एतन्मे संशयं जातं तद्भवांश्छेत्तुमर्हति । अन्यः कोपि महाप्राज्ञः कुत्रासौ नहुषेति च
This doubt has arisen in me; you should resolve it. Who else, O most wise one, is this Nahusha, and where is he?
तत्सर्वं तात मे ब्रूहि कारणांतरमेव हि । वशिष्ठ उवाच- आयु राजा स धर्मात्मा सप्तद्वीपाधिपो बली
Tell me all this, dear father, and also any other reason. Vashishtha said: That king was Ayu, righteous and powerful, lord of the seven islands.
भार्या इंदुमती तस्य सत्यरूपा यशस्विनी । तस्यामुत्पादितः पुत्रो भवान्वै गुणमंदिरम्
His wife was Indumati, famed for her truthfulness and virtue. From her, you were born, a repository of all good qualities.
आयुना राजराजेन सोमवंशस्य भूषणम् । हरस्य कन्या सुश्रोणी गुणरूपैरलंकृता
By Ayu, the king of kings, you were produced as the ornament of the lunar dynasty. The daughter of Hara, with beautiful hips, adorned with virtues and beauty—
अशोकसुंदरी नाम्ना सुभगा चारुहासिनी । तस्य हेतोस्तपस्तेपे निरालंबा तपोवने
She was named Ashokasundari, fortunate and lovely with a charming smile. For your sake, she performed austerities, unsupported, in the forest of penance.
तस्या भर्ता भवान्सृष्टो धात्रा योगेन निश्चितः । गंगायास्तीरमाश्रित्य ध्यानयोग समाश्रिता
You were created by the Creator as her husband, through the power of yoga, certainly. Residing on the bank of the Ganga, she engaged in meditation and yoga.
हुंडश्च दानवेंद्रो यो दृष्ट्वा चैकाकिनीं सतीम् । तपसा प्रज्वलंतीं च सुभगां कमलेक्षणाम्
There, Hunda, the lord of the Danavas, seeing her alone, steadfast, blazing with ascetic power, and blessed with lotus-like eyes—
रूपौदार्यगुणोपेतां कामबाणैः प्रपीडितः । तां बभाषेऽन्तिकं गत्वा मम भार्या भवेति च
Endowed with beauty, nobility, and virtues, tormented by the arrows of desire, he approached her and said, 'Become my wife.'
एवं सा तद्वचः श्रुत्वा तमुवाच तपस्विनी । मा हुंड साहसं कार्षीर्मा जल्पस्व पुनः पुनः
Hearing his words, the ascetic woman replied to him, 'O Hunda, do not act violently; do not speak thus again and again.'
अप्राप्याहं त्वया वीर परभार्या विशेषतः । दैवेन मे पुरा सृष्ट आयुपुत्रो महाबलः
'I am unattainable by you, hero, especially as I am another's wife. By fate, my powerful son, born of Ayu, has already been ordained for me.'
नहुषो नाम मेधावी भविष्यति न संशयः । देवदत्तो महातेजा अन्यथा त्वं करिष्यसि
'A wise son named Nahusha will certainly be born—there is no doubt. He will be god-given, of great energy; otherwise, you will act differently.'
ततः शाप्रं पदास्यामि येन भस्मी भविष्यसि । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं कामबाणैः प्रपीडितः
'Then I will utter a curse by which you will be reduced to ashes.' Hearing these words, tormented by the arrows of desire—
व्याजेनापि हृता तेन प्रणीता निजमंदिरे । ज्ञात्वा तया महाभाग शप्तोऽसौ दानवाधमः
He deceitfully abducted her and took her to his own abode. Knowing this, O blessed one, she cursed that vile Danava.
नहुषस्यैव हस्तेन तव मृत्युर्भविष्यति । अजाते त्वयि संजाता वदसे त्वं यथैव तत्
'By the hand of Nahusha alone, your death will occur. Even before you were born, this was declared, just as you have now heard.'
स त्वमायुसुतो वीर हृतो हुंडेन पापिना । सूदेन रक्षितो दास्या प्रेषितो मम चाश्रमम्
You, O heroic son of Ayu, were abducted by the sinful Hunda. Protected by a cook and a maidservant, you were sent to my hermitage.
भवंतं वनमध्ये च दृष्ट्वा चारणकिन्नरैः । यत्तु वै श्रावितं वत्स मया ते कथितं पुनः
When you were seen in the middle of the forest by the Charanas and Kinnaras, what was heard, dear child, I have now told you again.
जहि तं पापकर्तारं हुंडाख्यं दानवाधमम् । नेत्राभ्यां हि प्रमुंचंतीमश्रूणि परिमार्जय
Slay that wicked-doer, the vile Danava named Hunda. Wipe away the tears flowing from your eyes.
इतो गत्वा प्रपश्य त्वं गंगातीरं महाबलम् । निपात्य दानवेंद्रं तं कारागृहात्समानय
Go from here and behold the mighty one on the bank of the Ganga. Having struck down the lord of the Danavas, bring him from the prison.
अशोकसुंदरी याहि तस्या भर्ता भवस्व हि । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं प्रश्नस्यास्य हि कारणम्
Ashoka Sundari, go; become his wife. All this has been told to you—the reason for your question.
आभाष्य नहुषं विप्रो विरराम महामतिः
Having spoken to Nahusha, the wise Brahmin became silent.
आकर्ण्य सर्वं मुनिना प्रयुक्तमाश्चर्यभूतं स हि चिंत्यमानः । तस्यांतमेकः परिकर्तुकाम आयोः सुतः कोपमथो चकार
Hearing everything spoken by the sage, which was astonishing, he pondered; the son of Ayu, desiring to cut off its end, became angry.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे नाहुषाख्यानेऽष्टोत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the Padma Purana, in the Bhumi Khanda, in the story of Vena, in the greatness of the Guru Tirtha, in the account of Cyavana, in the tale of Nahusha, this is the one hundred and eighth chapter.
कुंजल उवाच- प्रणिपत्य प्रसाद्यैव वशिष्ठं तपतां वरम् । आमंत्र्य निर्जगामाथ बाणपाणिर्धनुर्धरः
Kunjala said: Having bowed and pleased Vashishtha, the foremost of ascetics, he addressed him and then departed, holding his bow and arrows.
एणस्य मांसं सुविपाच्यभोजितं बालस्तया रक्षित एव बुद्ध्या । आयोः सुपुत्रः सगुणः सुरूपो देवोपमो देवगुणैश्च युक्तः
The meat of the deer, well-cooked and eaten, was protected by her with wisdom; Ayu's son was virtuous, handsome, like a god, endowed with divine qualities.
तेनैव मांसेन सुसंस्कृतेन मृष्टेन पक्वेन रसानुगेन । तमेव दैत्यं परिभाष्य सूदो दुष्टं सुहर्षेण व्यभोजयत्तदा
With that meat, well-prepared, delicious, cooked, and rich in flavor, the cook addressed the demon and joyfully served it to him.
बुभुजे दानवो मांसं रसस्वादुसमन्वितम् । हर्षेणापि समाविष्टो जगामाशोकसुंदरीम्
The demon ate the meat, accompanied by delicious juices; filled with joy, he went to Ashoka Sundari.
तामुवाच ततस्तूर्णं कामोपहतचेतनः । आयुपुत्रो मया भद्रे भक्षितः पतिरेव ते
Then, quickly, overcome by desire, he spoke to her: 'O beautiful one, Ayu's son has been eaten by me; he is your husband.'
मामेव भज चार्वंगि भुंक्ष्व भोगान्मनोनुगान् । किं करिष्यसि तेन त्वं मानुषेण गतायुषा
Love me, O lovely-limbed one; enjoy pleasures as your mind desires. What will you do with that mortal, whose life has ended?
प्रत्युवाच समाकर्ण्य शिवकन्या तपस्विनी । भर्ता मे दैवतैर्दत्तो अजरो दोषवर्जितः
Hearing this, the ascetic daughter of Shiva replied: 'My husband was given by the gods—he is ageless and free from faults.'
तस्य मृत्युर्न वै दृष्टो देवैरपि महात्मभिः । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं दानवो दुष्टचेष्टितः
His death is not seen even by the gods or the great souls. Hearing these words, the demon acted wickedly.