Purana Bulletin
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The “Purana Bulletin” is an academic journal published by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in India. The journal focuses on the study of Puranas, which are a genre of ancient Indian literature encompassing mythological stories, traditions, and philosophical teachings. The Puranas are an important part of Hindu scriptures in Sa...
The Story of Samvarana and Tapati
The Story of Samvarana and Tapati in the Mahabharata and Vamana Purana (a comparative study) [mahabharata—vamanapuranayoh samvaranatapatyorakhyanam] / By Sri V.M. Bedekar; Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona / 12-32
[prastuta nibandhe samvarana- tapatikathanakasya vamanapurane (22 . 26-61h 23 . 1-16 ) mahabharate (1. 160-163 sradhyayahh 1 .86 . 30-42 ) ca praptavarnanayoh samyabhedapradarsana purahsaram samalocakadrstya tulanatmaka- madhyayanam prastutam | atra etasyah kathayah dasavargavibhagasahitah samksipta paricayah katha vikasavislesanakramena visesatippanisahitasca pradattah | tippanyam parasparam bhedadikam pradarsya ante dvayoraitihasika paddhatya samiksa prastuta nibandhakrta vidusa | atra yuktipurahsaram pratipaditam yat vamanapuraniyavarnanapeksaya mahabharatiyam varnanam vistrtataram yatharthya - yuktam manaviyatattvaparam casti, samanyatah mahabharatiyavarnanasya naisargikata adhikatara pratiyate, mahabharate khalu samvaranah savitrdevataya upasakah pradarsitah vamane tu bhagavato vasudevasyeti | mahabharatavarnanasya naisargikata samanyatah pratiyate | mahabharatavarnanam pracinataram pratiyate ityapi vidusa lekhakena pratipaditam | mahabharatiya katha arjunasya tapatyanamno vyakhyanaprasangena gandharvarajacitrarathadvara varnita, vamane tu kuruksetra mahatmyaprasange kurorvrttavarnane srivasudevadvara varnita'sti | evam bahudha saragarbhitam vivecanam prastuya kathayah svarupam spastikrtam lekhaka mahodayena | ] King Samvarana and his queen Tapati are, according to legendary history as preserved in the Mahabharata (Mb) and the Puranas, the parents of the celebrated king Kuru. King Kuru is celebrated in the legendary history chiefly on account of two things firstly, because, he was the ancestor from whom were lineally descended the Kauravas who included both the sons of Dhrtarastra and the sons of Pandu ; secondly, because he was the maker or the founder of the famous holy land of Kuruksetra which was therefore named after him and which included a large number of holy places, lakes and rivers. The story of Samvarana and Tapati occurs chiefly in the following works :
Jan., 1970] THE STORY OF SAM VARANA AND TAPATI 13 (i) Mahabharata1 (Mb) (Adiparvan) Adhyayas 1. 160-163; 1. 89. 30-42. : (ii) Vamana-Purana2 (V.) 22. 26-61; 23. 1-16. It is proposed in this article to make a comparative study of the story as it is told in the above works. With a view to bringing out the similarities and the differences as they are discernible in the story developed in the above works, the narration of the story is divided, for the sake of this comparative study, into the following sections indicating the successive stages of its development: I. The occasion for the narration of the story. II. The early life of Samvarana and Tapati. III. Samvarana, out in the forest, meets Tapati. IV. The Lovers' courtship and Parting. V. Samvarana in lovelorn condition. VI. The meditation of Vasistha. VII. Vasistha's return with Tapati, and the meeting of Tapati and Samvarana. VIII. Samvarana's marriage with Tapati. IX. Samvarana's kingdom visited by calamities during his absence from the capital. His return to the capital. X. The birth of Kuru. At the end of every section, there follows a Note pointing out the similarities and differences in these two versions of the story as they appear in Mb. and V. I. The occasion for the story Mb. 1.160, 1-5 In his encounter with the Gandharva Chief Citraratha, Arjuna was repeatedly addressed by Citraratha as 'Tapatya' ('descendant of Tapati'). Arjuna, therefore, asked Citraratha the reason why he was called and addressed as 'Tapatya'. In reply to Arjuna's query, the Gandharva narrates the story of Tapati and Samvarana. V. 22. 23-26 When Lord Vasudeva advised the gods, who had approached him, to visit the holy Kuruksetra in order to be enabled to be victorious over their enemies, the gods asked the Lord to tell them how Kuruksetra came into existence as a holy place. In reply to their query, Lord Vasudeva told them the story of Samvarana, the father of Kuru who founded the Kuruksetra. (1) The references are to the critical edition of the mb published by the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona, (1933). (2) The references are to the critical edition of the V published by the All India Kashiraj Trust, Fort Ramnagar, Varanasi, (1967).
14 puranam -- PURANA [Vol. XII, No. 1 [Note 1-While the Mb focuses our attention on Tapati, from whom Arjuna's epithet Tapatya was derived the V. emphasises the role of Kuru (the son of Tapati) whose name is associated with Kuruksetra.] II. The early life of Samvarana and Tapati Mb. 1.160.6-20. (Gandharva Citraratha continues his story). The Sun-God (called Vivasvat, Savity or Tapana) the great luminary who fills the heavens with his lustre had a daughter named Tapati. She was extremely beautiful and well-behaved. As she came of age, her father-the Sun-became very anxious to find a suitable husband for his her. The Sun, however, could think of Sarvarana among own devotees, who would be a worthy consort for his beloved daughter. King Samvarana, the Son of King Rksa, was a great devotee of Surya, the Sun-god and always worshipped him. He was a very able king to whom all his subjects were devoted. The Sun-god. therefore, thought that Samvarana would be a worthy match for his daughter and resolved, in his mind to give his daughter in marriage to Samvarana.1 3. na tasyah sadrsam kamcittrisu lokesu bharata | bhartaram savita mene rupasila kulasrutaih || sampraptayauvanam pasyan deyam duhitaram tu tam | nopalebhe tatah santi sampradanam vicintayan || Mb. 1.160. 10-11. In the narration of the Story above from one section to another attempt is made to give only the relevant gist of Sanskrit quotations and not their translation. 4. atharksaputrah kaunteya kurunamrsabho bali | suryamaradhayamasa nrpah samvaranah sada ||12|| yatharcayanti cadityamudyantam brahmavadinah | tatha samvaranam partha brahmanavarajah prajah || 14 || evamgunasya nrpatestathavrttasya kaurava | tasmai datum manascakre tapatim tapanah svayam ||20|| Mb. 1.160.
Jan., 1970] THE STORY OF SAMVARANA AND TAPATI V. 22. 26-28. (Lord Vasudeva continues his story -- ) 15 Rksa, a king of the lunar race, had a son named Samvarana. While quite young, Samvarana was crowned king by his father. He was very righteous and was a great constant devotee of Vasudeva. He had a priest named Vasistha who taught him the Vedas with all their auxiliary branches.5 [Note 2 - While the Mb. gives an account of the early life of both Tapati and Samvarana, the V. gives the account of Samvarana only. In the Mb., Samvarana is mentioned as a devotee of the Sun-god. In the V.. however, he is described as the devotee of Vasudeva.] III. Samvarana, out in the forest, meets Tapati Mb. 1. 160.21-24. (The Gandharva continues the story :) Samvarana once left his capital, on a hunting expedition and arrived into a park on the mountain. While he rode a hunting, his horse fell down dead on account of sheer exhaustion. King Samvarana therefore, walked on foot to resume hunting. While roaming in the hills, he happened to see a maiden of matchless beauty. Both of them were all alone and the king stood gazing at her, his eyes fixed on her in wonder and amazement." 5. somavamsodbhavo raja rkso nama mahabalah | krtasyadau samabhavadrksatsamvarano'bhavat || 6. sa ca pitra nije rajye bala evabhisecitah | balye'pi dharmanirato madudbhaktastu sadabhavat || purohitastu tasyasid vasistho varunatmajah | sa casyadhyapayamasa saganvedanudaradhih || V. 22. 26-28. sa kadacidatho raja cacara mrgayam parvatopavane kila || carato mrgayam tasya ksatpipasasramanvitah | mamara rajnah kaunteya giravapratimo hayah || sa mrtasvasvarampartha padbhyameva girau nrpah | dadarsasadrsim loke kanyamayatalocanam || sa eka ekamasadya kanyam tamarimardanah | tasthau nrpatisardulah pasyannavicaksanah || Mb. 1. 160. 21-24.
16 V. 22. 29-33. puranam - PURANA (Lord Vasudeva continues the story) [Vol. XII, No. 1 King Samvarana, during his holidays from study, left the capital on a hunting expedition, leaving the administration duties of the kingdom to his preceptor Vasistha. The preoccupations with hunting led him unexpectedly into an unfrequented park named Vaibhraja, a park of ravishing loveliness. Fragrance exuding from the blooming flowers belonging to all seasons filled the air. Wanting to inhale more and more of that fragrance, Samvarana roamed through the park and saw stretching before him gardens blooming with all kinds of lotuses. He saw divine damsels sporting in pools of water. His eye, however, fell on one maiden who surpassed them all in loveliness." [Note 3-As compared with the human atmosphere in the description of the park etc. in the Mb. the description in the V. breathes forth a supernatural atmosphere. In the Mb. the king's horse is dead; he walks all alone and meets Tapati who is also all alone. In the V., the park is itself divine, being the park of Kubera himself frequented by divine damsels; king meets Tapati among a bevy of divine beauties.] IV. The Lover' Courtship and Parting Mb. 1. 160. 25-41; 1. 161. 1-20; 1.162. 1. (The Gandharva continues the Story) Samvarana, looking at that maiden of unparallelled loveliness, was struck by the darts of Love towards her. He approached her 7. tato jagama caranyam tvanadhyaye nrpatmajah | sarvakarmasu niksipya vasistham tapasam nidhim || tato mrgayavyaksepad ekaki vijanam vanam | vaibhrajam sa jagamatha athogmadanamabhyayat || tatastu kautukavistah sarvartukusume vane | sravitrptah sugandhasya samantad vyacarad vanam || sa vanantam ca dadrse phullako kanadavrtam | karapadmakumudaih kamalendivarairapi || tatra kridanti satatamapsaro'marakanyakah | tasam madhye dadarsatha kanyam samvarano'dhikam || V, 22. 29-33
Jan., 1970] THE STORY OF SAMVARANA AND TAPATI 17 and said. "Who are you, what brings you here in this wilderness, oh sweet smiling one? The ornaments which you have put on to adorn your body are themselves adorned by your beauty. I have seen, and heard of many lovely maidens but you surpass them all." Hearing these words of the king, the maiden disappeared from before him like a flash of lightning. The king roamed in search of her, like one mad, and when he could not find her, he fell down on the ground overpowered with disappointment in love. Subsequetly, however, maiden reappeared before him and requested him with comforting words to get up and to get over his infatuation. The king seeing her standing in front of him again made a declaration of his love to her. He said: "Accept me. My life is dependent on you. I can not live without you. Have compassion towards me and save me by returning my love. by the Gandharva form of marriage." Thereupon, the maiden who was none else than Tapati replied: "You have also captivated my heart and life at first sight. But I am not free to offer myself to you. I am Tapati, the younger daughter of the Sun-god. You must ask the permission of my father, the Sun, by practising penance or vows, if need be, to persuade him to offer me to you. If he tam ca drtraiva kalyanim kalyanabhijano nrpah | jagama manasa cintam kamamarganapiditah || 13211 3 8. Let us get married dahyamanah sa tivrena nrpatirmanmathagnina | apragalbham pragalbhah sa tamuvaca yasasvinim || 33|| kasi kasyasi rambhoru kimartham ceha tisthasi | katham ca nirjane'ranye carasyeka sucismite || 34|| tvam hi sarvanavadyangi sarvabharanabhusita | vibhusanamivaitesam bhusananamabhipsitam || 35|| ya hi drsta maya kacicchrata vapi varanganah | na tasam sadrsim manye tvamaham mattakasini || 37|| tato lalapyamanasya parthivasyayateksana | saudaminiva sabhresu tatraivantaradhiyata || 39|| tamanvicchansa nrpatih paricakrama tattada | vanam vanajapatraksim bhramannunmattavattada || 40|| apasyamanah sa tu tam bahu tatra vilapya ca | | nisresthah kauravasrestha muhurta sa vyatisthata || 41|| Mb. 1. 160.
18 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XII, No. 1 agrees to give me to you, I shall be yours." With these words, Tapati flew up and disappeared leaving the king fallen prostrate on the ground.9 V. 22.34-38. (Lord Vasudeva Continues the Story) At the sight of that maiden who surpassed in her beauty all the divine damsels, king Samvarana was struck by the dart of Love. The maiden also at his sight was hit by the dart of Love. Both of them were so overpowered by the feelings of love that each of them fainted. The King was brought back to consciousness tasminnipatite bhumi atha sa caruhasini | tapati uvaca- punah pina yatasroni darsayamasa tam nrpam || 2|| athavabhase kalyani vaca madhuraya nrpam | uttisthottistha bhadramte na tvamarhasyaridama | moham nrpatisardula gantum || 3-41 atha tamasitapangimababhase naradhipah | sadhu mamasitapange kamata mattakasini | bhajasva bhajabhanam mam prana hi prajahanti mam || na hyaham tvadrte bhiru saksye jivitumatmana | tasmatkuru visalaksi mayyanukrosamangane || tvam hi mam pritiyogena tratumarhasi bhamini || gandharvena ca mam bhiru vivahenehi sundari | vivahanam hi rambhoru gandharvah srestha ucyate || 16-1311 nahamisatmano rajan kanya pitrmati hyaham | mayi cedasti te pritiryacasva pitaram mama || darsanadeva bhuyastvam tatha prananmamaharah | na cahamisa dehasya tasman nrpatisattama | tasmadevamgate kale yacasva pitaram mama | pradityam pranipatena tapasa niyamena ca || sa cetkamayate datum tava mamarimardana | bhavisyamyatha te rajansatatam vasavartini || 14-19|| Mb. 1. 160. evamuktva tatasturnam jagamordhvamanindita | sa tu raja punarbhumau tatraiva nipapata ha || Mb. 1. 162. 1.
Jan., 1970] THE STORY OF SAMVARANA AND TAPATI 19 by the Gandharvas who approached him and sprinkled water on him. The maiden was also comforted by her divine friends and was taken to her father's place. The king rode his horse and left for his capital. 10 [ Note 4 - The description in the Mb is more detailed : The maiden appears before the king twice; she reveals her name as Tapati, the daughter of the Sun-god. The king makes an avowal of his love to her. Tapati also makes an avowal of her love towards him. She, however, directs the king to approach her father for his consent for the ratification of their love into marriage. In the V however, the details are lacking. From the point of lovers, there is no further progress than their falling in love towards each other at first sight. They do not talk to each other. The lovers do not know each other's identity. Samvarana does not know that she is Tapati. Tapati does not know that he is Samvarana]. V. Sarnvarana in lovelorn Condition. Mb. 1. 162.2-12. (The Gandharva Continues the Story) While Samyarana was lying prostrate on the ground after Tapati had left him, his minister, who with a contingent of troops was in search of the king, found him in that prostrate condition. The minister thought that the prostration of the king must have been caused by the fatigues of the hunting and he brought him back to normal condition by sprinkling fragrant water over his head and by comforting words. After the king had returned to normal condition, he dismissed all the army except that one 10. darsanadeva sa nrpah kamamarganapiditah | jatah, sa ca tamiksyaiva kamavanaturabhavat || ubhau tau piditau moham jagmatuh kamamarganah | raja calasano bhubhyam nipapata turangamat || tamabhyetya mahatmano gandharvah kamarupinah | sisicurvarinabhyetya labdhasamjno'bhavat ksanat || sa capsarobhirutpatya nita pitrkulam nijam | tabhirasvasita capi madhurairvacanambubhih || sa capyaruhya turagam pratisthanam purottamam | merusikharam gatastu kamacari yathamarah || - V. 22. 34-38.
20 puranam -- PURANA [Vol. XII, No. 1 minister. He then stayed on the mountain and stood, with his hands raised, praying to the Sun-god. While praying to the sun, he thought of his priest Vasistha 11. V. 22.39 (Lord Vasudeva continues the story) Since the time Samvarana met and saw Tapati on the mountain, he was so much consumed with passionate love for her that he left all food and could not sleep either during day or night.12 [ Note 5 - In the Mb, the lovelorn Samvarana is helped out of his prostration by his minister. He has already been described before as a fervent devotee of the Sun-god He has already come to know that his beloved is no other than Tapati, the daughter of Sun-god himself. He, therefore, actively sets about in right earnest, practising penance to propitiate the Sun-god. He thinks of Vasistha whose help he, possibly, wants in the achievement of his objective. - In the V, on the other hand, the lovelorn condition of Samvarana is described in one verse. He is shown to be quite at his wits end; he does not know who his beloved is nor her where- 11. amatyah sanuyatrastu tam dadarsa mahavane | | ksitau nipatitam kale sakradhvajamivocchritam || 2 tvaraya copasamgamya snehadagatasambhramah | tam samutthapayamasa nrpati kamamohitam || 4 ksutpipasaparisrantam tarkayamasa tam nrpam | patitam patanam samkhye satravanam mahitale || 7 varinatha susitena tatah pratyagatapranastadbalam sirastasyabhyasecayat | pundarikasugandhina || 8 balavan nrpah | srasprsanmukutam rajnah sarve visarjayamasa tamekam sacivam vina || 9 tatastasmingirivare sucirbhutva krtanjalih | ariradhayisuh surya tasthavrrdhvabhujah ksitau || 11 jagama manasa caiva purohitamamitraghnastada vasisthamrsisattamam | samvarano T: 11 12 12. yada prabhrti sa drsta sraksina tapati girau | tadaprabhrti nasnati diva svapiti to nisi || -- V. 22.39. --Mb. 1. 162.
Jan., 1970] THE STORY OF SAMVARANA AND TAPATI 21 abouts. He, therefore, has no other cause open except pining for his beloved. His lovelorn condition has reduced him to a state of complete inactivity]. VI. The Mediation of Vasistha Mb. 1.162.13-18; 1.163.1-5 (The Gandharva proceeds with the story) While Samvarana lay standing for twelve days in one place on the mountain, practising penance to propitiate the Sun-god, Vasistha arrived to meet him. Vasistha, through his divine insight, After came to know that the king was in love with Tapati. speaking to Samvarana, he flew upwards to see the Sun, while the king looked on. The Sun welcomed the sage and asked him the purpose of his visit. 18 Vasistha replied: "I beseech you to offer in marriage your younger daughter Tapati to King Samvarana who will be a worthy husband to her". The Sun-god, welcoming the proposal, said: "Samvarana is the foremost among kings; you are the foremost among sages; Tapati is the foremost What else can I do except giving her away to you among women. for him?" With these words, the Sun-god offered Tapati to Vasistha for the sake of Samvarana and Vasistha accepted her. 14 13. naktam dinamayaikasye sthite tasminjanadhipe | prathajagama viprarsistada dvadasame'hani || sa viditvaiva nrpatim tapatyahrtamanasam | divyena vidhina jnatva bhavitatma mahanrsih || ababhase sa dharmatma tasyaivarthacikirsaya | sa tasya manujendrasya pasyato bhagavanrsih || urdhvamacakrame drastum bhaskaram bhaskaradyutih | vasistho'hamiti pritya sa catmanam nyavedayat || tamuvaca mahateja vivasvanmunisattamam | maharse svagatam te'stu kathayasva yathecchasi || -- Mb. 1.162.13-18 14. yaisa te tapati nama savitryavaraja suta | tam tvam samvaranasyarthe varayami vibhavaso || yuktah samvarano bharta duhituste vihamgama | (ityuktah savita ... bhasata - ) "varah samvarano rajnam tvamrsinam varo mune | || " tapati yositam srestha kimanyatrapavarjanat || " tatah tapatim tapanah svayam | dadau samvaranasyarthe vasisthaya mahatmane | pratijagraha tam kanyam maharsistaparti tada || 1-5 --Mb. I. 163
22 V. 22.40-46 puranam - PURANA (Lord Vasudeva continues the story) [Vol. XII, No. 1 The omniscient Vasistha knew that the prostration of the King Samvarana was due to his being afflicted by the pangs of love for Tapati and he flew into the sky into the world of the Sun-god. The Sun-god, seated in his chariot, received the sage and returning his salutation offered him a seat in the chariot. Asked by the Sun-god about the purpose of his visit, the sage Vasistha replied: "I have come to beseech you to offer your daughter in marriage to Samvarana. Please give her away to him". Accordingly the Sun-god gave his daughter Tapati to Vasistha for the sake of the king Samvarana.15 [Note 6: The successful role of Vasistha as the mediator to secure Tapati for Samvarana from the Sun-god as described in the Mb. and V. is almost identical. The difference between the two, it must be remembered, is as follows: In the Mb., Samvarana already knows that his beloved is Tapati, the daughter of the Sungod. In the V., however, Samvarana does not know the identity of his beloved. It is the all knowing Vasistha who knows by his divine power the object of Samvarana's love and accordingly visits the Sun-god ]. VII. Vasistha's return with Tapati, and the meeting of Tapati and Samvarana Mb. 1.163.6-8 (The Gandharva continues the story) Vasistha, who had accepted to take Tapati with him for 15 tatah sarvavidavyaggro viditva varunatmajah | tapatitapitam viram parthivam tapasam nidhih || 40 samutpatya mahayogi gaganam ravimandalam | vivesa devam tigmamsum dadarsa syandane sthitam || 41 tam drstra bhaskaram devam pranamad dvijasattamah | pratipranamitasvasau bhaskarenavisad rathe || 42 tatah sampujito'rghadyairbhaskarena tapodhanah | prstavagamane hetum pratyuvaca divakaram || 44 samayato'smi devesa yacitum tvam mahadyute | sutam samvaranasyartham tasya tvam datumarhasi || 45 tato vasisthaya divakarena nivedita sa tapati tanuja | grhagataya dvijapumgavaya rajno'rthatah samvaranasya devah || 46 --V. 22
Jan., 1970] THE STORY OF SAMVARANA AND TAPATI 23 King Samvarana, was given a send-off by the Sun-God. Vasistha, then, returned with Tapati to the mountain where Samvarana stood practising penance to propitiate the Sun. Samvarana, already possessed by passionate love for Tapati, was greatly enraptured by the sight of sweet-smiling beloved, accompanying Vasistha. When Vasistha arrived with Tapati, Samvarana had already completed his religious penance of twelve nights. 16 V. 22.47-60 ab (God Vasudeva continues the story) Vasistha took Tapati, the daughter of Sun-god with him to his own hermitage. Tapati, who possibly anticipated that she was brought by Vasistha for being given away in marriage to some prince, unburdened to Vasistha the desire of her heart to marry that very prince whom she had seen in the Vaibhraja garden. She did not know the name of the Prince but she quite accurately remembered the handsome features which distinguished the personal appearance of that prince. 17 She described to Vasistha these distingushing handsome features of her beloved prince and begged of the sage that she should be married to that very prince and no other. Tapati said to Vasistha "I remember the characteristic features of that handsome prince who struck me with the darts of love when I met him with my female friends. His feet bear the royal marks of disc, mace and sword. His calves and thighs are like the trunk of the elephant. His waist resembles that of a lion. His middle part (the belly) is slender having three folds. His neck 16. vasistho'ya visrstasca punarevajagama ha | yatra vikhyatakirtih sa kurunamrsabho'bhavat || sa raja manmathavistastadgatenantaratmana | drstva ca devakanyam tam tapatim caruhasinim || vasisthena sahayantim samhrsto'bhyadhikam babhau || krcchre dvadasaratre tu tasya rajnah samapite | srajagama visuddhatma vasistho bhagavanrsih || -- Mb 1.163. 6-8 17. savitrimadaya tato vasisthah svamasramam punyamapajagama | sa capi samsmrtya nrpatmajam tam krtanjalirvarunimaha devi || -- V. 22.47
24 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XII, No. 1 is shaped like a conch. His arms are sinewy, hard and long. His hands have the characteristics of lotus-petals. His head resembles a royal umbrella. His hair are dark and curly, his ears well shaped and his nose is well poised. His fingers and toes are long and of fine joints. His teeth are white. He looks prominent in six features -the forehead, shoulders, cheeks, neck, waist and thighs. He is deep in three features-navel, middle part and collarbone. He is long in three feature viz-two arms and testicles. He is reddish in five places-the edges of his eyes, lips, palms, feet and nails. He is dark in four features-hair, eyelashes, and the two pupils of the eyes. He is curved in three features-eyebrows, eyes, and ears. He is white in two features-teeth and the eyes-and fragrant in four-hair, mouth and two checks. Ten features of his body look like blooming lotuses. Such a man have I chosen as my husband. Please give me away to that very prince. The good men say that a girl wooing one man should not be given away to another. 18 Hearing the speech of Tapati in which she had expressed her desire to marry only that prince who had those particular characteristics described by her, the Sage Vasistha assured her in the following words. "The same prince whom you have seen and whom you love will be your consort. He always visits He always visits my hermitage. His name is Samvarana and he is the son of Rksa." Presently, 18. brahmanmaya khedamupetya yo hi sahapsarobhih paricarikabhih | drsto tvaranye'maragarbhatulyo nrpatmajo laksagato'bhijane || 48 || padau subhau cakragadasicihnau janghe tathoru karihastatulyau | katistatha simhakatiryacaiva ksamam ca madhyam trivalinibaddham || 49 || grivasya sankhakrtimadadhati bhujau ca pino kathini sudirgha | hastau tatha padmadalodbhavankau chatrakrtistasya siro vibhati || 50 || nilasca kesah kutilasca tasya karno samamsau susama ca nasa | dirghasca tasyangulayah suparvah padbhayam karabhyam dasanasca subhrah || 51|| samunnatah sadbhirudaravirya stribhirgabhirastrisu ca pralambah | raktastatha pancasu rajaputrah krsnascaturbhistribhiranato'pi || 52 || dvabhyam ca suklah surabhiscaturbhih drsyanti padmani dasaiva casya | vrtah sa bharta bhagavan hi purva tam rajaputram bhuvi samvicintya || 53 || dadasva mam natha tapasvine'smai gunopapannaya samihitaya | nehanya kamam pravadanti santo datum tathanyasya vibho ksamasva || 54 || V. 22,
Jan., 1970] THE STORY OF SAMVARANA AND TAPATI 25 Prince Samvarana visited the hermitage of Vasistha and saw there the maiden whom he had seen before. "Who is the maiden ?" he asked the sage who replied: "She is Tapati the daughter of the Sun-god. I requested the Sun-god to offer her to you. He has consented and I have brought her here to my hermitage. Now take her hand in marriage according to proper rites". 19 [ Note 7 - According to the Mb, the lovers know the identity of each other: Samvarana knows that his beloved is Tapati the daughter of the Sun-god; Tapati knows that her lover is king Samvarana. Again, according to the Mb., Vasistha visits the world of the Sun with the knowledge of Samvarana, who remains waiting for his return, practising in the meanwhile, penance to propitiate the Sun.-In the V., on the other hand, the lovers do not know the identity of each other. Samvarana does not appear to know that Vasistha has gone away to visit the Sun. He is, therefore, pleasantly surprised to see the maiden, with whom he had fallen in love at first sight, now confronting him at the hermitage of Vasistha. Tapati, also, while leaving her father's home to accompany Vasistha, does not appear to know as to whom she is to be given away in marriage. Fearing that she might be betrothed to one different from the prince with whom she had fallen in love, Tapati makes bold to describe to Vasistha the characteristics which distinguish the prince on whom she had set her heart. Vasistha assures her that she would be married to none else than the prince of her choice and that the prince would soon meet her in his hermitage. 19. ityevamuktah savitusca putrya rsistada dhyanaparo babhuva | 4 jnatva ca tatrarkasutam sakamam muda sa eva putri nrpatestanujo drstah pura prathajagama yuto vakyamidam jagada || 55 || kamayase yamadya sa eva cayati mamasramam vai rksatmajah samvarano hi namna || 56 sa nrpasya putrastamasramam brahmanapumgavasya | drstva vasistham pranipatya murdhna sthitastvapasyattapatim narendrah || 57 || drstva ca tam padmavisalanetram tam purvadrstamiti cintayitva | papraccha keyam lalana dvijendra sa varunih praha naradhipendram || 58 || iyam vivasvaduhita narendra namna prasiddha tapati prthivyam | maya tavarthaya divakaro'rthitah pradanmaya tvasramamananinye || 59 || tasmat samuttistha narendra devyah pani tapatya vidhivad grhana || 60 || V. 22
26 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XII, No. 1 The passage in V. in which Tapati describes the characteristics of the prince of her heart is an outstanding one and has been quoted above in extenso. The passage is marked by high literary merit and by the characteristics of highly elegant, artificial, sophisticated, classical Sanskrit Poetry, which are rarely met with in old Epic and Puranic Literature. Attention may be drawn, in this connection, to the following two passages in the Mb. which are faintly reminiscent of the style of Tapati's description of her lover in V.: (i) Mb. 4.8.10 & 12 in which Sudesna, the queen of Virata describes Draupadi who has approached her in the disguise of a Sairandhri.20 (ii) Mb. 5.114.2 in which king Haryasva describes Madhavi, the daughter of Yayati, who has been offered to him as his bride by Narada. 21 The phrases in these two passages which are similar to those in Tapati's description in V, are underlined in the quotations below, in order to highlight their similarity. It must be pointed out that the description in the above two passages in the Mb. is in respect of feminine beauty, while that in V. is in respect of masculine beauty. The interpretation of cryptic phrases in V. in the description of her lover by Tapati has been taken over from the Hindi translation of the passages as found in the Hindi Translation of V. published by the Kashiraj Trust, Varanasi]. VIII. Samvarana's marriage with Tapati Mb. 1.163. 9-14 (The Gandharva continues the story) Through propitiating the Sun-god and through the prowess of Vasistha, Samvarana got Tapati as his bride. In that very mountain, where he had been practising penance, Samvarana got married with Tapati, according to scriptural rites. With the 20, gudhagulpha samhatoru strigambhira sadunnata | rakta pamcasu raktesu hamsagadgadabhasini || 10 svaralapaksmanayana bimbosthi tanumadhyama | kambugriva gudhasira purva candranibhanana | 12 --Mb., 4.8 21. unnatesunnata satsu suksma suksmesu saptasu | gambhira trisu gambhiresviyam rakta ca pancasu || -- Mb., 5.114.2
Jan., 1970] THE STORY OF SAMVARANA AND TAPATI 27 consent of Vasistha, he decided to take a holiday from his kingly duties and enjoy pleasures in the company of his wife. He spent twelve years away from his kingdom in the company of his wife, in the forests and beside the lakes and rivers of the mountain. 22 V. 22.60cd-61 (Lord Vasudeva continues the story) As asked by Vasistha, King Samvarana gladly married Tapati according to proper rites. Getting the king, as illustrious as Indra, as her husband, Tapati passed happy days in his company in the best palaces. 23 [ Note 8 - According to the Mb., Samvarana after his marriage left his kingly duties for twelve years and lived away from his capital in the forests and the mountains, enjoying the company of his wife. In the V., however, there is no mention of Samvarana having left the capital after his marriage]. IX. Samvarana's Kingdom visited by calamities during his absence from the capital. Samvarana's return to the capital Mb. 1.163. 15-21 (The Gandharva continues the story) In the twelve years' absence of the king from his kingdom, there were no rains as a result of which, his territory was hit by 22. tapasaradhya varadam devam gopatimisvaram | lebhe samvarano bharyam vasisthasyaiva tejasa || 9 tatastasmingirisresthe devagandharvasevite | jagraha vidhivatpani tapatyah sa nararsabhah || 10 vasisthenabhyanujnatastasminneva dharadhare | so'kamayata rajarsirvihartum saha bharyaya | 11 tato dvadasa varsani kananesu jalesu ca | reme tasmingirau raja tayaiva saha bharyaya | 14 --Mb. 1.163 23. ityevamukto nrpatih prahrsto jagraha pani vidhivat tapatyah | sa tam pati prapya mano'bhiramam | suryatmaja sakrasamaprabhavam | rarama tanvi bhavanottamesu yatha mahendram divi daityakanya || -- V. 22. 60-61
28 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XII, No. 1 famine and consequent devastation. Vasistha, then, approached the king and brought him back with Tapati to the capital. The King's return brought the rains to the territory. The subjects were delighted. The king, with his queen, performed a sacrifice lasting for twelve years. 24 Mb. 1.89. 31-41 During the reign of Samvarana, his subjects were attacked by drought, famine, disease and death. Samvarana himself was attacked by the king Pancalya and had to flee from his kingdom and seek shelter in the forests on the banks of the Sindhu. There he was approached by Vasistha. The king requested the sage to be their Purohita. Vasistha agreed and through his help, Samvarana was reinstated in his kingdom. 25 24. tasya rajnah pure tasmin sama dvadasa sarvasah | navavarsa sahasrakso rastre caivasya sarvasah || 15 tatksudharte niranandah savabhutaistada narah | srabhavatpretarajasya puram pretairivavrtam || 16 tatastattadrsam drstva sa eva bhagavanrsih | abhyapadyata dharmatma vasistho rajasattamam || 17 tam ca parthivasardulamanayamasa tatpuram | tapatya sahitam rajanmusitam sasvatih samah || 18 pravrstastatrasidyathapurva surariha | tasminnrpatisardule praviste nagaram punah || 19 tato dvadasa varsani punarije naradhipah | patnya tapatya sahito yatha sakro marutpatih || 21 25. aksa samvarane rajan prasasati vasumdharam | tatah -- Mb. 1.163 samksayah sumahanasit prajanamiti susrumah || 31 || vyasiryata tato rastram ksayairnanavidhaistatha | ksanmrtyubhyamanavrstya vyadhibhisca samahatam || 32 || abhyayattam ca pancalyo vijitya tarasa mahim | raja samvaranastasmatpalayata mahabhayat || 34 || sindhornadasya mahato nikunje nyavasattada | athasyagacchad bharatan vasistho bhagavanrsih || 36 || tam samamastrabhistam raja va े svayam tada | purohito bhavanno'stu rajyaya prayatamahe || 38 || omityena vasistho'pi bharatanpratyapadyata | tatah sa prthivim prapya punarije mahabalah || 41 || M. 1.89.
Jan., 1970] THE STORY OF SAMVARANA AND TAPATI V. (There is no mention of drought or any calamity like invasion in V.). 29 [Note 9. In the Mb, there are two passages which refer to the calamities befalling the kingdom of Samvarana: In 1. 163. 15-21 the calamities are attributed to the absence of the king; in 1. 89. 31-41, there is the additional calamity of the enemy's invasion. In the V., there is absolutely no mention of the calamity.] X. The birth of Kuru Mb. 1. 163. 22-23 (The Gandharva rounds off his story) Samvarana, afterwards, begot a son named Kuru by his queen Tapati. That is why Arjuna, who is descended from Kuru, is called Tapatya.26 V. 23. 1-16. (Lord Vasudeva concludes the story by pointing out how Kuru came to be the founder of Kuruksetra). The son begot by King Samvarana through Tapati grew up, passing through the sacred ceremonies such as Jatakarman, Vratabandhana which were performed on him. He was named as Kuru, the best of men. He was married to a maiden named Saudamini. When he was installed as king by his father, he travelled far and wide. Once he entered the Dvaitavana where he saw the river Sarasvati. He bathed in the river and travelled towards the sacred place called Samantapancaka. He tilled it and it was called after him the Kuruksetra. 27 26. tasyam samjanayamasa kurum samvarano nrpah | tapatyam tapatam srestha tapatyastvam tato'rjuna || Mb. 1, 153-23 27. tasyam tapatyam narasattamena jatah sutah parthivalaksanastu | sa jatakarmadibhireva samskrto vivarddhatajyena huto yathagnih || 1 || khyatah prthivyam purusottamo'sau namna kuruh samvaranasya putrah || 3 || saudamini sudamnastu sutam rupadhikam nrpah | kurorarthaya vrtavan- || 5 || tato rajye'bhisiktastu kuruh pitra nije pade | palayamasa sa mahim putravacca svayam prajah || 8 || vicacara mahim sarvam kirtyartham tu naradhipah || 11 ||
30 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XII, No. 1 [Note 10-It will be noticed that the end with which the story is rounded off in the versions of Mb and V. is quite in consonance with the occasion which occassioned the beginning of the story. In the Mb, the story is told in order to demonstrate why Arjuna is called Tapatya; in the V., in order to bring out the origin and significance of Kuruksetra. It may be considered relevant in this context to refer to some other passages alluding to Samvarna and Tapati. (i) The Mb. 1.20. 40 refers to Kuru as born of Samvarana and Tapati. 28 (ii-iii) The Bhagavatapurana in two places 29 refers to Samvarana and Tapati, one of them alluding to their son Kuru as Kuruksetrapati] General RemarksAbove are given, in a summarised form, the two versions of the Tapati-Samvarana story with their comparative study of the main stages through which the story develops. The points of similarity and difference and other special features as revealed by the versions at each stage are already briefly pointed out in the notes tato dvaitavanam nama punyam lokesvaro bali | tadasadya susamtusto vivesabhyantaram tatah || 12 || tatra devim dadarsatha punyam papavimocanim | plaksajam brahmagah putrim harijihvam sarasvatim || 13 || tasyastajalamiksyaiva snatva prito'bhavannupah | samajagama ca punah brahmago vedimuttaram || 15 || samantapancakam nama dharmasthanamanuttamam | srasamantadyojanani panca panca ca sarvatah || 16 || tamamanyata rajarsiridam ksetram mahaphalam | karisyami krsisyami sarvankaman yathepsitan || 21 || 28. samvaranah khalu vaivasvatim tapatim namopayeme | 29. yo'jamidhasuto hyanyah rksah samvaranastatah | tapatyam suryakanyayam kuruksetrapatih kuruh || -- V. 23. tasyamasya jajne kuruh | Mb. 1. 90.40 Bhagavata 9. 22. 4 (Nirnayasagara edn.) ( vivasvat had a daughter named tapati ) kanyam ca tapatim ya vai vana samvaranam patim | Bhagavata 6. 6. 41 (Nirnayasagara).
Jan., 1970] THE STORY OF SAMVARANA AND TAPATI 31: appended above at the end of each section. It would be now interesting and instructive to state tentatively the general conclusions which appear to flow from this comparative study. (i) The version of the story of Samvarana and Tapati as told in the Mb is more detailed and realistic than that in the V and breathes a human atmosphere. The description of the scene in which the lovers confront each other, their mutual avowal of love, their knowledge of each other's identity, Tapati's confession of her inability to enter into marriage with her lover on her own responsibility without the previous consent of her father, Samvarana's passionate attachment to his beloved leading him to take a holiday from his kingly duties in order to enjoy a honeymoon in her company-all these features in the version of the Mb story appear to be natural and human. In the V., on the other hand, the scene in which the lovers meet is supernatural; the absence of knowledge of each other's identity appears to be, though dramatic, rather unnatural, smacking of mysterious romance. (ii) In the Mb version, King Samvarana is shown to be a devotee and a worshipper of the Sun-god. In the V., he is depicted as the devotee of Bhagavan Vasudeva. (iii) In the Mb version, the king, though in a lovelorn condition, is depicted as possessing initiative befitting a capable monarch that he is. He is already a devotee of the Sun-god. He knows that his beloved is the daughter of the Sun. He therefore, undertakes austere penance to propitiate the Sun-god and seeks collaboration of Vasistha to gain his objective. In the V. version, however, he is shown as utterly lacking initiative. He has no knowledge of the identity and the whereabout of his beloved. His will appears to be completely paralysed and he is shown to be completely at the mercy of his all powerful Purohita Vasistha. (iv) The mention in the Mb version, (unlike the V. version) of calamitous conditions befalling the territory of Samvarana in his absence from his capital appears more natural and is in keeping with the superstitions of those times according to which the presence of the dutiful King and queen in the capital was supposed as one of the important causes leading to fertilising rains and the consequent plenty and prosperity in the kingdom.
32 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XII, No. 1 (v) The highly poetical, sophisticated description in V. version, by Tapati of the physical characteristics of her handsome lover strikes one as a highly rhetorical piece rarely found in early Sanskrit epic and Puranic literature. The passages in the Mb, slightly similar to this passage in V., as quoted in Note 7 above, describe The author of the the physical characteristics of women. particular passage in the V. version of the Tapati Samvarana story has made, it appears, a bold departure in extending such rhetorical description to the physical characteristics of men. (vi) The consideration of the above-mentioned points, based on the comparative study of the versions of the Tapati-Samvarana story as they appear in the Mb and V, leads one to conclude that the version of the story in the Mb may be older than that in the V. The author of the version of the story in the V. must have worked up and retold the story according to his romantic temperament and that of his listeners (or readers), making it into a high romance cast in unearthly and supernatural setting. The meeting of Samvarana and Tapati in the heavenly garden in the of celestial damsels, the mystery of keeping their identity company unrevealed to the last, the elimination of the earthly calamitous conditions befalling Samvarana's kingdom, the all powerful role of Purohita Vasistha before whom the king pales into insignificance, the description by Tapati of the physical characteristics of her lover almost bordering on the superhuman-all these features of the version of the story in the V. point to the above plausible conclusion. The most important point which appears common to Mb and V versions and which seems to have been made use of by the author of the V version is that the Prince Samvarana was struck by the dart of love 30. 30.: which appears in both the versions Mb. 1-160- 32 and V. 22-34.