Ruru and Pramadvara

Verse 1 (1.8.1)

स चापि च्यवनो ब्रह्मन्भार्गवोऽजनयत्सुतम् । सुकन्यायां महात्मानं प्रमतिं दीप्ततेजसम् ॥

sa cāpi cyavano brahmanbhārgavo'janayatsutam | sukanyāyāṃ mahātmānaṃ pramatiṃ dīptatejasam

And Chyavana of Bhrigu's line, O brahmin, fathered on Sukanya a great-souled son, Pramati, of blazing energy.

Verse 2 (1.8.2)

प्रमतिस्तु रुरुं नाम घृताच्यां समजीजनत् । रुरुः प्रमद्वरायां तु शुनकं समजीजनत् ॥

pramatistu ruruṃ nāma ghṛtācyāṃ samajījanat | ruruḥ pramadvarāyāṃ tu śunakaṃ samajījanat

Pramati fathered on Ghritachi a son named Ruru, and Ruru fathered Shunaka on Pramadvara.

Note on the text: Corrected समजीजनम् → समजीजनत् (misprint in Wikisource; the third person "he begot" is required, as in the first half of the verse and in the critical edition).

Verse 3 (1.8.3)

शुनकस्तु महासत्त्वः सर्वभार्गवनन्दनः । जातस्तपसि तीव्रे च स्थितः स्थिरयशास्ततः ॥

śunakastu mahāsattvaḥ sarvabhārgavanandanaḥ | jātastapasi tīvre ca sthitaḥ sthirayaśāstataḥ

Shunaka, great in spirit and the joy of all the Bhargavas, was born, and he gave himself to fierce austerity, and so his fame became lasting.

Note on the text: Corrected महासत्वः → महासत्त्वः (misprint in Wikisource; sattva is spelt with त्त्व, as this text itself has it in सत्त्वरूपगुणान्विता below). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 4 (1.8.4)

तस्य ब्रह्मन्रुरोः सर्वं चरितं भूरितेजसः । विस्तरेण प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु त्वमशेषतः ॥

tasya brahmanruroḥ sarvaṃ caritaṃ bhūritejasaḥ | vistareṇa pravakṣyāmi tacchṛṇu tvamaśeṣataḥ

Now, brahmin, I shall tell you at length the whole story of that Ruru of great splendour; listen to all of it.

Verse 5 (1.8.5)

ऋषिरासीन्महान्पूर्वं तपोविद्यासमन्वितः । स्थूलकेश इति ख्यातः सर्वभूतहिते रतः ॥

ṛṣirāsīnmahānpūrvaṃ tapovidyāsamanvitaḥ | sthūlakeśa iti khyātaḥ sarvabhūtahite rataḥ

Long ago there was a great seer rich in austerity and learning, known as Sthulakesha, devoted to the good of all beings.

Verse 6 (1.8.6)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु मेनकायां प्रजज्ञिवान् । गन्धर्वराजो विप्रर्षे विश्वावसुरिति स्मृतः ॥

etasminneva kāle tu menakāyāṃ prajajñivān | gandharvarājo viprarṣe viśvāvasuriti smṛtaḥ

At that very time, brahmin seer, the king of the gandharvas, known as Vishvavasu, begot a child on Menaka.

Verse 7 (1.8.7)

अप्सरा मेनका तस्य तं गर्भं भृगुनन्दन । उत्ससर्ज यथाकालं स्थूलकेशाश्रमं प्रति ॥

apsarā menakā tasya taṃ garbhaṃ bhṛgunandana | utsasarja yathākālaṃ sthūlakeśāśramaṃ prati

The apsaras Menaka, O delight of the Bhrigus, in due time cast off that child of his near Sthulakesha's hermitage.

Verse 8 (1.8.8)

उत्सृज्य चैव तं गर्भं नद्यास्तीरे जगाम सा । अप्सरा मेनका ब्रह्मन्निर्दया निरपत्रपा ॥

utsṛjya caiva taṃ garbhaṃ nadyāstīre jagāma sā | apsarā menakā brahmannirdayā nirapatrapā

Having left the child on the bank of the river, the apsaras Menaka went away, O brahmin, pitiless and shameless.

Note on the text: The second line (अप्सरा मेनका ब्रह्मन् … निरपत्रपा) is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 9 (1.8.9)

कन्याममरगर्भाभां ज्वलन्तीमिव च श्रिया । तां ददर्श समुत्सृष्टां नदीतीरे महानृषिः ॥

kanyāmamaragarbhābhāṃ jvalantīmiva ca śriyā | tāṃ dadarśa samutsṛṣṭāṃ nadītīre mahānṛṣiḥ

The great seer saw the abandoned girl on the riverbank, like the child of an immortal, as though blazing with beauty.

Verse 10 (1.8.10)

स्थूलकेशः स तेजस्वी विजने बन्धुवर्जिताम् । स तां दृष्ट्वा तदा कन्यां स्थूलकेशो महाद्विजः ॥

sthūlakeśaḥ sa tejasvī vijane bandhuvarjitām | sa tāṃ dṛṣṭvā tadā kanyāṃ sthūlakeśo mahādvijaḥ

Sthulakesha, full of spiritual power, saw her there in that lonely place, without any kin; and seeing the girl, the great brahmin Sthulakesha

Verse 11 (1.8.11)

जग्राह च मुनिश्रेष्ठः कृपाविष्टः पुपोष च । ववृधे सा वरारोहा तस्याश्रमपदे शुभे ॥

jagrāha ca muniśreṣṭhaḥ kṛpāviṣṭaḥ pupoṣa ca | vavṛdhe sā varārohā tasyāśramapade śubhe

took her up, that best of sages, and moved by compassion raised her. The fair-hipped girl grew up in his auspicious hermitage.

Verse 12 (1.8.12)

जातकाद्याः क्रियाश्चास्या विधिपूर्वं यथाक्रमम् । स्थूलकेशो महाभागश्चकार सुमहानृषिः ॥

jātakādyāḥ kriyāścāsyā vidhipūrvaṃ yathākramam | sthūlakeśo mahābhāgaścakāra sumahānṛṣiḥ

The illustrious great seer Sthulakesha performed for her, in due order and according to rule, all the rites beginning with the birth ceremony.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 13 (1.8.13)

प्रमदाभ्यो वरा सा तु सत्त्वरूपगुणान्विता । ततः प्रमद्वरेत्यस्या नाम चक्रे महानृषिः ॥

pramadābhyo varā sā tu sattvarūpaguṇānvitā | tataḥ pramadvaretyasyā nāma cakre mahānṛṣiḥ

She surpassed all young women in goodness, beauty and virtue, and so the great seer named her Pramadvara, "best of women."

Verse 14 (1.8.14)

तामाश्रमपदे तस्य रुरुर्दृष्ट्वा प्रमद्वराम् । बभूव किल धर्मात्मा मदनोपहतस्तदा ॥

tāmāśramapade tasya rururdṛṣṭvā pramadvarām | babhūva kila dharmātmā madanopahatastadā

Ruru saw Pramadvara in Sthulakesha's hermitage, and the righteous youth, so it is told, was struck by love.

Verse 15 (1.8.15)

पितरं सखिभिः सोऽथ श्रावयामास भार्गवम् । प्रमतिश्चाभ्ययाचत्तां स्थूलकेशं यशस्विनम् ॥

pitaraṃ sakhibhiḥ so'tha śrāvayāmāsa bhārgavam | pramatiścābhyayācattāṃ sthūlakeśaṃ yaśasvinam

Through his friends he made it known to his father, the Bhargava, and Pramati asked the illustrious Sthulakesha for her hand.

Verse 16 (1.8.16)

ततः प्रादात्पिता कन्यां रुरवे तां प्रमद्वराम् । विवाहं स्थापयित्वाग्रे नक्षत्रे भगदैवते ॥

tataḥ prādātpitā kanyāṃ rurave tāṃ pramadvarām | vivāhaṃ sthāpayitvāgre nakṣatre bhagadaivate

Then her father gave the maiden Pramadvara to Ruru, fixing the wedding beforehand for the day of the constellation ruled by Bhaga.

Verse 17 (1.8.17)

ततः कतिपयाहस्य विवाहे समुपस्थिते । सखीभिः क्रीडती सार्धं सा कन्यावरवर्णिनी ॥

tataḥ katipayāhasya vivāhe samupasthite | sakhībhiḥ krīḍatī sārdhaṃ sā kanyāvaravarṇinī

Some days later, when the wedding was close at hand, that lovely girl was playing with her friends,

Verse 18 (1.8.18)

नापश्यत्संप्रसुप्तं वै भुजंगं तिर्यगायतम् । पदा चैनं समाक्रामन्मुमूर्षुः कालचोदिता ॥

nāpaśyatsaṃprasuptaṃ vai bhujaṃgaṃ tiryagāyatam | padā cainaṃ samākrāmanmumūrṣuḥ kālacoditā

and she did not see a snake lying asleep, stretched across her path; driven by fate and doomed to die, she trod on it with her foot.

Verse 19 (1.8.19)

स तस्याः संप्रमत्तायाश्चोदितः कालधर्मणा । विषोपलिप्तान्दशनान्भृशमङ्गे न्यपातयत् ॥

sa tasyāḥ saṃpramattāyāścoditaḥ kāladharmaṇā | viṣopaliptāndaśanānbhṛśamaṅge nyapātayat

Impelled by the law of time, the snake drove its poison-smeared fangs deep into the body of the heedless girl.

Verse 20 (1.8.20)

सा दष्टा तेन सर्पेण पपात सहसा भुवि । विवर्णा विगतश्रीका भ्रष्टाभरणचेतना ॥

sā daṣṭā tena sarpeṇa papāta sahasā bhuvi | vivarṇā vigataśrīkā bhraṣṭābharaṇacetanā

Bitten by the snake, she suddenly fell to the ground, pale, her beauty gone, her ornaments scattered and her senses lost.

Note on the text: The second line (विवर्णा विगतश्रीका … चेतना) is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 21 (1.8.21)

निरानन्दकरी तेषां बन्धूनां मुक्तमूर्धजा । व्यसुरप्रेक्षणीया सा प्रेक्षणीयतमाऽभवत् ॥

nirānandakarī teṣāṃ bandhūnāṃ muktamūrdhajā | vyasuraprekṣaṇīyā sā prekṣaṇīyatamā'bhavat

Her hair came loose, and she brought her kin only sorrow. Lifeless, she should have been a sight to turn away from, yet she became the loveliest sight of all.

Note on the text: The first line (निरानन्दकरी … मुक्तमूर्धजा) is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 22 (1.8.22)

प्रसुप्तेवाभवच्चापि भुवि सर्पविषार्दिता । भूयो मनोहरतरा बभूव तनुमध्यमा ॥

prasuptevābhavaccāpi bhuvi sarpaviṣārditā | bhūyo manoharatarā babhūva tanumadhyamā

Struck down by the snake's venom, she lay on the ground as if asleep, and the slender-waisted girl grew lovelier still.

Verse 23 (1.8.23)

ददर्श तां पिता चैव ये चैवान्ये तपस्विनः । विचेष्टमानां पतितां भूतले पद्मवर्चसम् ॥

dadarśa tāṃ pitā caiva ye caivānye tapasvinaḥ | viceṣṭamānāṃ patitāṃ bhūtale padmavarcasam

Her father saw her, and so did the other ascetics, lying fallen and twisted on the ground, radiant as a lotus.

Verse 24 (1.8.24)

ततः सर्वे द्विजवराः समाजग्मुः कृपान्विताः । स्वस्त्यात्रेयो महाजानुः कुशिकः शङ्खमेखलः ॥

tataḥ sarve dvijavarāḥ samājagmuḥ kṛpānvitāḥ | svastyātreyo mahājānuḥ kuśikaḥ śaṅkhamekhalaḥ

Then all the best of brahmins gathered there, full of pity: Svastyatreya, Mahajanu, Kushika, Shankhamekhala,

Note on the text: Corrected द्विजतराः → द्विजवराः (misprint in Wikisource; dvijavarāḥ, "the best of brahmins", with त for व, as in the critical edition).

Verse 25 (1.8.25)

उद्दालकः कठश्चैव श्वेतश्चैव महायशाः । भरद्वाजः कौणकृत्स्य आर्ष्टिषेणोऽथ गौतमः ॥

uddālakaḥ kaṭhaścaiva śvetaścaiva mahāyaśāḥ | bharadvājaḥ kauṇakṛtsya ārṣṭiṣeṇo'tha gautamaḥ

Uddalaka, Katha, and the renowned Shveta, Bharadvaja, Kaunakritsya, Arshtishena and Gautama,

Note on the text: The first line (उद्दालकः कठश्चैव … महायशाः) is not in the critical edition, which has a similar line only in its apparatus (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 26 (1.8.26)

प्रमतिः सह पुत्रेण तथान्ये वनवासिनः । तां ते कन्यां व्यसुं दृष्ट्वा भुजंगस्य विषार्दिताम् ॥

pramatiḥ saha putreṇa tathānye vanavāsinaḥ | tāṃ te kanyāṃ vyasuṃ dṛṣṭvā bhujaṃgasya viṣārditām

Pramati with his son, and other forest-dwellers too. Seeing the girl lifeless, struck down by the snake's venom,

Verse 27 (1.8.27)

रुरुदुः कृपयाऽविष्टा रुरुस्त्वार्तो बहिर्ययौ । ते च सर्वे द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तत्रैवोपाविशंस्तदा ॥

ruruduḥ kṛpayā'viṣṭā rurustvārto bahiryayau | te ca sarve dvijaśreṣṭhāstatraivopāviśaṃstadā

they wept, overcome with pity, while Ruru, stricken, went outside. And all those excellent brahmins sat down there where they were.

Note on the text: The second line (ते च सर्वे द्विजश्रेष्ठाः … तदा) is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).