03.123
lomaśa uvāca॥
Lomaśa said;
kasyacit tv atha kālasya surāṇām aśvinau nṛpa। kṛtābhiṣekāṃ vivṛtāṃ sukanyāṃ tām apaśyatām ॥03-123-1॥
O king, at a certain time, the two Aśvins, gods, saw Sukanyā, who had completed her consecration, with the enclosure open. (03-123-1)
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā darśanīyāṅgīṃ devarājasutām iva। ūcatuḥ samabhidrutya nāsatya-avśvinau idam ॥03-123-2॥
Having seen her, whose limbs were beautiful like the daughter of the king of the gods, the two Nāsatya Aśvins approached and said this.
kasya tvam asi vāmoru kiṁ vane vai karoṣi ca। icchāva bhadre jñātuṁ tvāṁ tattvam ākhyāhi śobhane॥03-123-3॥
O beautiful-thighed one, whose are you? What indeed are you doing in the forest? We wish, O auspicious and lovely one, to know you—tell us your true nature. (03-123-3)
tataḥ sukan-yā saṃvītā tau uvāca surottamau। śaryāti-tanayām vittaṃ bhāryām ca cyavanasya mām॥03-123-4॥
Then Sukanya, having approached, spoke to the two best among the gods: 'I am known as the daughter of Śaryāti and as the wife of Cyavana.' (03-123-4)
athāśvinau prahasyaitāmabrūtāṃ punareva tu। kathaṃ tvamasi kalyāṇi pitrā dattā gatādhvane॥03-123-5॥
Then the two Aśvins, smiling, again spoke to her: "How is it that, O auspicious one, your father gave you to someone who has already passed away?" (03-123-5)
bhrājase vanamadhye tvaṁ vidyutsaudāminī yathā। na deveṣvapi tulyāṁ hi tvayā paśyāva bhāmini॥03-123-6॥
You shine in the midst of the forest like a flash of lightning; truly, O radiant one, I do not see anyone even among the gods who is equal to you. (03-123-6)
sarvābharaṇasampannā paramāṁbaradhāriṇī। śobhethāstva-navadyāṅgi na tvevaṁ malapaṅkinī॥03-123-7॥
O flawless-limbed one, if adorned with all ornaments and dressed in the best garments, you would shine; not so as you are now, covered in dirt. (03-123-7)
kasmādevaṃvidhā bhūtvā jarājarjaritaṃ patim। tvamupāsse ha kalyāṇi kāmabhogabahiṣkṛtam ॥03-123-8॥
O blessed one, why, being as you are, do you attend upon a husband worn out by old age, deprived of all enjoyment? (03-123-8)
asamarthaṃ paritrāṇe poṣaṇe ca śucismite। sādhu cyavanam utsṛjya varayasva ekam āvayoḥ॥ patyarthaṃ devagarbhābhe mā vṛthā yauvanaṃ kṛthāḥ॥03-123-9॥
Who is incapable of protecting or providing, O pure-smiling one, O virtuous lady, abandon Cyavana and choose one among us. For the sake of a husband, O you who are like a divine-being in purity, do not let your youth go to waste. (03-123-9)
evamuktā sukanīyā tu surau tau idam abravīt । ratā ahaṃ cyavane patyau mā evam mā paryaśaṅkithāḥ ॥03-123-10॥
Thus addressed, Sukanya spoke this to those two gods: "I am devoted to Cyavana as my husband; do not suspect me thus." (03-123-10)
tāv abhrūtāṃ punas tvenaṃ āvāṃ deva-bhiṣag-varau। yuvānaṃ rūpa-sampannaṃ kariṣyāvaḥ patiṃ tava॥03-123-11॥
Those two (physician gods) again said to you: "We, O goddess, as the best physicians, will make this one young and beautiful as your husband." (03-123-11)
tatas tasyāvayoś caiva patim ekatamaṃ vṛṇu। etena samayenainam āmantraya varānane ॥03-123-12॥
Then, among the two, choose one as your husband; with this agreement, address him, O beautiful-faced one. (03-123-12)
sā tayor vacanād rājan upasaṅgamya bhārgavam। uvāca vākyaṃ yat tābhyām uktaṃ bhṛgusutaṃ prati॥03-123-13॥
She, prompted by the words of those two, O king, approached the Bhārgava and conveyed to the son of Bhṛgu what had been said by them. (03-123-13)
tacchrutvā cyavano bhāryām uvāca kriyatām iti. bhartrā sā samanujñātā kriyatām ity athābravīt ॥03-123-14॥
When he heard that, Cyavana said to his wife, "Let it be done." Receiving her husband's permission, she then also said, "Let it be done." (03-123-14)
śrutvā tadaśvinau vākyaṃ tattasyāḥ kriyatāmiti। ūcatū rājaputrīṃ tāṃ patistava viśatvapaḥ ॥03-123-15॥
The two Aśvins, having heard that statement, said, "Let that be done for her." They said to the princess, "Let your husband enter the water." (03-123-15)
tato 'mbhaś cyavanaḥ śīghraṃ rūpārthī praviveśa ha. aśvināv api tad rājan saraḥ praviśatāṃ prabho ॥03-123-16॥
Then Cyavana, desirous of regaining his form, quickly entered the water. The two Aśvins also entered that lake, O king, O lord. (03-123-16)
tato muhūrtād uttīrṇāḥ sarve te sarasas tataḥ। divyarūpadharāḥ sarve yuvāno mṛṣṭakuṇḍalāḥ॥ tulyarūpadharāś caiva manasaḥ prītivardhanāḥ॥03-123-17॥
Then, after a moment, all of them crossed the lake; thereafter, they all assumed divine forms, becoming young men with polished earrings, all alike in appearance and increasing the delight of the mind. (03-123-17)
te 'bruvan sahitāḥ sarve vṛṇīṣva anyatamaṃ śubhe। asmākam īpsitam bhadre patitve varavarṇini॥ yatra vā api abhi-kāmā asi taṃ vṛṇīṣva suśobhane॥03-123-18॥
They all spoke together, "Choose any one among us whom you desire, O auspicious and fortunate lady, for your husband, O best-complexioned and beautiful one." (03-123-18)
sā samīkṣya tu tānsarvāṃstulyarūpadharān sthitān। niścitya manasā buddhyā devī vavre svakaṃ patim॥03-123-19॥
But she, having seen them all standing there in identical forms, decided by her mind and intellect and chose her own husband, the goddess. (03-123-19)
labdhvā tu cyavano bhāryāṃ vayorūpaṃ ca vāñchitam। hṛṣṭo'bravīn mahātejās tau nāsatyāvidaṃ vacaḥ ॥03-123-20॥
But having obtained his wife and the youth and form he desired, Cyavana, gladdened and of great brilliance, spoke this speech to those two Aśvins. (03-123-20)
yathāhaṃ rūpasampanno vayasā ca samanvitaḥ। kṛto bhavadbhyāṃ vṛddhaḥ san bhāryāṃ ca prāptavān imām॥03-123-21॥
Just as I, possessing beauty and age, have thus been made an elder by both of you, and have obtained this wife. (03-123-21)
tasmādyuvāṃ kariṣyāmi prītyāhaṃ somapīthinau। miṣato devarājasya satyametadbravīmi vām ॥03-123-22॥
Therefore, out of affection, I will do this for you two, O Soma-drinkers; I declare this truth to you both in the presence of the king of the gods. (03-123-22)
tacchrutvā hṛṣṭamanasau divaṃ tau pratijagmatūḥ. cyavano'pi sukanyā ca surāviva vijahratuḥ ॥03-123-23॥
Having heard that, those two (the Ashvins) joyfully returned to heaven; and Cyavana and Sukanya, like the gods, enjoyed themselves. (03-123-23)
