एतावता ब्राह्मणत्वं गौतमस्याभवन् मुने उपासतो ऽग्निं विधिवद् गायत्रीं च महात्मनः
By this alone, Gautama attained the status of a brāhmaṇa, O sage, as he duly worshipped the fire and the Gāyatrī, being a great soul.
तस्यायुर् ववृधे पुत्र गौतमस्य चिरायुषः न दारसंग्रहं लेभे नैव दातास्ति कन्यकाम्
His lifespan increased, O son, Gautama became long-lived; he did not take a wife, nor was there anyone to give him a maiden.
तथा चरंस् तीर्थदेशे वनेषु विविधेषु च आश्रमेषु च पुण्येषु अटन्न् आस्ते स गौतमः
Thus, dwelling in sacred places, in various forests and holy hermitages, Gautama wandered and lived.
एवं भ्रमञ् शीतगिरिम् आश्रित्यास्ते स गौतमः तत्रापश्यद् गुहां रम्यां वल्लीविटपमालिनीम्
Thus wandering, Gautama took refuge on Śītāgiri and remained there; there he saw a delightful cave, adorned with creepers and trees.
तत्रोपविश्य विप्रेन्द्रो वस्तुं समकरोन् मतिम् चिन्तयंस् तु प्रविष्टो ऽसाव् अपश्यत् स्त्रियम् उत्तमाम्
There, sitting down, the best of brāhmaṇas resolved to dwell, and as he pondered, he saw an excellent woman enter.
शिथिलाङ्गीम् अथ कृशां वृद्धां च तपसि स्थिताम् ब्रह्मचर्येण वर्तन्तीं विरागां रहसि स्थिताम्
She was emaciated, with loosened limbs, aged, steadfast in austerity, living in celibacy, dispassionate, and dwelling in solitude.
स तां दृष्ट्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठो नमस्काराय तस्थिवान् नमस्यन्तं मुनिश्रेष्ठं तं गौतमम् अवारयत्
Seeing her, the eminent sage stood ready to offer his respects; but Gautama restrained the sage who was about to bow.
गुरुस् त्वं भविता मह्यं न मां वन्दितुम् अर्हसि आयुर् विद्या धनं कीर्तिर् धर्मः स्वर्गादिकं च यत् तस्य नश्यति वै सर्वं यं नमस्यति वै गुरुः
You will become my teacher; you should not bow to me. Whoever bows to their teacher loses their lifespan, knowledge, wealth, fame, virtue, and even heaven.
कृताञ्जलिपुटस् तां वै गौतमः प्राह विस्मितः
With hands joined in reverence, Gautama spoke to her, astonished.
तपस्विनी त्वं वृद्धा च गुणज्येष्ठा च भामिनी अल्पविद्यस् त्व् अल्पवया अहं तव गुरुः कथम्
You are an ascetic, elderly, and foremost in virtue, O radiant one; I am young and possess little knowledge. How can I be your teacher?
आर्ष्टिषेणप्रियपुत्र ऋतध्वज इति श्रुतः गुणवान् मतिमाञ् शूरः क्षत्रधर्मपरायणः
My beloved son was named Ṛtadhvaja, dear to Ṛṣṭiṣeṇa; he was renowned as virtuous, intelligent, heroic, and devoted to the duties of a warrior.
स कदाचिद् वनं प्रायान् मृगयाकृष्टचेतनः विश्रामम् अकरोद् अस्यां गुहायां स ऋतध्वजः
Once, drawn by the hunt, Ṛtadhvaja entered the forest and rested in this cave.
युवा स मतिमान् दक्षो बलेन महता वृतः तं विश्रान्तं नृपवरम् अप्सरा ददृशे ततः
He was young, intelligent, capable, and endowed with great strength. As he rested, an apsaras beheld this noble king.
गन्धर्वराजस्य सुता सुश्यामा इति विश्रुता तां दृष्ट्वा चकमे राजा राजानं चकमे च सा
She was known as Suśyāmā, daughter of the king of the Gandharvas. Seeing him, the king desired her, and she desired the king.
इति क्रीडा समभवत् तया राज्ञो महामते निवृत्तकामो राजेन्द्रस् ताम् आपृच्छ्यागमद् गृहम्
Thus, the wise king enjoyed sport with her; when his desire was fulfilled, the lord of kings took leave of her and returned home.
उत्पन्नाहं ततस् तस्यां सुश्यामायां महामते गच्छन्ती मां तदा माता इदम् आह तपोधन
From Suśyāmā, O wise one, I was born. As she departed, my mother spoke this to me, O ascetic.
यस् त्व् अस्यां प्रविशेद् भद्रे स ते भर्ता भविष्यति
Whoever enters here, O blessed one, will become your husband.
इत्य् उक्त्वा सा जगमाथ माता मम महामते तस्माद् अत्र प्रविष्टस् त्वं पुमान् नान्यः कदाचन
Having said this, my mother departed, O wise one. Therefore, you alone have entered here; no other man ever.
सहस्राणि तथाशीतिं कृत्वा राज्यं पिता मम अत्रैव च तपस् तप्त्वा ततः स्वर्गम् उपेयिवान्
My father ruled for eighty thousand years, and performed austerities here; then he attained heaven.
स्वर्गं याते ऽपि पितरि सहस्राणि तथा दश वर्षाणि मुनिशार्दूल राज्यं कृत्वा तथा परः
Even after my father went to heaven, another ruled for ten thousand years, O eminent sage.
स्वर्गे यातो मम भ्राता अहम् अत्रैव संस्थिता अहं ब्रह्मन् नान्यवृत्ता न माता न पिता मम
My brother went to heaven; I remain here. I, O Brahman, have no other occupation, nor mother, nor father.
अहम् आत्मेश्वरी ब्रह्मन् निविष्टा क्षत्रकन्यका तस्माद् भजस्व मां ब्रह्मन् व्रतस्थां पुरुषार्थिनीम्
I am the mistress of myself, O Brahman, established as a warrior maiden. Therefore, O Brahman, accept me, steadfast in vows and seeking a husband.
सहस्रायुर् अहं भद्रे मत्तस् त्वं वयसाधिका अहं बालस् त्वं तु वृद्धा नैवायं घटते मिथः
I am blessed with a thousand years of life; you surpass me in age. I am young, you are old; this union does not befit us.
त्वं भर्ता मे पुरा दिष्टो नान्यो भर्ता मतो मम धात्रा दत्तस् ततस् त्वं मां न निराकर्तुम् अर्हसि
You were destined to be my husband; I consider no other as such. You were given to me by the Creator; therefore, you should not reject me.
अथवा नेच्छसि मां त्वम् अप्रदुष्टाम् अनुव्रताम् ततस् त्यक्ष्यामि जीवं मे इदानीं तव पश्यतः
Or, if you do not desire me, who am uncorrupted and faithful, then I will abandon my life right now, before your very eyes.
अपेक्षिताप्राप्तितो हि देहिनां मरणं वरम् अनुरक्तजनत्यागे पातकान्तो न विद्यते
For embodied beings, death is preferable to the pain of separation from a beloved; such abandonment does not lead to sin.
वृद्धायास् तद् वचः श्रुत्वा गौतमो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Hearing those words from the aged woman, Gautama spoke.
अहं तपोविरहितो विद्याहीनो ह्य् अकिंचनः नाहं वरो हि योग्यस् ते कुरूपो भोगवर्जितः
I am without austerity, lacking knowledge, and possess nothing; I am not a suitable husband for you, being unattractive and deprived of pleasures.
अनासो ऽहं किं करोमि अतपोविद्य एव च तस्मात् सुरूपं सुविद्याम् आपाद्य प्रथमं शुभे पश्चात् ते वचनं कार्यं ततो वृद्धाब्रवीद् द्विजम्
I am toothless, what can I do? I am without austerity or learning. Therefore, O auspicious one, first obtain beauty and knowledge, then fulfill your words; so spoke the aged woman to the twice-born.
मया सरस्वती देवी तोषिता तपसा द्विज तथैवापो रूपवत्यो रूपदाताग्निर् एव च
By my austerity, O twice-born, I have pleased the goddess Sarasvati; likewise, Agni, the giver of beauty, has granted me beauty.