ब्राह्मण्युवाच- माथुरे विषये रम्ये मथुरायां नृपोत्तमः । उग्रसेनेति विख्यातो यादवः परवीरहा
The Brahmin said: In the delightful region of Mathura, in Mathura itself, there was a foremost king, renowned as Ugrasena, a Yadava, destroyer of enemy heroes.
सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञो वेदज्ञः श्रुतवान्बली । दाता भोक्ता गुणग्राही सद्गुणान्वेत्ति भूपतिः
He knew the essence of all dharma and wealth, was learned in the Vedas, well-versed in tradition, and strong. He was a giver, an enjoyer, a discerner of virtues; the king recognized noble qualities.
राज्यं चकार मेधावी प्रजा धर्मेण पालयेत् । एवं स च महातेजा उग्रसेनः प्रतापवान्
The intelligent king ruled, protecting his subjects with righteousness. Thus, the mighty Ugrasena, full of splendor, was powerful.
वैदर्भे विषये पुण्ये सत्यकेतुः प्रतापवान् । तस्य कन्या महाभागा पद्माक्षी कमलानना
In the holy region of Vidarbha, Satyaketu, powerful and renowned, had a daughter of great fortune, Padmākṣī, lotus-faced.
नाम्ना पद्मावती नाम सत्यधर्मपरायणा । सा तु स्त्रीणां गुणैर्युक्ता द्वितीयेव समुद्रजा
Her name was Padmāvatī, devoted to truth and dharma. She was endowed with the virtues of women, like a second daughter of the ocean.
वैदर्भी शुशुभे राजन्स्वगुणैः सत्यकारणैः । माथुर उग्रसेनस्तु उपयेमे सुलोचनाम्
The Vidarbha princess shone, O king, with her own virtues and true qualities. Ugrasena of Mathura married the beautiful-eyed maiden.
तया सह महाभाग सुखं रेमे प्रतापवान् । अतिप्रीतो गुणैस्तस्यास्तया सह सुखीभवेत्
With her, the illustrious and powerful one delighted in happiness; exceedingly pleased by her virtues, he became joyful in her company.
तस्याः स्नेहेन प्रीत्या च संमुग्धो माथुरेश्वरः । पद्मावती महाभागा तस्य प्राणप्रियाभवत्
Through her affection and love, the lord of Mathura was enchanted; Padmavati, greatly blessed, became his beloved, dearer than life.
तया विना न बुभुजे तया सह प्रक्रीडयेत् । तया विना न सेवेत परमं सुखमेव सः
Without her, he did not eat; with her, he played; without her, he did not seek the highest happiness.
एवं प्रीतिकरौ जातौ परस्परमनुत्तमौ । स्नेहवंतौ द्विजश्रेष्ठ सुखसंप्रीतिदायकौ
Thus, they became mutually incomparable in giving joy; O best of twice-born, both were full of affection, bestowing happiness and delight.
सत्यकेतुश्च राजेंद्रः सस्मार स पद्मावतीम् । स्वसुतां तां महाभागो माता तस्याः सुदुःखिता
Satyaketu, the king, remembered Padmavati, his own daughter, greatly blessed; her mother was deeply distressed.
स दूतान्प्रेषयामास वैदर्भो मथुरां प्रति । उग्रसेनं नृवीरेंद्रं सादरेण द्विजोत्तम
He sent messengers from Vidarbha to Mathura, to Ugrasena, the heroic king, with respect, O best of Brahmins.
उग्रसेनं महाराजं स दूतो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । विदर्भाधिपतिर्वीरो भक्त्या स्नेहेन नंदयन्
The messenger spoke to King Ugrasena: 'The valiant lord of Vidarbha, with devotion and affection, sends greetings.'
आत्मनः कुशलं ब्रूते भवतां परिपृच्छति । सत्यकेतुर्महाराज त्वामेवं परिपृष्टवान्
'He conveys his own well-being and inquires about yours; O great king Satyaketu, he has thus asked after you.'
दर्शनाय प्रेषयस्व सुतां पद्मावतीं मम । यदि त्वं मन्यसे नाथ प्रीतिस्नेहं हितस्य च
'Send my daughter Padmavati for a visit, if you deem it proper, O lord, for the sake of affection, love, and benefit.'
प्रेषयस्व महाभागां प्रियां प्रीतिकरां तव । औत्कण्ठ्येन महाराज स सोत्कंठेन वर्तते
'Send your greatly blessed, beloved, and joy-giving one; O king, he waits with longing and yearning.'
समाकर्ण्य ततो वाक्यमुग्रसेनो नृपोत्तमः । प्रीत्या स्नेहेन तस्यापि सत्यकेतोर्महात्मनः
Hearing these words, Ugrasena, the foremost king, with affection and love for the great-hearted Satyaketu,
दाक्षिण्येन च विप्रेंद्र प्रेषयामास भूपतिः । पद्मावतीं प्रियां भार्यामुग्रसेनः प्रतापवान्
And with courtesy, O chief of Brahmins, the powerful king Ugrasena sent his beloved wife Padmavati.
प्रेषितानेन राजेंद्र गता पद्मावती स्वकम् । पूर्वं गृहं सती सा तु महाहर्षेण संकुला
Sent by him, O king, Padmavati went to her own former home, filled with great joy.
पितृपूर्वं कुटुंबं तु ददृशे चारुमंगला । पितुः पादौ ननामाथ शिरसा सत्यतत्परा
She saw her ancestral household, auspicious and beautiful; then, devoted to truth, she bowed her father's feet with her head.
आगतायां महाराजा पद्मावत्यां द्विजोत्तम । हर्षेण महताविष्टो विदर्भाधिपतिर्नृपः
When Padmavati arrived, O best of Brahmins, the king of Vidarbha was overcome with great joy.
वर्द्धिता दानमानैश्च वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः । पद्मावती सुखेनापि पितुर्गेहे प्रवर्तते
Padmavati flourished in her father's house, with gifts, respect, garments, and ornaments, enjoying happiness.
सखीभिः सहिता सा तु निःशंका परिवर्तते । रमते सा तदा तत्र यथापूर्वं तथैव च
Together with her friends, she moved about without worry; she delighted there just as before.
गृहे वने तडागेषु प्रासादे च तथैव सा । पुनर्बालेव भूता सा निर्लज्जा संप्रवर्तते
In the house, in the forest, in the ponds, and in the palace, she behaved again like a child, acting without shame.
निःशंका वर्तते विप्र सखीभिः सह सर्वदा । पतिव्रता महाभागा हर्षेण महतान्विता
O Brahmin, the highly fortunate and devoted wife always lives without fear, together with her friends, filled with great joy.
सुखं तु पितृगेहस्य दुर्लभं श्वशुरे गृहे । एवं ज्ञात्वा तदा रेमे कदा ईदृग्भविष्यति
But happiness in the house of one’s father is rare in the house of the father-in-law; knowing this, she then delighted, wondering when such a time would come again.
अनेन मोहभावेन क्रीडालुब्धा वरानना । सखीभिः सहिता नित्यं वनेषूपवने तदा
Because of this deluded state, the beautiful-faced woman, eager for play, always wandered in the groves and forests together with her friends.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने सुकलाचरित्रेऽष्टचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-eighth chapter, the story of Sukalā, in the narrative of Vena, in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
ब्राह्मण्युवाच- एकदा तु महाभाग गता सा पर्वतोत्तमे । रमणीयं वनं दृष्ट्वा कदलीखंडमंडितम्
The Brahmin said: Once, O highly fortunate one, she went to a lofty mountain; seeing a beautiful forest adorned with clusters of plantains—
शालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च नालिकेरैस्तथोत्कटैः । पूगीफलैर्मातुलिगैर्नारंगैश्चारुजंबुकैः
With śāla, tāla, tamāla, and tall coconut trees, with areca nuts, citron, oranges, and lovely rose-apples—