न ह्य् अतो दुष्करं मन्ये तात लोकेष्वपि त्रिषु यः सपत्नश्रियं दीप्तां हीनश्रीः पर्युपासते
Nowhere in the three worlds, dear one, do I think there is anything more difficult than one who, lacking prosperity, serves a rival's blazing fortune.
ततः काव्यो भृगुश्रेष्ठः समन्युरुपगम्य ह वृषपर्वाणम् आसीनम् इत्युवाचाविचारयन्
Then Kāvya, the foremost of Bhṛgus, approached Vṛṣaparvan, who was seated, with a mind full of anger, and spoke to him after due consideration.
नाधर्मश्चरितो राजन् सद्यः फलति गौर् इव शनैरावर्त्यमानस्तु मूलान्यपि निकृन्तति
Unrighteousness, O king, does not yield fruit at once, like a cow; but slowly, as it turns, it even cuts off the roots.
यदि नात्मनि पुत्रेषु न चेत्पश्यति नप्तृषु पापमाचरितं कर्म त्रिवर्गमतिवर्तते
If one does not see the evil deed in oneself, one's sons, or grandsons, that act surpasses the three aims of life.
फलत्येवं ध्रुवं पापं गुरुभुक्तमिवोदरे यदा घातयसे विप्रं कचमाङ्गिरसं तदा
Sin surely bears fruit, just as food eaten by a teacher does in the belly; when you killed the Brāhmaṇa Kaca, the son of Aṅgiras, so it was.
अपापशीलं धर्मज्ञं शुश्रूषुं मद्गृहे रतम् वधादनर्हतस्तस्य वधाच्च दुहितुर्मम
He was of blameless conduct, a knower of righteousness, eager to serve, devoted in my house—unworthy of death; and my daughter as well, for her killing.
वृषपर्वन्निबोध त्वं त्यक्ष्यामि त्वां सबान्धवम् स्थातुं त्वद्विषये राजन् न शक्नोमि त्वया सह
Know this, Vṛṣaparvan: I will abandon you and your kin. I cannot remain in your realm, O king, nor stay with you.
अद्यैवमभिजानामि दैत्यं मिथ्याप्रलापिनम् यतस्त्वमात्मनोदीर्णां दुहितां किमुपेक्षसे
Today I recognize the demon as a false speaker, for you neglect your own daughter, though she is afflicted.
नावद्यं न मृषावादं त्वयि जानामि भार्गव त्वयि सत्यं च धर्मश्च तत्प्रसीदतु मां भवान्
I know in you, Bhārgava, neither blame nor falsehood; in you are truth and righteousness—may you be gracious to me.
अद्यास्मानपहाय त्वम् इतो यास्यसि भार्गव समुद्रं सम्प्रवेक्ष्यामि नान्यदस्ति परायणम्
Today, Bhārgava, if you abandon us and depart from here, I will enter the ocean; there is no other refuge for me.
समुद्रं प्रविशध्वं वो दिशो वा व्रजतासुराः दुहितुर्नाप्रियं सोढुं शक्तो ऽहं दयिता हि मे
Enter the ocean, or go to the directions, O Asuras; I am unable to endure anything unpleasant for my daughter, for she is dear to me.
प्रसाद्यतां देवयानी जीवितं यत्र मे स्थितम् योगक्षेमकरस्ते ऽहम् इन्द्रस्येव बृहस्पतिः
Let Devayānī be appeased, for my life depends on her; I am the provider of her welfare, like Bṛhaspati is for Indra.
यत्किंचिद् असुरेन्द्राणां विद्यते वसु भार्गव भुवि हस्तिरथाश्वं वा तस्य त्वं मम चेश्वरः
Whatever wealth exists on earth belonging to the lords of the Asuras—be it elephants, chariots, or horses—O Bhārgava, you are the master of that, as am I.
यत्किंचिद् अस्ति द्रविणं दैत्येन्द्राणां महासुर तस्येश्वरो ऽस्मि यद्येतद् देवयानी प्रसाद्यताम्
Whatever treasure there is belonging to the lords of the Daityas, O great Asura, I am the master of that—if only Devayānī may be appeased.
ततस्तु त्वरितः शुक्रस् तेन राज्ञा समं ययौ उवाच चैनां सुभगे प्रतिपन्नं वचस्तव
Then Śukra, hastening, went together with that king, and said to her, 'O fortunate one, your request has been granted.'
यदि त्वमीश्वरस्तात राज्ञो वित्तस्य भार्गव नाभिजानामि तत्ते ऽहं राजा वदतु मां स्वयम्
If you are indeed the lord, O Bhārgava, of the king’s wealth, I do not know that; let the king himself tell me so.
यं काममभिजानासि देवयानि शुचिस्मिते तत्ते ऽहं सम्प्रदास्यामि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्
O Devayānī of pure smile, whatever desire you express, I shall grant it to you, even if it be exceedingly difficult to obtain.
दासीं कन्यासहस्रेण शर्मिष्ठामभिकामये अनुयास्यति मां तत्र यत्र दास्यति मे पिता
With a thousand maidservants, I desire Śarmiṣṭhā as my slave; she shall follow me wherever my father gives me.
उत्तिष्ठ धात्रि गच्छ त्वं शर्मिष्ठां शीघ्रमानय यं च कामयते कामं देवयानी करोतु तम्
Rise, nurse, go and quickly bring Śarmiṣṭhā; let Devayānī do whatever she desires.
ततो धात्री तत्र गत्वा शर्मिष्ठाम् इदमब्रवीत् उत्तिष्ठ भद्रे शर्मिष्ठे ज्ञातीनां सुखमावह
Then the nurse, going there, said this to Śarmiṣṭhā: 'Rise, O blessed Śarmiṣṭhā, bring happiness to your kin.'
त्यजति ब्राह्मणः शिष्यान् देवयान्या प्रचोदितः यं सा कामयते कामं स कार्यो ऽत्र त्वयानघे दासीत्वम् अभिजातासि देवयान्याः सुशोभने
The Brāhmaṇa, urged by Devayānī, is abandoning his disciples; whatever desire she has must be fulfilled by you, O blameless one. You have become a maidservant to Devayānī, O beautiful one.
यं च कामयते कामं करवाण्यहमद्य तम् मा गान्मन्युवशं शुक्रो देवयानी च मत्कृते
Whatever desire she wishes, I shall do that today; let neither Śukra nor Devayānī be overcome by anger on my account.
ततः कन्यासहस्रेण वृता शिबिकया तदा पितुर्निदेशात्त्वरिता निश्चक्राम पुरोत्तमात्
Then, chosen with a thousand maidens, she quickly left the splendid palace in a palanquin, by her father's command.
अहं कन्यासहस्रेण दाशी ते परिचारिका ध्रुवं त्वां तत्र यास्यामि यत्र दास्यति ते पिता
With a thousand maidens, I am your slave and attendant; surely I shall go wherever your father gives you.
स्तुवतो दुहिता चाहं याचतः प्रतिगृह्णतः स्तूयमानस्य दुहिता कथं दासी भविष्यसि
I am the daughter of one who is praised, of one who asks and receives; how can the daughter of one who is honored become a slave?
येन केनचिदार्तानां ज्ञातीनां सुखमावहेत् अनुयास्याम्यहं तत्र यत्र दास्यति ते पिता
By whatever means one might bring happiness to suffering kin, I shall follow you wherever your father gives you.
प्रतिश्रुते दासभावे दुहित्रा वृषपर्वणः देवयानी नृपश्रेष्ठ पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
When the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan had agreed to servitude, Devayānī, O best of kings, spoke these words to her father.
प्रविशामि पुरं तात तुष्टास्मि द्विजसत्तम अमोघं तव विज्ञानम् अस्ति विद्याबलं च ते
I shall enter the city, father; I am satisfied, O best of Brāhmaṇas. Your knowledge is unfailing, and you possess the power of learning.
एवमुक्तो द्विजश्रेष्ठो दुहित्रा सुमहायशाः प्रविवेश पुरं हृष्टः पूजितः सर्वदानवैः
Thus addressed, the illustrious best of twice-born entered the city, delighted, honored by all the Dānavas.
अथ दीर्घेण कालेन देवयानी नृपोत्तम वनं तदैव निर्याता क्रीडार्थं वरवर्णिनी
Then, after a long time, Devayānī, the best of women, went out to the forest for play, O best of kings.