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?
अवमान्य नृपान्सर्वांस्त्वं किं सुदर्शनाय वै । दातुमिच्छसि पुत्रीञ्च किमनार्यमतः परम्
Having insulted all the kings, why do you wish to give your daughter to Sudarshana? What could be more unworthy than this?
विचार्य पुरुषेणादौ कार्यं वै शुभमिच्छता । आरब्धव्यं त्वया तत्तु कृतं राजन्नजानता
A man who desires good results should first consider carefully before acting; but you, O king, have undertaken this without understanding.
एतान्विहाय नृपतीन्बलवाहनसंयुतान् । वरं सुदर्शनं कर्तुं कथमिच्छसि साम्प्रतम्
How do you now wish to choose Sudarshana as the groom, abandoning these kings, all equipped with armies and power?
अहं त्वां हन्मि पापिष्ठं तथा पश्चात्सुदर्शनम् । दौहित्रायाद्य ते कन्यां दास्यामीति विनिश्चयः
I will kill you, most wicked one, and then Sudarshana as well; today I am determined to give your daughter to my grandson.
मयि तिष्ठति कोऽन्योस्ति यः कन्यां हर्तुमिच्छति । सुदर्शनः कियानद्य निर्धनो निर्बलः शिशुः
While I am present, who else is there who would dare to take the maiden? What is Sudarshana today but a poor, powerless child?
भारद्वाजाश्रमे पूर्वं मुक्तो मुनिकृते मया । नाद्याहं मोचयिष्यामि सर्वथा जीवितं शिशोः
Once, at the Bharadvaja hermitage, I spared the boy's life for the sage's sake; but today I will not spare his life under any circumstances.
तस्माद्विचार्य सम्यक्त्वं पुत्र्या च भार्यया सह । दौहित्राय प्रियां कन्यां देहि मे सुभ्रुवं किल
Therefore, having carefully considered what is proper, together with your daughter and wife, give your beloved, beautiful-browed daughter to my grandson.
सम्बन्धी भव दत्त्वा त्वं पुत्रीमेतां मनोरमाम् । उच्चाश्रयः प्रकर्तव्यः सर्वदा शुभमिच्छता
By giving this charming daughter, you will become related to me; one who desires auspiciousness should always establish a strong alliance.
सुदर्शनाय दत्त्वा त्वं पुत्रीं प्राणप्रियां शुभाम् । एकाकिनेऽप्यराज्याय किं सुखं प्राप्तुमिच्छसि
Give your dear and virtuous daughter to Sudarshana; what happiness do you seek in ruling alone, without a kingdom?
( कुलं वित्तं बलं रूपं राज्यं दुर्गं सुहृज्जनम् । दृष्ट्वा कन्या प्रदातव्या नान्यथा सुखमृच्छति) ॥ परिचिन्तय धर्मं त्वं राजनीतिञ्च शाश्वतीम् । कुरु कार्यं यथायोग्यं मा कृथा मतिमन्यथा
(A daughter should be given after considering family, wealth, strength, beauty, kingdom, fortress, and friends; otherwise, happiness is not attained.) Reflect on righteousness and eternal royal policy, and act as is proper; do not let your mind stray otherwise.
सुहृदसि ममात्यर्थं हितं ते प्रब्रवीम्यहम् । समानय सुतां राजन् मण्डपे तां सखीवृताम्
You are my dear friend, so I speak what is beneficial for you; bring your daughter, O king, adorned with her companions, to the pavilion.
सुदर्शनमृते चेयं वरिष्यति यदाऽप्यसौ । विग्रहो मे तदा न स्याद्विवाहोऽस्तु तवेप्सितः
If she chooses anyone other than Sudarshana, let there be no conflict between us; let the marriage you desire take place.
अन्ये नृपतयः सर्वे कुलीनाः सबलाः समाः । विरोधः कीदृशस्त्वेनं वृणोद्यदि नृपोत्तम
All the other kings are noble, powerful, and equal; what kind of opposition would there be if she chooses one of them, O best of kings?
अन्यथाऽहं हरिष्येऽद्य बलात्कन्यामिमां शुभाम् । मा विरोधं सुदुःसाध्यं गच्छ पार्थिवसत्तम
Otherwise, today I will seize this virtuous maiden by force; do not enter into a conflict that is very difficult to resolve, O best of kings.
व्यास उवाच युधाजिता समादिष्टः सुबाहुः शोकसंयुतः । निःश्वसन्भवनं गत्वा भार्यां प्राह शुचावृतः
Vyasa said: Thus instructed by Yudhajit, Subahu, filled with sorrow, returned home sighing and, overwhelmed with grief, spoke to his wife.
पुत्रीं ब्रूहि सुधर्मज्ञे कलहे समुपस्थिते । किं कर्त्तव्यं मया शक्यं त्वद्वशोऽस्मि सुलोचने
Tell our daughter, O you who know righteousness well, what should I do now that conflict has arisen? I am under your will, O beautiful-eyed one.
व्यास उवाच सा श्रुत्वा पतिवाक्यं तु गत्वा प्राह सुतान्तिकम् । वत्से राजातिदुःखार्तः पिता तेऽद्यापि वर्तते
Vyasa said: Hearing her husband's words, she went to her daughter and said, 'Child, your father, the king, is still greatly afflicted with sorrow.'
त्वदर्थे विग्रहः कामं समुत्पन्नोऽद्य भूभृताम् । अन्यं वरय सुश्रोणि सुदर्शनमृते नृपम्
For your sake, conflict has arisen today among the kings; O lovely-hipped one, choose another king except Sudarshana.
यदि सुदर्शनं वत्से हठात्त्वं वै वरिष्यसि । युधाजित्त्वां च मां चैव हनिष्यति बलान्वितः
If, dear one, you stubbornly choose Sudarshana, Yudhajit, powerful as he is, will kill both you and me.
सुदर्शनं च राजाऽसौ बलमत्तः प्रतापवान् । द्वितीयस्ते पतिः पश्चाद्भविता कलहे सति
That king Sudarshana is strong and valiant; if conflict arises, he will become your second husband after death.