127 - Avikshita’s exploits.

Canto cxxviii in the Calcutta edition. 

Avikshit agreed to marry the rescued maiden—The Gandharvas appeared then, and one of them explained she teas his daughter and had been horn as king Vishala’s daughter Bhavini because of Agastya’s curse—They were married- and lived in the Gandharvas’ world—She gave birth to a son there—All the celestial - beings came to the boy’s birth-ceremony, and because of the blessings invoked for him from the Maruts he was called Marutta, 

Markandeya spoke:

1 On hearing this her speech, he remembered his father’s fine speech which the king had uttered upon the promise regarding the “What-want-ye” penance, and prince Avikshit replied to the maiden, he with mind full of love to the maiden who had also abandoned all enioyments for his sake,-

3 “When I forsook thee, O slender one, I was vanquished. by my enemies. I have now met† thee here after conqaering the foes; what shall I do?” 

† For samprapto read samprapta as in the Poona edition.

The maiden spoke:

4 Take thou my hand in wedlock in this charming forest. May the union of a loving maiden and a lover be fraught with merit! 

The prince spoke:

5 Be it so; may welfare be thine! Destiny itself is the cause here. Otherwise how have thou and I met together here?* 

*Anyatra tvam aham cha samagatah; the Poona edition reads atra tvam aham chaiva samagatah. These can hardly be correct; read atra tvam aham chaiva samagatau? 

Markandeya spoke:

6 At this moment, O muni, the Gandharva Tunaya araived, accompanied by the fairest Apsarases and surrounded by other Gandharvas. 

The Gandharva spoke:

7 O prince, this high-spirited maiden is my daughter, by name Bhamini. By reason of Agastya’s curse she became

8 Vishala’s daughter. It was Agastya who was angered with her as she was playing in a child’s manner, so he cursed

9 her then, saying, “Thou shalt become a woman!”† And we appeased him by saying, “She is a child and cannot reflect; do thou show favour for the offence against theo,

† That is, of human race. The Gandhnrvas were semi-celestial.

10 O brahman, rishi.” Being appeased by us the great muni said this— “I passed a lenient curse on her, because I considered she is btU a child; it cannot indeed be altered.”

11 By reason of that curse by Agastya my daughter was born in Vishala’s house as this beautiful fine-browed maiden, called

12 by the name Bhavini. Therefore I have come on this account; take this princess who is my daughter in marriage; of her thou shalt have a son, a universal monarch. 

Markandeya spoke:

13 Uttering the words “Be it so!” the prince then took hert†† hand according to the ordinance, and Tumburn* offered

†† For tathety uktveti tasyatha read tathety uktva tatas tasyah as in the Poona edition.

* A muni, see verse 26. He may be tjie perBon mentioned in the Maha Bh., whose happy coningal life with his wife Rambba was famous (Udyoga p. cxvi. 3975). There was a Gandharva of this name (Sabha-p, li. 1881), and in the Vishnu Pur, as a friend of Nala Chandanodaka-dundubhi. 

14 up the sacrifice there. The gods and Gandharvas sang forth, and bevies of Apsarases danced, the elonds dropped down

15 flowers, and the heavenly instntments sounded forth.† as the prince united in marriage with her, who became the instrument for the agent of the deliverance of the whole world. 

† Ni-sasvanuh; this, root as a verb is not in the dictionary.

16 Then they went everyone with that high-souled muni to the Gandharvas’ world, and she and the prince went also, O muni

17 Prince Avikshit took his joy in company with Bhavini, and she obtained the riches of eujoyment together with, him there.

18 Sometimes he sports with that slender one in a charming grove 19 near the city; sometimes on a low hill;†† sometimes on a sandbank brightened by geese and sarasa cranes in a river; some times near the mansion and in the very resplendent palace.

†† Upa-parvate; not in the dictionary. The Poona edition reads vara parvate, “on a choice hill.”

20 In other charming pleasure-grounds he sported in company with ibe slender bride, and she with that high-souled prince

21 Munis, Gandharvas and Kinnaras offered them both food and unguents, clothing, and the choicest garlaads, beverages and other gifts there. 

22     And when the hero sported with Bhavini in the hardly accessible world of the Gandharvas, the bright hride gave

23 birth to a son. When he was born, who would he great in valour, a tiger among men, the Gandharvas pertieiving what

24 he would accomplish held a great festival; and some of them sang, and others beat drunis and kettle-drums and double drums, and others played on flutes, lutes atod other musical

25 instruments; and many bevies of Apsarases also danced there; the clouds showered down flowers while they rumbled

26 with- gentle sound. Now while that medley of sounds so continued, the muni Tumbaru, who was remembered by Tunaya,*

* Tumburu had solemnized the parents’ wedding, see verse 13, Tunaya is the Gandharva of verse 6. The Poona edition roads instead pranayena smrito, “who was remembered with affection.” 

27 approached† and performed the birth-ceremonies. All the. gods assembled, and the pure divine rishis; and from Patala

†For jata-jata-karmakaron read ‘bhetya Jata-karmakaron as in the Poona edition. 

28 came the Naga lords, Shesha, Vasuki, and Takshaka; and there came also the chiefs of the gods and Asuras, of the Yakshas and Guhyakas, O brahman, and all the Wilids††

†† Vayu in the plural; they are mentioned here because of the invocation which comes afterwards, in which they are called Marut. 

29 also. Then the Gandharvas’ great city was thronged with those who had come, all the rishis, gods, Danavas and Nagas;

30 and the munis. Tumburu then performed the birth-ceremony and other rites, and performed the rite, which is preceded by praises, to secure good fortune on behalf of that boy, 

31     “As a universal monarch, great in valour, mighty of arm, great in strength, exercise thou sovereignty over the entire

32 earth a long time. May Indra and all these other world guardians and the rishis bestow bliss and foe-destroying.

33 valour on thee, O hero! May the wind§ tend to what is auspicious for thee, even the east wind that blows no dust!, May the south wind which is clean and unflagging tend to

§ Marut, with tava or te added here and in the following sentences.

34 gentleness for thee! May the west wind bestow heroism on thee, thq noblest heroism, on thee! And may the north wind likewise confer on thee excellent strength also!”

35 At the end of this rite to secure good fortune a voice spake, issuing from no earthly body,-

“Because the preceptor uttered this phrase ‘Marat- tava’||

|| “May the wind for thee;” the words used in the preceding invocations.

36 repeatedly, hence this boy shall be famed on earth as ‘Marutta;’ and because kings shall pass into subjection to

37 his commands on the earth, this boy as a hero shall stand on the head* of all kings. As a universal monarch, great in valour.

* Or “at thehead,” 

38 he shall assail kings and shall unobstructed enjoy the earth which contains seven continents. He shall be chief among kings who offer sacrifices. His shall be the supremacy among kings by reason of valour and Heroism.” 

Markandeya spoke:

39 On hearing this speech uttered by some one from among the dwellers in heaven, all were gratified, the brahmans and Gandharvas also and his mother and father.