त्वमन्धभार्या नवयौवनान्विता कृतासि धात्रा ननु मन्दबुद्धिना । न चैनमर्हस्यसितायतेक्षणे पतिं त्वमन्यं कुरु चारुलोचने
You, young and beautiful, have been made the wife of a blind man by the creator, surely lacking in wisdom. O woman with long, dark eyes, you do not deserve such a husband; choose another, O lovely-eyed one.
वृथैव ते जीवितमम्बुजेक्षणे पतिं च सम्प्राप्य मुनिं गतेक्षणम् । वने निवासं च तथाजिनाम्बर- प्रधारणं योग्यतरं न मन्महे
Your life is wasted, O lotus-eyed one, having obtained a sage as husband whose sight is gone. Dwelling in the forest and wearing animal skins—such things are not fitting for you, I think.
अतोऽनवद्याङ्ग्युभयोस्त्वमेकं वरं कुरुषावहिता सुलोचने । किं यौवनं मानिनि सङ्करोषि वृथा मुनिं सुन्दरि सेवमाना
Therefore, O flawless-limbed one, choose one of us for your happiness, O beautiful-eyed woman. Why do you, proud lady, waste your youth serving a sage, O lovely one?
किं सेवसे भाग्यविवर्जितं तं समुज्झितं पोषणरक्षणाभ्याम् । त्यक्त्वा मुनिं सर्वसुखापवर्जितं भजानवद्याङ्ग्युभयोस्त्वमेकम्
Why do you serve that unfortunate one, abandoned by nourishment and protection? Leave the sage, deprived of all pleasures, and choose one of us, O flawless-limbed woman.
त्वं नन्दने चैत्ररथे वने च कुरुष्व कान्ते प्रथितं विहारम् । अन्धेन वृद्धेन कथं हि कालं विनेष्यसे मानिनि मानहीनम्
In Nandana or Caitraratha forest, enjoy renowned pleasures with us, O lovely one. How will you, proud lady, spend your time with a blind, aged man, lacking dignity?
भूपात्मजा त्वं शुभलक्षणा च जानासि संसारविहारभावम् । भाग्येन हीना विजने वनेऽत्र कालं कथं वाहयसे वृथा च
You are a king's daughter, blessed with auspicious marks, and you know the ways of worldly enjoyment. Bereft of fortune, how do you spend your time in this lonely forest, and in vain?
तस्माद्भजस्व पिकभाषिणि चारुवक्त्रे एवं द्वयोस्तव सुखाय विशालनेत्रे । देवालयुषे च कृशोदरि भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् त्यक्त्वा मुनिं जरठमाशु नृपेन्द्रपुत्रि
Therefore, O sweet-voiced one with charming speech, choose us for your happiness, O wide-eyed woman. O slender-waisted one, enjoy pleasures in the abode of the gods; quickly abandon the aged sage, O king's daughter.
किं ते सुखं चात्र वने सुकेशि वृद्धेन सार्धं विजने मृगाक्षि । सेवा तथान्धस्य नवं वयश्च किं ते मतं भूपतिपुत्रि दुःखम्
What happiness is there for you in this forest, O woman with beautiful hair, together with an old man in this lonely place, O doe-eyed one? Service to the blind and your youthful age—what is your opinion, O king's daughter, of such sorrow?
शशिमुखि त्वमतीव सुकोमला फलजलाहरणं तव नोचितम्
O moon-faced one, you are exceedingly delicate; fetching fruits and water is not suitable for you.
अश्विभ्यां च्यवनद्वारा सोमपानाय प्रतिज्ञावर्णनम् व्यास उवाच - तयोस्तद्भाषितं श्रुत्वा वेपमाना नृपात्मजा । धैर्यमालम्ब्य तौ तत्र बभाषे मितभाषिणी
Vyasa said: Hearing their words, the king's daughter trembled; gathering courage, she spoke to them there, speaking few words.
देवौ वां रविपुत्रौ च सर्वज्ञौ सुरसम्मतौ । सतीं मां धर्मशीलां च नैवं वदितुमर्हथः
You two are gods, sons of the sun, all-knowing and honored among the gods. You should not speak thus to me, who am virtuous and devoted to dharma.
पित्रा दत्ता सुरश्रेष्ठौ मुनये योगधर्मिणे । कथं गच्छामि तं मार्गं पुंश्चलीगणसेवितम्
Given by my father, O best of gods, to the sage devoted to yoga, how can I follow the path frequented by women of loose conduct?
द्रष्टायं सर्वलोकस्य कर्मसाक्षी दिवाकरः । कश्यपाच्चैव सम्भूतो नैवं भाषितुमर्हथः
The sun, born of Kashyapa, is the witness of all actions in the world; you should not speak in this manner.
कुलकन्या पतिं त्यक्त्वा कथमन्यं भजेन्नरम् । असारेऽस्मिन्हि संसारे जानन्तौ धर्मनिर्णयम्
How can a noble maiden, abandoning her husband, seek another man? In this insubstantial world, you both know the determination of dharma.
यथेच्छं गच्छतं देवौ शापं दास्यामि वानघौ । सुकन्याहं च शर्यातेः पतिभक्तिपरायणा
Go as you wish, O gods; I will give you a curse, O sinless ones. I am Sukanya, devoted to my husband Sharyati.
व्यास उवाच - इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्या नासत्यौ विस्मितौ भृशम् । तावब्रूतां पुनस्त्वेनां शङ्कमानौ भयं मुनेः
Vyasa said: Hearing her words, the Nasatyas were greatly astonished; suspecting the sage's wrath, they spoke to her again.
राजपुत्रि प्रसन्नौ ते धर्मेण वरवर्णिनि । वरं वरय सुश्रोणि दास्यावः श्रेयसे तव
O princess, you are favored by dharma, O beautiful one; choose a boon, O lovely-hipped, we will grant you what is best for you.
जानीहि प्रमदे नूनं आवां देवभिषग्वरौ । युवानं रूपसम्पन्नं प्रकुर्यावः पतिं तव
Know, O lady, that we are indeed the best among divine physicians; we can make your husband young and handsome.
ततस्त्रयाणामस्माकं पतिमेकतमं वृणु । समानरूपदेहानां मध्ये चातुर्यपण्डिते
Then, among the three of us, choose one as your husband, from among those with equal form and skill.
सा तर्योवचनं श्रुत्वा विस्मिता स्वपतिं तदा । गत्वोवाच तयोर्वाक्यं ताभ्यामुक्तं यदद्भुतम्
She, hearing their words, was astonished and went to her husband; she told him the wondrous words spoken by them.
सुकन्योवाच - स्वामिन् सूर्यसुतौ देवौ सम्प्राप्तौ च्यवनाश्रमे । दृष्टौ मया दिव्यदेहौ नासत्यौ भृगुनन्दन
Sukanya said: O lord, the divine sons of the sun have arrived at Cyavana's hermitage; I have seen the Nasatyas, O descendant of Bhrigu, with their celestial forms.
वीक्ष्य मां चारुसर्वाङ्गीं जातौ कामातुरावुभौ । कथितं वचनं स्वामिन् पतिं ते नवयौवनम्
Seeing me, beautiful in every limb, both became overwhelmed with desire; O lord, they spoke to me about making your youth new.
दिव्यदेहं करिष्यावश्चक्षुष्मन्तं मुनिं किल । एतेन समयेनाद्य तं शृणु त्वं मयोदितम्
They will make the sage possess a divine body and eyesight; listen now to what I have told you, according to this agreement.
समावयवरूपं च करिष्यावः पतिं तव । तत्र त्रयाणामस्माकं पतिमेकतमं वृणु
They will make your husband equal in form to themselves; among the three, choose one as your husband.
तच्छ्रुत्वाहमिहायाता प्रष्टुं त्वां कार्यमद्भुतम् । किं कर्तव्यमतः साधो ब्रूह्यस्मिन्कार्यसङ्कटे
Hearing this, I have come here to ask you about this wondrous matter; O holy one, tell me what should be done in this difficult situation.
देवमायापि दुर्ज्ञेया न जाने कपटं तयोः । यदाज्ञापय सर्वज्ञ तत्करोमि तवेप्सितम्
Even divine illusion is hard to understand; I do not know their deception. Command me, O all-knowing, I will do whatever you desire.
च्यवन उवाच - गच्छ कान्तेऽद्य नासत्यौ वचनान्मम सुव्रते । आनयस्व समीपं मे शीघ्रं देवभिषग्वरौ
Cyavana said: Go, dear one, today, bring the Nasatyas here at my request, O virtuous woman, bring the best divine physicians quickly to me.
क्रियतामाशु तद्वाक्यं नात्र कार्या विचारणा व्यास उवाच - एवं सा समनुज्ञाता तत्र गत्वा वचोऽब्रवीत्
Let their words be fulfilled quickly; there is no need for deliberation here. Vyasa said: Thus, having been permitted, she went and spoke to them.
क्रियतामाशु नासत्यौ समयेन सुरोत्तमौ । तच्छ्रुत्वा चाश्विनौ वाक्यं तस्यास्तौ तत्र चागतौ
Let it be done quickly, O Nasatyas, according to the agreement, O best among gods. Hearing her words, the Ashvins came there.
ऊचतू राजपुत्रीं तां पतिस्तव विशत्वपः । रूपार्थं च्यवनस्तूर्णं ततोऽम्भः प्रविवेश ह
They said to the princess: Let your husband enter the water for beauty; Cyavana quickly entered the water.