तस्य च पुत्रपौत्रदौहित्राः पृष्ठतोऽग्रतः पार्श्वयोः पक्षपुच्छशिरसां चोपरि भ्रमंतस्तेनैव सदाहर्निशमतिनिर्वृत्ता रेमिरे
His sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons wandered behind him, before him, at his sides, and above his wings, tail, and head; with him, day and night, they delighted in ceaseless play.
स चापत्यस्पर्शोपचीयमानप्रहर्षप्रकर्षो बहुप्रकारं तस्य ऋषेः पश्यतस्तैरात्मजपुत्रपौत्रदौहित्रादिभिः सहानुदिनं सुतरां रेमे
And as his joy increased from the touch of his offspring, the sage, observing them, was ever more pleased, enjoying their company—sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, and others—day by day.
अथांतर्जलावस्थितस्सौभरिरेकाग्रतस्समाधिमपहायानुदिनं तस्य सत्स्यस्यात्मजपुत्रपौत्रदौहित्रादिभिस्सहातिरमणीयतामवेक्ष्याचिंतयत्
Then Saubhari, dwelling in the water and absorbed in meditation, abandoned his samadhi; each day, seeing the supreme happiness of Satsya with his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons, he pondered.
अहो धन्योयमीदृशमनभिमतं योन्यंतरमवाप्यैभिरात्मजपुत्रपौत्रदौहित्रादिभिस्सह रममाणोतीवास्माकं स्पृहामुत्पादयति
Ah! How fortunate is this man, who, having attained another birth he did not desire, enjoys himself with his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons, and arouses in us a longing.
वयमप्येवं पुत्रादिभिस्सह ललितं रमिष्याम इत्येवमभिकांक्षन् स तस्मादंतर्जलान्निष्क्रम्य संतानाय निवेष्टुकामः कन्यार्थं मांधातारं राजानमगच्छत्
We too shall delight in playful enjoyment with sons and others—so, desiring this, he emerged from the water, wishing to establish progeny, and went to King Māndhātā for a bride.
आगमनश्रवणसमनन्तरं चोत्थाय तेन राज्ञा सम्यगर्घ्यादिना संपूजितः कृतासनपरिग्रहः सौभरिरुवाच राजानम्
Immediately upon hearing of his arrival, the king rose and properly honored him with arghya and other offerings; after seating him, Saubhari spoke to the king.
सौभरिरुवाच। निवेष्टुकामोऽस्मि नरेन्द्र कन्यां प्रयच्छ मे मा प्रणयं विभांक्षीः । न ह्यर्थिनः कार्यवशादुपेताः ककुत्स्थवंशो! विमुखाः प्रयांति
Saubhari said: I wish to establish a household, O king; grant me a daughter. Do not reject my request. For those who come seeking, the Kakutstha lineage never sends them away empty-handed.
अन्येपि संत्येव नृपाः पृथिव्यां मांधातरेषां तनयाः प्रसूताः । किं त्वर्थिनामर्थितदानदीक्षाकृतव्रतश्लाघ्यमिदं कुलं ते
There are indeed many kings on earth, Māndhātā, whose daughters have been born. But your family's vow to give to those who ask is renowned; what is praiseworthy is this tradition of yours.
शतार्धसंख्यास्तव संति कन्यास्तासां ममैकां नृपते प्रयच्छ । यत्प्रार्थनाभंगभयाद्बिभेमि तस्मादहं राजवरातिदुःखात्
You have a hundred and fifty daughters; O king, give me one of them. I fear the pain of rejection, and so I am anxious about the distress caused by refusal from a king.
श्रीपराशर उवाच । इति ऋषिवचनमाकर्ण्य स राजा जराजर्जरितदेहमृषिमालोक्य प्रत्याख्यानकातरस्तस्माच्च शापभीतो बिभ्यत्किंचिदधोमुखश्चिरं दध्यौ च
Śrī Parāśara said: Hearing the sage's words, the king, seeing the aged and decrepit body of the sage, was fearful of refusal and of a curse; he lowered his face and pondered for a long time.
सौभरिरुवाच । नरेंद्र कस्मात्समुपैषि चिंतामसह्यमुक्तं न मयात्र किंचित् ।। यावश्यदेया तनया तयैव कृतार्थता नो यदि किं न लब्धा
Saubhari said: O king, why do you fall into unbearable anxiety? I have said nothing here. If any daughter is to be given, let her fulfill my wish; if not, why should I not obtain her?
श्रीपराशर उवाच । अथ तस्य भगवतश्शापभीतस्सप्रश्रयस्तमुवाचासौ राजा
Śrī Parāśara said: Then, fearing the sage's curse and with humility, the king spoke to him.
राजोवाच । भगवन् अस्मत्कुलस्थितिरियं य एव कन्याभिरुचितोऽभिजनवान्वरस्तस्मै कन्या प्रदीयते भगवद्याच्ञा चास्मन्मनोरथानामप्यतिगोचरवर्त्तिनी कथमप्येषा संजाता तदेवमुपस्थिते न विद्मः किं कुर्म इत्येतन्मयाऽचिंत्यत इत्यभिहिते च तेन भूभुजा मुनिरचिंतयत्
The king said: O sage, this is the custom of our family: whichever daughter desires a worthy suitor, she is given to him. Your request, O revered one, is beyond our wishes; how this situation has arisen, I do not know what to do. Thus I have thought, and so spoke the king; the sage pondered.
अयमन्योऽस्मत्प्रत्याख्यानोपायो वृद्धोयमनभिमतः स्त्रीणां किमत कन्याकानामित्यमुना संचिंत्यैतदभिहितमेवमस्तु तथा करिष्यामीति संचिंत्य मांधातारमुवाच
This is another way to avoid refusal: being old and unattractive to women, how will the maidens choose me? Thinking thus, he said, 'So be it, I shall act accordingly,' and addressed Māndhātā.
यद्येवं तदादिश्यतामस्माकं प्रवेशाय । कंन्यांतःपुरं वर्षवरो यदि कन्यैव काचिन्मामभिलषति तदाहं दारसंग्रहं करिष्यामि अन्यथा चेत्तदलमस्माकमेतेनातीतकालारंभणेनेत्युक्त्वा विरराम
If so, then let me be admitted to the women's quarters. If any maiden desires me, I will take her as my wife; otherwise, let this matter end, and let us not pursue what is past its time. Thus he spoke and ceased.
ततश्च मांधात्रा मुनिशापशंकितेन कन्यांतःपुरवर्षधरस्समाज्ञप्तः
Then, at Māndhātā's command, fearing the sage's curse, the attendant of the women's quarters was instructed.
तेन सह कन्यांतःपुरं प्रविशन्नेव भगवानखिलसिद्धगंधर्वेभ्योतिशयेन कमनीयं रूपमकरोत्
Entering the women's quarters with him, the sage made himself exceedingly beautiful, surpassing all Gandharvas in charm.
प्रवेश्य च तमृषिमंतःपुरे वर्षधरस्ताः कन्याः प्राह
Having brought the sage into the women's quarters, the attendant addressed the maidens.
भवतीनां जनयिता महाराजस्समाज्ञापयति
The great king, your father, commands thus.
अयमस्मान् ब्रह्मर्षिः कन्यार्थं समभ्यागतः
This brahmin sage has come to us seeking a bride.
मया चास्य प्रतिज्ञातं यद्यस्मत्कन्या या काचिद्भगवंतं वरयति तत्कन्याच्छंदे नाहं परिपंथानं करिष्यामीत्याकर्ण्य सर्वा एव ताः कन्याः सानुरागाः सप्रमदाः करेणव इव मृगयूथपतिं तमृषिमहमहमिकया वरयांबभूवुरूचुश्च
And I have promised him: whichever of our daughters chooses the venerable one, I will not oppose her choice. Hearing this, all the daughters, with affection and excitement, like female elephants toward the leader of their herd, eagerly sought to choose the sage and spoke out.
अलं भगिन्योहमिमं वृणोमि वृणोम्यहं नैष तवानुरूपः । ममैष भर्त्ता विधिनैव सृष्टस्सृष्टाहमस्योपशमं प्रयाहि
Enough, sister, I choose him, I choose him! He is not suited for you. He is my husband, created by destiny, and I am created for him. Go and find peace.
वृतो मयायं प्रथमं मयायं गृहं विशन्नेव विहन्यसे किम् । मया मयोतिक्षितिपात्मजानां तदर्थमत्यर्थकलिर्बभूव
I have chosen him first; I have chosen him! Why do you hinder me as he enters my home? Because of me, because of me! Among the king's daughters, a great quarrel arose for that reason.
यदा मुनिस्ताभिरतीवहार्दाद्वृतस्स कन्याभिरनिंद्यकीर्तिः । तदा स कन्याधिकृतो नृपाय यथावदाचष्ट विनम्रमूर्त्तिः
When the sage, of flawless reputation, was chosen with great affection by the maidens, he, having authority over the daughters, respectfully informed the king as appropriate.
श्रीपराशर उवाच । तदवगमात्किंकिमेतत्कथमेतत्किं किं करोमि किं मयाभिहितमित्याकुलमतिरनिच्छन्नपि कथमपि राजानुमेने
Śrī Parāśara said: Upon understanding this, 'What is this? How has this happened? What should I do? What should I say?'—the king, distressed and unwilling, somehow gave his consent.
कृतानुरूपविवाहश्च महर्षिस्सकला एव ताः कन्यास्स्वमाश्रममनयत्
The great sage, having married all the daughters appropriately, led them all to his own hermitage.
तत्र चाऽशेषशिल्पकल्पप्रणेतारं धातारमिवान्यं विश्वकर्माणमाहूय सकलकन्यानामेकैकस्याः प्रोत्फुल्लपंकजाः कूजत्कलहंसकारंडवादिविहंगमाभिरामजलाशयास्सोपधानाः । सावकाशास्साधुशय्यापरिच्छदाः प्रासादाः क्रियंतामित्यादिदेश
There, summoning another Viśvakarman, the originator of all arts and crafts, he ordered: 'Let splendid palaces be built for each daughter, furnished with soft bedding, delightful lotus ponds with singing swans, cranes, and other birds, pleasant surroundings, and fine amenities.'
तच्च तथैवानुष्ठितमश्षोशिल्पविशेषाचार्यस्त्वष्टा दर्शितवान्
And so it was done; Tvaṣṭā, the master of special arts, demonstrated his skill.
ततः परमर्षिणा सौभरिणाज्ञप्तस्तेषु गृहेष्वनिवार्यानंदकुंदमहानिधिरासांचक्रे
Then, by the command of the supreme sage Saubhari, an inexhaustible treasure of joy was established in those houses.
ततोऽनवरतेन भक्ष्यभोज्यलेह्याद्युपभोगैरागतानुगतभृत्यादीनहर्निशमश्षोगृहेषु ताः क्षितीशदुहितरो भोजयामासुः
Thereafter, with a constant supply of food, delicacies, sweets, and other enjoyments, the king's daughters, along with their attendants, were served day and night in those splendid houses.