03.287
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
kiṁ tadguhyaṁ na cākhyātaṁ karṇāyehoṣṇaraśminā. kīdṛśe kuṇḍale te ca kavacaṁ caiva kīdṛśam ॥03-287-1॥
What is that secret which has not been told here to Karṇa by him of blazing rays? Of what kind are your earrings and what kind is your armor indeed? (03-287-1)
kutaśca kavacaṃ tasya kuṇḍale caiva sattama। etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ tanme brūhi tapodhana ॥03-287-2॥
O best among living beings, from where were his armor and earrings? I wish to hear this; tell me that, O possessor of austerity. (03-287-2)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ayaṃ rājan bravīmy etad yat tad guhyaṃ vibhāvasoḥ। yādṛśe kuṇḍale caiva kavacaṃ caiva yādṛśam ॥03-287-3॥
O king, I declare to you this secret concerning Vibhavasu: what it is, and what sort of earrings and armor there are. (03-287-3)
kuntibhojaṃ purā rājan brāhmaṇaḥ samupasthitaḥ। tigmatejā mahāprāṃśuḥ śmaśrudāṇḍajaṭādharaḥ॥03-287-4॥
O king, once before, a Brāhmaṇa, possessing bright energy, very tall, and bearing a beard, staff, and matted hair, approached Kuntibhoja. (3-287-4)
darśanīyo'navadyāṅgastejasā prajvalanniva। madhupiṅgo madhuravāktapaḥsvādhyāyabhūṣaṇaḥ॥03-287-5॥
He was worthy to behold, of faultless limbs, shining with brilliance as if ablaze, honey-complexioned, sweet-spoken, and adorned by austerity and the study of sacred texts. (03-287-5)
sa rājānaṃ kuntibhojam abravīt sumahātapāḥ। bhikṣām icchāmi ahaṃ bhoktuṃ tava gehe vimatsara ॥03-287-6॥
He, the one of great penance, said to King Kuntibhoja: "I wish to receive alms and to eat in your house, free from envy." (03-287-6)
na me vyalīkaṃ kartavyaṃ tvayā vā tava cānugaiḥ। evaṃ vatsyāmi te gehe yadi te rocate'nagha॥03-287-7॥
No wrongdoing should be done by me, you, or your followers. Thus, O sinless one, I will stay in your house if it pleases you. (03-287-7)
yathākāmaṃ ca gaccheyam āgaccheyaṃ tathaiva ca। śayyāsane ca me rājan nāparādhyeta kaścana॥03-287-8॥
O king, I might go and return as I wished, and on my bed and seat, no one would ever offend me. (03-287-8)
tam abravīt kuntibhojaḥ prītiyuktam idaṃ vacaḥ। evam astu paraṃ ca iti punaś cainam athābravīt ॥03-287-9॥
Kuntibhoja affectionately spoke these words to him: 'So be it, and furthermore thus,' and then again addressed him. (03-287-9)
mama kanyā mahābrahman-pṛthā nāma yaśasvinī। śīla-vṛtta-anvitā sādhvī niyatā na ca māninī॥03-287-10॥
O great Brahman, my daughter named Pṛthā is illustrious, endowed with character and conduct, virtuous, self-restrained, and not proud. (03-287-10)
upasthāsyati sā tvāṃ vai pūjayānavamanya ca। tasyāś ca śīlavṛttena tuṣṭiṃ samupayāsyasi॥03-287-11॥
She will indeed serve you with respect, without slighting you; and through her character and behavior, you will find satisfaction. (03-287-11)
evam-uktvā tu taṃ vipram abhipūjya yathā-vidhi। uvāca kanyām abhyetya pṛthām pṛthula-locanām॥03-287-12॥
Thus, having spoken, and after duly honoring that Brahmin according to the rule, he approached Pṛthā, the large-eyed, and said to the girl. (03-287-12)
ayaṃ vatse mahābhāgo brāhmaṇo vastum icchati। mama gehe mayā ca asya tathā iti evaṃ pratiśrutam॥03-287-13॥
O child, this greatly fortunate brāhmaṇa wishes to stay. I have promised him in this manner that he may stay in my house. (03-287-13)
tvayi vatse parāśvasya brāhmaṇasya abhirādhanam। tan me vākyaṃ na mithyā tvaṃ kartum arhasi karhicit॥03-287-14॥
O child, you must never make my word, regarding the favor to Parāśva the Brāhmaṇa, false at any time. (03-287-14)
ayaṃ tapasvī bhagavān svādhyāya-niyato dvijaḥ। yadyad brūyāt mahā-tejās tat-tad deyam amat-sarāt ॥03-287-15॥
This ascetic holy Brahmin, devoted to self-study, whatever he asks, endowed with great splendor, should be given everything he requests, without envy. (03-287-15)
brāhmaṇā hi paraṃ tejo brāhmaṇā hi paraṃ tapaḥ। brāhmaṇānāṃ namaskāraiḥ sūryo divi virājate ॥03-287-16॥
Indeed, for brahmins are the supreme radiance; brahmins are the supreme austerity. By the salutations of brahmins, the sun shines in the sky. (03-287-16)
amānayan hi mānārhān vātāpiś ca mahāsuraḥ| nihato brahmadaṇḍena tālajaṅghas tathaiva ca ॥03-287-17॥
Vātāpi and Tālajaṅgha, the great asuras who did not honor those worthy of respect, were also struck down by Brahma's staff. (03-287-17)
so'yaṃ vatse mahābhāra āhitastvayi sāmpratam। tvaṃ sadā niyatā kuryā brāhmaṇasyābhirādhanam॥03-287-18॥
O child, this great burden has now been placed upon you. You should always, with restraint, strive to please the brāhmaṇa. (03-287-18)
jānāmi praṇidhānaṃ te bālyāt-prabhṛti nandini. brāhmaṇeṣv-iha sarveṣu gurubandhuṣu caiva ha ॥03-287-19॥
O Nandini, I have known your devotion since childhood, among all the brāhmaṇas here and indeed among teachers and relatives. (03-287-19)
tathā preṣyeṣu sarveṣu mitrasambandhimātṛṣu। mayi caiva yathāvat tvaṃ sarvam ādṛtya vartase॥03-287-20॥
In the same way, among all the servants, among friends, relatives, and mothers, and towards me as well, you conduct yourself respectfully and properly in every matter. (03-287-20)
na hyatuṣṭo jano'stīha pure cāntaḥpure ca te। samyagvṛttyānavadyāṅgi tava bhṛtyajaneṣvapi ॥03-287-21॥
Indeed, there is not a single discontent person here in the city or in your inner palace, O faultless lady, even among your servants, due to your upright conduct. (03-287-21)
saṃdeṣṭavyāṃ tu manye tvāṃ dvijātiṃ kopanaṃ prati. pṛthe bāleti kṛtvā vai sutā cāsi mameti ca ॥03-287-22॥
But I think you are to be sent to the angry brāhmaṇa, treating Pṛthā as "O girl!", and indeed as "You are my daughter". (03-287-22)
vṛṣṇīnāṃ tvaṃ kule jātā śūrasya dayitā sutā। dattā prītimatā mahyaṃ pitrā bālā purā svayam॥03-287-23॥
You, born in the family of the Vṛṣṇis as the beloved daughter of Śūra, were formerly given to me personally by your affectionate father when you were a girl. (03-287-23)
vasudevasya bhaginī sutānāṃ pravarā mama। agryam agre pratijñāya tenāsi duhitā mama॥03-287-24॥
You, the sister of Vasudeva, are the finest among my sons; since he promised the chief one at the outset, by him you are my daughter. (03-287-24)
tādṛśe hi kule jātā kule caiva vivardhitā। sukhātsukham anuprāptā hradād hradam ivāgatā ॥03-287-25॥
Indeed, one born and raised in such a family has gone from happiness to happiness, like passing from one lake to another. (03-287-25)
dauṣkuleyā viśeṣeṇa kathañcit-pragrahaṁ gatāḥ। bālabhāvād vikurvanti prāyaśaḥ pramadāḥ śubhe॥03-287-26॥
O auspicious lady, women of inferior families especially, having become attached in some way, generally act improperly out of childishness. (03-287-26)
pṛthe rājakule janma rūpaṃ cādbhutadarśanam। tena tenāsi sampannā samupetā ca bhāminī ॥03-287-27॥
O beautiful lady, belonging to Pṛthā and born in the royal family, you possess a wondrous form and appearance; by that, you are endowed and blessed. (03-287-27)
sā tvaṁ darpaṁ parityajya dambhaṁ mānaṁ ca bhāmini। ārādhya varadaṁ vipraṁ śreyasā yokṣyase pṛthe ॥03-287-28॥
O passionate one, having given up pride, hypocrisy, and arrogance, and having worshipped the Brahmin who grants boons, you will, for your own good, be joined with Pṛthā. (03-287-28)
evaṃ prāpsyasi kalyāṇi kalyāṇam anaghe dhruvam। kopite tu dvijaśreṣṭhe kṛtsnaṃ dahyeta me kulam॥03-287-29॥
Thus, O auspicious and spotless lady, you will certainly attain welfare. But if the best of the twice-born is angered, my entire family would be destroyed. (03-287-29)
