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.
पत्यर्थं देवगर्भाभे मा वृथा यौवनं कृथाः। एवमुक्ता सुकन्याऽपि सुरौ ताविदमब्रवीत्
Do not waste your youth, which is like that of a goddess, for the sake of a husband; thus addressed, Sukanya spoke these words to the two gods.
रताऽहं च्यवने पत्यौ मैवं मां पर्यशङ्कतम्। तावब्रूतां पुनस्त्वेनामावां देवभिषग्वरौ
I am devoted to my husband Cyavana; do not suspect me in this way; the two then again spoke to her, saying, 'We are the divine physicians.'
युवानं रूपसंपन्नं करिष्यावः पतिं तव। ततस्तस्यावयोश्चैव वृणीष्वान्यतमं पतिम्। एतेन समयेनैनमामन्त्रय पतिं शुभे
We will make your husband young and endowed with beauty; then, among the three of us, choose whichever one you wish as your husband; with this agreement, address your husband, O auspicious one.
सा तयोर्वचनाद्राजन्नुपसंगम्य भार्गवम्। उवाच वाक्यं यत्ताभ्यामुक्तं भृगुसुतं प्रति
Then, by their words, O king, she approached the Bhargava and spoke to the son of Bhrigu what had been said by them.
तच्छ्रुत्वा च्यवनो भार्यामुवाच क्रियतामिति। `सा भर्त्रा समनुज्ञाता क्रियतामित्यथाब्रवीत्
Hearing this, Cyavana said to his wife, 'Let it be done'; thus permitted by her husband, she said, 'Let it be done.'
श्रुत्वा तदश्विनौ वाक्यं तस्यास्तत्क्रियतामिति'। ऊचतू राजपुत्रीं तां पतिस्तव विशत्वपः
Hearing her words, the two Ashvins said, 'Let it be done'; they told the princess, 'Let your husband enter the water.'
ततोऽम्भश्च्यवनः शीघ्रं रूपार्थी प्रविवेश ह। अश्विनावपि तद्राजन्सरः प्राविशतां तदा
Then Cyavana, desiring beauty, quickly entered the water; and the two Ashvins, O king, also entered that lake at that time.
ततो मुहूर्तादुत्तीर्णाः सर्वे ते सरसस्त्रयः। दिव्यरूपधराः सर्वे युवानो मृष्टकुण्डलाः। तुल्यवेषधराश्चैव मनसः प्रीतिवर्धनाः
Then, after a moment, all three emerged from the lake, bearing divine forms, all young, adorned with shining earrings, dressed alike, and increasing delight in the heart.
तेऽब्रुवन्सहिताः सर्वे वृणीष्वान्यतमं शुभे। अस्माकमीप्सितं भद्रे पतित्वे वरवर्णिनि
All of them together said, 'Choose whichever one you wish, O auspicious one; it is our desire, O beautiful one, that you select one of us as your husband.'
त्वमश्विनोरन्यतरं च्यवनं वा यशस्विनि'। यत्र वाऽप्यभिकामाऽसि तं वृणीष्व सुशोभने
You may choose either one of the Ashvins or Cyavana, O illustrious lady; select whomever you desire, O beautiful one.
सा समीक्ष्य तु तान्सर्वांस्तुल्यरूपधरान्स्थितान्। निश्चित्य मनसा बुद्ध्या देवी वव्रे स्वकं पतिम्
She looked at them all, standing there with identical forms, and, deciding in her mind and with her intellect, the lady chose her own husband.
लब्ध्वा तु च्यवनो भार्यांवयोरूपं च वाञ्छितम्। हृष्टोऽब्रवीन्महातेजास्तौ नासत्याविदं वचः
Having regained his wife and the form he desired, Cyavana, radiant with great energy, joyfully spoke these words to the two Nasatyas.
यथाऽहं रूपसंपन्नो वयसा च समन्वितः। कृतो भवद्भ्यां वृद्धः सन्भार्यां च प्राप्तवानिमाम्
As I have been made endowed with beauty and youth by you, though I was old, and have obtained this wife,
तस्माद्युवां करिष्यामि प्रीत्याऽहं सोमपीथिनौ। मिषतो देवराजस्य सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वाम्
Therefore, out of affection, I will make you both drinkers of Soma, even in the presence of the king of the gods; I speak this truth to you.
तच्छ्रुत्वा हृष्टमनसौ दिवं तौ प्रतिजग्मतुः। च्यवनश्च सुकन्या च सुराविव विजह्रतुः
Hearing this, their hearts filled with joy, the two ascended to heaven; and Cyavana and Sukanya enjoyed themselves like the gods.
ततः श्रुत्वा तु शर्यातिर्वयस्थं च्यवनं कृतम्। सुहृष्टः सेनया सार्धमुपायाद्भार्गवाश्रमम्
Then, hearing that Cyavana had been made young again, Sharyati, delighted, came with his army to the hermitage of the Bhargava.
च्यवनं च सुकन्यां च दृष्ट्वा देवसुताविव। रेमे सभार्यः शर्यातिः कृत्स्नां प्राप्य महीमिव
Seeing Cyavana and Sukanya, like children of the gods, Sharyati rejoiced with his wife, as if he had gained the whole earth.
ऋषिणा सत्कृतस्तेन सभार्यः पृथिवीपतिः। उपोपविष्टः कल्याणीः कथाश्चक्रे मनोरमाः
Honored by the sage, the king with his wife sat down and engaged in delightful and auspicious conversations.
अथैनं भार्गवो राजन्नुवाच परिसान्त्वयन्। याजयिष्यामि राजंस्त्वां संभारानुपकल्पय
Then, O King, the descendant of Bhrigu gently addressed him: 'I will have you perform a sacrifice, O King; prepare the necessary materials.'
ततः परमसंहृष्टः शर्यातिरवनीपतिः। च्यवनस्य महाराज तद्वाक्यं प्रत्यपूजयत्
Then, exceedingly delighted, King Sharyati respectfully accepted the words of Cyavana, O great king.