03.289
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
सा तु कन्या महाराज ब्राह्मणं संशितव्रतम्। तोषयामास शुद्धेन मनसा संशितव्रता ॥०३-२८९-१॥
But she, the maiden, O great king, being herself firm in vow, gratified the Brāhmaṇa of firm vow with a pure mind. (03-289-1)
प्रातरायास्य इत्युक्त्वा कदाचिद्द्विजसत्तमः। तत आयाति राजेन्द्र साये रात्रावथो पुनः ॥०३-२८९-२॥
Saying in the morning, 'I will come,' once the best of Brāhmaṇas, he comes, O king, in the evening, at night, and again. (03-289-2)
तं च सर्वासु वेलासु भक्ष्यभोज्यप्रतिश्रयैः। पूजयामास सा कन्या वर्धमानैस्तु सर्वदा ॥०३-२८९-३॥
And she, the maiden, always honored him at all times with ever-increasing eatables, foods, and shelter. (03-289-3)
अन्नादिसमुदाचारः शय्यासनकृतस्तथा। दिवसे दिवसे तस्य वर्धते न तु हीयते ॥०३-२८९-४॥
His observances regarding food and such matters, and the arrangement of his bed and seat, thus, increase day by day, but do not decrease. (03-289-4)
निर्भर्त्सनापवादैश्च तथैवाप्रियया गिरा। ब्राह्मणस्य पृथा राजन्न चकाराप्रियं तदा ॥०३-२८९-५॥
O king, at that time, Kuntī (Pṛthā), with reproaches, blame, and unpleasant words, did what was displeasing to the brāhmaṇa. (03-289-5)
व्यस्ते काले पुनश्चैति न चैति बहुशो द्विजः। दुर्लभ्यमपि चैवान्नं दीयतामिति सोऽब्रवीत् ॥०३-२८९-६॥
At a disordered time, the twice-born often comes and sometimes does not come. Even if food is hard to obtain, it should indeed be given—thus he said. (03-289-6)
कृतमेव च तत्सर्वं पृथा तस्मै न्यवेदयत्। शिष्यवत्पुत्रवच्चैव स्वसृवच्च सुसंयता ॥०३-२८९-७॥
Pṛthā, being well disciplined, reported to him everything that had been done, with the regard one would show a disciple, a son, and even a sister. (03-289-7)
यथोपजोषं राजेन्द्र द्विजातिप्रवरस्य सा। प्रीतिमुत्पादयामास कन्या यत्नैरनिन्दिता ॥०३-२८९-८॥
The blameless maiden, with every effort, aroused love for the foremost of the twice-born, as was appropriate, O king. (03-289-8)
तस्यास्तु शीलवृत्तेन तुतोष द्विजसत्तमः। अवधानेन भूयोऽस्य परं यत्नमथाकरोत् ॥०३-२८९-९॥
The best among Brahmins was indeed satisfied with her conduct and character; then, with greater attention, he made even more effort for him. (03-289-9)
तां प्रभाते च साये च पिता पप्रच्छ भारत। अपि तुष्यति ते पुत्रि ब्राह्मणः परिचर्यया ॥०३-२८९-१०॥
At dawn and dusk, her father asked her, O Bhārata: "Daughter, is the brāhmaṇa pleased with your service?" (03-289-10)
तं सा परममित्येव प्रत्युवाच यशस्विनी। ततः प्रीतिमवापाग्र्यां कुन्तिभोजो महामनाः ॥०३-२८९-११॥
She, the glorious one, replied to him only by saying 'supreme'. Then Kuntibhoja, the great-minded, attained supreme joy. (03-289-11)
ततः संवत्सरे पूर्णे यदासौ जपतां वरः। नापश्यद्दुष्कृतं किञ्चित्पृथायाः सौहृदे रतः ॥०३-२८९-१२॥
Then, when the year was completed, that best among those who recite japa, engaged in Pṛthā's affection, saw no misdeed whatsoever. (03-289-12)
ततः प्रीतमना भूत्वा स एनां ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्। प्रीतोऽस्मि परमं भद्रे परिचारेण ते शुभे ॥०३-२८९-१३॥
Then, with a pleased mind, the Brāhmaṇa spoke to her: "I am supremely pleased, O auspicious lady, by your service, O auspicious one." (03-289-13)
वरान्वृणीष्व कल्याणि दुरापान्मानुषैरिह। यैस्त्वं सीमन्तिनीः सर्वा यशसाभिभविष्यसि ॥०३-२८९-१४॥
O blessed lady, choose here those boons difficult for humans to obtain, by which you will excel all married women in fame. (03-289-14)
कुन्त्युवाच॥
Kunti said;
कृतानि मम सर्वाणि यस्या मे वेदवित्तम। त्वं प्रसन्नः पिता चैव कृतं विप्र वरैर्मम ॥०३-२८९-१५॥
All my actions, O supreme knower of the Vedas, for whom you, being pleased, are indeed as a father—and whatever is done by the best brāhmaṇas—is truly mine. (03-289-15)
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
The brāhmaṇa said.
यदि नेच्छसि भद्रे त्वं वरं मत्तः शुचिस्मिते। इमं मन्त्रं गृहाण त्वमाह्वानाय दिवौकसाम् ॥०३-२८९-१६॥
If you do not desire the boon from me, O auspicious one and pure-smiled lady, then take this mantra from me for summoning the celestial beings. (03-289-16)
यं यं देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि। तेन तेन वशे भद्रे स्थातव्यं ते भविष्यति ॥०३-२८९-१७॥
O auspicious one, whichever god you invoke with this mantra, each of them will remain under your control. (03-289-17)
अकामो वा सकामो वा न स नैष्यति ते वशम्। विबुधो मन्त्रसंशान्तो वाक्ये भृत्य इवानतः ॥०३-२८९-१८॥
Whether he is without desire or with desire, he will not come under your control; a wise man, pacified by counsel, is, in regard to words, like a servant who is bowed. (03-289-18)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
न शशाक द्वितीयं सा प्रत्याख्यातुमनिन्दिता। तं वै द्विजातिप्रवरं तदा शापभयान्नृप ॥०३-२८९-१९॥
She, the blameless one, was not able to refuse a second time. She indeed did not refuse him, the best of the twice-born, at that time out of fear of a curse, O king. (03-289-19)
ततस्तामनवद्याङ्गीं ग्राहयामास वै द्विजः। मन्त्रग्रामं तदा राजन्नथर्वशिरसि श्रुतम् ॥०३-२८९-२०॥
Then, O king, the brāhmaṇa indeed caused her, whose limbs were flawless, to learn the collection of mantras that had been heard in the Atharvaśiras (Upaniṣad). (03-289-20)
तं प्रदाय तु राजेन्द्र कुन्तिभोजमुवाच ह। उषितोऽस्मि सुखं राजन्कन्यया परितोषितः ॥०३-२८९-२१॥
Having given him away, Kuntibhoja, O king, indeed said: 'I have stayed happily, O king, and have been satisfied with the maiden.' (03-289-21)
तव गेहे सुविहितः सदा सुप्रतिपूजितः। साधयिष्यामहे तावदित्युक्त्वान्तरधीयत ॥०३-२८९-२२॥
He, always well-honored and well-settled in your house, said 'We shall accomplish so long' and then disappeared. (03-289-22)
स तु राजा द्विजं दृष्ट्वा तत्रैवान्तर्हितं तदा। बभूव विस्मयाविष्टः पृथां च समपूजयत् ॥०३-२८९-२३॥
But the king, seeing the twice-born brāhmaṇa disappear right there, was filled with amazement and honored Pṛthā greatly. (03-289-23)
