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.
एते चान्ये च बहवः स्वयंवरदिदृक्षया । मिलितास्तत्र राजानो वरवारणसंयुताः
These and many other kings, eager to witness the svayamvara, assembled there, accompanied by their finest elephants.
अन्योन्यं नृपपुत्रास्त इत्यूचुर्मिलितास्तदा । सुदर्शनो नृपसुतो ह्यागतोऽस्ति निराकुलः
Then, as the princes gathered, they said to one another: 'Sudarsana, the prince, has arrived here, calm and untroubled.'
एकाकी रथमारुह्य मात्रा सह महामतिः । विवाहार्थमिहायातः काकुत्स्थः किं नु साम्प्रतम्
Alone, with only his mother, the wise Kakutstha has come here, ascending his chariot, for the purpose of marriage—what now?
एतान् राजसुतांस्त्यक्त्वा ससैन्यान्सायुधानथ । किमेनं राजपुत्री सा वरिष्यति महाभुजम्
Leaving aside these princes, all with armies and weapons, will the princess choose this mighty-armed prince?
युधाजिदथ राजेशस्तानुवाच महीपतीन् । अहमेनं हनिष्यामि कन्यार्थे नात्र संशयः
Then Yudhajit, the king, said to those rulers: 'I will kill him for the sake of the maiden—there is no doubt about this.'
केरलाधिपतिः प्राह तं तदा नीतिसत्तमः । नात्र युद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं राजन्निच्छास्वयंवरे
At that moment, the wise king of Kerala addressed him: 'O king, there should be no battle here, for this is a svayamvara by choice.'
बलेन हरणं नास्ति नात्र शुल्कस्वयंवरः । कन्येच्छयाऽत्र वरणं विवादः कीदृशस्त्विह
'There is no abduction by force here, nor is this a svayamvara with a bride-price; the selection is by the maiden's wish—what dispute can there be?'
अन्यायेन त्वया पूर्वमसौ राज्यात्प्रवासितः । दौहित्रायार्पितं राज्यं बलवन्नृपसत्तम
'Previously, by injustice, you exiled him from his kingdom, O best of kings, and gave the realm to your grandson by force.'
काकुत्स्थोऽयं महाभाग कोसलाधिपतेः सुतः । कथमेनं राजपुत्रं हनिष्यसि निरागसम्
'This Kakutstha, O fortunate one, is the son of the king of Kosala; how will you kill this prince, who is without fault?'
लप्स्यसे तत्फलं नूनमनयस्य नृपोत्तम । शास्तास्ति कश्चिदायुष्मञ्जगतोऽस्य जगत्पतिः
'You will surely reap the fruit of this wrongdoing, O best of kings; there is a ruler of this world, the Lord of all, who governs.'
धर्मो जयति नाधर्मः सत्यं जयति नानृतम् । मानयं कुरु राजेन्द्र त्यज पापमतिं किल
'Dharma prevails, not adharma; truth prevails, not falsehood. O king of kings, show respect and abandon your sinful intent.'
दौहित्रस्तव सम्प्राप्तः सोऽपि रूपसमन्वितः । राज्ययुक्तस्तथा श्रीमान्कथं तं न वरिष्यति
'Your grandson has arrived, endowed with beauty, possessing a kingdom and prosperity—why would she not choose him?'
अन्ये राजसुताः कामं वर्तन्ते बलवत्तराः । कन्यास्वयंवरे कन्या स्वीकरिष्यति साम्प्रतम्
'Other princes may indeed be stronger, but at the svayamvara, the maiden will choose as she wishes.'
वृते तथा विवादः कः प्रवदन्तु महीभुजः । परस्परं विरोधोऽत्र न कर्तव्यो विजानता
'Once the choice is made, what quarrel remains? Let the kings declare. There should be no conflict among the wise here.'
स्वपितरं प्रति शशिकलावाक्यम् व्यास उवाच इतिवादिनि भूपाले केरलाधिपतौ तदा । प्रत्युवाच महाभाग युधाजिदपि पार्थिवः
Vyasa said: While the king of Kerala was speaking thus, the illustrious Yudhajit, too, replied to him.
नीतिरेषा महीपाल यद्ब्रवीति भवानिह । समाजे पार्थिवानां वै सत्यवाग्विजितेन्द्रियः
'O king, what you say here is indeed proper conduct—spoken truthfully and with self-control among the assembly of kings.'
योग्येषु वर्तमानेषु कन्यारत्नं कुलोद्वह । अयोग्योऽर्हति भूपाल न्यायोऽयं तव रोचते
When suitable men are present, the jewel among maidens should be given to the best of the lineage. An unsuitable person, O king, is not worthy; this principle pleases you.
भागं सिंहस्य गोमायुर्भोक्तुमर्हति वा कथम् । तथा सुदर्शनोऽयं वै कन्यारत्नं किमर्हति
How could a jackal deserve a lion's share? Likewise, how is Sudarshana worthy of this jewel among maidens?
बलं वेदो हि विप्राणां भूभुजां चापजं बलम् । किमन्याय्यं महाराज ब्रवीम्यहमिहाधुना
The strength of Brahmins is the Veda, and the strength of kings is the bow. What injustice, O great king, am I now speaking here?
बलं शुल्कं यथा राज्ञां विवाहे परिकीर्तितम् । बलवानेव गृह्णातु नाबलस्तु कदाचन
As strength and bride-price are declared for kings in marriage, let only the strong take the bride, and never the weak.