नोत्सहे तु पुनर्गन्तुं स्वजनं प्रति तापसाः । प्रत्याख्याता निरानन्दा साल्वेन च निराकृता
"But I cannot return again to my own people, O ascetics; rejected, joyless, and cast off by Salva as well."
उपदिष्टमिहेच्छामि तापस्यं वीतकल्मषाः । युष्माभिर्देवसंकाशैः कृपा भवतु वो मयि
"I wish to be instructed here in asceticism, O sinless ones; may you, who are like gods, show me compassion."
स तामाश्वासयत्कन्यां दृष्टान्तागमहेतुभिः । सान्त्वयामास कार्यं च प्रतिजज्ञे द्विजैः सह
He comforted the maiden with examples, reasoning, and gentle words, and together with the Brahmins, promised to do what should be done.
ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे कार्यवन्तोऽभवंस्तदा। तां कन्यां चिन्तयन्तस्ते किंकार्यमिति धर्मिणः
Then all those ascetics became intent on action, pondering what should be done for that maiden, in accordance with righteousness.
केचिदाहुः पितुर्वेश्म नीयतामिति तापसाः । केचिदस्यदुमालम्भे मतिं चक्रुर्हि तापसाः
Some of the ascetics said, 'She should be taken to her father's house.' Others among the ascetics considered that she should remain at the hermitage.
केचित्साल्वपतिं गत्वा नियोज्यमिति मेनिरे। नेति केचिद्व्यवस्यन्ति प्रत्याख्याता हि तेन सा
Some thought she should be sent to the king of the Salvas, but others decided against it, since she had been rejected by him.
एवं गते तु किं शक्यं भद्रे कर्तुं मनीषिभिः । पुनरूचुश्च तां सर्वे तापसाः संशितव्रताः
With things having come to this, O gentle one, what can the wise do? Then all the ascetics, firm in their vows, spoke to her again.
अलं प्रव्रजितेनेह भद्रे श्रृणु हितं वचः। इतो गच्छस्व भद्रं ते पितुरेव निवेशनम्
Enough of wandering here, gentle lady; listen to these beneficial words: Go from here, may you fare well, to your father's house.
प्रतिपस्त्यति राजा स पिता ते यदनन्तरम् । तत्र वत्स्यसि कल्याणि सुखं सर्वगुणान्विता
Your father, the king, will accept you immediately; there you will dwell, blessed one, happily and endowed with all virtues.
न च तेऽन्या गतिर्न्याय्या भवेद्भद्रे यथा पिता । पतिर्वापि गतिर्नार्याः पिता वा वरवर्णिनि । गतिः पतिः समस्थाया विषमे च पिता गतिः
No other course is proper for you, gentle lady, than your father; for a woman, her husband or her father is the refuge, O fair one. The husband is the refuge when present, and in adversity, the father is the refuge.
प्रव्रज्या हि सुदुःखेयं सुकुमार्या विशेषतः । राजपुत्र्याः प्रकृत्या चक कुमार्यास्तव भामिनि
Renunciation is indeed very difficult, especially for a delicate woman, and by nature for a princess, O beautiful one, and for you, a maiden.
भद्रे दोषा हि विद्यन्ते बहवो वरवर्णिनि । आश्रमे वै वसन्त्यास्ते न भवेयुः पितुर्गृहे
O gentle lady, there are indeed many faults for a woman of noble appearance living in an ashram; these would not exist in her father's house.
ततस्त्वन्येऽब्रुवन्वाक्यं तापसास्तां तपस्विनीम्
Then other ascetics spoke words to that devoted woman.
त्वामिहैकाकिनीं दृष्ट्वा निर्जने गहने वने। प्रार्थयिष्यन्तिराजानस्तस्मान्मैवं मनः कृथाः
Seeing you alone in this remote, dense forest, kings will desire you; therefore, do not set your mind on this.
न शक्यं काशिनगरं पुनर्गन्तुं पितुर्गृहान्। अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि बान्धवानां न संशयः
It is not possible for me to return to the city of Kashi or to my father's house; I will be despised by my relatives, there is no doubt.
उषितास्मि तथा बाल्ये पितुर्वेश्मनि तापसाः । नाहं गमिष्ये भद्रं वस्तत्र यत्र पिता मम। तपस्तप्तुमभीप्सामि तापसैः परिरक्षिता
I have already lived in my father's house in my childhood, O ascetics; I will not go, may it be well, to where my father is. I wish to practice austerities, protected by the ascetics.
यथा परेऽपि मे लोके न स्यादेवं महात्ययः । दौर्भाग्यं तापसश्रेष्ठास्तस्मात्तप्स्याम्यहं तपः
So that such a great misfortune does not befall me even in another life, O best of ascetics, for this reason I will practice austerities.
इत्येवं तेषु विप्रेषु चिन्तयन्सु यथातथम्। राजर्षिस्तद्वनं प्राप्तस्तपस्वी होत्रवाहनः । `तां तथा भाविनीं दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वा चोद्विग्रमानसः
While the Brahmins were thus thinking in various ways, the royal sage Hotravahana, devoted to austerity, arrived at that forest. Seeing her thus, and hearing her, his mind was troubled.
ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे पूजयन्ति स्म तं नृपम् । पूजाभिः स्वागताद्याभिरासनेनोदकेन च
Then all the ascetics honored that king with offerings of welcome, a seat, and water.
तस्योपविष्टस्य सतो विश्रान्तस्योपश्रृण्वतः। पुनरेव कथां चक्रुः कन्यां प्रति वनौकसः
As he sat, rested, and listened, the forest-dwellers again spoke about the maiden.
अम्बायास्तां कथां श्रुत्वा काशिराज्ञश्च भारत। राजर्षिः स महातेजा बभूवोद्विग्रमानसः
Hearing the story of Amba and the king of Kashi, O Bharata, that royal sage of great splendor became troubled in mind.
तां तथावादिनीं श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च स महातपाः । राजर्षिः कृपयाविष्टो महात्मा होत्रवाहनः
Hearing her speak thus and seeing her, the great ascetic, the royal sage Hotravahana, was filled with compassion.
स वेपमान उत्थाय मातुस्तस्याः पिता तदा। तां कन्यामङ्कमारोप्य पर्यश्वासयत प्रभो
Then, her father rose trembling, and lifting that maiden onto his lap, he sought to comfort her, O lord.
स तामपृच्छत्कार्त्स्न्येन व्यसनोत्पत्तिमादितः । सा च तस्मै यथावृत्तं विस्तरेण न्यवेदयत्
He questioned her thoroughly about the origin of her misfortune, and she related to him in detail all that had happened.
ततः स राजर्षिरभूद्दुःखशोकसमन्वितः। कार्यं च प्रतिपेदे तन्मनसां सुमहातपाः
Thereupon, that royal sage was overcome with sorrow and grief, and that great ascetic resolved in his mind what should be done.
अब्रवीद्वेपमानश्च कन्यामार्तां सुदुःखितः । मा गाः पितुर्गृहं भद्रे मातुस्ते जनको ह्यहम्
Trembling and deeply afflicted, he spoke to the suffering maiden: 'Do not go to your father's house, dear one; for I am your mother's father.'
दुःखं छिन्द्यामहं ते वै मयि वर्तस्व पुत्रिके। पर्याप्तं ते मनो वत्से यदेवं परिशुष्यसि
'I will remove your sorrow—remain with me, my child. Enough, dear one, let your mind not be so parched with grief.'
गच्छ मद्वचनाद्रामं जामदग्न्यं तपस्विनम् । रामस्ते सुमहद्दुःखं शोकं चैवापनेष्यति
'Go, at my word, to the ascetic Rāma, son of Jamadagni. Rāma will dispel your great sorrow and grief.'
हनिष्यति रणे भीष्मं न करिष्यति चेद्वचः । तं गच्छ भार्गवश्रेष्ठं कालाग्निसमतेजसम्
'If Bhīṣma does not heed his words, he will slay him in battle. Go to that foremost of Bhārgavas, whose brilliance equals the fire of time.'
प्रतिष्ठापयिता स त्वां समे पथि महातपाः । ततस्तु सुस्वरं बाष्पसुत्सृजन्ती पुनः पुनः
'That great ascetic will establish you on the right path.' Then, her voice choked with tears, she spoke again and again—