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.
यद्येवैष्यति सायाह्ने यदि प्रातरथो निशि। यद्यर्धरात्रे भगवान्न मे कोपं करिष्यति
Whether he comes in the evening, or in the morning, or at night, or at midnight, the venerable one will not provoke my anger.
लाभो ममैष राजेन्द्र यद्वैपूजयितुं द्विजान्। आदेशे तव तिष्ठन्ती हितं कुर्यां नरोत्तम
O king, it is my gain to worship Brahmins; remaining under your command, I shall do what is beneficial, O best among men.
विस्रब्धो भवराजेन्द्र न व्यलीकं द्विजोत्तमः। वसन्प्राप्स्यति ते गेहे सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
Be confident, O king; the foremost Brahmin will not commit any wrong; dwelling in your house, he will obtain what is true—this I tell you sincerely.
यत्प्रियं च द्विजस्यास्य हितं चैव तवानघ। यतिष्यामि तथा राजन्व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः
Whatever is pleasing to this Brahmin and beneficial to you, O blameless one, I shall strive to do; let your mind be free from anxiety, O king.
ब्राह्मणा हि महाभागाः पूजिताः पृथिवीपते। तारणाय समर्थाः स्युर्विपरीते वधाय च
For Brahmins, O lord of the earth, when honored, are capable of granting deliverance; but if neglected, they can bring destruction.
रसाऽहमेतद्विजानन्ती तोषयिष्ये द्विजोत्तमम्। न मत्कृतेव्यथां राजन्प्राप्स्यसि द्विजसत्तमात्
Knowing this, O king, I shall satisfy the foremost Brahmin; you will not suffer any distress from the best of Brahmins on my account.
अपराधेऽपि राजेन्द्र राज्ञामश्रेयसे द्विजाः। भवन्ति च्यवनो यद्वत्सुकन्यायाः कृते पुरा
Even when wronged, O king, Brahmins bring misfortune to kings, as Cyavana did for Sukanya in ancient times.
नियमेन परेणाहमुपस्थास्ये द्विजोत्तमम्। यथा त्वया नरेन्द्रेदं भापितं ब्राह्मणं प्रति
With utmost discipline, I shall attend upon the foremost Brahmin, just as you, O king, have desired regarding the Brahmin.
एवं ब्रुवन्तीं बहुशः परिष्वज्य समर्थ्य च। इतिचेति च क्रतव्यं राजा सर्वमथादिशत्
Thus, as she spoke repeatedly, embracing and approving her, the king ordered everything to be done as she said.
एवमेतत्त्वया भद्रे कर्तव्यमविशङ्कया। मद्धितार्थं तथाऽऽत्मार्थंकुलार्थं चाप्यनिन्दिते
So it must be done by you, O noble lady, without hesitation—for my benefit, for your own, and for the welfare of the lineage, O blameless one.