तत्र वन्यसहस्राणि हत्वा सबलवाहनः
There, having slain thousands of wild animals, he was accompanied by his troops and vehicles.
एक एवोत्तमबलः क्षुत्पिपासासमन्वितः। स वनस्यांतमासाद्य महदारण्यमासदत्
Alone, possessing supreme strength and afflicted by hunger and thirst, he reached the edge of the forest and entered a vast wilderness.
तच्चाप्यतीत्य नृपतिर्ददर्शाश्रममुत्तमम्
Having crossed that, the king saw a most excellent hermitage.
पुष्पितैः पादपैः कीर्णमतीव सुखशाद्वलम्
It was covered with blossoming trees and exceedingly pleasant, with soft green grass.
श्रुत्वाथ तं तथा शब्दं कन्या श्रीरिव रूपिणी 5.2.62.
Then, hearing that sound, a maiden, radiant like fortune herself, appeared.
सा तं दृष्ट्वैव राजानं पद्मगर्भसमुद्भवम्
She, upon seeing the king—born from the womb of a lotus—
उवाच स्मयमानाथ किं कार्यं क्रियतामिति
Smiling, she spoke: 'What task should be done?'
दृष्ट्वा चैवानवद्यांगीं यथावत्प्रतिपूजितः
Having seen her, flawless in form, and properly honored,
क्व गतो भगवान्भद्रे तन्ममाचक्ष्व शोभने हसंती प्रत्युवाचेदं वाक्यं समधुराक्षरम्
He asked, 'Where has the revered one gone, O gentle one? Tell me, O beautiful one.' Smiling, she replied with sweet words.
कन्याहं पृथिवीपाल कौमारब्रह्मचारिणः
She said, 'I am a maiden, O protector of the earth, devoted to maidenly celibacy.'
सुता कण्वस्य मामेवं विद्धि त्वं मनुजाधिप
Know me as the daughter of Kaṇva, O king of men.
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नृपेणोक्तं वरानने
Hearing her words, the king spoke to the beautiful-faced one:
भार्या मे भव सुश्रोणि ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
'Become my wife, O lovely-hipped one. Tell me, what shall I do for you?'
आहरामि तवाद्याहं भार्या मे भव शोभने विवाहानां च रंभोरु गांधर्वः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते
'Today I shall bring you; become my wife, O beautiful one. Among marriages, O slender-thighed one, the Gandharva rite is considered the best.'
नृपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा कन्या वचनमब्रवीत् 5.2.62.
Hearing the king's words, the maiden replied:
तदर्थं मां स्थितं विद्धि त्वया मेऽपहृतं मनः
'Know that I am here for that purpose; my mind has been taken by you.'
आत्मनो बंधुरात्मैव गतिरात्मैव चात्मनः
'The self is its own kin, its own refuge, and its own goal.'
सत्यं मे प्रतिजानीहि दत्तमात्मानमद्य मे
'Promise me truly: give yourself to me today.'
इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा परिणीता नृपेण हि
Hearing her words in this way, she was indeed married by the king.
कामिता सा नृपेणेव ततो गंतुं समुद्यतः
She, desired by the king, then prepared to depart.
सा कन्या पितरं दृष्ट्वा ह्रिया नोपजगाम तम्
That maiden, seeing her father, did not approach him out of modesty.
उवाच परमं कुद्धस्तां कन्यां काममोहिताम्
He, extremely angry, spoke to that maiden who was deluded by desire.
स्वयं स्वयंवरो मोहात्तस्मात्कृष्णा भविष्यसि
Because you chose your own husband out of delusion, you shall become dark.
अयं ते नृपतिर्भर्त्ता दुष्टरूपो भविष्यति
This king will be your husband, and he will become ugly in form.
इत्युक्ता तत्क्षणाज्जाता सा कन्या रूपवर्जिता 5.2.62.
Thus addressed, that maiden instantly became devoid of beauty.
अथ प्रसादयामास सा कन्या पितरं तदा
Then that maiden began to appease her father.
अज्ञानाच्च कृतं पापं तात त्वं क्षंतुमर्हसि
Father, the wrong was done out of ignorance; you ought to forgive.
न चाहं प्रार्थिता तेन मयासौ प्रार्थितो नृपः
Nor was I sought by him; rather, I sought that king.
इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा स विप्रोऽतिकृपान्वितः
Hearing her words, that brahmin was filled with great compassion.
नैव वागनृतं पुत्रि यावदद्य स्मराम्यहम्
Never, my daughter, have I spoken a false word as far as I remember.