03.288
कुन्त्युवाच॥
Kunti said.
ब्राह्मणं यन्त्रिता राजनुपस्थास्यामि पूजया। यथाप्रतिज्ञं राजेन्द्र न च मिथ्या ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥०३-२८८-१॥
O king, being constrained, I shall attend to the Brāhmaṇa with reverence; as per my vow, O lord of kings, I do not speak falsely. (03-288-1)
एष चैव स्वभावो मे पूजयेयं द्विजानिति। तव चैव प्रियं कार्यं श्रेयश्चैतत्परं मम ॥०३-२८८-२॥
This is my very nature—that I should worship the twice-born in this way. For you too, doing what is dear (to you) is your duty, and this is indeed the highest and supreme good for me. (03-288-2)
यद्येवैष्यति सायाह्ने यदि प्रातरथो निशि। यद्यर्धरात्रे भगवान्न मे कोपं करिष्यति ॥०३-२८८-३॥
Whether he comes in the evening, in the morning, at night, or at midnight, the venerable one will not cause me any anger. (03-288-3)
लाभो ममैष राजेन्द्र यद्वै पूजयती द्विजान्। आदेशे तव तिष्ठन्ती हितं कुर्यां नरोत्तम ॥०३-२८८-४॥
This is my gain, O king, that I may honor the Brāhmaṇas; remaining at your command, O best of men, I shall do what is beneficial. (03-288-4)
विस्रब्धो भव राजेन्द्र न व्यलीकं द्विजोत्तमः। वसन्प्राप्स्यति ते गेहे सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥०३-२८८-५॥
Be confident, O king; there is no falsehood, O best of the twice-born. While residing in your house, he will obtain it; I tell you this truth. (03-288-5)
यत्प्रियं च द्विजस्यास्य हितं चैव तवानघ। यतिष्यामि तथा राजन्व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः ॥०३-२८८-६॥
O sinless one, whatever is dear and beneficial to this twice-born and to you, I shall strive for that accordingly, O King; may your mental anguish depart. (03-288-6)
ब्राह्मणा हि महाभागाः पूजिताः पृथिवीपते। तारणाय समर्थाः स्युर्विपरीते वधाय च ॥०३-२८८-७॥
Brāhmaṇas, O lord of the earth, are indeed greatly fortunate and respected; being capable, they can deliver (when honored), but in the opposite case, they may bring about destruction as well. (03-288-7)
साहमेतद्विजानन्ती तोषयिष्ये द्विजोत्तमम्। न मत्कृते व्यथां राजन्प्राप्स्यसि द्विजसत्तमात् ॥०३-२८८-८॥
I, knowing this, will please the best of the twice-born. O King, you will not incur any distress from the foremost of the twice-born because of me. (03-288-8)
अपराधे हि राजेन्द्र राज्ञामश्रेयसे द्विजाः। भवन्ति च्यवनो यद्वत्सुकन्यायाः कृते पुरा ॥०३-२८८-९॥
Indeed, O king, when wronged, brāhmaṇas become instruments of calamity for kings, just as Cyavana once did on behalf of Sukanya in former times. (03-288-9)
नियमेन परेणाहमुपस्थास्ये द्विजोत्तमम्। यथा त्वया नरेन्द्रेदं भाषितं ब्राह्मणं प्रति ॥०३-२८८-१०॥
With great observance, I will serve the foremost of Brāhmaṇas, just as you, O king, have spoken this to the Brāhmaṇa. (03-288-10)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
एवमेतत्त्वया भद्रे कर्तव्यमविशङ्कया। मद्धितार्थं कुलार्थं च तथात्मार्थं च नन्दिनि ॥०३-२८८-११॥
Therefore, O blessed one, you must carry this out without hesitation; it is for my sake, for the family's good, and also for your own benefit, O joyful lady. (03-288-11)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तां कन्यां कुन्तिभोजो महायशाः। पृथां परिददौ तस्मै द्विजाय सुतवत्सलः ॥०३-२८८-१२॥
Thus, having spoken, Kuntibhoja of great fame, being fond of children, gave his daughter Pṛthā to that Brahmin. (03-288-12)
इयं ब्रह्मन्मम सुता बाला सुखविवर्धिता। अपराध्येत यत्किञ्चिन्न तत्कार्यं हृदि त्वया ॥०३-२८८-१३॥
O Brāhmaṇa, this is my daughter, a young girl raised happily; if she happens to offend in any way, you should not keep that in your heart. (03-288-13)
द्विजातयो महाभागा वृद्धबालतपस्विषु। भवन्त्यक्रोधनाः प्रायो विरुद्धेष्वपि नित्यदा ॥०३-२८८-१४॥
The twice-born who are most blessed, whether among the old, the young, or ascetics, are generally free from anger, even towards those who oppose them, at all times. (03-288-14)
सुमहत्यपराधेऽपि क्षान्तिः कार्या द्विजातिभिः। यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं पूजा ग्राह्या द्विजोत्तम ॥०३-२८८-१५॥
O best of the twice-born, even in the case of very great faults, forbearance should be practiced by the twice-born; worship should be accepted as per one's ability and enthusiasm. (03-288-15)
तथेति ब्राह्मणेनोक्ते स राजा प्रीतमानसः। हंसचन्द्रांशुसङ्काशं गृहमस्य न्यवेदयत् ॥०३-२८८-१६॥
When the Brāhmaṇa spoke thus, the king—his mind gladdened—entrusted to him a house shining like the radiance of a swan and moonbeams. (03-288-16)
तत्राग्निशरणे कॢप्तमासनं तस्य भानुमत्। आहारादि च सर्वं तत्तथैव प्रत्यवेदयत् ॥०३-२८८-१७॥
There, in the fire sanctuary, a seat was prepared for Bhanumat; food and all that was needed was also offered to him in the same manner. (03-288-17)
निक्षिप्य राजपुत्री तु तन्द्रीं मानं तथैव च। आतस्थे परमं यत्नं ब्राह्मणस्याभिराधने ॥०३-२८८-१८॥
But the princess, having set aside her drowsiness and pride, then undertook the greatest effort to please the brāhmaṇa. (03-288-18)
तत्र सा ब्राह्मणं गत्वा पृथा शौचपरा सती। विधिवत्परिचारार्हं देववत्पर्यतोषयत् ॥०३-२८८-१९॥
There Pṛthā, devoted to purity and chastity, went to the brāhmaṇa and served him in accordance with the prescribed rituals, satisfying him as if he were a god. (03-288-19)
