महेन्द्रसेनया सार्धं पर्यधावद्रिरंसया। सूर्यस्य च रथं दिव्यमारुह्य भगवान्प्रभुः
Together with the army of Mahendra, the blessed lord ran across the mountains, and ascended the celestial chariot of the sun.
पर्युपेत्य पुनर्मेरु मेरौ वासमरोचयत्। आकाशगङ्गामाप्लुत्य तया सह तपोधनः
Arriving again at Meru, he established his dwelling there; having bathed in the celestial Ganga, the ascetic remained with her.
रश्मिजालेषु चन्द्रस्य उवाच च यथाऽनिलः। गिरिरूपधरो योगी स महर्षिस्तदा पुनः
In the moon's web of rays, he spoke as the wind, and again, the great sage, taking the form of a mountain, practiced yoga.
तत्प्रभावेन सा तस्य मध्ये जज्ञे महानदी। यदा पुष्पाकुलः सालः संजज्ञे भगवानृषिः
By his power, a great river was born in his midst; when the sala tree blossomed with flowers, the blessed sage was manifested.
लतात्वमनुसंपेदे तमेवाभ्यनुवेष्टती। पुपोष च वपुर्यस्य तस्य तस्यानुगं पुनः
The creeper followed him, entwining around him, and nourished his form, always accompanying him.
सा पुपोष समं भर्त्रा स्कन्धेनापि चचार ह। ततस्तस्य च तस्याश्च तुल्या प्रीतिरवर्धत
She nourished him together with her husband, and also wandered with Skanda; then their mutual affection increased equally.
तथा सा भगवांस्तस्याः प्रसादादृषिसत्तमः। विरराम च सा चैव दैवयोगेन भामिनी
Thus, by her favor, the blessed one, foremost among sages, ceased, and she too, the radiant one, stopped by divine arrangement.
स च तां तपसा देवीं रमयामास योगतः। एकपत्नी तथा भूत्वा सदैवाग्रे यशस्विनी
He pleased that goddess through asceticism and yoga; having become devoted to one wife, she was always foremost in fame.
अरुन्धतीव सीतेव बभूवातिपतिव्रता। दमयन्त्याश्च मातुः स विशेषमधिकं ययौ
Like Arundhati and Sita, she became supremely devoted to her husband; and he surpassed even the mother of Damayanti.
एतत्तथ्यं महाराज मा ते भूद्बुद्धिरन्यथा। सा वै नालायनी जज्ञे दैवयोगेन केनचित्
This is the truth, O great king, let your mind not think otherwise; Nalayani was indeed born by some divine arrangement.
राजंस्तवात्मजा कृष्णा वेद्यां तेजस्विनी शुभा। तस्मिंस्तस्या मनः सक्तं न चचाल कदाचन
O King, your daughter Krishna, radiant and auspicious, was devoted to him; her mind never wavered from him at any time.
तथा प्रणिहितो ह्यात्मा तस्यास्तस्मिन्द्विजोत्तमे
Thus, her self was firmly directed toward that distinguished Brahmin.
ब्रूहि तत्कारणं येन ब्रह्मन्नालायनी शुभा। जाता ममाध्वरे कृष्मा सर्ववेदविदां वर
Tell me, O Brahman, the reason why the auspicious Nalayani was born at my sacrifice as Krishna, O best among those who know all the Vedas.
शृणु राजन्यथा ह्यस्या दत्तो रुद्रेण वै वरः। यदर्थं चैव संभूता तव गेहे यशस्विनी
Hear, O King, how a boon was given to her by Rudra, and for what purpose the illustrious one was born in your house.
हन्त त कथयिष्यामि कृष्मायाः पौर्वदेहिकम्। इन्द्रसेनेति विख्याता पुरा नालायनी शुभा
Indeed, I will tell you of Krishna's previous incarnation; the auspicious Nalayani was formerly known as Indrasena.
मौद्गल्यस्य पतिमासाद्य चचार विगतज्वरा। मौद्गल्यस्य महर्षेश्च रममाणस्य वै तया
Having attained Maudgalya as her husband, she lived free from distress; and with the great sage Maudgalya, she enjoyed happiness.
संवत्सरगणा राजन्व्यतीयुः क्षणवत्तदा। ततः कदाचिद्धर्मात्मा तृप्तः कामैर्व्यरज्यत
Many years, O King, passed by like moments; then, at some time, the righteous one, satisfied by pleasures, became detached.
अन्विच्छन्परमं धर्मं ब्रह्मयोगपरोऽभवत्। उत्ससर्ज स तां विप्रः सा तदा चापतद्भुवि। मौद्गल्यो राजशार्दूल तपोभिर्भावितः सदा
Seeking the highest Dharma, he became devoted to Brahman-yoga; he abandoned her, and she fell to the earth; Maudgalya, O tiger among kings, was always perfected by austerities.
प्रसीद भगवन्मह्यं न मामुत्स्रष्टुमर्हसि। अवितृप्तास्मि ब्रह्मर्षे कामानां कामसेवनात्
Be gracious, O Lord, do not abandon me; I am unsatisfied, O Brahman sage, from the enjoyment of desires.
यस्मात्त्वं मामनिःशङ्का ह्यवक्तव्यं भाषसे। आचरन्ती तपोविघ्नं तस्माच्छृणु वचो मम
Because you speak to me without hesitation what should not be said, and you act in a way that hinders austerity, therefore hear my words.
भविष्यसि नृलोके त्वं राजपुत्री यशस्वि। पाञ्चालराजस्य सुता द्रुपदस्य महात्मनः
You will be, in the world of men, a famous princess, the daughter of the great-souled king Drupada of the Panchalas.
भवितारस्तत्र तव पतयः पञ्च विप्लुताः। तैः सार्धं मधुराकारैश्चिरं रतिमवाप्स्यसि
There, your husbands will be five, renowned; with them, possessing sweet forms, you will enjoy pleasure for a long time.
सैवं शप्ता तु विमना वनं प्रागाद्यशस्विनी। भोगैरतृप्ता देवेशं तपसाऽऽराधयत्तदा
Thus cursed, the illustrious one, distressed, went to the forest; unsatisfied by enjoyments, she worshipped the lord of gods with austerity.
निराशीर्मारुताहारा निराहारा तथैव च। अनुवर्तमाना त्वादित्यं तथा पञ्चतपाभवत्
Without hope, subsisting on air, and likewise without food, she followed the sun and thus became the performer of the fivefold austerity.
तीव्रेण तपसा तस्यास्तुष्टः पशुपतिः स्वयम्। वचं प्रादात्तदा रुद्रः सर्वलोकेश्वरः प्रभुः
By her intense austerity, Pasupati himself was pleased; then Rudra, lord of all worlds, spoke to her.
भविष्यति परं जन्म भविष्यति वराङ्गना। भविष्यन्ति परं भद्रे पतयः पञ्च विश्रुताः
You will have a supreme birth, you will be a woman of excellent qualities, and, O blessed one, you will have five illustrious husbands.
महेन्द्रवपुषः सर्वे महेन्द्रसमविक्रमाः। तत्रस्था च महत्कर्म सुराणां त्वं करिष्यसि
All will have the form of Mahendra and equal Mahendra in prowess; and there, you will accomplish great deeds among the gods.
एकः खलु मया भर्ता वृतः पञ्च त्विमे कथम्। एको भवति नैकस्या बहवस्तद्ब्रवीहि मे
Indeed, I have chosen one husband; how then will these five be yours? Tell me how one can have many husbands.
पञ्चकृत्वस्त्वया चोक्तः पतिं देहीत्यहं पुनः। पञ्चते पतयो भद्रे भविष्यन्ति सुखावहाः
You have asked me five times, 'Give me a husband'; therefore, O gentle one, you shall have five husbands who will bring you happiness.
धर्म एकः पतिः स्त्रीणां पूर्वमे प्रकल्पितः। बहुपत्नीकता पुंसो धर्मश्च बहुभिः कृतः
Righteousness decrees that a woman should have one husband, as established before; for a man, having many wives is sanctioned, and righteousness is accomplished with many.