लज्जाभियुक्तः सहसा बभूव जलं समाश्रित्य सदैव तिष्ठति । कतिमतिनियतबुद्ध्यासौ धियो वदंति सुमदननृपतेः कोशं समुद्र कलाभिः
Suddenly overcome by modesty, she always remains near water; those of keen and disciplined intellect say that the treasury of the king of love is composed of the arts of the ocean.
सुवरदशनरत्नैर्हास्यलीलाभियुक्ता अरुणअधरबिंबंशोभमानस्तु आस्यः
Her mouth, adorned with the radiant gems of her teeth and playful laughter, shines with the beauty of her reddish lips, resembling the hue of a ripe fruit.
सुभ्रूः सुनासिका तस्याः सुकर्णौ रत्नभूषितौ । हेमकांतिसमोपेतौ कपोलौ दीप्तिसंयुतौ
Her eyebrows are beautiful, her nose is fine, her ears are well-shaped and adorned with jewels; her cheeks, touched by the glow of gold, are radiant and luminous.
रेखात्रयं प्रशोभेत ग्रीवायां परिसंस्थितम् । सौभाग्यशीलशृंगारैस्तिस्रो रेखा इहैव हि
Three lines are beautifully arranged on her neck; these three lines here are marks of fortune, character, and love.
सुस्तनौ कठिनौ पीनौ वर्तुलाकारसन्निभौ । तस्याः कंदर्पकलशावभिषेकाय कल्पितौ
Her breasts are well-formed, firm, full, and round in shape; they are fashioned for the consecration of the vessel of Kāma.
अंसावतीव शोभेते सुसमौ मानसान्वितौ। सुभुजौ वर्तुलौ श्लक्ष्णौ सुवर्णौ लक्षणान्वितौ
Her shoulders shine greatly, well-matched and endowed with grace; her arms are round, smooth, golden, and marked with auspicious signs.
सुसमौ करपद्मौ तु पद्मवर्णौ सुशीतलौ । दिव्यलक्षणसंपन्नौ पद्मस्वस्तिकसंयुतौ
Her hands are well-formed, lotus-colored, and pleasantly cool; they possess divine marks and are adorned with lotus and svastika symbols.
सरलाः पद्मसंयुक्ता अंगुल्यस्तु नखान्विताः। नखानि च सुतीक्ष्णानि जलबिंदुनिभानि च
Her fingers are straight and joined with lotuses, and adorned with nails; her nails are very sharp and resemble drops of water.
पद्मगर्भप्रतीकाशो वर्णस्तदंगसंभवः । पद्मगंधा च सर्वांगे पद्मेव भाति भामिनी
The color arising from her limbs resembles the interior of a lotus; the fragrance of the lotus pervades her entire body, and she shines like a radiant lotus.
सर्वलक्षणसंपन्ना नगकन्या सुशोभना। रक्तोत्पलनिभौ पादौ सुश्लक्ष्णौ चातिशोभनौ
Endowed with all auspicious marks, the mountain maiden is exceedingly beautiful; her feet, resembling red lotuses, are very smooth and exceptionally lovely.
रत्नज्योतिः समाकारा नखाः पादाग्रसंभवाः। यथोद्दिष्टं च शास्त्रेषु तथा चांगेषु दृश्यते
Her toenails, formed at the tips of her feet, shine with the luster of jewels; as described in the scriptures, so are they seen upon her limbs.
सर्वाभरणशोभांगी हारकंकणनूपुरा। मेखलाकटिसूत्रेण कांचीनादेन राजते
Adorned with all ornaments—necklace, bracelets, anklets—she shines with a girdle, waist-string, and the sound of her jeweled waistband.
नीलेन पट्टवस्त्रेण परां शोभां गता शुभा । कंचुकेनापि दिव्येन सुरक्तेन गुणान्विता
Adorned with a blue silk garment, she attained supreme beauty; she was also graced with a divine, deep red bodice, endowed with virtues.
पार्वती कल्पिताद्भावाद्गुणं प्राप्ता महोदयम्। कल्पद्रुमान्मुदं लेभे शंकरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Parvati, through her creative intention, bestowed a great quality; she received joy from the wish-fulfilling tree and spoke to Shankara.
यथोक्तं तु त्वया देव तथा दृष्टो मया द्रुमः । यादृशं कल्प्यते भावस्तादृशं परिदृश्यते
O Lord, just as you described, I have seen the tree; as one’s intention is shaped, so is its appearance perceived.
सूत उवाच- अथ सा चारुसर्वांगी तयोः पार्श्वं समेत्य च । पादांबुजं ननामाथ सा भक्त्या भवयोस्तदा
Suta said: Then she, whose limbs were all lovely, approached the two and bowed with devotion at their lotus feet.
उवाच वचनं स्निग्धं हृद्यं हारि च सा तदा। कस्मात्सृष्टा त्वया नाथ मातर्वद स्वकारणम्
At that moment, she spoke gentle, pleasing, and charming words: 'O Lord, for what reason did you create me? Tell me, Mother, your purpose.'
श्रीदेव्युवाच- वृक्षस्य कौतुकाद्भावान्मया वै प्रत्ययः कृतः । सद्यः प्राप्तं फलं भद्रे भवती रूपसंपदा
Sri Devi said: 'Out of curiosity for the tree, I made an inquiry; O blessed one, you have instantly gained the fruit—beauty and prosperity.'
अशोकसुंदरी नाम्ना लोके ख्यातिं प्रयास्यसि । सर्वसौभाग्यसंपन्ना मम पुत्री न संशयः
You will be known in the world by the name Ashokasundari; endowed with all good fortune, you are truly my daughter—there is no doubt.
सोमवंशेषु विख्यातो यथा देवः पुरंदरः । नहुषोनाम राजेंद्रस्तव नाथो भविष्यति
Just as Indra is renowned among the lunar dynasties, so too will Nahusha, a king, become your husband.
एवं दत्वा वरं तस्यै जगाम गिरिजा गिरिम् । कैलासं शंकरेणापि मुदा परमया युता
Having granted her this boon, Girija departed for the mountain, to Kailasa, accompanied by Shankara, filled with supreme joy.
†********************† इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखण्डे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे द्व्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred and second chapter in the story of Cyavana, in the section on the greatness of the Guru Tirtha, in the Vena narrative, in the Bhumi Khanda of the glorious Padma Purana.
'कुञ्जल उवाच- अशोकसुन्दरी जाता सर्वयोषिद्वरा तदा। रेमे सुनन्दने पुण्ये सर्वकामगुणान्विते
Kunjala said: Then Ashokasundari was born, foremost among all women; she delighted in the virtuous Nandana, endowed with all desirable qualities.
सुरूपाभिः सुकन्याभिर्देवानां चारुहासिनी । सर्वान्भोगान्प्रभुञ्जाना गीतनृत्यविचक्षणा
Surrounded by beautiful maidens with lovely smiles, skilled in song and dance, she enjoyed all pleasures like the gods.
विप्रचित्तेः सुतो हुण्डो रौद्रस्तीव्रश्च सर्वदा । स्वेच्छाचारो महाकामी नन्दनं प्रविवेश ह
The son of Vipracitti, named Hunda, fierce and intense in nature, ever acting as he pleased and filled with great desire, entered Nandana.
अशोकसुन्दरीं दृष्ट्वा सर्वालङ्कारसंयुताम् । तस्यास्तु दर्शनाद्दैत्यो विद्धः कामस्य मार्गणैः
Seeing Ashokasundari adorned with all ornaments, the demon was pierced by the arrows of love upon beholding her.
तामुवाच महाकायः का त्वं कस्यासि वा शुभे । कस्मात्त्वं कारणाच्चात्र आगतासि वनोत्तमम्
That mighty one spoke to her: 'Who are you, O auspicious one? Whose are you? For what reason have you come to this excellent forest?'
'अशोकसुन्दर्युवाच- शिवस्यापि सुपुण्यस्य सुताहं शृणु साम्प्रतम् । स्वसाहं कार्तिकेयस्य जननी गोत्रजापि मे
Ashokasundari said: 'I am the daughter of Shiva, most virtuous; listen now. I am the sister of Kartikeya, and my mother is also of noble lineage.'
बालभावेन सम्प्राप्ता लीलया नन्दनं वनम् । भवान्कोहि किमर्थं तु मामेवं परिपृच्छति
Having come here to the Nandana forest in my childhood, playfully, who are you, and why do you question me so?'
हुण्ड उवाच- विप्रचित्तेः सुतश्चाहं गुणलक्षणसंयुतः। हुण्डेति नाम्ना विख्यातो बलवीर्यमदोद्धतः
Hunda said: 'I am the son of Vipracitti, endowed with virtues and marks; known by the name Hunda, proud of my strength, valor, and power.'