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.
एकदा तु दुहितृस्नेहाकृष्टहृदयस्स महीपतिरतिदुःखितास्ता उत सुखिता वा इति विचिंत्य तस्य महर्षेराश्रमसमीपमुपेत्य स्फुरदंशुमालाललामां स्फटिकमयप्रासादमालामतिरम्योपवनजलाशयां ददर्श
Once, the king, his heart drawn by affection for his daughters, wondered whether they were unhappy or happy, and approached the sage's hermitage. He saw a radiant row of crystal palaces, adorned with shining garlands, and delightful gardens and lotus ponds.
प्रविश्य चैकं प्रासादमात्मजां परिष्वज्य कृतासनपरिग्रहः प्रवृद्धस्नेहनयनांबुगर्भनयनोब्रवीत्
Entering one palace, embracing his daughter, and taking a seat, his eyes filled with tears of affection, he spoke.
अप्यत्र वत्से भवत्यास्सुखमुत किंचिदसुखमपि ते महर्षिस्स्नेहवानुत न स्मर्यतेस्मद्गृहवास इत्युक्ता तं तनया पितरमाह
'My dear, are you happy here, or is there any discomfort? Is the sage affectionate, or do you not remember living in our house?' Thus questioned, the daughter replied to her father.
तातातिरमणीयः प्रासादोत्रातिमनोज्ञमुपवनमेते कलवाक्यविहंगमाभिरुताः प्रोत्फुल्लपद्माकरजलाशयाः मनोनुकूलभक्ष्यभोज्यानुलेपनवस्त्रभूषणादिभोगो मृदूनि शयनासनानि सर्वसंपत्समेतं मे गार्हस्थ्यम्
'Father, this palace is very charming, the gardens are exceedingly delightful, the birds sing sweetly, the lotus ponds are blooming, the food, delicacies, ointments, garments, ornaments, and all comforts are pleasing, the beds and seats are soft. My household life is complete in every way.'
तथापि केन वा जन्मभूमिर्न स्मर्यते
Still, who does not remember their birthplace?
त्वत्प्रसादादिदमश्षोमतिशोभनम्
All this splendor here is due to your favor.
किं त्वेकं ममैतद्दुःखकारणं यदस्मद्गृहान्महर्षिरयम्मद्भर्त्ता न विष्क्रामति ममैव केवलमतिप्रीत्या समीपपरिवर्त्तिनीनामन्यासामस्मद्भगिनीनाम्
Yet there is one cause of sorrow for me: that this great sage, my husband, does not leave our house out of special affection only for me, while he does visit the other wives, my sisters.
एवं च मम सोदर्योतिदुःखिता इत्येवमतिदुःखकारणमित्युक्तस्तया द्वितीयं प्रासादमुपेत्य स्वतनयां परिष्वज्योपविष्टस्तथैव पृष्टवान्
Thus, when she said, 'My co-wife is exceedingly distressed,' and explained this as the cause of her great sorrow, he went to a second palace, embraced his own daughter there, sat down, and questioned her in the same way.
तयापि च सर्वमेतत्तत्प्रासादाद्युपभोगसुखं भृशमाख्यातं ममैव केवलमतिप्रीत्या पार्श्वपरिवर्त्तिनीनामन्यासामस्मद्भगिनीनामित्येवमादिश्रुत्वा समस्तप्रासादेषु राजा प्रविवेश तनयां तनयां तथैवावृच्छत्
She too described in detail all the pleasures and comforts she enjoyed in that palace, saying, 'Out of special affection only for me, he stays near me and not with the other wives, my sisters.' Hearing this from each, the king entered all the palaces and questioned each daughter in the same way.
सर्वाभिश्च ताभिस्तथैवाभिहितः परितोषविस्मयनिर्भरविवशहृदयो भगवंतं सौभरिमेकांतावस्थितमुपेत्य कृतपूजोब्रवीत्
And all of them spoke to him in the same manner; his heart, overwhelmed with satisfaction and wonder, approached the venerable Saubhari, who was alone, and after offering worship, he spoke: