Bhagavatapurana 3.22

English (machine translation) 3.22

Language: English

3.22.1

Maitreya said:
Having in this way revealed the arising of all his virtues and deeds, the emperor,
as if embarrassed, addressed the sage who had ceased speaking.

3.22.2

Manu said:
To protect himself, Brahmā created you from his own mouth—
[you who are] full of the Vedas, devoted to austerity, learning, and yoga, free from lust.

3.22.3

And for their protection, the thousand-footed Lord created us from his thousand arms;
for the brāhmaṇa is said to be his heart, and the kṣatriya his limbs.

3.22.4

Therefore the brāhmaṇa and the kṣatriya, protecting each other, protect themselves;
and the imperishable God, who is both being and non-being, protects them.

3.22.5

By the mere sight of you, all my doubts are dispelled,
since the Lord himself, out of affection, has explained dharma to one who wishes to protect it.

3.22.6

By good fortune have I seen the Lord, who is difficult to see for those who have not subdued themselves;
by good fortune has the auspicious dust of your feet been touched by my head.

3.22.7

By good fortune have I been instructed by you, and great grace has been bestowed [upon me];
by good fortune have these delightful words been received by open ear-cavities.

3.22.8

O sage, you ought kindly to listen to what is spoken
by wretched me, whose mind is afflicted by love for my daughter.

3.22.9

This daughter of mine, sister of Priyavrata and Uttānapāda,
seeks a husband suited to her in age, character, virtues, and the like.

3.22.10

When she heard from Nārada of your character,
learning, beauty, youth, and virtues, she set her heart upon you.

3.22.11

Therefore, O best of the twice-born, accept her, offered by me with faith,
fitting for you in every way for the duties of householders.

3.22.12

Indeed, rejection of desire that presents itself unbidden is not praised,
even for one detached from attachment—how much less for one inclined to desire?

3.22.13

He who, having disregarded what is offered unbidden, begs from a miser,
his abundant renown diminishes, and his pride is destroyed by contempt.

3.22.14

Moreover, I have heard, O wise one, that you are intent upon marriage;
therefore, having ended your student life, accept her who is offered by me.

3.22.15

The sage said:
Certainly, I desire to marry, and your daughter is unbetrothed;
this first marriage rite is suitable for the two of us.

Let that desire of your daughter be fulfilled, O king, which is recognized in the Vedic injunctions.
Who indeed would not honor your daughter, who seems to cast down the goddess of fortune by her own beauty?

3.22.17

Beholding her playing on the roof of the palace, charming with tinkling feet,
her eyes fluttering as she followed the ball, Viśvāvasu fell from his aerial car, his mind bewildered by infatuation.

3.22.18

Who that is wise would not accept that ornament of women who seeks him—
unseen by those who have not served the feet of the goddess of fortune, child of Manu, sister of Uttānapāda, who has come of her own accord?

3.22.19

Therefore, by agreement I will enjoy this virtuous woman until she bears my seed;
after that, I shall value greatly the harmless dharmas taught by the pure Lord, chief among which is the state of the supreme ascetic.

3.22.20

From whom this manifold universe arose, in whom it shall dissolve, and by whom it is sustained—
that Lord Ananta, master of the lords of progeny, is the supreme authority for me.

3.22.21

Maitreya said:
O mighty bowman, he spoke only this much and became silent, holding in his mind the Lotus-naveled Lord;
and with his face adorned with a smile, he captivated the heart of Devahūti.

3.22.22

He, having known clearly the resolution of his queen and daughter,
joyfully gave his equal daughter to him who was rich in an abundance of virtues.

3.22.23

Śatarūpā, the great queen, out of affection presented to the couple
valuable bridal gifts—ornaments, garments, and household furnishings.

3.22.24

The emperor, having given his daughter to an equal match, free from anxiety,
embraced her with both arms, his heart agitated by affectionate longing.

3.22.25

Unable to bear separation from her, shedding tears again and again,
saying ‘O daughter, dear child,’ he bathed his daughter’s locks with water from his eyes.

3.22.26

Taking leave of that best of sages, and permitted [to depart], accompanied by his followers,
the king mounted his chariot with his wife and set out for his own city,

3.22.27

beholding on both beautiful banks of the Sarasvatī, river of the sages,
the opulent hermitages of peaceful seers.

3.22.28

Seeing that their master had arrived from Brahmāvarta, the subjects,
filled with joy, came forth to meet him with songs, praises, and musical instruments.

3.22.29

The city named Barhiṣmatī was endowed with all prosperity,
where the hairs fell as the Sacrificial Boar shook his limbs.

3.22.30

These became the kuśa and kāśa grasses, eternally green in brilliance,
with which the sages, having vanquished the destroyers of sacrifices, performed their rites.

3.22.31

Spreading out the sacred grass composed of kuśa and kāśa, the blessed Manu
worshipped the Sacrificial Person, having obtained the earth as his dwelling place from Him.

3.22.32

Having entered that [city] named Barhiṣmatī, in which the mighty ruler resided in comfort,
he went into his palace, which dispels the threefold miseries.

3.22.33

With his wife and children, he enjoyed desires without conflicting with dharma,
his pure fame sung by celestial singers together with their wives,
listening to the stories of Hari at dawn with a heart devoted [to Him].

3.22.34

Enjoyments were unable to cause the sage Svāyambhuva Manu,
who was skilled in yogamāyā and devoted solely to the Lord, to fall away [from his devotion].

3.22.35

The watches of the day spent in passing his own age did not become stale for him
who was listening to, meditating on, performing, and reciting the stories of Viṣṇu.

3.22.36

He thus passed his own manvantara of seventy-one yugas,
having transcended the three states through constant connection with Vāsudeva.

3.22.37

How can bodily, mental, celestial, and human miseries,
as well as those caused by other beings, afflict one who has taken refuge in Hari, O son of Vyāsa?

3.22.38

He who, questioned by the sages, spoke of the various auspicious dharmas
of human beings and of the classes and stages of life, always benevolent to all beings—

3.22.39

this wondrous deed of Manu, the first king, worthy of praise,
has been described to you; now hear of the rise of his offspring.

Translations (1)

The Srimad Bhagavatam — S. Subba Rau 1928, English

Linked texts (1)

Bhāgavatapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit