एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र शतानन्दो महामुनिः । कोटिभिर्मुनिभिः सार्धमाजगाम हरेः पुरः
Meanwhile, there arrived the great sage Śatānanda, together with millions of sages, before Hari.
पुरं प्रवेशयामास शतद्वारं च दुर्गमम् । अगम्यं चापि शत्रूणां मित्राणा च सुखप्रदम्
He caused them to enter the city, which had a hundred gates and was fortified, inaccessible to enemies, and a source of happiness for friends.
देवकन्या नागकन्या राजकन्यास्तथैव च । मुनिकन्या वरं द्रष्टुं सस्मिताश्च समाययुः
Divine maidens, serpent maidens, royal maidens, and daughters of sages, all smiling, came to see the bridegroom.
ददृशुर्योषितः सर्वा निमेषरहितेन च । प्रसन्नं कारयामास सस्मितश्चन्द्रशेखरः
All those women gazed upon him with unblinking eyes; and Candraśekhara, smiling, made them joyful.
रत्नेन्द्रसारनिर्माणरथस्थं परमेश्वरम् । सर्वेषां परमात्मानं भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहम्
They saw the Supreme Lord, the indwelling Self of all, embodiment of grace to devotees, standing in a chariot fashioned from the finest jewels.
नवीनजलदश्यामं शोभितं पीतवाससा । यन्दनोक्षितसर्वाङ्गं वनमालाविभूषितम्
His complexion was like a fresh raincloud, adorned with yellow garments, his body sprinkled with sandalwood, and decorated with a garland of forest flowers.
रत्नकेयूरवलयरत्नमालाकुलोज्ज्वलम् । रत्नकुण्डलयुग्मेन गण्डस्थलविराचितम्
He shone, adorned with gem-studded armlets, bracelets, and necklaces, his cheeks graced by a pair of jeweled earrings.
रत्नेन्द्रसारनिर्माणक्वणन्मञ्जीररञ्जितम् । सस्मितं मुरलीहस्तं पश्यन्तं रत्नदर्पणम्
He was adorned with tinkling jeweled anklets made from the finest gems, smiling, holding a flute, gazing into a jeweled mirror.
सप्तभिः पार्षदैर्गोपैः सेवितं श्वेतचामरैः । नवयौवनसंपन्नं शरत्कमललोचनम्
He was served by seven attendants, cowherds, with white fly-whisks; endowed with fresh youth, his eyes like autumn lotuses.
शरत्पूर्णेन्दुतुल्यास्यं भक्तानुग्रहकारकम् । कोटिकन्दर्पसौन्दर्यं सत्यं नित्यं सनातनम्
His face was like the full autumn moon, bestower of grace to devotees, possessing the beauty of a million Cupids, true, eternal, and everlasting.
तीर्थपूतं कीर्तिपूतं ब्रह्मेशशेषवन्दितम् । परम्ह्नादकं रूपं कौटिचन्द्रसमप्रभम्
His form was purified by holy places and fame, worshipped by Brahmā, Īśa, and Śeṣa, delighting the mind, radiant as a host of moons.
ध्यानासाध्यं दुराराध्यं परमं प्रकृतेः परम् । दूर्वया पट्टसूत्रं च रत्नेन्द्रसारदर्पणम्
He is attainable by meditation, difficult to worship, supreme, beyond nature; wearing a garland of dūrvā grass, a silken thread, and a jeweled mirror.
दधानं कर्तृकासार्ध कदल्याः स्फुटमञ्जरीम् । चूडां त्रिविक्रमाकारां मालतीमाल्यभूषितम्
He bore in his hair a half-blown cluster of banana flowers held by a golden pin, and was adorned with a garland of jasmine.
पुष्पं नारीप्रदत्तं च मुकुटं मस्तकोजज्ववलम् । दृष्ट्वा वरं युवत्यश्च मूर्च्छा संप्रापुरीश्वरम्
A flower offered by a woman adorned his crown, which shone on his head; seeing the bridegroom, the young women fainted before the Lord.
रुक्मिणीजीवनं धन्यं श्लाध्यमित्यूचुरीप्सितम् । जामातरं सा ददर्श राज्ञी भीष्मककामिनी
They said, 'The life of Rukmini is blessed and praiseworthy.' The queen, Bhishmaka's beloved, saw her son-in-law as she wished.
निमेषरहिता तुष्टा प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणा । राजा प्रसन्नवदनः सामात्यः सपुरोहितः
Without blinking, satisfied, with a cheerful face, the queen looked on; the king, together with his ministers and priests, was also joyful-faced.
समागत्य सुरान्विप्रान्भूपांश्च प्रणनाम सः । ददौ योग्याश्रमं तेभ्यो भक्ष्यपूर्ण सुधोपमम्
He approached the gods, sages, and kings, and bowed to them; he gave them suitable places, filled with delicious food like nectar.
दिवानिशं चाप्युवाच दीयतां दीयतामिति । सुखं निनाय रजनीं देवैश्च बान्धवैः सह
Day and night he kept saying, 'Give, give!' He spent the night happily with the gods and his relatives.
वसुदेवः प्रभाते च प्रातःकृत्यं चकार सः । स्नात्वा संध्यादिकं कृत्वा धृत्वा धौते च वाससी
Vasudeva, at dawn, performed his morning duties; after bathing and doing the sandhya rites, he put on freshly washed garments.
चकार वेदमन्त्रेण शुभाधिवासनं हरेः । संपूज्य मातृकाः सर्वाः साक्षाच्च सर्वदेवताः
He performed the auspicious consecration of Hari with Vedic mantras; he worshipped all the Mothers and all the gods directly.
प्रदाय वसुधारां च वृद्धिश्राद्धादिकं तथा । प्राह्मणान्भोजयामास देवांश्च बान्धवांस्तथा
He gave a stream of earth and also performed rites like the growth-shraddha; he fed the Brahmins, gods, and relatives.
वाद्यं च वादयामास कारयामास मङ्गलम् । सुवेषं कारयामास वरस्यापि प्रशंसितम्
He had music played and arranged auspicious ceremonies; he adorned the groom in praised attire.
सज्जं च कारयामास नरयानं सुशोभनम् । एवं राजा भीष्मकश्च विवाहार्हं च मङ्गलम्
He made ready a splendid chariot; thus King Bhishmaka arranged all the auspicious things suitable for the wedding.
पुरोहितैर्वेदमन्त्रैः सर्व कर्म चकार सः । मणिरत्नं धनं चापि मुक्तामाणिक्यहीरकम्
With priests and Vedic mantras, he performed all the rites; he gave jewels, wealth, pearls, rubies, and diamonds.
भक्ष्यद्रव्यं च वस्त्रं चाप्युपहारमनुत्तमम् । भट्टेम्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽपि भिक्षुकेभ्यो ददौ मुदा
He gave food, clothing, and excellent gifts; he joyfully gave to the Brahmins, scholars, and beggars.
वाद्यं च वादयामास कारयामास मङ्गलम् । सुवेषं कारयामास रुक्मिण्याश्च मनोहरम्
He had music played and arranged auspicious ceremonies; he adorned Rukmini in enchanting attire.
राज्ञीभिर्मुनिपत्नीभिर्विधानं च यथोचितम् । ततः शुभे क्षणे प्राप्ते माहेन्द्रे परमोदये
The queens and wives of sages performed the prescribed rites; then, at the auspicious moment, at the great rise of the Indra constellation,
विवाहोचितलग्ने च लग्नाधिपतिसंयुते । सद्ग्रहेक्षणशुद्धे चाप्यसतां दृष्टिवर्जिते
At the proper wedding time, with the lord of the lagna presiding, with the gaze of the auspicious planets pure and the sight of the inauspicious ones avoided,
शुभक्षणे सुभर्क्षे च विशुद्धे चन्द्रतारयोः । वेधदोषादिरहिते शलाकादिविवर्जिते
At the auspicious moment, in a favorable star, with the moon and stars pure, free from defects in the horoscope and devoid of any bad omens,
दंपत्योः शर्मयोग्ये च परिणामसुखप्रदे । एवंभूते च समये भीष्मकप्राङ्गणं हरिः
When the time was fit for the couple's happiness and promised marital bliss, at such a moment, Hari entered Bhishmaka's courtyard.