The Rescue and Upbringing of Nahusha

Verse 1 (padma.2.105.1)

कुञ्जल उवाच । गता सा नन्दनवनं सखीभिः सह क्रीडितुम्। तत्राकर्ण्य महद्वाक्यमप्रियं तु तदा पितुः

kuñjala uvāca gatā sā nandanavanaṁ sakhībhiḥ saha krīḍitum tatrākarṇya mahadvākyamapriyaṁ tu tadā pituḥ

Kunjala said: She (Hunda's daughter) went to the Nandana grove to play with her friends. There she heard a weighty word, unwelcome to her father —

Verse 2 (padma.2.105.2)

चारणानां सुसिद्धानां भाषतां हर्षणेन तु। आयोर्गेहे महावीर्यो विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमः

cāraṇānāṁ susiddhānāṁ bhāṣatāṁ harṣaṇena tu āyorgehe mahāvīryo viṣṇutulyaparākramaḥ

— as the accomplished charanas spoke joyfully, saying that in Ayu's house one of great valor, mighty as Vishnu himself,

Verse 3 (padma.2.105.3)

भविष्यति सुतश्रेष्ठो हुण्डस्यांतं करिष्यति । एवंविधं महद्वाक्यमप्रियं दुःखदायकम्

bhaviṣyati sutaśreṣṭho huṇḍasyāṁtaṁ kariṣyati evaṁvidhaṁ mahadvākyamapriyaṁ duḥkhadāyakam

— a foremost son shall be born, who shall bring about Hunda's end. This weighty, unwelcome and sorrowful word —

Verse 4 (padma.2.105.4)

समाकर्ण्य समायाता पितुरग्रे निवेदितम् । समासेन तया तस्य पुरतो दुःखदायकम्

samākarṇya samāyātā pituragre niveditam samāsena tayā tasya purato duḥkhadāyakam

— hearing it, she returned and reported it before her father, telling him that sorrowful matter briefly, in his presence.

Verse 5 (padma.2.105.5)

पितुरग्रे जगादाथ पिता श्रुत्वा स विस्मितः । शापमशोकसुंदर्याः सस्मार च पुराकृतम्

pituragre jagādātha pitā śrutvā sa vismitaḥ śāpamaśokasuṁdaryāḥ sasmāra ca purākṛtam

She told it before her father; the father, hearing it, was struck with astonishment, and he remembered the curse that Ashokasundari had laid before.

Verse 6 (padma.2.105.6)

एतस्यार्थे तपस्तेपे सेयं चाशोकसुंदरी । गर्भस्य नाशनायैव इंदुमत्याः स दानवः

etasyārthe tapastepe seyaṁ cāśokasuṁdarī garbhasya nāśanāyaiva iṁdumatyāḥ sa dānavaḥ

For this very reason had Ashokasundari performed that austerity. And so, to destroy Indumati's pregnancy, that demon —

Verse 7 (padma.2.105.7)

विचक्रे उद्यमं दुष्टः कालाकृष्टो दुरात्मवान् । छिद्रान्वेषी ततो भूत्वा इंदुमत्यास्तु नित्यशः

vicakre udyamaṁ duṣṭaḥ kālākṛṣṭo durātmavān chidrānveṣī tato bhūtvā iṁdumatyāstu nityaśaḥ

— that wicked, vile-souled one, drawn on by fate, made his effort; and thereafter he ceaselessly sought some weakness against Indumati.

Verse 8 (padma.2.105.8)

यदा पश्यति तां राज्ञीं रूपौदार्यगुणान्विताम् । दिव्यतेजः समायुक्तां रक्षितां विष्णुतेजसा

yadā paśyati tāṁ rājñīṁ rūpaudāryaguṇānvitām divyatejaḥ samāyuktāṁ rakṣitāṁ viṣṇutejasā

Whenever he beheld that queen, endowed with beauty, nobility and virtue, possessed of a divine radiance, protected by the very splendor of Vishnu,

Verse 9 (padma.2.105.9)

दिव्येन तेजसा युक्तां सूर्यबिंबोपमां तु ताम् । तस्याः पार्श्वे महाभाग रक्षणार्थं स्थितः सदा

divyena tejasā yuktāṁ sūryabiṁbopamāṁ tu tām tasyāḥ pārśve mahābhāga rakṣaṇārthaṁ sthitaḥ sadā

— endowed with divine radiance, resembling the very orb of the sun — that protecting splendor, O blessed one, ever stood at her side to guard her.

Verse 10 (padma.2.105.10)

दूरात्स दानवो दुष्टस्तस्याश्च बहुदर्शयन् । नानाविद्यां महोग्रां च भीषिकां सुविभीषिकाम्

dūrātsa dānavo duṣṭastasyāśca bahudarśayan nānāvidyāṁ mahogrāṁ ca bhīṣikāṁ suvibhīṣikām

That wicked demon, from afar, kept showing her many kinds of terrible sorceries, fearsome shows and most dreadful apparitions,

Verse 11 (padma.2.105.11)

गर्भस्य तेजसा युक्ता रक्षिता विष्णुतेजसा । भयं न जायते तस्या मनस्येव कदापुनः

garbhasya tejasā yuktā rakṣitā viṣṇutejasā bhayaṁ na jāyate tasyā manasyeva kadāpunaḥ

but she, endowed with the splendor of that pregnancy, protected by Vishnu's radiance, never again felt fear arise in her mind.

Verse 12 (padma.2.105.12)

विफलो दानवो जात उद्यमश्च निरर्थकः । मनीप्सितं नैव जातं हुंडस्यापि दुरात्मनः

viphalo dānavo jāta udyamaśca nirarthakaḥ manīpsitaṁ naiva jātaṁ huṁḍasyāpi durātmanaḥ

The demon's every effort proved fruitless, his endeavor came to nothing. That vile-souled Hunda's desired end was never achieved.

Verse 13 (padma.2.105.13)

एवं वर्षशतं पूर्णं पश्यमानस्य तस्य च । प्रसूता सा हि पुत्रं च स्वर्भानोस्तनया तदा

evaṁ varṣaśataṁ pūrṇaṁ paśyamānasya tasya ca prasūtā sā hi putraṁ ca svarbhānostanayā tadā

Thus, watching for a full hundred years, he saw that the daughter of Svarbhanu, Indumati, gave birth to a son.

Verse 14 (padma.2.105.14)

रात्रावेव सुतश्रेष्ठ तस्याः पुत्रो व्यजायत । तेजसातीव भात्येष यथा सूर्यो नभस्तले

rātrāveva sutaśreṣṭha tasyāḥ putro vyajāyata tejasātīva bhātyeṣa yathā sūryo nabhastale

O best of sons, that very night her son was born, who shone forth with a splendor as of the sun in the sky.

Verse 15 (padma.2.105.15)

सूत उवाच । अथ दासी महादुष्टा काचित्सूतिगृहागता । अशौचाचारसंयुक्ता महामंगलवादिनी

sūta uvāca atha dāsī mahāduṣṭā kācitsūtigṛhāgatā aśaucācārasaṁyuktā mahāmaṁgalavādinī

Suta said: Then to that birthing-chamber there came a certain most wicked maidservant, one of impure conduct, yet speaking most auspicious words.

Verse 16 (padma.2.105.16)

तस्याः सर्वं समाज्ञाय स हुंडो दानवाधमः । दास्या अंगं प्रविश्यैव प्रविष्टश्चायुमन्दिरे

tasyāḥ sarvaṁ samājñāya sa huṁḍo dānavādhamaḥ dāsyā aṁgaṁ praviśyaiva praviṣṭaścāyumandire

Learning everything from her, that vilest of demons, Hunda, entering into the very body of that maidservant, thus entered Ayu's palace.

Verse 17 (padma.2.105.17)

महाजने प्रसुप्ते च निद्रयातीवमोहिते । तं पुत्रं देवगर्भाभमपहृत्य बहिर्गतः

mahājane prasupte ca nidrayātīvamohite taṁ putraṁ devagarbhābhamapahṛtya bahirgataḥ

When all the great household lay deep asleep, overcome by slumber, he abducted that son, resplendent as a child of the gods, and went outside.

Verse 18 (padma.2.105.18)

कांचनाख्यपुरे प्राप्तः स्वकीये दानवाधमः । समाहूय प्रियां भार्यां विपुलां वाक्यमब्रवीत्

kāṁcanākhyapure prāptaḥ svakīye dānavādhamaḥ samāhūya priyāṁ bhāryāṁ vipulāṁ vākyamabravīt

That vilest of demons, reaching his own city named Kanchana, summoned his beloved wife Vipula and spoke this word —

Verse 19 (padma.2.105.19)

वधस्वैनं महापापं बालरूपं रिपुं मम । पश्चात्सूदस्य वै हस्ते भोजनार्थं प्रदीयताम्

vadhasvainaṁ mahāpāpaṁ bālarūpaṁ ripuṁ mama paścātsūdasya vai haste bhojanārthaṁ pradīyatām

'Slay this great sinner, my enemy in the form of a child. Then hand him over into the cook's hands, for food.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.105.20)

नानाभेदैर्विभेदैश्च पाचयस्व हि निर्घृणम् । सूदहस्तान्महाभागे पश्चाद्भोक्ष्ये न संशयः

nānābhedairvibhedaiśca pācayasva hi nirghṛṇam sūdahastānmahābhāge paścādbhokṣye na saṁśayaḥ

'Cut it into various pieces and have it cooked without mercy. From the cook's hands, my lady, I shall afterward eat it, without doubt.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.105.21)

वाक्यमाकर्ण्य तद्भर्तुर्विपुला विस्मिताभवत् । कस्मान्निर्घृणतां याति भर्त्ता मम सुनिष्ठुरः

vākyamākarṇya tadbharturvipulā vismitābhavat kasmānnirghṛṇatāṁ yāti bharttā mama suniṣṭhuraḥ

Hearing her husband's word, Vipula was astonished: 'Why has my husband become so pitiless, so utterly hard-hearted?'

Verse 22 (padma.2.105.22)

सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं देवगर्भोपमं सुतम् । कस्य कस्मात्प्रभक्ष्येत क्षमाहीनः सुनिर्घृणः

sarvalakṣaṇasaṁpannaṁ devagarbhopamaṁ sutam kasya kasmātprabhakṣyeta kṣamāhīnaḥ sunirghṛṇaḥ

'This son, endowed with every auspicious mark, resembling a very child of the gods — whose is he, and why does one so without mercy, so utterly pitiless, wish to devour him?'

Verse 23 (padma.2.105.23)

इत्येवं चिंतयामास कारुण्येन समन्विता । पुनः पप्रच्छ भर्तारं कस्माद्भक्ष्यसि बालकम्

ityevaṁ ciṁtayāmāsa kāruṇyena samanvitā punaḥ papraccha bhartāraṁ kasmādbhakṣyasi bālakam

Thus, filled with compassion, she pondered. Again she asked her husband: 'Why will you devour this child?'

Verse 24 (padma.2.105.24)

कस्माद्भवसि संक्रुद्धो अतीव निरपत्रपः । सर्वं मे कारणं ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन दनुजेश्वर

kasmādbhavasi saṁkruddho atīva nirapatrapaḥ sarvaṁ me kāraṇaṁ brūhi tattvena danujeśvara

'Why have you become so enraged, so utterly without shame? Tell me the whole reason truly, O lord of the demons.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.105.25)

आत्मदोषं च वृत्तांतं समासेन निवेदितम् । शापमशोकसुंदर्या हुंडेनापि दुरात्मना

ātmadoṣaṁ ca vṛttāṁtaṁ samāsena niveditam śāpamaśokasuṁdaryā huṁḍenāpi durātmanā

Then the vile-souled Hunda related to her, in brief, his own fault and the whole account — the curse that Ashokasundari had laid upon him.

Verse 26 (padma.2.105.26)

तया ज्ञातं तु तत्सर्वं कारणं दानवस्य वै । वध्योऽयं बालकः सत्यं नो वा भर्त्ता मरिष्यति

tayā jñātaṁ tu tatsarvaṁ kāraṇaṁ dānavasya vai vadhyo'yaṁ bālakaḥ satyaṁ no vā bharttā mariṣyati

By this she came to know the demon's entire reason: 'This child must truly be killed, or else my husband himself shall die.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.105.27)

इत्येवं प्रविचार्यैव विपुला क्रोधमूर्च्छिता । मेकलां तु समाहूय सैरंध्रीं वाक्यमब्रवीत्

ityevaṁ pravicāryaiva vipulā krodhamūrcchitā mekalāṁ tu samāhūya sairaṁdhrīṁ vākyamabravīt

Having thus reflected, Vipula, feigning wrath, summoned the maidservant Mekala and spoke this word —

Verse 28 (padma.2.105.28)

जह्येनं बालकं दुष्टं मेकलेऽद्य महानसे । सूदहस्ते प्रदेहि त्वं हुण्डभोजनहेतवे

jahyenaṁ bālakaṁ duṣṭaṁ mekale'dya mahānase sūdahaste pradehi tvaṁ huṇḍabhojanahetave

'Do away with this wicked child today, Mekala, in the kitchen. Hand him over into the cook's hands, for Hunda's meal.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.105.29)

मेकला बालकं गृह्य सूदमाहूय चाब्रवीत् । राजादेशं कुरुष्वाद्य पचस्वैनं हि बालकम्

mekalā bālakaṁ gṛhya sūdamāhūya cābravīt rājādeśaṁ kuruṣvādya pacasvainaṁ hi bālakam

Mekala, taking the child, summoned the cook and said: 'Carry out the king's command today — cook this very child.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.105.30)

एवमाकर्णितं तेन सूदेनापि महात्मना । आदाय बालकं हस्ताच्छस्त्रमुद्यम्य चोद्यतः

evamākarṇitaṁ tena sūdenāpi mahātmanā ādāya bālakaṁ hastācchastramudyamya codyataḥ

Hearing this, that great-hearted cook took the child into his hands and, raising his blade, made ready to strike him.

Verse 31 (padma.2.105.31)

एष वै देवदेवस्य दत्तात्रेयस्य तेजसा । रक्षितस्त्वायुपुत्रश्च स जहास पुनः पुनः

eṣa vai devadevasya dattātreyasya tejasā rakṣitastvāyuputraśca sa jahāsa punaḥ punaḥ

But that son of Ayu, protected by the very splendor of the God of gods Dattatreya, only laughed — laughed again and again.

Verse 32 (padma.2.105.32)

हसंतं तं समालोक्य स सूदः कृपयान्वितः । सैरंध्री च कृपायुक्ता सूदं तं प्रत्यभाषत

hasaṁtaṁ taṁ samālokya sa sūdaḥ kṛpayānvitaḥ sairaṁdhrī ca kṛpāyuktā sūdaṁ taṁ pratyabhāṣata

Seeing him laughing, that cook was overcome with compassion; and that maidservant too, moved with pity, spoke to the cook —

Verse 33 (padma.2.105.33)

नैष वध्यस्त्वया सूद शिशुरेव महामते । दिव्यलक्षणसंपन्नः कस्य जातः सुसत्कुले

naiṣa vadhyastvayā sūda śiśureva mahāmate divyalakṣaṇasaṁpannaḥ kasya jātaḥ susatkule

'This mere infant, O wise cook, must not be killed by you. Endowed with divine marks, he was surely born in some fine and worthy lineage.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.105.34)

सूद उवाच । सत्यमुक्तं त्वया भद्रे वाक्यं वै कृपयान्वितम् । राजलक्षणसंपन्नो रूपवान्कस्य बालकः

sūda uvāca satyamuktaṁ tvayā bhadre vākyaṁ vai kṛpayānvitam rājalakṣaṇasaṁpanno rūpavānkasya bālakaḥ

The cook said: 'True is what you say, good woman, a word full of compassion. Endowed with royal marks, of beautiful form — whose child is this?'

Verse 35 (padma.2.105.35)

कस्माद्भोक्ष्यति दुष्टात्मा हुंडोऽयं दानवाधमः । येन वै रक्षितो वंशः पूर्वमेव सुकर्मणा

kasmādbhokṣyati duṣṭātmā huṁḍo'yaṁ dānavādhamaḥ yena vai rakṣito vaṁśaḥ pūrvameva sukarmaṇā

'Why should this wicked-souled Hunda, vilest of demons, devour him — one whose lineage is surely already protected by good deeds done before?'

Verse 36 (padma.2.105.36)

आपत्स्वपि स जीवेत दुर्गेषु नान्यथा भवेत् । सिंधुवेगेन नीतस्तु वह्निमध्ये गतोऽथवा

āpatsvapi sa jīveta durgeṣu nānyathā bhavet siṁdhuvegena nītastu vahnimadhye gato'thavā

'Even in calamity, even in the most impassable straits, such a one lives on, and it cannot be otherwise — even if swept away in the ocean's current, or cast into the midst of fire —'

Verse 37 (padma.2.105.37)

जीवतेनात्र संदेहो यश्च कर्मसहायवान् । तस्माद्धि क्रियते कर्म धर्मपुण्यसमन्वितम्

jīvatenātra saṁdeho yaśca karmasahāyavān tasmāddhi kriyate karma dharmapuṇyasamanvitam

'— he who has the support of good karma lives on without fail, of this there is no doubt. It is for this very reason that righteous, meritorious deeds are performed.'

Verse 38 (padma.2.105.38)

आयुष्मंतो नरास्तेन प्रवदंति सुखं ततः । तारकं पालकं कर्म रक्षते जाग्रते हि तत्

āyuṣmaṁto narāstena pravadaṁti sukhaṁ tataḥ tārakaṁ pālakaṁ karma rakṣate jāgrate hi tat

'By it men become long-lived, and thence, it is said, they are happy. Good karma, a savior and a protector, ever wakeful, stands guard.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.105.39)

मुक्तिदं जायते नित्यं मैत्रस्थानप्रदायकम् । दानपुण्यान्वितं कर्म प्रियवाक्यसमन्वितम्

muktidaṁ jāyate nityaṁ maitrasthānapradāyakam dānapuṇyānvitaṁ karma priyavākyasamanvitam

'It ever becomes a giver of liberation, a bestower of friendship's shelter — deeds joined with charity and merit, together with kindly speech —'

Verse 40 (padma.2.105.40)

उपकारयुतं यश्च करोति शुभकृत्तदा । तमेव रक्षते कर्म सर्वदैव न संशयः

upakārayutaṁ yaśca karoti śubhakṛttadā tameva rakṣate karma sarvadaiva na saṁśayaḥ

'— whoever performs such beneficial and auspicious deeds, that very karma protects him, always, without doubt.'

Verse 41 (padma.2.105.41)

अन्ययोनिं प्रयाति स्म प्रेरितः स्वेन कर्मणा । किं करोति पिता माता अन्ये स्वजनबान्धवाः

anyayoniṁ prayāti sma preritaḥ svena karmaṇā kiṁ karoti pitā mātā anye svajanabāndhavāḥ

'Driven by his own deeds, a man goes even to another womb, another birth — what then can father, mother, or other kin and friends do?'

Verse 42 (padma.2.105.42)

कर्मणा निहतो यस्तु न स्युस्तस्य च रक्षणे । सूत उवाच । येनैव कर्मणा चैव रक्षितश्चायुनंदनः

karmaṇā nihato yastu na syustasya ca rakṣaṇe sūta uvāca yenaiva karmaṇā caiva rakṣitaścāyunaṁdanaḥ

'For one struck down by his own karma, none can avail as protector.' Suta said: By that very karma, Ayu's son was protected —

Verse 43 (padma.2.105.43)

तस्मात्कृपान्वितो जातः सूदः कर्मवशानुगः । सैरंध्री च तथा जाता प्रेरिता तस्य कर्मणा

tasmātkṛpānvito jātaḥ sūdaḥ karmavaśānugaḥ sairaṁdhrī ca tathā jātā preritā tasya karmaṇā

— so it was that the cook became filled with compassion, subject to the force of that karma; and the maidservant too became so, driven by that same karma of his.

Verse 44 (padma.2.105.44)

द्वाभ्यामेव सुतश्चायो रक्षितश्चारुलक्षणः । रात्रावेव प्रणीतोऽसौ तस्माद्गेहान्महाश्रमे

dvābhyāmeva sutaścāyo rakṣitaścārulakṣaṇaḥ rātrāveva praṇīto'sau tasmādgehānmahāśrame

By those two alone was Ayu's son, of such beautiful marks, saved. That very night he was carried from that house to a great hermitage —

Verse 45 (padma.2.105.45)

वशिष्ठस्याश्रमे पुण्ये सैरंध्र्या पुण्यकर्मणा । शुभे पर्णकुटीद्वारे तस्मिन्नेव महाश्रमे

vaśiṣṭhasyāśrame puṇye sairaṁdhryā puṇyakarmaṇā śubhe parṇakuṭīdvāre tasminneva mahāśrame

— to the holy hermitage of Vasishtha, by that maidservant's own meritorious act, to the door of an auspicious leaf-hut within that same great hermitage.

Verse 46 (padma.2.105.46)

गता सा स्वगृहं पश्चान्निक्षिप्य बालकोत्तमम् । एणं निपात्य सूदेन पाचितं मांसमेव हि

gatā sā svagṛhaṁ paścānnikṣipya bālakottamam eṇaṁ nipātya sūdena pācitaṁ māṁsameva hi

Having left that finest of children there, she went back to her own home. Meanwhile the cook slew a deer instead, and cooked its flesh,

Verse 47 (padma.2.105.47)

भोजयित्वा सुदैत्येंद्रो हुंडो हृष्टोभवत्तदा । शापमशोकसुंदर्या मोघं मेने तदासुरः

bhojayitvā sudaityeṁdro huṁḍo hṛṣṭobhavattadā śāpamaśokasuṁdaryā moghaṁ mene tadāsuraḥ

and, eating it, that lord of the great demons Hunda became glad; that demon believed that Ashokasundari's curse had thus been rendered void,

Verse 48 (padma.2.105.48)

हर्षेण महताविष्टः स हुंडो दानवेश्वरः । कुंजल उवाच । प्रभाते विमले जाते वशिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः

harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭaḥ sa huṁḍo dānaveśvaraḥ kuṁjala uvāca prabhāte vimale jāte vaśiṣṭho munisattamaḥ

and that lord of demons, Hunda, was filled with great joy. Kunjala said: When the clear dawn had come, Vasishtha, foremost of sages —

Verse 49 (padma.2.105.49)

बहिर्गतो हि धर्मात्मा कुटीद्वारात्प्रपश्यति । संपूर्णं बालकं दृष्ट्वा दिव्यलक्षणसंयुतम्

bahirgato hi dharmātmā kuṭīdvārātprapaśyati saṁpūrṇaṁ bālakaṁ dṛṣṭvā divyalakṣaṇasaṁyutam

— that righteous one went outside and looked out from the door of his hut. There he saw a perfect infant, endowed with divine marks,

Verse 50 (padma.2.105.50)

संपूर्णेंदुप्रतीकाशं सुंदरं चारुलोचनम् । वशिष्ठ उवाच । पश्यंतु मुनयः सर्वे यूयमागत्य बालकम्

saṁpūrṇeṁdupratīkāśaṁ suṁdaraṁ cārulocanam vaśiṣṭha uvāca paśyaṁtu munayaḥ sarve yūyamāgatya bālakam

resembling the full moon, beautiful, with lovely eyes. Vasishtha said: 'Let all the sages come and behold this child —

Verse 51 (padma.2.105.51)

कस्य केन समानीतं रात्रौ द्वारांगणे मम । देवगंधर्वगर्भाभं राजलक्षणसंयुतम्

kasya kena samānītaṁ rātrau dvārāṁgaṇe mama devagaṁdharvagarbhābhaṁ rājalakṣaṇasaṁyutam

'— whose can he be, and by whom was he brought in the night to the courtyard of my door, resembling the child of a god or a gandharva, endowed with royal marks —'

Verse 52 (padma.2.105.52)

कंदर्पकोटिसंकाशं पश्यंतु मुनयोऽमलम् । महाकौतुकसंयुक्ता हृष्टा द्विजवरास्ततः

kaṁdarpakoṭisaṁkāśaṁ paśyaṁtu munayo'malam mahākautukasaṁyuktā hṛṣṭā dvijavarāstataḥ

'— resembling ten million gods of love, let the sages behold this stainless one.' Then, filled with great wonder and delight, those finest brahmins —

Verse 53 (padma.2.105.53)

समपश्यन्सुतं ते तु आयोश्चैव महात्मनः । वशिष्ठः स तु धर्मात्मा ज्ञानेनालोक्य बालकम्

samapaśyansutaṁ te tu āyoścaiva mahātmanaḥ vaśiṣṭhaḥ sa tu dharmātmā jñānenālokya bālakam

— beheld that son of the great-souled Ayu. Vasishtha, that righteous one, gazing upon the child with his inner knowledge,

Verse 54 (padma.2.105.54)

आयुपुत्रं समाज्ञातं चरित्रेण समन्वितम् । वृत्तांतं तस्य दुष्टस्य हुण्डस्यापि दुरात्मनः

āyuputraṁ samājñātaṁ caritreṇa samanvitam vṛttāṁtaṁ tasya duṣṭasya huṇḍasyāpi durātmanaḥ

recognized him at once as Ayu's son, and knew too the whole account of the doings of that wicked, vile-souled Hunda.

Verse 55 (padma.2.105.55)

कृपया ब्रह्मपुत्रस्तु समुत्थाय सुबालकम् । कराभ्यामथ गृह्णाति यावद्द्विजो वरोत्तमः

kṛpayā brahmaputrastu samutthāya subālakam karābhyāmatha gṛhṇāti yāvaddvijo varottamaḥ

That son of Brahma, out of compassion, rising up, was just taking that fine child into his two hands — when, that very moment, O best of the twice-born,

Verse 56 (padma.2.105.56)

तावत्पुष्पसुवृष्टिं च चक्रुर्देवाः सुतोपरि । ललितं सुस्वरं गीतं जगुर्गंधर्वकिन्नराः

tāvatpuṣpasuvṛṣṭiṁ ca cakrurdevāḥ sutopari lalitaṁ susvaraṁ gītaṁ jagurgaṁdharvakinnarāḥ

the gods rained down a lovely shower of flowers upon that son; the gandharvas and kinnaras sang a sweet and lovely song.

Verse 57 (padma.2.105.57)

ऋषयो वेदमंत्रैस्तु स्तुवंति नृपनंदनम् । वशिष्ठस्तं समालोक्य वरं वै दत्तवांस्तदा

ṛṣayo vedamaṁtraistu stuvaṁti nṛpanaṁdanam vaśiṣṭhastaṁ samālokya varaṁ vai dattavāṁstadā

The sages praised that son of the king with Vedic hymns. Vasishtha, beholding him, then and there bestowed upon him a boon —

Verse 58 (padma.2.105.58)

नहुषेत्येव ते नाम ख्यातं लोके भविष्यति । हुषितो नैव तेनापि बालभावैर्नराधिप

nahuṣetyeva te nāma khyātaṁ loke bhaviṣyati huṣito naiva tenāpi bālabhāvairnarādhipa

'Nahusha shall be your renowned name in this world — for even by his childlike nature, he could never be bound or shaken (huṣita) by that demon —'

Verse 59 (padma.2.105.59)

तस्मान्नहुष ते नाम देवपूज्यो भविष्यसि। जातकर्मादिकं कर्म तस्य चक्रे द्विजोत्तमः

tasmānnahuṣa te nāma devapūjyo bhaviṣyasi jātakarmādikaṁ karma tasya cakre dvijottamaḥ

'— therefore your name shall be Nahusha, and you shall become one worshipped by the gods.' That finest of brahmins performed for him the birth-rite and other such rites,

Verse 60 (padma.2.105.60)

व्रतदानं विसर्गं च गुरुशिष्यादिलक्षणम्। वेदं चाधीत्य संपूर्णं षडंगं सपदक्रमम्

vratadānaṁ visargaṁ ca guruśiṣyādilakṣaṇam vedaṁ cādhītya saṁpūrṇaṁ ṣaḍaṁgaṁ sapadakramam

the giving of vows, the completion-rites, and every observance proper between guru and disciple. He studied the whole Veda together with its six auxiliary sciences and its word-order,

Verse 61 (padma.2.105.61)

सर्वाण्येव च शास्त्राणि अधीत्य द्विजसत्तमात्। वशिष्ठाच्च धनुर्वेदं सरहस्यं महामतिः

sarvāṇyeva ca śāstrāṇi adhītya dvijasattamāt vaśiṣṭhācca dhanurvedaṁ sarahasyaṁ mahāmatiḥ

and, having studied all the sciences from that finest of the twice-born, that greatly wise one learned also from Vasishtha the science of archery together with its secret lore,

Verse 62 (padma.2.105.62)

शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि दिव्यानि ग्राहमोक्षयुतानि च। ज्ञानशास्त्रादिकं न्याय राजनीतिगुणादिकान्

śastrāṇyastrāṇi divyāni grāhamokṣayutāni ca jñānaśāstrādikaṁ nyāya rājanītiguṇādikān

divine weapons and missiles, together with the arts of wielding and releasing them, the sciences of knowledge and logic, and the principles and qualities of statecraft —

Verse 63 (padma.2.105.63)

वशिष्ठादायुपुत्रश्च शिष्यरूपेण भक्तिमान्। एवं स सर्वनिष्पन्नो नाहुषश्चातिसुंदरः

vaśiṣṭhādāyuputraśca śiṣyarūpeṇa bhaktimān evaṁ sa sarvaniṣpanno nāhuṣaścātisuṁdaraḥ

— all of this Ayu's son, in the devoted form of a disciple, learned from Vasishtha. Thus that most beautiful Nahusha became accomplished in everything,

Verse 64 (padma.2.105.64)

वशिष्ठस्य प्रसादाच्च चापबाणधरोभवत्

vaśiṣṭhasya prasādācca cāpabāṇadharobhavat

and, by Vasishtha's grace, he became a bearer of the bow and arrow.