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.
भगवत्या समादिष्टः स्वप्ने मम सुरोपम । विषमद्मि हुताशे वा प्रपतामि प्रदीपिते
Instructed by the Goddess in my dream, radiant as a celestial, I would rather eat poison or leap into blazing fire.
वरये त्वदृते नान्यं पितृभ्यां प्रेरिताऽपि वा । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा संवृतस्त्वं मया वरः
Except for you, I will not choose another, even if urged by my parents; in mind, action, and speech, you alone are my chosen one.
भगवत्याः प्रसादेन शर्मावाभ्यां भविष्यति । आगन्तव्यं त्वयात्रैव दैवं कृत्वा परं बलम्
By the grace of the Goddess, happiness will come to us both; you must come here, relying on supreme divine strength.
यदधीनं जगत्सर्वं वर्तते सचराचरम् । भगवत्या यदादिष्टं न तन्मिथ्या भविष्यति
All the world, with its moving and unmoving beings, exists under Her control; whatever the Goddess ordains will never be false.
यद्वशे देवताः सर्वा वर्तन्ते शङ्करादयः । वक्तव्योऽसौ त्वया ब्रह्मन्नेकान्ते वै नृपात्मजः
All the gods, including Shankara and others, exist under Her command; you must tell this, O Brahmin, to the prince in private.
यथा भवति मे कार्यं तत्कर्तव्यं त्वयानघ । इत्युक्त्वा दक्षिणां दत्त्वा मुनिर्व्यापारितस्तया
Whatever is my purpose, you must accomplish it, O blameless one; having said this and given a gift, the sage was engaged by her.
गत्वा सर्वं निवेद्याशु तत्र प्रत्यागतो द्विजः । सुदर्शनस्तु तज्ज्ञात्वा निश्चयं गमने तदा
Having gone and quickly reported everything, the Brahmin returned; Sudarshana, knowing this, then resolved to depart.
चकार मुनिना तेन प्रेरितः परमादरात् । व्यास उवाच गमनायोद्यतं पुत्रं तमुवाच मनोरमा
He acted, urged by the sage, with utmost respect. Vyasa said: As her son prepared to depart, Manorama spoke to him.
वेपमानाऽतिदुःखार्ता जातत्रासाऽश्रुलोचना । कुत्र गच्छसि पुत्राद्य समाजे भूभृतां किल
Trembling, overwhelmed with sorrow, fearful, her eyes filled with tears: Where are you going now, my son, among the assembly of kings?
एकाकी कृतवैरश्च किं विचिन्त्य स्वयंवरे । युधाजिद्धन्तुकामस्त्वां समेष्यति महीपतिः
Alone, having made enemies, what are you thinking about at the svayamvara? The king, eager to kill you in battle, will confront you.