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.
सर्वदा सर्वदेशेषु पातु त्वां भुवनेश्वरी । महामाया जगद्धात्री सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणी
May Bhuvaneshvari always protect you in all places; the Great Maya, the sustainer of the world, whose form is existence, consciousness, and bliss.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तं तदा माता वेपमाना भयाकुला । उवाचाहं त्वया सार्धमागमिष्यामि सर्वथा
Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, the mother, trembling and overcome with fear, said: I will come with you in every way.
निमिषार्धं विना त्वां वै नाहं स्थातुमिहोत्सहे । सहैव नय मां वत्स यत्र ते गमने मतिः
Without you, even for half a moment, I cannot remain here; take me with you, dear child, wherever you intend to go.
इत्युक्त्वा निःसृता माता धात्रेयीसंयुता तदा । विप्रैर्दत्ताशिषः सर्वे निर्ययुर्हर्षसंयुताः
Having said this, the mother then set out, accompanied by her nurse; all the Brahmins gave their blessings and departed, filled with joy.
वाराणस्यां ततः प्राप्तो रथेनैकेन राघवः । ज्ञातः सुबाहुना तत्र पूजितश्चार्हणादिभिः
Then Raghava arrived at Varanasi in a single chariot; there he was recognized by Subahu, who honored him with offerings and the like.
निवेशार्थं गृहं दत्तमन्नपानादिकं तथा । सेवकं समनुज्ञाप्य परिचर्यार्थमेव च
A house was given for his lodging, as well as food and drink; a servant was assigned to him for his service.
मिलितास्त्वथ राजानो नानादेशाधिपाः किल । युधाजिदपि सम्प्राप्तो दौहित्रेण समन्वितः
Then the kings assembled, rulers from various lands; Yudhajit also arrived, accompanied by his grandson.
करूषाधिपतिश्चैव तथा मद्रेश्वरो नृपः । सिन्धुराजस्तथा वीरो योद्धा माहिष्मतीपतिः
The lord of Karusha, and likewise the king of Madra, the valiant king of Sindhu, and the ruler of Mahishmati, a warrior, also came.
पाञ्चालः पर्वतीयश्च कामरूपोऽतिवीर्यवान् । कार्णाटश्चोलदेशीयो वैदर्भश्च महाबलः
The Panchala, the mountain king, the mighty Kamaroopa, the powerful Karnata, the ruler of Chola, and the strong king of Vidarbha—
अक्षौहिणी त्रिषष्टिश्च मिलिता संख्यया तदा । वेष्टिता नगरी सा तु सैन्यैः सर्वत्र संस्थितैः
At that time, sixty-three divisions of troops had gathered there; the city was surrounded on all sides by armies stationed everywhere.