Ahilyabai Holkar · Sanskrit Story
The Narmada River's Guardian
नर्मदायाः संरक्षिका
Maheshwar city records; temple inscriptions; Holkar dynasty documentation; S.N. Sen accounts · Beginner Sanskrit
Moral · नीतिः
नद्याः च देव्याः च प्रवाहः अनन्तः।
Nadyāḥ ca devyāḥ ca pravāhaḥ anantaḥ.
“The flow of the river and the queen — both are endless.”
The River and the Queen
अहिल्या प्रतिदिनं नर्मदायां स्नाति स्म। सूर्योदयात् पूर्वं — घट्टे — जलमग्नहस्तेन प्रार्थयते। "नर्मदे, त्वं मम माता। मम राज्यं तव आशीर्वादेन। यावत् तव जलं प्रवहति, तावत् मम धर्मः प्रवहतु।" जनाः वदन्ति स्म — "राज्ञी नर्मदायाः पुत्री।"
Ahilya bathed in the Narmada every day. Before sunrise — at the ghat — she prayed with hands submerged in the water. "Narmada, you are my mother. My kingdom stands through your blessing. As long as your waters flow, may my dharma flow." People would say — "The queen is a daughter of the Narmada."
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