Story of Tapatī

 arjuna uvāca 

tāpatya iti yad vākyamuktavānasi māmiha

tadahaṁ jñātumicchāmi tāpatyārthaṁ viniścitam

Arjuna said: You  have addressed me as descendant of Tapatī. I wish to know what is the precise signification of this word?

tapatī nāma kā caiṣā tāpatyā yatkṛte vayam

kaunteyā hi vayaṁ tattvamicchāmi veditum

O blessed one! We are Kaunteyas. Therefore, we are Kṣatriyas, but who is Tapati that we should be called Tāpatyas. I desire to hear about it.

vaiśampāyana uvāca

evamuktaḥ sa gandharvaḥ kuntīputraṁ dhanaṅjayam

viśrutāṁ triṣu lokeṣu śrāvayāmāsa vai kathām

Vaiśampāyana said: Having been addressed by Kaunteya, Dhanaṅjaya, that Gandharva narrated the story celebrated in 3 worlds.

 gandharva uvāca

hantaṁ taṁ kathayiṣyāmi kathāmetāṁ manoramām

yathāvadakhilāṁ pārtha sarvabuddhimatāṁ vara

Gandharva said: O Pārtha! O foremost of all intelligent men! I shall duly narrate to you in detail this interesting story.

uktavānasmi yena tvāṁ tāpatya iti yad vacaḥ

tat te ̍ haṁ kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇuṣvaikamanāṁ bhava

Hear with attention what I say about the reason for which I address you as Tāpatya.

ya eṣa divi dhiṣṇyena nākaṁ vyāpnoti tejasā

etasya tapatī nāma babhūva sadṛśī sutā

He who pervades whole firmament by his light, had a daughter named Tapatī, equal to himself in effulgence.

vivasvato vai devasya sāvitryavarajā vibho

viśrutā triṣu lokeṣu tapatī tapasā yutā

That daughter of Vivasvata, Tapatī, was the younger sister of Sāvitrī. She was celebrated in 3 worlds and devoted to asceticism.

na devī nāsurī caiva na yakṣī na ca rākṣasī

nāpsarā na ca gandharvī tathā rūpeṇa kācana

There was none equal to her in beauty amongst Devas, Asuras, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Apsarās and Gandharva ladies.

suvibhaktānavadyāṅgī svasitāyatalocanā

svacārā caiva sādhvī ca suveṣā caiva bhāminī

She was perfectly simetrical in body and faultless in features. She had black and large eyes. She was attired in beautiful robes. She was chaste and exceedingly well conducted.

na tasyāḥ sadṛśaṁ kaṁcit triṣu lokeṣu bhārata

bhartāraṁ savitā mene rūpasīlaguṇaśrutaiḥ

O descendant of Bharata! Seeing her, Vivasvata thought that there was none who had beauty, accomplishments, good behaviour and learning to be fit for her husband.

samprāptayauvanāṁ paśyan deyāṁ duhitaraṁ tu tām

nopalebhe tataḥ śāntiṁ sampradānaṁ vicintayan

Seeing that his daughter had attained the age of puberty and that she was worthy of being bestowed on a husband. He had no peace of mind, for he was always thought on whom he should bestow her.

atharkṣaputraḥ kaunteya kurūṇāmṛṣabho balī

sūryamārādhayāmāsa nṛpaḥ saṁvaraṇastadā

O Kaunteya! That best of Kurus, son of Rikṣa, mighty king Saṁvaraṇa, worshipped Sūrya.

arghyamālyopahārādyairgarndhaśca niyataḥ śuciḥ

niyamairupavāsaiśca tapābhirvividhairapi

With due offer of Arghya, garlands and scents, being always pure and holy, with vows, fasts and asceticism of various kinds, 

śuśrūṣuranahaṁvādī śuciḥ pauravanandanaḥ

aṁśumantaṁ samudyantaṁ pūjayāmāsa bhaktimān

Descendant of Pūru - Saṁvaraṇa, worshipped deity effulgent in all his glory, with devotion, humanity and piety.

tataḥ kṛtajñaṁ dharmajñaṁ rūpeṇāsadṛśaṁ bhuvi

tapatyāḥ sadṛśaṁ mene sūryaḥ saṁvaraṇaṁ patim

Thereupon Sūrya, seeing Saṁvaraṇa, learned in the precepts of religion and matchless in the world for his beauty, considered him to be the fittest husband for his daughter Tapatī.

dātumaicchat tataḥ kanyāṁ sasmai saṁvaraṇāya tām

nṛpottamāya kauravya viśrutābhijanāya ca

O descendant of Kuru! Sūrya then desired to bestow his daughter on that excellent king Saṁvaraṇa of Kuru race, who was celebrated all over the world.

yathā hi divi dīptāṁśuḥ prabhāsayati tejasā

tathā bhuvi mahīpālo dīptyā saṁvaraṇo ̍ bhavat

As Sūrya in heavens fills the firmament with his splendour, so did king Saṁvaraṇa fill region on Earth with the splendour of his good achievements.

yathārcayanti cādityamudyantaṁ brahmavādinaḥ

tathā saṁvaraṇaṁ pārtha brāhmaṇāvarajāḥ prajāḥ

O Pārtha! As men learned in Vedas worship sun who manifests all his glory, so did all men except Brāhmaṇas worshipped Saṁvaraṇa.

sa somamati kāntatvādādityamati tejasā

babhūva nṛpatiḥ śrīmān suhṛdāṁ durhṛdāmapi

Blessed with good fortune, king Saṁvaraṇa excelled Soma - Moon in in soothing the hearts of friends and Sūrya - Sun, scorching the hearts of the enemies,

evaṁguṇasya nṛpatestathāvṛttasya kaurava

tasmai dātuṁ manaścakre tapatīṁ tapanaḥ svayam

O descendant of Kuru! Tapana himself resolved upon bestowing Tapatī on the king Saṁvaraṇa, endued with such virtue and accomplishments.

sa kadācidatho rājā śrīmānamitavikramaḥ

cacāra mṛgayāṁ pārtha parvatopavane kila

O Pārtha! Once upon a time, that king, blessed with good fortune and endued with great prowess, went out to hunt in the woods on mountains.

̍

carato mṛgayāṁ tasya kśutpipāsāsamanvitaḥ

mamāra rājñaḥ kaunteya girāvapratimo hayaḥ

When thus hunting, horse of that king of Kuru race was overcome with hunger and thirst and horse died on mountains.

sa mṛtāśvaścaran pārtha padbhyāmeva girau nṛpaḥ

dadarśāsadṛśīṁ loke kanyāmāyatalocanām

O Pārtha! Abandoning dead horse, king walked on mountain and saw a maiden of large eyes and matchless beauty.

sa eka ekāmāsādya kanyāṁ parabalārdanaḥ

tasthau nṛpatiśārdūlaḥ paśyannavicalekṣaṇaḥ

That chastiser of foes, that best of kings, being alone and maiden being also alone, stood motionless and he steadfastly gazed at her.

sa hi tāṁ tarkayāmāsa rūpato nṛpatiḥ śriyam

punaḥ saṁtarkayāmāsa raverbhraṣṭāmiva prabhām

King regarded her hor her beauty as goddess Lakṣmī. He regarded her beauty to be embodiment of the rays emanating from the Sun.

vapuṣā varcasā caiva śikhāmiva vibhāvasoḥ

prasannatvena kāntyā ca candrarekhāmivāmalām

In splendour of body she resembled a flame of fire and in beniginity and loveliness she resembled spotless disc of the moon.

giripṛṣṭhe tu sā yasmin sthitā svasitalocanā

vibhrājamānā śuśubhe pratimeva hiraṇmayī

Black eyed maiden, standing on the mountain breast, looked like a bright statue of gold.

tasyā rūpeṇa sa girirveṣeṇa ca viśeṣataḥ

sa savṛkṣakṣupalato hiraṇmaya ivābhavat

In consequence of the beauty and splendour of that maiden, mountain with its creepers and plants appeared as if it has been converted into gold.

 avamene ca tāṁ dṛṣṭvā sarvalokeṣu yoṣitaḥ

avāptaṁ cātmano mene sa rājā cakṣuṣaḥ phalam

Sight of that maiden inspired king with a contempt for all the women of the world that he had seen before. Seeing her, king considered his eyes blessed.

janmaprabhṛti yat kiṁcid dṛṣṭavān sa mahīpatiḥ

rūpaṁ na sadṛśaṁ tasyāstarkayāmāsa kiṁcana

Nothing that king has seen from the day of his birth could equal, as he argued, the beauty of that girl.

tayā baddhamanuścakṣuḥ pāśairguṇamayaistadā

na cacāla tato deśād bubudhe na ca kiṁcana

astyā nūnaṁ viśālākṣyāḥ sadevāsuramānuṣam

lokaṁ nirmathya dhātredaṁ rūpamapviṣkṛtaṁ kṛtam

He thought: Creator has created the beauty of this beautiful eyed maiden after churning whole world of Devas and Asuras and human beings. King ̍ s heart and eyes were captivated by that maiden, as if they became bound in ropes. He remained rooted to the spot, deprived of his senses.

evaṁ saṁtarkayāmāsa rūpadraviṇasampadā

kanyāmasadṛśīṁ loke nṛpaḥ saṁvaraṇastadā

Thus arguing, king Saṁvaraṇa considered that maiden as matchless in wealth of her beauty in 3 worlds.

tāṁ ca dṛṣṭvaiva kalyāṇīṁ kalyāṇābhijano nṛpaḥ

jagāma manasā cintāṁ kāmabāṇena pīḍitaḥ

King of noble birth, seeing that blessed beauty, was pierced by the arrows of god of love.

dahyamānaḥ sa tīvreṇa nṛpatirmanmathāgninā

apragalbhāṁ pragalbhastāṁ tadovāca manoharām

Having been burnt in the very scorching fire of Kāma, king spoke thus to that charming maiden, still innocent through in her full youth.

kāsi kasyāsi rambhoru kimarthaṁ ceha tiṣṭhasi

kathaṁ ca nirjane ̍ raṇye carasyekā śucismite

Saṁvaraṇa said: O lady of tapering thighs! Who and whose are you? Why are you staying here? O lady of sweet smiles! Why do you wander alone in these solitary woods?

tvaṁ hi sarvānavadyāṅgī sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā

vibhūṣaṇamivaiteṣāṁ bhūṣaṇānāmabhīpsitam

na devīṁ nāsurīṁ caiva na yakṣīṁ naca rākṣasīm

na ca bhogavatīṁ manye na gandharvīṁ na mānuṣīm

You are perfectly faultless in your every feature. Decked in every ornament, you seem to be coveted ornament of those ornaments themselves. You seem to be not a Devī, not Āsurī or Lakṣmī or Rākṣasī. You are not Nāgī or Gandharvī or Mānuṣī.

yā hi dṛṣṭā mayā kāścicchrutā vāpi varāṅganāḥ

na tāsāṁ sadṛśīṁ manye matvāmahaṁ mattakāśini

O excellent lady! The best of women that I have seen or heard of can not equal you in beauty.

dṛṣṭvaiva cāruvadane candrāt kāntataraṁ tava

vadanaṁ padmapatrākṣaṁ māṁ manthātīva manmathaḥ

O lady of beautiful feature! Seeing your face which is lovelier than the moon and your eyes like lotus leaves. I am oppressed by god of love.

evaṁ tāṁ sa mahīpālo babhāṣe na tu sātadā

kāmārtaṁ nirjane ̍ raṇye pratyabhāṣata kiṁcana

Gandharva said: King, oppressed by desire, addressed thus her in a solitary woods, but she didnot speak a word in reply.

tato lālapyamānasya pārthivasyāyatekṣaṇā

saudāminīva cābhreṣu tatraivāntaradhīyata

When king repeatedly asked her thus, large eyed maiden quickly disappeared in the very sight of the king like a flash of lightning.

tāmanveṣṭuṁ sa nṛpatiḥ paricakrāma sarvataḥ

vanaṁ vanajapatrākṣīṁ bramannunmattavat tadā

King then, like one who has lost his reason, wandered through whole forest in search for that lotus eyed maiden.

apaśyamānaḥ sa tu bahu tatra vilapya ca

niśceṣṭaḥ pārthivaśreṣṭho muhūrtaṁ sa vyatiṣṭhata

Having failed to find her, that best of g+kings gave vent to much lamentations and remained motionless in grief for some time.

gandharva uvāca

atha tasyāmadṛśyāyāṁ nṛpatiḥ kāmamohitaḥ

pātanaḥ śatrusaṅghānāṁ papāta dharaṇītale

Gandharva said: On disappearance of the maiden, that chastiser of foes, king, being deprived of his senses out of desire, fell onthe ground.

tasmin nipatite bhūmāvatha sā cāruhāsinī

punaḥ pīnāyataśroṇī darśayāmāsa taṁ nṛpam

On his falling down on the ground, that maiden of sweet smiles and of swelling and round hips, appeared again before king.

athābabhāṣe kalyāṇī vācā madhurayā nṛpam

taṁ kurūṇāṁ kulakaraṁ kāmābhihatacetasam

Blessed beauty Tapatī then spoke to that king, perpetuator of Kuru race, these sweet words.

uvāca madhuraṁ vākyaṁ tapatī prahasanniva

uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhadraṁ te na tvamarhasyariṁdam

mohaṁ nṛpatiśārdūla gantumāviṣkṛtaḥ kṣitau

evamukto ̍ tha nṛpatirvācā madhurayā girā

Sweetly smiling, Tapatī spoke thus in sweet words: Rise, rise, O chastiser of foes! Be blessed! O best of kings! You are celebrated in the world, it does not befit you to lose your senses! Having been thus addressed by her in these sweet words,

dadarśa vipulaśroṇīṁ tāmevābhimukhe sthitām

atha tāmasitāpāṅgīmābabhāṣe sa pārthivaḥ

King, opening his eyes, saw before him that maiden of swelling hips. King then addressed that black eyed maiden thus:

manmathāgniparītātmā saṁdigdhākṣarayā girā

sādhu tvamasitāpāṅgi kāmārta mattakāśini

bhajasva bhajamānaṁ māṁ prāṇā hi prajahanti mām

tvadarthaṁ hi viśālākṣi māmayaṁ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

kāmaḥ kamalagarbhame pratividhyan na śāmyati

daṣṭamevamanākrande bhadre kāmamahāhinā

In accents weak with emotion and his heart burning with fire of desire: O black eyed beauty! O excellent lady! Be blessed! I am burning with desire and I, therefore, solicit you, accept me! My life is ebbing away. O lady of large eyes! O lotus eyed beauty! It is all for not having obtained you. God of love pierces me day and night with arrows. O blessed lady! I have been bitten by Kāma, who is like a large snake.

sā tvaṁ pīnāyataśroṇi māmāpanuhi varānane

tvadadhīnā hi me prāṇāḥ kinnarodgītabhāṣiṇi

O lady of faultless features! O lady of tapering thighs! O lady of sweet voice, as of Kinnarīs! Have a mercy on me! My life depends on you!

cārusarvānavadyāṅgi padmendupratimānane

na hyahaṁ tvadṛte bhīru śakṣyāmi khalu jīvitum

O lady of beautiful and faultless features! O lady with face like lotus or moon! O tomid lady! I shall certainly be unable to live without you!

kāmaḥ kamalapatrākṣi pratividhyati māmayam

tasmāt kuru viśālākṣi mayyanukrośamaṅgane

O lotus eyed lady! O lady of large eyes! God of love is incessantly piercing me! Be merciful towards me!

bhaktaṁ māmasitāpāṅgi na parityaktumarhasi

tvaṁ hi māṁ prītiyogena trātumarhasi bhāvini

O black eyed lady! You should not abandon me! O handsome lady! You should relieve me from such affliction by giving me your love!

tvaddarśanakṛtasnehaṁ manaścalati me bhṛśam

na tvāṁ dṛṣṭvā punaścānyāṁ draṣṭuṁ kalyāṇi rocate

O blessed beauty! At the very first sight my heart has been captivated by you! My mind wanders. Seeing you I do not like to cast my eyes on any other woman!

prasīda vaśago ̍ haṁ te bhaktaṁ māṁ bhaja bhāvini

dṛṣṭvaiva tvāṁ varārohe manmatho bhṛśamaṅgane

O beautiful maiden! Be merciful! I am your obedient slave! I am your adorer! Accept me! O beautiful lady! O large eyed maiden! As soon as I saw you, God of love

antargataṁ viśālākṣi vidhyati sma patattribhiḥ

manmamathāgnisamuddhataṁ dāhaṁ kamalalocane

Entered my heart and he is piercing me with his arrows. O large eyed lady! O lotus eyed beauty! Great fire of fesire is burning within me!

prītisaṁypgayuktābhiradbhiḥ prahlādayasva me

puṣpāyudhaṁ durādharṣaṁ pracaṇḍaśarakārmukam

tvaddarśanasamudbhūtaṁ vidhyantaṁ dussahaiḥ śaraiḥ

upaśāmaya kalyāṇi ātmadānena bhāvini

Extinguish that fire by throwing on it the water of your love! O beautiful lady! Pacify, by becoming mine, irrepressible God of love that has appeared here in my heart armed with bow and arrows! He pierces me incessantly with his sharp arrows.

gāndharveṇa vivāhena mānupehi varāṅgane

vivāhānāṁ hi rambhoru gāndharvaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ ucyate

O beautiful featured maiden! O lady of tapering hips! Marry me according to Gandharva form, for of all kinde of marriage, Gandharva form has been said to be the best!

tapatyuvāca

nāhamīśā ātmano rājan kanyā pitṛmatī hyaham

mayi cedasti te prītiryācasva pitaraṁ mama

Tapatī said: I am not the mistress of my own self. Know me to be a maiden living under the control of my father. If you really love me, ask me from my father.

tathā hi te mayā prāṇāḥ saṁgṛhītā nareśvara

darśanādeva bhūyastvaṁ tathā prāṇān mamāharaḥ

O king! You say that your heart has been robbed by me, but you too have robbed my heart at first sight.

na cāhamīśā dehasya tasmānnṛpatisattama

samīpaṁ nopagacchāmi na svatantrā hi yoṣitaḥ

O best of kings! I am not the mistress of my body, therefore, I do not go near you. Women are never independent.

kāhi sarveṣu lokeṣu viśrutābhijanaṁ nṛpam

kanyā ṇbhilaṣennāthaṁ bhartāraṁ bhaktavatsalam

Is there any girl in 3 worlds, who would not desire for her husband such a king as you, kind to all your dependants and born of a noble race?

tasmādevaṁ gate kāle yācasva pitaraṁ mama

ādityaṁ praṇipātena tapasā niyamena ca

Therefore, when the opportunity comes, ask me from my father Āditya, with due salutation, ascetic penances and vows.

sa cet kāmayate dātuṁ tava māmarisūdana

bhaviṣyāmyadya te rājan satataṁ vaśavartinī

O king! O chastiser of foes! If my father bestows me on you, then I shall ever be your obedient wife!

ahaṁ hi tapatī nāma sāvitryavarajā sutā

asya lokapradīpasya savituḥ kṣatriyarṣabha

My name is Tapatī. I am the younger sister of Sāvitrī. O best of Kṣatriyas! I am the daughter of Sūrya, illuminator of Universe.

gandharva uvāca

evamuktvā tatastūrṇaṁ jagāmordhvamaninditā

sa tu rājā punarbhūmau tatraiva nipapāta ha

Gandharva said: Having said this, that faultless maiden soon ascended to the sky. On this, king again fell down on the ground.

anveṣamāṇaḥ sabalastaṁ rājānaṁ nṛpoottamam

amātyaḥ sānuyātraśca taṁ dadarśa mahāvane

In searching that best of kings, ministers of the king saw him there in that state in the great forest.

kṣitau nipatitaṁ kāle śakradhvajamivocchritam

taṁ hi dṛṣṭvā maheṣvāsaṁ nirastaṁ patitaṁ bhuvi

babhūva so ̍ sya sacivaḥ sampradīpta ivāgninā

tvarayā copasaṁgamya snehādāgatasambhramaḥ

Seeing that excellent king, that great bowman, lying forsaken on the ground like a rainbow dropped from the sky, his chief minister became like one burnt by a flame of fire. Coming hostily to him with affection and respect,

taṁ samutthāpayāmāsa nṛpatiṁ kāmamohitam

bhūtalād bhūmipāleśaṁ piteva patitaṁ sutam

As a father rises up the son fallen on the groud, he raised up king, lying senseless on the ground having been deprived of his senses by desire.

prajñayā vayasā caiva vṛddhaḥ kīrtyā nayena ca

amātyastaṁ samutthāpya babhūva vigatajvaraḥ

Old in wisdom as in age and achievements and in policy, minister became easy of mind when he raised him up.

uvāca caiva kalyāṇyā vācā madhurayotthitam

mā bhairmanujaśārdūla bhadramastu tavānagha

He spoke to him these words, both sweet and beneficial: O best of men! Do not fear! O sinless one! Be blessed!

kṣupipāsāpariśrāntaṁ tarkayāmāsa vai nṛpam

patitaṁ pātanaṁ saṁkhye śātravāṇāṁ mahītale

Minister, through the king, that destroyer of hostile forces, had been lying on the ground, being overcome with hunger, thirst and fatigue,

vāriṇā ca suśītana śirastasyābhyaṣecayat

asphyṭanmukuṭaṁ rājñaḥ puṇḍarīkasugandhinā

He sprinkled on crewless head of king cold water, fragrant, with perfume of lotus.

tataḥ pratyāgataprāṇastad balaṁ balavān nṛpaḥ

sarvaṁ visarjayāmāsa tamekaṁ sacivaṁ vinā

Thereupon, mighty king regained his consciousness. Then he sent away all his attendants except that one minister.

tatastasyājñayā rājño vipratasthe mahad balaṁ

sa tu rājñā giriprasthe tasmin punarupāviśat

When that large number of attendants had gone away at the command of the king, King again sat down on the mountain breast.

tatastasmin girivare śucirbhūtvā kṛtāñjaliḥ

ārirādhayiṣuḥ sūryaṁ tasthāvūrdhvamutau

Then king becoming pure and folding his hands, worshipped Sūrya with his face turned upwards on that best of mountains.

jagāma manasā caiva vasiṣṭhamṛṣisattamam

purohitamamitraghnastadā saṁvaraṇo nṛpaḥ

That chastiser of foes, king Saṁvaraṇa, also mentally thought of his priest, that excellent Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha.

naktaṁ dinamathaikatra sthite tasmiñjanādhipe

athājagāma viprarṣistadā dvādaśame ̍ hani

King remained there 4 days and nights without intermission and on the 12th day Brāhmaṇa Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha came to him.

sa viditvaiva nṛpatiṁ tapatyā hṛtamānasam

divyena vidhinā jñātvā bhāvitātmā mahānṛṣiḥ

That great self controlled Ṛṣi knew by his ascetic power that king ̍ s heart was stolen by Tapatī.

tathā tu niyatātmānaṁ taṁ nṛpaṁ munisattamaḥ

ābabhāṣe sa dharmātmā tasyaivārthacikīrṣayā

As soon as that virtuous minded and best of Ṛṣis knew this, he became desirous of benefiting the king and gave him his assurances.

sa tasya manujendrasya paśyato bhagavānṛṣiḥ

ūrdhvamācakrame draṣṭuṁ bhāskaraṁ bhāskaradyutiḥ

In the very sight of the king, illustrious Ṛṣi ascended the sky in order to see Sūrya, he himself being as effulgent as that luminary.

sahasrāṁśuṁ tato vipraḥ kṛtāñjalirupasthitaḥ

vasiṣṭho ̍ hamiti sa cātmānaṁ nyavedayat

Thereupon Brāhmaṇa Vasiṣṭha came with joined hands to the deity of 1,000 rays and introduced himself by saying: I am Vasiṣṭha!

tamuvāca mahātejā vivasvān munisattamam

maharṣe svāgataṁ te ̍ stu kathayasva yathepsitam

Then greatly effulgent Vaivasvata sopke thus to that excellent Brāhmaṇa: O great Ṛṣi! Welcome to you! Tell me what is your desire!

yadicchasi mahābhāga mattaḥ pravadatāṁ vara

tat te dadyāmabhipretaṁ yadyapi syāt suduṣkaram

O greatly fortunate man! O foremost of all eloquent men! Whatever you desire to have, I shall give to you, however difficult it may be to give!

evamuktaḥ sa tenarṣirvasiṣṭhaḥ pratyabhāṣata

praṇipatya vivasvantaṁ bhānumantaṁ mahātapāḥ

Having been thus addressed afer duly bowing down his head to him, Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha of great ascetic merit, replied thus to Vaivasvata:

vasiṣṭha uvāca

yaiṣā te tapatī nāma sāvitryavarajā sutā

tāṁ tvāṁ saṁ varaṇasyārthe varayāmi vibhāvaso

Vasiṣṭha said: O Vaivasvata! I ask you for Saṁvaraṇa your daughter Tapatī, younger sister of Sāvitrī.

sa hi rājā bṛhatkīrtirdhamārthavidudāradhīḥ

yuktaḥ saṁvaraṇo bhartā duhituste vihaṁgama

Saṁvaraṇa is mighty king with great achievements. He is learned in the mysteries of religion and he is high minded. O ranger of sky! Saṁvaraṇa is fittest husband for your daughter.

ityuktaḥ sa tadā tena dadānītyeva niścitaḥ

pratyabhāṣata taṁ pratinandya divākaraḥ

Gandharva said: Having been thus addressed, Divākara Sūrya, resolved upon bestowing his daughter on Saṁvaraṇa and saluting Ṛṣi replied thus:

varaḥ saṁvaraṇo rājñāṁ tvamṛṣīṇāṁ varo mune

tapatī yoṣitāṁ śreṣṭhā kimanyadapavarjanāt

O Ṛṣi! Saṁvaraṇa is the best of kings! She is the best of all women! What else could be done but to bestow her on Saṁvaraṇa?

tataḥ sarvānavadyāṅgī tapatīṁ tapanaḥ svayam

dadau saṁvaraṇasyarthe vasiṣṭhāya mahātmane

Then Tapana himself gave to illustrious Vasiṣṭha his daughter Tapatī of perfectly faultless features, so that she might be bestowed on Saṁvaraṇa.

pratijagrāha tāṁ kanyāṁ maharṣistapatīṁ tadā

vasiṣṭho ̍ tha visṛṣṭastu punarevājagāma ha

Great Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha accepted that maiden Tapatī and taking leave of Sūrya, he came back to the place

yatra vikhyātakīrtiḥ sa kurūṇāmṛṣabho ̍ bhavat

sa rājā manmathāviṣṭastadgatenāntarātmanā

Where that best of Kurus, king of celebrated achievements, was. That king who had been possessed of desire and whose heart was completely fixed on Tapatī

dṛṣṭvā ca devakanyāṁ tāṁ tapatīṁ cāruhāsinīm

vasiṣṭhena sahāyāntīṁ saṁhṛṣṭo ̍ bhyadhikaṁ babhau

Became exceedingly glad on seeing that celestial maiden Tapatī of swwet smiles led towards him by Vasiṣṭha.

ruruce sādhikaṁ subhrūrāpatantī nabhastalāt 

saudāminīva vibhraṣṭā dyotayantī diśāstviṣā

That maiden of fair eyebrows came down from the sky as lightning comes down from the clouds illuminating 10 points of heaven.

kṛccrād dvādaśarātre tu tasya rājñaḥ samāhite

ājagāma viśuddhātmā vasiṣṭhoḥ bhagavānṛṣiḥ

Illustrious Ṛṣi of pure soul, Vasiṣṭha, came to that king when his vow of 12th nigh was over.

tapasā ārādhya varadaṁ devaṁ gopatimīśvaram

lebhe saṁvaraṇo bhāryāṁ vasiṣṭhasyaiva tejasā

Thus Saṁvaraṇa obtained Tapatī as his wife by worshipping propitious lord Sūrya by ascetic penances and by the help of great and effulgent Vasiṣṭha.

tatastasmin giriśreṣṭhe devagandharvasevite

jagrāha vidhivat pāṇiṁ tapatyāḥ sa nararṣabhaḥ

That best of kings accepted the hand of Tapatī in due form on the breast of that mountain frequented by celestials and Gandharvas.

vasiṣṭhenābhyanujñātasminneva dharādhare

so ̍ kāmayata rājarṣirvihartuṁ saha bhāryayā

Royal sage Saṁvaraṇa with permission of Vasiṣṭha desired to sport with his wife on that mountain.

tataḥ pure ca rāṣṭre ca vaneṣūpavaneṣu ca

ādideṣe mahīpālastameva sacivaṁ tadā

He ordered minister to rule over his capital, his kingdom, woods and forests.

nṛpatiṁ tvabhyanujñāpya vasiṣṭho ̍ thāpacakrame

so ̍ tha rājā girau tasmin vijahārāmaro yathā

Then bidding farewell to king, Vasiṣṭha left him and went away. Thereupon king sported on that mountain like celestial. 

tato dvādaśa varṣāṇi kānaneṣu vaneṣu ca 

reme tasmin girau rājā tathaiva saha bhāryayā

King sported with his wife in the woods and forests on that mountain for 12 long years.

tasya rājñaḥ pure tasmin samā dvādaśa sattama

na vavarṣa sahasrākṣo rāṣṭre caivāsya caivāsya bhārata

O descendant of Bharata! For those 12 years god of 1,000 eyes - Indra, did not pour any rain on the capital and kingdom of that king.

tatastasyāmanāvṛṣṭyāṁ pravṛttāyāmariṁdama

prajāḥ kṣayamupājagmuḥ sarvāḥ sasthāṇujaṅgamāḥ

O chastiser of foes! When that season of draught commenced, all the people together with plants, corns and animals began to die.

tasmiṁstathāvidhe kāle vartamāne sudāruṇe

nāvaśyāyaḥ papātervyāṁ tataḥ samyāni nāruhan

During that terrible season of drought, not even a drop of drew fell on the Earth and consequently no corn was grown.

tato vibhrāntamanaso janāḥ kṣudbayapīḍitāḥ

gṛhāṇi samparityajya vabhramuḥ pradiśo diśaḥ

Thereupon people, affected with the fear of hunger, left their houses in despair and fled in all directions.

tatastasmin pure rāṣṭre tyaktadāraparigrahāḥ

parasparamamaryādāḥ kṣudhārtā jaghnire janāḥ

Farmished people of the city and country abandoned their wives and children and grew reckless of one another.

tat kṣudhārtairnirāhāraiḥ śavabhūtaistathā naraiḥ

abhavat pretarājasya puraṁ pretairivāvṛtam

People being affected with hunger and starvation, became like dead skeletons and city looked like the land of dead full of ghostly beings.

tatastat tādṛśaṁ dṛṣṭvā sa eva bhagavānṛṣiḥ

abhyavarṣata dharmātmā vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ

Thereupon, seeing the kingdom in such a state, illustrious Ṛṣi, best of ascetics, virtuous minded Vasiṣṭha, thought of the remedy for the evil.

taṁ ca pārthivaśārdūlamānayāmāsa tat puram

tapatyā sahitaṁ rājan vyuṣitaṁ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ

tataḥ pravṛṣṭatrāsīd yathāpūrvaṁ surārihā

O king! He brought back that best of kings Saṁvaraṇa with his wife Tapatī to that city, after he had passed many years with her.

tasmin nṛpatiśārdūle praviṣṭe nagaraṁ punaḥ

pravavarṣa sahasrākṣaḥ sasyāni janayan prabhuḥ

tataḥ sarāṣṭraṁ mumede tat puraṁ parayā mudā

tena pārthivamukhyena bhāvitaṁ bhāvitātmanā

When that best of kings again entered his capital, the state of things became as before, god of 1,000 eyes, slayer of Asuras, poured rain in abundance and caused corn to grow. Thus being revived by that virtuous minded and that best of kings Saṁvaraṇa, capital and country became exceedingly glad.

tato dvādaśa varṣāṇi punarīje narādhipaḥ

tapasyā sahitaḥ patnyā yathā śacyā marutpatiḥ

Thereupon king with his wife Tapatī performed sacrifices for 12 years, as Indra did with his wife Śacī.

gandharva uvāca

evamāsīnmahābhāgā tapatī nāma paurvikī

tava vaivasvatī pārtha tāpatyastvaṁ yayā mataḥ

O Pārtha, this is the history of the greatly blessed Tapatī of old, daoghter of Vivasvata. It is for her you are Tāpatya.

tasyāṁ saṁjanayāmāsa kuruṁ saṁvaraṇo nṛpaḥ

tapatyāṁ tapatāṁ śreṣṭha tāpatyastvaṁ tato ̍ rjuna

O Arjuna! King Saṁvaraṇa beget on Tapatī a son named Kuru. Born in the race of Tapatī, you are called Tāpatya.