अश्विनावपि पश्चात्तत्प्रविष्टौ सर उत्तमम् । ततस्ते निःसृतास्तस्मात्सरसस्तत्क्षणात्त्रयः । तुल्यरूपा दिव्य देहा युवानः सदृशाः किल । दिव्यकुण्डलभूषाढ्याः समानावयवास्तथा
The two Ashvins also entered that supreme lake afterward; then, from that lake, three emerged at once, all alike in form, with divine bodies, youthful, and similar in appearance, adorned with celestial earrings and possessing identical limbs.
तेऽब्रुवन्सहिताः सर्वे वृणीष्व वरवर्णिनि । अस्माकमीप्सितं भद्रे पतिं त्वममलानने
All three together spoke: 'Choose, O one of lovely complexion, whichever of us you desire as your husband, O pure-faced lady.'
यस्मिन्वाप्यधिका प्रीतिस्तं वृणुष्व वरानने । व्यास उवाच - सा दृष्ट्वा तुल्यरूपांस्तान्समानवयसस्तथा
Whichever one you feel greater affection for, O beautiful-faced one, choose him as your husband. Vyasa said: She, seeing them all alike in form and of the same age,
एकस्वरांस्तुल्यवेषांस्त्रीन्वै देवसुतोपमान् । सा तु संशयमापन्ना वीक्ष्य तान्सदृशाकृतीन्
All with the same voice, similar attire, and resembling divine sons, she became uncertain, observing their identical appearance.
अजानन्ती पतिं सम्यग्व्याकुला समचिन्तयत् । किं करोमि त्रयस्तुल्याः कं वृणोमि न वेद्म्यहम्
Not knowing her husband clearly, she grew anxious and pondered: 'What should I do? All three are alike. Whom should I choose? I do not know.'
पतिं देवसुता ह्येते संशये पतितास्म्यहम् । इन्द्रजालमिदं सम्यग्देवाभ्यामिह कल्पितम्
'These are divine sons, and I am caught in doubt. This is surely an illusion created here by the gods.'
कर्तव्यं किं मया चात्र मरणं समुपागतम् । न मया पतिमुत्सृज्य वरणीयः कथञ्चन
'What should I do here? Death has come upon me. I must never choose anyone, having abandoned my husband.'
देवस्त्वाधुनिकः कश्चिदित्येषा मम धारणा । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा परां विश्वेश्वरीं शिवाम्
'Which one is my husband now? This is my conviction.' Thus reflecting in her mind, she turned to the supreme Lady of the Universe, Shiva.
दध्यौ भगवतीं देवीं तुष्टाव च कृशोदरी । सुकन्योवाच - शरणं त्वां जगन्मातः प्राप्तास्मि भृशदुःखिता
She meditated upon the blessed Goddess and praised her, the slender-waisted Sukanya said: 'I have come to you for refuge, O Mother of the world, greatly afflicted.'
रक्ष मेऽद्य सतीधर्मं नमामि चरणौ तव । नमः पद्मोद्भवे देवि नमः शङ्करवल्लभे
'Protect my chastity today; I bow to your feet. Salutations to you, O lotus-born Goddess, salutations to you, beloved of Shankara.'
विष्णुप्रिये नमो लक्ष्मि वेदमातः सरस्वति । इदं जगत्त्वया सृष्टं सर्वं स्थावरजङ्गमम्
'Salutations to you, beloved of Vishnu, O Lakshmi; salutations to you, Sarasvati, Mother of the Vedas. This entire world, movable and immovable, has been created by you.'
पासि त्वमिदमव्यग्रा तथात्सि लोकशान्तये । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानां जननी त्वं सुसम्मता
'You protect it without distraction, and you exist for the peace of the worlds. You are acknowledged as the mother of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara.'
बुद्धिदासि त्वमज्ञानां ज्ञानिनां मोक्षदा सदा । आज्ञा त्वं प्रकृतिः पूर्णा पुरुषप्रियदर्शना
'You grant wisdom to the ignorant and always bestow liberation to the wise. You are command, you are complete nature, you are dear to the Purusha.'
भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदासि त्वं प्राणिनां विशदात्मनाम् । अज्ञानां दुःखदा कामं सत्त्वानां सुखसाधना
'You grant enjoyment and liberation to beings of pure soul; you give suffering to the ignorant as you wish, and are the source of happiness for the virtuous.'
सिद्धिदा योगिनामम्ब जयदा कीर्तिदा पुनः । शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नास्मि विस्मयं परमं गता
'You grant accomplishment to yogis, O Mother, victory and fame again. I have sought refuge in you, and am filled with utmost wonder.'
पतिं दर्शय मे मातर्मग्नास्मि शोकसागरे । देवाभ्यां चरितं कूटं कं वृणोमि विमोहिता
'Show me my husband, O Mother, for I am submerged in the ocean of sorrow. The gods have acted deceitfully; I am bewildered as to whom I should choose.'
पतिं दर्शय सर्वज्ञे विदित्वा मे सतीव्रतम् । व्यास उवाच - एवं स्तुता तदा देवा तथा त्रिपुरसुन्दरी
'Reveal my husband, O Omniscient One, knowing my vow of chastity.' Vyasa said: Thus praised at that time, the goddess Tripurasundari,
हृदयेऽस्यास्तदा ज्ञानं ददावाशु सुखोदयम् । निश्चित्य मनसा तुल्यवयोरूपधरान्सती
At that moment, bestowed knowledge in her heart, bringing forth happiness; having resolved in her mind regarding those of equal age and form, the virtuous one...
प्रसमीक्ष्य तु तान् सर्वान्वव्रे बाला स्वकं पतिम् । वृतेऽथ च्यवने देवौ सन्तुष्टौ तौ बभूवतुः
Having carefully considered them all, the young woman chose her own husband; then, the two gods became pleased.
सतीधर्मं समालोक्य सम्प्रीतौ ददतुर्वरम् । भगवत्याः प्रसादेन प्रसन्नौ तौ सुरौत्तमौ
Seeing her steadfastness in duty, the two excellent gods, delighted by the grace of the Goddess, granted her a boon.
मुनिमामन्त्र्य तरसा गमनायोद्यतावुभौ । लब्ध्वा तु च्यवनो रूपं नेत्रे भार्यां च यौवनम्
Having taken leave of the sage, both gods swiftly prepared to depart; Cyavana regained his form, and his wife her youthful beauty.
हृष्टोऽब्रवीन्महातेजास्तौ नासत्याविदं वचः । उपकारः कृतोऽयं मे युवाभ्यां सुरसत्तमौ
Overjoyed, the great and radiant Cyavana spoke these words to the two Aśvins: 'You, noble gods, have done me a great favor.'
किं ब्रवीमि सुखं प्राप्तं संसारेऽस्मिन्ननुत्तमे । प्राप्य भार्यां सुकेशान्तां दुःखं मेऽभवदन्वहम्
'What can I say? I have attained supreme happiness in this world; after gaining my beautiful-haired wife, I suffered daily sorrow.'
अन्धस्य चातिवृद्धस्य भोगहीनस्य कानने । युवाभ्यां नयने दत्ते यौवनं रूपमद्भुतम्
'Blind, very old, deprived of pleasure, dwelling in the forest—by you two, I have been given sight, youth, and wondrous beauty.'
सम्पादितं ततं किञ्चिदुपकर्तुमहं ब्रुवे । उपकारिणि मित्रे यो नोपकुर्यात्कथञ्चन
'Therefore, I declare that I must do something in return; whoever does not repay a benefactor, even if a friend, is to be censured.'
तं धिगस्तु नरं देवौ भवेच्च ऋणवान्भुवि । तस्माद्वां वाञ्छितं किञ्चिद्दातुमिच्छामि साम्प्रतम्
'Such a man, O gods, is to be condemned and remains indebted on earth; therefore, I now wish to grant you whatever you desire.'
आत्मनो ऋणमोक्षाय देवेशौ नूतनस्य च । प्रार्थितं वां प्रदास्यामि यदलभ्यं सुरासुरैः
'To free myself from this debt, O lords of the gods, and for your sake as well, I will grant you whatever you seek—even that which is unattainable by gods and demons.'
ब्रुवाथां वां मनोद्दिष्टं प्रीतोऽस्मि सुकृतेन वाम् । श्रुत्वा तौ तु मुनेर्वाक्यमभिमन्त्र्य परस्परम्
'Speak what is in your hearts; I am pleased by your good deed.' Hearing the sage's words, the two conferred with each other.
तमूचतुर्मुनिश्रेष्ठं सुकन्यासहितं स्थितम् । मुने पितुः प्रसादेन सर्वं नो मनसेप्सितम्
They addressed the best of sages, who stood there with Sukanyā: 'O sage, by your favor, may all that we desire in our hearts be fulfilled.'
उत्कण्ठा सोमपानस्य वर्तते नौ सुरैः सह । भिषजाविति देवेन निषिद्धौ चमसग्रहे
'We long to drink soma together with the gods, but as physicians, we have been forbidden by the gods to take the soma cup.'