मया चाराधितो विष्णुः सर्वविश्वमयो हरिः । तेन दत्तो वरो मह्यं पुत्राख्यः सर्वसिद्धिदः
I have worshipped Viṣṇu, Hari who pervades the entire universe; by him, I have been granted a boon named 'son,' which bestows all accomplishments.
तन्निमित्तमहं भद्रे सुतार्थं नित्यमेव च । कस्यचित्पुण्यवीर्यस्य कन्यामेकां प्रचिंतये
For that purpose, O gentle one, I always contemplate a maiden for the sake of a son, one belonging to someone of virtuous merit.
सदैवाहं न पश्यामि सुभार्यां सत्यमीदृशीम् । इयं धर्मस्य वै कन्या धर्माचारा वरानना
I have never seen a truly virtuous wife like this; she is indeed the daughter of Dharma, with noble conduct and a beautiful face.
मामेवं हि भजत्वेषा यदि कान्तमिहेच्छति । यं यमिच्छेदियं बाला तं ददामि न संशयः
Let her choose me if she desires a beloved; whoever this young girl wishes, I will give her to him, without doubt.
अदेयं देयमित्याह अस्याः संगमकारणात् । एकमेवं त्वया देयं श्रूयतां द्विजसत्तम
It is said, 'What is not to be given, what is to be given,' for the sake of union with her; but only one thing must be given by you—listen, O best of twice-born.
रंभोवाच- विप्रेंद्र त्वं शृणुष्वेह प्रतिज्ञां वच्मि सांप्रतम् । एषा नैव त्वया त्याज्या धर्मपत्नी तवैव हि
Rambhā said: O chief of brāhmaṇas, listen here to my vow, which I now declare: she must never be abandoned by you; she is indeed your lawful wife.
अस्या दोषो गुणो नैव ग्राह्य एव त्वया कदा । इत्यर्थे प्रत्ययं विप्र प्रत्यक्षं परिदर्शय
You should never accept either a fault or a virtue in her; O Brahmin, to confirm this, show direct evidence.
स्वहस्तं देहि विप्रेंद्र सत्यप्रत्ययकारकम् । एवमस्तु मया दत्तो ह्यस्या हस्तो न संशयः
Give your own hand, O foremost of Brahmins, as a sign of truth and trust; thus, I have given her hand—there is no doubt.
सूत उवाच- एवं संबधिकं कृत्वा सत्यप्रत्ययकारकम् । गांधर्वेण विवाहेन सुनीथामुपयेमिवान्
Sūta said: In this way, after making the connection and establishing trust in the truth, he married Sunīthā by the Gāndharva rite.
तस्मै दत्वा सुनीथां तां रंभा हृष्टेन चेतसा । सा तां चामंत्रयित्वा वै गता गेहं स्वकं पुनः
Having given Sunīthā to him, Rambhā, with a joyful heart, after bidding her farewell, returned again to her own home.
प्रहृष्टचेतसः सख्यः स्वस्थानं परिजग्मिरे । गतासु तासु सर्वासु सखीषु द्विजसत्तमः
Her delighted friends also returned to their own places; when all the companions had departed, the best of twice-born men—
रेमे त्वंगस्तया सार्धं प्रियया भार्यया सह । तस्यामुत्पाद्य तनयं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्
He enjoyed happiness with his beloved wife, Sunīthā; from her, he begot a son endowed with all auspicious marks.
चकार नाम तस्यैव वेनाख्यं तनयस्य हि । ववृधे स महातेजाः सुनीथातनयस्तदा
He gave that son the name Vena; that son of Sunīthā, possessing great energy, grew up at that time.
वेदशास्त्रमधीत्यैव धनुर्वेदं गुणान्वितम् । सर्वासामपि मेधावी विद्यानां पारमेयिवान्
Having studied the Vedas and scriptures, and the Dhanurveda with its qualities, he became the most intelligent among all, mastering every branch of knowledge.
अंगस्य तनयो वेनः शिष्टाचारेण वर्तते । स वेनो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठः क्षत्त्राचारपरोऽभवत्
Vena, the son of Aṅga, followed the conduct of the virtuous; O best of Brahmins, that Vena was devoted to the practices of the Kṣatriyas.
दिवि चेंद्रो यथा भाति सर्वतेजःसमन्वितः । भात्येवं तु महाप्राज्ञः स्वबलेन पराक्रमैः
Just as Indra shines in heaven, endowed with all brilliance, so too did that great and wise one shine by his own strength and valor.
चाक्षुषस्यांतरे प्राप्ते वैवस्वतसमागते । प्रजापालं विना लोके प्रजाः सीदंति सर्वदा
When the interval of the Cākṣuṣa Manu had passed and the era of Vaivasvata arrived, the people always suffered in the world without a protector.
ऋषयो धर्मतत्त्वज्ञाः प्रजाहेतोस्तपोधनाः । व्यचिंतयन्महीपालं धर्मज्ञं सत्यपंडितम्
The seers, knowers of the essence of dharma, rich in austerity for the sake of the people, contemplated a king who was wise in dharma and truly learned.
तं वेनमेव ददृशुः संपन्नं लक्षणैर्युतम् । प्राजापत्ये पदे पुण्ये अभ्यषिंचन्द्विजोत्तमाः
They saw Vena himself, endowed with auspicious marks, and the excellent twice-born installed him in the sacred office of Prajāpati.
अभिषिक्ते महाभागे त्वंगपुत्रे तदा नृपे । ते प्रजापतयः सर्वे जग्मुश्चैव तपोवनम्
When the noble son of Aṅga was anointed king, all the Prajāpatis departed for the forest of austerities.
गतेषु तेषु सर्वेषु वेनो राज्यमकारयत् । सूत उवाच- सा सुनीथा सुतं दृष्ट्वा सर्वराज्यप्रसाधकम्
When they had all departed, Vena ruled the kingdom; Sūta said: Sunīthā, seeing her son as the establisher of all sovereignty—
विशंकते प्रभावेण शापात्तस्य महात्मनः । मम पुत्रो महाभागो धर्मत्राता भविष्यति
She doubted, because of the power of the curse on that great soul: 'My noble son will become the protector of dharma.'
इत्येवं चिंतयेन्नित्यं पूर्वपापाद्विशंकिता । धर्मांगानि सुपुण्यानि सुताग्रे परिदर्शयेत्
Thus she always thought, anxious because of former sin, and would show her son the limbs of dharma, most virtuous, at the forefront.
सत्यभावादि कान्पुण्यान्गुणान्सा वै प्रकाशयेत् । इत्युवाच सुतं सा हि अहं धर्मसुता सुत
She would reveal to him such virtues as truthfulness and other auspicious qualities; thus she said to her son: 'I am the daughter of Dharma, O son.'
पिता ते धर्मतत्त्वज्ञस्तस्माद्धर्मं समाचर । इत्येवं बोधयेन्नित्यं पुत्रं वेनं तदा सती
Your father is knowledgeable in the essence of dharma; therefore, practice righteousness. Thus, at that time, the virtuous wife would always instruct her son Vena.
मातापित्रोस्तयोर्वाक्यं प्रजायुक्तं प्रपालयेत् । एवं वेनः प्रजापालः संजातःक्षितिमंडले
He should uphold the words of his mother and father, which are for the welfare of the people. In this way, Vena became the protector of the subjects on earth.
सुखेन जीवते लोकःप्रजाधर्मेणरंजिताः । एवं राज्यप्रभावं तु वेनस्यापि महात्मनः
The people live happily, delighted by the righteousness of their ruler. Thus, the influence of Vena's reign, too, was great.
धर्मभावाः प्रवर्तंते तस्मिञ्छासति पार्थिवे
The qualities of dharma flourish when that king governs.
सप्तत्रिंशोऽध्यायः 2.37 ऋषय ऊचुः- एवं वेनस्य चैवासीत्सृष्टिरेव महात्मनः । धर्माचारं परित्यज्य कथं पापमतिर्भवेत्
Chapter Thirty-Seven. The sages said: Thus, the creation of the noble Vena occurred. How could he, abandoning the practice of dharma, become one of sinful intent?
सूत उवाच- ज्ञानविज्ञानसंपन्ना मुनयस्तत्त्ववेदिनः । शुभाशुभं वदंत्येवं तन्न स्यादिह चान्यथा
Sūta said: The sages, endowed with knowledge and wisdom, know the truth. They speak of auspicious and inauspicious things thus; it cannot be otherwise here.