03.288
kunty uvāca॥
Kunti said.
brāhmaṇaṃ yantritā rājan upasthāsyāmi pūjayā। yathā-pratijñaṃ rājendra na ca mithyā bravīmy aham॥03-288-1॥
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)
eṣa caiva svabhāvo me pūjayeyam dvijān iti. tava caiva priyaṃ kāryaṃ śreyaś caitat paraṃ mama ॥03-288-2॥
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)
yadyevaiṣyati sāyāhne yadi prātaratho niśi। yadyardharātre bhagavānna me kopaṃ kariṣyati॥03-288-3॥
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)
lābho mamaiṣa rāje ndra yad vai pūjayatī dvijān। ādeśe tava tiṣṭhantī hitaṁ kuryāṁ narottama ॥03-288-4॥
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)
visrabdho bhava rājendra na vyalīkaṃ dvijottamaḥ। vasanprāpsyati te gehe satyam etad bravīmi te ॥03-288-5॥
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)
yatpriyaṃ ca dvijasyāsya hitaṃ caiva tavānagha। yatiṣyāmi tathā rājanvyetu te mānaso jvaraḥ॥03-288-6॥
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)
brāhmaṇā hi mahābhāgāḥ pūjitāḥ pṛthivīpate. tāraṇāya samarthāḥ syur viparīte vadhāya ca ॥03-288-7॥
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)
sāham etad vijānantī toṣayiṣye dvijottamam। na matkṛte vyathāṁ rājan prāpsyasi dvijasattamāt॥03-288-8॥
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)
aparādhe hi rājendra rājñām aśreyase dvijāḥ। bhavanti cyavano yadvat sukan-yāyāḥ kṛte purā॥03-288-9॥
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)
niyamena pareṇāham-upasthāsye dvijottamam। yathā tvayā narendredaṃ bhāṣitaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ prati॥03-288-10॥
With great observance, I will serve the foremost of Brāhmaṇas, just as you, O king, have spoken this to the Brāhmaṇa. (03-288-10)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
evam etat tvayā bhadre kartavyam aviśaṅkayā। mad-hita-artham kulārtham ca tathā ātmārtham ca nandini ॥03-288-11॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evam-uktvā tu tāṃ kanyāṃ kuntibhojo mahāyaśāḥ। pṛthāṃ paridadau tasmai dvijāya sutavatsalaḥ॥03-288-12॥
Thus, having spoken, Kuntibhoja of great fame, being fond of children, gave his daughter Pṛthā to that Brahmin. (03-288-12)
iyaṁ brahman mama sutā bālā sukhavivardhitā। aparādhyeta yatkiñcin na tat kāryaṁ hṛdi tvayā॥03-288-13॥
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)
dvijātayo mahābhāgā vṛddhabālatapasviṣu। bhavantyakrodhanāḥ prāyo viruddheṣvapi nityadā ॥03-288-14॥
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)
sumahatyaparādhe'pi kṣāntiḥ kāryā dvijātibhiḥ। yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ pūjā grāhyā dvijottama ॥03-288-15॥
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)
tatheti brāhmaṇenokte sa rājā prītamānasaḥ। haṃsacandrāṃśusaṅkāśaṃ gṛhamasya nyavedayat॥03-288-16॥
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)
tatrāgniśaraṇe kḷptamāsanaṃ tasya bhānumat। āhārādi ca sarvaṃ tattathaiva pratyavedayat ॥03-288-17॥
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)
nikṣipya rājaputrī tu tandrīṃ mānaṃ tathaiva ca। ātasthe paramaṃ yatnaṃ brāhmaṇasyābhirādhane ॥03-288-18॥
But the princess, having set aside her drowsiness and pride, then undertook the greatest effort to please the brāhmaṇa. (03-288-18)
tatra sā brāhmaṇaṃ gatvā pṛthā śaucaparā satī। vidhivat-paricārārhaṃ devavat-paryatoṣayat ॥03-288-19॥
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)
