Nahusha's Marriage and Homecoming

Verse 1 (padma.2.116.1)

कुंजल उवाच । अशोकसुंदरी पुण्या रंभया सह हर्षिता । नहुषं प्राप्य विक्रांतं तमुवाच तपस्विनी

kuṁjala uvāca aśokasuṁdarī puṇyā raṁbhayā saha harṣitā nahuṣaṁ prāpya vikrāṁtaṁ tamuvāca tapasvinī

Kunjala said: The holy Ashokasundari, rejoicing together with Rambha, having won that valiant Nahusha, that ascetic woman spoke —

Verse 2 (padma.2.116.2)

अहं ते धर्मतः पत्नी देवैर्दिष्टा तपस्विनी । उद्वाहयस्व मां वीर यदि धर्ममिहेच्छसि

ahaṁ te dharmataḥ patnī devairdiṣṭā tapasvinī udvāhayasva māṁ vīra yadi dharmamihecchasi

'By rightful law I am your wife, so ordained by the gods themselves, O ascetic that I am. Hero, if you desire dharma, take me now in marriage.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.116.3)

सदैव चिंत्यमाना च त्वामहं तपसि स्थिता । भवान्धर्मप्रसादेन मया प्राप्तो नृपोत्तम

sadaiva ciṁtyamānā ca tvāmahaṁ tapasi sthitā bhavāndharmaprasādena mayā prāpto nṛpottama

'Ever thinking only of you, I remained fixed in austerity. It is by the very grace of dharma, best of kings, that I have obtained you.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.116.4)

नहुष उवाच । मदर्थे नियता भद्रे यदि त्वं तपसि स्थिता । गुरोर्वाक्यान्मुहूर्तेन तव भर्ता भवाम्यहम्

nahuṣa uvāca madarthe niyatā bhadre yadi tvaṁ tapasi sthitā gurorvākyānmuhūrtena tava bhartā bhavāmyaham

Nahusha said: 'Auspicious one, if you have remained fixed in austerity, resolved for my sake alone, then, by my guru's word, this very moment I shall become your husband.'

Verse 5 (padma.2.116.5)

अनया रंभया सार्द्धमावां गच्छाव भामिनि । समारोप्य रथे तां तु तां रंभां तु मनोरमाम्

anayā raṁbhayā sārddhamāvāṁ gacchāva bhāmini samāropya rathe tāṁ tu tāṁ raṁbhāṁ tu manoramām

'Together with this very Rambha, lovely one, let the two of us go.' Taking that gracious Rambha too upon the chariot,

Verse 6 (padma.2.116.6)

तेनैव रथवर्येण वशिष्ठस्याश्रमं प्रति । जगाम लघुवेगेन ताभ्यां सह महायशाः

tenaiva rathavaryeṇa vaśiṣṭhasyāśramaṁ prati jagāma laghuvegena tābhyāṁ saha mahāyaśāḥ

— in that same excellent chariot, together with those two women, that man of great renown swiftly set out toward Vasishtha's hermitage.

Verse 7 (padma.2.116.7)

तमाश्रमगतं विप्रं समालोक्य प्रणम्य च । तया सार्द्धं महातेजा हर्षेण महतान्वितः

tamāśramagataṁ vipraṁ samālokya praṇamya ca tayā sārddhaṁ mahātejā harṣeṇa mahatānvitaḥ

Beholding that brahmin (Vasishtha) in his hermitage, bowing to him, together with that goddess-like woman, that man of great splendor, filled with the greatest joy,

Verse 8 (padma.2.116.8)

यथा युद्धं रणे जातं निहतो दानवाधमः । निवेदयामास सर्वं वशिष्ठाय महात्मने

yathā yuddhaṁ raṇe jātaṁ nihato dānavādhamaḥ nivedayāmāsa sarvaṁ vaśiṣṭhāya mahātmane

— related to the great-souled Vasishtha the whole account of the battle, and how that vilest of demons had been slain.

Verse 9 (padma.2.116.9)

वशिष्ठोऽपि समाकर्ण्य नहुषस्य विचेष्टितम् । हर्षेण महताविष्ट आशीर्भिरभिनंद्य तम्

vaśiṣṭho'pi samākarṇya nahuṣasya viceṣṭitam harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭa āśīrbhirabhinaṁdya tam

Vasishtha too, hearing of Nahusha's valor, was filled with the greatest joy, and greeted him with blessings.

Verse 10 (padma.2.116.10)

तिथौ लग्ने शुभे प्राप्ते तयोस्तु मुनिपुंगवः । विवाहं कारयामास अग्निब्राह्मणसन्निधौ

tithau lagne śubhe prāpte tayostu munipuṁgavaḥ vivāhaṁ kārayāmāsa agnibrāhmaṇasannidhau

When an auspicious date and hour had come, that foremost of sages performed their marriage, in the presence of the sacred fire and the brahmins.

Verse 11 (padma.2.116.11)

आशीर्भिरभिनंद्यैव मिथुनं प्रेषितं पुनः । मातरं पितरं पश्य द्रुतं गत्वा महामते

āśīrbhirabhinaṁdyaiva mithunaṁ preṣitaṁ punaḥ mātaraṁ pitaraṁ paśya drutaṁ gatvā mahāmate

Blessing them once more, he sent the couple forth — 'Greatly wise one, go swiftly and see your mother and father.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.116.12)

त्वां च दृष्ट्वा हि ते माता पितासौ तव सुव्रत । हर्षेण वृद्धिमाप्नोतु पर्वणीव तु सागरः

tvāṁ ca dṛṣṭvā hi te mātā pitāsau tava suvrata harṣeṇa vṛddhimāpnotu parvaṇīva tu sāgaraḥ

'Beholding you, virtuous one, your mother and your father shall swell with joy, just as the ocean swells at the full moon.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.116.13)

एवं संप्रेषितो वीरो मुनिना ब्रह्मसूनुना । तेनैव रथवर्येण जगाम लघुविक्रमः

evaṁ saṁpreṣito vīro muninā brahmasūnunā tenaiva rathavaryeṇa jagāma laghuvikramaḥ

Thus sent forth by that sage, son of Brahma, that hero set out with swift valor in that very same excellent chariot.

Verse 14 (padma.2.116.14)

नमस्कृत्य द्विजेंद्रं तं गतो मातलिना तदा । स्वपुरं पितरं द्रष्टुं तथैव च स्वमातरम्

namaskṛtya dvijeṁdraṁ taṁ gato mātalinā tadā svapuraṁ pitaraṁ draṣṭuṁ tathaiva ca svamātaram

Bowing to that foremost of brahmins, together with Matali, he set out for his own city, to see his father and his own mother.

Verse 15 (padma.2.116.15)

सूत उवाच । अप्सरा मेनिका नाम प्रेषिता दैवतैस्ततः । आयोर्भार्या सुदुःखेन पतिता शोकसागरे

sūta uvāca apsarā menikā nāma preṣitā daivataistataḥ āyorbhāryā suduḥkhena patitā śokasāgare

Suta said: Then an apsara named Menaka was sent forth by the gods, for Ayu's wife lay sunk, in great sorrow, within an ocean of grief.

Verse 16 (padma.2.116.16)

तामुवाच महाभागां देवीमिंदुमतीं प्रति । मुंच शोकं महाभागे तनयं पश्य सस्नुषम्

tāmuvāca mahābhāgāṁ devīmiṁdumatīṁ prati muṁca śokaṁ mahābhāge tanayaṁ paśya sasnuṣam

She said to that most blessed goddess-like Indumati: 'Most blessed one, abandon your grief, and behold your son, and your daughter-in-law too —'

Verse 17 (padma.2.116.17)

निहत्य दानवं पापं तव पुत्रापहारकम् । समायांतं सभायां च वीरश्रियासमन्वितम्

nihatya dānavaṁ pāpaṁ tava putrāpahārakam samāyāṁtaṁ sabhāyāṁ ca vīraśriyāsamanvitam

'— having slain that sinful demon, the very one who stole your son, he comes now to the assembly, adorned with a hero's splendor.'

Verse 18 (padma.2.116.18)

सुवृत्तं संगरे तस्य नहुषेण यथा कृतम् । तस्यै निवेदयामास इंदुमत्यै च मेनिका

suvṛttaṁ saṁgare tasya nahuṣeṇa yathā kṛtam tasyai nivedayāmāsa iṁdumatyai ca menikā

Menaka related to that Indumati the whole account of what Nahusha had accomplished in that battle.

Verse 19 (padma.2.116.19)

मेनिकाया वचः श्रुत्वा हर्षेण महतान्विता । सखि सत्यं ब्रवीषि त्वमित्युवाच सगद्गदम्

menikāyā vacaḥ śrutvā harṣeṇa mahatānvitā sakhi satyaṁ bravīṣi tvamityuvāca sagadgadam

Hearing Menaka's word, filled with the greatest joy, she said, her voice choked with feeling: 'Friend, you speak the truth.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.116.20)

सामृतं सुप्रियं प्रोक्तं मनःप्रोत्साहकारकम् । जीवादिकं मया देयं त्वयि सर्वस्वमेव हि

sāmṛtaṁ supriyaṁ proktaṁ manaḥprotsāhakārakam jīvādikaṁ mayā deyaṁ tvayi sarvasvameva hi

'You have spoken a word as sweet as nectar itself, one that lifts up the heart — even my very life, all that I have, given to you, would not be enough.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.116.21)

एवमाभाष्य तां देवी राजानमिदमब्रवीत् । तव पुत्रो महाबाहुः समायातो हि सांप्रतम्

evamābhāṣya tāṁ devī rājānamidamabravīt tava putro mahābāhuḥ samāyāto hi sāṁpratam

Having said this, that goddess-like queen said also to the king: 'Your great-armed son has now arrived.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.116.22)

आख्याति च महाराज एषा मे वै वराप्सराः । भर्तारमेवमाभाष्य विरराम सुहर्षिता

ākhyāti ca mahārāja eṣā me vai varāpsarāḥ bhartāramevamābhāṣya virarāma suharṣitā

'This fine apsara, great king, tells me just this.' Having said this to her husband, she fell silent, filled with the greatest joy.

Verse 23 (padma.2.116.23)

समाकर्ण्य नृपेंद्रस्तु तामुवाच प्रियां प्रति । पुरा प्रोक्तं महाभागे मुनिना नारदेन हि

samākarṇya nṛpeṁdrastu tāmuvāca priyāṁ prati purā proktaṁ mahābhāge muninā nāradena hi

Hearing this, that king of kings said to his beloved wife: 'Most blessed one, this is just what the sage Narada told us before —'

Verse 24 (padma.2.116.24)

पुत्रं प्रति न कर्तव्यं दुःखं राजंस्त्वया कदा । तं निहत्य सुवीर्येण दानवं चैष्यते सुतः

putraṁ prati na kartavyaṁ duḥkhaṁ rājaṁstvayā kadā taṁ nihatya suvīryeṇa dānavaṁ caiṣyate sutaḥ

'— never, O king, should you grieve concerning your son. That son shall return, having slain that demon by his own mighty valor.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.116.25)

संजातं सत्यमेवं वै मुनिना भाषितं पुरा । अन्यथा वचनं तस्य कथं देवि भविष्यति

saṁjātaṁ satyamevaṁ vai muninā bhāṣitaṁ purā anyathā vacanaṁ tasya kathaṁ devi bhaviṣyati

'All this has come to pass exactly as that sage foretold. How, goddess, could his word ever have proven otherwise?'

Verse 26 (padma.2.116.26)

दत्तात्रेयो मुनिश्रेष्ठः साक्षाद्देवो भविष्यति । शुश्रूषितस्त्वया देवि मया च तपसा पुरा

dattātreyo muniśreṣṭhaḥ sākṣāddevo bhaviṣyati śuśrūṣitastvayā devi mayā ca tapasā purā

'That foremost sage, Dattatreya, was himself none other than God in visible form. It was he, goddess, whom you and I once served through austerity.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.116.27)

पुत्ररत्नं तेन दत्तं वैष्णवांशप्रधारकम् । सदा हनिष्यति परं दानवं पापचेतनम्

putraratnaṁ tena dattaṁ vaiṣṇavāṁśapradhārakam sadā haniṣyati paraṁ dānavaṁ pāpacetanam

'He it was who gave us this jewel of a son, bearing a portion of Vishnu himself. He shall ever be one who slays the mightiest, most sinful demons.'

Verse 28 (padma.2.116.28)

सर्वदैत्यप्रहर्ता च प्रजापालो महाबलः । दत्तात्रेयेण मे दत्तो वैष्णवांशः सुतोत्तमः

sarvadaityaprahartā ca prajāpālo mahābalaḥ dattātreyeṇa me datto vaiṣṇavāṁśaḥ sutottamaḥ

'A destroyer of every demon, a protector of the people, mighty in strength — such is this excellent son, bearing a portion of Vishnu, given to me by Dattatreya.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.116.29)

एवं संभाष्य तां देवीं राजा चेंदुमतीं तदा । महोत्सवं ततश्चक्रे पुत्रस्यागमनं प्रति

evaṁ saṁbhāṣya tāṁ devīṁ rājā ceṁdumatīṁ tadā mahotsavaṁ tataścakre putrasyāgamanaṁ prati

Thus conversing with his goddess-like queen Indumati, the king arranged a great festival in celebration of his son's return.

Verse 30 (padma.2.116.30)

हर्षेण महताविष्टो विष्णुं सस्मार वै पुनः

harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo viṣṇuṁ sasmāra vai punaḥ

Filled with the greatest joy, he called Vishnu to mind once more —

Verse 31 (padma.2.116.31)

सर्वोपपन्नं सुरवर्गयुक्तमानंदरूपं परमार्थमेकम् । क्लेशापहं सौख्यप्रदं नराणां सद्वैष्णवानामिह मोक्षदं परम्

sarvopapannaṁ suravargayuktamānaṁdarūpaṁ paramārthamekam kleśāpahaṁ saukhyapradaṁ narāṇāṁ sadvaiṣṇavānāmiha mokṣadaṁ param

— that Lord, complete in every glory, attended by hosts of gods, the very form of bliss, the one supreme reality, remover of every affliction, giver of happiness, and, to the finest of his devotees, the bestower of supreme liberation itself.