05.118

नारद उवाच॥

Nārada said:

स तु राजा पुनस्तस्याः कर्तुकामः स्वयंवरम्। उपगम्याश्रमपदं गङ्गायमुनसङ्गमे ॥५-११८-१॥

But the king, once again desiring to arrange her self-choice ceremony, went to the hermitage at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna. (5-118-1)

गृहीतमाल्यदामां तां रथमारोप्य माधवीम्। पूरुर्यदुश्च भगिनीमाश्रमे पर्यधावताम् ॥५-११८-२॥

Pūru and Yadu, having placed Mādhavī—whose hair was adorned with a garland—in the chariot, went around the hermitage with their sister. (5-118-2)

नागयक्षमनुष्याणां पतत्रिमृगपक्षिणाम्। शैलद्रुमवनौकानामासीत्तत्र समागमः ॥५-११८-३॥

There, serpents, yakṣas, humans, birds, beasts, winged creatures, mountain and tree dwellers, and forest dwellers all gathered together. (5-118-3)

नानापुरुषदेशानामीश्वरैश्च समाकुलम्। ऋषिभिर्ब्रह्मकल्पैश्च समन्तादावृतं वनम् ॥५-११८-४॥

The forest was filled with lords from various regions and was surrounded on all sides by sages of Brahma-like austerity. (5-118-4)

निर्दिश्यमानेषु तु सा वरेषु वरवर्णिनी। वरानुत्क्रम्य सर्वांस्तान्वनं वृतवती वरम् ॥५-११८-५॥

But as the choices were being offered, the radiant maiden passed over all those suitors and chose the forest as her wish. (5-118-5)

अवतीर्य रथात्कन्या नमस्कृत्वा च बन्धुषु। उपगम्य वनं पुण्यं तपस्तेपे ययातिजा ॥५-११८-६॥

The maiden, having alighted from the chariot, after bowing to her kinsfolk, approached the sacred forest and practised austerities—the daughter of Yayāti. (5-118-6)

उपवासैश्च विविधैर्दीक्षाभिर्नियमैस्तथा। आत्मनो लघुतां कृत्वा बभूव मृगचारिणी ॥५-११८-७॥

Through various fasts, vows of consecration, and observances—making her body light—she became a wanderer like a deer. (5-118-7)

वैडूर्याङ्कुरकल्पानि मृदूनि हरितानि च। चरन्ती शष्पमुख्यानि तिक्तानि मधुराणि च ॥५-११८-८॥

Grazing on the chief kinds of grass, tender and green, like the shoots of vaidurya gems—bitter ones and sweet ones alike. (5-118-8)

स्रवन्तीनां च पुण्यानां सुरसानि शुचीनि च। पिबन्ती वारिमुख्यानि शीतानि विमलानि च ॥५-११८-९॥

drinking the cool, clear, sweet, and pure waters of the excellent streams (5-118-9)

वनेषु मृगराजेषु सिंहविप्रोषितेषु च। दावाग्निविप्रमुक्तेषु शून्येषु गहनेषु च ॥५-११८-१०॥

In forests among great beasts, in places abandoned by lions, in areas spared from forest fires, in deserted and dense woods... (5-118-10)

चरन्ती हरिणैः सार्धं मृगीव वनचारिणी। चचार विपुलं धर्मं ब्रह्मचर्येण संवृता ॥५-११८-११॥

Roaming the forest together with the deer like a doe herself, she observed great righteous conduct, fully embracing celibacy. (5-118-11)

ययातिरपि पूर्वेषां राज्ञां वृत्तमनुष्ठितः। बहुवर्षसहस्रायुरयुजत्कालधर्मणा ॥५-११८-१२॥

Yayāti too, having followed the conduct of the kings of old, lived for many thousands of years in accordance with the law of time. (5-118-12)

पूरुर्यदुश्च द्वौ वंशौ वर्धमानौ नरोत्तमौ। ताभ्यां प्रतिष्ठितो लोके परलोके च नाहुषः ॥५-११८-१३॥

Puru and Yadu, the two illustrious and flourishing dynasties—by these, Nahusha's descendant was established in this world and the next. (5-118-13)

महीयते नरपतिर्ययातिः स्वर्गमास्थितः। महर्षिकल्पो नृपतिः स्वर्गाग्र्यफलभुग्विभुः ॥५-११८-१४॥

King Yayāti, having attained heaven, is honored—the mighty king who was equal to a great sage and enjoyed the highest rewards of heaven. (5-118-14)

बहुवर्षसहस्राख्ये काले बहुगुणे गते। राजर्षिषु निषण्णेषु महीयःसु महर्षिषु ॥५-११८-१५॥

When many thousands of years, rich in merits, had passed, and the royal sages had settled among the greatly revered great sages, (5-118-15)

अवमेने नरान्सर्वान्देवानृषिगणांस्तथा। ययातिर्मूढविज्ञानो विस्मयाविष्टचेतनः ॥५-११८-१६॥

Yayati, his understanding deluded and his mind overwhelmed by wonder, looked down upon all people, the gods, and even the groups of sages. (5-118-16)

ततस्तं बुबुधे देवः शक्रो बलनिषूदनः। ते च राजर्षयः सर्वे धिग्धिगित्येवमब्रुवन् ॥५-११८-१७॥

Then Indra, the destroyer of strength, became aware of him; and all those royal sages exclaimed, 'Shame! Shame!' (5-118-17)

विचारश्च समुत्पन्नो निरीक्ष्य नहुषात्मजम्। को न्वयं कस्य वा राज्ञः कथं वा स्वर्गमागतः ॥५-११८-१८॥

And curiosity arose upon seeing the son of Nahusha: Who is this? Of which king? And how has he come to heaven? (5-118-18)

कर्मणा केन सिद्धोऽयं क्व वानेन तपश्चितम्। कथं वा ज्ञायते स्वर्गे केन वा ज्ञायतेऽप्युत ॥५-११८-१९॥

By what deed did he accomplish this, or what austerity did he practice here? How is he known in heaven, or by what means is he even known? (5-118-19)

एवं विचारयन्तस्ते राजानः स्वर्गवासिनः। दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छुरन्योन्यं ययातिं नृपतिं प्रति ॥५-११८-२०॥

While thinking in this way, the kings who resided in heaven, having seen (him), asked each other about King Yayati. (5-118-20)

विमानपालाः शतशः स्वर्गद्वाराभिरक्षिणः। पृष्टा आसनपालाश्च न जानीमेत्यथाब्रुवन् ॥५-११८-२१॥

The charioteers of aerial cars—hundreds of them—along with the guardians of the gates of heaven and the seat attendants, when questioned, answered, "We do not know." (5-118-21)

सर्वे ते ह्यावृतज्ञाना नाभ्यजानन्त तं नृपम्। स मुहूर्तादथ नृपो हतौजा अभवत्तदा ॥५-११८-२२॥

All of them, their understanding clouded, did not recognize the king. Then, after a moment, the king became bereft of his strength at that time. (5-118-22)