The Ashvins Restore Chyavana's Youth

Verse 1 (3.124.1)

कस्य चित्त्वथ कालस्य त्रिदशावश्विनौ नृप । कृताभिषेकां विवृतां सुकन्यां तामपश्यताम् ॥

kasya cittvatha kālasya tridaśāvaśvinau nṛpa | kṛtābhiṣekāṃ vivṛtāṃ sukanyāṃ tāmapaśyatām

Some time later, O king, the two divine Ashvins saw Sukanya after she had bathed, unclothed.

Verse 2 (3.124.2)

तां दृष्ट्वा दर्शनीयाङ्गीं देवराजसुतामिव । ऊचतुः समभिद्रुत्य नासत्यावश्विनाविदम् ॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā darśanīyāṅgīṃ devarājasutāmiva | ūcatuḥ samabhidrutya nāsatyāvaśvināvidam

Seeing her, lovely in every limb like a daughter of the king of the gods, the Nasatyas, the Ashvins, ran up to her and said:

Verse 3 (3.124.3)

कस्य त्वमसि वामोरु वनेऽस्मिन्किं करोषि च । इच्छाव भद्रे ज्ञातुं त्वां तत्त्वमाख्याहि शोभने ॥

kasya tvamasi vāmoru vane'sminkiṃ karoṣi ca | icchāva bhadre jñātuṃ tvāṃ tattvamākhyāhi śobhane

Whose are you, fair-thighed one, and what are you doing in this forest? We wish to know about you, good lady; tell us truly, lovely one.

Note on the text: Corrected तत्वमाख्याहि → तत्त्वमाख्याहि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त्, cf. CE tat tvam ākhyāhi).

Verse 4 (3.124.4)

ततः सुकन्या संवीता तावुवाच सुरोत्तमौ । शर्यातितनयां वित्तं भार्यां मां च्यवनस्य च ॥

tataḥ sukanyā saṃvītā tāvuvāca surottamau | śaryātitanayāṃ vittaṃ bhāryāṃ māṃ cyavanasya ca

Then Sukanya, covering herself, said to those two best of gods, 'Know me to be the daughter of Sharyati and the wife of Chyavana.'

Verse 5 (3.124.5)

नाम्ना चाहं सुकन्येति नृलोकेऽस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठिता । साऽहं सर्वात्मना नित्यं भर्तारमनुवर्तिनी ॥

nāmnā cāhaṃ sukanyeti nṛloke'sminpratiṣṭhitā | sā'haṃ sarvātmanā nityaṃ bhartāramanuvartinī

In this world of men I am known by the name Sukanya, and with my whole being I am ever devoted to my husband.

Note on the text: Removed the quote marks (`…') with which Wikisource marks this verse and separated साऽहंसर्वात्मना. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 6 (3.124.6)

अथाश्विनौ प्रहस्यैतामब्रूतां पुनरेव तु । कथं त्वमसि कल्याणि पित्रा दत्ताऽऽगता वने ॥

athāśvinau prahasyaitāmabrūtāṃ punareva tu | kathaṃ tvamasi kalyāṇi pitrā dattā''gatā vane

Then the Ashvins laughed and spoke to her again: 'How is it, lovely one, that you were given away by your father and have come to the forest?'

Verse 7 (3.124.7)

भ्राजसेऽस्मिन्वने भीरु विद्युत्सौदामनी यथा । न देवेष्वपि तुल्यां हि त्वया पश्याव भामिनि ॥

bhrājase'sminvane bhīru vidyutsaudāmanī yathā | na deveṣvapi tulyāṃ hi tvayā paśyāva bhāmini

You shine in this forest, timid one, like a flash of lightning. Not even among the goddesses do we see your equal, beautiful lady.

Verse 8 (3.124.8)

अनाभरणसंपन्ना परमाम्बरवर्जिता । शोभयस्यधिकं भद्रे वनमप्यनलंकृता ॥

anābharaṇasaṃpannā paramāmbaravarjitā | śobhayasyadhikaṃ bhadre vanamapyanalaṃkṛtā

Without ornaments, without fine clothes, unadorned, you still make even this forest more beautiful, good lady.

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

Verse 9 (3.124.9)

सर्वाभरणसंपन्ना परमाम्बरधारिणी । शोभेथास्त्वनवद्याङ्गि न त्वेवं मलपङ्किनी ॥

sarvābharaṇasaṃpannā paramāmbaradhāriṇī | śobhethāstvanavadyāṅgi na tvevaṃ malapaṅkinī

Faultless one, you would truly shine if you were decked with every ornament and wore the finest clothes, not like this, smeared with dirt and mud.

Note on the text: Corrected संपनना → संपन्ना and परमाम्वर → परमाम्बर (misprints in Wikisource; a broken conjunct and व for ब, cf. CE saṃpannā, paramāmbara).

Verse 10 (3.124.10)

कस्मादेवंविधा भूत्वा जराजर्जरितं पतिम् । त्वमुपास्से ह कल्याणि कामभोगबहिष्कृतम् ॥

kasmādevaṃvidhā bhūtvā jarājarjaritaṃ patim | tvamupāsse ha kalyāṇi kāmabhogabahiṣkṛtam

Why, being such as you are, do you wait upon a husband worn out by old age, lovely one, shut out from the pleasures of love?

Verse 11 (3.124.11)

असमर्थं परित्राणे पोषणे तु शुचिस्मिते । सा त्वं च्यवनमुत्सृज्य वरयस्वैकमावयोः ॥

asamarthaṃ paritrāṇe poṣaṇe tu śucismite | sā tvaṃ cyavanamutsṛjya varayasvaikamāvayoḥ

He cannot protect you or provide for you, sweetly smiling one. Leave Chyavana and choose one of us two.

Note on the text: Separated उत्सृज्यवरयस्व → उत्सृज्य वरयस्व (words run together in Wikisource). = CE 3.123.9ab–cd.

Verse 12 (3.124.12)

पत्यर्थं देवगर्भाभे मा वृथा यौवनं कृथाः । एवमुक्ता सुकन्याऽपि सुरौ ताविदमब्रवीत् ॥

patyarthaṃ devagarbhābhe mā vṛthā yauvanaṃ kṛthāḥ | evamuktā sukanyā'pi surau tāvidamabravīt

'For a husband's sake, you who shine like a child of the gods, do not waste your youth.' So addressed, Sukanya said to the two gods:

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 3.123.9ef; line 2 = CE 3.123.10ab.

Verse 13 (3.124.13)

रताऽहं च्यवने पत्यौ मैवं मां पर्यशङ्कतम् । तावब्रूतां पुनस्त्वेनामावां देवभिषग्वरौ ॥

ratā'haṃ cyavane patyau maivaṃ māṃ paryaśaṅkatam | tāvabrūtāṃ punastvenāmāvāṃ devabhiṣagvarau

'I am devoted to my husband Chyavana; do not suspect me so.' Then the two said to her again, 'We are the foremost physicians of the gods.'

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 3.123.10cd; line 2 = CE 3.123.11ab.

Verse 14 (3.124.14)

युवानं रूपसंपन्नं करिष्यावः पतिं तव । ततस्तस्यावयोश्चैव वृणीष्वान्यतमं पतिम् । एतेन समयेनैनमामन्त्रय पतिं शुभे ॥

yuvānaṃ rūpasaṃpannaṃ kariṣyāvaḥ patiṃ tava | tatastasyāvayoścaiva vṛṇīṣvānyatamaṃ patim | etena samayenainamāmantraya patiṃ śubhe

We will make your husband young and handsome. Then choose one of the three, him or one of us, as your husband. On this condition, fair one, go and speak to your husband.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 3.123.11cd; lines 2–3 = CE 3.123.12.

Verse 15 (3.124.15)

सा तयोर्वचनाद्राजन्नुपसंगम्य भार्गवम् । उवाच वाक्यं यत्ताभ्यामुक्तं भृगुसुतं प्रति ॥

sā tayorvacanādrājannupasaṃgamya bhārgavam | uvāca vākyaṃ yattābhyāmuktaṃ bhṛgusutaṃ prati

At their word, O king, she went to Bhargava and told the son of Bhrigu what the two had said.

Verse 16 (3.124.16)

तच्छ्रुत्वा च्यवनो भार्यामुवाच क्रियतामिति । सा भर्त्रा समनुज्ञाता क्रियतामित्यथाब्रवीत् ॥

tacchrutvā cyavano bhāryāmuvāca kriyatāmiti | sā bhartrā samanujñātā kriyatāmityathābravīt

Hearing it, Chyavana said to his wife, 'Let it be done.' With her husband's leave, she then said to them, 'Let it be done.'

Note on the text: Removed the opening quote mark (`) that Wikisource places before line 2 (the marked passage runs into the next verse); both lines are in the critical edition.

Verse 17 (3.124.17)

श्रुत्वा तदश्विनौ वाक्यं तस्यास्तत्क्रियतामिति । ऊचतू राजपुत्रीं तां पतिस्तव विशत्वपः ॥

śrutvā tadaśvinau vākyaṃ tasyāstatkriyatāmiti | ūcatū rājaputrīṃ tāṃ patistava viśatvapaḥ

Hearing her words, 'Let it be done', the Ashvins said to the princess, 'Let your husband enter the water.'

Note on the text: Removed the closing quote mark (') that Wikisource places after line 1; the line is in the critical edition (3.123.15ab).

Verse 18 (3.124.18)

ततोऽम्भश्च्यवनः शीघ्रं रूपार्थी प्रविवेश ह । अश्विनावपि तद्राजन्सरः प्राविशतां तदा ॥

tato'mbhaścyavanaḥ śīghraṃ rūpārthī praviveśa ha | aśvināvapi tadrājansaraḥ prāviśatāṃ tadā

Then Chyavana, longing for beauty, quickly entered the water, and the Ashvins too, O king, entered the lake at the same time.

Verse 19 (3.124.19)

ततो मुहूर्तादुत्तीर्णाः सर्वे ते सरसस्त्रयः । दिव्यरूपधराः सर्वे युवानो मृष्टकुण्डलाः । तुल्यवेषधराश्चैव मनसः प्रीतिवर्धनाः ॥

tato muhūrtāduttīrṇāḥ sarve te sarasastrayaḥ | divyarūpadharāḥ sarve yuvāno mṛṣṭakuṇḍalāḥ | tulyaveṣadharāścaiva manasaḥ prītivardhanāḥ

After a moment all three came up out of the lake, all of heavenly form, young, wearing polished earrings, dressed alike, and a delight to the heart.

Verse 20 (3.124.20)

तेऽब्रुवन्सहिताः सर्वे वृणीष्वान्यतमं शुभे । अस्माकमीप्सितं भद्रे पतित्वे वरवर्णिनि ॥

te'bruvansahitāḥ sarve vṛṇīṣvānyatamaṃ śubhe | asmākamīpsitaṃ bhadre patitve varavarṇini

All of them together said, 'Choose one of us, fair one, whichever you wish for your husband, good lady of lovely complexion.'

Note on the text: = CE 3.123.18ab–cd; CE 3.123.18ef is the second line of the next verse.

Verse 21 (3.124.21)

त्वमश्विनोरन्यतरं च्यवनं वा यशस्विनि । यत्र वाऽप्यभिकामाऽसि तं वृणीष्व सुशोभने ॥

tvamaśvinoranyataraṃ cyavanaṃ vā yaśasvini | yatra vā'pyabhikāmā'si taṃ vṛṇīṣva suśobhane

One of the Ashvins, or Chyavana, illustrious one: whichever of us you desire, choose him, most lovely one.

Note on the text: Removed the quote marks (`…') with which Wikisource marks line 1. Line 1 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); line 2 = CE 3.123.18ef.

Verse 22 (3.124.22)

सा समीक्ष्य तु तान्सर्वांस्तुल्यरूपधरान्स्थितान् । निश्चित्य मनसा बुद्ध्या देवी वव्रे स्वकं पतिम् ॥

sā samīkṣya tu tānsarvāṃstulyarūpadharānsthitān | niścitya manasā buddhyā devī vavre svakaṃ patim

Looking at all of them standing there, alike in form, the lady made up her mind and heart and chose her own husband.

Verse 23 (3.124.23)

लब्ध्वा तु च्यवनो भार्यां वयोरूपं च वाञ्छितम् । हृष्टोऽब्रवीन्महातेजास्तौ नासत्याविदं वचः ॥

labdhvā tu cyavano bhāryāṃ vayorūpaṃ ca vāñchitam | hṛṣṭo'bravīnmahātejāstau nāsatyāvidaṃ vacaḥ

Having won his wife and the youth and beauty he desired, the mighty Chyavana joyfully said to the Nasatyas:

Note on the text: Separated भार्यांवयोरूपं → भार्यां वयोरूपं (words run together in Wikisource).

Verse 24 (3.124.24)

यथाऽहं रूपसंपन्नो वयसा च समन्वितः । कृतो भवद्भ्यां वृद्धः सन्भार्यां च प्राप्तवानिमाम् ॥

yathā'haṃ rūpasaṃpanno vayasā ca samanvitaḥ | kṛto bhavadbhyāṃ vṛddhaḥ sanbhāryāṃ ca prāptavānimām

Since you have made me, an old man, handsome and endowed with youth, and I have won this wife as well,

Verse 25 (3.124.25)

तस्माद्युवां करिष्यामि प्रीत्याऽहं सोमपीथिनौ । मिषतो देवराजस्य सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वाम् ॥

tasmādyuvāṃ kariṣyāmi prītyā'haṃ somapīthinau | miṣato devarājasya satyametadbravīmi vām

therefore, out of gratitude, I will make you both drinkers of Soma before the very eyes of the king of the gods. This I tell you truly.

Verse 26 (3.124.26)

तच्छ्रुत्वा हृष्टमनसौ दिवं तौ प्रतिजग्मतुः । च्यवनश्च सुकन्या च सुराविव विजह्रतुः ॥

tacchrutvā hṛṣṭamanasau divaṃ tau pratijagmatuḥ | cyavanaśca sukanyā ca surāviva vijahratuḥ

Hearing this, the two went back to heaven with glad hearts, and Chyavana and Sukanya lived happily together like two gods.