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.
तामुवाच विशालाक्षीं प्रहस्यैव पुनः पुनः । अद्यैव भक्षितं मांसमायुपुत्रस्य सुंदरि
He spoke again and again, laughing, to the wide-eyed one: 'Today the meat of Ayu's son has been eaten, O beautiful one.'
जातमात्रस्य बालस्य नहुषस्य दुरात्मनः । एवमाकर्ण्य सा वाक्यं कोपं चक्रे सुदारुणम्
Of the newborn child, Nahusha, of evil mind. Hearing these words, she became fiercely angry.
प्रोवाच सत्यसंस्था सा तपसा भाविता पुनः । तप एव मया तप्तं मनसा नियमेन वै । आयुसुतश्चिरायुश्च सत्येनैव भविष्यति
Firm in truth, purified by austerity, she spoke again: 'I have performed austerity with my mind and discipline; Ayu's son will have long life by truth alone.'
इतो गच्छ दुराचार यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि । अन्यथा त्वामहं शप्स्ये पुनरेव न संशयः
Go from here, wicked one, if you wish to live; otherwise, I will curse you again—there is no doubt.
एवमाकर्णितं तस्याः सूदेन नृपतिं प्रति । परित्यज्य महाराज एतामन्यां समाश्रय
Having heard this from her, the cook said to the king: 'Abandon her, O great king, and seek another.'
सूदेन प्रेषितो दैत्यः स हुंडः पापचेतनः । निर्जगाम त्वरायुक्तः स स्वां भार्यां प्रियां प्रति
Sent by the cook, the demon Hunda, of evil mind, departed quickly toward his beloved wife.
चेष्टितं नैव जानाति दास्या सूदेन यत्कृतम् । तस्यै निवेदितं सर्वं प्रियायै वृत्तमेव च
The maid does not know what has been done by the cook; everything is reported to her, including the conduct towards the beloved.
सूत उवाच- अशोकसुंदरी सा च महता तपसा किल । दुःखशोकेन संतप्ता कृशीभूता तपस्विनी
The charioteer said: That Ashoka-sundari, indeed, through great austerity, afflicted by sorrow and grief, became emaciated, a woman devoted to penance.
चिंतयंती प्रियं कांतं तं ध्यायति पुनः पुनः । किं न कुर्वंति वै दैत्या उपायैर्विविधैरपि
Thinking of her beloved, she meditates on him again and again; what do not the demons attempt, by various means?
उपायज्ञाः सदा बुद्ध्या उद्यमेनापि सर्वदा । वर्तंते दनुजश्रेष्ठा नानाभावैश्च सर्वदा
Always skilled in strategies, with intelligence and effort, the foremost of the Danavas act in diverse ways at all times.