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.
तस्मात्कन्यापणं कृत्वा नीतिरत्र विधीयताम् । अन्यथा कलहः कामं भविष्यति महीभुजाम्
Therefore, let the maiden be auctioned, and let this rule be established here. Otherwise, conflict will surely arise among the kings.
एवं विवादे संवृत्ते राज्ञां तत्र परस्परम् । आहूतस्तु सभामध्ये सुबाहुर्नृपसत्तमः
When such a dispute arose among the kings, Subahu, the foremost of rulers, was summoned to the assembly.
समाहूय नृपाः सर्वे तमूचुस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः । राजन्नीतिस्त्वया कार्या विवाहेऽत्र समाहिता
Having called all the kings, those who see the truth said to him: 'O king, you must establish the proper rule for this marriage.'
किं ते चिकीर्षितं राजंस्तद्वदस्व समाहितः । पुत्र्याः प्रदानं कस्मै ते रोचते नृप चेतसि
'What do you wish to do, O king? Speak your intention clearly. To whom does your mind incline to give your daughter?'
सुबाहुरुवाच पुत्र्या मे मनसा कामं वृतः किल सुदर्शनः । मया निवारितोऽत्यर्थं न सा प्रत्येति मे वचः
Subahu said: 'In her heart, my daughter has chosen Sudarshana. I have strongly forbidden her, but she does not heed my words.'
किं करोमि सुताया मे न वशे वर्तते मनः । सुदर्शनस्तथैकाकी सम्प्राप्तोऽस्ति निराकुलः
'What can I do? My daughter's mind is not under my control. Sudarshana has arrived alone, undisturbed.'
व्यास उवाच सम्पन्ना भूभुजः सर्वे समाहूय सुदर्शनम् । ऊचुः समागतं शान्तमेकाकिनमतन्द्रिताः
Vyasa said: 'All the assembled kings, having summoned Sudarshana, addressed him, who had come alone, calmly and attentively.'
राजपुत्र महाभाग केनाहूतोऽसि सुव्रत । एकाकी यः समायातः समाजे भूभृतामिह
'O noble prince, by whom have you been called, O virtuous one? You have come alone to this assembly of kings.'
न वै सैन्यं न सचिवा न कोशो न बृहद्बलम् । किमर्थञ्च समायातस्तत्त्वं ब्रूहि महामते
'You have neither an army, nor ministers, nor treasury, nor great strength. For what purpose have you come? Tell us the truth, O wise one.'
युद्धकामा नृपतयो वर्तन्तेऽत्र समागमे । कन्यार्थं सैन्यसम्पन्नाः किं त्वं कर्तुमिहेच्छसि
'The kings gathered here desire battle, equipped with armies for the maiden's sake. What do you wish to do here?'