गंगातीरे ततो दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणं रूपसंयुतम् । सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं सूर्यतेजः समप्रभम्
Then, on the bank of the Ganges, she saw a Brahmin endowed with beauty, possessing all marks, radiant like the sun.
रूपेणाप्रतिमं लोके द्वितीयमिव मन्मथम् । देवरूपं महाभागं भाग्यवंतं सुभाग्यदम्
Unmatched in beauty in the world, like a second Cupid; divine in form, greatly fortunate, bestower of great fortune.
अनौपम्यं महात्मानं विष्णुतेजः समप्रभम् । वैष्णवं सर्वपापघ्नं विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमम्
Unmatched, the great soul, radiant with the brilliance of Vishnu; Vaishnava, destroyer of all sins, equal in valor to Vishnu.
कामक्रोधविहीनं तमत्रिवंशविभूषणम्
Free from desire and anger, he is the ornament of the lineage of Atri.
दृष्ट्वा सुरूपं तपसां स्वरूपं दिव्यप्रभावं परितप्यमानम् । पप्रच्छ रंभां सुसखीं सरागा कोयं दिविष्ठः प्रवरो महात्मा
Seeing him, handsome and the true form of asceticism, possessing divine power and suffering, Rambha, his dear companion, asked with affection: 'Who is this distinguished, exalted soul among the gods?'
रंभोवाच- ब्रह्मा अव्यक्तसंभूतस्तस्माज्जज्ञे प्रजापतिः । अत्रिर्नाम स धर्मात्मा तस्य पुत्रो महामनाः
Rambha said: 'Brahma, born from the unmanifest, from him arose the Lord of creatures; his name is Atri, righteous in nature, and his son is great-minded.'
अंगो नाम अयं भद्रे नंदनं वनमागतः । इंद्रस्य संपदं दृष्ट्वा लीलातेजसमुत्तमाम्
'This one, named Anga, O gentle one, has come to Nandana forest; seeing Indra's wealth and supreme playful brilliance—'
कृता स्पृहा अनेनापि इंद्रस्य सदृशे पदे । ईदृशो हि यदा पुत्रो मम स्याद्धर्मसंयुतः
'He too has developed longing for a position equal to Indra's; such a son, endowed with righteousness, if only he were mine.'
सुश्रेयो मे भवेज्जन्म यशः कीर्ति समन्वितम् । आराधितो हृषीकेशस्तपोभिर्नियमैस्तथा
'May my birth be most auspicious, accompanied by fame and glory; having worshipped Hrishikesha with austerities and disciplines—'
सुप्रसन्ने हृषीकेशे वरं याचितवानयम् । इंद्रस्य सदृशं पुत्रं विष्णुतेजः पराक्रमम्
'When Hrishikesha was well pleased, he sought a boon: a son equal to Indra, possessing the brilliance and valor of Vishnu.'
वैष्णवं सर्वपापघ्नं देहि मे मधुसूदन । दत्तवान्स तदा पुत्रमीदृशं सर्वधारकम्
'O Madhusudana, grant me a Vaishnava son, destroyer of all sins; then he bestowed such a son, the supporter of all.'
तदाप्रभृति विप्रेंद्रः पुण्यां कन्यां प्रपश्यति । यथा त्वं चारुसर्वांगी तथायं परिपश्यति
'From that time, the chief of Brahmins beholds a virtuous maiden; just as you are graceful in every limb, so does he perceive this one.'
एनं गच्छ वरारोहे अस्मात्पुत्रो भविष्यति । पुण्यात्मा पुण्यधर्मज्ञो विष्णुतेजः पराक्रमः
'Go to him, O beautiful one, from him you will have a son; virtuous in soul, knowing righteous conduct, radiant with Vishnu's valor.'
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं तथाहं पृच्छिता त्वया । अयं भर्ता भवत्यर्हो भवेदेव न संशयः
'All this has been told to you as you asked; he is worthy to be your husband, without any doubt.'
सुशंखस्यापि यः शापो वृथा सोऽपि भविष्यति । अस्माज्जाते महाभागे पुत्रे धर्मप्रचारिणि
'Even the curse of Sushankha will prove fruitless; when a son is born from this blessed one, a propagator of righteousness.'
भविष्यसि सुखी भद्रे सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् । सुक्षेत्रे कृषिकारस्तु बीजं वपति तत्परः
'You will be happy, O gentle one, truly, truly I speak; in a good field, the farmer sows the seed with devotion.'
स तथा भुंजते देवि यथा बीजं तथा फलम् । अन्यथा नैव जायेत तत्सर्वं सदृशं भवेत्
'He enjoys the fruit, O goddess, according to the seed; otherwise, it would not be born, and all would be alike.'
अयमेष महाभागस्तपस्वी पुण्यवीर्यवान् । अस्य वीर्यात्समुत्पन्नो अस्यैवगुणसंपदा
'This blessed one is ascetic, endowed with virtuous strength; from his vigor arises offspring, possessing his qualities and virtues.'
युक्तः पुत्रो महातेजाःसर्वदेहभृतां वरः । भविष्यति महाभाग्यो युक्तात्मा योगतत्ववित्
'The son will be suitable, of great energy, foremost among all embodied beings; he will be greatly fortunate, with a disciplined soul, and a knower of yoga's essence.'
एवं हि वाक्यं तु निशम्य बाला रंभाप्रियोक्तं शिवदायकं तत् । विचिंत्य बुद्ध्येह सुनीथया तदा तत्त्वार्थमेतत्परिसत्यमेव हि
Thus, hearing these words spoken by Rambha, dear to her, bestowing auspiciousness, the maiden thoughtfully considered with wise intellect, and recognized this as the true meaning of reality.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडेवेनोपाख्याने पंचत्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-fifth chapter in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa section of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
सुनीथोवाच- सत्यमुक्तं त्वया भद्रे एवमेतत्करोम्यहम् । अनया विद्यया विप्रं मोहयिष्यामि नान्यथा
Sunītha said: What you have spoken is true, dear one; so shall I do. By this knowledge alone will I delude the brāhmaṇa, and not otherwise.
साहाय्यं देहि मे पुण्यं येन गच्छामि सांप्रतम् । एवमुक्ता तया रंभा तामुवाच मनस्विनीम्
Grant me your virtuous assistance, by which I may now succeed. Thus addressed by her, Rambhā spoke to that noble-minded woman.
कीदृग्ददामि साहाय्यं तत्त्वं कथय भामिनि । दूतत्वं गच्छ मे भद्रे एतं प्रति सुसांप्रतम्
Tell me, beautiful one, what sort of help I should give. Go as my messenger, dear, to him at this very moment.
एवमुक्तं तया तां तु रंभां प्रति सुलोचनाम् । एवमेव प्रतिज्ञातं रंभया देवयोषिता
Thus addressed by her, the wide-eyed one replied to Rambhā: 'So be it,' was promised by Rambhā, the divine maiden.
करिष्ये तव साहाय्यमादेशो मम दीयताम् । सद्भावेन विशालाक्षी रूपयौवनशालिनी
I will assist you; give me your command. With sincerity, the large-eyed, beautiful and youthful woman said this.
मायया दिव्यरूपा सा संबभूव वरानना । रूपेणाप्रतिमालोके मोहयंती जगत्त्रयम्
By her magic, she became endowed with a divine form, her face radiant; with incomparable beauty, she enchanted the three worlds.
मेरोश्चैव महापुण्ये शिखरे चारुकंदरे । नानाधातुसमाकीर्णे नानारत्नोपशोभिते
On the sacred summit of Mount Meru, in a lovely cave adorned with various metals and shining with many jewels,
देववृक्षैः समाकीर्णे बहुपुष्पोपशोभिते । देववृंदसमाकीर्णे गंधर्वाप्सरसेविते
Surrounded by celestial trees, resplendent with many flowers, filled with hosts of gods, attended by Gandharvas and Apsarases,
मनोहरे सुरम्ये च शीतच्छायासमाकुले । चंदनानामशोकानां तरूणां चारुहासिनी
In that enchanting and delightful place, thick with cool shade, among sandalwood and aśoka trees, she sat with a lovely smile.