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.
भारद्वाजाश्रमं प्राप्तं हन्तुकामः सुदर्शनम् । मुनिना वारितः पश्चाज्जगाम निजमन्दिरम्
He went to the Bhāradvāja hermitage, intending to kill Sudarśana, but was restrained by the sage and afterwards returned to his own palace.
शशिकलोवाच मातर्ममेप्सितः कामं वनस्थोऽपि नृपात्मजः । शर्यातिवचनेनैव सुकन्या च पतिव्रता
Śaśikalā said: Mother, the prince dwelling in the forest is the one I desire, just as Sukanyā was devoted to her husband by the words of Śaryāti.
च्यवनञ्च यथा प्राप्य पतिशुश्रूषणे रता । भर्तृशुश्रूषणं स्त्रीणां स्वर्गदं मोक्षदं तथा
Just as Cyavana, having been attained, was devoted to serving her husband, so too, service to one's husband by women grants heaven and also liberation.
अकैतवकृतं नूनं सुखदं भवति स्त्रियाः । भगवत्या समादिष्टं स्वप्ने वरमनुत्तमम्
When performed without deceit, it surely brings happiness to women; the supreme boon was instructed by the Goddess herself in a dream.
तमृतेऽहं कथं चान्यं संश्रयामि नृपात्मजम् । मच्चित्तभित्तौ लिखितो भगवत्या सुदर्शनः
Without him, how could I seek another, the prince? Sudarshana is inscribed upon the foundation of my heart by the Goddess.
तं विहाय प्रियं कान्तं करिष्येऽहं न चापरम् । व्यास उवाच प्रत्यादिष्टाऽथ वैदर्भी तया बहुनिदर्शनैः
Forsaking him, my beloved and dear one, I will not choose another. Vyasa said: Then Vaidehi was firmly refused by her with many demonstrations.
भर्तारं सर्वमाचष्ट पुत्र्योक्तं वचनं भृशम् । विवाहस्य दिनादर्वागाप्तं श्रुतसमन्वितम्
She told her husband everything her daughter had said, especially regarding the approaching day of the wedding, as heard and understood.
द्विजं शशिकला तत्र प्रेषयामास सत्वरम् । यथा न वेद मे तातस्तथा गच्छ सुदर्शनम्
She quickly sent the Brahmin Shashikala there, instructing: Go to Sudarshana in such a way that my father does not know.
भारद्वाजाश्रमे ब्रूहि मद्वाक्यात्तरसा विभो । पित्रा मे सम्भृतः कामं मदर्थेन स्वयंवरः
Speak in the Bharadvaja hermitage, O noble one, conveying my words swiftly: My father has arranged the svayamvara for my sake.
आगमिष्यन्ति राजानो बलयुक्ता ह्यनेकशः । मया त्वं वै वृतश्चित्ते सर्वथा प्रीतिपूर्वकम्
Kings, many and powerful, will come; but you have been chosen in my heart, always with affection.