यद्राजा मुनयेऽन्धाय दत्ता पुत्री सुलोचना । कुरूपा गुणहीना वा नारी लक्षणवर्जिता
When a king gives his daughter Sulocana to a blind sage, whether she is unattractive, lacking in virtues, or a woman without auspicious marks—
पुत्री यदा भवेद्राजा तदान्धाय प्रयच्छति । ज्ञात्वान्धं सुमुखीं कस्माद्दत्तवान्नृपसत्तमः
If the king has a daughter, he gives her to the blind man; knowing he is blind, why did the noble king give him a beautiful girl?
कारणं ब्रूहि मे ब्रह्मन्ननुग्राह्योऽस्मि सर्वदा । सूत उवाच - इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा परीक्षितसुतस्य वै
Tell me the reason, O Brahman; I am always eager for your kindness. Sūta said:— Upon hearing the king’s words, Parīkṣit’s son—
द्वैपायनः प्रसन्नात्मा तमुवाच हसन्निव । व्यास उवाच - वैवस्वतसुतः श्रीमाञ्छर्यातिर्नाम पार्थिवः
Dvaipāyana, with a cheerful heart, spoke to him as if smiling. Vyāsa said:— The illustrious son of Vaivasvata, named Śaryāti, was a king.
तस्य स्त्रीणां सहस्राणि चत्वार्यासन्परिग्रहाः । राजपुत्र्यः सरूपाश्च सर्वलक्षणसंयुताः
He had four thousand wives, all princesses, beautiful and endowed with every auspicious mark.
पत्न्यः प्रेमयुताः सर्वाः प्रिया राज्ञः सुसम्मताः । एका पुत्री तु तासां वै सुकन्या नाम सुन्दरी
All his wives were loving, dear to the king, and highly esteemed; among them was one daughter, named Sukanyā, who was beautiful.
पितुः प्रिया च मातॄणां सर्वासां चारुहासिनी । नगरान्नातिदूरेऽभूत्सरो मानससन्निभम्
She was beloved by her father and all her mothers, with a lovely smile; not far from the city was a lake resembling Mānas.
बद्धसोपानमार्गं च स्वच्छपानीयपूरितम् । हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्
It had steps leading down, was filled with clear drinking water, scattered with swans and cranes, and adorned by chakravāka ducks.
दात्यूहसारसाकीर्णं सर्वपक्षिगणावृतम् । पञ्चधाकमलोपेतं चञ्चरीकसुसेवितम्
It was filled with dātyūha and sāras birds, surrounded by all kinds of birds, adorned with five kinds of lotuses, and frequented by bees.
पार्श्वतश्च द्रुमाकीर्णं वेष्टितं पादपैः शुभैः । सालैस्तमालैः सरलैः पुन्नागाशोकमण्डितम्
Its sides were crowded with trees, encircled by auspicious plants—decorated with sāla, tamāla, sarala, punnāga, and aśoka trees.
वटाश्वत्थकदम्बैश्च कदलीखण्डराजितम् । जम्बीरैर्बीजपूरैश्च खर्जूरैः पनसैस्तथा
Adorned with banyan, fig, kadamba, and clusters of banana trees, with jambīra, bījapūra, date palms, and jackfruit trees as well.
क्रमुकैर्नारिकेलैश्च केतकैः काञ्चनद्रुमैः । यूथिकाजालकैः शुभ्रैः संवृतं मल्लिकागणैः
With betel, coconut, ketaka, and golden trees; covered by pure jasmine clusters and surrounded by groups of mallikā flowers.
जम्ब्वाम्रतिन्तिणीभिश्च करञ्जकुटजावृतम् । पलाशनिम्बखदिरबिल्वामलकमण्डितम्
Filled with jambū, mango, tamarind, karañja, and kuṭaja trees; adorned with palāśa, nimba, khadira, bilva, and āmalaka trees.
बभूव कोकिलारावः केकास्वनविराजितम् । तत्समीपे शुभे देशे पादपानां गणावृते
The calls of cuckoos and peacocks resounded there; in that beautiful place, surrounded by groups of trees—
भार्गवश्च्यवनः शान्तस्तापसः संस्थितो मुनिः । ज्ञात्वासौ विजनं स्थानं तपस्तेपे समाहितः
Bhārgava Cyavana, the peaceful ascetic, was established there; knowing it was a deserted spot, he practiced austerities with concentration.
कृत्वा दृढासनं मौनमाधाय जितमारुतः । इन्द्रियाणि च संयम्य त्यक्ताहारस्तपोनिधिः
He made a firm seat, adopted silence, controlled his breath, restrained his senses, abandoned food, and was dedicated to austerity.
जलपानादिरहितो ध्यायन्नास्ते पराम्बिकाम् । सवल्मीकोऽभवद्राजल्लँताभिः परिवेष्टितः
Without drinking water or anything else, he sat meditating on the Supreme Mother; O king, he became covered with creepers.
कालेन महता राजन् समाकीर्णः पिपीलिकैः । तथा स संवृतो धीमान्मृत्पिण्ड इव सर्वतः
Over a long period, O king, he was surrounded by ants; thus, the wise one became encased like a lump of clay on all sides.
कदाचित्स महीपालः कामिनीगणसंवृतः । आजगाम सरो राजन् विहर्तुमिदमुत्तमम्
Once, O King, a ruler surrounded by a company of women came to this excellent lake to enjoy himself.
शर्यातिः सुन्दरीवृन्दसंयुतः सलिलेऽमले । क्रीडासक्तो महीपालो बभूव कमलाकरे
King Śaryāti, accompanied by a group of beautiful women, became absorbed in play in the pure waters of the lotus-filled lake.
सुकन्या वनमासाद्य विजहार सखीवृता । सुमनांसि विचिन्वन्ती चञ्चला चञ्चलोपमा
Sukanyā, having entered the forest with her companions, wandered about, gathering flowers, lively and restless as a fluttering bird.
सर्वाभरणसंयुक्ता रणच्चरणनूपुरा । चंक्रममाणा वल्मीकं च्यवनस्य समासदत्
Adorned with all her ornaments and anklets ringing as she walked, she came upon the anthill of Cyavana.
क्रीडासक्तोपविष्टा सा वल्मीकस्य समीपतः । ददर्श चास्य रन्ध्रे वै खद्योत इव ज्योतिषी
Absorbed in play, she sat near the anthill and saw, within its opening, two lights shining like fireflies.
किमेतदिति सञ्चिन्त्य समुद्धर्तुं मनो दधे । गृहीत्वा कण्टकं तीक्ष्णं त्वरमाणा कृशोदरी
Wondering, 'What is this?' she resolved to remove it, and, slender-waisted, quickly took up a sharp thorn.
सा दृष्टा मुनिना बाला समीपस्था कृतोद्यमा । विचरन्ती सुकेशान्ता मन्मथस्येव कामिनी
The young girl, seen by the sage as she stood nearby, ready to act, wandered with her lovely hair, like a lover of Kāma himself.
तां वीक्ष्य सुदतीं तत्र क्षामकण्ठस्तपोनिधिः । तामभाषत कल्याणीं किमेतदिति भार्गवः
Beholding her, beautiful of teeth, the ascetic with emaciated neck, a treasury of austerity, addressed the auspicious girl: 'What is this, O Bhārgava?'
दूरं गच्छ विशालाक्षि तापसोऽहं वरानने । मा भिन्दस्वाद्य वल्मीकं कण्टकेन कृशोदरि
'Go far away, wide-eyed one; I am an ascetic, O lovely-faced girl. Do not pierce this anthill with your thorn, slender-waisted one.'
तेनेदं प्रोच्यमानापि सा चास्य न शृणोति वै । किमु खल्विदमित्युक्त्वा निर्बिभेदास्य लोचने
Though thus spoken to, she did not hear him; saying, 'What indeed is this?' she pierced his eyes.
दैवेन नोदिता भित्त्वा जगाम नृपकन्यका । क्रीडन्ती शङ्कमाना सा किं कृतं तु मयेति च
Driven by fate, the king's daughter pierced them and went away, playing, yet wondering what she had done.
चुक्रोध स तथा विद्धनेत्रः परममन्युमान् । वेदनाभ्यर्दितः कामं परितापं जगाम ह
Thus wounded in the eyes, the sage became extremely angry; tormented by pain, he was overcome with distress.