संप्राप्तयौवनां पश्यन्देयां दुहितरं तु ताम्। `द्व्यष्टवर्षां तु तां श्यामां सविता रूपशालिनीम्।' नोपलेभे ततः शान्तिं संप्रदानं विचिन्तयन्
Seeing his daughter come of age, radiant in form, dark-complexioned and about sixteen years old, Savita found no peace, pondering whom to give her to.
अथर्क्षपुत्रः क्रान्तेय कुरूणामृषभो बली। सूर्यमाराधयामास नृपः संवरणस्तदा
Then, O mighty descendant of the Kurus, the powerful king Samvarana, son of Riksha, began to worship the Sun.
अर्ध्यमाल्योपहाराद्यैर्गन्धैश्च नियतः शुचिः। नियमैरुपवासैश्च तपोभिर्विविधैरपि
With offerings of water, garlands, gifts, and fragrant substances, observing purity and discipline, and with various austerities and fasts, he worshipped.
सुश्रूषुरनहंवादी शुचिः पौरवनन्दन। अंशुमन्तं समुद्यन्तं पूजयामास भक्तिमान्
Eager to serve, humble in speech, pure, O joy of the Purus, he worshipped the rising Sun with devotion.
ततः कृतज्ञं धर्मज्ञं रूपेणासदृशं भुवि। तपत्याः सदृशं मेने सूर्यः संवरणं पतिम्
Then the Sun considered Samvarana, who was grateful, righteous, and unmatched in beauty on earth, to be a worthy husband for Tapati.
दातुमैच्छत्ततः कन्यां तस्मै संवरणाय ताम्। नृपोत्तमाय कौरव्य विश्रुताभिजनाय च
Therefore, O Kauravya, the Sun wished to give his daughter, renowned and of noble lineage, to that foremost of kings, Samvarana.
यथा हि दिवि दीप्तांशुः प्रभासयति तेजसा। तथा भुवि महिपालो दीप्त्या संवरणोऽभवत्
Just as the radiant Sun illuminates the heavens with his brilliance, so did King Samvarana shine on earth with his splendor.
यथाऽर्चयन्ति चादित्यमुद्यन्तं ब्रह्मवादिनः। तथा संवरणं पार्थ ब्राह्मणावरजाः प्रजाः
As the Brahmavadins worship the rising Sun, so did the people, especially the Brahmanas, honor Samvarana, O Partha.
स सोममति कान्तत्वादादित्यमति तेजसा। बभूव नृपतिः श्रीमान्सुहृदां दुर्हृदामपि
That illustrious king was like Soma in loveliness, like the Sun in brilliance, and dear to both friends and even those unfriendly.
एवंगुणस्य नृपतेस्तथावृत्तस्य कौरव। तस्मै दातुं मनश्चक्रे तपतीं तपनः स्वयम्
Thus, O Kaurava, seeing the king so virtuous and of such conduct, the Sun himself resolved to give Tapati to him.
स कदाचिदथो राजा श्रीमानमितविक्रमः। चचार मृगयां पार्थ पर्वतोपवने किल
Once, that illustrious and unconquerable king, O Partha, went hunting in a forest at the foot of the mountains.
चरतो मृगयां तस्य क्षुत्पिपासासमन्वितः। ममार राज्ञः कौन्तेय गिरावप्रतिमो हयः
While he was engaged in the hunt, afflicted by hunger and thirst, O son of Kunti, the king’s incomparable horse died on the mountain.
स मृताश्वश्चरन्पार्थ पद्भ्यामेव गिरौ नृपः। ददर्शासदृशीं लोके कन्यामायतलोचनाम्
Then, wandering on foot upon the mountain, the king, O Partha, saw a maiden with wide eyes, unmatched in the world.
स एव एकामासाद्य कन्यां परबलार्दनः। तस्थौ नृपतिशार्दूलः पश्यन्नविचलेक्षणः
Having come upon that one maiden alone, the subduer of enemy hosts, that tiger among kings, stood gazing at her, his eyes unmoving.
स हि तां तर्कयामास रूपतो नृपतिः श्रियम्। पुनः संतर्कयामास रवेर्भ्रष्टामिव प्रभाम्
The king considered her beauty to be fortune itself; again, he thought she was like the radiance fallen from the sun.
वपुषा वर्चसा चैव शिखामिव विभावसोः। प्रसन्नत्वेन कान्त्या च चन्द्ररेखामिवामलाम्
In form and in splendor she was like the flame of fire; in serenity and in luster, like a spotless crescent moon.
गिरिपृष्ठे तु सा यस्मिन्स्थिता स्वसितलोचना। विभ्राजमाना शुशुभे प्रतिमेव हिरण्मयी
Standing on the mountain slope, that large-eyed maiden shone resplendently, like a golden image.
तस्या रूपेण स गिरिर्वेषेण च विशेषतः। ससवृक्षक्षुपलतो हिरण्मय इवाभवत्
Because of her beauty, and especially her attire, the mountain, with its trees, creepers, and plants, appeared as if made of gold.
अवमेने च तां दृष्ट्वा सर्वलोकेषु योषितः। अवाप्तं चात्मनो मेने स राजा चक्षुषः फलं
Seeing her, he disregarded all other women in the world; and the king thought he had attained the very fruit of his eyes.
जन्मप्रभृति यत्किचिंद्दृष्टवान्स महीपतिः। रूपं न सदृशं तस्यास्तर्कयामास किंचन
From birth onward, whatever form the king had seen, he considered none equal to hers.
तया बद्धमनश्चक्षुः पाशैर्गुणमयैस्तदा। न चचाल ततो देशाद्बुबुधे न च किंचन
His mind and eyes were bound by her, caught in the cords of her qualities; he did not move from that place, nor was he aware of anything else.
अस्या नूनं विशालाक्ष्याः सदेवासुरमानुषम्। लोकं निर्मथ्य धात्रेदं रूपमाविष्कृतं कृतम्
Surely, after churning the world of gods, asuras, and humans, the Creator has manifested this form of the wide-eyed one.
एवं संतर्कयामास रूपद्रविणसंपदा। कन्यामसदृशीं लोके नृपः संवरणस्तदा
Thus, King Samvarana pondered: in beauty, wealth, and fortune, there is no maiden like her in the world.
तां च दृष्ट्वैव कल्याणीं कल्याणाभिजनो नृपः। जगाम मनसा चिन्तां कामबाणेन पीडितः
Seeing that auspicious maiden, the king of noble lineage was seized in his heart by longing, pierced by the arrow of desire.
दह्यमानः स तीव्रेण नृपतिर्मन्मथाग्निना। अप्रगल्भां प्रगल्भस्तां तदोवाच मनोहराम्
Burning with the fierce fire of love, the king, though usually bold, now spoke hesitantly to that captivating maiden.
काऽसि कस्यासि रम्भोरु किमर्थं चेह तिष्ठसि। कथं च निर्जनेऽरण्ये चरस्येका शुचिस्मिते
Who are you? Whose are you, O slender-thighed one? For what purpose do you stand here? And how do you wander alone in this lonely forest, O pure-smiling one?
त्वं हि सर्वानवद्याङ्गी सर्वाभरणभूषिता। विभूषणमिवैतेषां भूषणानामभीप्सितम्
You, flawless in every limb and adorned with all ornaments, are like the ornament desired by these very ornaments.
न देवीं नासुरीं चैव न यक्षीं न च राक्षसीम्। न च भोगवतीं मन्ये न गन्धवीं न मानुषीम्
I do not think you are a goddess, nor an asura, nor a yakshi, nor a rakshasi; nor do I think you are a naga maiden, a gandharvi, or a human woman.
या हि दृष्टा मया काश्चिच्छ्रुता वाऽपि वराङ्गनाः। न तासां सदृशीं मन्ये त्वामहं मत्तकाशिनि
O radiant one, among all the noble women I have seen or heard of, I do not consider any of them to be your equal.
दृष्ट्वैव चारुवदने चन्द्रात्कान्ततरं तव। वदनं पद्मपत्राक्षं मां मथ्नातीव मन्मथः
Just by seeing your lovely face, more lustrous than the moon, with eyes like lotus petals, love overwhelms me.