क्षत्रियाणां विवाहाश् च भवेयुर् बहुधा नृप तस्माच् छस्त्रैर् अलंकारैर् विवाहः स्यान् महामते
O king, marriages among Kṣatriyas occur in many ways; therefore, O wise one, marriage should be with weapons and ornaments.
क्षत्रिया ब्राह्मणाश् चैव सत्यां वाचं वदन्ति हि तस्माच् छस्त्रैर् अलंकारैर् विवाहस् त्व् अनुमन्यताम्
Kṣatriyas and Brāhmaṇas indeed speak truthful words; therefore, let the marriage with weapons and ornaments be approved.
वृद्धामात्यवचः श्रुत्वा विजयो राजसत्तमः मेने वाक्यं तथा सत्यम् अमात्यं भूपतिं तदा
Hearing the words of the elder minister, Vijaya, the best among kings, considered the statement true and regarded the minister as the king at that time.
विवाहम् अकरोद् राजा भोगवत्याः सविस्तरम् शस्त्रेण च यथाशास्त्रं प्रेषयाम् आस तां पुनः
The king performed the marriage of Bhogavatī in detail, and, according to the scriptures, sent her again with weapons.
स्वान् अमात्यांस् तथा गाश् च हिरण्यतुरगादिकम् बहु दत्त्वाथ विजयो हर्षेण महता युतः
Vijaya, filled with great joy, gave his own ministers, cows, gold, horses, and much else.
ताम् आदायाथ सचिवा वृद्धामात्यपुरोगमाः प्रतिष्ठानम् अथाभ्येत्य शूरसेनाय तां स्नुषाम्
Then, taking her, the counselors led by the elder minister set out, and arriving, presented her as a daughter-in-law to Śūrasena.
न्यवेदयंस् तथोचुस् ते विजयस्य वचो बहु भूषणानि विचित्राणि दास्यो वस्त्रादिकं च यत्
They reported and spoke many words of Vijaya, and presented various splendid ornaments, maidservants, garments, and other items.
निवेद्य शूरसेनाय कृतकृत्या बभूविरे विजयस्य तु ये ऽमात्या भोगवत्या सहागताः
Having reported to Śūrasena, those ministers of Vijaya who had come with Bhogavatī became satisfied with their task accomplished.
तान् पूजयित्वा राजासौ बहुमानपुरःसरम् विजयाय यथा प्रीतिस् तथा कृत्वा व्यसर्जयत्
That king honored them with great respect, and, showing affection for Vijaya, dismissed them after proper hospitality.
विजयस्य सुता बाला रूपयौवनशालिनी श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोर् नित्यं शुश्रूषन्ती सुमध्यमा
The young daughter of Vijaya, endowed with beauty and youth, always served her mother-in-law and father-in-law, possessing a graceful form.
भोगवत्याश् च यो भर्ता महासर्पो ऽतिभीषणः एकान्तदेशे विजने गृहे रत्नसुशोभिते
The lord of Bhogavati, a great and exceedingly fearsome serpent, dwells alone in a secluded place, in a house splendid with jewels.
सुगन्धकुसुमाकीर्णे तत्रास्ते सुखशीतले स सर्पो मातरं प्राह पितरं च पुनः पुनः
There, in that cool and pleasant abode strewn with fragrant flowers, that serpent repeatedly spoke to his mother and father.
मम भार्या राजपुत्री किं मां नैवोपसर्पति तत् पुत्रवचनं श्रुत्वा सर्पमातेदम् अब्रवीत्
"My wife is a princess—why does she not approach me?" Hearing her son's words, the serpent's mother spoke thus.
धात्रिके गच्छ सुभगे शीघ्रं भोगवतीं वद तव भर्ता सर्प इति ततः सा किं वदिष्यति
"Nurse, go quickly, O fortunate one, to Bhogavati and tell her: 'Your husband is a serpent.' Then let us see what she will say."
धात्रिका च तथेत्य् उक्त्वा गत्वा भोगवतीं तदा रहोगता उवाचेदं विनीतवद् अपूर्ववत्
The nurse, having said "So be it," went at that time to Bhogavati, and, finding her alone, addressed her respectfully as if for the first time.
जाने ऽहं सुभगे भद्रे भर्तारं तव दैवतम् न चाख्येयं त्वया क्वापि सर्पो न पुरुषो ध्रुवम्
"I know, O fortunate and noble lady, that your husband is a divine being. But you must never reveal this anywhere: your husband is certainly a serpent, not a man."
तस्यास् तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा भोगवत्य् अब्रवीद् इदम्
Hearing those words from her, Bhogavati spoke as follows.
मानुषीणां मनुष्यो हि भर्ता सामान्यतो भवेत् किं पुनर् देवजातिस् तु भर्ता पुण्येन लभ्यते
"Among humans, a husband is generally a man; but a husband of divine birth is attained only through great merit."
भोगवत्यास् तु तद् वाक्यं सा च सर्वं न्यवेदयत् सर्पाय सर्पमात्रे च राज्ञे चैव यथाक्रमम्
Bhogavati then conveyed all these words in order to the serpent, to the serpent's mother, and to the king.
रुरोद राजा तद्वाक्यात् स्मृत्वा तां कर्मणो गतिम् भोगवत्य् अपि तां प्राह उक्तपूर्वां पुनः सखीम्
Hearing these words, the king wept, recalling the course of fate; and Bhogavati again spoke to her friend as she had before.
कान्तं दर्शय भद्रं ते वृथा याति वयो मम
"Show me your beloved husband, O noble one; my youth is passing away in vain."
ततः सा दर्शयाम् आस सर्पं तम् अतिभीषणम् सुगन्धकुसुमाकीर्णे शयने सा रहोगता
Then she showed her that exceedingly fearsome serpent, while alone, upon a bed strewn with fragrant flowers.
तं दृष्ट्वा भीषणं सर्पं भर्तारं रत्नभूषितम् कृताञ्जलिपुटा वाक्यम् अवदत् कान्तम् अञ्जसा
Seeing that terrifying serpent, her husband adorned with jewels, she, with hands joined in reverence, spoke these words to her beloved without delay:
धन्यास्म्य् अनुगृहीतास्मि यस्या मे दैवतं पतिः
"I am blessed, I am favored, for my husband is my divine lord."
इत्य् उक्त्वा शयने स्थित्वा तं सर्पं सर्पभावनैः खेलयाम् आस तन्वङ्गी गीतैश् चैवाङ्गसंगमैः
Having spoken thus, she remained on the bed and began to delight that serpent, slender-limbed, with gestures of affection, songs, and gentle touches.
सुगन्धकुसुमैः पानैस् तोषयाम् आस तं पतिम् तस्याश् चैव प्रसादेन सर्पस्याभूत् स्मृतिर् मुने स्मृत्वा सर्वं दैवकृतं रात्रौ सर्पो ऽब्रवीत् प्रियाम्
She pleased her husband with fragrant flowers and drinks; and by her favor, memory returned to the serpent, O sage. Remembering all that was divinely ordained, the serpent spoke to his beloved at night.
राजकन्यापि मां दृष्ट्वा न भीतासि कथं प्रिये सोवाच दैवविहितं को ऽतिक्रमितुम् ईश्वरः पतिर् एव गतिः स्त्रीणां सर्वदैव विशेषतः
The princess said, "Beloved, how is it that I am not afraid upon seeing you?" She replied, "Who can transgress what is ordained by fate? The husband is always the path for women, especially so."
श्रुत्वेति हृष्टस् ताम् आह नागः प्रहसिताननः
Hearing this, the serpent, delighted, spoke to her with a smiling face.
तुष्टो ऽस्मि तव भक्त्याहं किं ददामि तवेप्सितम् तव प्रसादाच् चार्वङ्गि सर्वस्मृतिर् अभूद् इयम्
I am pleased with your devotion; what shall I grant you as you desire? By my favor, O beautiful one, you have attained all remembrance.
शप्तो ऽहं देवदेवेन कुपितेन पिनाकिना महेश्वरकरे नागः शेषपुत्रो महाबलः
I was cursed by the god of gods, the wrathful Pinākin, and in the hand of Maheśvara, the mighty serpent, son of Śeṣa, was born.