अश्रुबिंदुमती नाम रतिपुत्री नरोत्तम । तस्याः प्रीत्या सुखं कृत्वा नित्यं वर्त्ते समीपगा
She is named Aśrubindumatī, daughter of Rati, O best of men; by her affection, she always dwells near, bringing happiness.
सखीभावस्वभावेन संहृष्टा सर्वदा शुभा । विशाला नाम मे ख्यातं वरुणस्य सुता नृप
By the nature of friendship, ever delighted and auspicious, she is known as Viśālā, daughter of Varuṇa, O king.
अस्याश्चांते प्रवर्तामि स्नेहात्स्निग्धास्मि सर्वदा । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातमस्याश्चात्मन एव ते
At the end of her story, I act out of affection, always tender; all this I have told you, as it pertains to her and to yourself.
तपश्चचार राजेंद्र पतिकामा वरानना । राजोवाच- सर्वमेव त्वयाख्यातं मया ज्ञातं शुभे शृणु
Desiring a husband, the beautiful-faced one performed austerities, O king; the king said—All has been told by you, O auspicious one, I have understood, listen.
मामेवं हि भजत्वेषा रतिपुत्री वरानना । यमेषा वांछते बाला तत्सर्वं तु ददाम्यहम्
Let this daughter of Rati, O beautiful-faced one, worship me in this way; whatever this maiden desires, I shall grant it all.
तथा कुरुष्व कल्याणि यथा मे वश्यतां व्रजेत् । विशालोवाच- अस्या व्रतं प्रवक्ष्यामि तदाकर्णय भूपते
Do thus, O blessed one, so that she may come under my sway; Viśālā said—I shall declare her vow, listen to it, O king.
पुरुषं यौवनोपेतं सर्वज्ञं वीरलक्षणम् । देवराजसमं राजन्धर्माचारसमन्वितम्
A man endowed with youth, all-knowing, bearing the marks of a hero, equal to the king of the gods, O king, and established in righteous conduct.
तेजस्विनं महाप्राज्ञं दातारं यज्विनां वरम् । गुणानां धर्मभावस्य ज्ञातारं पुण्यभाजनम्
Radiant, greatly wise, a generous giver, foremost among sacrificers, knower of the essence of virtues and righteousness, a vessel of merit.
लोक इंद्रसमं राजन्सुयज्ञैर्धर्मतत्परम् । सर्वैश्वर्यसमोपेतं नारायणमिवापरम्
O king, like Indra among men, devoted to righteousness and great sacrifices, endowed with all prosperity, like another Nārāyaṇa.
देवानां सुप्रियं नित्यं ब्राह्मणानामतिप्रियम् । ब्रह्मण्यं वेदतत्त्वज्ञं त्रैलोक्ये ख्यातविक्रमम्
Ever dear to the gods, greatly beloved by the Brāhmaṇas, devoted to Brahman, knower of the essence of the Vedas, renowned for valor in the three worlds.
एवंगुणैः समुपेतं त्रैलोक्येन प्रपूजितम् । सुमतिं सुप्रियं कांतं मनसा वरमीप्सति
Endowed with such qualities, honored by the three worlds, she desires in her heart a wise, greatly beloved, and handsome husband.
ययातिरुवाच- एवं गुणैः समुपेतं विद्धि मामिह चागतम् । अस्यानुरूपो भर्त्ताहं सृष्टो धात्रा न संशयः
Yayāti said—Know me, who has come here, as endowed with such qualities; I am a husband suited to her, created by the Creator, without doubt.
विशालोवाच- भवंतं पुण्यसंवृद्धं जाने राजञ्जगत्त्रये । पूर्वोक्ता ये गुणाः सर्वे मयोक्ताः संति ते त्वयि
Viśālā said—I know you, O king, as one grown in merit among the three worlds; all the qualities previously mentioned by me are present in you.
एकेनापि च दोषेण त्वामेषा हि न मन्यते । एष मे संशयो जातो भवान्विष्णुमयो नृप
Yet, because of a single fault, she does not consider you; this is my doubt, O king—you are of the nature of Viṣṇu.
ययातिरुवाच- समाचक्ष्व महादोषं यमेषा नानुमन्यते । तत्त्वेन चारुसर्वांगी प्रसादसुमुखी भव
Yayāti said: Tell me plainly the great fault that Yama does not approve. Speak the truth, O beautiful one with lovely limbs, and show me your gracious face.
विशालोवाच- आत्मदोषं न जानासि कस्मात्त्वं जगतीपते । जरया व्याप्तकायस्त्वमनेनेयं न मन्यते
Viśālā said: You do not know your own fault, O lord of the earth. Your body is pervaded by old age, and because of this, she does not accept you.
एवं श्रुत्वा महद्वाक्यमप्रियं जगतीपतिः । दुःखेन महताविष्टस्तामुवाच पुनर्नृपः
Hearing these weighty and unpleasant words, the lord of the earth was seized by great sorrow, and the king spoke to her again.
जरादोषो न मे भद्रे संसर्गात्कस्यचित्कदा । समुद्भूतं ममांगे वै तं न जाने जरागमम्
Yayāti said: O gentle one, I do not know of any fault of old age arising in my body from contact with anyone. I do not know how this old age has come upon me.
यं यं हि वांछते चैषा त्रैलोक्ये दुर्लभं शुभे । तमस्यै दातुकामोहं व्रियतां वर उत्तमः
Whatever boon she desires, even if it is rare in the three worlds, I wish to grant it to her. Let her choose the highest boon.
विशालोवाच- जराहीनो यदा स्यास्त्वं तदा ते सुप्रिया भवेत् । एतद्विनिश्चितं राजन्सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्
Viśālā said: When you are free from old age, then she will be truly pleased with you. This is certain, O king; I speak the truth, the truth indeed.
श्रुतिरेवं वदेद्राजन्पुत्रे भ्रातरि भृत्यके । जरा संक्राम्यते यस्य तस्यांगे परिसंचरेत्
The tradition says, O king, that old age can be transferred to a son, a brother, or a servant; it passes into the body of whomever it is given.
तारुण्यं तस्य वै गृह्य तस्मै दत्वा जरां पुनः । उभयोः प्रीतिसंवादः सुरुच्या जायते शुभः
His youth is taken, and old age is given to him in return; thus, a pleasing agreement arises between both, bringing happiness.
यथात्मदानपुण्यस्य कृपया यो ददाति च । फलं राजन्हि तत्तस्य जायते नात्र संशयः
Just as one who gives away the merit of his own good deeds out of compassion, O king, so too does the fruit of that merit arise for him—of this there is no doubt.
दुःखेनोपार्जितं पुण्यमन्यस्मै हि प्रदीयते । सुपुण्यं तद्भवेत्तस्य पुण्यस्य फलमश्नुते
When merit, earned with difficulty, is given to another, that merit becomes excellent for him, and he enjoys the fruit of that merit.
पुत्राय दीयतां राजंस्तस्मात्तारुण्यमेव च । प्रगृह्यैव समागच्छ सुंदरत्वेन भूपते
Let your youth, O king, be given to your son; take hold of him and come together, restored to beauty, O lord of the earth.
यदा त्वमिच्छसे भोक्तुं तदा त्वं कुरुभूपते । एवमाभाष्य सा भूपं विशाला विरराम ह
Whenever you wish to enjoy, O king of the Kurus, then you may do so. Having spoken thus to the king, Viśālā became silent.
सुकर्मोवाच- एवमाकर्ण्य राजेंद्रो विशालामवदत्तदा । राजोवाच- एवमस्तु महाभागे करिष्ये वचनं तव
Sukarma said: Hearing this, the king then spoke to Viśālā. The king said: So be it, O noble lady, I will do as you have said.
कामासक्तः समूढस्तु ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः । गृहं गत्वा समाहूय सुतान्वाक्यमुवाच ह
Yayāti, the king, deluded and attached to desire, went home, summoned his sons, and spoke these words to them.
तुरुं पूरुं कुरुं राजा यदुं च पितृवत्सलम् । कुरुध्वं पुत्रकाः सौख्यं यूयं हि मम शासनात्
He called Turvasu, Pūru, Kuru, and Yadu, who were devoted to their father, and said: My sons, do as I command and bring me happiness.
पुत्रा ऊचुः- पितृवाक्यं प्रकर्तव्यं पुत्रैश्चापि शुभाशुभम् । उच्यतां तात तच्छीघ्रं कृतं विद्धि न संशयः
The sons said: A father's command must be carried out by his sons, whether good or bad. Speak quickly, father, and consider it done without doubt.