विवाहोपस्करैर्युक्तां दिव्यां सिन्धुसुतोपमाम् । चिन्तापरां सुवसनां स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः
She was adorned with wedding ornaments, divine, resembling the daughter of the ocean, absorbed in thought, beautifully dressed, and with a gentle smile, she spoke these words:
उत्तिष्ठ पुत्रि सुनसे करे धृत्वा शुभां स्रजम् । व्रज मण्डपमध्येऽद्य समाजं पश्य भूभुजाम्
Rise, my daughter with the lovely nose, take this auspicious garland in your hand, go today into the pavilion, and behold the assembly of kings.
गुणवान् रूपसम्पन्नः कुलीनश्च नृपोत्तमः । तव चित्ते वसेद्यस्तु तं वृणुष्व सुमध्यमे
Among the kings, choose the one who is virtuous, endowed with beauty, of noble lineage, and who dwells in your heart, O slender-waisted one.
देशदेशाधिपाः सर्वे मञ्चेषु रचितेषु च । संविष्टाः पश्य तन्वङ्गि वरयस्व यथारुचि
See, O graceful one, all the rulers of various lands are seated on the arranged platforms; select as you desire.
व्यास उवाच तं तथा भाषमाणं वै पितरं मितभाषिणी । उवाच वचनं बाला ललितं धर्मसंयुतम्
Vyāsa said: To her father, who spoke thus, she, though sparing in words, replied with gentle, righteous speech, like a child.
शशिकलोवाच नाहं दृष्टिपथे राज्ञां गमिष्यामि पितः किल । कामुकानां नरेशानां गच्छन्त्यन्याश्च योषितः
Śaśikalā said: Father, I will not go before the kings; other women go before those lustful rulers.
धर्मशास्त्रे श्रुतं तात मयेदं वचनं किल । एक एव वरो नार्या निरीक्ष्यः स्यान्न चापरः
Father, I have heard this teaching in the scriptures: a woman should look upon only one man as her husband, not another.
सतीत्वं निर्गतं तस्या या प्रयाति बहूनथ । सङ्कल्पयन्ति ते सर्वे दृष्ट्वा मे भवतात्त्विति
Chastity departs from her who goes before many; all those men, seeing her, form intentions in their hearts.
स्वयंवरे स्रजं धृत्वा यदागच्छति मण्डपे । सामान्या सा तदा जाता कुलटेवापरा वधूः
When a woman enters the pavilion holding the garland at her own wedding, she becomes common, like another bride of loose character.
वारस्त्री विपणे गत्वा यथा वीक्ष्य नरांस्थितान् । गुणागुणपरिज्ञानं करोति निजमानसे
Just as a courtesan, going to the marketplace, observes the men standing there and discerns their qualities and faults in her mind,
नैकभावा यथा वेश्या वृथा पश्यति कामुकम् । तथाऽहं मण्डपे गत्वा कुर्वे वारस्त्रिया कृतम्
As a prostitute, with divided mind, looks in vain upon her lovers, so too, if I enter the pavilion, I would act as a courtesan does.
वृद्धैरेतैः कृतं धर्मं न करिष्यामि साम्प्रतम् । पत्नीव्रतं तथा कामं चरिष्येऽहं धृतव्रता
I will not follow this custom established by the elders; I am firmly vowed to the path of a devoted wife.
सामान्या प्रथमं गत्वा कृत्वा सङ्कल्पितं बहु । वृणोति चैकं तद्वद्वै वृणोमि कथमद्य वै
At first, she becomes common by going and making many choices, then selects one; how then can I choose today in the same way?
सुदर्शनो मया पूर्वं वृतः सर्वात्मना पितः । तमृते नान्यथा कर्तुमिच्छामि नृपसत्तम
Father, I have already chosen Sudarśana with all my heart; apart from him, I do not wish to act otherwise, O best of kings.
विवाहविधिना देहि कन्यादानं शुभे दिने । सुदर्शनाय नृपते यदीच्छसि शुभं मम
If you desire my welfare, O king, then give me in marriage to Sudarśana on an auspicious day, according to the proper rites.
कन्यया स्वपितरं प्रति सुदर्शनेन सह विवाहार्थकथनम् व्यास उवाच सुबाहुरपि तच्छ्रुत्वा युक्तमुक्तं तया तदा । चिन्ताविष्टो बभूवाशु किं कर्तव्यमतः परम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing her words, which were appropriate and well-spoken, Subāhu became troubled, pondering what should be done next.
सङ्गताः पृथिवीपालाः ससैन्याः सपरिग्रहाः । उपविष्टाश्च मञ्चेषु योद्धुकामा महाबलाः
The assembled kings, with their armies and retinues, were seated on the platforms, eager for battle, possessing great strength.
यदि ब्रवीमि तान्सर्वान्सुता नायाति साम्प्रतम् । तथापि कोपसंयुक्ता हन्युर्मा दुष्टबुद्धयः
If I tell them all now that my daughter will not come, those wicked-minded ones, filled with anger, might kill me.
न मे सैन्यबलं तादृङ्न दुर्गबलमद्भुतम् । येनाहं नृपतीन्सर्वान् प्रत्यादेष्टुमिहोत्सहे
I do not possess such military strength, nor an extraordinary fortified force, by which I could dare to oppose all these kings here.
सुदर्शनस्तथैकाकी ह्यसहायोऽधनः शिशुः । किं कर्तव्यं निमग्नोऽहं सर्वथा दुःखसागरे
Sudarshana is alone, without allies, without wealth, and still a child; what can be done? I am utterly submerged in an ocean of sorrow.
इति चिन्तापरो राजा जगाम नृपसन्निधौ । प्रणम्य तानुवाचाथ प्रश्रयावनतो नृपः
Thus, absorbed in thought, the king went into the assembly of kings; bowing to them, he spoke with humility, his head lowered in respect.
किं कर्तव्यं नृपाः कामं नैति मे मण्डपे सुता । बहुशः प्रेर्यमाणाऽपि सा मात्राऽपि मयाऽपि च
O kings, what should be done? My daughter does not come to the pavilion, though she has been urged many times by her mother and by me as well.
मूर्घ्ना पतामि पादेषु राज्ञां दासोऽस्मि साम्प्रतम् । पूजादिकं गृहीत्वाऽद्य व्रजन्तु सदनानि वः
I fall at your feet with my head; I am now your servant. Please accept the honors and gifts, and today return to your homes.
ददामि बहुरत्नानि वस्त्राणि च गजान् रथान् । गृहीत्वाऽद्य कृपां कृत्वा व्रजन्तु भवनान्युत
I will give abundant jewels, garments, elephants, and chariots; please accept these today, show me your kindness, and return to your palaces.
न वशे मे सुता बाला म्रियते यदि खेदिता । तदा मे स्यान्महद्दुःखं तेन चिन्तातुरोऽस्म्यहम्
My young daughter is not under my control; if she is distressed, she may die. Then I would suffer great grief—this is why I am so troubled.
भवन्तः करुणावन्तो महाभाग्या महौजसः । किं मे तया दुहित्रा तु मन्दया दुर्विनीतया
You are compassionate, highly fortunate, and mighty; what use have I for such a foolish and ill-behaved daughter?
अनुग्राह्योऽस्मि वः कामं दासोऽहमिति सर्वथा । सुता सुतेव मन्तव्या भवद्भिः सर्वथा मम
I am to be regarded as your dependent, truly your servant in every way; my daughter should be considered by you all as your own child.
व्यास उवाच श्रुत्वा सुबाहुवचनं नोचुः केचन भूमिपाः । युधाजित्क्रोधताम्राक्षस्तमुवाच रुषान्वितः
Vyasa said: Hearing Subahu's words, none of the kings replied; but Yudhajit, his eyes red with anger, spoke to him in wrath.
राजन्मूर्खोऽसि किं ब्रूषे कृत्वा कार्य सुनिन्दितम् । स्वयंवरः कथं मोहाद्रचितः संशये सति
King, you are a fool! What are you saying, having committed such a blameworthy act? How could you, in your delusion, arrange a svayamvara when there was uncertainty?
मिलिता भूभुजः सर्वे त्वयाहूताः स्वयंवरे । कथमद्य नृपा गन्तुं योग्यास्ते स्वगृहान्प्रति
All the kings have gathered here at your invitation for the svayamvara; how can it be proper for the kings to return to their homes today?