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.
एकस्मिन्दिवसे राजन्स च राजा गुणाधिपः
On a certain day, O king, that king Gunadhipa—
स गत्वा सागरतटे देवीमूर्तिं ददर्श ह
Having gone to the seashore, he beheld the image of the goddess.
गन्धर्वतनयां सुभ्रूं पूजयित्वा प्रसन्नधीः।। प्रांजलिः पुरतस्तस्थौ तदा देवी समागता
He worshipped the Gandharva maiden with beautiful brows, his mind pleased; with joined palms he stood before her, and then the goddess appeared.
वरं वरय तं प्राह चिरंदेवस्तु चाब्रवीत्
"Choose a boon," she said; and the long-lived one spoke.
इति श्रुत्वा तु सा देवी विहस्योवाच कामिनम्
Hearing this, the goddess laughed and spoke to the desirous one.
तथेत्युक्त्वा गतस्तोये प्लावितो मिथिलां ययौ
Saying 'so be it,' he entered the water, floated away, and went to Mithila.
गुणाधिपस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा स्वभृत्येन समन्वितः
Hearing that, the lord of virtues, accompanied by his servant, [responded].
गांधर्वेण विवाहेन मां गृहाण गुणाधिप
Accept me, O lord of virtues, in a Gandharva marriage.
पुण्यदे त्वं गृहाणाद्य तर्हि त्वां संभजाम्यहम्
O Punyade, accept me today; then I will unite with you.
स होवाच शृणु त्वं भो मम भृत्यं चिरं सुरम् 3.2.8.
He said, 'Listen, O you, and my servant, for a long time, O Suram.'