विषमद्मि गले पाशं कृत्वा प्राणांस्त्यजाम्यहम् । विलप्यैवं रुरुस्तत्र विचार्य मनसा पुनः
I will drink poison, or tie a noose around my neck and abandon my life; lamenting thus, he wept there, pondering again in his mind.
उपायं चिन्तयामास स्थितस्तस्मिन्नदीतटे । मरणात्किं फलं मे स्यादात्महत्या दुरत्यया
Standing on that riverbank, he began to consider a means; what fruit would there be for me from death, from this terrible act of self-destruction?
दुःखितश्च पिता मे स्याज्जननी चातिदुःखिता । दैवस्तुष्टो भवेत्कामं दृष्ट्वा मां त्यक्तजीवितम्
My father would be grieved, and my mother exceedingly sorrowful; perhaps fate would be satisfied, seeing me having abandoned my life.
सर्वः प्रमुदितश्च स्यान्मत्क्षये नात्र संशयः । उपकारः प्रियायाः कः परलोके भवेदपि
All would rejoice at my destruction, of this there is no doubt; but what benefit would there be for my beloved, even in the next world?
मृते मय्यात्मघातेन विरहात्पीडितेऽपि च । परलोके प्रिया सापि न मे स्यादात्मघातिनः
If I die by my own hand, tormented by separation, even then in the next world, that beloved would not be mine, for one who has committed self-slaughter.
एतदर्थं मृते दोषा मयि नैवामृते पुनः । विमृश्यैव रुरुस्तत्र स्नात्वाचम्य शुचिः स्थितः
For this reason, the faults would be mine if I die, but not if I do not; reflecting thus, he wept there, having bathed and purified himself, standing firm.
अब्रवीद्वचनं कृत्वा जलं पाणावसौ मुनिः । यन्मया सुकृतं किञ्चित्कृतं देवार्चनादिकम्
Having spoken these words, the sage took water in his hands and said: Whatever good I have done, such as worship of the gods—
गुरवः पूजिता भक्त्या हुतं जप्तं तपः कृतम् । अधीतास्त्वखिला वेदा गायत्री संस्कृता यदि
If I have honored my teachers with devotion, offered oblations, recited, performed austerities, studied all the Vedas, and sanctified the Gāyatrī—
रविराराधितस्तेन सञ्जीवतु मम प्रिया । यदि जीवेन्न मे कान्ता त्यजे प्राणानहं ततः
If by worshipping the Sun I have gained merit, may my beloved be restored to life; if my beloved does not live, then I will abandon my own life.
इत्युक्त्वा तज्जलं भूमौ चिक्षेपाराध्य देवताः । राजोवाच एवं विलपतस्तस्य भार्यया दुःखितस्य च
Having said this, he poured that water upon the ground, having worshipped the deities.
देवदूतस्तदाभ्येत्य वाक्यमाह रुरुं ततः । देवदूत उवाच माकार्षीः साहसं ब्रह्मन्कथं जीवेन्मृता प्रिया
The king said: As he was lamenting thus, grieving for his wife—then a divine messenger approached and spoke to Ruru.
गतायुरेषा सुश्रोणी गन्धर्वाप्सरसोः सुता । अन्यां कामय चार्वङ्गीं मृतेयं चाविवाहिता
The divine messenger said: Do not commit such a rash act, O Brahmin; how can your beloved, who is dead, live again?
किं रोदिषि सुदुर्बुद्धे का प्रीतिस्तेऽनया सह । रुरुरुवाच देवदूत न चान्यां वै वरिष्याम्यहमङ्गनाम्
Her life is ended, this fair-hipped one, daughter of a Gandharva and an Apsaras; desire another beautiful woman, for this one has died unmarried.
यदि जीवेन्न जीवेद्वा मर्तव्यं चाधुना मया । राजोवाच विदित्वेति हठं तस्य देवदूतो मुदान्वितः
Why do you weep, O most foolish one? What joy could you have with her? Ruru said: Divine messenger, I will not choose another woman.
उवाच वचनं तथ्यं सत्यं चातिमनोहरम् । उपायं शृणु विप्रेन्द्र विहितं यत्सुरैः पुरा
He spoke words that were true, sincere, and exceedingly charming. Listen, O foremost of Brahmins, to the method once devised by the gods.
आयुषोऽर्धप्रदानेन जीवयाशु प्रमद्वराम् । रुरुरुवाच आयुषोऽर्धं प्रयच्छामि कन्यायै नात्र संशयः
By granting half of his lifespan, let Pramadvara be revived at once. Ruru said: I give half my life to the maiden; there is no doubt about this.
अद्य प्रत्यावृतप्राणा प्रोत्तिष्ठतु मम प्रिया । विश्वावसुस्तदा तत्र विमानेन समागतः
Today, with her life restored, let my beloved rise again. At that moment, Viśvāvasu arrived there in his celestial chariot.
ज्ञात्वा पुत्रीं मृतां चाशु स्वर्गलोकात्प्रमद्वराम् । ततो गन्धर्वराजश्च देवदूतश्च सत्तमः
Knowing that his daughter Pramadvara had died and departed from the heavenly realm, then the king of the Gandharvas and the noble divine messenger,
धर्मराजमुपेत्येदं वचनं प्रत्यभाषताम् । धर्मराज रुरोः पत्नी सुता विश्वावसोस्तथा
Approached the Lord of Dharma and addressed him with these words: O Lord of Dharma, Ruru’s wife is also the daughter of Viśvāvasu.
मृता प्रमद्वरा कन्या दष्टा सर्पेण चाधुना । सा रुरोरायुषोऽर्धेन मर्तुकामस्य सूर्यज
The maiden Pramadvara has died, bitten just now by a serpent. She, desiring to die, is to be revived by half of Ruru’s lifespan, O son of the Sun.
समुत्तिष्ठतु तन्वङ्गी व्रतचर्याप्रभावतः । धर्म उवाच विश्वावसुसुतां कन्यां देवदूत यदीच्छसि
Let the slender-bodied girl rise up, by the power of her vow and discipline. Dharma spoke: If you desire the maiden, daughter of Viśvāvasu, O divine messenger,
उत्तिष्ठत्वायुषोऽर्धेन रुरुं गत्वा त्वमर्पय । राजोवाच एवमुक्तस्ततो गत्वा जीवयित्वा प्रमद्वराम्
Let her rise, by half of Ruru’s lifespan; go and deliver her to Ruru. The king spoke: Thus instructed, he went and revived Pramadvara.
रुरोः समर्पयामास देवदूतस्त्वरान्वितः । ततः शुभेऽह्नि विधिना रुरुणापि विवाहिता
The divine messenger, acting swiftly, delivered her to Ruru. Then, on an auspicious day and according to proper rites, she was married to Ruru.
इत्थं चोपाययोगेन मृताप्युज्जीविता तदा । उपायस्तु प्रकर्तव्यः सर्वथा शास्त्रसम्मतः
Thus, by means of this method, even one who was dead was brought back to life. The method must always be performed in accordance with the scriptures.
मणिमन्त्रौषधीभिश्च विधिवत्प्राणरक्षणे । इत्युक्त्वा सचिवान् राजा कल्पयित्वा सुरक्षकान्
With gems, mantras, and medicines, life is to be protected according to prescribed procedures. Having said this, the king appointed ministers and arranged for guards.
कारयित्वाथ प्रासादं सप्तभूमिकमुत्तमम् । आरुरोहोत्तरासूनुः सचिवैः सह तत्क्षणम्
He had a splendid seven-storied palace constructed. At that moment, the king’s son ascended it together with his ministers.
मणिमन्त्रधराः शूराः स्थापितास्तत्र रक्षणे । प्रेषयामास भूपालो मुनिं गौरमुखं ततः
Brave men bearing gems and mantras were stationed there for protection. Then the king sent the sage Gauramukha.
प्रसादार्थं सेवकस्य क्षमस्वेति पुनः पुनः । ब्राह्मणान्सिद्धमन्त्रज्ञान् रक्षणार्थमितस्ततः
For the sake of the servant’s favor, he repeatedly requested forgiveness. Brahmins skilled in perfected mantras were sent there for protection.
मन्त्रिपुत्रः स्थितस्तत्र स्थापयामास दन्तिनः । न कश्चिदारुहेत्तत्र प्रासादे चातिरक्षिते
The minister’s son was stationed there, and elephants were placed for security. No one could enter that well-guarded palace.
वातोऽपि न चरेत्तत्र प्रवेशे विनिवार्यते । भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकं राजा तत्रस्थश्च चकार सः
Not even the wind could move there; entry was strictly prevented. The king, residing there, arranged all kinds of food and drink.