तथा न धावते भद्रे पुंसमन्यं न मन्यते । एनं गंतव्यमावाभ्यां सखीभिर्गृहमेव हि
In the same way, O fortunate one, she does not hasten toward any other man, nor does she consider another; with our friends, we must go to his house.
एवमाभाष्य सा रंभा गमनायोपचक्रमे । गमनायोत्सुकां ज्ञात्वा नहुषस्यांतिकं प्रति
Having spoken thus, Rambhā began to set out; knowing her eagerness to go, she proceeded toward Nahuṣa.
तामुवाच ततो रंभा कस्माद्देवि न गम्यते । सूत उवाच- सख्या च रंभया सार्द्धं नहुषं वीरलक्षणम्
Then Rambha spoke to her: 'O goddess, why do you not go?' The charioteer said: Along with her friend Rambha, to Nahusha, who bore the marks of a hero.
तस्यांतिकं सुसंप्राप्य प्रेषयामास तां सखीम् । एनं गच्छ महाभागे नहुषं देवरूपिणम्
Having arrived at her presence, she sent her companion: 'Go to Nahusha, O highly fortunate one, who appears like a god.'
कथयस्व कथामेतां तवार्थे आगता यतः । रंभोवाच-। एवं सखि करिष्यामि सुप्रियं तव सुव्रते
Tell him this story, for you have come for your own sake.' Rambha said: 'So, friend, I will do this, O virtuous one, for your great delight.'
एवमुक्त्वा गता रंभा नहुषं राजनंदनम् । चापबाणधरं वीरं द्वितीयमिव वासवम्
Having spoken thus, Rambha went to Nahusha, the delight of kings, a heroic archer, like a second Indra.
प्रत्युवाच गता रंभा सख्या वचनमुत्तमम् । आयुपुत्र महाभाग रंभाहंसमुपागता
Rambha, having arrived, spoke the excellent words of her friend: 'O son of Ayu, O highly fortunate one, Rambha has come to you.'
शिवस्य कन्यया वीर तयाहं परिप्रेषिता । तवार्थं देवदेवेन देव्या देवेन वै पुरा
O hero, I have been sent by Shiva's daughter, for your sake, by the lord of gods and the goddess, indeed, in ancient times.
भार्यारूपं वरं श्रेष्ठं सृष्टं लोकेषु दुर्लभम् । दुष्प्राप्यं तु नरश्रेष्ठैर्देवै सेंद्रैस्तपोधनैः
A wife, the highest boon, has been created, rare in the worlds, difficult to obtain even for the best of men, gods with Indra, and ascetics rich in austerity.
गंधर्वैः पन्नगैः सिद्धैश्चारणैः पुण्यलक्षणैः । स्वयमेव समायातं तवार्थे शृणु सांप्रतम्
By Gandharvas, Nagas, Siddhas, Charanas marked by virtue, she has come herself for your sake; listen now.
स्त्रीरत्नं तन्महाप्राज्ञ संपूर्णं पुण्यनिर्मितम् । अशोकसुंदरी नाम तवार्थं तपसि स्थिता
This jewel among women, O wise one, is entirely created by merit; Ashoka-Sundari by name, she stands in austerity for your sake.
अत्यर्थं तु तपस्तप्तं भवंतमिच्छते सदा । एवं ज्ञात्वा महाभाग भजमानां भजस्व हि
She has performed intense austerity and always desires you; knowing this, O highly fortunate one, accept her who seeks you.
त्वामृते सा वरारोहा पुरुषं नैव याचते । नहुषेण तयोक्तं तु श्रुत्वावधारितं वचः
Except for you, O beautiful one, she does not seek any man; Nahusha, having heard this from her, firmly considered her words.
प्रत्युत्तरं ददौ चाथ रंभे मे श्रूयतां वचः । तत्तु सर्वं विजानामि यत्त्वयोक्तं ममाग्रतः
Then he gave a reply: 'Let my words be heard, Rambha; I know everything you have spoken before me.'
ममाग्रे कथितं पूर्वं वशिष्ठेन महात्मना । सर्वमेव विजानामि अस्यास्तु तप उत्तमम्
It was previously told to me by the great-souled Vashishtha; I know everything, and her austerity is supreme.
श्रूयतां कारणं भद्रे यथासौख्यं भविष्यति । अहत्वा दानवं हुंडं न गच्छामि वरांगनाम्
Hear the reason, O gentle one, why happiness will come: Without slaying the demon Hunda, I will not go to the excellent woman.
सर्वमेतत्सुवृत्तांतमहं जाने तथैव हि । ममार्थे तव संभूतिस्तपश्च चरितं त्वया
I know all this, as it has been rightly conducted; your birth for my sake and the austerity you have performed.
मम भार्या न संदेहो भवती विधिना कृता । ममार्थे निश्चयं कृत्वा तप आचरितं त्वया
There is no doubt that you are my wife, created by destiny; for my sake, you have firmly undertaken austerity.
हृता तस्मात्सुपापेन भवती नियमान्विता । सूतिगृहादहं तेन दानवेनाधमेन वै
Therefore, you were abducted by Supapena, endowed with discipline; from the house of birth, by that wicked demon.
बालभावस्थितो देवि पितृमातृविना कृतः । तस्मात्तं तु हनिष्यामि हुंडं वै दानवाधमम्
O goddess, when I was in childhood, deprived of father and mother; therefore, I will slay Hunda, the vile demon.
पश्चात्त्वामुपनेष्येऽहं वशिष्ठस्याश्रमं प्रति । एवं कथय भद्रं ते रंभे मत्प्रियकारिणीम्
Afterwards, I will bring you to the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha. Thus, speak these words, O auspicious Rambhā, who acts for my pleasure.
एवं विसर्जिता तेन सत्वरं सा गता पुनः । अशोकसुंदरीं देवीं कथयामास तस्य च
Thus dismissed by him, she quickly departed again and told all this to the goddess Aśokasundarī.
समासेन तथा सर्वं रंभा सा द्विजसत्तम । अशोकसुंदरी सा तु अवधार्य सुभाषितम्
O best of twice-born, Rambhā then related everything concisely, and Aśokasundarī, having understood her well-spoken words,
नहुषस्य सुवीरस्य हर्षेण च समन्विता । तस्थौ तत्र तया सार्द्धं सुसख्या रंभया तदा
Filled with joy for the valiant Nahuṣa, she remained there together with her dear friend Rambhā at that time.
भर्तुश्च कीदृशं वीर्यमिति पश्यामि वै सदा
I always wish to see what kind of valor my husband possesses.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे नहुषाख्याने त्रयोदशाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred thirteenth chapter in the narrative of Nahuṣa, within the story of Cyavana, in the greatness of Gurutīrtha, in the Vena episode, in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
कुंजल उवाच- अथ ते दानवाः सर्वे हुंडस्य परिचारकाः । नहुषस्यापि संवादं रंभया तु यथाश्रुतम्
Kuñjala said: Then all those Dānavas, attendants of Huṃḍa, reported the conversation between Nahuṣa and Rambhā just as they had heard it.
आचचक्षुश्च दैत्येंद्रं हुंडं सर्वं सुभाषितम् । तमाकर्ण्य स चुक्रोध दूतं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्
They described everything, well-spoken, to the lord of the Daityas, Huṃḍa. Hearing this, he became angry and spoke to his messenger.
गच्छ वीर ममादेशाज्जानीहि पुरुषं हि तम् । संभाषते तया सार्द्धं पुरुषः शिवकन्यया
Go, hero, by my command, and find out who that man is who converses with that daughter of Śiva.
स्वामिनिर्देशमाकर्ण्य जगाम लघुदानवः । विविक्ते नहुषं वीरमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing his master's command, the swift Dānava went and, finding Nahuṣa alone, spoke these words to the hero.