Devibhagavatapurana 2.9: navamo'dhyāyaḥ | parīkṣidrājño guptagṛhe vāsavarṇanam

2.9.1

parīkṣiduvāca |
kāmārtaḥ sa munirgatvā ruruḥ supto nijāśrame |
pitā papraccha dīnaṃ taṃ kiṃ ruro vimanā asi ||

2.9.2

sa tamāhātikāmārtaḥ sthūlakeśasya cāśrame |
kanyā pramadvarā nāma sā me bhāryā bhavediti ||

2.9.3

sa gatvā pramatistūrṇaṃ sthūlakeśaṃ mahāmunim |
pramuhya sumukhaṃ kṛtvā yayāce tāṃ varānanām ||

2.9.4

dadau vācaṃ sthūlakeśaḥ pradāsyāmi śubhe'hani |
vivāhārthaṃ ca sambhāraṃ racayāmāsaturvane ||

2.9.5

pramatiḥ sthūlakeśaśca vivāhārthaṃ samudyatau |
babhūvaturmahātmānau samīpasthau tapovane ||

2.9.6

tasminnavasare kanyā ramamāṇā gṛhāṅgaṇe |
prasuptaṃ pannagaṃ pādenāspṛśaccārulocanā ||

2.9.7

daṣṭā tu pannagenātha sā mamāra varāṅganā |
kolāhalastadā jāto mṛtāṃ dṛṣṭvā pramadvarām ||

2.9.8

militā munayaḥ sarve cukruśuḥ śokasaṃyutāḥ |
bhūmau tāṃ patitāṃ dṛṣṭvā pitā tasyātiduḥkhitaḥ ||

2.9.9

ruroda vigataprāṇāṃ dīpyamānāṃ sutejasā |
ruruḥ śrutvā tadākrandaṃ darśanārthaṃ samāgataḥ ||

2.9.10

dadarśa patitāṃ tatra sajīvāmiva kāminīm |
rudantaṃ sthūlakeśaṃ ca dṛṣṭvānyānṛṣisattamān ||

2.9.11

ruruḥ sthānādbahirgatvā ruroda virahākulaḥ |
aho daivena sarpo'yaṃ preṣitaḥ paramādbhutaḥ ||

2.9.12

mama śarmavighātāya duḥkhaheturayaṃ kila |
kiṃ karomi kva gacchāmi mṛtā me prāṇavallabhā ||

2.9.13

na vai jīvitumicchāmi viyuktaḥ priyayānayā |
nāliṅgitā varārohā na mayā cumbitā mukhe ||

2.9.14

na pāṇigrahaṇaṃ prāptaṃ mandabhāgyena sarvathā |
lājāhomastathā cāgnau na kṛtastvanayā saha ||

2.9.15

mānuṣyaṃ dhigidaṃ kāmaṃ gacchantvadya mamāsavaḥ |
duḥkhitasya na vā mṛtyurvāñchitaḥ samupaiti hi ||

2.9.16

sukhaṃ tarhi kathaṃ divyamāpyate bhuvi vāñchitam |
prapatāmi hrade ghore pāvake prapatāmyaham ||

2.9.17

viṣamadmi gale pāśaṃ kṛtvā prāṇāṃstyajāmyaham |
vilapyaivaṃ rurustatra vicārya manasā punaḥ ||

2.9.18

upāyaṃ cintayāmāsa sthitastasminnadītaṭe |
maraṇātkiṃ phalaṃ me syādātmahatyā duratyayā ||

Thus Ruru wailed much on the bank of the river and long reflecting in his mind found out a way and thought what would be the advantage in death? “Rather an irretrievable sin would be incurred in committing suicide; and my father and mother would be sorry. Seeing me commit suicide, my bad luck and enemies will be gladdened; there is no manner of doubt; in this. What benefit will my beloved gain if I commit suicide or if I be distressed for her bereavement. Suppose I die, even then my beloved will not become mine in the next world; so there are many faults in my committing suicide but there is no fault if I preserve my life.” Thus coming to a conclusion Ruru bathed, performed Âchaman and became pure. He then took water in his hand and said:-- “Whatever good works, worshipping the gods, etc., that I have done and if I have performed, with devotion, the service to my preceptors and teachers and superiors, homa ceremonies, Japam, tapasyâ, if I have studied all the Vedas and if I have recited Gâyatri and worshipped the Sun then let my beloved have life and get up as an outcome of my Punyam. If my beloved does not get back her life, I will certainly quit my life.” Thus saying, he worshipped the Devas mentally and threw that water of his hands on the ground. Thus Ruru, with a sorrowful heart, was weeping. The Deva's messenger came down and said:-- “O Brâhman! Don't make this bold attempt; how can your beloved get back her life? The life-period of this beautiful girl, born of Gandharva's sperm and Apsarâ's ovum is now exhausted; now look for another beautiful woman. O one of very dull understanding! Why are you crying in vain? Where is the affection between you and this girl; she died in an unmarried state (without marrying you).” At this Ruru said:-- “O Deva messenger! I won't marry any other lady, whether my beloved gets back her life or does not get back her life; in case she does not regain this life, I will also forego my life at this instant.” At this greatest importunity of Ruru, the Deva messenger became glad and spoke the following truthful beneficent yet beautiful words:--

2.9.19

duḥkhitaśca pitā me syājjananī cātiduḥkhitā |
daivastuṣṭo bhavetkāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā māṃ tyaktajīvitam ||

2.9.20

sarvaḥ pramuditaśca syānmatkṣaye nātra saṃśayaḥ |
upakāraḥ priyāyāḥ kaḥ paraloke bhavedapi ||

2.9.21

mṛte mayyātmaghātena virahātpīḍite'pi ca |
paraloke priyā sāpi na me syādātmaghātinaḥ ||

2.9.22

etadarthaṃ mṛte doṣā mayi naivāmṛte punaḥ |
vimṛśyaiva rurustatra snātvācamya śuciḥ sthitaḥ ||

2.9.23

abravīdvacanaṃ kṛtvā jalaṃ pāṇāvasau muniḥ |
yanmayā sukṛtaṃ kiñcitkṛtaṃ devārcanādikam ||

2.9.24

guravaḥ pūjitā bhaktyā hutaṃ japtaṃ tapaḥ kṛtam |
adhītāstvakhilā vedā gāyatrī saṃskṛtā yadi ||

2.9.25

ravirārādhitastena sañjīvatu mama priyā |
yadi jīvenna me kāntā tyaje prāṇānahaṃ tataḥ ||

2.9.26

ityuktvā tajjalaṃ bhūmau cikṣepārādhya devatāḥ |
rājovāca |
evaṃ vilapatastasya bhāryayā duḥkhitasya ca ||

2.9.27

devadūtastadābhyetya vākyamāha ruruṃ tataḥ |
devadūta uvāca |
mākārṣīḥ sāhasaṃ brahmankathaṃ jīvenmṛtā priyā ||

2.9.28

gatāyureṣā suśroṇī gandharvāpsarasoḥ sutā |
anyāṃ kāmaya cārvaṅgīṃ mṛteyaṃ cāvivāhitā ||

2.9.29

kiṃ rodiṣi sudurbuddhe kā prītiste'nayā saha |
rururuvāca |
devadūta na cānyāṃ vai variṣyāmyahamaṅganām ||

2.9.30

yadi jīvenna jīvedvā martavyaṃ cādhunā mayā |
rājovāca |
viditveti haṭhaṃ tasya devadūto mudānvitaḥ ||

2.9.31

uvāca vacanaṃ tathyaṃ satyaṃ cātimanoharam |
upāyaṃ śṛṇu viprendra vihitaṃ yatsuraiḥ purā ||

2.9.32

āyuṣo'rdhapradānena jīvayāśu pramadvarām |
rururuvāca |
āyuṣo'rdhaṃ prayacchāmi kanyāyai nātra saṃśayaḥ ||

“O Brâhmana! I will suggest one way to you; kindly hear. The Devas ordained this long, long ago. You can give up your half life period, and with that you can make this girl alive soon.”
Ruru said:-- “O Deva messenger! I give half my life-period to this girl; there is no doubt in this. Let my beloved get back her life soon and get up.”
The king said:-- O Ministers! At this time Visvâvasu, knowing that his daughter Pramadvarâ is dead, descended from the Heavens in a celestial car and came to the place; then the Gandharva king and the Deva messenger both went to Yama, the Dharmarâj, and spoke thus:-- “O Dharmarâj! This Visvâvasu's daughter Pramadvarâ, the wife of Ruru, the Risis' son was bitten by a snake and has now come to your place. The Dvija Ruru is now desirous to quit his life; so, O Sun's son! Now let the girl again get her life through the influence of Ruru's brahmacharya (purity) as a consequence of his giving away half his life period for the girl.”
Dharma said:-- “O Deva messenger! if you want to make the girl alive again, let her get life as a consequence of half the life-period of Ruru being subtracted. Go immediately and give the girl to Ruru.”
The king said:-- “O Ministers! Yama having said thus to the Deva messenger, he went away immediately and made Pramadvarâ alive and handed her over to Ruru.
Thus, on an auspicious day, Ruru married her. Thus the Risis' daughter Pramadvarâ though fallen dead, got again her life by proper means. So, O Councillors! to save life, one should resort one's best duty according to the S’âstras, by the use of gems, mantras, and herbs and plants.”
Thus speaking to the ministers, the king Parîksit had a fine building of seven floors in height erected, placed the principal guards around it and stationed also the most powerful men well versed in the knowledge of mani (gems), mantrams, and plants for protection and immediately ascended to this building. To appease the wrath of the Muni S’ringî, the king sent the Muni named Gaurmukha to him and requested him repeatedly “Let the crime of the humble devotee be forgiven.” Then, for self preservation, the king brought from all sides the Brâhmanas, who are perfect in their knowledge and application of the mantras. The minister's son placed the elephants in proper places so that no body can ascend to the top of the building; what more can be said than the fact that even air could not find entrance there when once ordered “no admission” what to speak of others! The king Parîksit remained there and counted the number of days of the serpent Taksaka's coming there; he performed his bath, Sandhyâ Bandanams and fooding; even he consulted with his ministers and governed his kingdom from there. O Risis! At this time a Brâhman named Kas'yapa, versed in the mantras, heard of the curse of the king and thought that he would get abundant wealth if he could free the king from Taksaka's poison and proposed to himself that he would go to the place where the cursed king Parîksit was staying with the Brâhmanas. Pondering thus, the Brâhmana went out of his house, on the expectation of wealth from the king.
Thus ends the ninth chapter of the second Skandha on the account of Ruru in the Mahâpurânam S’rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam of 18,000 verses.

2.9.33

adya pratyāvṛtaprāṇā prottiṣṭhatu mama priyā |
viśvāvasustadā tatra vimānena samāgataḥ ||

2.9.34

jñātvā putrīṃ mṛtāṃ cāśu svargalokātpramadvarām |
tato gandharvarājaśca devadūtaśca sattamaḥ ||

2.9.35

dharmarājamupetyedaṃ vacanaṃ pratyabhāṣatām |
dharmarāja ruroḥ patnī sutā viśvāvasostathā ||

2.9.36

mṛtā pramadvarā kanyā daṣṭā sarpeṇa cādhunā |
sā rurorāyuṣo'rdhena martukāmasya sūryaja ||

2.9.37

samuttiṣṭhatu tanvaṅgī vratacaryāprabhāvataḥ |
dharma uvāca |
viśvāvasusutāṃ kanyāṃ devadūta yadīcchasi ||

2.9.38

uttiṣṭhatvāyuṣo'rdhena ruruṃ gatvā tvamarpaya |
rājovāca |
evamuktastato gatvā jīvayitvā pramadvarām ||

2.9.39

ruroḥ samarpayāmāsa devadūtastvarānvitaḥ |
tataḥ śubhe'hni vidhinā ruruṇāpi vivāhitā ||

2.9.40

itthaṃ copāyayogena mṛtāpyujjīvitā tadā |
upāyastu prakartavyaḥ sarvathā śāstrasammataḥ ||

2.9.41

maṇimantrauṣadhībhiśca vidhivatprāṇarakṣaṇe |
ityuktvā sacivān rājā kalpayitvā surakṣakān ||

2.9.42

kārayitvātha prāsādaṃ saptabhūmikamuttamam |
ārurohottarāsūnuḥ sacivaiḥ saha tatkṣaṇam ||

2.9.43

maṇimantradharāḥ śūrāḥ sthāpitāstatra rakṣaṇe |
preṣayāmāsa bhūpālo muniṃ gauramukhaṃ tataḥ ||

2.9.44

prasādārthaṃ sevakasya kṣamasveti punaḥ punaḥ |
brāhmaṇānsiddhamantrajñān rakṣaṇārthamitastataḥ ||

2.9.45

mantriputraḥ sthitastatra sthāpayāmāsa dantinaḥ |
na kaścidāruhettatra prāsāde cātirakṣite ||

2.9.46

vāto'pi na carettatra praveśe vinivāryate |
bhakṣyabhojyādikaṃ rājā tatrasthaśca cakāra saḥ ||

2.9.47

stānasandhyādikaṃ karma tatraiva vinivartya ca |
rājakāryāṇi sarvāṇi tatrasthaścākaronnṛpaḥ ||

2.9.48

mantribhiḥ saha sammantrya gaṇayandivasānapi |
kaścicca kaśyapo nāma brāhmaṇo mantrisattamaḥ ||

2.9.49

śuśrāva ca tathā śāpaṃ prāptaṃ rājñā mahātmanā |
sa dhanārthī dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ kaśyapaḥ samacintayat ||

2.9.50

vrajāmi tatra yatrāste śapto rājā dvijena ha |
iti kṛtvā matiṃ vipraḥ svagṛhānniḥsṛtaḥ pathi ||

2.9.51

kaśyapo mantravidvidvāndhanārthī munisattamaḥ ||

2.9.51.c1

iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīyaskandhe parīkṣidrājño guptagṛhe vāsavarṇanaṃ nāma navamo'dhyāyaḥ ||