कुकुरान्धकवृष्णीनामपयानं च पाण्डवः। विनिश्चित्य ततः पार्थः सुभद्रामिदमब्रवीत्
Having ascertained the departure of the Kukuras, Andhakas, and Vṛṣṇis, Pārtha then spoke these words to Subhadrā.
शृणु भद्रे यथाशास्त्रं हितार्थं मुनिभिः कृतम्। विवाहं बहुधा सत्सु वर्णानां धर्मसंयुतम्
Listen, dear one, to the many forms of marriage established by sages for the welfare of people, in accordance with scripture and righteousness among the classes.
कन्यायास्तु पिता भ्राता माता मातुल एव वा। पितुः पिता पितुर्भ्राता दाने तु प्रभुतां गतः
For a maiden, her father, brother, mother, or maternal uncle—or her grandfather or father's brother—holds authority in giving her away.
महोत्सवं पशुपतेर्द्रष्टुकामः पिता तव। अन्तर्द्वीपं गतो भद्रे पुत्रैः पौत्रैः सबान्धवैः
Your father, wishing to witness the great festival of Paśupati, has gone to the inner island, dear one, along with his sons, grandsons, and relatives.
मम चैव विशालाक्षि विदेशस्था हि बान्धवाः। तस्मात्सुभद्रे गान्धर्वो विवाहः पञ्चमः स्मृतः
And for me, O wide-eyed one, my relatives are abroad; therefore, Subhadrā, the Gāndharva marriage is considered the fifth.
समागमे तु कन्यायाः क्रियाः प्रोक्ताश्चतुर्विधाः। तेषां प्रवृत्तिं साधूनां शृणु माधवि तद्यथा
At the union of a maiden, four kinds of rites are prescribed; listen, Mādhavī, to how the virtuous practice them.
वरमाहूय विधिना पित्रा दत्ता तथार्थिने। सा पत्नी तु परैरुक्ता सा वश्या तु पतिव्रता
When a suitor is summoned and the maiden is given by her father according to rule, such a wife is called by others devoted and obedient to her husband.
भृत्यानां भरणार्थाय आत्मनः पोषणाय च। दाने गृहीता या नारी सा भार्येति स्मृता बुधैः
A woman taken in marriage for the maintenance of servants or for one's own support is known by the wise as a wife.
धर्मतो वरयित्वा तु आनीय स्वं निवेशनम्। न्यायेन दत्तातारुण्ये दाराः पितृकृताः स्मृताः
When, in accordance with righteousness, a maiden is chosen and brought to one's own house, and given lawfully in her youth, such a wife is said to be given by the father.
गान्धर्वेण विवाहेन रागात्पुत्रार्थकारणात्। आत्मनाऽनुगृहीता या वश्या सा तु प्रजावती
In the Gāndharva marriage, out of passion and the desire for children, a woman who consents herself becomes a wife and bears offspring.
जनयेद्या तु भर्तारं जाया इत्येव नामतः। पत्नी भार्या च दाराश्च जाया चेति चतुर्विधाः
She who produces a husband is called 'jāyā' by name; thus, wife, spouse, consort, and jāyā are the four kinds.
चतस्र एवाग्निसाक्ष्याः क्रियायुक्ताश्च धर्मतः। गान्धर्वस्तु क्रियाहीनो रागादेव प्रवर्तते
Only four of these, performed with ritual and in the presence of fire, are righteous; the Gāndharva, lacking ritual, proceeds solely from passion.
सकामायाः सकामेन निर्मन्त्रो रहसि स्मृतः। मयोक्तमक्रियं चापि कर्तव्यं माधवि त्वया
With desire, by one who desires, without mantra, in secret, as remembered; what I have said, though not performed, must be done by you, Madhavi.
अयनं चैव मासश्च ऋतुः पक्षस्तथा तिथिः। करणं च मुहूर्तं च लग्नसंपत्तथैव च
The solstice, the month, the season, the fortnight, and the lunar day; the karana, the hour, and the attainment of the ascendant as well.
विवाहस्य विशालाक्षि प्रशस्तं चोत्तरायणम्। वैशाखश्चैव मासानां पक्षाणां शुक्ल एव च
For marriage, O wide-eyed one, the northern solstice is auspicious; among months, Vaishakha, and among fortnights, the bright one.
नक्षत्राणां तथा हस्तस्तृतीया च तिथिष्वपि। लग्नो हि मकरः श्रेष्ठः करणानां बवस्तथा
Among stars, Hasta; among lunar days, the third; the ascendant Capricorn is best, and among karanas, Bava.
मैत्रो मुहूर्तो वैवाह्य आवयोः शुभकर्मणि। सर्वसंपदियं भद्रे अद्य रात्रौ भविष्यति
The Maitra hour is suitable for our auspicious act of marriage; all prosperity, O fortunate one, will come this night.
भगवानस्तमभ्येति आदित्यस्तपतां वरः। रात्रौ विवाहकालोऽयं भविष्यति न संशयः
The blessed one approaches; the sun, best among those who shine, sets; tonight is the time for marriage, there is no doubt.
नारायणोऽपि सर्वज्ञो नावबुध्येत विश्वकृत्। धर्मसङ्कटमापन्ने किं नु कृत्वा सुखं भवेत्
Even Narayana, all-knowing, creator of the universe, would not discern this; when faced with a dilemma of dharma, what action brings happiness?
मनोभवेन कामेन मोहितं मां प्रलापिनम्। प्रतिवाक्यं च मे देवि किं न वक्ष्यसि माधवि
Overcome by desire, by love, I speak in confusion; O Devi, Madhavi, will you not answer me?
अर्जुनस्य वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तयन्ती जनार्दनम्। नोवाच किंचिद्वचनं बाष्पदूषितलोचना
Hearing Arjuna's words, she pondered Janardana; she spoke nothing, her eyes filled with tears.
रागोन्मादप्रलापी सन्नर्जुनो जयतां वरः। चिन्तयामास पितरं प्रविश्य च लतागृहम्
Arjuna, overcome by passionate speech, best among victors, thought of his father and entered the bower.
चिन्तयानं तु कौन्तेयं मत्वा शच्या शचीपतिः। सहितो नारदाद्यैश्च मुनिभिश्च महामनाः
Thinking of the son of Kunti, Shachi's lord, accompanied by Narada and other great sages, reflected.
गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च चारणैश्चापि गुह्यकैः। अरुन्धत्या वसिष्ठेन ह्याजगाम कुशस्थलीम्
With Gandharvas, Apsaras, Charanas, and Guhyakas, with Arundhati and Vasistha, he came to Kushasthali.
चिन्तितं च सुभद्रायाश्चिन्तयित्वा जनार्दनः। निद्रयापहृतज्ञानं रौहिणेयं विना तदा
Janardana, having considered Subhadra's thoughts, found Rauhineya deprived of knowledge by sleep, without her.
सहाक्रूरेण शिनिना सत्यकेन गदेन च। वसुदेवेन देवक्या आहूकेन च धीमता
With Akrura, Shini, Satyaki, Gada, Vasudeva, Devaki, and the wise Ahuka.
आजगाम पुरीं रात्रौ द्वारकां स्वजनैर्वृतः। पूजयित्वा तु देवेशो नारदादीन्महायशाः
He came to the city at night, to Dwaraka, surrounded by his kin; the lord of the gods, of great fame, honored Narada and others.
कुशलप्रश्नमुक्त्वा तु देवेन्द्रेणाभियाचितः। वैवाहिकीं क्रियां कृष्णः स तथेत्येवमुक्तवान्
After asking about their welfare, at Indra's request, Krishna said, 'Let the marriage rite be performed,' thus.
आहुको वसुदेवश्च सहाक्रूरः ससात्यकिः। अभिप्रणम्य शिरसा पाकशासनमब्रुवन्। देवदेव नमस्तेस्तु लोकनाथ जगत्पते
Ahuka, Vasudeva, Akrura, and Satyaki, bowing their heads, addressed the lord of sacrifice: 'O god of gods, salutations to you, master of the worlds, lord of the universe.'
वयं धन्याः स्म सहितैर्बान्धवैः सहिताः प्रभो। कृतप्रसादास्तु वयं तव वाक्येन विश्वजित्
We are blessed, O lord, together with our relatives; we are favored by your words, O conqueror of the universe.