05.175
होत्रवाहन उवाच॥
Hotravahana spoke:
रामं द्रक्ष्यसि वत्से त्वं जामदग्न्यं महावने। उग्रे तपसि वर्तन्तं सत्यसन्धं महाबलम् ॥५-१७५-१॥
Dear, you will encounter Rama, the son of Jamadagni, in the vast forest, where he is engaged in intense penance, known for his truthfulness and great strength.
महेन्द्रे वै गिरिश्रेष्ठे रामं नित्यमुपासते। ऋषयो वेदविदुषो गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा ॥५-१७५-२॥
In the best of mountains, Mahendra, Rama is perpetually worshiped by sages, Vedic scholars, Gandharvas, and Apsaras.
तत्र गच्छस्व भद्रं ते ब्रूयाश्चैनं वचो मम। अभिवाद्य पूर्वं शिरसा तपोवृद्धं दृढव्रतम् ॥५-१७५-३॥
Go there and convey my words, offering your respects first to the ascetic elder who is firm in his vows. May blessings be upon you.
ब्रूयाश्चैनं पुनर्भद्रे यत्ते कार्यं मनीषितम्। मयि सङ्कीर्तिते रामः सर्वं तत्ते करिष्यति ॥५-१७५-४॥
O auspicious one, you should tell him again what task you desire. When I am mentioned, Rama will accomplish everything for you.
मम रामः सखा वत्से प्रीतियुक्तः सुहृच्च मे। जमदग्निसुतो वीरः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः ॥५-१७५-५॥
My friend Rama is dear and affectionate, and he is my well-wisher. The son of Jamadagni is a hero and the best among all weapon bearers.
एवं ब्रुवति कन्यां तु पार्थिवे होत्रवाहने। अकृतव्रणः प्रादुरासीद्रामस्यानुचरः प्रियः ॥५-१७५-६॥
As the maiden spoke to the king in the sacrificial chariot, Rama's dear and unwounded follower appeared.
ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे समुत्तस्थुः सहस्रशः। स च राजा वयोवृद्धः सृञ्जयो होत्रवाहनः ॥५-१७५-७॥
Then all the sages rose in thousands, and the aged king Sṛñjaya, Hotravāhana, was present.
ततः पृष्ट्वा यथान्यायमन्योन्यं ते वनौकसः। सहिता भरतश्रेष्ठ निषेदुः परिवार्य तम् ॥५-१७५-८॥
Then, after inquiring according to the rules, those forest dwellers, together with the best of the Bharatas, sat down surrounding him.
ततस्ते कथयामासुः कथास्तास्ता मनोरमाः। कान्ता दिव्याश्च राजेन्द्र प्रीतिहर्षमुदा युताः ॥५-१७५-९॥
Then they narrated those delightful and divine stories, O King, filled with joy and happiness.
ततः कथान्ते राजर्षिर्महात्मा होत्रवाहनः। रामं श्रेष्ठं महर्षीणामपृच्छदकृतव्रणम् ॥५-१७५-१०॥
At the conclusion of the tale, the noble sage Hotravāhana, a great soul, inquired of Rama, the foremost of the great sages, who remained unscathed.
क्व सम्प्रति महाबाहो जामदग्न्यः प्रतापवान्। अकृतव्रण शक्यो वै द्रष्टुं वेदविदां वरः ॥५-१७५-११॥
O mighty-armed one, where is the powerful son of Jamadagni now? The unwounded one, indeed, is capable of being seen, as he is the best among the knowers of the Veda.
अकृतव्रण उवाच॥
Akritavrana spoke:
भवन्तमेव सततं रामः कीर्तयति प्रभो। सृञ्जयो मे प्रियसखो राजर्षिरिति पार्थिव ॥५-१७५-१२॥
Rama constantly sings your praises, O lord. Sṛñjaya, my dear friend, is known as a royal sage, O king.
इह रामः प्रभाते श्वो भवितेति मतिर्मम। द्रष्टास्येनमिहायान्तं तव दर्शनकाङ्क्षया ॥५-१७५-१३॥
Here, I believe Rama will be here tomorrow morning. You will see him coming here eager to see you.
इयं च कन्या राजर्षे किमर्थं वनमागता। कस्य चेयं तव च का भवतीच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥५-१७५-१४॥
O royal sage, I wish to know why this girl has come to the forest. Whose daughter is she, and who are you?
होत्रवाहन उवाच॥
Hotravahana spoke:
दौहित्रीयं मम विभो काशिराजसुता शुभा। ज्येष्ठा स्वयंवरे तस्थौ भगिनीभ्यां सहानघ ॥५-१७५-१५॥
O lord, this is my granddaughter, the auspicious daughter of the king of Kashi. She stood with her eldest sisters in the self-choice ceremony, O sinless one.
इयमम्बेति विख्याता ज्येष्ठा काशिपतेः सुता। अम्बिकाम्बालिके त्वन्ये यवीयस्यौ तपोधन ॥५-१७५-१६॥
This is the one known as 'Mother', the eldest daughter of the king of Kashi. Ambika and Ambalika are the other younger daughters, O sage.
समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं काशिपुर्यां ततोऽभवत्। कन्यानिमित्तं ब्रह्मर्षे तत्रासीदुत्सवो महान् ॥५-१७५-१७॥
In the city of Kāśī, the royal warriors gathered, and then a great festival took place for the maiden, O sage.
ततः किल महावीर्यो भीष्मः शान्तनवो नृपान्। अवाक्षिप्य महातेजास्तिस्रः कन्या जहार ताः ॥५-१७५-१८॥
Then, the mighty Bhishma, son of Shantanu, challenged the kings and powerfully abducted the three maidens.
निर्जित्य पृथिवीपालानथ भीष्मो गजाह्वयम्। आजगाम विशुद्धात्मा कन्याभिः सह भारत ॥५-१७५-१९॥
After defeating the rulers of the earth, the pure-hearted Bhishma arrived at Gajahvaya with the maidens, O Bharata.
सत्यवत्यै निवेद्याथ विवाहार्थमनन्तरम्। भ्रातुर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य समाज्ञापयत प्रभुः ॥५-१७५-२०॥
After informing Satyavati, the lord commanded regarding the marriage of his brother Vichitravirya.
ततो वैवाहिकं दृष्ट्वा कन्येयं समुपार्जितम्। अब्रवीत्तत्र गाङ्गेयं मन्त्रिमध्ये द्विजर्षभ ॥५-१७५-२१॥
Then, having witnessed the marriage, this girl was acquired. There, the best of the twice-born, Bhishma, spoke among the ministers.
मया शाल्वपतिर्वीर मनसाभिवृतः पतिः। न मामर्हसि धर्मज्ञ परचित्तां प्रदापितुम् ॥५-१७५-२२॥
I have mentally surrounded the lord of Śālva, a hero. You, who understand dharma, should not give me away to someone else's thoughts.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं भीष्मः संमन्त्र्य सह मन्त्रिभिः। निश्चित्य विससर्जेमां सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः ॥५-१७५-२३॥
Upon hearing those words, Bhishma, after consulting with his ministers and making a decision, sent her away, adhering to Satyavati's wishes.
अनुज्ञाता तु भीष्मेण शाल्वं सौभपतिं ततः। कन्येयं मुदिता विप्र काले वचनमब्रवीत् ॥५-१७५-२४॥
Permitted by Bhishma, Shalva, the lord of Saubha, then this joyful maiden spoke to the Brahmin at the right time.
विसर्जितास्मि भीष्मेण धर्मं मां प्रतिपादय। मनसाभिवृतः पूर्वं मया त्वं पार्थिवर्षभ ॥५-१७५-२५॥
I have been released by Bhishma, so please instruct me in my duty. Previously, my mind was enveloped by you, O best of kings.
प्रत्याचख्यौ च शाल्वोऽपि चारित्रस्याभिशङ्कितः। सेयं तपोवनं प्राप्ता तापस्येऽभिरता भृशम् ॥५-१७५-२६॥
Śālva, suspecting her character, rejected her. She arrived at the hermitage and was deeply engaged in penance.
मया च प्रत्यभिज्ञाता वंशस्य परिकीर्तनात्। अस्य दुःखस्य चोत्पत्तिं भीष्ममेवेह मन्यते ॥५-१७५-२७॥
I have recognized, through the mention of the lineage, that Bhishma is considered the origin of this sorrow here.
अम्बोवाच॥
The mother spoke:
भगवन्नेवमेवैतद्यथाह पृथिवीपतिः। शरीरकर्ता मातुर्मे सृञ्जयो होत्रवाहनः ॥५-१७५-२८॥
O Lord, it is exactly as the king said. Sṛñjaya Hotravāhana, the creator of my mother's body.
न ह्युत्सहे स्वनगरं प्रतियातुं तपोधन। अवमानभयाच्चैव व्रीडया च महामुने ॥५-१७५-२९॥
I am unable to return to my city, O revered sage, due to the fear of disrespect and shame, O great sage.
यत्तु मां भगवान्रामो वक्ष्यति द्विजसत्तम। तन्मे कार्यतमं कार्यमिति मे भगवन्मतिः ॥५-१७५-३०॥
O best of the twice-born, whatever the divine Rama tells me, that I consider my foremost duty, as per my divine understanding.
