Devibhagavatapurana 6.9: navamo'dhyāyaḥ | nahuṣasvargacyutivarṇanam

6.9.1

vyāsa uvāca |
tāṃ vīkṣya vipulāpāṅgīṃ rahaḥ śokasamanvitām |
ākhaṇḍalaḥ priyāṃ bhāryāṃ vismitaścābravīttadā ||

6.9.2

kathamatrāgatā kānte kathaṃ jñātastvayā hyaham |
durjñeyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ saṃsthito'smi śubhānane ||

6.9.3

śacyuvāca |
deva devyāḥ prasādena jñāto'syadya bhavāniha |
punastasyāḥ prasādena prāptāsmi tvāṃ divaspate ||

S'achî said:-- O Lord of the Devas! I have been able to know this place where you are staying by the grace of Bhagavatî's Feet and I will get you back by Her grace. The Devas and Munis all united have installed the King Nahusa in your throne. That fellow says “O fair One! I am now made the King Indra; therefore you worship me as your husband.” And thus oppresses me always. O Destroyer of other's strength! That vicious one speaks to me thus; I am weak; What can I do to him?

6.9.4

nahuṣo nāma rājarṣiḥ sthāpito bhavadāsane |
tridaśairmunibhiścaiva sa māṃ bādhati nityaśaḥ ||

6.9.5

patiṃ māṃ kuru cārvaṅgiḥ turāsāhaṃ surādhipam |
evaṃ vadati māṃ pāpmā kiṃ karomi balārdana ||

6.9.6

indra uvāca |
kālākāṅkṣī varārohe saṃsthito'smi yadṛcchayā |
tathā tvamapi kalyāṇi susthiraṃ svamanaḥ kuru ||

Indra said:-- “O Beautiful One! I am now here waiting for the proper opportunity; O auspicious One! You should also make your mind calm and remain there, and wait for the proper time.”

6.9.7

vyāsa uvāca |
ityuktā tena sā devī patinātipraśaṃsinā |
niḥśvasantyāha taṃ śakraṃ vepamānātiduḥkhitā ||

Vyâsa said: -- O King! After Indra had spoken thus, S'achî Devî became sorrowful, drew a deep sigh and, trembling, said:-- “O Fortunate One! How can I stay there? That vicious man, puffed up with vanity and proud of his position will forcibly bring me under his control. The Devas and Munis say this to me out of his fear:-- O Beautiful One! The Lord of the Devas is now very much distressed with the arrows of the Cupid; therefore go and worship him. O Tormentor of foes! How can the Brâhmin Brihaspatî protect me, being himself powerless and under the control of the Devas. O Lord! This is now my grave anxiety; I am a weak woman, having none to protect me and therefore always under the guidance of a man. Fate is now against me; how can I keep myself religious? I am a chaste woman, devoted to my husband; I have got no shelter there; who will protect me when I fall into misery!

6.9.8

kathaṃ tiṣṭhe mahābhāga pāpātmā māṃ vaśānugām |
kariṣyati madonmatto varadānena garvitaḥ ||

6.9.9

devāśca munayaḥ sarve māmūcustadbhayākulāḥ |
taṃ bhajasva varārohe devarājaṃ smarāturam ||

6.9.10

bṛhaspatistu śatrughna vāḍavo balavarjitaḥ |
kathaṃ māṃ rakṣituṃ śakto bhaveddevānugaḥ sadā ||

6.9.11

tasmāccintāsti mahatī nāryahaṃ vaśavartinī |
anāthā kiṃ kariṣyāmi viparīte vidhau vibho ||

6.9.12

nāryasmyahaṃ na kulaṭā tvaccittātipativratā |
nāsti me śaraṇaṃ tatra yo māṃ rakṣati duḥkhitām ||

6.9.13

indra uvāca |
upāyaṃ prabravīmyadya taṃ kuruṣva varānane |
śīlaṃ te duḥkhite kāle paritrātaṃ bhaviṣyati ||

Indra said:-- “O Beautiful One! I will now tell you one means which, if you adopt, will no doubt preserve your character in times of crisis. Women cannot preserve their chastity when they are protected by others by thousand and one means; for lust penetrates into their restless minds and carries them to impure ways. It is the good and pure character that preserves a woman from a vicious course; therefore O Smiling One! You adopt this good conduct and character and remain steady in your place. In case that deceitful wicked King Nahusa shows his violence upon you, then take time and secretly cheat him, O Madâlase! Go to him when there will be no other body present and say:--“O Lord of the world! Please come to me on a conveyance carried by the Risis (great ascetics), I will then be very delighted and gladly yield myself to you; this is certainly my vow.” O Beautiful One! When you will say thus, that King, blinded by passion, will engage the Munis for the carriers of his conveyance. The ascetics, then, will be angry and curse him; the Munis will certainly burn him by the fire of their wrath; and the Divine Mother will no doubt help you. He who remembers the lotus-feet of the Ambikâ Devî never meets with any difficulties; and if there arises any difficulty, know certainly that it is for his immeasurable benefit. Therefore worship, with your whole heart, the Mother of the Universe, Who resides in the jewelled island (Mani Dvîpa) according to the words of the Guru Brihaspatî.

6.9.14

pareṇa rakṣitā nārī na bhavecca pativratā |
upāyaiḥ koṭibhiḥ kāmabhinnacittāticañcalā ||

6.9.15

śīlameva hi nārīṇāṃ sadā rakṣati pāpataḥ |
tasmāttvaṃ śīlamāsthāya sthirā bhava śucismite ||

6.9.16

yadā tvāṃ nahuṣo rājā balādākarṣayetkhalaḥ |
tadā tvaṃ samayaṃ kṛtvā gajaṃ vañcaya bhūpatim ||

6.9.17

ekānte tatsamīpe tvaṃ gatvā vada madālase |
ṛṣiyānena divyena māmupaihi jagatpate ||

6.9.18

evaṃ tava vaśe prītā bhaviṣyāmīti me tatam |
iti taṃ vada suśroṇi tadā tu parimohitaḥ ||

6.9.19

kāmāndhaḥ sa munīn yāne yojayiṣyati pārthivaḥ |
avaśyaṃ tāpaso bhūpaṃ śāpadagdhaṃ kariṣyati ||

6.9.20

sāhāyyaṃ jagadambā te kariṣyati na saṃśayaḥ |
jagadambāpadasmartuḥ saṅkaṭaṃ na kadācana ||

6.9.21

yadi jāyeta taccāpi jñeyaṃ tatsvastaye kila |
tasmātsarvaprayatnena maṇidvīpādhivāsinīm ||

6.9.22

bhaja tvaṃ bhuvaneśānīṃ guruvākyānusārataḥ |
vyāsa uvāca |
ityākhyātā śacī tena jagāma nahuṣaṃ prati ||

Vyâsa said:-- O King! Hearing thus the Indra's words, S'achî Devî said “Let it be so” and went to Nahusa, filled with confidence and inspiration to carry on the future work. Nahusa was very glad to see S'achî Devî and spoke thus:-- “O Sweet-speaking One! Are you all right? I am now completely yours; you have fulfilled my word; therefore I say truly that I am your servant. O Gentle-speaking One! When you have come to me, know that I am very glad. O Smiling One! Do not feel any shame before me. I am now your devotee; worship me. O large eyed One! Speak out what is that dear thing that I can do for you? I will carry that out at once.”

6.9.23

tathetyuktvātiviśvastā bhāvikārye kṛtodyamā |
nahuṣastāṃ samālokya mudito vākyamabravīt ||

6.9.24

svāgataṃ satyavacanaistvadadhīno'smi kāmini |
dāso'haṃ tava satyena pālitaṃ vacanaṃ tvayā ||

6.9.25

yadāgatā samīpe me tuṣṭo'smi mitabhāṣiṇi |
na ca vrīḍā tvayā kāryā bhaktaṃ māṃ bhaja susmite ||

6.9.26

kāryaṃ vada viśālākṣi kariṣyāmi tava priyam |
śacyuvāca |
sarvaṃ kṛtaṃ tvayā kāryaṃ mama kṛtrimavāsava ||

S'achî said:-- “O Lord Vâsava! You have done all the works; now I have got one desire to ask from you, kindly fulfil this and then I will be yours. O One full of auspiciousness! Now fulfil my desire; I am speaking this to you.”

6.9.27

manoratho'sti me deva śṛṇu citte'dhunā vibho |
vāñchitaṃ kuru kalyāṇa tvadvaśāhamataḥ param ||

6.9.28

bravīmi mānasotsāhaṃ tvaṃ taṃ kartumihārhasi |
nahuṣa uvāca |
kāryaṃ tvaṃ brūhi candrāsye karomi tava vāñchitam ||

Nahusa said:-- “O Thou, having a face sweet like the Moon! Speak out your desire; I will carry it out. O Beautiful One with nice eye-brows! Even if that be unattainable, I will give that to you.”

6.9.29

alabhyamapi dāsyāmi tubhyaṃ subhru vadasva mām |
śacyuvāca |
kathaṃ bravīmi rājendra pratyayo nāsti me tava ||

S'achî said:-- “O King of Kings! I cannot trust you; Swear on oath that you will fulfill my desire. O King! A truthful King very rare on this earth; I will speak out my desire when I will be convinced that you are bound by truth. O King! When you will fulfil my desire, I will always remain under your control; this I speak truly to you.”

6.9.30

śapathaṃ kuru rājendra yatkaromi priyaṃ tava |
rājānaḥ satyavacaso durlabhā eva bhūtale ||

6.9.31

paścādbravīmyahaṃ rājan jñātvā satyena yantritam |
kṛte cedvāñchite bhūpa sadā te vaśavartinī ||

6.9.32

bhaviṣyāmi turāṣāḍ vai satyametadvaco mama |
nahuṣa uvāca |
avaśyameva kartavyaṃ vacanaṃ tava sundari ||

Nahusa said:-- “O Beautiful One! On all the sacrifices and gifts that I have ever made, I swear, on all my merits, that I will certainly carry out your word.”

6.9.33

śapāmi sukṛtenāhaṃ yajñadānakṛtena vai |
śacyuvāca |
indrasya harayo vāhā gajaścaiva rathastathā ||

S'achî said:-- “Indra has got for his vehicles the horse Uchchais'ravâ, the Airâvata elephant and the chariot; Vâsudeva has got vehicle Garuda; Yama has got his buffalo; S'ankara his Bull; Brahmâ his Swan; Kartika has got his peacock and Ganes'a has got his mouse. But now, O Lord of the Devas! I want to see your vehicle, never witnessed before: I want to see the Munis and the great ascetics, observing vows, to be your vehicle; this is not Visnu's, Rudra's nor of the Devas, and Râks'asas. O King! Let the Munis carry your conveyance, this is my ever burning desire. O King of this earth! I know you the highest of all Devas; let your glory and splendour increase ever and ever; this is the intense desire reigning in my heart.”

6.9.34

garuḍo vāsudevasya yamasya mahiṣastathā |
vṛṣabhaḥ śaṅkarasyāpi brahmaṇo varaṭāpatiḥ ||

6.9.35

mayūraḥ kārtikeyasya gajāsyasya tu mūṣakaḥ |
icchāmyahamapūrvaṃ vai vāhanaṃ te surādhipa ||

6.9.36

yanna viṣṇorna rudrasya nāsurāṇāṃ na rakṣasām |
vahantu tvāṃ mahārāja munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ ||

6.9.37

sarve śibikayā rājannetaddhi mama vāñchitam |
sarvadevādhikaṃ tvāṃ vai jānāmi vasudhādhipa ||

6.9.38

tena te tejaso vṛddhiṃ vāñchāmyahamatandritā |
vyāsa uvāca |
tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā prahasya jñānadurbalaḥ ||

Vyasa said:-- O King! Hearing S'achî's words, Nahusa, weak in intellect, laughed and beguiled by the Mâyâ of Bhagavatî began to praise her and said at once:-- “O Beautiful One! Truly you have made a nice suggestion of my vehicle. O One having luxuriant hairs! I will soon carry out your words. O Sweet-smiling One! Whoever is effeminate and of weak virility, he is never able to engage the Munis as his carriers; no doubt, my unbounded strength will be rendered manifest when I come to you on a vehicle carried by the Munis. What wonder is there that the seven Risis (the seven stars of the constellation Great Bear) and all the Devarsis would carry me, knowing me as the most capable and superior in all the three worlds by virtue of my sheer asceticism?” Vyâsa said:-- O King! The King Nahusa became very pleased and dismissed S'achî Devî. He, then, with a heart flamed with passion, called the Munis and said: --“O Munis! I am now become Indra and endowed with all powers thereof; therefore you all do my work without being at all surprised. I have got the seat of Indra but Indrânî is not coming to me. I called her to my presence and when I informed her of my desire, She had spoken to me with affection the following words:-- O Indra of the Devas! O Giver of one's honour! Better come to me on a vehicle carried by the Munis and do thus the one thing for me that I like. O Maharsis! To carry out this task is, indeed, difficult for me; therefore do you all unite and, out of mercy, do this for me in all its completeness. My heart is being always burnt, as I am very much attached to the wife of Indra; so I take refuge unto you to do this wonderful work for me.” Though this request was very indecent and greatly humiliating yet the Munis agreed to it, out of pity, and also impelled, as it were, by the great Fate. When the Great Seers, the Munis consented to this proposal, the King, whose heart was very much attached to the daughter of Pulomâ, became very glad and getting on the beautiful vehicle carried by the Munis, told them, move on quickly (Sarpa, Sarpa). Then the King Nahusa, getting very much impassioned, touched with his feet the heads of the Munis, and, being as it were smitten by the arrows of cupid, began to whip frequently the Risi Agastya, the best of the ascetics, who devoured the Râksasa Vâtâpi, who was the husband of Lopâmudrâ and who drank out the ocean, saying move on, move on (Sarpa, Sarpa another meaning of which is Snake). The Muni, then, became very angry, on being thus whipped, and cursed him saying:-- “'O Wicked One! As you are whipping me, saying Sarpa, Sarpa, so go and remain in the dense forest as a huge snake. When many years will elapse and when you will crawl on your own limb and suffer intense troubles, after that you will again come to heaven. You will be free from the curse when you will see the King Yudhisthira and hear from him the answers to several questions.”

6.9.39

mohitastu mahādevyā kṛtamohena tatkṣaṇam |
uvāca vacanaṃ bhūpaḥ saṃstuvanvāsavapriyām ||

6.9.40

nahuṣa uvāca |
satyamuktaṃ tvayā tanvi vāhanaṃ ruciraṃ mama |
kariṣyāmi sukeśānte vacanaṃ tava sarvathā ||

6.9.41

na hyalpavīryo bhavati yo vāhānkurute munīn |
ahamāruhya yānena tvāmeṣyāmi śucismite ||

6.9.42

saptarṣayo māṃ vakṣyanti sarve devarṣayastathā |
samarthaṃ triṣu lokeṣu jñātvā māṃ tapasādhikam ||

6.9.43

vyāsa uvāca |
ityuktvā tāṃ susantuṣṭo visasarja haripriyām |
munīnāhūya sarvāstānityuvāca smarānvitaḥ ||

6.9.44

nahuṣa uvāca |
ahamindro'dya bho viprāḥ sarvaśaktisamanvitaḥ |
kāryamatra prakurvantu bhavanto vigatasmayāḥ ||

6.9.45

indrāsanaṃ mayā prāptaṃ nendrāṇī māmupaiti ca |
ākāritā ca māṃ sūte premapūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ ||

6.9.46

muniyānena devendra māmupaihi surādhipa |
devadeva mahārāja matpriyaṃ kuru mānada ||

6.9.47

etatkāryaṃ muniśreṣṭhā mamātyantaṃ durāsadam |
bhavadbhistu prakartavyaṃ sarvathaiva dayālubhiḥ ||

6.9.48

mano dahati me kāmaḥ śakrapatnyāṃ pravartitam |
bhavantaḥ śaraṇaṃ me'dya kurudhvaṃ kāryamadbhutam ||

6.9.49

agastipramukhāstasya śrutvā vākyamasatkaram |
aṅgīcakruśca bhāvitvātkṛpayā paramarṣayaḥ ||

6.9.50

aṅgīkṛte'tha tadvākye munibhistattvadarśibhiḥ |
mudaṃ prāpa nṛpaḥ kāmaṃ paulomīkṛtamānasaḥ ||

6.9.51

āruhya śibikāṃ ramyāṃ saṃsthitastvarayānvitaḥ |
vāhātkṛtvā munīndivyānsarpa sarpeti cābravīt ||

6.9.52

kāmārtaḥ so'smṛśanmūḍhaḥ pādena munimastakam |
agastiṃ tāpasaśreṣṭhaṃ lopāmudrāpatiṃ tadā ||

6.9.53

vātāpibhakṣakartāraṃ samudrasyāpi śoṣakam |
kaśayā tāḍayāmāsa pañcabāṇaśarāhataḥ ||

6.9.54

indrāṇīhṛtacitto'sau sarpeti prabruvanmunim |
taṃ śaśāpa muniḥ kruddhaḥ kaśāghātamanusmaran ||

6.9.55

sarpo bhava durācāra vane ghoravapurmahān |
bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi yatra kleśo mahānbhavet ||

6.9.56

vicariṣyasi vīryeṇa punaḥ svargamavāpsyasi |
dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiraṃ nāma tava mokṣo bhaviṣyati ||

6.9.57

praśnānāmuttaraṃ śrutvā dharmaputramukhāttataḥ |
vyāsa uvāca |
evaṃ śaptaḥ sa rājarṣiḥ stutvā taṃ munisattamam ||

Vyâsa said:-- O King! Thus cursed, the King Nahusa began to chant hymns to that best of the Munis, and, while praising, fell from the Heavens and instantly turned into a snake. Brihaspatî, then, quickly went to the Mânasarovara Lake and informed Indra everything in detail. Indra became very glad on hearing in detail of the downfall of the King Nahusa from Heaven and remained there gladly. When the Devas and Munis saw this downfall into the earth of Nahusa, they all went to the Lake Mânasarovara where Indra was staying. They then all encouraged Indra and honoured him by bringing him back to the Heavens. All the Devas and Risis installed Indra on the throne and then performed the Inauguration ceremony of the all auspicious Devî. On getting back his own throne. Indra, too, began to sport in the beautiful Nandana Garden with his dear consort S'achî, in the home of the Devas. Vyâsa said:-- O King! Indra had to suffer such severe hardships on account of his slaying the Maharsi Vis'varûpa, the Lord of the Asuras. Subsequently through the grace of the Devî, he got back his own seat. O King! Thus I have narrated before you to my best, this excellent story of the killing of Vritrâsura and thus have answered your question. O Ornament of the Kuru family! The fruits will be exactly according to the Karma done. The effects of the Karma done must be borne whether they be auspicious or inauspicious. (So Indra had to suffer for his Karma, the killing of a Brâhmana.)
Here ends the Ninth Chapter of the Sixth Book on Indra's getting the fruits of his killing a Brâhmana and on the downfall of the King Nahusa from the Heavens in the Mahâpurânam S'rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa.

6.9.58

svargātpapāta sahasā sarparūpadharo'bhavat |
bṛhaspatistato gatvā tarasā mānasaṃ prati ||

6.9.59

indrāya sarvavṛttāntaṃ kathayāmāsa vistarāt |
tacchrutvā maghavā rājñaḥ svargātpracyavanādikam ||

6.9.60

mudito'bhūnmahārāja sthitastatraiva vāsavaḥ |
devāśca munayo dṛṣṭvā nahuṣaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi ||

6.9.61

jagmuḥ sarve'pi tatraiva yatrendraḥ sarasi sthitaḥ |
tamāśvāsya surāḥ sarve munibhiḥ sahitāstadā ||

6.9.62

svarge samānayāmāsurmānapūrvaṃ śacīpatim |
samāgataṃ tataḥ śakraṃ sarve te munayaḥ surāḥ ||

6.9.63

sthāpayitvā''sane paścādabhiṣekaṃ dadhuḥ śivam |
indro'pi svāsanaṃ prāpya śacyā saha surālaye ||

6.9.64

cikrīḍa nandane ramye kānane premayuktayā |
vyāsa uvāca |
evamindreṇa samprāptaṃ duḥkhaṃ paramadāruṇam ||

6.9.65

hatvāsuraṃ kāmarūpaṃ viśvarūpaṃ mahāmunim |
punardevyāḥ prasādena svasthānaṃ prāptavānnṛpa ||

6.9.66

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ vṛtrāsuravadhāśrayam |
yatpṛṣṭo'haṃ tvayā rājan kathānakamanuttamam ||

6.9.67

yādṛśaṃ kurute karma tādṛśaṃ phalamāpnuyāt |
avaśyameva bhoktavyaṃ kṛtaṃ karma śubhāśubham ||

6.9.67.c1

iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ ṣaṣṭhaskandhe nahuṣasvargacyutivarṇanaṃ nāma navamo'dhyāyaḥ ||