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.'
दैत्यानामप्यहं श्रेष्ठो मत्समो नास्ति राक्षसः । देवेषु मर्त्यलोकेषु तपसा यशसा कुले
Among the Daityas, I am the foremost; there is no Rākṣasa equal to me, whether among the gods, in the world of mortals, in austerity, in fame, or in lineage.
अन्येषु नागलोकेषु धनभोगैर्वरानने । दर्शनात्ते विशालाक्षि हतः कन्दर्पमार्गणैः
In other realms, among the Nāgas, in wealth and enjoyments, O beautiful one, by your very sight, O wide-eyed lady, I have been struck down by the arrows of Kāma.
शरणं ते ह्यहं प्राप्तः प्रसादसुमुखी भव । भव स्ववल्लभा भार्या मम प्राणसमा प्रिया
I have come to you for refuge; be gracious and smiling upon me. Become your own beloved, my wife, dear to me as life itself.
अशोकसुन्दर्युवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि सर्वसंबंधकारणम्। भवितव्या सुजातस्य लोके स्त्री पुरुषस्य हि
Aśokasundarī said: Listen as I explain the entire reason for our connection. In this world, a woman is destined for a man of good birth.
भवितव्यस्तथा भर्ता स्त्रिया यः सदृशो गुणैः । संसारे लोकमार्गोयं शृणु हुण्ड यथाविधि
Likewise, a husband is destined for a woman who matches him in virtues. This is the path of the world, O Huṇḍa; listen as is proper.
अस्त्येव कारणं चात्र यथा तेन भवाम्यहम् । सुभार्या दैत्यराजेन्द्र शृणुष्व यतमानसः
There is indeed a reason for this, by which I will become a good wife, O king of the Daityas; listen attentively.
वृक्षराजादहं जाता यदा काले महामते । शम्भोर्भावं सुसङ्गृह्य पार्वत्या कल्पिता ह्यहम्
I was born from the king of trees at the proper time, O wise one, having fully received the essence of Śiva, and was conceived by Pārvatī.
देवस्यानुमते देव्या सृष्टो भर्ता ममैव हि । सोमवंशे महाप्राज्ञः स धर्मात्मा भविष्यति
With the consent of the goddess and the god, my husband will be created; he will be a great sage, righteous, and born in the lunar dynasty.
जिष्णुर्जिष्णुसमो वीर्ये तेजसा पावकोपमः। सर्वज्ञः सत्यसन्धश्च त्यागे वैश्रवणोपमः
He will be victorious, equal to the victorious in valor, blazing like fire in brilliance, all-knowing, truthful, and in generosity like Vaiśravaṇa.
यज्वा दानपतिः सोपि रूपेण मन्मथोपमः । नहुषोनाम धर्मात्मा गुणशील महानिधिः
He will be a performer of sacrifices, a lord of gifts, and in beauty like Kāmadeva. Named Nahuṣa, righteous, virtuous, and a great treasure of qualities.