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.
न तेऽन्योऽस्ति सहायश्च तस्मान्मा व्रज पुत्रक । एकपुत्रातिदीनास्मि तवाधारा निराश्रया
You have no other helper, so do not go, my son; I am utterly destitute, having only one son, and you are my sole support, without whom I have no refuge.
नार्हसि त्वं महाभाग निराशां कर्तुंमद्य माम् । पिता ते निहतो येन सोऽपि तत्रागतो नृपः
You should not, O greatly fortunate one, abandon me to despair today; your father was slain by him, and that king has also come there.
एकाकिनं गतं तत्र युधाजित्त्वां हनिष्यति । सुदर्शन उवाच भवितव्यं भवत्येव नात्र कार्या विचारणा
If you go there alone, Yudhajit will kill you in battle. Sudarshana said: What must happen will surely happen; there is no need for deliberation here.
आदेशाच्च जगन्मातुर्गच्छाम्यद्य स्वयंवरे । मा शोकं कुरु कल्याणि क्षत्रियाऽसि वरानने
By the command of the Mother of the Universe, I am going today to the svayamvara; do not grieve, O auspicious one, you are a Kshatriya, O beautiful-faced lady.
न बिभेमि प्रसादेन भगवत्या निरन्तरम् । व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा रथमारुह्य गन्तुकामं सुदर्शनम्
By the constant grace of the Blessed Goddess, I do not fear.
दृष्ट्वा मनोरमा पुत्रमाशीर्भिश्चान्वमोदयत् । अग्रतस्तेऽम्बिका पातु पार्वती पातु पृष्ठतः
Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, Sudarshana, desiring to depart, mounted the chariot; seeing her son, Manorama blessed him.
पार्वती पार्श्वयोः पातु शिवा सर्वत्र साम्प्रतम् । वाराही विषमे मार्गे दुर्गा दुर्गेषु कर्हिचित् । कालिका कलहे घोरे पातु त्वां परमेश्वरी
May Ambika protect you in front, may Parvati guard you from behind; may Parvati protect you on both sides, and Shiva everywhere at this time; may Varahi protect you on difficult paths, Durga in fortresses at any time, and the Supreme Goddess Kali in fierce battles.
मण्डपे तत्र मातङ्गी तथा सौम्या स्वयंवरे । भवानी भूपमध्ये तु पातु त्वां भवमोचनी
In the pavilion there, may Matangi protect you, and Saumya at the svayamvara; among kings, may Bhavani, the liberator from worldly existence, protect you.
गिरिजा गिरिदुर्गेषु चामुण्डा चत्वरेषु च । कामगा काननेष्वेवं रक्षतु त्वां सनातनी
May Girija protect you in mountain fortresses, and Chamunda at the crossroads; may Kamaga guard you in forests—thus may the Eternal Goddess protect you.
विवादे वैष्णवी शक्तिरवतात्त्वां रघूद्वह । भैरवी चरणे सौम्य शत्रूणां वै समागमे
In disputes, may the Vaishnavi Shakti protect you, O best of the Raghus; may Bhairavi, gentle at your feet, protect you in the assembly of enemies.