Devibhagavatapurana 3.14: caturdaśo'dhyāyaḥ | yudhājidvīrasenayoryuddhārthaṃ sajjībhavanam

3.14.1

janamejaya uvāca |
śruto vai hariṇā klṛpto yajño vistarato dvija |
mahimānaṃ tathāmbāyā vada vistarato mama ||

3.14.2

śrutvā devyāścaritraṃ vai kurve makhamanuttamam |
prasādāttava viprendra bhaviṣyāmi ca pāvanaḥ ||

3.14.3

vyāsa uvāca |
śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi devyāścaritamuttamam |
itihāsaṃ purāṇañca kathayāmi suvistaram ||

Vyâsa said:-- O king! Hear, I am describing to you the history of the most auspicious mighty deeds of the Devî, according to the Purânas.

3.14.4

kosaleṣu nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ sūryavaṃśasamudbhavaḥ |
puṣyaputro mahātejā dhruvasandhiriti smṛtaḥ ||

In days of yore, there reigned in the country of Kosala, the king Dhruvasandhi of the Solar Dynasty. He was the son of Puspa and cele- brated on account of his great prowess. He was truthful, religious, engaged in doing good to his subjects, obeying the laws of the four castes and Âs’ramas. He being pure, performed his regal duties in the flourishing city of Ayodhyâ.

3.14.5

dharmātmā satyasandhaśca varṇāśramahite rataḥ |
ayodhyāyāṃ samṛddhāyāṃ rājyaṃ cakre śucivrataḥ ||

3.14.6

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāścānye tathā dvijāḥ |
svāṃ svāṃ vṛttiṃ samāsthāya tadrājye dharmato'bhavan ||

The Brâhmanas, Ksattriyas, Vais'yas, and S’ûdras and other good persons all lived religiously under his rule, each abiding by his own profession.

3.14.7

na caurāḥ piśunā dhūrtāstasya rājye ca kutracit |
dambhāḥ kṛtaghnā mūrkhāśca vasanti kila mānavāḥ ||

No thieves, cheats, cunning persons, vain and arrogant persons, treacherous and illiterate men were allowed to remain in his kingdom.

3.14.8

evaṃ vai vartamānasya nṛpasya kurusattama |
dve patnyau rūpasampanne hyāsatuḥ kāmabhogade ||

O host of Kurus! Thus ruling virtuously, the king had two wives, both of them young, fair and beautiful and well able to give delights and enjoyments to the king.

3.14.9

manoramā dharmapatnī surūpā'tivicakṣaṇā |
līlāvatī dvitīyā ca sā'pi rūpaguṇānvitā ||

The first and lovely wife was Manoramâ, and the second was Lîlâvatî. Both of them were exceedingly handsome, intelligent and qualified.

3.14.10

vijahāra sapatnībhyāṃ gṛheṣūpavaneṣu ca |
krīḍāgirau dīrghikāsu saudheṣu vividheṣu ca ||

The king enjoyed much with them in palaces, gardens, romantic hills, lakes, and various beautiful mansions.

3.14.11

manoramā śubhe kāle suṣuve putramuttamam |
sudarśanābhidhaṃ putraṃ rājalakṣaṇasaṃyutam ||

In the auspicious moment, Manoramâ gave birth to a beautiful child, endowed with all royal qualifications. The child was named, in due course, Sudars’ana.

3.14.12

līlāvatyapi tatpatnī māsenaikena bhāminī |
suṣuve sundaraṃ putraṃ śubhe pakṣe dine tathā ||

Next within one month, his second wife the fair Lîlâvatî in the auspicious fortnight and in the auspicious day, gave birth to an excellent child.

3.14.13

cakāra nṛpatistatra jātakarmādikaṃ dvayoḥ |
dadau dānāni viprebhyaḥ putrajanmapramoditaḥ ||

The King then performed the Jâta-Karma (ceremonies on the birth of a child) and being very glad, made lots of presents, wealth, etc., to the Brâhmanas.

3.14.14

prītiṃ tayoḥ samāṃ rājā cakāra sutayornṛpa |
nṛpaścakāra sauhārdeṣvantaraṃ na kadācana ||

The King shewed affection equally to the two children; never he made any distinction between them.

3.14.15

cūḍākarma tayoścakre vidhinā nṛpasattamaḥ |
yathāvibhavamevāsau prītiyuktaḥ parantapaḥ ||

The king, the tormenter of the foes, was very glad and performed duly the chudâ karana ceremony according to his position and wealth.

3.14.16

kṛtacūḍau sutau kāmaṃ jahraturnṛpatermanaḥ |
krīḍamānāvubhau kāntau lokānāmanurañjakau ||

The sight of these two sons delighted very much the people. Now seeing these Kritachûdas, and playing, the king was merged in the ocean of pleasure.

3.14.17

tayoḥ sudarśano jyeṣṭho līlāvatyāḥ sutaḥ śubhaḥ |
śatrujitsaṃjñakaḥ kāmaṃ cāṭuvākyo babhūva ha ||

Sudars'ana was the eldest; but Satrujit, the second beautiful son by Lîlâvatî was of sweet and persuasive speech. His beautiful figure and sweet words gave very much delight to the king, and for these qualities, the child Satrujit turned out also a favourite of the people and ministers.

3.14.18

nṛpateḥ prītijanako mañjuvākcārudarśanaḥ |
prajānāṃ vallabhaḥ so'bhūttathā mantrijanasya vai ||

3.14.19

tathā tasminnṛpaḥ prītiñcakāra guṇayogataḥ |
mandabhāgyānmandabhāvo na tathā vai sudarśane ||

The king could not show so much affection to the unfortunate Sudars’ana as he showed to Satrujit.

3.14.20

evaṃ gacchati kāle tu dhruvasandhirnṛpottamaḥ |
jagāma vanamadhye'sau mṛgayābhirataḥ sadā ||

Thus some days having passed, one day the king Dhruvasandhi went out on an hunting expedition to the forest. He killed in the forest many deer, Ruru (a kind of deer), elephants, boar, hare, buffaloes, rhinoceros, camels and amused himself very much with this hunting affair.

3.14.21

nighnanmṛgān rurūnkambūnsūkarāngavayāñchaśān |
mahiṣāñcharabhānkhaḍgāṃścikrīḍa nṛpatirvane ||

3.14.22

krīḍamāne nṛpe tatra vane ghore'tidāruṇe |
udatiṣṭhannikuñjāttu siṃhaḥ paramakopanaḥ ||

While he was hunting thus, a lion got very much enraged, and, from a bush, suddenly jumped and came upon the king. That king of the beasts was already struck with arrows; now seeing the king in front, he loudly roared.

3.14.23

rājñā śilīmukhenādau viddhaḥ krodhavaśaṃ gataḥ |
dṛṣṭvāgre nṛpatiṃ siṃho nanāda meghaniḥsvanaḥ ||

3.14.24

kṛtvā cordhvaṃ sa lāṅgūlaṃ prasāritabṛhatsaṭaḥ |
hantuṃ nṛpatimākāśādutpapātātikopanaḥ ||

He angrily lifted his long tail high up in the air and, puffing up his manes, jumped up high in the air to attack and to take the life of the king. Seeing this, instantly the king took sword in his right hand and shield in his left and stationed himself like another lion before him.

3.14.25

nṛpatistarasā vīkṣya dadhārāsiṃ kare tadā |
vāme carma samādāya sthitaḥ siṃha ivāparaḥ ||

3.14.26

sevakāstasya ye sarve te'pi bāṇānpṛthakpṛthak |
amuñcankupitāḥ kāmaṃ siṃhopari ruṣānvitāḥ ||

The king's followers, one and all, angrily shot arrows on the lion.

3.14.27

hāhākāro mahānāsītsamprahāraśca dāruṇaḥ |
utpapāta tataḥ siṃho nṛpasyopari dāruṇaḥ ||

Then a loud uproar ensued; and all began to hurl arrows as best as they could. But, after all, that dangerous lion fell upon the king.

3.14.28

taṃ patantaṃ samālokya khaḍgenābhyahanannṛpaḥ |
so'pi krūrairnakhāgraiśca tatrāgatya vidāritaḥ ||

Seeing thus, the king struck him with his sword, but the lion also tore asunder the king, with his sharp nails. The king thus struck by the lion, fell on the spot and died. The soldiers cried aloud and killed the lion with arrows.

3.14.29

sa nakhairāhato rājā papāta ca mamāra vai |
cukruśuḥ sainikāste tu nirjaghnurviśikhaistadā ||

3.14.30

mṛtaḥ siṃho'pi tatraiva bhūpatiśca tathā mṛtaḥ |
sainikairmantrimukhyāśca tatrāgatya niveditāḥ ||

Thus both the king and lion lay dead on the spot; and the soldiers turned back to the palace and gave all the informations to the royal ministers.

3.14.31

paralokagataṃ bhūpaṃ śrutvā te mantrisattamāḥ |
saṃskāraṃ kārayāmāsurgatvā tatra vanāntike ||

When the munis heard the demise of the king, they went to the forest, performed the burning of the dead body of the king.

3.14.32

paralokakriyāṃ sarvāṃ vasiṣṭho vidhipūrvakam |
kārayāmāsa tatraiva paralokasukhāvaham ||

The Maharsi Vas’istha performed duly on the same spot, all the funeral ceremonies, thus ensuring the king the safe journey to the next world.

3.14.33

prajāḥ prakṛtayaścaiva vasiṣṭhaśca mahāmuniḥ |
sudarśanaṃ nṛpaṃ kartuṃ mantraṃ cakruḥ parasparam ||

All the subjects and the citizens and the Muni Vas’istha counselled each other to install Sudars’ana on the throne as the king.

3.14.34

dharmapatnīsutaḥ śāntaḥ puruṣaśca sulakṣaṇaḥ |
ayaṃ nṛpāsanārhaśca hyabruvanmantrisattamāḥ ||

The minister-in-chief as well as the other members proposed that as Sudars’ana is the son of the legal wife, calm and quiet, beautiful and endowed with all the royal qualifications, he is fit for the throne. Maharsi Vas’istha said, the royal son, though not attained to proper age is still religious; therefore he is really fit be installed as king on the royal throne.

3.14.35

vasiṣṭho'pi tathaivāha yogyo'yaṃ nṛpateḥ sutaḥ |
bālo'pi dharmavān rājā nṛpāsanamihārhati ||

3.14.36

kṛte mantre mantrivṛddhairyudhājinnāma pārthivaḥ |
tatrājagāma tarasā śrutvā tūjjayinīpatiḥ ||

When the wise aged ministers thus decided, Yudhâjit, the king of Ujjain, on hearing the decision hastened to the spot.

3.14.37

mṛtaṃ jāmātaraṃ śrutvā līlāvatyāḥ pitā tadā |
tatrājagāma tvarito dauhitrapriyakāmyayā ||

He was the father of Lîlâvatî; on hearing the demise of his son-in-law he came there, so that his daughter’s son might get the kingdom.

3.14.38

vīrasenastathā''yātaḥ sudarśanahitecchayā |
kaliṅgādhipatiścaiva manoramāpitā nṛpaḥ ||

Next, Vîrasena, the king of the country of Kalinga and the father of Manoramâ, came there also with the object that his daughter’s son Sudars’ana be the Emperor.

3.14.39

ubhau tau sainyasaṃyuktau nṛpau sādhvasasaṃsthitau |
cakraturmantrimukhyaistairmantraṃ rājyasya kāraṇāt ||

The two kings, accompanied respectively by their own army and soldiers, began to counsel with the aged ministers, each trying so that his daughter’s son may get the throne.

3.14.40

yudhājittu tadā'pṛcchajjyeṣṭhaḥ kaḥ sutatordvayoḥ |
rājyaṃ prāpnoti jyeṣṭho vai na kanīyānkadācana ||

Yudhâjit made the question:-- “Who is the eldest of the two sons? Is it always the case that the eldest will inherit the kingdom? Will not the youngest ever be able to acquire it?”

3.14.41

vīraseno'pi tatrāha dharmapatnīsutaḥ kila |
rājyārhaḥ sa yathā rājan śāstrajñebhyo mayā śrutam ||

Vîrasena said:-- O king! He who is the son of the legal wife inherits the kingdom; this I have heard from the learned who are proficient in the knowledge of the S’âstras.

3.14.42

yudhājitpunarāhedaṃ jyeṣṭho'yaṃ ca yathā guṇaiḥ |
rājalakṣaṇasaṃyukto na tathāyaṃ sudarśanaḥ ||

Hearing Vîrasena, Yudhâjit repeated “Sudars’ana is not so qualified with royal qualifications and other matters as this son of the late king, Satrujit. How can then Sudars’ana inherit the throne?”

3.14.43

vivādo'tra susampanno nṛpayostatra lubdhayoḥ |
kaḥ sandehamapākartuṃ kṣamaḥ syādatisaṅkaṭe ||

O King! Then quarrels ensued amongst the two kings. Now, at this critical juncture, who is able to solve their doubts?

3.14.44

yudhājinmantriṇaḥ prāha yūyaṃ svārthaparāḥ kila |
sudarśanaṃ nṛpaṃ kṛtvā dhanaṃ bhoktuṃ kilecchatha ||

Yudhâjit then addressed the ministers:-- “You all are prompted by selfish ends; you want to acquire a good deal of money by making Sudars’ana the king.

3.14.45

yuṣmākaṃ tu vicāro'yaṃ mayā jñātastatheṅgitaiḥ |
śatrujitsabalastasmātsammato vo nṛpāsane ||

I have come to know by your gestures and postures that your decision is to the above affect. After all, as Satrujit possesses many more qualifications than Sudars’ana, he has more claims to the throne; and therefore he is fit to occupy the throne and no other. Morever, let me see as long as I live who can set aside the claims of a qualified prince, in possession of an army, and put forward the claims of a prince who has no qualifications it all.

3.14.46

mayi jīvati kaḥ kuryātkanīyāṃsaṃ nṛpaṃ kila |
tyaktvā jyeṣṭhaṃ guṇārhañca senayā ca samanvitam ||

3.14.47

nūnaṃ yuddhaṃ kariṣyāmi tasminkhaḍgasya medinī |
dhārayā ca dvidhā bhūyādyuṣmākaṃ tatra kā kathā ||

I am ready to fight and I will tear the earth into two pieces by my sword. What more have you to say on this?”

3.14.48

vīrasenastu tacchrutvā yudhājitamabhāṣata |
bālau dvau sadṛśaprajñau ko bhedo'tra vicakṣaṇa ||

Hearing this, Vîrasena addressed Yudhâjit “I see the two boy’s intelligence the same. You are intelligent; kindly mention where is the difference?”

3.14.49

evaṃ vivadamānau tau saṃsthitau nṛpatī tadā |
prajāśca ṛṣayaścaiva babhūvurvyagramānasāḥ ||

O king! The two kings quarrelling with each other, remained there; the subjects and the Risis, seeing this, were very anxious.

3.14.50

samājagmuśca sāmantāḥ sasainyāḥ kleśatatparāḥ |
vigrahañcābhikāṅkṣantaḥ parasparamatandritāḥ ||

Hundreds of tributary princes wanting that the two kings might be involved into quarrels with each other, came to the spot, with their soldiers, though they had to undergo great hardships in doing so.

3.14.51

niṣādā hyāyayustatra śṛṅgaverapurāśrayāḥ |
rājadravyamapāhartuṃ mṛtaṃ śrutvā mahīpatim ||

Many aborigines, from the inhabitants of Sringaverpur, hearing the demise of the late king, also appeared on the scene with the sole object to plunder.

3.14.52

putrau ca bālakau śrutvā vigrahaṃ ca parasparam |
caurāstatra samājagmurdeśadeśāntarādapi ||

The two princes are minors; and hearing their parties at war with each other, many robbers from various adjoining countries came also there.

3.14.53

sammardastatra sañjātaḥ kalahe samupasthite |
yudhājidvīrasenaśca yuddhakāmau babhūvatuḥ ||

Thus when the war broke out between the two kings, the great confusion and tumult across within the kingdoms; on the other hand, Yudhâjit and Vîrasena both became ready to fight.
Thus ends the Fourteenth Chapter on the narration of the glories of the Devî and the death of the Kosala king Dhruva Sandhi in the 3rd Adhayâya of S'rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam.

3.14.53.c1

iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ tṛtīyaskandhe yudhājidvīrasenayoryuddhārthaṃ sajjībhavanaṃ nāma caturdaśo'dhyāyaḥ ||