पालयिष्यति यः कामं स ते भर्ता भविष्यति । सुदर्शनस्तथाऽन्यो वा यः कश्चिद्बलवत्तरः
Whoever fulfills the wager will become your husband, whether it is Sudarshana or another who proves stronger.
पालयित्वा पणं त्वां वै वरयिष्यति सर्वथा । एवं कृते नृपाणां तु विवादः शमितो भवेत्
Whoever completes the wager will certainly win you as his bride; in this way, the quarrel among the kings will be resolved.
सुखेनाहं विवाहं ते करिष्यामि ततः परम् । कन्योवाच सन्देहे नैव मज्जामि मूर्खकृत्यमिदं यतः
After that, I will arrange your marriage with ease. The maiden said: I do not fall into doubt, for such conduct is foolish.
मया सुदर्शनः पूर्वं धृतश्चेतसि नान्यथा । कारणं पुण्यपापानां मन एव महीपते
I have already chosen Sudarshana in my heart, O king; the mind alone is the cause of merit and sin.
मनसा विधृतं त्यक्त्वा कथमन्यं वृणे पितः । कृते पणे महाराज सर्वेषां वशगा ह्यहम्
Having chosen with my mind, how can I select another, father? If the wager is made, O great king, I will be subject to all.
एकः पालयिता द्वौ वा बहवो वा भवन्ति चेत् । किं कर्तव्यं तदा तात विवादे समुपस्थिते
If one, or two, or many fulfill the challenge, then what should be done, father, when a dispute arises?
संशयाधिष्ठिते कार्ये मतिं नाहं करोम्यतः । मा चिन्तां कुरु राजेन्द्र देहि सुदर्शनाय माम्
When the matter is uncertain, I cannot decide; therefore, O king, do not worry—give me to Sudarshana.
विवाहं विधिना कृत्वा शं विधास्यति चण्डिका । यन्नामकीर्तनादेव दुःखौघो विलयं व्रजेत्
By performing the marriage according to the proper rites, Chandika will bring auspiciousness, by whose very name the multitude of sorrows is destroyed.
तां स्मृत्वा परमां शक्तिं कुरु कार्यमतन्द्रितः । गत्वा वद नृपेभ्यस्त्वं कृताञ्जलिपुटोऽद्य वै
Remembering that supreme power, act without delay; go today and, with joined palms, inform the assembled kings.
आगन्तव्यञ्च श्वः सर्वैरिह भूपैः स्वयंवरे । इत्युक्त्वा त्वं विसृज्याशु सर्वं नृपतिमण्डलम्
Tell all the kings to come here tomorrow for the svayamvara; having said this, quickly dismiss the entire royal assembly.
विवाहं कुरु रात्रौ मे वेदोक्तविधिना नृप । पारिबर्हं यथायोग्यं दत्त्वा तस्मै विसर्जय
O king, perform my marriage at night according to Vedic rites; give him suitable gifts and then send him away.
गमिष्यति गृहीत्वा मां ध्रुवसन्धिसुतः किल । कदाचित्ते नृपाः क्रुद्धाः सङ्ग्रामं कर्त्तुमुद्यताः
The son of Dhruvasandhi will take me and depart; but if ever the kings become angry, they may be ready for battle.
भविष्यति तदा देवी साहाय्यं नः करिष्यति । सोऽपि राजसुतस्तैस्तु सङ्ग्रामं संविधास्यति
Then the Goddess will grant us her assistance, and that prince, together with them, will arrange the battle.
दैवान्मृधे मृते तस्मिन्मरिष्याम्यहमप्युत । स्वस्ति तेस्तु गृहे तिष्ठ दत्त्वा मां सहसैन्यकः
If, by fate, he is killed in the fight, then I too shall die; farewell to you—remain at home with your army, having entrusted me.
एकैवाहं गमिष्यामि तेन सार्धं रिरंसया । व्यास उवाच इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा राजाऽसौ कृतनिश्चयः । मतिं चक्रे तथा कर्तुं विश्वासं प्रतिपद्य च
I alone will go with him, desiring to please him. Vyasa said: Hearing her words, the king, having made up his mind, resolved to act accordingly, placing his trust in her.
सुदर्शनशशिकलयोर्विवाहवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच श्रुत्वा सुतावाक्यमनिन्दितात्मा नृपांश्च गत्वा नृपतिर्जगाद । व्रजन्तु कामं शिविराणि भूपाः श्वो वा विवाहं किल संविधास्ये
Description of the marriage of Sudarshana and Shashikala. Vyasa said: Hearing his daughter's words, the blameless king went to the other kings and spoke: 'Let the kings return to their camps as they wish; tomorrow, indeed, I will arrange the marriage.'
भक्ष्याणि पेयानि मयाऽर्पितानि गृह्णन्तु सर्वे मयि सुप्रसन्नाः । श्वो भावि कार्यं किल मण्डपेऽत्र समेत्य सर्वैरिह संविधेयम्
Food and drink have been provided by me; let all accept them, being well-pleased with me. Tomorrow, the ceremony is to take place here in the pavilion; let all assemble here and arrange everything together.
नायाति पुत्री किल मण्डपेऽद्य करोमि किं भूपतयोऽत्र कामम् । प्रातः समाश्वास्य सुतां नयिष्ये गच्छन्तु तस्माच्छिविराणि भूपाः
Today, my daughter will not come to the pavilion; what should I do, O kings, as you wish? In the morning, after consoling my daughter, I will bring her; therefore, let the kings return to their camps.
न विग्रहो बुद्धिमतां निजाश्रिते कृपा विधेया सततं ह्यपत्ये । विधाय तां प्रातारिहानयिष्ये सुतां तु गच्छन्तु नृपा यथेष्टम्
The wise do not engage in conflict with those who have sought their protection; compassion is always to be shown to one's child. Having done so, in the morning I will bring my daughter here; let the kings go as they desire.
इच्छापणं वा परिचिन्त्य चित्ते प्रातः करिष्याम्यथ संविवाहम् । सर्वैः समेत्यात्र नृपैः समेतैः स्वयंवरः सर्वमतेन कार्यः
Having considered the wishes and intentions in my mind, I will perform the marriage in the morning. Let all the assembled kings come together here; the svayamvara should be conducted with everyone's agreement.
श्रुत्वा नृपास्तेऽवितथं विदित्वा वचो ययुः स्वानि निकेतनानि । विधाय पार्श्वे नगरस्य रक्षां चक्रुः क्रिया मध्यदिनोदिताश्च
Hearing these true words and understanding them, the kings returned to their own dwellings. Arranging for the city's protection, they performed their midday duties.
सुबाहुरप्यार्यजनैः समेत- श्चकार कार्याणि विवाहकाले । पुत्रीं समाहूय गृहे सुगुप्ते पुरोहितैर्वेदविदां वरिष्ठैः
Subahu, too, together with the noble elders, performed the necessary rites at the time of the wedding. He summoned his daughter to the well-guarded house, with the foremost priests skilled in the Vedas.
स्नानादिकं कर्म वरस्य कृत्वा विवाहभूषाकरणं तथैव । आनाय्य वेदीरचिते गृहे वै तस्यार्हणां भूमिपतिश्चकार
After performing the bathing and other rites for the groom, and adorning him for the wedding, he brought him to the house where the altar was prepared, and the king offered him due honors.
सविष्टरं चाचमनीयमर्घ्यं वस्त्रद्वयं गामथ कुण्डले द्वे । समर्प्य तस्मै विधिवन्नरेन्द्र ऐच्छत्सुतादानमहीनसत्त्वः
With detailed offerings of water for sipping, arghya, two garments, a cow, and two earrings, the king, following the proper rites, presented these to him, desiring to give his daughter, his mind steadfast.
सोऽप्यग्रहीत्सर्वमदीनचेताः शशाम चिन्ताऽथ मनोरमायाः । कन्यां सुकेशीं निधिकन्यकासमां मेने तदाऽऽत्मानमनुत्तमञ्च
He too accepted everything, his mind free from sorrow; then his worries about the enchanting maiden ceased. He considered himself most excellent, having obtained the maiden with beautiful hair, equal to the treasures' daughters.
सुपूजितं भूषणवस्त्रदानै- र्वरोत्तमं तं सचिवास्तदानीम् । निन्युश्च ते कौतुकमण्डपान्त- र्मुदान्विता वीतभयाश्च सर्वे
Then the ministers, having honored the best groom with gifts of ornaments and garments, joyfully and without fear, led him to the wedding pavilion.
समाप्तभूषां विधिवद्विधिज्ञाः स्त्रियश्च तां राजसुतां सुयाने । आरोप्य निन्युर्वरसन्निधानण् चतुष्कयुक्ते किल मण्डपे वै
The women, skilled in ritual, having adorned the princess according to custom, placed her in a fine chariot and brought her to the presence of the groom in the pavilion yoked with four horses.
अग्निं समाधाय पुरोहितः स हुत्वा यथावच्च तदन्तराले । आह्वाययत्तौ कृतकौतुकौ तु वधूवरौ प्रेमयुतौ निकामम्
The priest, having kindled the sacred fire and performed the oblations as prescribed, then summoned the bride and groom, adorned for the ceremony, both filled with deep affection.
लाजाविसर्गं विधिवद्विधाय कृत्वा हुताशस्य प्रदक्षिणाञ्च । तौ चक्रतुस्तत्र यथोचित्तं तत् सर्वं विधानं कुलगोत्रजातम्
Having performed the offering of parched grain according to the rite, and circumambulated the fire, the two carried out all the prescribed ceremonies there, as befitted their family and lineage.
शतद्वयं चाश्चयुजां रथानां सुभूषितं चापि शरौघसंयुतम् । ददौ नृपेन्द्रस्तु सुदर्शनाय सुपूजितं पारिबर्हं विवाहे
The king gave Sudarshana two hundred well-adorned chariots, yoked with excellent horses and equipped with showers of arrows, as a splendid wedding gift.