यथा युद्धं रणे जातं निहतो दानवाधमः । निवेदयामास सर्वं वशिष्ठाय महात्मने
Just as the battle arose on the field and the vile Dānava was slain, all this was reported to the great-souled Vasiṣṭha.
वशिष्ठोऽपि समाकर्ण्य नहुषस्य विचेष्टितम् । हर्षेण महताविष्ट आशीर्भिरभिनंद्य तम्
And Vasiṣṭha, having heard of Nahusha’s deeds, was filled with great joy and blessed him with his benedictions.
तिथौ लग्ने शुभे प्राप्ते तयोस्तु मुनिपुंगवः । विवाहं कारयामास अग्निब्राह्मणसन्निधौ
When an auspicious lunar day and moment arrived, the foremost of sages arranged their wedding in the presence of fire and Brāhmaṇas.
आशीर्भिरभिनंद्यैव मिथुनं प्रेषितं पुनः । मातरं पितरं पश्य द्रुतं गत्वा महामते
Having blessed the couple, he sent them forth again, saying, 'Go swiftly, wise ones, and see your mother and father.'
त्वां च दृष्ट्वा हि ते माता पितासौ तव सुव्रत । हर्षेण वृद्धिमाप्नोतु पर्वणीव तु सागरः
Upon seeing you, your mother and your father, O steadfast one, will be filled with joy and swell like the ocean at the full moon.
एवं संप्रेषितो वीरो मुनिना ब्रह्मसूनुना । तेनैव रथवर्येण जगाम लघुविक्रमः
Thus sent forth by the sage, son of Brahmā, the heroic one, swift of stride, departed in that very excellent chariot.
नमस्कृत्य द्विजेंद्रं तं गतो मातलिना तदा । स्वपुरं पितरं द्रष्टुं तथैव च स्वमातरम्
Having bowed to that chief of Brāhmaṇas, he then went with Mātali to his own city, to see his father and likewise his mother.
सूत उवाच- अप्सरा मेनिका नाम प्रेषिता दैवतैस्ततः । आयोर्भार्या सुदुःखेन पतिता शोकसागरे
The charioteer said: Then Menikā, an Apsaras by name, sent by the gods, approached Ayu’s wife, who was sunk in an ocean of sorrow.
तामुवाच महाभागां देवीमिंदुमतीं प्रति । मुंच शोकं महाभागे तनयं पश्य सस्नुषम्
She spoke to the blessed queen Indumatī: 'Abandon your grief, O fortunate one; behold your son and his wife.'
निहत्य दानवं पापं तव पुत्रापहारकम् । समायांतं सभायां च वीरश्रियासमन्वितम्
'Having slain the sinful Dānava who abducted your son, he is returning to the assembly, adorned with the glory of a hero.'
सुवृत्तं संगरे तस्य नहुषेण यथा कृतम् । तस्यै निवेदयामास इंदुमत्यै च मेनिका
Menikā reported to Indumatī in detail how Nahusha had acted virtuously in battle.
मेनिकाया वचः श्रुत्वा हर्षेण महतान्विता । सखि सत्यं ब्रवीषि त्वमित्युवाच सगद्गदम्
Hearing Menikā’s words, she was filled with great joy and, her voice choked with emotion, said, 'Friend, you speak the truth.'
सामृतं सुप्रियं प्रोक्तं मनःप्रोत्साहकारकम् । जीवादिकं मया देयं त्वयि सर्वस्वमेव हि
'What you have said is sweet as nectar, most dear, and uplifting to my heart. My life and all I possess are yours.'
एवमाभाष्य तां देवी राजानमिदमब्रवीत् । तव पुत्रो महाबाहुः समायातो हि सांप्रतम्
Having spoken thus to her, the queen said this to the king: 'Your mighty-armed son has now returned.'
आख्याति च महाराज एषा मे वै वराप्सराः । भर्तारमेवमाभाष्य विरराम सुहर्षिता
'And know, O great king, that this is my chosen Apsaras.' Having spoken thus to her husband, she fell silent, overjoyed.
समाकर्ण्य नृपेंद्रस्तु तामुवाच प्रियां प्रति । पुरा प्रोक्तं महाभागे मुनिना नारदेन हि
Hearing this, the lord of kings said to his beloved, 'Long ago, O blessed one, this was foretold by the sage Nārada.'
पुत्रं प्रति न कर्तव्यं दुःखं राजंस्त्वया कदा । तं निहत्य सुवीर्येण दानवं चैष्यते सुतः
'You should never grieve for your son, O king; having slain the Dānava with great valor, your son will return.'
संजातं सत्यमेवं वै मुनिना भाषितं पुरा । अन्यथा वचनं तस्य कथं देवि भविष्यति
'What the sage spoke long ago has come to pass exactly; how, O queen, could his words ever be otherwise?'
दत्तात्रेयो मुनिश्रेष्ठः साक्षाद्देवो भविष्यति । शुश्रूषितस्त्वया देवि मया च तपसा पुरा
Dattatreya, the foremost sage, will be manifest as a god himself; O goddess, he was served by you and by me in former times through austerity.
पुत्ररत्नं तेन दत्तं वैष्णवांशप्रधारकम् । सदा हनिष्यति परं दानवं पापचेतनम्
That jewel of a son, given by him, will uphold the Vaiṣṇava lineage; he will always destroy the wicked-minded demon.
सर्वदैत्यप्रहर्ता च प्रजापालो महाबलः । दत्तात्रेयेण मे दत्तो वैष्णवांशः सुतोत्तमः
He will be the destroyer of all demons, the protector of the people, mighty in strength; the excellent son of the Vaiṣṇava line has been given to me by Dattatreya.
एवं संभाष्य तां देवीं राजा चेंदुमतीं तदा । महोत्सवं ततश्चक्रे पुत्रस्यागमनं प्रति
Having thus spoken to that queen, Indumatī, the king then held a great celebration for the coming of his son.
हर्षेण महताविष्टो विष्णुं सस्मार वै पुनः
Overwhelmed with great joy, he again remembered Viṣṇu.
सर्वोपपन्नं सुरवर्गयुक्तमानंदरूपं परमार्थमेकम् । क्लेशापहं सौख्यप्रदं नराणां सद्वैष्णवानामिह मोक्षदं परम्
He who is endowed with all virtues, accompanied by the hosts of gods, the embodiment of bliss, the one true reality, remover of afflictions, giver of happiness to men, and, indeed, the bestower of liberation here for true Vaiṣṇavas.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे नहुषाख्याने षोडशाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred sixteenth chapter in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa, in the story of Vena, in the account of the greatness of the Guru Tīrtha, in the tale of Cyavana, in the narrative of Nahuṣa, of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
कुंजल उवाच- नहुषः प्रियया सार्द्धं तया चैव सरंभया । ऐंद्रेणापि स दिव्येन स्यंदनेन वरेण च
Kuñjala said: Nahuṣa, together with his beloved and with Saramabhā, and also with the divine chariot of Indra, the best of boons,
नागाह्वयं पुरं प्राप्तः सर्वशोभासमन्वितम् । दिव्यैर्मंगलकैर्युक्तं भवनैरुपशोभितम्
Arrived at the city called Nāgāhvaya, resplendent in every way, adorned with auspicious signs and beautified by splendid palaces.
हेमतोरणसंयुक्तं पताकाभिरलंकृतम् । नानावादित्रनादैश्च बंदिचारणशोभितम्
It was furnished with golden gateways, decorated with banners, and adorned by the sounds of various instruments and the presence of bards and Cāraṇas.
देवरूपोपमैः पुण्यैः पुरुषैः समलंकृतम् । नारीभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिर्गजाश्वैः स्यंदनैस्तथा
It was graced by virtuous men resembling the gods in form, by women of divine beauty, and by elephants, horses, and chariots as well.
नानामंगलशब्दैश्च वेदध्वनिसमाकुलम् । गीतवादित्रशब्दैश्च वीणावेणुस्वनैस्ततः
Filled with various auspicious sounds, resounding with the chanting of the Vedas, with songs, music, and the tones of vīṇās and flutes.