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अष्टावक्रदिक्संवाद (aSTAvakradiksaMvAda)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Ashṭāvakra-Dik-saṃvāda(ḥ)]
(“discourse between Ashṭāvakra and the goddess of the North”). § 731b (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 19 ff.: Bhīshma said: In days of yore Ashṭāvakra (of severe penances) asked Ṛ. Vadānya for his beautiful daughter Suprabhā. Vadānya first caused him to make a journey to the North, indicating the road: (1) Himavat (peopled by Si. and Cā.)
(2) the sacred river Bāhudā, where he bathed in one of the tīrthas, etc. (description), and worshipped Rudra and Umā
(3) Kailāsa, where he saw a golden gate, etc. (), and was honoured by Kubera among Y. (with Maṇibhadra), G., and K., and where Aps. () danced
there he remained a celestial year
(4) having crossed Kailāsa and Mandara as also the golden mountains, he came to the region where Mahādeva resides attired as an ascetic, Pārshadas of which are frolicsome and fond of dance and possessed of faces of diverse forms, which was peopled by Si., Cā., and Pc., where Umā had practised austerities for the sake of [obtaining]
Śiva
where, in days of yore, on the Mahāpārśva [mountain]
(to the north of the god) the Seasons, etc. (), in their material forms had adored Mahādeva
(5) a beautiful forest (description), where the river Mandākinī was seen, with an old and decrepit female ascetic (with many beautiful maidens), who in vain tempted him with love (XIII, 19), at last appearing in a beautiful form (XIII, 20). She turned out to be the goddess of the North (Uttarāṃ diśaṃ), who, having been gratified by Ṛ. Vadānya, had devised this trial and now instructed him, showing him the levity of women, even when aged
“thou hast subjugated all the worlds by thy strength of mind
thy journey back will not be irksome thou wilt obtain the wife thou hast chosen
she will bear thee a son.” Ashṭāvakra came back to his own abode, and then to Vadānya, who wedded him to the girl. There he continued to dwell joyously in his own hermitage (XIII, 21).