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.
तत्कृते निहतो राजा वीरसेनो युधाजिता । स कथं निर्धनो भर्ता योग्यः स्याच्चारुलोचने
For his sake, King Vīrasena was slain by Yudhājit; how can such a destitute man be a suitable husband for you, O lovely-eyed one?
ब्रूहि पुत्रीं ततो वाक्यं कदाचिदपि विप्रियम् । आगमिष्यन्ति राजानः स्थितिमन्तः स्वयंवरे
Tell our daughter, then, some words, even if unpleasant; soon kings of established position will come to the svayaṃvara.
राजसंवादवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच भर्त्रा साऽभिहिता बालां पुत्रीं कृत्वाङ्कसंस्थिताम् । उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं समाश्वास्य शुचिस्मिताम्
Description of the royal conversation. Vyāsa said: Thus addressed by her husband, the queen took her daughter onto her lap, comforted her, and spoke gentle words to the pure-smiling one.
किं वृथा सुदति त्वं हि विप्रियं मम भाषसे । पिता ते दुःखमाप्नोति वाक्येनानेन सुव्रते
Why, O sweet-smiling one, do you speak such unwelcome words to me in vain? Your father is pained by these words, O virtuous one.
सुदर्शनोऽतिदुर्भाग्यो राज्यभ्रष्टो निराश्रयः । बलकोशविहीनश्च परित्यक्तस्तु बान्धवैः
Sudarśana is most unfortunate, deprived of his kingdom and without support; he is without army or wealth, and has been abandoned by his relatives.
मात्रा सह वनं प्राप्तः फलमूलाशनः कृशः । न ते योग्यो वरोऽयं वै वनवासी च दुर्भगः
He has gone to the forest with his mother, thin and living on fruits and roots; this forest-dweller, so unfortunate, is not a suitable husband for you.
राजपुत्राः कृतप्रज्ञा रूपवन्तः सुसम्मताः । तवार्हाः पुत्रि सन्त्यन्ये राजचिह्नैरलङ्कृताः
There are other royal princes, wise, handsome, and highly esteemed, adorned with royal insignia, who are worthy of you, my daughter.
भ्राताऽस्य वर्तते कान्तः स राज्यं कोसलेषु वै । करोति रूपसम्पन्नः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः
His brother, O lovely one, rules the kingdom in Kosala; he is endowed with beauty and all auspicious marks.
अन्यच्च कारणं सुभ्रु शृणु यच्च यथा श्रुतम् । युधाजित्सततं तस्य वधकामोऽस्ति भूमिपः
And, O beautiful-browed one, listen to another reason as I have heard it: King Yudhājit constantly seeks his death.
दौहित्रः स्थापितस्तेन राज्ये कृत्वाऽतिसङ्गरम् । वीरसेनं नृपं हत्वा सम्मन्त्र्य सचिवैः सह
Having killed King Vīrasena after much conflict and consulting with his ministers, he installed his grandson in the kingdom.