ऋतुकालश्च संप्राप्तो न च मेऽस्ति वृतः पतिः। किं प्राप्तं किं नु कर्तव्यं किं वा कृत्वा सुखं भवेत्
"My season has come, yet I have no chosen husband. What has come to me? What should I do? Or, by doing what might I find happiness?"
देवयानी प्रजाताऽसौ वृथाऽहं प्राप्तयौवना। यथा तया वृतो भर्ता तथैवाहं वृणोमि तम्
"Devayani has borne a child; I have reached youth in vain. As she chose her husband, so too do I choose him."
राज्ञा पुत्रफलं देयमिति मे निश्चिता मतिः। अपीदानीं स धर्मात्मा ईयान्मे दर्शनं रहः
"It is my firm resolve that the king should grant me the fruit of a son; perhaps now that righteous one will come to me in secret."
केशैर्बध्या तु राजानं याचेऽहं सदृशं पतिम्। स्पृहेदिदं देवयानी पुत्रमीक्ष्य पुनःपुनः। क्रीडन्नन्तःपुरे तस्याः क्वचित्क्षणमवाप्य च
"Bound by her hair, I ask the king for a husband equal to myself. Seeing Devayani's son again and again, desire arises in me while he plays in her inner chambers, and sometimes I catch a glimpse."
अथ निष्क्रम्य राजाऽसौ तस्मिन्काले यदृच्छया। अशोकवनिकाभ्याशे शर्मिष्ठां प्राप तिष्ठतीम्
Then, at that time, the king happened to come out and, near the Ashoka grove, found Sharmishtha standing there.
तमेकं रहिते दृष्ट्वा शर्मिष्ठा चारुहासिनी। प्रत्युद्गम्याञ्जलिं कृत्वा राजानं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Seeing him alone in a secluded place, Sharmishtha, with a lovely smile, approached, made an offering with joined palms, and spoke to the king.
सोमस्येन्द्रस्य विष्णोर्वा यमस्य वरुणस्य वा। तव वा नाहुष गृहे कः स्त्रियं द्रष्टुमर्हति
"In the house of Soma, Indra, Vishnu, Yama, Varuna, or yours, O Nahusha, who is worthy to behold a woman?"
रूपाभिजनशीलैर्हि त्वं राजन्वेत्थ मां सदा। सा त्वां याचे प्रसाद्याहमृतुं देहि नराधिप
"By beauty, lineage, and character, O king, you have always known me; therefore, I beseech you, grant me my season, O lord of men."
वेद्मि त्वां शीलसंपन्नां दैत्यकन्यामनिन्दिताम्। रूपं च ते न पश्यामि सूच्यग्रमपि निन्दितम्
"I know you to be endowed with virtue, a blameless daughter of the Daityas; and in your form I do not see even a needle-point of fault."
तदाप्रभृति दृष्ट्वा त्वां स्मराम्यनिशमुत्तमे'। अब्रवीदुशना काव्यो देवयानीं यदाऽवहम्। नेयमाह्वयितव्या ते शयने वार्षपर्वणी
"From that time, having seen you, I remember you always, O excellent one. Ushanas Kavi said to Devayani when I understood: 'This daughter of Vrishaparvan must not be summoned to your bed.'"
देवयान्याः प्रियं कृत्वा शर्मिष्ठामपि पोषय
Having pleased Devayani, also support Sharmishtha.
न नर्मयुक्तमनृतं हिनस्ति न स्त्रीषु राजन्न विवाहकाले। प्राणात्यये सर्वधनापहारे पञ्चानृतान्याहुरपातकानि
A jesting falsehood does not harm, O King, nor at the time of marriage, nor among women; in danger to life, or when all wealth is taken—these five falsehoods are said to be without sin.
पृष्टं तु साक्ष्ये प्रवदन्तमन्यथा वदन्ति मिथ्या पतितं नरेन्द्र। एकार्थतायां तु समाहितायां मिथ्या वदन्तं ह्यनृतं हिनस्ति
But if, when asked as a witness, one speaks otherwise, O King, such a liar is called fallen; yet when the mind is intent on a single purpose, a falsehood does not harm.
अनृतं नानृतं स्त्रीषु परिहासविवाहयोः। आत्मप्राणार्थघाते च तदेवोत्तमतां व्रजेत्
A falsehood is not falsehood among women, in jest or marriage; and in the case of saving one's own life—that alone attains the highest status.
राजा प्रमाणं भूतानां स नश्येत मृषा वदन्। अर्थकृच्छ्रमपि प्राप्य न मिथ्या कर्तुमुत्सहे
The king is the standard for beings; if he speaks falsely, he is destroyed. Even in great hardship, I am not able to act falsely.
समावेतौ मतो राजन्पतिः सख्याश्च यः पतिः। समं विवाहमित्याहुः सख्या मेऽसि वृतः पतिः
When both are assembled, O King, the husband and the friend’s husband, that is called an equal marriage; 'You are chosen as my husband, O friend.'
सह दत्तास्मि काव्येन देवयान्या मनीषिणा। पूज्या पोषयितव्येति न मृषा कर्तुमर्हसि
I was given together with Devayani by the wise Kavya; 'She is to be honored and supported'—you should not act falsely.
सुवर्णमणिमुक्तानि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च। याचितॄणां ददासि त्वं गोभूम्यादीनि यानि च
You give gold, jewels, pearls, garments, and ornaments, and also cows, land, and whatever else is asked for.
बहिःस्थं दानमित्युक्तं न शरीराश्रितं नृप। दुष्करं पुत्रदानं च आत्मदानं च दुष्करम्
It is said that gifts given externally are not attached to the body, O King; to give a son is difficult, and to give oneself is also difficult.
शरीरदानात्तत्सर्वं दत्तं भवति मारिष। यस्य यस्य यथा कामस्तस्य तस्य ददाम्यहम्
By giving one's own body, all is given, O noble one; to each as they desire, I give accordingly.
इत्युक्त्वा नगरे राजंस्त्रिकालं घोषितं त्वया। त्वयोक्तमनृतं राजन्वृथा घोषितमेव वा। तत्सत्यं कुरु राजेन्द्र यथा वैश्रवणस्तथा
Having said this, O King, you proclaimed it in the city three times; what you declared, O King, was not false or vainly proclaimed. Make it true, O King, as Vaisravana does.
दातव्यं याचमानेभ्य इति मे व्रतमाहितम्। त्वं च याचसि मां कामं ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
It is my vow to give to those who ask; and you are asking me—tell me, what shall I do for you?
धनं वा यदि वा किंचिद्राज्यं वाऽपि शुचिस्मिते
Whether it is wealth, or anything else, or even a kingdom, O fair-smiling one—
नान्यं वृणे पुत्रकामा पुत्रात्परतरं न च।' त्वत्तोऽपत्यवती लोके चरेयं धर्ममुत्तमम्
I choose nothing else, desiring a son; nothing is greater than a son. May I, having a child from you, practice the highest dharma in the world.
त्रय एवाधना राजन्भार्या दासस्तथा सुतः। यत्ते समधिगच्छन्ति यस्यैते तस्य तद्धनम्
There are three who are without wealth, O King: a wife, a servant, and a son; whatever they obtain belongs to the one to whom they belong.
पुत्रार्थं भर्तृपोषार्थं स्त्रियः सृष्टाः स्वयंभुवा। अपतिर्वापि या कन्या अनपत्या च या भवेत्। तासां जन्म वृथा लोके गतिस्तासां न विद्यते
Women were created by the Self-born for the sake of sons and the support of husbands; a maiden without a husband, or a woman without a child—their birth is in vain in the world, and they have no destiny.
देवयान्या भुजिष्याऽस्मि वश्या च तव भार्गवी। सा चाहं च त्वया राजन्भजनीये भजस्व माम्
I am the companion of Devayani, and subject to you, O descendant of Bhrigu; both she and I, O King, are to be cherished by you—cherish me.
एवमुक्तस्तु राजा स तथ्यमित्यभिजज्ञिवान्। पूजयामास शर्मिष्ठां धर्मं च प्रत्यपादयत्
Thus addressed, the king recognized it as true, honored Sharmishtha, and established righteousness.
स समागम्य शर्मिष्ठां यथा काममवाप्य च। अन्योन्यं चाभिसंपूज्य जग्मतुस्तौ यथागतम्
He met with Sharmishtha, fulfilled his desire with her, and after honoring each other, the two departed as they had come.
तस्मिन्समागमे सुभ्रूः शर्मिष्ठा चारुहासिनी। लेभे गर्भं प्रथमतस्तस्मान्नृपतिसत्तमात्
In that union, the fair-browed, lovely-smiling Sharmishtha first conceived from that best of kings.