एवमुक्त्वा तु तां कन्यां कुन्तिभोजो महायशाः। पृथां परिददौ तस्मै द्विजाय द्विजवत्सलः
Having spoken thus, the illustrious Kuntibhoja, ever affectionate to Brahmins, gave his daughter Pritha to that Brahmin.
इयं ब्रह्मन्मम सुता बाला सुखविवर्धिता। अपराध्येत यत्किंचिन्न कार्यं हृदि तत्त्वया
O Brahmin, this is my daughter, a young girl, raised in comfort; whatever fault she may commit, let it not be taken to heart by you.
द्विजातयो महाभागा वृद्धबालतपस्विषु। भवन्त्यक्रोधनाः प्रायो ह्यपराद्धेषु नित्यदा
O most fortunate Brahmins, among the old, the young, and the ascetics, you are generally forgiving towards those who err.
सुमहत्यपराधेऽपि क्षान्तिः कार्या द्विजातिभिः। यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं पूजा ग्राह्या द्विजोत्तम
Even in the case of a great offense, forgiveness should be practiced by Brahmins; and as much as possible, with effort, honor should be accepted, O best of Brahmins.
तथेति ब्राह्मणेनोक्ते स राजा प्रीतमानसः। हंसचन्द्रांशुसंकाशं गृहमस्मै न्यवेदयत्
When the Brahmin replied, 'So be it,' the king, his heart pleased, assigned him a residence shining like the moon and swans.
तत्राग्निशरणे क्लृप्तमासनं तस्य भानुमत्। आहारादि च सर्वं तत्तथैव प्रत्यवेदयत्
There, in the fire-sanctuary, a seat was arranged for him, radiant as the sun, and all food and other necessities were provided accordingly.
निक्षिप्य राजपुत्री तु तन्द्रीं मानं तथैव च। आतस्थे परमं यत्नं ब्राह्मणस्याभिराधने
The princess set aside drowsiness and pride, and devoted herself with utmost effort to pleasing the Brahmin.
तत्रसा ब्राह्मणं गत्वा पृथा शौचपरा सती। विधिवत्परिचारार्हं देववत्पर्यतोषयत्
There, Pritha, devoted to purity, approached the Brahmin and served him as was proper, honoring him like a god.
सा तु कन्या महाराज ब्राह्मणं संशितव्रतम्। तोषयामास शुद्धेन मनसा संशितव्रता
O king, that maiden, steadfast in her vows, pleased the Brahmin, who was also firm in his vows, with a pure mind.
प्रातरेष्याम्यथेत्युक्त्वा कदाचिद्द्विजसत्तमः। तत आयाति राजेन्द्र सायं रात्रावथो पुनः
Once, after saying, 'I will depart in the morning,' that best of Brahmins would come again, O king, in the evening, at night, and then again.
तं च सर्वासु वेलासु भक्ष्यभोज्यप्रतिश्रयैः। पूजयामास सा कन्या वर्धमानैस्तु सर्वदा
At all times, she honored him with ever-increasing offerings of food, eatables, and shelter.
अन्नादिसमुदाचारः शय्यासनकृतस्तथा। दिवसेदिवसे तस्य वर्धते न तु हीयते
Her conduct regarding food and other matters, as well as arranging his bed and seat, increased day by day and never diminished.
निर्भर्त्सनापवादैश्च तथैवाप्रियया गिरा। ब्राह्मणस्य पृथा राजन्न चकाराप्रियं तदा
O king, Pritha never did anything displeasing to the Brahmin, neither by rebuke, slander, nor harsh words.
स्वप्नकाले पुनश्चैति न चैति बहुशो द्विजः। सुदुर्लभमपि ह्यन्नं दीयतामिति सोऽब्रवीत्
Sometimes, the Brahmin would come during her sleep, or not come at all; yet he would say, 'Even the most difficult food to obtain should be given.'
कृतमेव च तत्सर्वं यथा तस्मै न्यवेदयत्। शिष्यवत्पुत्रवच्चैव स्वसृवच्च सुसंयता
All that was done exactly as he requested, and she reported it to him, with discipline, as to a teacher, a son, or a sister.
यथोपजोषं राजेन्द्र द्विजातिप्रवरस्य सा। प्रीतिमुत्पादयामास कन्यारत्नमनिन्दिता
O king, that faultless jewel among maidens aroused the satisfaction of the foremost of Brahmins, as much as was pleasing to him.
तस्यास्तु शीलवृत्तेन तुतोप द्विजसत्तमः। अवधानेन भूयोऽस्याः परं यत्नमथाकरोत्
But because of her character and conduct, the best of Brahmins was troubled, and with even greater attention, he made a supreme effort for her.
तां प्रभाते च सायं च पिता पप्रच्छ भारत। अपितुष्यतिते पुत्रि ब्राह्मणः परिचर्यया
Morning and evening, her father asked her, 'Daughter, has the Brahmin been satisfied with your service?'
तं सा परममित्येवप्रत्युवाच यशस्विनी। ततः प्रीतिमवापाग्र्यां कुन्तिभोजो महामनाः
She, illustrious, replied to him, 'So be it, O noble one.' Then Kuntibhoja, of great mind, attained supreme joy.
ततः संवत्सरे पूर्णे यदाऽसौ जपतांवरः। नापश्यद्दुष्कृतंकिंचित्पृथायाः सौहृदे रतः
When a full year had passed, that foremost of reciters, devoted to Pṛthā's friendship, saw no fault in her conduct.
ततः प्रीतमना भूत्वा स एनां ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्। प्रीतोस्मि परमं भद्रे परिचारेण ते शुभे
Then, being pleased at heart, the brāhmaṇa spoke to her: 'O auspicious one, I am supremely pleased by your service, O virtuous lady.'
वरान्वृणीष्व क्रल्याणि दूरापान्मानुपैरिह। यैस्त्वं सीमन्तिनीः सर्वायशसाऽभिमविष्यसि
'Choose boons, O blessed one, difficult to obtain even by mortals, by which you will surpass all noble women in fame.'
कृतानि मम सर्वाणि सस्या मे वेदवित्तम। त्वं प्रसन्नः पिता चैव कृतं विप्र वरैर्मम
'All my needs are fulfilled, O knower of the Veda; you are gracious, and my father as well. O brāhmaṇa, my wishes have been granted.'
यदि नेच्छसि मत्तस्त्वं वरं भद्रे शुचिस्मिते। इमं मन्त्रं गृहाण त्वमाह्रानाय दिवौकसाम्
'If you do not wish for a boon from me, O gentle, pure-smiling one, then receive this mantra from me, for summoning the gods.'
यंयं देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि। तेनतेन वशे भद्रे स्थातव्यं ते भविष्यति
'Whichever god you invoke with this mantra, O blessed one, that very god will come under your control.'
अकामो वा सकामो वा स समेष्यति ते वशे। विबुधो मन्त्रसंभ्रान्तो वाक्यैर्भृत्य इवानतः
'Whether unwilling or willing, he will come under your sway, O blessed one, the god, bewildered by the mantra, like a servant obedient to commands.'
न शशक द्वितीयं सा प्रत्याख्यातुमनिन्दिता। तं वै द्विजातिप्रवरं तदा शापभयान्नृप
She, blameless, could not refuse that foremost of twice-born, O king, out of fear of a curse.
ततस्तामनवद्याङ्गीं ग्राहयामास स द्विजः। मन्त्रग्रामं तदा राजन्नथर्वशिरसि श्रुतम्
Then that brāhmaṇa taught her, flawless in form, the collection of mantras, as heard in the Atharvaśiras, O king.
तं प्रदाय तु राजेन्द्र कुन्तिभोजमुवाच ह। उपितोस्मि सुखं राजन्कन्यया परितोपितः
Having given it, O king, he spoke to Kuntibhoja: 'I have been well served and honored by your daughter.'
तवगेहे सुविहितः सदा सुप्रतिपूजितः। साधयिष्यामहे तावदित्युक्त्वाऽन्तरधीयत
'In your house I have always been well cared for and honored. Now, having accomplished my purpose, I shall depart.' So saying, he vanished.