आशीर्वादैश्च वो नूनं पुत्रोऽयं मे महीपतिः । भविष्यति न सन्देहो भवन्तो मन्त्रवित्तमाः
"Surely, by your blessings, my son will become king—there is no doubt. You are all most learned in mantras."
व्यास उवाच रथारूढः स मेधावी यत्र याति सुदर्शनः । अक्षौहिणीसमावृत्त इवाभाति स तेजसा
Vyasa said: Mounted on the chariot, that wise Sudarshana shone with splendor wherever he went, like one surrounded by an entire army division.
प्रतापो मन्त्रबीजस्य नान्यः कश्चन भूपते । एवं वै जपतस्तस्य प्रीतियुक्तस्य सर्वथा
O King, there is no power like that of the mantra-seed; thus, as he chanted with complete devotion, it was so.
सम्प्राप्य सद्गुरोर्बीजं कामराजाख्यमद्भुतम् । जपेद्यस्तु शुचिः शान्तः सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्
Having obtained the wondrous Kamaraja seed from the true teacher, whoever is pure and peaceful and recites it attains all desires.
न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि वापि सुदुर्लभम् । प्रसन्नायाः शिवायाश्च यदप्राप्यं नृपोत्तम
There is nothing on earth or in heaven that is truly unattainable for one who has the favor of Shiva and the Goddess, O best of kings.
ते मन्दास्तेऽतिदुर्भाग्या रोगैस्ते समभिद्रुताः । येषां चित्ते न विश्वासो भवेदम्बार्चनादिषु
Those who lack faith in the worship of the Mother are dull, extremely unfortunate, and afflicted by disease.
या माता सर्वदेवानां युगादौ परिकीर्तिता । आदिमातेति विख्याता नाम्ना तेन कुरूद्वह
She who, at the beginning of the ages, is proclaimed as the Mother of all the gods, is renowned as the Primal Mother by name, O best of the Kurus.
बुद्धिः कीर्तिर्धृतिर्लक्ष्मीः शक्तिः श्रद्धा मतिः स्मृतिः । सर्वेषां प्राणिनां सा वै प्रत्यक्षं वै विभासते
Intelligence, fame, fortitude, prosperity, power, faith, discernment, and memory—she alone shines forth manifestly in all living beings as these.
न जानन्ति नरा ये वै मोहिता मायया किल । न भजन्ति कुतर्कज्ञा देवीं विश्वेश्वरीं शिवाम्
Those men who are deluded by her Māyā truly do not know her, and, being attached to false reasoning, do not worship the Divine Lady, the Ruler of the Universe, the Auspicious One.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुस्तथा शम्भुर्वासवो वरुणो यमः । वायुरग्निः कुबेरश्च त्वष्टा पूषाश्विनौ भगः
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śambhu, the Vasus, Varuṇa, Yama, Vāyu, Agni, Kubera, Tvaṣṭṛ, Pūṣan, the Aśvins, and Bhaga—
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा विश्वेदेवा मरुद्गणाः । सर्वे ध्यायन्ति तां देवीं सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणीम्
The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Viśvadevas, and hosts of Maruts—all meditate upon that Goddess who creates, sustains, and dissolves the universe.
को न सेवेत विद्वान्वै तां शक्तिं परमात्मिकाम् । सुदर्शनेन सा ज्ञाता देवी सर्वार्थदा शिवा
Who, being wise, would not serve that Supreme Power? By Sudarśana she was known—the Goddess, the Auspicious One, who grants all desires.
ब्रह्मैव साऽतिदुष्प्राप्या विद्याविद्यास्वरूपिणी । योगगम्या परा शक्तिर्मुमुक्षूणां च वल्लभा
She is verily Brahman, exceedingly difficult to attain, embodying both knowledge and ignorance, accessible through yoga, the supreme power, and beloved of those who seek liberation.
परमात्मस्वरूपं को वेत्तुमर्हति तां विना । या सृष्टिं त्रिविधां कृत्वा दर्शयत्यखिलात्मने
Who is able to know the true nature of the Supreme Self without her, who, having created the threefold world, reveals it to all beings?
सुदर्शनस्तु तां देवीं मनसा परिचिन्तयन् । राज्यलाभात्परं प्राप्य सुखं वै कानने स्थितः
Sudarśana, contemplating that Goddess in his mind, attained happiness greater than kingship, dwelling in the forest.
सापि चन्द्रकलात्यर्थं कामबाणप्रपीडिता । नानोपचारैरनिशं दधार दुःखितं वपुः
She, overwhelmed by the crescent moon’s beauty and pierced by the arrows of desire, endured various attentions day and night, bearing a sorrowful form.
तावत्तस्याः पिता ज्ञात्वा कन्यां पुत्रवरार्थिनीम् । सुबाहुः कारयामास स्वयंवरमतन्द्रितः
Meanwhile, her father, knowing his daughter desired an excellent husband, diligently arranged a svayaṃvara for her.
स्वयंवरस्तु त्रिविधो विद्वद्भिः परिकीर्तितः । राज्ञां विवाहयोग्यौ वै नान्येषां कथितः किल
The learned declare that there are three kinds of svayaṃvara, but only two are considered suitable for the marriage of kings, not for others.
इच्छास्वयंवरश्चैको द्वितीयश्च पणाभिधः । यथा रामेण भग्नं वै त्र्यम्बकस्य शरासनम्
One is the svayaṃvara of choice, the second is called the wager, as when Rāma broke the bow of Tryambaka.
तृतीयः शौर्यशुल्कश्च शूराणां परिकीर्तितः । इच्छास्वयंवरं तत्र चकार नृपसत्तमः
The third, known as the valor-price, is spoken of among heroes. There, the best of kings arranged a svayaṃvara of choice.
शिल्पिभिः कारिता मञ्चाः शुभैरास्तरणैर्युताः । ततश्च विविधाकाराः सु्क्लृप्ताः सभ्यमण्डपाः
Platforms were constructed by artisans, adorned with fine coverings; then, assembly halls of various forms were splendidly prepared.
एवं कृतेऽतिसम्भारे विवाहार्थं सुविस्तरे । सखीं शशिकला प्राह दुःखिता चारुलोचना
When such extensive arrangements for the wedding had been made, the beautiful-eyed Śaśikalā, sorrowful, spoke to her friend.
इदं मे मातरं ब्रूहि त्वमेकान्ते वचो मम । मया वृतः पतिश्चित्ते ध्रुवसन्धिसुतः शुभः
In private, she said, 'Tell this to my mother on my behalf: The husband I have chosen in my heart is the noble son of Dhruvasandhi.'
नान्यं वरं वरिष्यामि तमृते वै सुदर्शनम् । स मे भर्ता नृपसुतो भगवत्या प्रतिष्ठितः
'I will not choose any other husband except Sudarśana; he, the son of a king, established by the Goddess, is my husband.'
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्ता सा सखी गत्वा मातरं प्राह सत्वरा । वैदर्भीं विजने वाक्यं मधुरं मञ्जुभाषिणी
Vyāsa said: Thus addressed, that companion quickly went and spoke to the mother; the sweet-spoken one conveyed Vaidarbhī’s words to her in private.
पुत्री ते दुःखिता प्राह साध्वी त्वां मन्मुखेन यत् । शृणु त्वं कुरु कल्याणि तद्धितं त्वरिताऽधुना
Your daughter is distressed, O noble lady; she has asked me to speak to you on her behalf. Listen, O auspicious one, and promptly do what is good for her.
भारद्वाजाश्रमे पुण्य़े ध्रुवसन्धिसुतोऽस्ति यः । स मे भर्ता वृतश्चित्ते नान्यं भूपं वृणोम्यहम्
In the holy hermitage of Bhāradvāja is the son of Dhruvasandhi; he is the husband chosen in my heart—I do not choose any other king.
व्यास उवाच राज्ञी तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स्वपतौ गृहमागते । निवेदयामास तदा पुत्रीवाक्यं यथातथम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, the queen, when her husband returned home, faithfully reported to him the words of their daughter.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा विस्मितः प्रहसन्मुहुः । भार्यामुवाच वैदर्भीं सुबाहुस्तु ऋतं वचः
Hearing this, the king was astonished and repeatedly smiled; he spoke to Vaidarbhī, his wife, saying, 'Subāhu’s words are true.'
सुभ्रु जानासि बालोऽसौ राज्यान्निष्कासितो वने । एकाकी सह मात्रा वै वसते निर्जने वने
O beautiful-browed one, you know that boy was exiled from the kingdom to the forest; he dwells alone with his mother in the lonely woods.