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.
लक्षितो ऽसि महाराज यत् ते मनसि वर्तते यच् छूरसेन कृत्यं स्याद् अनुजानीहि मां ततः
You are discerned, O great king, regarding what is in your mind; whatever task is to be done in Śūrasena, permit me for that.
वृद्धामात्यवचः श्रुत्वा भूषणाच्छादनोक्तिभिः संपूज्य प्रेषयाम् आस महत्या सेनया सह
Having heard the words of the aged minister, honoring him with ornaments and garments, he sent him forth together with a great army.
स पूर्वदेशम् आगत्य महाराजं समेत्य च संपूज्य विविधैर् वाक्यैर् उपायैर् नीतिसंभवैः
He, having arrived in the eastern region, met the great king and honored him with various words and methods derived from the science of polity.
महाराजसुतायाश् च भोगवत्या महामतिः शूरसेनस्य नृपतेः सूनोर् नागस्य धीमतः
The wise son of Śūrasena, the king, named Nāga, sought the enjoyment of the king's daughter, Bhogavatī.
विवाहायाकरोत् संधिं मिथ्यामिथ्यावचोउक्तिभिः पूजयाम् आस नृपतिं भूषणाच्छादनादिभिः
For the marriage, he made an alliance using both true and false statements, and honored the king with ornaments, garments, and other gifts.
अवाप्य पूजां नृपतिर् ददामीत्य् अवदत् तदा तत आगत्य राज्ञे ऽसौ वृद्धामात्यो महामतिः
Having received honor, the king then said, 'I shall give,' and afterwards, the wise elder minister came to the king.
शूरसेनाय तद् वृत्तं वैवाहिकम् अवेदयत् ततो बहुतिथे काले वृद्धामात्यो महामतिः
He reported the marriage event to Śūrasena, and after a long time, the wise elder minister,
पुनर् बलेन महता वस्त्रालंकारभूषितः जगाम तरसा सर्वैर् अन्यैश् च सचिवैर् वृतः
Again, adorned with splendid garments and ornaments, accompanied by all the other ministers, he went swiftly with great force.
विवाहाय महामात्यो महाराजाय बुद्धिमान् सर्वं प्रोवाच वृद्धो ऽसाव् अमात्यः सचिवैर् वृतः
For the marriage, the wise elder minister, surrounded by counselors, spoke everything to the great king.
अत्रागन्तुं न चायाति शूरसेनस्य भूपतेः पुत्रो नाग इति ख्यातो बुद्धिमान् गुणसागरः
Here, the son of Śūrasena, the renowned Nāga, wise and a sea of virtues, does not come.