Rambha's Message to Nahusha

Verse 1 (padma.2.113.1)

रंभोवाच । तप एतत्परित्यज्य किंवा लोकयसे शुभे । तपसः क्षरणं स्याद्वै पुरुषस्यापि चिंतनात्

raṁbhovāca tapa etatparityajya kiṁvā lokayase śubhe tapasaḥ kṣaraṇaṁ syādvai puruṣasyāpi ciṁtanāt

Rambha said: 'Auspicious one, what are you gazing at, having set aside your austerity? Even the mere thought of a man can cause austerity to wane.'

Verse 2 (padma.2.113.2)

अशोकसुंदर्युवाच । तपसि मे मनो लीनं नहुषस्यापि काम्यया । न मां चालयितुं शक्ता देवासुरमहोरगाः

aśokasuṁdaryuvāca tapasi me mano līnaṁ nahuṣasyāpi kāmyayā na māṁ cālayituṁ śaktā devāsuramahoragāḥ

Ashokasundari said: 'My mind is immersed in austerity alone, and in longing for Nahusha alone. Gods, demons, and even the great serpents are not able to shake me.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.113.3)

एनं दृष्ट्वा महाभागे मे मनश्चलते भृशम् । रंतुमिच्छाम्यहं गत्वा एवमुत्सुकतां गतम्

enaṁ dṛṣṭvā mahābhāge me manaścalate bhṛśam raṁtumicchāmyahaṁ gatvā evamutsukatāṁ gatam

'Beholding him, O most blessed one, my mind is exceedingly stirred. I long to go and take my pleasure with him — such is the eagerness that has arisen in me.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.113.4)

एवं विपर्ययश्चासीन्मनसो मे वरावने । तन्मे त्वं कारणं ब्रूहि यद्यस्ति ज्ञानमुत्तमम्

evaṁ viparyayaścāsīnmanaso me varāvane tanme tvaṁ kāraṇaṁ brūhi yadyasti jñānamuttamam

'Such a contrary feeling, fair one, has arisen in my mind. If you have some fine knowledge of it, tell me the reason.'

Verse 5 (padma.2.113.5)

आयुपुत्रस्य भार्याहं देवैः सृष्टा महात्मभिः । कस्मान्मे धावते चेत उत्सुकं रंतुमेव च

āyuputrasya bhāryāhaṁ devaiḥ sṛṣṭā mahātmabhiḥ kasmānme dhāvate ceta utsukaṁ raṁtumeva ca

'I was fashioned by the great gods themselves to be Ayu's son's own wife alone — then why does my heart run so eagerly, longing to take my pleasure with him?'

Verse 6 (padma.2.113.6)

रंभोवाच । सर्वेष्वेव महाभागे देहरूपेषु भामिनि । वसत्यात्मा स्वयं ब्रह्मज्ञानरूपः सनातनः

raṁbhovāca sarveṣveva mahābhāge deharūpeṣu bhāmini vasatyātmā svayaṁ brahmajñānarūpaḥ sanātanaḥ

Rambha said: 'O most blessed, O lovely one, in every embodied form dwells the Self itself — eternal, of the very nature of knowledge, the Brahman.'

Verse 7 (padma.2.113.7)

यद्यपि प्रक्रियाबद्धैरिंद्रियैरुपकारिभिः । मोहपाशमयैर्बद्धस्तथा सिद्धस्तु सर्वदा

yadyapi prakriyābaddhairiṁdriyairupakāribhiḥ mohapāśamayairbaddhastathā siddhastu sarvadā

'Although it seems bound, through the working of the helpful senses, by fetters woven of the noose of delusion, yet it is ever accomplished, ever free.'

Verse 8 (padma.2.113.8)

प्रकृतिं नैव जानाति ज्ञानविज्ञानकीं कलाम् । अयं शुद्धश्च धर्मज्ञ आत्मा वेत्ति च सुंदरि

prakṛtiṁ naiva jānāti jñānavijñānakīṁ kalām ayaṁ śuddhaśca dharmajña ātmā vetti ca suṁdari

'It does not itself know the nature of that art of knowledge and discernment — yet it is this pure Self alone, O knower of dharma, O beautiful one, that truly knows.'

Verse 9 (padma.2.113.9)

गच्छंत्यपि मनस्तापमेनं दृष्ट्वा महामतिम् । पापमेवं परित्यज्य सत्यमेवं प्रधावति

gacchaṁtyapi manastāpamenaṁ dṛṣṭvā mahāmatim pāpamevaṁ parityajya satyamevaṁ pradhāvati

'Beholding that man of great wisdom, even the mind, though caught in agitation, abandons falsehood and runs toward truth alone.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.113.10)

भर्तायमायुपुत्रस्ते एतत्सत्यं न संशयः । अन्यं दृष्ट्वा विशंकेत पुरुषं पापलक्षणम्

bhartāyamāyuputraste etatsatyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ anyaṁ dṛṣṭvā viśaṁketa puruṣaṁ pāpalakṣaṇam

'This son of Ayu is indeed your husband — this is true, there is no doubt of it. On seeing any other man, marked by sin, the mind would only feel apprehension.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.113.11)

एवं विधिः कृतो देवैः सत्यपाशेन बंधितः । यदस्या आयुपुत्रोपि भर्तृत्वमुपयास्यति

evaṁ vidhiḥ kṛto devaiḥ satyapāśena baṁdhitaḥ yadasyā āyuputropi bhartṛtvamupayāsyati

'Thus have the gods ordained it, binding it with the very bond of truth — that Ayu's son alone shall become her husband.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.113.12)

एवमाकर्णितं भद्रे आत्मना तं च सुंदरि । तद्भावसत्यसंबंधं परिगृह्य स्थितः स्वयम्

evamākarṇitaṁ bhadre ātmanā taṁ ca suṁdari tadbhāvasatyasaṁbaṁdhaṁ parigṛhya sthitaḥ svayam

'Hearing this, beautiful one, your own soul has grasped that very truth, that true bond, and has settled firmly upon it.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.113.13)

अन्यं भावं न जानाति आयुपुत्रं च विंदति । प्रकृतिर्नैव ते देवि पतिं जानाति चागतम्

anyaṁ bhāvaṁ na jānāti āyuputraṁ ca viṁdati prakṛtirnaiva te devi patiṁ jānāti cāgatam

'It knows no other feeling — it recognizes only Ayu's son. Your very nature, O goddess, knows no husband but this one who has now come.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.113.14)

एवं ज्ञात्वा प्रधानात्मा तवाद्यैव प्रधावति । आत्मा सर्वं प्रजानाति आत्मा देवः सनातनः

evaṁ jñātvā pradhānātmā tavādyaiva pradhāvati ātmā sarvaṁ prajānāti ātmā devaḥ sanātanaḥ

'Knowing this alone, your very essence, your primal Self, runs toward him today. The Self knows everything — the Self alone is the eternal deity.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.113.15)

अयमेष स वीरेंद्रो नहुषो नाम वीर्यवान् । तस्माद्गच्छति चेतस्ते सत्यं संबंधमिच्छते

ayameṣa sa vīreṁdro nahuṣo nāma vīryavān tasmādgacchati cetaste satyaṁ saṁbaṁdhamicchate

'This is that very lord among heroes, valorous, named Nahusha — this is why your heart runs, seeking that true and destined bond.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.113.16)

ज्ञात्वा चायोः सुतं भद्रे अन्यं चैव न गच्छति । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं शाश्वतं त्वन्मनोगतम्

jñātvā cāyoḥ sutaṁ bhadre anyaṁ caiva na gacchati etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ śāśvataṁ tvanmanogatam

'Recognizing Ayu's son, it goes to no other, auspicious one. All this I have told you — this alone dwells eternally within your heart.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.113.17)

हुंडं हत्वा महाघोरं समरे दानवाधमम् । त्वां नयिष्यति स्वस्थानमायोश्च गृहमुत्तमम्

huṁḍaṁ hatvā mahāghoraṁ samare dānavādhamam tvāṁ nayiṣyati svasthānamāyośca gṛhamuttamam

'Having slain in battle that vilest and most terrible demon, Hunda, he shall lead you to his own place, to Ayu's excellent home.'

Verse 18 (padma.2.113.18)

हृतो दैत्येन वीरेंद्रो निजपुण्येन शेषितः । बाल्यात्प्रभृति वीरेंद्रो वियुक्तः स्वजनेन वै

hṛto daityena vīreṁdro nijapuṇyena śeṣitaḥ bālyātprabhṛti vīreṁdro viyuktaḥ svajanena vai

'That lord of heroes was abducted by the demon, and by his own merit alone survived. From his very childhood that lord of heroes was separated from his own kin —'

Verse 19 (padma.2.113.19)

पितृमातृविहीनस्तु गतो वृद्धिं महावने । यास्यत्येव पितुर्गेहं त्वयैव सह सांप्रतम्

pitṛmātṛvihīnastu gato vṛddhiṁ mahāvane yāsyatyeva piturgehaṁ tvayaiva saha sāṁpratam

'— bereft of mother and father, he grew up in that great forest alone. Now he shall go to his father's house, together with you.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.113.20)

एवमाभाषितं श्रुत्वा रंभायाः शिवनंदिनी । हर्षेण महताविष्टा तामुवाच समुद्रजाम्

evamābhāṣitaṁ śrutvā raṁbhāyāḥ śivanaṁdinī harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭā tāmuvāca samudrajām

Hearing this word of Rambha, Shiva's daughter was filled with the greatest joy, and said to that ocean-born one (Rambha) —

Verse 21 (padma.2.113.21)

अयमेव स सत्यात्मा मम भर्ता सुवीर्यवान् । मनो मे धावतेऽत्यर्थं शोकाकुलितविह्वलम्

ayameva sa satyātmā mama bhartā suvīryavān mano me dhāvate'tyarthaṁ śokākulitavihvalam

'This is indeed that true one, of great valor, my very husband. My mind, wracked by grief, distraught, runs toward him with the greatest force.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.113.22)

नास्ति चित्तसमो देवो जानाति सुविनिश्चितम् । सत्यमेतन्मया दृष्टं सुचित्रं चारुहासिनि

nāsti cittasamo devo jānāti suviniścitam satyametanmayā dṛṣṭaṁ sucitraṁ cāruhāsini

'There is no deity that knows like the heart itself — it knows with utter certainty. O sweetly-smiling friend, I have myself witnessed this true and wondrous thing.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.113.23)

मनोभवसमानं तु पुरुषं दिव्यलक्षणम् । न धावति महाचेत एनं दृष्ट्वा यथा सखि

manobhavasamānaṁ tu puruṣaṁ divyalakṣaṇam na dhāvati mahāceta enaṁ dṛṣṭvā yathā sakhi

'Beholding that man, resembling the god of love himself, endowed with divine marks — my very heart, my friend, ran toward him just so —'

Verse 24 (padma.2.113.24)

तथा न धावते भद्रे पुंसमन्यं न मन्यते । एनं गंतव्यमावाभ्यां सखीभिर्गृहमेव हि

tathā na dhāvate bhadre puṁsamanyaṁ na manyate enaṁ gaṁtavyamāvābhyāṁ sakhībhirgṛhameva hi

'— never, auspicious one, has it run so at the sight of any other man, nor does it acknowledge any other. Let us both — you and my other friends too — go to his very abode.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.113.25)

एवमाभाष्य सा रंभा गमनायोपचक्रमे । गमनायोत्सुकां ज्ञात्वा नहुषस्यांतिकं प्रति

evamābhāṣya sā raṁbhā gamanāyopacakrame gamanāyotsukāṁ jñātvā nahuṣasyāṁtikaṁ prati

Having spoken thus, Rambha made ready to go. Knowing her eager to go, Ashokasundari sent her to Nahusha —

Verse 26 (padma.2.113.26)

तामुवाच ततो रंभा कस्माद्देवि न गम्यते । सूत उवाच । सख्या च रंभया सार्द्धं नहुषं वीरलक्षणम्

tāmuvāca tato raṁbhā kasmāddevi na gamyate sūta uvāca sakhyā ca raṁbhayā sārddhaṁ nahuṣaṁ vīralakṣaṇam

— as her messenger. Then Rambha said to her: 'Goddess, why do you not go yourself?' Suta said: Then, together with her friend Rambha, toward that Nahusha, marked with every heroic sign —

Verse 27 (padma.2.113.27)

तस्यांतिकं सुसंप्राप्य प्रेषयामास तां सखीम् । एनं गच्छ महाभागे नहुषं देवरूपिणम्

tasyāṁtikaṁ susaṁprāpya preṣayāmāsa tāṁ sakhīm enaṁ gaccha mahābhāge nahuṣaṁ devarūpiṇam

— she went, and sent her friend to him — 'Go, most blessed one, to this godlike Nahusha,'

Verse 28 (padma.2.113.28)

कथयस्व कथामेतां तवार्थे आगता यतः । रंभोवाच-। एवं सखि करिष्यामि सुप्रियं तव सुव्रते

kathayasva kathāmetāṁ tavārthe āgatā yataḥ raṁbhovāca- evaṁ sakhi kariṣyāmi supriyaṁ tava suvrate

'— and tell him this whole matter, the very reason I have come.' Rambha said: 'So shall I do, O virtuous one, this dear task of yours.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.113.29)

एवमुक्त्वा गता रंभा नहुषं राजनंदनम् । चापबाणधरं वीरं द्वितीयमिव वासवम्

evamuktvā gatā raṁbhā nahuṣaṁ rājanaṁdanam cāpabāṇadharaṁ vīraṁ dvitīyamiva vāsavam

Having said this, Rambha went to that prince Nahusha, bow and arrow in hand, a hero resembling a second Vasava (Indra).

Verse 30 (padma.2.113.30)

प्रत्युवाच गता रंभा सख्या वचनमुत्तमम् । आयुपुत्र महाभाग रंभाहंसमुपागता

pratyuvāca gatā raṁbhā sakhyā vacanamuttamam āyuputra mahābhāga raṁbhāhaṁsamupāgatā

Arriving there, Rambha related her friend's excellent word: 'O blessed son of Ayu, I, Rambha, have come to you.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.113.31)

शिवस्य कन्यया वीर तयाहं परिप्रेषिता । तवार्थं देवदेवेन देव्या देवेन वै पुरा

śivasya kanyayā vīra tayāhaṁ paripreṣitā tavārthaṁ devadevena devyā devena vai purā

'It is Shiva's own daughter, hero, who has sent me here. Long ago the God of gods and the goddess herself, for your sake —'

Verse 32 (padma.2.113.32)

भार्यारूपं वरं श्रेष्ठं सृष्टं लोकेषु दुर्लभम् । दुष्प्राप्यं तु नरश्रेष्ठैर्देवै सेंद्रैस्तपोधनैः

bhāryārūpaṁ varaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ sṛṣṭaṁ lokeṣu durlabham duṣprāpyaṁ tu naraśreṣṭhairdevai seṁdraistapodhanaiḥ

'— fashioned a most excellent wife-form, one rare in all the worlds, hard to obtain even by the gods with Indra, by ascetics rich in austerity,'

Verse 33 (padma.2.113.33)

गंधर्वैः पन्नगैः सिद्धैश्चारणैः पुण्यलक्षणैः । स्वयमेव समायातं तवार्थे शृणु सांप्रतम्

gaṁdharvaiḥ pannagaiḥ siddhaiścāraṇaiḥ puṇyalakṣaṇaiḥ svayameva samāyātaṁ tavārthe śṛṇu sāṁpratam

'— by gandharvas, serpents, siddhas, and charanas marked with merit. She herself has come here for your sake — hear this now.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.113.34)

स्त्रीरत्नं तन्महाप्राज्ञ संपूर्णं पुण्यनिर्मितम् । अशोकसुंदरी नाम तवार्थं तपसि स्थिता

strīratnaṁ tanmahāprājña saṁpūrṇaṁ puṇyanirmitam aśokasuṁdarī nāma tavārthaṁ tapasi sthitā

'That jewel of a woman, greatly wise one, wholly fashioned of merit — named Ashokasundari — has remained fixed in austerity for your sake alone.'

Verse 35 (padma.2.113.35)

अत्यर्थं तु तपस्तप्तं भवंतमिच्छते सदा । एवं ज्ञात्वा महाभाग भजमानां भजस्व हि

atyarthaṁ tu tapastaptaṁ bhavaṁtamicchate sadā evaṁ jñātvā mahābhāga bhajamānāṁ bhajasva hi

'She has performed the most terrible austerity, and ever desires you alone. Knowing this, blessed one, accept her, who worships you so.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.113.36)

त्वामृते सा वरारोहा पुरुषं नैव याचते । नहुषेण तयोक्तं तु श्रुत्वावधारितं वचः

tvāmṛte sā varārohā puruṣaṁ naiva yācate nahuṣeṇa tayoktaṁ tu śrutvāvadhāritaṁ vacaḥ

'Save for you, that fine woman seeks no other man at all.' Nahusha, hearing this word spoken by her, understood it fully,

Verse 37 (padma.2.113.37)

प्रत्युत्तरं ददौ चाथ रंभे मे श्रूयतां वचः । तत्तु सर्वं विजानामि यत्त्वयोक्तं ममाग्रतः

pratyuttaraṁ dadau cātha raṁbhe me śrūyatāṁ vacaḥ tattu sarvaṁ vijānāmi yattvayoktaṁ mamāgrataḥ

and gave his answer: 'Rambha, hear my word. All that you have told me, I already know.'

Verse 38 (padma.2.113.38)

ममाग्रे कथितं पूर्वं वशिष्ठेन महात्मना । सर्वमेव विजानामि अस्यास्तु तप उत्तमम्

mamāgre kathitaṁ pūrvaṁ vaśiṣṭhena mahātmanā sarvameva vijānāmi asyāstu tapa uttamam

'All of this was already told to me before by the great-souled Vasishtha. I know all of it — including her most excellent austerity.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.113.39)

श्रूयतां कारणं भद्रे यथासौख्यं भविष्यति । अहत्वा दानवं हुंडं न गच्छामि वरांगनाम्

śrūyatāṁ kāraṇaṁ bhadre yathāsaukhyaṁ bhaviṣyati ahatvā dānavaṁ huṁḍaṁ na gacchāmi varāṁganām

'Hear the reason, auspicious one, by which happiness shall be attained. Without slaying the demon Hunda, I shall not go to that excellent woman.'

Verse 40 (padma.2.113.40)

सर्वमेतत्सुवृत्तांतमहं जाने तथैव हि । ममार्थे तव संभूतिस्तपश्च चरितं त्वया

sarvametatsuvṛttāṁtamahaṁ jāne tathaiva hi mamārthe tava saṁbhūtistapaśca caritaṁ tvayā

'I know this whole account fully — that she was born for my sake alone, and that it is she who performed this austerity.'

Verse 41 (padma.2.113.41)

मम भार्या न संदेहो भवती विधिना कृता । ममार्थे निश्चयं कृत्वा तप आचरितं त्वया

mama bhāryā na saṁdeho bhavatī vidhinā kṛtā mamārthe niścayaṁ kṛtvā tapa ācaritaṁ tvayā

'There is no doubt that she was fashioned by the Creator to be my very wife. It is with resolve for my sake alone that she performed this austerity.'

Verse 42 (padma.2.113.42)

हृता तस्मात्सुपापेन भवती नियमान्विता । सूतिगृहादहं तेन दानवेनाधमेन वै

hṛtā tasmātsupāpena bhavatī niyamānvitā sūtigṛhādahaṁ tena dānavenādhamena vai

'By that very wicked, sinful demon you were abducted, O woman faithful to your vow. By that same vilest of demons —'

Verse 43 (padma.2.113.43)

बालभावस्थितो देवि पितृमातृविना कृतः । तस्मात्तं तु हनिष्यामि हुंडं वै दानवाधमम्

bālabhāvasthito devi pitṛmātṛvinā kṛtaḥ tasmāttaṁ tu haniṣyāmi huṁḍaṁ vai dānavādhamam

'— I too, goddess, was taken even from the birthing-chamber, while yet a mere infant, and separated from my father and mother.'

Verse 44 (padma.2.113.44)

पश्चात्त्वामुपनेष्येऽहं वशिष्ठस्याश्रमं प्रति । एवं कथय भद्रं ते रंभे मत्प्रियकारिणीम्

paścāttvāmupaneṣye'haṁ vaśiṣṭhasyāśramaṁ prati evaṁ kathaya bhadraṁ te raṁbhe matpriyakāriṇīm

'For this very reason I shall slay that vilest of demons, Hunda. Only after that shall I bring you to Vasishtha's hermitage.'

Verse 45 (padma.2.113.45)

एवं विसर्जिता तेन सत्वरं सा गता पुनः । अशोकसुंदरीं देवीं कथयामास तस्य च

evaṁ visarjitā tena satvaraṁ sā gatā punaḥ aśokasuṁdarīṁ devīṁ kathayāmāsa tasya ca

'Tell my dear friend, Rambha, who does me such a kindly service, just this — blessings upon you.' Thus dismissed by him, she swiftly returned,

Verse 46 (padma.2.113.46)

समासेन तथा सर्वं रंभा सा द्विजसत्तम । अशोकसुंदरी सा तु अवधार्य सुभाषितम्

samāsena tathā sarvaṁ raṁbhā sā dvijasattama aśokasuṁdarī sā tu avadhārya subhāṣitam

and related all of this to the goddess Ashokasundari. In brief, O best of the twice-born, Rambha told her everything.

Verse 47 (padma.2.113.47)

नहुषस्य सुवीरस्य हर्षेण च समन्विता । तस्थौ तत्र तया सार्द्धं सुसख्या रंभया तदा

nahuṣasya suvīrasya harṣeṇa ca samanvitā tasthau tatra tayā sārddhaṁ susakhyā raṁbhayā tadā

Ashokasundari, hearing that fine word, filled with joy toward the hero Nahusha, remained there, together with her dear friend Rambha —

Verse 48 (padma.2.113.48)

भर्तुश्च कीदृशं वीर्यमिति पश्यामि वै सदा

bhartuśca kīdṛśaṁ vīryamiti paśyāmi vai sadā

— watching there ever after, longing to see for herself just what manner of valor her husband possessed.