कपालमुत्तमं देहे तया च्छिन्नं द्वयोस्तदा
At that time, she severed the finest skull from both of them.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराणे प्रतिसर्गपर्वणि चतुर्युगखण्डापरपर्याये कलियुगीयेतिहाससमुच्चये षष्ठोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixth chapter in the section of the history of the Kali age, within the account of the four yugas, in the Pratisarga Parva of the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana.
सूत उवाच तस्मिन्काले स वैतालो भृगुवर्यः प्रसन्नधीः
Sūta said: At that time, the noble sage Vaitāla Bhrigu, with a serene mind, was present.
चंपापुरी च विख्याता चम्पकेशो महीपतिः
There was a renowned city called Campāpuri, ruled by King Campakeśa.
त्रिलोकसुंदरी नाम कन्या तस्यामजायत
A daughter named Trilokasundarī was born to him.
मृगाक्षी कोकिलरवा कोमलांगी महोत्तमा
She had deer-like eyes, a voice as sweet as a cuckoo, a delicate form, and was supremely excellent.
तस्याः स्वयंवरो जातो नृपा बहुविधास्तदा
A svayaṃvara was arranged for her, and many kings gathered there.
इन्द्रो यमः कुबेरश्च वरुणो विबुधोत्तमः
Indra, Yama, Kubera, and Varuṇa, the foremost of the gods, were present.
चंपकेशमिदं प्राह शृणु राजन्वचो मम इन्द्रदत्तं च मां विद्धि स्वसुतां मे समर्पय
They said to Campakeśa: 'Listen, O King, to my words. Know that I am Indra's gift; give your daughter to me.'
द्वितीयस्तु तदा प्राह धर्मदत्तं मनोरमम्
The second then said: 'Give your charming daughter to Dharmadatta.'
तृतीयश्चाह भो राजन्धनपालाय शोभिने मह्यं च स्वसुतां शीघ्रं समर्पय सुखी भव
The third said: 'O King, give your daughter at once to Dhanapāla, the illustrious one, and be happy.'
चतुर्थश्चाह भो राजन्सर्वकलासु कोविदः ।। 3.2.7.
The fourth said: 'O King, who is skilled in all arts—'
पुण्यार्थमेकरत्नं च होमार्थं द्वितियं वसु
For the sake of merit, one jewel; for the sake of sacrifice, a second treasure—
शेषं सुभोजनार्थं च रत्नं नित्यं मयाहृतम्
The rest of the jewels I have always brought for the purpose of excellent food.
इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां मोहितो नृपतिस्तदा
Hearing their words, the king was then bewildered.
सा देवी तु वचः श्रुत्वा व्रीडिता दैवमोहिता
But when the goddess heard these words, she became bashful and was deluded by fate.
इत्युक्त्वा स तु वैतालो विहस्योवाच भूपतिम्
Having spoken thus, the Vetala laughed and addressed the king.
धर्मदत्ताय सा कन्या योग्या भवति रूपिणी
That maiden, beautiful in form, is suitable for Dharmadatta.
सर्वशास्त्रेषु निपुणः स द्विजो वर्णतः स्मृतः
He is skilled in all the scriptures and is recognized as a Brahmin by caste.
कलाज्ञः स तु शूद्रो हि धनुर्वेदी स भूपतिः अतो विवाहिता बाला धर्मदत्ताय शीलिने
He knows the arts, yet he is a Shudra; he is versed in archery and is a king; therefore, the girl was given in marriage to the virtuous Dharmadatta.
विदेहदेशे भूपाल नगरी मिथिलावती
In the land of Videha, O king, was the city called Mithilavati.
गुणाधिपस्तत्र राजा धनधान्यसमन्वितः
There, the king named Gunadhipa possessed great wealth and grain.
वृत्त्यर्थं मिथिलादेशे तत्र वासं चकार सः
For the sake of livelihood, he took up residence in the region of Mithila.
मृगयार्थे वनं प्राप्तस्तत्र शार्दूलमुत्तमम्
For the purpose of hunting, he entered the forest and there encountered an excellent tiger.
व्याघ्र मार्गेण भूपालो वनान्तरमुपाययौ
Following the path of the tiger, the king went deeper into the forest.
क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठो नृपतिः श्रमसन्तापपीडितः
The king, his throat parched with hunger, was afflicted by fatigue and distress.
इति श्रुत्वा स राजन्यो हत्वा हरिणमुत्तमम्
Having heard this, the Kshatriya king killed an excellent deer.
वांछितं ते ददाम्याशु स होवाच महीपतिम्
"I will quickly grant you what you desire," he said to the king.
त्वया सहस्रमुद्राश्च खादिता मम भूपते
O king, you have consumed a thousand coins of mine.
शतमुद्रास्तु मासान्ते मह्यं देहि कुटुंबिने 3.2.8.
At the end of the month, give me a hundred coins, householder.