कदाचिन्मनुरुद्युक्तस्तीर्थयात्रां प्रति प्रभुः । सकुटुंबो ययौ रेवां महाबलसमावृतः
Once, Manu, intent on a pilgrimage, set out with his family for the Revā, accompanied by a great force.
तत्र स्नात्वा महानद्यां संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः । दानानि ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च प्रादाद्विष्णुप्रतुष्टये
There, after bathing in the great river and satisfying the ancestors and gods, he gave gifts to the Brahmins for the pleasure of Viṣṇu.
तत्कन्या विचरंती सा वनमध्ये इतस्ततः । सखीभिः सहिता रम्या तप्तहाटकभूषणा
There, his beautiful daughter, adorned with ornaments of refined gold, wandered here and there in the forest, together with her companions.
तत्र दृष्ट्वाथ वल्मीकं महातरुसुशोभितम् । निमेषोन्मेषरहितं तेजः किंचिद्ददर्श सा
There she saw an anthill, splendid beneath a great tree; she noticed a faint radiance, unmoving and unblinking.
गत्वा तत्र शलाकाभिरतुदद्रुधिरं स्रवत् । दृष्ट्वा राज्ञांगजा खेदं प्राप्तवत्यतिदुःखिता
Approaching, she struck it with sticks, and blood began to flow; seeing this, the king's daughter became greatly distressed and sorrowful.
न जनन्यै तथा पित्रे शशंसाघेन विप्लुता । स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं सा शुशोच भयातुरा
Overwhelmed by sin, she did not tell her mother or father; out of fear, she grieved for herself, alone in her heart.
तदा भूश्चलिता राजन्दिवश्चोल्का पपात ह । धूम्रा दिशो भवन्सर्वाः सूर्यश्च परिवेषितः
Then, O King, the earth trembled and a meteor fell from the sky; all directions became smoky, and the sun was surrounded by a halo.
तदा राज्ञो हया नष्टा हस्तिनो बहवो मृताः । धनं नष्टं रत्नयुतं कलहोभून्मिथस्तदा
At that time, the king's horses were lost, many elephants died, his wealth adorned with jewels was lost, and quarrels broke out among the people.
तदालोक्य नृपो भीतः किंचिदुद्विग्नमानसः । जनानपृच्छत्केनापि मुनये त्वपराधितम्
Seeing this, the king became frightened and somewhat disturbed in mind; he questioned the people, asking which sage had been offended.
पारंपर्येण तज्ज्ञात्वा स्वपुत्र्याः परिचेष्टितम् । ययौ सुदुःखितस्तत्र समृद्धबलवाहनः
Learning through tradition of his daughter's actions, he went there, deeply distressed, with his well-equipped army.
तं वै तपोनिधिं वीक्ष्य महता तपसायुतम् । स्तुत्वा प्रसादयामास मुनिवर्य दयां कुरु
Seeing that storehouse of austerity, endowed with great penance, he praised him and sought to appease him: 'O best of sages, show mercy.'
तस्मै तुष्टो जगादायं मुनिवर्यो महातपाः । तवात्मजाकृतं सर्वमुत्पाताद्यमवेहि तत्
Pleased with him, that great sage of intense austerity spoke: 'Know that all these calamities have arisen from the deed of your daughter.'
तव पुत्र्या महाराज चक्षुर्विस्फोटनं कृतम् । बहुसुस्राव रुधिरं जानती त्वामुवाच न
O great king, your daughter caused an injury to the eye, from which much blood flowed; though she knew you, she did not speak.
तस्मादियं महाभूप मह्यं देया यथाविधि । ततश्चोत्पातशमनं भविष्यति न संशयः
Therefore, O great king, she must be given to me according to proper custom; then the calamities will be pacified, without doubt.
तच्छ्रुत्वा दुःखितो राजा प्रज्ञाचाक्षुष आत्मजाम् । ददौ कुलवयोरूप शीललक्षणसंयुताम्
Hearing this, the sorrowful king gave his daughter, endowed with family, beauty, character, and marks of virtue, to the sage of clear vision.
दत्ता यदा नृपेणेयं कन्या कमललोचना । तदोत्पाताः शमं याताः सर्वे मुनिरुषोद्गताः
When the king gave this lotus-eyed maiden, all the calamities ceased, and the sage, his anger gone, became peaceful.
राजा दत्त्वात्मजां तस्मै मुनये तपसांनिधे । प्राप स्वां नगरीं भूयो दुःखितोऽयं दयायुतः
The king, having given his daughter to that sage, the treasury of austerities, returned again to his city, still sorrowful but filled with compassion.
सुमतिरुवाच। अथर्षिः स्वाश्रमं गत्वा मानव्या सह भार्यया । मुदं प्राप हताशेष पातको योगयुक्तया
Sumati said: Then the sage, having gone to his own hermitage with his wife Manavi, attained joy, all sin destroyed through her practice of yoga.
सा मानवी तं वरमात्मनः पतिं । नेत्रेणहीनं जरसा गतौजसम् । सिषेव एनं हरिमेधसोत्तमं । निजेष्टदात्रीं कुलदेवतां यथा
That Manavi served her chosen husband, deprived of sight and vigor by old age, as one would serve the family's own goddess, the bestower of blessings.
शूश्रूषती स्वं पतिमिंगितज्ञा । महानुभावं तपसां निधिं प्रियम् । परां मुदं प्राप सती मनोहरा । शची यथा शक्रनिषेवणोद्यता
Attentively serving her husband, understanding his wishes, that virtuous and beautiful woman, devoted to the great sage, attained supreme joy, as Shachi does when serving Indra.
चरणौ सेवते तन्वी सर्वलक्षणलक्षिता । राजपुत्री सुंदरांगी फलमूलोदकाशना
That slender, royal maiden, marked by all auspicious signs, served his feet, her beautiful body sustained by fruits, roots, and water.
नित्यं तद्वाक्यकरणे तत्परा पूजने रता । कालक्षेपं प्रकुरुते सर्वभूतहिते रता
Always intent on carrying out his words, devoted to worship, she spent her time in service, delighting in the welfare of all beings.
विसृज्य कामं दंभं च द्वेषं लोभमघं मदम् । अप्रमत्तोद्यता नित्यं च्यवनं समतोषयत्
Abandoning desire, hypocrisy, hatred, greed, sin, and pride, she remained ever vigilant and diligent, continually pleasing Cyavana.
एवं तस्य प्रकुर्वाणा सेवां वाक्कायकर्मभिः । सहस्राब्दं महाराज सा च कामं मनस्यधात्
Thus, serving him in word, body, and deed, O King, she fulfilled her desires in her mind for a thousand years.
कदाचिद्देवभिषजावागतावाश्रमे मुनेः । स्वागतेन सुसंभाव्य तयोः पूजां चकार सा
Once, the two divine physicians came to the sage’s hermitage; she welcomed them graciously and honored them with hospitality.
शर्यातिकन्याकृतपूजनार्घ-। पाद्यादिना तोषितचित्तवृत्ती । तावूचतुः स्नेहवशेन सुंदरौ । वरं वृणुष्वेति मनोहरांगीम्
Having pleased them with worship, offering water for their feet and other rites, Śaryāti’s daughter, whose conduct delighted their hearts, was addressed by the two handsome gods, who affectionately said, 'Choose a boon, O enchanting one.'
तुष्टौ तौ वीक्ष्य भिषजौ देवानां वरयाचने । मतिं चकार नृपतेः पुत्री मतिमतां वरा
Seeing the two divine physicians satisfied and offering a boon, the wise daughter of the king considered what she should request.
पत्यभिप्रायमालक्ष्य वाचमूचे नृपात्मजा । दत्तं मे चक्षुषी पत्युर्यदि तुष्टौ युवां सुरौ
Perceiving her husband’s desire, the king’s daughter spoke: 'If you two gods are pleased, grant me vision for my husband.'
इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुकन्या या मनोहरम् । सतीत्वं च विलोक्येदमूचतुर्भिषजां वरौ
Hearing this charming request from Sukanyā, and recognizing her fidelity, the two physicians replied.
त्वत्पतिर्यदि देवानां भागं यज्ञे दधात्यसौ । आवयोरधुना कुर्वश्चक्षुषोः स्फुटदर्शनम्
'If your husband offers the gods their share in the sacrifice, then grant him clear sight from both eyes right now.'