03.122
sukanyopākhyānam
The narrative of Sukanya
lomaśa uvāca॥
Lomaśa said.
bhṛgormaharṣeḥ putro'bhūccyavano nāma bhārgavaḥ। samīpe sarasaḥ so'sya tapastepe mahādyutiḥ॥03-122-1॥
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)
sthāṇubhūto mahātejā vīrasthānena pāṇḍava। atiṣṭhatsu bahūn kālān ekadeśe viśāṃ pate ॥03-122-2॥
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)
sa valmīko'bhavad ṛṣir latābhir abhisaṁvṛtaḥ. kālena mahatā rājan samākīrṇaḥ pipīlikaiḥ ॥03-122-3॥
The sage became an anthill, enveloped by creepers, and after a long time, O king, he was covered with ants. (03-122-3)
tathā sa saṁvṛto dhīmān mṛtpiṇḍa iva sarvaśaḥ। tapyati sma tapo rājan valmīkena samāvṛtaḥ॥03-122-4॥
Thus, O king, that wise man, completely enveloped like a lump of clay, practiced penance, entirely covered by an ant-hill. (03-122-4)
atha dīrghasya kālasya śaryātirnāma pārthivaḥ। ājagāma saro ramyaṃ vihartumidamuttamam ॥03-122-5॥
Then, after a long time, King Śaryāti by name came to this excellent and pleasant lake to sport. (03-122-5)
tasya strīṇāṃ sahasrāṇi catvāri āsan parigrahaḥ. ekaiva ca sutā śubhrā sukan'yā nāma bhārata ॥03-122-6॥
He had four thousand wives, O Bhārata, but only one daughter, the auspicious Sukanya, by name. (03-122-6)
sā sakhībhiḥ parivṛtā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā। caṅkramyamāṇā valmīkaṃ bhārgavasya samāsadat ॥03-122-7॥
She, adorned with all ornaments and surrounded by her friends, while walking about, came near the anthill of Bhārgava. (03-122-7)
sā caiva sudatī tatra paśyamānā manoramān। vanaspatīn vicinvantī vijahāra sakhīvṛtā ॥03-122-8॥
She, indeed the beautiful-toothed lady, there, seeing delightful trees and searching them, wandered attended by her friends. (03-122-8)
rūpeṇa vayasā caiva madanena madena ca। babhañja vanavṛkṣāṇāṃ śākhāḥ paramapuṣpitāḥ ॥03-122-9॥
With beauty, youth, passion, and intoxication, they broke the branches of the forest trees in full bloom. (03-122-9)
tāṁ sakhī-rahitām ekām eka-vastrām alaṅkṛtām। dadarśa bhārgavo dhīmāṁś carantīm iva vidyutam ॥03-122-10॥
The wise Bhārgava saw her—adorned, alone, bereft of companions, dressed in a single garment—wandering like lightning. (03-122-10)
tāṁ paśyamāno vijane sa reme paramadyutiḥ। kṣāmakaṇṭhaś ca brahmarṣis tapobalasamanvitaḥ॥ tām ābabhāṣe kalyāṇīṁ sā cāsya na śṛṇoti vai॥03-122-11॥
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)
tataḥ sukanyā valmīke dṛṣṭvā bhārgavacakṣuṣī. kautūhalāt-kaṇṭakena buddhi-moha-balāt-kṛtā ॥03-122-12॥
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)
kiṁ nu khalvidam ity uktvā nirbibhedāsya locane। akrudhyat sa tayā viddhe netre paramam anyumān॥ tataḥ śaryātisainyasya śakṛnmūtraṁ samāvṛṇot॥03-122-13॥
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)
tato ruddhe śakṛnmūtre sainyam ānāha-duḥkhitam. tathāgatam abhiprekṣya paryapṛcchatsa pārthivaḥ ॥03-122-14॥
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)
taponityasya vṛddhasya roṣaṇasya viśeṣataḥ। kenāpakṛtam adya iha bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ ॥ jñātaṃ vā yadi vā ajñātam tat ṛtam brūta māciram ॥03-122-15॥
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)
tam ūcuḥ sainikāḥ sarve na vidmo'pakṛtaṃ vayam। sarvopāyair yathākāmaṃ bhavāṃs tad adhigacchatu॥03-122-16॥
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)
tataḥ sa pṛthivī-pālaḥ sāmnā ca ugreṇa ca svayam। paryapṛcchat suhṛd-vargam pratyajānan ca eva te ॥03-122-17॥
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)
ānāhārtaṃ tato dṛṣṭvā tat-sainyam asukhārditam। pitaraṃ duḥkhitaṃ cāpi sukanyā idam athābravīt॥03-122-18॥
Then, seeing that army afflicted by lack of food and misery, and her father also sorrowful, Sukanyā spoke these words. (03-122-18)
mayāṭantya iha valmīke dṛṣṭaṃ sattvam abhijvalat। khadyotavad abhijñātaṃ tan mayā viddham antikāt॥03-122-19॥
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)
etacchrutvā tu śaryātir valmīkaṃ tūrṇam ādravat. tatrāpaśyat tapovṛddhaṃ vayovṛddhaṃ ca bhārgavam ॥03-122-20॥
But having heard this, Śaryāti quickly ran to the anthill. There he saw the Bhārgava, grown in asceticism and age. (03-122-20)
ayācadatha sainyārthaṃ prāñjaliḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ। ajñānādbālayā yatte kṛtaṃ tatkṣantumarhasi॥03-122-21॥
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)
tato'bravīn mahīpālaṃ cyavano bhārgavas tadā। rūpaudāryasamāyuktāṃ lobhamohabalātkṛtām ॥03-122-22॥
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)
tāmeva pratigṛhyāhaṃ rājanduḥitaraṃ tava। kṣamiṣyāmi mahīpāla satyametadbravīmi te॥03-122-23॥
O King, having accepted her—your daughter—I will forgive; O lord of the earth, this I truly say to you. (03-122-23)
ṛṣer vacanam ājñāya śaryātiḥ avicārayan। dadau duhitaraṃ tasmai cyavanāya mahātmane॥03-122-24॥
Śaryāti, having understood the words of the sage, without hesitation gave his daughter to Cyavana, the great-souled one. (03-122-24)
pratigṛhya ca tāṁ kanyāṁ cyavanaḥ prasasāda ha। prāptaprasādo rājā sa sasenyaḥ punarāvrajat ॥03-122-25॥
Cyavana, having accepted the maiden, was indeed pleased. The king, having gained his favor, returned again with his army. (03-122-25)
sukanyāpi patiṁ labdhvā tapasvinamaninditā। nityaṁ paryacaradprītyā tapasā niyamena ca ॥03-122-26॥
Sukanya too, having gained her ascetic and blameless husband, always served him with love, with austerity, and with self-discipline. (03-122-26)
agnīnām-atithīnām ca śuśrūṣur-anasūyikā। samārādhayata kṣipraṃ cyavanaṃ sā śubhānanā ॥03-122-27॥
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)
