अन्यासु रमणीयासु श्रेष्ठा च सुमनोहरा । रुक्मिण्या भीष्मकन्यायाः कलां नार्हति षोडशीम्
Among all other beautiful and excellent women, none could equal even a sixteenth part of Rukmini, the daughter of Bhishmaka.
तां दृष्ट्वा राजराजेन्द्रो वालक्रीडारतां पराम् । बालां सुशोभां कुर्वन्तीं यथाऽभ्रेषु विधोः कलाम्
Seeing her, the king of kings beheld his daughter, radiant in her childhood play, shining beautifully like the crescent moon among the clouds.
शरत्पूर्णेन्दुशोभाढ्यां शरत्कमललोचनाम् । विवाहयोग्यां युवतीं लज्जानम्राननां शुभम्
She was endowed with the splendor of the autumn full moon, with eyes like autumn lotuses, a young woman fit for marriage, with a lovely face lowered in modesty.
सहसा चिन्तितो धर्मो धर्मशीलश्च सुव्रतः । सुतां पप्रच्छ पुत्रांश्च ब्राह्मणांश्च पुरोहितान्
Suddenly, the righteous and virtuous king, steadfast in his vows, considered his duty and questioned his sons, his daughter, the Brahmins, and the priests.
कं वृणोमि सुतार्ध च वराहं प्रवरं वरम् । मुनिपुत्रं देवपुत्रं राजेन्द्रसुतमीप्सितम्
Whom shall I choose as a husband for my daughter? A sage's son, a god's son, or a king's son—who is most desirable?
विवाहयोग्या कन्या मे वर्धमाना मनोहरा । शीघ्रं पश्य वरं याग्यं नवयौवनसंस्थितम्
My daughter, now grown and enchanting, is fit for marriage; quickly seek a worthy and youthful bridegroom.
धर्मशीलं सत्यसंधं नारायणपरायणम् । महाकुलप्रसूतं च सर्वत्रैव प्रतिष्ठितम्
He should be righteous, truthful, devoted to Narayana, born in a great family, and renowned everywhere.
करोषि राजपुत्रं चेद्रणशास्त्रविशारदम् । महारथं प्रतापार्हं रणमूर्ध्नि च सुस्थिरम्
If you choose a prince, he should be skilled in the science of warfare, a great chariot-warrior, worthy of glory, and steadfast in the midst of battle.
करोषि देवपुत्रं चेद्देवं गुणयुतं तथा । करोषि मुनिपुत्रं चेच्चतुर्वेदविशारदम्
If you make him the son of a god, then he will be endowed with divine qualities; if you make him the son of a sage, he will be thoroughly learned in the four Vedas.
वावदूकं विचारज्ञं सिद्धान्तेषु नितान्तकम् । नृपेन्द्रवचनं श्रुत्वा तमुवाच मुनेः सुतः
He will be eloquent, discerning, and deeply versed in philosophical conclusions; hearing the king’s words, the sage’s son replied.
गोतमस्य शतानन्दो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः । आप्तः प्रवक्ता विज्ञश्च धर्मी कुलपुरोहितः
Śatānanda, son of Gotama, master of the Vedas and their branches, accomplished, eloquent, wise, righteous, and the family priest, spoke.
शतानन्द उवाच राजेन्द्र त्वं च धर्मज्ञो धर्मशास्त्रविशारदः । पृर्वाख्यानं च वेदोक्तं कथयामि निशामय
Śatānanda said: O king, you are knowledgeable in righteousness and expert in the scriptures of dharma; I will recount the ancient story as told in the Vedas—listen attentively.
भुवो भारावतरणे स्वयं नारायणो भुवि । वसुदेवसुतः श्रीमान्परिबूर्णतमः प्रभुः
For the removal of the earth’s burden, Nārāyaṇa himself, the illustrious son of Vasudeva, the Lord, fully complete in all qualities, descended to earth.
विधातुश्च विधाता च ब्रह्मेशशेषवन्दितः । ज्योतिःस्वरूपः परमो भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहः
He who is the creator of the creator, worshipped by Brahmā, Śiva, and Śeṣa, whose very form is light, supreme, and the embodiment of grace toward devotees.
परमात्मा च सर्वेषां प्राणिनां प्रकृतेः परः । निर्लिप्तश्च निरीहप्तश्च साक्षी च सर्वकर्मणाम्
He is the supreme soul of all beings, transcending nature, untouched and desireless, and the witness of all actions.
राजेन्द्र तस्मै कन्यां च परिपूर्णतमाय च । दत्त्वा यास्यसि गोलोकं पितॄणां शतकैः सह
O king, by giving your daughter to him, the most complete one, you will go to Goloka together with hundreds of your ancestors.
लभ सारूप्यमुक्तिं च कन्या दत्त्वां परत्र च । इहैव सर्वपूज्यश्च भव विश्वगुरोर्गुरुः
By giving your daughter, attain liberation of likeness in the next world; and here, become honored by all, the teacher of the universal teacher.
सर्वस्वं दक्षिणां दत्त्वा महालक्ष्मीं च रुक्मिणीम् । समर्पणं कुरुविभो कुरुष्व जन्मखण्डनम्
Having given all your wealth as a gift, and offering Mahālakṣmī and Rukmiṇī, O lord, perform the rite that severs the bonds of birth.
विधाता निखितो राजन्संबन्धः सर्वसंमतः । द्वारकानगरे कृष्णं शीघ्रं प्रस्थापय द्विजम्
The creator has ordained this, O king, and this alliance is approved by all; quickly send the brāhmaṇa to Kṛṣṇa in the city of Dvārakā.
कृत्वा शुभक्षणं तूर्ण सर्वेषामपि संमतम् । आनीय परमात्मानं भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहम्
Choosing an auspicious moment, swiftly and with everyone’s consent, bring the Supreme Soul, the embodiment of grace to devotees.
ध्यानानुरोधहेतुं च नित्यदेहमनुत्तमम् । दृष्टिमात्रात्कुरु नृप स्वजन्मकर्मखण्डनम्
He is the eternal, unsurpassed body, the cause of meditation and devotion; by merely seeing him, O king, destroy the bonds of your birth and deeds.
यं न जानन्ति चत्वारो वेदाः संतश्च देवताः । सिद्धेन्द्राश्च मुनीन्द्राश्च देवा ब्रह्मादयस्तथा
He whom the four Vedas do not know, nor the sages, nor the gods, nor the perfected lords, nor the great seers, nor even the gods beginning with Brahmā.
ध्यायन्ते ध्यानपूताश्च योगिनो न विदन्ति यम् । सरस्वती जडीभूता वेदाः शास्त्राणियानि च
Even yogis purified by meditation contemplate him but do not know him; Sarasvatī becomes mute, and the Vedas and all scriptures fall silent.
सहस्रवक्त्रः शेषश्च पञ्चवक्त्रः सदाशिवः । चतुर्मुखो जगद्धाता कुमारः कार्तिकस्तथा
Śeṣa with a thousand mouths, Sadāśiva with five faces, Brahmā the four-faced creator of the world, Kumāra and Kārtikeya as well—
ऋषयो मुनयश्चैव भक्ताः परमवैष्णवाः । अक्षमाः स्तवने यस्य ध्यानासाध्यश्च योगिनाम्
The seers, sages, and supreme devotees of Viṣṇu—all are incapable of praising him adequately, and he is unattainable even to yogis through meditation.
बालकोऽहं महाराज तद्गुणं कथयामि किम् । शतानन्दवचः श्रुत्वा प्रफुल्लवदनो नृपः
O great king, I am but a child—what can I say of his qualities? Hearing the words of Śatānanda, the king’s face blossomed with joy.
आनिङ्गनं ददौ तस्मै समुत्थाय जवेन च । नानारत्नं मुवर्ण च वस्त्रं च रत्नभूषणम्
He quickly rose and gave him a necklace, various jewels, gold, garments, and jeweled ornaments.
ददौ तस्मै प्रदानं च प्रसादसुमुखो नृपः । गजेन्द्र तुरगं श्रेष्ठं रथं च मणिनिर्मितम्
The king, his face beaming with favor, gave him gifts: the lord of elephants, the finest horse, and a chariot adorned with gems.
रत्नसिहासनं रम्यं धनं च विपुलं तथा । भूमिं च सर्वसस्याढ्यां शश्वद्वृष्टिकरीं शुभाम्
He gave a splendid jeweled throne, abundant wealth, and land rich with every crop, ever blessed with rain and auspicious.
अकृष्टसाध्यां पूज्यां च ग्रामं सर्वप्रशंसितम् । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे रुक्मिश्चुकोप नृपनन्दनः
He gave a village, revered and praised by all, not needing to be ploughed; meanwhile, Rukmi, the delight of kings, grew angry.