Sukanya Pierces Chyavana's Eyes

Verse 1 (3.123.1)

भृगोर्महर्षेः पुत्रोऽभूच्च्यवनो नाम भारत । समीपे सरसस्तस्य तपस्तेपे महाद्युतिः ॥

bhṛgormaharṣeḥ putro'bhūccyavano nāma bhārata | samīpe sarasastasya tapastepe mahādyutiḥ

The great seer Bhrigu had a son named Chyavana, O Bharata. That radiant one practised austerities beside this lake.

Note on the text: Corrected पुत्रोऽभूच्चयवनो → पुत्रोऽभूच्च्यवनो (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct in the name Chyavana).

Verse 2 (3.123.2)

स्थाणुभूतो महातेजा वीरस्थानेन पाण्डव । अतिष्ठत चिरं कालमेकदेशे विशांपते ॥

sthāṇubhūto mahātejā vīrasthānena pāṇḍava | atiṣṭhata ciraṃ kālamekadeśe viśāṃpate

Still as a post, the mighty one stood for a long time in the hero's posture in one spot, O Pandava, lord of the people.

Verse 3 (3.123.3)

सवल्मीकोऽभवदृषिर्लताभिरिव संवृतः । कालेन महता राजन्समाकीर्णः पिपीलिकैः ॥

savalmīko'bhavadṛṣirlatābhiriva saṃvṛtaḥ | kālena mahatā rājansamākīrṇaḥ pipīlikaiḥ

Over a long time, O king, the seer became covered with an anthill, as though wrapped in creepers, and was overrun with ants.

Verse 4 (3.123.4)

तथा स संवृतो धीमान्मृत्पिण्ड इव सर्वशः । तप्यते स्म तपो घोरं वल्मीकेन समावृतः ॥

tathā sa saṃvṛto dhīmānmṛtpiṇḍa iva sarvaśaḥ | tapyate sma tapo ghoraṃ valmīkena samāvṛtaḥ

So covered on every side, like a lump of clay, the wise one practised fierce austerities, enclosed in the anthill.

Verse 5 (3.123.5)

अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य शर्यातिर्नाम पार्थिवः । आजगाम सरो रम्यं विहर्तुमिदमुत्तमम् ॥

atha dīrghasya kālasya śaryātirnāma pārthivaḥ | ājagāma saro ramyaṃ vihartumidamuttamam

After a long time a king named Sharyati came to this lovely, excellent lake to amuse himself.

Verse 6 (3.123.6)

तस्य स्त्रीणां सहस्राणि चत्वार्यासन्परिग्रहः । एकैव च सुता सुभ्रूः सुकन्या नाम भारत ॥

tasya strīṇāṃ sahasrāṇi catvāryāsanparigrahaḥ | ekaiva ca sutā subhrūḥ sukanyā nāma bhārata

He had four thousand women in his household, and one daughter only, fair-browed, named Sukanya, O Bharata.

Verse 7 (3.123.7)

सा सखीभिः परिवृता दिव्याभरणभूषिता । चङ्क्रम्यमाणा वल्मीकं भार्गवस्य समासदत् ॥

sā sakhībhiḥ parivṛtā divyābharaṇabhūṣitā | caṅkramyamāṇā valmīkaṃ bhārgavasya samāsadat

Surrounded by her companions and adorned with heavenly ornaments, she wandered about and came to Bhargava's anthill.

Verse 8 (3.123.8)

सा वै वसुमतीं तत्र पश्यन्ती सुमनोरमाम् । वनस्पतीन्प्रचिन्वन्ती विजहार सखीवृता ॥

sā vai vasumatīṃ tatra paśyantī sumanoramām | vanaspatīnpracinvantī vijahāra sakhīvṛtā

There, gazing at the delightful land and gathering blossoms from the trees, she played, surrounded by her friends.

Verse 9 (3.123.9)

रूपेण वयसा चैव मदनेन मदेन च । बभञ्ज वनवृक्षाणां शाखाः परमपुष्पिताः ॥

rūpeṇa vayasā caiva madanena madena ca | babhañja vanavṛkṣāṇāṃ śākhāḥ paramapuṣpitāḥ

Stirred by her beauty and youth, by love and high spirits, she broke the branches of the forest trees, heavy with blossom.

Note on the text: Corrected भदनेन → मदनेन (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म, cf. CE madanena).

Verse 10 (3.123.10)

तां सखीरहितामेकामेकवस्त्रामलंकृताम् । ददर्श भार्गवो धीमांश्चरन्तीमिव विद्युतम् ॥

tāṃ sakhīrahitāmekāmekavastrāmalaṃkṛtām | dadarśa bhārgavo dhīmāṃścarantīmiva vidyutam

The wise Bhargava saw her, apart from her friends and alone, in a single garment and adorned, moving about like a flash of lightning.

Note on the text: Corrected धमांश् → धीमांश् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, cf. CE dhīmāṃś).

Verse 11 (3.123.11)

तां पश्यमानो विजने स रेमे परमद्युतिः । क्षामकण्ठश्च विप्रर्षिस्तपोबलसमन्वितः । तामाबभाषेकल्याणीं सा चास्य न शृणोति वै ॥

tāṃ paśyamāno vijane sa reme paramadyutiḥ | kṣāmakaṇṭhaśca viprarṣistapobalasamanvitaḥ | tāmābabhāṣekalyāṇīṃ sā cāsya na śṛṇoti vai

Gazing at her in that lonely place, the radiant seer was delighted; and the Brahmin sage, rich in the power of austerity, called out to the lovely girl in a faint voice, but she did not hear him.

Verse 12 (3.123.12)

ततः सुकन्या वल्मीके दृष्ट्वा भार्गवचक्षुषी । कौतूहलात्कण्टकेन बुद्धिमोहबलात्कृता । किंनु खल्विदमित्युक्त्वा निर्बिभेदास्य लोचने ॥

tataḥ sukanyā valmīke dṛṣṭvā bhārgavacakṣuṣī | kautūhalātkaṇṭakena buddhimohabalātkṛtā | kiṃnu khalvidamityuktvā nirbibhedāsya locane

Then Sukanya, seeing Bhargava's eyes in the anthill, overcome by curiosity and by a clouding of her judgement, said, 'What can this be?' and pierced his eyes with a thorn.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 = CE 3.122.12; line 3 = CE 3.122.13ab.

Verse 13 (3.123.13)

अक्रुद्ध्यत्स तथा विद्धे नेत्रे परममन्युमान् । ततः शर्यातिसैन्यस्य शकृन्मूत्रे समावृणोत् ॥

akruddhyatsa tathā viddhe netre paramamanyumān | tataḥ śaryātisainyasya śakṛnmūtre samāvṛṇot

With his eyes thus pierced, he flew into a rage, filled with the deepest anger, and he stopped up the excrement and urine of Sharyati's army.

Note on the text: = CE 3.122.13cd–ef.

Verse 14 (3.123.14)

ततो रुद्धे शकृन्मूत्रे सैन्यमासीत्सुदुःखितम् । तथागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य पर्यपृच्छत्स पार्थिवः ॥

tato ruddhe śakṛnmūtre sainyamāsītsuduḥkhitam | tathāgatamabhiprekṣya paryapṛcchatsa pārthivaḥ

With excrement and urine stopped, the army was in great distress. Seeing it in that state, the king asked:

Verse 15 (3.123.15)

तपोनित्यस्य वृद्धस्य रोषणस्य विशेषतः । केनापकृतमद्येह भार्गवस्य महात्मनः । ज्ञातं वा यदि वाऽज्ञातं तद्द्रुतं ब्रूत माचिरम् ॥

taponityasya vṛddhasya roṣaṇasya viśeṣataḥ | kenāpakṛtamadyeha bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ | jñātaṃ vā yadi vā'jñātaṃ taddrutaṃ brūta māciram

Who has wronged the great-souled Bhargava here today, ever devoted to austerity, aged, and above all quick to anger? Whether it was done knowingly or unknowingly, tell me quickly, without delay.

Verse 16 (3.123.16)

तमूचुः सैनिकाः सर्वे न विद्मोऽपकृतं वयम् । सर्वोपायैर्यथाकामं भवांस्तदधिगच्छतु ॥

tamūcuḥ sainikāḥ sarve na vidmo'pakṛtaṃ vayam | sarvopāyairyathākāmaṃ bhavāṃstadadhigacchatu

All the soldiers said to him, 'We know of no wrong. Let your majesty find it out by every means, as you see fit.'

Verse 17 (3.123.17)

ततः स पृथिवीपालः साम्ना चोग्रेण च स्वयम् । पर्यपृच्छत्सुहृद्वर्गं पर्यजानन्न चैव ते ॥

tataḥ sa pṛthivīpālaḥ sāmnā cogreṇa ca svayam | paryapṛcchatsuhṛdvargaṃ paryajānanna caiva te

Then the protector of the earth himself questioned his circle of friends, both gently and sternly, but they did not know either.

Verse 18 (3.123.18)

आनाहार्तं ततो दृष्ट्वा तत्सैन्यमसुखार्दितम् । पितरं दुःखितं दृष्ट्वा सुकन्येदमथाब्रवीत् ॥

ānāhārtaṃ tato dṛṣṭvā tatsainyamasukhārditam | pitaraṃ duḥkhitaṃ dṛṣṭvā sukanyedamathābravīt

Then, seeing the army tormented by the blockage and stricken with pain, and seeing her father in distress, Sukanya said:

Note on the text: Corrected अनुखार्दितम् → असुखार्दितम् (misprint in Wikisource; न for स, cf. CE asukhārditam).

Verse 19 (3.123.19)

मयाऽटन्त्येह वल्मीके दृष्टं सत्वमभिज्वलत् । खद्योतवदभिज्ञातं तन्मया विद्धमन्तिकात् ॥

mayā'ṭantyeha valmīke dṛṣṭaṃ satvamabhijvalat | khadyotavadabhijñātaṃ tanmayā viddhamantikāt

As I was wandering here, I saw something living in an anthill, glowing. Taking it for a firefly, I went close and pierced it.

Verse 20 (3.123.20)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वल्मीकं शर्यातिस्तूर्णमभ्ययात् । तत्रापश्यत्तपोवृद्धं चन्द्रादित्यसमप्रभम् ॥

etacchrutvā tu valmīkaṃ śaryātistūrṇamabhyayāt | tatrāpaśyattapovṛddhaṃ candrādityasamaprabham

Hearing this, Sharyati hurried at once to the anthill, and there he saw the sage, great in austerity, shining like the moon and the sun.

Note on the text: Corrected अपशय्त् → अपश्यत् (misprint in Wikisource; transposed letters). CE 3.122.20 has the same sense with different wording (śaryātir valmīkaṃ tūrṇam ādravat … vayovṛddhaṃ ca bhārgavam), a recension variant.

Verse 21 (3.123.21)

अयाचदथ सैन्यार्थं प्राञ्जलिः पृथिवीपतिः । अज्ञानाद्बालया यत्ते कृतं तत्क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥

ayācadatha sainyārthaṃ prāñjaliḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ | ajñānādbālayā yatte kṛtaṃ tatkṣantumarhasi

Then, with joined palms, the lord of the earth pleaded for his army: 'What my young daughter did to you in ignorance, please forgive.'

Verse 22 (3.123.22)

ततोऽब्रवीन्महीपालं च्यवनो भार्गवस्तदा । अपमानादहं विद्धो ह्यनया दर्पपूर्णया ॥

tato'bravīnmahīpālaṃ cyavano bhārgavastadā | apamānādahaṃ viddho hyanayā darpapūrṇayā

Then Chyavana Bhargava said to the king: 'It was out of contempt that I was pierced by this girl, full of pride.'

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 3.122.22ab; line 2 (अपमानादहं विद्धो …) is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 23 (3.123.23)

रूपौदार्यसमायुक्तां लोभमोहबलात्कृताम् । तामेव प्रतिगृह्याहं राजन्दुहितरं तव । क्षंस्यामीति महीपाल सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

rūpaudāryasamāyuktāṃ lobhamohabalātkṛtām | tāmeva pratigṛhyāhaṃ rājanduhitaraṃ tava | kṣaṃsyāmīti mahīpāla satyametadbravīmi te

She is endowed with beauty and grace, and was carried away by greed and folly. Only if I receive this daughter of yours, O king, will I forgive. This I tell you truly, lord of the earth.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 3.122.22cd; lines 2–3 = CE 3.122.23.

Verse 24 (3.123.24)

ऋषेर्वचनमाज्ञाय शर्यातिरविचारयन् । ददौ दुहितरं तस्मै च्यवनाय महात्मने ॥

ṛṣervacanamājñāya śaryātiravicārayan | dadau duhitaraṃ tasmai cyavanāya mahātmane

Hearing the seer's words, Sharyati, without hesitation, gave his daughter to the great-souled Chyavana.

Verse 25 (3.123.25)

प्रतिगृह्य च तां कन्यां भगवान्प्रससाद ह । प्राप्तप्रसादो राजा वै ससैन्यः पुरमाव्रजत् ॥

pratigṛhya ca tāṃ kanyāṃ bhagavānprasasāda ha | prāptaprasādo rājā vai sasainyaḥ puramāvrajat

Receiving the maiden, the blessed one was appeased; and the king, having won his favour, went back to his city with his army.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राप्तप्रसादौ → प्राप्तप्रसादो (misprint in Wikisource; a dual for the singular king, cf. CE prāptaprasādo).

Verse 26 (3.123.26)

सुकन्याऽपि पतिं लब्ध्वा तपस्विनमनिन्दिता । नित्यं पर्यचरत्प्रीत्या तपसा नियमेन च ॥

sukanyā'pi patiṃ labdhvā tapasvinamaninditā | nityaṃ paryacaratprītyā tapasā niyamena ca

Sukanya too, blameless, having gained the ascetic as her husband, served him always with love, with austerity and with discipline.

Verse 27 (3.123.27)

अग्नीनामतिथीनां च शुश्रूषुरनसूयिका । समाराधयत क्षिप्रं च्यवनं सा शुभानना ॥

agnīnāmatithīnāṃ ca śuśrūṣuranasūyikā | samārādhayata kṣipraṃ cyavanaṃ sā śubhānanā

Tending the sacred fires and waiting on guests, free of envy, the fair-faced woman soon won Chyavana's favour.

Note on the text: Corrected अतीथीनां → अतिथीनां and शुश्रूषुनसूयिका → शुश्रूषुरनसूयिका (misprints in Wikisource; a lengthened vowel and a dropped र्, cf. CE atithīnāṃ, śuśrūṣur anasūyikā).