कुतश्च कवचं तस्यं कुण्डलेचैव सत्तम। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन
From where did he obtain that armor and those earrings, O best of men? I wish to hear this—tell me, O possessor of austerities.
अहं राजन्ब्रवीम्येतत्तस्य गुह्यं विभावसोः। यादृशे कुण्डले ते च कवचं वैव यादृशम्
O King, I will tell you this secret of the radiant one—what kind of earrings and armor he had.
कुन्तिभोजं पुरा राजन्ब्राह्मणः पर्युपस्थितः। तिग्मतेजा महान्प्रांशुः श्मश्रुदण्डजटाधरः
Once, O King, a Brāhmaṇa of fierce energy, tall, with beard, staff, and matted locks, approached Kuntibhoja.
दर्सनीयोऽनवद्याङ्गस्तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव। मधुपिङ्गो मधुरवाक्तपःस्वाध्यायभूषणः
He was handsome, flawless in limbs, blazing with splendor, tawny as honey, sweet-spoken, and adorned with austerity and study of the Veda.
स राजानं कुन्तिभोजमब्रवीत्सुमहातपाः। भिक्षामिच्छामि वै भोक्तुं तव गेहे विमत्सर
That ascetic addressed King Kuntibhoja: 'I wish to receive alms and partake of food in your house, free from envy.'
न मे व्यलीकं कर्तव्यं त्वया वा तव चानुगैः। एवं वत्स्यामि ते गेहे यदि ते रोचतेऽनघ
You and your attendants must not commit any offense against me; thus I will reside in your house, if it pleases you, O blameless one.
यथाकामं च गच्छेयमागच्छेयं तथैव च। शय्यासने च मे राजन्नापराध्येत कश्चन
I may come and go as I wish, and likewise return; O king, let no one offend me regarding my bed or seat.
तमब्रवीत्कुन्तिभोजः प्रीतियुक्तमिदं वचः। एवमस्तु परंचेति पुनश्चैवमथाब्रवीत्
Kuntibhoja spoke to him these words, filled with affection: 'So be it, and furthermore—' and again he spoke thus.
मम कन्या महाप्राज्ञ पृथा नाम यशस्विनी। शीलवृत्तान्विता साध्वी नियताऽनवमानिनी
O wise one, my daughter is named Pritha, renowned and virtuous; she is endowed with good conduct, devoted, disciplined, and humble.
उपस्थास्यति सा त्वां वै पूजयाऽनवमत्य च। तस्याश्च शीलवृत्तेन तुष्टिं समुपयास्यसि
She will attend to you, showing respect and never slighting you; through her virtue and conduct, you will find satisfaction.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तं विप्रमभिपूज्य यथाविधि। उवाच कन्यामभ्येत्य पृथां पृथुललोचनाम्
Having thus spoken, he honored the Brahmin as prescribed, then approached his daughter Pritha, whose eyes were wide.
अयं वत्से महाभागो ब्राह्मणो वस्तुमिच्छति। मम गेहे मया चास्य तथेत्येवं प्रतिश्रुतम्
'Child, this illustrious Brahmin wishes to dwell in my house, and I have promised him accordingly.'
त्वयि वत्से परायत्तं ब्राह्मणस्याभिराधनम्। तन्मे वाक्यममिथ्या त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि कर्हिचित्
'Child, the Brahmin's satisfaction depends entirely upon you; you must never make my words false.'
अयं तपस्वी भगवान्स्वाध्यायनियतो द्विजः। यद्यद्ब्रूयान्महातेजास्तत्तद्देयमात्सरात्
'This ascetic, venerable and devoted to study, whatever he asks, O mighty one, must be given without envy.'
ब्राह्मणा हि परं तेजो ब्राह्मणा हि परं तपः। ब्राह्मणानां नमस्कारैः सूर्यो दिवि विराजते
'Brahmins possess supreme energy, supreme austerity; by their salutations, the sun shines brightly in the sky.'
अमानयन्हि दाण्डक्यो वातापिश्च महासुरः। निहतो ब्रह्मदण्डेन तालजङ्घस्तथैव च। `वैन्ध्याद्रिश्च समुद्रश्च नद्दुषश्च विहिंसितः
'Indeed, Dandaka, the great demon Vatapi, and Talajangha were slain by the Brahmin's power; likewise, Vaindhya mountain, the ocean, and Nadduṣa were harmed.'
सोयं वत्से महाभार आहितस्त्वयि सांप्रतम्। त्वं सदा नियता कुर्या ब्राह्मणस्याभिराधनम्
'Now, child, this great responsibility has been placed upon you; you must always serve the Brahmin with discipline.'
जानामि प्रणिधानं ते बाल्यात्प्रभृति नन्दिनि। ब्राह्मणेष्विह सर्वेषु गुरुबन्धुषु चैव ह
'I know your devotion from childhood, O Nandini, towards all Brahmins and elders, as well as relatives.'
तथा प्रेष्येषु सर्वेषु मित्रसंबन्धिमातृषु। मयि चैव यथावत्त्वंसर्वमावृत्य वर्तसे
'Likewise, towards all servants, friends, kin, and mothers; you conduct yourself properly with everyone, including me.'
न ह्यतुष्टो जनोऽस्तीह पुरे चान्तःपुरे च ते। सम्यग्वृत्त्याऽनवद्याङ्गि तव भृत्यजनेष्वपि
'There is no one dissatisfied here, neither in the city nor in your household, O flawless one, even among your servants, due to your proper conduct.'
संदेष्टव्यां तु मन्ये त्वां द्विजातिं कोपनं प्रति। पृथे बालेति कृत्वा वै सुता चासिममेति च
'I think you should be instructed regarding Brahmins who are prone to anger; Pritha, though still a child, is my daughter and has come to me.'
वृष्णीनां च कुले जाता शूरस् दयिता सुता। दत्ता प्रीतिमता मह्यं पित्रा बाला पुरास्वयम्
'Born in the Vrishni clan, beloved daughter of Shura, she was given to me by my affectionate father, while still a child.'
वसुदेवस् भगिनी सुतानां प्रवरा मम। अग्र्यमग्रे प्रतिज्ञाय तेनासि दुहिता मम
Vasudeva’s sister, foremost among my sons, was pledged to me as the best; thus, you are my daughter.
तादृशे हि कुले जाता कुले मम विवर्धिता। सुखात्सुखमनुप्राप्ता ह्रदाद्ध्रदमिवापगा
Born in such a noble family, raised in my own lineage, you have attained happiness upon happiness, like a river flowing from one lake to another.
दौष्कुलेया विशेषेण कथंचित्प्रग्रहं गताः। बालभावाद्विकुर्वन्ति प्रायशः प्रमदाः शुभे
Women of ignoble families, especially, sometimes go astray; due to childishness, they often act improperly, O auspicious one.
पृथे राजकुले जन्म रूपं चापि तवाद्भुतम्। तेन तेनासि संपन्ना समुपेता च भामिनि
O Pritha, you were born in a royal family, and your beauty is wondrous; thus, you are endowed with excellence and have attained prosperity, O lovely one.
सा त्वं दर्पं परित्यज्य दम्भं मानं च भामिनि। आराध्यवरदं विप्रं श्रेयसा योक्ष्यसे पृथे
Therefore, O beautiful one, abandon pride, deceit, and arrogance; worship the boon-granting Brahmin, and you will attain prosperity, O Pritha.
एवं प्राप्स्यसि कल्याणि कल्याणमनघे ध्रुवम्। कोपिते च द्विजश्रेष्ठे कुत्स्नं दह्येत मे कुलम्
In this way, O virtuous and blameless one, you will surely obtain auspiciousness; but if the best of Brahmins is angered, my entire lineage would be destroyed.
ब्राह्मणं यन्त्रिता राजन्नुपस्थास्यामि पूजया। यथाप्रतिज्ञं राजेन्द्रन च मिथ्या ब्रवीम्यहम्
O king, I will attend upon the Brahmin with reverence, as pledged; and, O lord of kings, I do not speak falsely.
एष चैव स्वभावो मे पूजयेयं द्विजानिति। तव चैव प्रियं कार्यं श्रेयश्च परमं मम
This is indeed my nature: to honor Brahmins; and I shall do what pleases you, for your welfare is my highest aim.