03.289
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
sā tu kanyā mahārāja brāhmaṇaṁ saṁśitavratam। toṣayāmāsa śuddhena manasā saṁśitavratā ॥03-289-1॥
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)
prātar-āyāsya ity uktvā kadācid dvija-sattamaḥ। tata āyāti rājeṃdra sāye rātrāv atho punaḥ॥03-289-2॥
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)
taṁ ca sarvāsu velāsu bhakṣyabhojyapratiśrayaiḥ। pūjayām āsa sā kanyā vardhamānais tu sarvadā॥03-289-3॥
And she, the maiden, always honored him at all times with ever-increasing eatables, foods, and shelter. (03-289-3)
annādisamudācāraḥ śayyāsanakṛtastathā। divase divase tasya vardhate na tu hīyate॥03-289-4॥
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)
nirbhartsanāpavādaiś ca tathaivāpriyayā girā। brāhmaṇasya pṛthā rājann cakārāpriyaṃ tadā ॥03-289-5॥
O king, at that time, Kuntī (Pṛthā), with reproaches, blame, and unpleasant words, did what was displeasing to the brāhmaṇa. (03-289-5)
vyaste kāle punaś caiti na caiti bahuśo dvijaḥ। durlabhyam api ca eva annaṃ dīyatām iti saḥ abravīt॥03-289-6॥
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)
kṛtameva ca tatsarvaṃ pṛthā tasmai nyavedayat। śiṣyavatputravaccaiva svasṛvacc susaṃyatā ॥03-289-7॥
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)
yathopajoṣaṃ rājendra dvijātipravarasya sā। prītim utpādayām āsa kanyā yatnair aninditā ॥03-289-8॥
The blameless maiden, with every effort, aroused love for the foremost of the twice-born, as was appropriate, O king. (03-289-8)
tasyāstu śīlavṛttena tutoṣa dvijasattamaḥ। avadhānena bhūyo'sya paraṃ yatnam athākarot ॥03-289-9॥
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)
tāṁ prabhāte ca sāye ca pitā papraccha bhārata। api tuṣyati te putri brāhmaṇaḥ paricaryayā ॥03-289-10॥
At dawn and dusk, her father asked her, O Bhārata: "Daughter, is the brāhmaṇa pleased with your service?" (03-289-10)
taṃ sā paramamityeva pratyuvāca yaśasvinī। tataḥ prītim avāpāgryāṃ kuntibhojo mahāmanāḥ ॥03-289-11॥
She, the glorious one, replied to him only by saying 'supreme'. Then Kuntibhoja, the great-minded, attained supreme joy. (03-289-11)
tataḥ saṁvatsare pūrṇe yadāsau japatāṁ varaḥ। nāpaśyad duṣkṛtaṁ kiñcit pṛthāyāḥ sauhṛde rataḥ॥03-289-12॥
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)
tataḥ prītamanā bhūtvā sa enāṃ brāhmaṇo'bravīt। prīto'smi paramaṃ bhadre paricāreṇa te śubhe ॥03-289-13॥
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)
varān-vṛṇīṣva kalyāṇi durāpān-mānuṣair-iha। yais-tvaṃ sīmantinīḥ sarvā yaśasābhibhaviṣyasi॥03-289-14॥
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)
kuntyuvāca॥
Kunti said;
kṛtāni mama sarvāṇi yasyā me vedavittama। tvaṃ prasannaḥ pitā caiva kṛtaṃ vipra varair mama ॥03-289-15॥
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)
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The brāhmaṇa said.
yadi necchasi bhadre tvaṃ varaṃ mattaḥ śucismite। imaṃ mantraṃ gṛhāṇa tvam āhvānāya divaukasām ॥03-289-16॥
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)
yaṃ yaṃ devaṃ tvam etena mantreṇāvāhayiṣyasi। tena tena vaśe bhadre sthātavyaṃ te bhaviṣyati ॥03-289-17॥
O auspicious one, whichever god you invoke with this mantra, each of them will remain under your control. (03-289-17)
akāmo vā sakāmo vā na sa naiṣyati te vaśam। vibudho mantrasaṁśānto vākye bhṛtya ivānataḥ ॥03-289-18॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
na śaśāka dvitīyaṃ sā pratyākhyātum aninditā। taṃ vai dvijāti-pravaraṃ tadā śāpa-bhayān nṛpa ॥03-289-19॥
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)
tatastāmanavadyāṅgīṁ grāhayāmāsa vai dvijaḥ। mantragrāmaṁ tadā rājannatharvaśirasi śrutam॥03-289-20॥
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)
taṃ pradāya tu rājedra kuntibhojam uvāca ha। uṣito'smi sukhaṃ rājan kanyayā paritoṣitaḥ॥03-289-21॥
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)
tava gehe suvihitaḥ sadā supratipūjitaḥ। sādhayiṣyāmahe tāvad ity uktvā antaradhīyata ॥03-289-22॥
He, always well-honored and well-settled in your house, said 'We shall accomplish so long' and then disappeared. (03-289-22)
sa tu rājā dvijaṃ dṛṣṭvā tatraiva antarhitaṃ tadā। babhūva vismayāviṣṭaḥ pṛthāṃ ca samapūjayat ॥03-289-23॥
But the king, seeing the twice-born brāhmaṇa disappear right there, was filled with amazement and honored Pṛthā greatly. (03-289-23)
