Vasishtha Reveals Nahusha's Destiny

Verse 1 (padma.2.108.1)

कुंजल उवाच । ब्रह्मपुत्रो महातेजा वशिष्ठस्तपतां वरः । नहुषं तं समाहूय इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

kuṁjala uvāca brahmaputro mahātejā vaśiṣṭhastapatāṁ varaḥ nahuṣaṁ taṁ samāhūya idaṁ vacanamabravīt

Kunjala said: Vasishtha, son of Brahma, of great splendor, foremost among ascetics, summoned Nahusha and spoke this word —

Verse 2 (padma.2.108.2)

वनं गच्छ स्वशीघ्रेण वन्यमानय पुष्कलम् । समाकर्ण्य मुनेर्वाक्यं नहुषो वनमाययौ

vanaṁ gaccha svaśīghreṇa vanyamānaya puṣkalam samākarṇya munervākyaṁ nahuṣo vanamāyayau

'Go quickly to the forest, and bring back abundant wild produce (wood and fruit).' Hearing the sage's word, Nahusha set out for the forest.

Verse 3 (padma.2.108.3)

तत्र किंचित्सुवृत्तांतं शुश्राव नहुषो बलः । अयमेष स धर्मात्मा नहुषो नाम वीर्यवान्

tatra kiṁcitsuvṛttāṁtaṁ śuśrāva nahuṣo balaḥ ayameṣa sa dharmātmā nahuṣo nāma vīryavān

There the mighty Nahusha overheard a certain account: 'This is indeed that righteous, valiant one named Nahusha —'

Verse 4 (padma.2.108.4)

आयोः पुत्रो महाप्राज्ञो बाल्यान्मात्रा वियोजितः । अस्यैवातिवियोगेन आयुभार्या प्ररोदिति

āyoḥ putro mahāprājño bālyānmātrā viyojitaḥ asyaivātiviyogena āyubhāryā praroditi

'— the greatly wise son of Ayu, separated from his mother in his very infancy. It is out of the utter grief of that separation that Ayu's wife weeps ceaselessly —'

Verse 5 (padma.2.108.5)

अशोकसुंदरी तेपे तपः परमदुष्करम् । कदा पश्यति सा देवी पुत्रमिंदुमती शुभा

aśokasuṁdarī tepe tapaḥ paramaduṣkaram kadā paśyati sā devī putramiṁdumatī śubhā

'— Ashokasundari performed the most severe austerity — when shall that fair goddess Indumati ever behold her son?'

Verse 6 (padma.2.108.6)

नाहुषं नाम धर्मज्ञं हृतं पूर्वं तु दानवैः । तपस्तेपे निरालंबा शिवस्य तनया वरा

nāhuṣaṁ nāma dharmajñaṁ hṛtaṁ pūrvaṁ tu dānavaiḥ tapastepe nirālaṁbā śivasya tanayā varā

'For that righteous child, named Nahusha, once stolen by demons, that excellent daughter of Shiva, bereft of all support, performed her austerity —'

Verse 7 (padma.2.108.7)

अशोकसुंदरी बाला आयुपुत्रस्य कारणात् । अनेनापि कदा सा हि संगता तु भविष्यति

aśokasuṁdarī bālā āyuputrasya kāraṇāt anenāpi kadā sā hi saṁgatā tu bhaviṣyati

'— that young maiden Ashokasundari, for the very sake of Ayu's son — through him alone, when shall she at last be united with him?'

Verse 8 (padma.2.108.8)

एवं सांसारिकं वाक्यं दिवि चारणभाषितम् । शुश्राव स हि धर्मात्मा नहुषो विभ्रमान्वितः

evaṁ sāṁsārikaṁ vākyaṁ divi cāraṇabhāṣitam śuśrāva sa hi dharmātmā nahuṣo vibhramānvitaḥ

Hearing such worldly talk, spoken by the charanas in the sky, that righteous Nahusha fell into great bewilderment.

Verse 9 (padma.2.108.9)

स गत्वा वन्यमादाय वशिष्ठस्याश्रमं प्रति । वन्यं निवेद्य धर्मात्मा वशिष्ठाय महात्मने

sa gatvā vanyamādāya vaśiṣṭhasyāśramaṁ prati vanyaṁ nivedya dharmātmā vaśiṣṭhāya mahātmane

He took the forest produce and returned to Vasishtha's hermitage; that righteous one offered the forest gathering to the great-souled Vasishtha,

Verse 10 (padma.2.108.10)

बद्धांजलिपुटोभूत्वा भक्त्या नमितकंधरः । तमुवाच महाप्राज्ञं वशिष्ठं तपतां वरम्

baddhāṁjalipuṭobhūtvā bhaktyā namitakaṁdharaḥ tamuvāca mahāprājñaṁ vaśiṣṭhaṁ tapatāṁ varam

and then, with joined hands, his head bowed in devotion, he spoke to that greatly wise Vasishtha, foremost among ascetics —

Verse 11 (padma.2.108.11)

भगवञ्छ्रूयतां वाक्यमपूर्वं चारणेरितम् । एष वै नहुषो नाम्ना आयुपुत्रो वियोजितः

bhagavañchrūyatāṁ vākyamapūrvaṁ cāraṇeritam eṣa vai nahuṣo nāmnā āyuputro viyojitaḥ

'Blessed one, hear an unprecedented thing spoken by the charanas — that this one called Nahusha is Ayu's son, who was once separated —'

Verse 12 (padma.2.108.12)

मात्रा सह सुदुःखैस्तु इंदुमत्या हि दानवैः । शिवस्य तनया बाला तपस्तेपे सुदुश्चरम्

mātrā saha suduḥkhaistu iṁdumatyā hi dānavaiḥ śivasya tanayā bālā tapastepe suduścaram

'— from his mother Indumati, most sorrowfully, by demons; and that young daughter of Shiva performed the most severe austerity —'

Verse 13 (padma.2.108.13)

निमित्तमस्य धीरस्य नहुषस्येति वै गुरो । एवमाभाषितं तैस्तु तत्सर्वं हि मया श्रुतम्

nimittamasya dhīrasya nahuṣasyeti vai guro evamābhāṣitaṁ taistu tatsarvaṁ hi mayā śrutam

'— for the sake of that very steadfast Nahusha, O guru. This is all that those charanas said, which I have heard.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.108.14)

कोसावायुः स धर्मात्मा कासा त्विंदुमती शुभा । अशोकसुंदरी कासा नहुषेति क उच्यते

kosāvāyuḥ sa dharmātmā kāsā tviṁdumatī śubhā aśokasuṁdarī kāsā nahuṣeti ka ucyate

'Who is that righteous Ayu? Who is that fair Indumati? Who is that Ashokasundari? And who is this called Nahusha?'

Verse 15 (padma.2.108.15)

एतन्मे संशयं जातं तद्भवांश्छेत्तुमर्हति । अन्यः कोपि महाप्राज्ञः कुत्रासौ नहुषेति च

etanme saṁśayaṁ jātaṁ tadbhavāṁśchettumarhati anyaḥ kopi mahāprājñaḥ kutrāsau nahuṣeti ca

'This doubt has arisen in my mind, and you alone are able to resolve it. Is there some other, greatly wise Nahusha elsewhere too?'

Verse 16 (padma.2.108.16)

तत्सर्वं तात मे ब्रूहि कारणांतरमेव हि । वशिष्ठ उवाच । आयु राजा स धर्मात्मा सप्तद्वीपाधिपो बली

tatsarvaṁ tāta me brūhi kāraṇāṁtarameva hi vaśiṣṭha uvāca āyu rājā sa dharmātmā saptadvīpādhipo balī

'Father, tell me all of this, and reveal to me also its true cause.' Vasishtha said: 'King Ayu is righteous, the mighty lord of all seven continents.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.108.17)

भार्या इंदुमती तस्य सत्यरूपा यशस्विनी । तस्यामुत्पादितः पुत्रो भवान्वै गुणमंदिरम्

bhāryā iṁdumatī tasya satyarūpā yaśasvinī tasyāmutpāditaḥ putro bhavānvai guṇamaṁdiram

'His wife Indumati is truthful in form and renowned. Born of her is that very son — you yourself, treasury of every virtue!'

Verse 18 (padma.2.108.18)

आयुना राजराजेन सोमवंशस्य भूषणम् । हरस्य कन्या सुश्रोणी गुणरूपैरलंकृता

āyunā rājarājena somavaṁśasya bhūṣaṇam harasya kanyā suśroṇī guṇarūpairalaṁkṛtā

'You were begotten by Ayu, king of kings, and are the ornament of the lunar dynasty. And Shiva's beautiful daughter, adorned with virtue and beauty —'

Verse 19 (padma.2.108.19)

अशोकसुंदरी नाम्ना सुभगा चारुहासिनी । तस्य हेतोस्तपस्तेपे निरालंबा तपोवने

aśokasuṁdarī nāmnā subhagā cāruhāsinī tasya hetostapastepe nirālaṁbā tapovane

'— named Ashokasundari, that fortunate one, sweetly smiling — for your sake alone she performed austerity in the forest of penance, bereft of any support.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.108.20)

तस्या भर्ता भवान्सृष्टो धात्रा योगेन निश्चितः । गंगायास्तीरमाश्रित्य ध्यानयोग समाश्रिता

tasyā bhartā bhavānsṛṣṭo dhātrā yogena niścitaḥ gaṁgāyāstīramāśritya dhyānayoga samāśritā

'The Creator, by his own decree, ordained that you alone were fashioned to be her husband. Taking refuge on the bank of the Ganga, she remained fixed in meditation and yoga —'

Verse 21 (padma.2.108.21)

हुंडश्च दानवेंद्रो यो दृष्ट्वा चैकाकिनीं सतीम् । तपसा प्रज्वलंतीं च सुभगां कमलेक्षणाम्

huṁḍaśca dānaveṁdro yo dṛṣṭvā caikākinīṁ satīm tapasā prajvalaṁtīṁ ca subhagāṁ kamalekṣaṇām

'— when Hunda, lord of the demons, beheld that chaste woman alone, blazing with austerity, fortunate, lotus-eyed —'

Verse 22 (padma.2.108.22)

रूपौदार्यगुणोपेतां कामबाणैः प्रपीडितः । तां बभाषेऽन्तिकं गत्वा मम भार्या भवेति च

rūpaudāryaguṇopetāṁ kāmabāṇaiḥ prapīḍitaḥ tāṁ babhāṣe'ntikaṁ gatvā mama bhāryā bhaveti ca

'— endowed with beauty and nobility, and, tormented by the arrows of desire, he approached her and said: Become my wife.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.108.23)

एवं सा तद्वचः श्रुत्वा तमुवाच तपस्विनी । मा हुंड साहसं कार्षीर्मा जल्पस्व पुनः पुनः

evaṁ sā tadvacaḥ śrutvā tamuvāca tapasvinī mā huṁḍa sāhasaṁ kārṣīrmā jalpasva punaḥ punaḥ

'Hearing this word, that ascetic woman said to him: Hunda, do not dare such a thing, do not say this again and again.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.108.24)

अप्राप्याहं त्वया वीर परभार्या विशेषतः । दैवेन मे पुरा सृष्ट आयुपुत्रो महाबलः

aprāpyāhaṁ tvayā vīra parabhāryā viśeṣataḥ daivena me purā sṛṣṭa āyuputro mahābalaḥ

'O hero, I am unattainable to you, as untouchable as another's wife. Fate has already, before this, ordained for me the mighty son of Ayu —'

Verse 25 (padma.2.108.25)

नहुषो नाम मेधावी भविष्यति न संशयः । देवदत्तो महातेजा अन्यथा त्वं करिष्यसि

nahuṣo nāma medhāvī bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ devadatto mahātejā anyathā tvaṁ kariṣyasi

'— named Nahusha, wise, without doubt. Given by the gods, of great splendor, he alone shall be my husband — whatever else you may attempt —'

Verse 26 (padma.2.108.26)

ततः शाप्रं पदास्यामि येन भस्मी भविष्यसि । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं कामबाणैः प्रपीडितः

tataḥ śāpraṁ padāsyāmi yena bhasmī bhaviṣyasi evamākarṇya tadvākyaṁ kāmabāṇaiḥ prapīḍitaḥ

'— then I shall at once curse you, so that you shall be burnt to ash.' Hearing this word, that demon, tormented by the arrows of desire,

Verse 27 (padma.2.108.27)

व्याजेनापि हृता तेन प्रणीता निजमंदिरे । ज्ञात्वा तया महाभाग शप्तोऽसौ दानवाधमः

vyājenāpi hṛtā tena praṇītā nijamaṁdire jñātvā tayā mahābhāga śapto'sau dānavādhamaḥ

— by trickery abducted her and carried her to his own palace. Learning of this, O blessed one, that vilest of demons was cursed —

Verse 28 (padma.2.108.28)

नहुषस्यैव हस्तेन तव मृत्युर्भविष्यति । अजाते त्वयि संजाता वदसे त्वं यथैव तत्

nahuṣasyaiva hastena tava mṛtyurbhaviṣyati ajāte tvayi saṁjātā vadase tvaṁ yathaiva tat

'By Nahusha's very hand your death shall come — though you are not yet even born, I see it happen exactly so.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.108.29)

स त्वमायुसुतो वीर हृतो हुंडेन पापिना । सूदेन रक्षितो दास्या प्रेषितो मम चाश्रमम्

sa tvamāyusuto vīra hṛto huṁḍena pāpinā sūdena rakṣito dāsyā preṣito mama cāśramam

'You yourself, hero, are that son of Ayu, whom the sinful Hunda abducted. You were saved by a cook and a maidservant, and were sent here, to this very hermitage of mine.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.108.30)

भवंतं वनमध्ये च दृष्ट्वा चारणकिन्नरैः । यत्तु वै श्रावितं वत्स मया ते कथितं पुनः

bhavaṁtaṁ vanamadhye ca dṛṣṭvā cāraṇakinnaraiḥ yattu vai śrāvitaṁ vatsa mayā te kathitaṁ punaḥ

'What the charanas and kinnaras related, having seen you in the midst of that forest, my child — that very thing I have now told you again.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.108.31)

जहि तं पापकर्तारं हुंडाख्यं दानवाधमम् । नेत्राभ्यां हि प्रमुंचंतीमश्रूणि परिमार्जय

jahi taṁ pāpakartāraṁ huṁḍākhyaṁ dānavādhamam netrābhyāṁ hi pramuṁcaṁtīmaśrūṇi parimārjaya

'Slay that sinful, vilest of demons named Hunda. Wipe away now the tears streaming from your mother's eyes.'

Verse 32 (padma.2.108.32)

इतो गत्वा प्रपश्य त्वं गंगातीरं महाबलम् । निपात्य दानवेंद्रं तं कारागृहात्समानय

ito gatvā prapaśya tvaṁ gaṁgātīraṁ mahābalam nipātya dānaveṁdraṁ taṁ kārāgṛhātsamānaya

'Going from here, seek out the mighty Ganga's bank; striking down that lord of demons, bring Ashokasundari out of her prison.'

Verse 33 (padma.2.108.33)

अशोकसुंदरी याहि तस्या भर्ता भवस्व हि । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं प्रश्नस्यास्य हि कारणम्

aśokasuṁdarī yāhi tasyā bhartā bhavasva hi etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ praśnasyāsya hi kāraṇam

'Go to Ashokasundari, and become her husband. This is the whole reason for your question, which I have now told you fully.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.108.34)

आभाष्य नहुषं विप्रो विरराम महामतिः

ābhāṣya nahuṣaṁ vipro virarāma mahāmatiḥ

Having thus spoken to Nahusha, that greatly wise brahmin fell silent.

Verse 35 (padma.2.108.35)

आकर्ण्य सर्वं मुनिना प्रयुक्तमाश्चर्यभूतं स हि चिंत्यमानः । तस्यांतमेकः परिकर्तुकाम आयोः सुतः कोपमथो चकार

ākarṇya sarvaṁ muninā prayuktamāścaryabhūtaṁ sa hi ciṁtyamānaḥ tasyāṁtamekaḥ parikartukāma āyoḥ sutaḥ kopamatho cakāra

Having heard this whole wondrous account related by the sage, and pondering deeply upon it, that son of Ayu, resolved to bring about the demon's end, gave way to righteous wrath.