hath great energy and great might. He is the friend, counsellor, and charioteer of Sakra. It has been seen in every battle that small is the difference that exists between him and Vasava as regards prowess and strength. In all the battles between the gods and Asuras, it is this Matali that driveth, by his mind alone, that ever-victorious and best of cars belonging to Indra, which is drawn by thousand steeds. Vanquished by his management of the steeds, the enemies of the gods are subjugated by Vasava by the use of his hands. Defeated before-hand by Matali, the Asuras are subsequently slain by Indra. Matali hath an excellent daughter, who in beauty is unrivalled in the world. Truthful and possessed of every accomplishment, she is known by the name of Gunakesi. He was searching the three worlds for an eligible bridegroom. O thou that art possessed of the splendour of a celestial, thy grandson, Sumukha, hath become acceptable to him as a husband for his daughter. If O best of serpents, his proposal be acceptable to thee, quickly make up thy mind, O Aryaka, to take his daughter in gift for thy grandson. As Lakshmi in Vishnu's house, or Swaha in that of Agni so let the slender-waisted Gunakesi be a wife in thy race. Let Gunakesi, therefore be accepted by thee for thy grandson, like Sachi for Vasava who deserveth her. Although this youth hath lost his father, yet we choose him for his virtues, and for the respectability of Airavata and thy own. Indeed, it is in consequence of Sumukha's merits, his disposition, purity, self-restraint and other qualifications that Matali hath become himself desirous of giving away his daughter unto him. It behoveth thee, therefore, to honour Matali.'

5.102.2

śakrasyāyaṃ sakhā caiva mantrī sārathireva ca |
alpāntaraprabhāvaśca vāsavena raṇe raṇe || 2 ||

5.102.3

ayaṃ harisahasreṇa yuktaṃ jaitraṃ rathottamam |
devāsureṣu yuddheṣu manasaiva niyacchati || 3 ||

5.102.4

anena vijitānaśvairdorbhyāṃ jayati vāsavaḥ |
anena prahṛte pūrvaṃ balabhitpraharatyuta || 4 ||

5.102.5

asya kanyā varārohā rūpeṇāsadṛśī bhuvi |
sattvaśīlaguṇopetā guṇakeśīti viśrutā || 5 ||

5.102.6

tasyāsya yatnāccaratastrailokyamamaradyute |
sumukho bhavataḥ pautro rocate duhituḥ patiḥ || 6 ||

5.102.7

yadi te rocate saumya bhujagottama māciram |
kriyatāmāryaka kṣipraṃ buddhiḥ kanyāpratigrahe || 7 ||

5.102.8

yathā viṣṇukule lakṣmīryathā svāhā vibhāvasoḥ |
kule tava tathaivāstu guṇakeśī sumadhyamā || 8 ||

5.102.9

pautrasyārthe bhavāṃstasmādguṇakeśīṃ pratīcchatu |
sadṛśīṃ pratirūpasya vāsavasya śacīmiva || 9 ||

5.102.10

pitṛhīnamapi hyenaṃ guṇato varayāmahe |
bahumānācca bhavatastathaivairāvatasya ca |
sumukhasya guṇaiścaiva śīlaśaucadamādibhiḥ || 10 ||

5.102.11

abhigamya svayaṃ kanyāmayaṃ dātuṃ samudyataḥ |
mātalestasya saṃmānaṃ kartumarho bhavānapi || 11 ||

5.102.12

kaṇva uvāca |
sa tu dīnaḥ prahṛṣṭaśca prāha nāradamāryakaḥ |
vriyamāṇe tathā pautre putre ca nidhanaṃ gate || 12 ||

"Kanwa continued, 'Thus addressed by Narada, Aryaka beholding his grandson elected as a bridegroom and remembering the death of his son was filled with delight and sorrow at the same time. And he then addressed Narada and said, 'How, O celestial Rishi, can I desire Gunakesi for a daughter-in-law'! It cannot be, O great Rishi, that thy words are not highly honoured by me, for who is there that would not desire an alliance with the friend of Indra? I hesitate, however, O great Muni, in consequence of the instability of the very cause that would not make that alliance lasting. O thou of great effulgence, the author of this youth, viz., my son, hath been devoured by Garuda. We are afflicted with sorrow on that account. But worse still, O lord, Vinata's son, at the time of leaving these regions, said, 'After a month I will devour this Sumukha also. Surely, it will happen as he hath said, for we know with whom we have to deal. At these words, therefore, of Suparna we have become cheerless!'

5.102.13

na me naitadbahumataṃ devarṣe vacanaṃ tava |
sakhā śakrasya saṃyuktaḥ kasyāyaṃ nepsito bhavet || 13 ||

5.102.14

kāraṇasya tu daurbalyāccintayāmi mahāmune |
asya dehakarastāta mama putro mahādyute |
bhakṣito vainateyena duḥkhārtāstena vai vayam || 14 ||

5.102.15

punareva ca tenoktaṃ vainateyena gacchatā |
māsenānyena sumukhaṃ bhakṣayiṣya iti prabho || 15 ||

5.102.16

dhruvaṃ tathā tadbhavitā jānīmastasya niścayam |
tena harṣaḥ pranaṣṭo me suparṇavacanena vai || 16 ||

5.102.17

mātalistvabravīdenaṃ buddhiratra kṛtā mayā |
jāmātṛbhāvena vṛtaḥ sumukhastava putrajaḥ || 17 ||

"Kanwa continued, 'Matali then said unto Aryaka, 'I have formed a plan. This thy grandson is elected by me as my son-in-law. Let this Naga then, proceeding with me and Narada, come to the Lord of heaven the chief of the celestials, O best of Nagas. I shall then endeavour to place obstacles in the way of Suparna, and as a last resource, we will ascertain the period of life that hath been vouchsafed to Sumukha. Blessed be thou, O Naga, let Sumukha, therefore, come with me to the presence of the Lord of the celestials.' Saying this, they took Sumukha with them, and all the four, endued with great splendour, coming to heaven beheld Sakra the chief of the gods seated in all his glory. And it so happened that the illustrious Vishnu of four arms was also present there. Narada then represented the whole story about Matali and his choice.'

5.102.18

so'yaṃ mayā ca sahito nāradena ca pannagaḥ |
trilokeśaṃ surapatiṃ gatvā paśyatu vāsavam || 18 ||

5.102.19

śeṣeṇaivāsya kāryeṇa prajñāsyāmyahamāyuṣaḥ |
suparṇasya vighāte ca prayatiṣyāmi sattama || 19 ||

5.102.20

sumukhaśca mayā sārdhaṃ deveśamabhigacchatu |
kāryasaṃsādhanārthāya svasti te'stu bhujaṃgama || 20 ||

5.102.21

tataste sumukhaṃ gṛhya sarva eva mahaujasaḥ |
dadṛśuḥ śakramāsīnaṃ devarājaṃ mahādyutim || 21 ||

5.102.22

saṃgatyā tatra bhagavānviṣṇurāsīccaturbhujaḥ |
tatastatsarvamācakhyau nārado mātaliṃ prati || 22 ||

5.102.23

tataḥ puraṃdaraṃ viṣṇuruvāca bhuvaneśvaram |
amṛtaṃ dīyatāmasmai kriyatāmamaraiḥ samaḥ || 23 ||

"Kanwa continued, 'Hearing all that Narada said, Vishnu directed Purandara, the Lord of the universe, saying, 'Let Amrita be given to this youth, and let him be made immortal like gods themselves. Let Matali, and Narada, and Sumukha, O Vasava, all attain their cherished wish through thy grace.' Purandara, however, reflecting on the prowess of Vinata's son, said unto Vishnu, 'Let Amrita be given unto him by thee.' Thus addressed, Vishnu said, 'Thou art the Lord of all mobile and immobile creatures. Who is there, O lord, that would refuse a gift that may be made by thee'?' At these words Sakra gave unto that Naga length of days. The slayer of Vala and Vritra did not make him a drinker of [paragraph continues] Amrita. Sumukha, having obtained that boon, became Sumukha (in reality) for his face was suffused with marks of joy. And having married Matali's daughter, he cheerfully returned home. And Narada and Aryaka also filled with delight at the success of their object, went away, after having worshipped the glorious chief of the celestials.'"

5.102.24

mātalirnāradaścaiva sumukhaścaiva vāsava |
labhantāṃ bhavataḥ kāmātkāmametaṃ yathepsitam || 24 ||

5.102.25

puraṃdaro'tha saṃcintya vainateyaparākramam |
viṣṇumevābravīdenaṃ bhavāneva dadātviti || 25 ||

5.102.26

viṣṇuruvāca |
īśastvamasi lokānāṃ carāṇāmacarāśca ye |
tvayā dattamadattaṃ kaḥ kartumutsahate vibho || 26 ||

5.102.27

kaṇva uvāca |
prādācchakrastatastasmai pannagāyāyuruttamam |
na tvenamamṛtaprāśaṃ cakāra balavṛtrahā || 27 ||

5.102.28

labdhvā varaṃ tu sumukhaḥ sumukhaḥ saṃbabhūva ha |
kṛtadāro yathākāmaṃ jagāma ca gṛhānprati || 28 ||

5.102.29

nāradastvāryakaścaiva kṛtakāryau mudā yutau |
pratijagmaturabhyarcya devarājaṃ mahādyutim || 29 ||