रूपेण वयसा चैव भदनेन मदेन च। बभञ्ज वनवृक्षाणां शाखाः परमपुष्पिताः
With her beauty, youth, charm, and pride, she broke the branches of the forest trees, which were in full bloom.
तां सखीरहितामेकामेकवस्त्रामलंकृताम्। ददर्श भार्गवो धमांश्चरन्तीमिव विद्युतम्
The descendant of Bhrigu saw her alone, separated from her companions, adorned with a single garment, moving like a flash of lightning.
तां पश्यमानो विजने स रेमे परमद्युतिः। क्षामकण्ठश्च विप्रर्षिस्तपोबलसमन्वितः। तामाबभाषेकल्याणीं सा चास्य न शृणोति वै
Observing her in that solitary place, the ascetic of great splendor, thin-necked and endowed with the power of austerity, spoke to the auspicious girl, but she did not hear him.
ततः सुकन्या वल्मीके दृष्ट्वा भार्गवचक्षुषी। कौतूहलात्कण्टकेन बुद्धिमोहबलात्कृता। किंनु खल्विदमित्युक्त्वा निर्बिभेदास्य लोचने
Then Sukanya, seeing the Bhrigu descendant within the anthill, driven by curiosity and the force of bewilderment, said, 'What is this?' and pierced his eyes with a thorn.
अक्रुद्ध्यत्स तथा विद्धे नेत्रे परममन्युमान्। ततः शर्यातिसैन्यस्य शकृन्मूत्रे समावृणोत्
Though pierced thus in the eyes, he did not become angry, but full of wrath, he blocked the excretion and urine of Sharyati's army.
ततो रुद्धे शकृन्मूत्रे सैन्यमासीत्सुदुःखितम्। तथागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य पर्यपृच्छत्स पार्थिवः
With their excretion and urine obstructed, the army became greatly distressed; seeing this situation, the king inquired.
तपोनित्यस्य वृद्धस्य रोषणस्य विशेषतः। केनापकृतमद्येह भार्गवस्य महात्मनः। ज्ञातं वा यदि वाऽज्ञातं तद्द्रुतं ब्रूत माचिरम्
Who has offended the great-souled Bhrigu descendant, who is always devoted to austerity and especially prone to anger, whether knowingly or unknowingly? Tell me quickly and without delay.
तमूचुः सैनिकाः सर्वे न विद्मोऽपकृतं वयम्। सर्वोपायैर्यथाकामं भवांस्तदधिगच्छतु
All the soldiers replied, 'We do not know who has caused the offense. Let your Majesty discover it by any means you desire.'
ततः स पृथिवीपालः साम्ना चोग्रेण च स्वयम्। पर्यपृच्छत्सुहृद्वर्गं पर्यजानन्न चैव ते
Then the ruler of the earth himself questioned his circle of friends gently and harshly, but they did not know either.
आनाहार्तं ततो दृष्ट्वा तत्सैन्यमनुखार्दितम्। पितरं दुःखितं दृष्ट्वा सुकन्येदमथाब्रवीत्
Seeing the army suffering from constipation and his father distressed, Sukanya then spoke these words.
मयाऽटन्त्येह वल्मीके दृष्टं सत्वमभिज्वलत्। खद्योतवदभिज्ञातं तन्मया विद्धमन्तिकात्
While I was wandering here near the anthill, I saw a radiant being, shining like a firefly, and I recognized it and struck it from close by.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वल्मीकं शर्यातिस्तूर्णमभ्ययात्। तत्रापशय्त्तपोवृद्धं चन्द्रादित्यसमप्रभम्
Hearing this, Sharyati quickly approached the anthill and there saw a sage, advanced in austerity, shining with the brilliance of the moon and sun.
अयाचदथ सैन्यार्थं प्राञ्जलिः पृथिवीपतिः। अज्ञानाद्बालया यत्ते कृतं तत्क्षन्तुमर्हसि
With joined palms, the king asked for forgiveness and for the sage's support in battle, saying, 'What my daughter did was out of ignorance and childishness; you ought to forgive it.'
ततोऽब्रवीन्महीपालं च्यवनो भार्गवस्तदा। अपमानादहं विद्धो ह्यनया दर्पपूर्णया
Then Cyavana, the descendant of Bhrigu, said to the king, 'I have been insulted by this girl, filled with pride.'
रूपौदार्यसमायुक्तां लोभमोहबलात्कृताम्। तामेव प्रतिगृह्याहं राजन्दुहितरं तव। क्षंस्यामीति महीपाल सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
She is endowed with beauty and nobility, but acted out of greed and delusion; therefore, O king, I will accept your daughter herself, and by doing so, I will forgive her—this is the truth I speak to you.
ऋषेर्वचनमाज्ञाय शर्यातिरविचारयन्। ददौ दुहितरं तस्मै च्यवनाय महात्मने
Hearing the sage's words, Sharyati, without hesitation, gave his daughter to the great-souled Cyavana.
प्रतिगृह्य च तां कन्यां भगवान्प्रससाद ह। प्राप्तप्रसादौ राजा वै ससैन्यः पुरमाव्रजत्
And having accepted the maiden, the venerable sage was appeased; the king, now at peace, returned to his city with his army.
सुकन्याऽपि पतिं लब्ध्वा तपस्विनमनिन्दिता। नित्यं पर्यचरत्प्रीत्या तपसा नियमेन च
Sukanya, faultless, having gained her ascetic husband, served him always with devotion, austerity, and discipline.
अग्नीनामतीथीनां च शुश्रूषुनसूयिका। समाराधयत क्षिप्रं च्यवनं सा शुभानना
Eager to serve the sacred fires and guests, free from jealousy, that beautiful-faced woman quickly pleased Cyavana.
कस्य चित्त्वथ कालस्य त्रिदशावश्विनौ नृप। कृताभिषेकां विवृतां सुकन्यां तामपश्यताम्
After some time, O king, the two Ashvins, lords among the gods, saw Sukanya, adorned and radiant, moving about.
तां दृष्ट्वा दर्शनीयाङ्गीं देवराजसुतामिव। ऊचतुः समभिद्रुत्य नासत्यावश्विनाविदम्
Seeing her, whose limbs were lovely, like the daughter of the king of gods, the Ashvins approached her and spoke these words:
कस्य त्वमसि वामोरु वनेऽस्मिन्किं करोषि च। इच्छाव भद्रे ज्ञातुं त्वां तत्वमाख्याहि शोभने
'Who are you, slender-thighed one, and what are you doing in this forest? We wish to know the truth about you, O beautiful one—tell us, lovely lady.'
ततः सुकन्या संवीता तावुवाच सुरोत्तमौ। शर्यातितनयां वित्तं भार्यां मां च्यवनस्य च
Then Sukanya, modestly veiled, spoke to those two divine ones: 'Know me as the daughter of Sharyati and the wife of Cyavana.'
नाम्ना चाहं सुकन्येति नृलोकेऽस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठिता। साऽहंसर्वात्मना नित्यं भर्तारमनुवर्तिनी
'By name I am Sukanya, renowned in this world of men; I am ever devoted to my husband with all my heart.'
अथाश्विनौ प्रहस्यैतामब्रूतां पुनरेव तु। कथं त्वमसि कल्याणि पित्रा दत्ताऽऽगता वने
Then the Ashvins, smiling, again spoke to her: 'How is it, blessed one, that you, given by your father, have come to dwell in the forest?'
भ्राजसेऽस्मिन्वने भीरु विद्युत्सौदामनी यथा। न देवेष्वपि तुल्यां हि त्वया पश्याव भामिनि
'You shine in this forest, timid one, like a flash of lightning; even among the gods we see none equal to you, O beautiful lady.'
अनाभरणसंपन्ना परमाम्बरवर्जिता। शोभयस्यधिकं भद्रे वनमप्यनलंकृता
'Though you are without ornaments and dressed in simple garments, you enhance the forest all the more, O gentle one, even unadorned.'
सर्वाभरणसंपनना परमाम्वरधारिणी। शोभेथास्त्वनवद्याङ्गि न त्वेवं मलपङ्किनी
'Adorned with all ornaments and wearing the finest garments, you would shine, flawless one, but not so, covered in dust and dirt.'
कस्मादेवंविधा भूत्वा जराजर्जरितं पतिम्। त्वमुपास्से ह कल्याणि कामभोगबहिष्कृतम्
Why, having such a form, do you serve as your husband this old man, worn down by age, O fortunate one, who is deprived of all pleasures of desire?
असमर्थं परित्राणे पोषणे तु शुचिस्मिते। सा त्वं च्यवनमुत्सृज्यवरयस्वैकमावयोः
He is unable to protect or provide for you, O pure-smiling one; so abandon Cyavana and choose one of us as your husband.