पुत्रार्थं स महायत्नम् अकरोत् प्रियया सह तस्य पुत्रश् चिराद् आसीत् सर्पो वै भीषणाकृतिः
Desiring a son, he made great efforts together with his beloved; after a long time, a son was born to them—a serpent of terrifying form.
पुत्रं तं गोपयाम् आस शूरसेनो महीपतिः राज्ञः पुत्रः सर्प इति न कश्चिद् विन्दते जनः
King Śūrasena kept that son hidden; no one among the people knew that the king's son was a serpent.
अन्तर्वर्ती परो वापि मातरं पितरं विना धात्रेय्य् अपि न जानाति नामात्यो न पुरोहितः
Whether an insider or an outsider, except for his mother and father, not even the nurse, nor the ministers, nor the priest knew.
तं दृष्ट्वा भीषणं सर्पं सभार्यो नृपसत्तमः संतापं नित्यम् आप्नोति सर्पाद् वरम् अपुत्रता
Seeing his dreadful serpent son, the best of kings, with his wife, was always distressed, thinking childlessness preferable to having a serpent as a son.
एतद् अस्ति महासर्पो वक्ति नित्यं मनुष्यवत् स सर्पः पितरं प्राह कुरु चूडाम् अपि क्रियाम्
Yet this great serpent always spoke like a human; he said to his father, 'Perform for me the cūḍā ceremony as well.'
तथोपनयनं चापि वेदाध्ययनम् एव च यावद् वेदं न चाधीते तावच् छूद्रसमो द्विजः
Likewise, the initiation and the study of the Veda should be performed; until one studies the Veda, a twice-born is equal to a Śūdra.
एतच् छ्रुत्वा पुत्रवचः शूरसेनो ऽतिदुःखितः ब्राह्मणं कंचनानीय संस्कारादि तदाकरोत् अधीतवेदः सर्पो ऽपि पितरं चाब्रवीद् इदम्
Hearing these words from his son, Śūrasena was deeply troubled; he brought a brāhmaṇa and performed the ceremonies. The serpent, having studied the Veda, then spoke to his father as follows:
विवाहं कुरु मे राजन् स्त्रीकामो ऽहं नृपोत्तम अन्यथापि च कृत्यं ते न सिध्येद् इति मे मतिः
'Arrange a marriage for me, O King; I desire a wife. Otherwise, your duties will not be fulfilled—this is my conviction.'
जनयित्वात्मजान् वेदविधिनाखिलसंस्कृतीः न कुर्याद् यः पिता तस्य नरकान् नास्ति निष्कृतिः
If, after begetting sons and performing all sacraments according to Vedic rule, a father does not arrange their marriage, there is no atonement for his fall into hell.
विस्मितः स पिता प्राह सुतं तम् उरगाकृतिम्
Astonished, the father spoke to his son, who had the form of a serpent.
यस्य शब्दाद् अपि त्रासं यान्ति शूराश् च पूरुषाः तस्मै कन्यां तु को दद्याद् वद पुत्र करोमि किम्
'Even the brave are terrified by your very sound—who would give their daughter to you? Tell me, my son, what should I do?'
तत् पितुर् वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्पः प्राह विचक्षणः
Hearing his father's words, the wise serpent replied.
विवाहा बहवो राजन् राज्ञां सन्ति जनेश्वर प्रसह्याहरणं चापि शस्त्रैर् वैवाह एव च
'There are many kinds of marriages, O King of men, among kings: by forceful abduction, by weapons, and by mutual agreement.'
जाते विवाहे पुत्रस्य पितासौ कृतकृद् भवेत् नो चेद् अत्रैव गङ्गायां मरिष्ये नात्र संशयः
If my marriage is accomplished, O King, you will have fulfilled your duty as a father; if not, I will die here in the Gaṅgā—of this there is no doubt.
तत् पुत्रनिश्चयं ज्ञात्वा अपुत्रो नृपसत्तमः विवाहार्थम् अमात्यांस् तान् आहूयेदं वचो ऽब्रवीत्
Having understood the certainty regarding his son, the best among kings, though sonless, summoned those ministers for the purpose of marriage and spoke these words.
नागेश्वरो मम सुतो युवराजो गुणाकरः गुणवान् मतिमाञ् शूरो दुर्जयः शत्रुतापनः
Nāgeśvara is my son, the crown prince, a repository of virtues; he is virtuous, intelligent, heroic, unconquerable, and a tormentor of enemies.
रथे नागे स धनुषि पृथिव्यां नोपमीयते विवाहस् तस्य कर्तव्यो ह्य् अहं वृद्धस् तथैव च
On a chariot, Nāge, with bow in hand, is unmatched upon the earth; his marriage must be arranged, for I am aged, as is fitting.
राज्यभारं सुते न्यस्य निश्चिन्तो ऽहं भवाम्य् अतः न दारसंग्रहो यावत् तावत् पुत्रो मम प्रियः
Entrusting the burden of the kingdom to my son, I become free from care; until he gathers a wife, my son remains dear to me.
बालभावं नो जहाति तस्मात् सर्वे ऽनुमन्य च विवाहायाथ कुर्वन्तु यत्नं मम हिते रताः
He does not abandon his childish nature; therefore, let all of you, devoted to my welfare, make efforts for his marriage.
न मे काचित् तदा चिन्ता कृतोद्वाहो यदात्मजः सुते न्यस्तभरा यान्ति कृतिनस् तपसे वनम्
I have no concern once my son is married; when the burden is placed upon the son, accomplished men depart to the forest for ascetic practice.
अमात्या राजवचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे विनीतवत् ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयो हर्षाद् राजानं भूरितेजसम्
The ministers, having heard the king's words, all spoke respectfully, with joined palms, to the king of great splendor, filled with joy.
तव पुत्रो गुणज्येष्ठस् त्वं च सर्वत्र विश्रुतः विवाहे तव पुत्रस्य किं मन्त्र्यं किं तु चिन्त्यते
Your son excels in virtues, and you are renowned everywhere; what counsel or concern is there regarding your son's marriage?
अमात्येषु तथोक्तेषु गम्भीरो नृपसत्तमः पुत्रं सर्पं त्व् अमात्यानां न चाख्याति न ते विदुः
When the ministers had spoken thus, the profound king did not reveal to them that his son was a serpent; nor did they know.
राजा पुनस् तान् उवाच का स्यात् कन्या गुणाधिका महावंशभवः श्रीमान् को राजा स्याद् गुणाश्रयः
The king again spoke to them: 'Which maiden possesses superior qualities? Who is born of a great lineage, wealthy, and which king is a repository of virtues?'
संबन्धयोग्यः शूरश् च यत्संबन्धः प्रशस्यते तद् राजवचनं श्रुत्वा अमात्यानां महामतिः
Who is fit for alliance, heroic, and whose connection is praised? Hearing the king's words, the wise minister among the ministers—
कुलीनः साधुर् अत्यन्तं राजकार्यहिते रतः राज्ञो मतिं विदित्वा तु इङ्गितज्ञो ऽब्रवीद् इदम्
Noble, exceedingly virtuous, devoted to the king's welfare, understanding the king's mind and his gestures, spoke these words.
पूर्वदेशे महाराज विजयो नाम भूपतिः वाजिवारणरत्नानां यस्य संख्या न विद्यते
In the eastern region, O great king, there is a ruler named Vijaya, whose horses, elephants, and jewels are countless.
अष्टौ पुत्रा महेष्वासा महाराजस्य धीमतः तेषां स्वसा भोगवती साक्षाल् लक्ष्मीर् इवापरा तव पुत्रस्य योग्या सा भार्या राजन् मयोदिता
That wise great king has eight sons, all mighty archers; their sister, Bhogavatī, is like another Lakṣmī herself, and she is suitable as wife for your son, O king, as I have said.
वृद्धामात्यवचः श्रुत्वा राजा तं प्रत्यभाषत
Having heard the words of the aged minister, the king replied to him.
सुता तस्य कथं मे ऽस्य सुतस्य स्याद् वदस्व तत्
How might his daughter become the wife of my son? Tell me that.