03.122
सुकन्योपाख्यानम्
The narrative of Sukanya
लोमश उवाच॥
Lomaśa said.
भृगोर्महर्षेः पुत्रोऽभूच्च्यवनो नाम भार्गवः। समीपे सरसः सोऽस्य तपस्तेपे महाद्युतिः ॥०३-१२२-१॥
Cyavana, the son of the great sage Bhṛgu, known as a descendant of Bhṛgu, practiced asceticism near the lake; he was greatly radiant. (03-122-1)
स्थाणुभूतो महातेजा वीरस्थानेन पाण्डव। अतिष्ठत्सुबहून्कालानेकदेशे विशां पते ॥०३-१२२-२॥
O Pāṇḍava, O lord of men, having become immovable like a pillar and greatly radiant, he stood for a long time in one place in the posture of a hero. (03-122-2)
स वल्मीकोऽभवदृषिर्लताभिरभिसंवृतः। कालेन महता राजन्समाकीर्णः पिपीलिकैः ॥०३-१२२-३॥
The sage became an anthill, enveloped by creepers, and after a long time, O king, he was covered with ants. (03-122-3)
तथा स संवृतो धीमान्मृत्पिण्ड इव सर्वशः। तप्यति स्म तपो राजन्वल्मीकेन समावृतः ॥०३-१२२-४॥
Thus, O king, that wise man, completely enveloped like a lump of clay, practiced penance, entirely covered by an ant-hill. (03-122-4)
अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य शर्यातिर्नाम पार्थिवः। आजगाम सरो रम्यं विहर्तुमिदमुत्तमम् ॥०३-१२२-५॥
Then, after a long time, King Śaryāti by name came to this excellent and pleasant lake to sport. (03-122-5)
तस्य स्त्रीणां सहस्राणि चत्वार्यासन्परिग्रहः। एकैव च सुता शुभ्रा सुकन्या नाम भारत ॥०३-१२२-६॥
He had four thousand wives, O Bhārata, but only one daughter, the auspicious Sukanya, by name. (03-122-6)
सा सखीभिः परिवृता सर्वाभरणभूषिता। चङ्क्रम्यमाणा वल्मीकं भार्गवस्य समासदत् ॥०३-१२२-७॥
She, adorned with all ornaments and surrounded by her friends, while walking about, came near the anthill of Bhārgava. (03-122-7)
सा चैव सुदती तत्र पश्यमाना मनोरमान्। वनस्पतीन्विचिन्वन्ती विजहार सखीवृता ॥०३-१२२-८॥
She, indeed the beautiful-toothed lady, there, seeing delightful trees and searching them, wandered attended by her friends. (03-122-8)
रूपेण वयसा चैव मदनेन मदेन च। बभञ्ज वनवृक्षाणां शाखाः परमपुष्पिताः ॥०३-१२२-९॥
With beauty, youth, passion, and intoxication, they broke the branches of the forest trees in full bloom. (03-122-9)
तां सखीरहितामेकामेकवस्त्रामलङ्कृताम्। ददर्श भार्गवो धीमांश्चरन्तीमिव विद्युतम् ॥०३-१२२-१०॥
The wise Bhārgava saw her—adorned, alone, bereft of companions, dressed in a single garment—wandering like lightning. (03-122-10)
तां पश्यमानो विजने स रेमे परमद्युतिः। क्षामकण्ठश्च ब्रह्मर्षिस्तपोबलसमन्वितः ॥ तामाबभाषे कल्याणीं सा चास्य न शृणोति वै ॥०३-१२२-११॥
Seeing her alone, the brahma-rṣi of supreme radiance and lean neck, endowed with ascetic power, delighted in her. He addressed the auspicious lady, but she did not listen to him. (03-122-11)
ततः सुकन्या वल्मीके दृष्ट्वा भार्गवचक्षुषी। कौतूहलात्कण्टकेन बुद्धिमोहबलात्कृता ॥०३-१२२-१२॥
Then Sukanya, gazing into the ant-hill through the eyes of Bhārgava, driven by curiosity and the force of mental delusion, acted with a thorn. (03-122-12)
किं नु खल्विदमित्युक्त्वा निर्बिभेदास्य लोचने। अक्रुध्यत्स तया विद्धे नेत्रे परममन्युमान् ॥ ततः शर्यातिसैन्यस्य शकृन्मूत्रं समावृणोत् ॥०३-१२२-१३॥
Having said, "What truly is this?", he pierced his eyes. Even when pierced in the eye by her, he did not become angry, though possessing supreme wrath. Then, excrement and urine covered the army of Śaryāti. (03-122-13)
ततो रुद्धे शकृन्मूत्रे सैन्यमानाहदुःखितम्। तथागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य पर्यपृच्छत्स पार्थिवः ॥०३-१२२-१४॥
Thereupon, when the army was suffering from retention of feces and urine and afflicted with flatulence, seeing them arrive in such a state, the king inquired about it. (03-122-14)
तपोनित्यस्य वृद्धस्य रोषणस्य विशेषतः। केनापकृतमद्येह भार्गवस्य महात्मनः ॥ ज्ञातं वा यदि वाज्ञातं तदृतं ब्रूत माचिरम् ॥०३-१२२-१५॥
Something has happened today here to the great-souled Bhārgava, who is ever engaged in austerity, old, and especially wrathful, by someone; whether it is known or unknown, tell that truth without delay. (03-122-15)
तमूचुः सैनिकाः सर्वे न विद्मोऽपकृतं वयम्। सर्वोपायैर्यथाकामं भवांस्तदधिगच्छतु ॥०३-१२२-१६॥
All the soldiers said to him, "We do not know of any wrongdoing by us. By all means, as you wish, may you achieve that." (03-122-16)
ततः स पृथिवीपालः साम्ना चोग्रेण च स्वयम्। पर्यपृच्छत्सुहृद्वर्गं प्रत्यजानन्न चैव ते ॥०३-१२२-१७॥
Then he, the king, himself approached his group of friends both gently and sternly, inquiring of them, although recognizing them as well. (03-122-17)
आनाहार्तं ततो दृष्ट्वा तत्सैन्यमसुखार्दितम्। पितरं दुःखितं चापि सुकन्येदमथाब्रवीत् ॥०३-१२२-१८॥
Then, seeing that army afflicted by lack of food and misery, and her father also sorrowful, Sukanyā spoke these words. (03-122-18)
मयाटन्त्येह वल्मीके दृष्टं सत्त्वमभिज्वलत्। खद्योतवदभिज्ञातं तन्मया विद्धमन्तिकात् ॥०३-१२२-१९॥
While I was moving here in the anthill, I saw a being shining brightly; recognizing it as a firefly, I struck it nearby. (03-122-19)
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु शर्यातिर्वल्मीकं तूर्णमाद्रवत्। तत्रापश्यत्तपोवृद्धं वयोवृद्धं च भार्गवम् ॥०३-१२२-२०॥
But having heard this, Śaryāti quickly ran to the anthill. There he saw the Bhārgava, grown in asceticism and age. (03-122-20)
अयाचदथ सैन्यार्थं प्राञ्जलिः पृथिवीपतिः। अज्ञानाद्बालया यत्ते कृतं तत्क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥०३-१२२-२१॥
The king of the earth, with joined palms, asked (for) the army. Whatever was done to you by the child out of ignorance, you ought to forgive that. (03-122-21)
ततोऽब्रवीन्महीपालं च्यवनो भार्गवस्तदा। रूपौदार्यसमायुक्तां लोभमोहबलात्कृताम् ॥०३-१२२-२२॥
Then Cyavana, the Bhārgava, spoke to the king about a woman endowed with beauty and generosity, but overpowered by greed and delusion. (03-122-22)
तामेव प्रतिगृह्याहं राजन्दुहितरं तव। क्षमिष्यामि महीपाल सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥०३-१२२-२३॥
O King, having accepted her—your daughter—I will forgive; O lord of the earth, this I truly say to you. (03-122-23)
ऋषेर्वचनमाज्ञाय शर्यातिरविचारयन्। ददौ दुहितरं तस्मै च्यवनाय महात्मने ॥०३-१२२-२४॥
Śaryāti, having understood the words of the sage, without hesitation gave his daughter to Cyavana, the great-souled one. (03-122-24)
प्रतिगृह्य च तां कन्यां च्यवनः प्रससाद ह। प्राप्तप्रसादो राजा स ससैन्यः पुनराव्रजत् ॥०३-१२२-२५॥
Cyavana, having accepted the maiden, was indeed pleased. The king, having gained his favor, returned again with his army. (03-122-25)
सुकन्यापि पतिं लब्ध्वा तपस्विनमनिन्दिता। नित्यं पर्यचरत्प्रीत्या तपसा नियमेन च ॥०३-१२२-२६॥
Sukanya too, having gained her ascetic and blameless husband, always served him with love, with austerity, and with self-discipline. (03-122-26)
अग्नीनामतिथीनां च शुश्रूषुरनसूयिका। समाराधयत क्षिप्रं च्यवनं सा शुभानना ॥०३-१२२-२७॥
She, who was intent on service, not envious, and with an auspicious face, quickly and devotedly served Cyavana as well as the sacred fires and guests. (03-122-27)
