Sunitha's Grief, the Consoling Friends, and Her First Sight of Anga

Verse 1 (padma.2.34.1)

सूत उवाच- यथा शप्ता वने पूर्वं सुशंखेन महात्मना । तासु सर्वं समाख्यातं सखीष्वेव विचेष्टितम्

sūta uvāca- yathā śaptā vane pūrvaṁ suśaṁkhena mahātmanā tāsu sarvaṁ samākhyātaṁ sakhīṣveva viceṣṭitam

Suta said: As she had earlier, in the forest, been cursed by the great-souled Sushankha, she related that whole account to those very friends.

Verse 2 (padma.2.34.2)

आत्मनश्च महाभागा दुःखेनातिप्रपीडिता । सुनीथोवाच- अन्यच्चैव प्रवक्ष्यामि सख्यः शृण्वंतु सांप्रतम्

ātmanaśca mahābhāgā duḥkhenātiprapīḍitā sunīthovāca- anyaccaiva pravakṣyāmi sakhyaḥ śṛṇvaṁtu sāṁpratam

Greatly afflicted by her own sorrow, that illustrious one — Sunitha said: I shall tell you something more; listen now, my friends.

Verse 3 (padma.2.34.3)

मदीयरूपसंपत्ति वयः सगुणसंपदः । विलोक्य तातश्चिंतात्मा संजातो मम कारणात्

madīyarūpasaṁpatti vayaḥ saguṇasaṁpadaḥ vilokya tātaściṁtātmā saṁjāto mama kāraṇāt

'Beholding my beauty, my youth, and my wealth of virtues, my father grew anxious on my account.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.34.4)

देवेभ्यो दातुकामोऽसौ मुनिभ्यस्तु महायशाः । मां च हस्ते विगृह्यैव सर्वान्वाक्यमुदाहरत्

devebhyo dātukāmo'sau munibhyastu mahāyaśāḥ māṁ ca haste vigṛhyaiva sarvānvākyamudāharat

'He, of great renown, wished to give me to the gods or to the sages; and taking my hand, he spoke these words to them all:'

Verse 5 (padma.2.34.5)

गुणयुक्ता सुता बाला ममेयं चारुलोचना । दातुकामोस्मि भद्रं वो गुणिने सुमहात्मने

guṇayuktā sutā bālā mameyaṁ cārulocanā dātukāmosmi bhadraṁ vo guṇine sumahātmane

'This daughter of mine, endowed with virtue, fair-eyed — good fortune to you — I wish to give her to some virtuous, great-souled one.'

Verse 6 (padma.2.34.6)

मृत्योर्वाक्यं ततो देवा ऋषयः शुश्रुवुस्तदा । तमूचुर्भाषमाणं ते देवा इंद्र पुरोगमाः

mṛtyorvākyaṁ tato devā ṛṣayaḥ śuśruvustadā tamūcurbhāṣamāṇaṁ te devā iṁdra purogamāḥ

'Then the gods and the sages heard this word of Mrityu; and the gods, with Indra at their head, replied to him as he spoke thus:'

Verse 7 (padma.2.34.7)

तव कन्या गुणाढ्येयं शीलानां परमो निधिः । दोषेणैकेन संदुष्टा ऋषिशापेन तेन वै

tava kanyā guṇāḍhyeyaṁ śīlānāṁ paramo nidhiḥ doṣeṇaikena saṁduṣṭā ṛṣiśāpena tena vai

'This daughter of yours is rich in virtue, the supreme treasury of good conduct — yet she has been tainted by a single flaw, through that sage's curse.'

Verse 8 (padma.2.34.8)

अस्यामुत्पत्स्यते पुत्रो यस्य वीर्यात्पुमान्किल । भविता स महापापी पुण्यवंशविनाशकः

asyāmutpatsyate putro yasya vīryātpumānkila bhavitā sa mahāpāpī puṇyavaṁśavināśakaḥ

'From her a son shall be born, by whose might men shall suffer — he shall become a great sinner, the destroyer of a meritorious lineage.'

Verse 9 (padma.2.34.9)

गंगातोयेन संपूर्णः कुंभ एव प्रदृश्यते । सुरायाबिन्दुनालिप्तो मद्यकुम्भः प्रजायते

gaṁgātoyena saṁpūrṇaḥ kuṁbha eva pradṛśyate surāyābindunālipto madyakumbhaḥ prajāyate

'A pot full of Ganga-water appears pure indeed — but tainted with a single drop of liquor, it becomes a jar of wine.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.34.10)

पापस्य पापसंसर्गात्कुलं पापि प्रजायते । आरनालस्य वै बिंदुः क्षीरमध्ये प्रयाति चेत्

pāpasya pāpasaṁsargātkulaṁ pāpi prajāyate āranālasya vai biṁduḥ kṣīramadhye prayāti cet

'From the mere association of sin with sin, a whole lineage becomes sinful; if a single drop of sour gruel falls into milk—'

Verse 11 (padma.2.34.11)

पश्चान्नाशयते क्षीरमात्मरूपं प्रकाशयेत् । तद्वद्विनाशयेद्वंशं पापः पुत्रो न संशयः

paścānnāśayate kṣīramātmarūpaṁ prakāśayet tadvadvināśayedvaṁśaṁ pāpaḥ putro na saṁśayaḥ

'—it afterward spoils the milk, turning it into its own likeness; likewise a sinful son will destroy the whole lineage, without doubt.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.34.12)

अनेनापि हि दोषेण तवेयं पापभागिनी । अन्यस्मै दीयतां गच्छ देवैरुक्तः पिता मम

anenāpi hi doṣeṇa taveyaṁ pāpabhāginī anyasmai dīyatāṁ gaccha devairuktaḥ pitā mama

'By this very fault your daughter shares in sin; give her to someone else — go.' Thus addressed by the gods, my father—

Verse 13 (padma.2.34.13)

देवैश्चापि सगंधर्वैर्ऋषिभिश्च महात्मभिः । तैश्चापि संपरित्यक्तः पिता मे दुःखपीडितः

devaiścāpi sagaṁdharvairṛṣibhiśca mahātmabhiḥ taiścāpi saṁparityaktaḥ pitā me duḥkhapīḍitaḥ

—was forsaken by the gods, by the gandharvas, and by the great-souled sages as well; forsaken by them too, my father was overcome with grief.

Verse 14 (padma.2.34.14)

ममान्ये चापि स्वीकारं न कुर्वंति हि सज्जनाः । एवं पापमयं कर्म मया चैव पुरा कृतम्

mamānye cāpi svīkāraṁ na kurvaṁti hi sajjanāḥ evaṁ pāpamayaṁ karma mayā caiva purā kṛtam

'Even other worthy men will not accept me; thus, this sinful deed was long ago committed by me alone.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.34.15)

संतप्ता दुःखशोकेन वनमेव समाश्रिता । तप एव चरिष्यामि करिष्ये कायशोषणम्

saṁtaptā duḥkhaśokena vanameva samāśritā tapa eva cariṣyāmi kariṣye kāyaśoṣaṇam

'Tormented by grief and sorrow, I have taken refuge in this very forest; here I shall practice austerity, and let my body waste away.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.34.16)

भवतीभिः सुपृष्टाहं कार्यकारणमेव हि । मम चिंतानुगं कर्म मया तद्वः प्रकाशितम्

bhavatībhiḥ supṛṣṭāhaṁ kāryakāraṇameva hi mama ciṁtānugaṁ karma mayā tadvaḥ prakāśitam

'You asked me well the reason for this, and so I have revealed to you the deed that weighs upon my mind.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.34.17)

एवमुक्त्वा सुनीथा सा मृत्योः कन्या यशस्विनी । विरराम च दुःखार्ता किंचिन्नोवाच वै पुनः

evamuktvā sunīthā sā mṛtyoḥ kanyā yaśasvinī virarāma ca duḥkhārtā kiṁcinnovāca vai punaḥ

Having said this, Sunitha, the illustrious daughter of Mrityu, fell silent, overwhelmed with grief, and spoke no further.

Verse 18 (padma.2.34.18)

सख्य ऊचुः- दुःखमेव महाभागे त्यज कायविनाशनम् । नास्ति कस्य कुले दोषो देवैः पापं समाश्रितम्

sakhya ūcuḥ- duḥkhameva mahābhāge tyaja kāyavināśanam nāsti kasya kule doṣo devaiḥ pāpaṁ samāśritam

The friends said: 'O greatly fortunate one, give up this body-destroying grief; whose lineage is without fault? Even the gods have resorted to sin.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.34.19)

जिह्ममुक्तं पुरा तेन ब्रह्मणा हरसंनिधौ । देवैश्चापि स हि त्यक्तो ब्रह्माऽपूज्यतमोऽभवत्

jihmamuktaṁ purā tena brahmaṇā harasaṁnidhau devaiścāpi sa hi tyakto brahmā'pūjyatamo'bhavat

'Long ago, before Hara himself, Brahma committed a crooked deed, and was forsaken even by the gods — Brahma became the least worshipped of all.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.34.20)

ब्रह्महत्या प्रयुक्तोऽसौ देवराजोपि पश्य भोः । देवैः सार्धं महाभागस्त्रैलोक्यं परिभुंजति

brahmahatyā prayukto'sau devarājopi paśya bhoḥ devaiḥ sārdhaṁ mahābhāgastrailokyaṁ paribhuṁjati

'Even the king of the gods, Indra, incurred the sin of brahmin-slaying; yet see — that greatly fortunate one still enjoys the three worlds together with the gods.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.34.21)

गौतमस्य प्रियां भार्यामहल्यां गतवान्पुरा । परदाराभिगामी स देवत्वे परिवर्त्तते

gautamasya priyāṁ bhāryāmahalyāṁ gatavānpurā paradārābhigāmī sa devatve parivarttate

'Of old he went to Ahalya, the beloved wife of Gautama; though a violator of another's wife, he yet remains in his godhood.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.34.22)

ब्रह्महत्योपमं कर्म दारुणं कृतवान्हरः । ब्रह्मणस्तु कपालेन चाद्यापि परिवर्तते

brahmahatyopamaṁ karma dāruṇaṁ kṛtavānharaḥ brahmaṇastu kapālena cādyāpi parivartate

'Hara too committed a deed as terrible as brahmin-slaying; even to this day he wanders bearing Brahma's very skull.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.34.23)

देवानमंतितं देवमृषयो वेदपारगाः । आदित्यः कुष्ठसंयुक्तस्त्रैलोक्यं च प्रकाशयेत्

devānamaṁtitaṁ devamṛṣayo vedapāragāḥ ādityaḥ kuṣṭhasaṁyuktastrailokyaṁ ca prakāśayet

'Behold the god worshipped by the gods and by the sages versed in the Vedas — the sun-god, though afflicted with leprosy, yet illumines the three worlds.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.34.24)

लोकानमंतितं देवं देवाद्याः सचराचराः । कृष्णो भुंक्ते महाशापं भार्गवेण कृतं पुरा

lokānamaṁtitaṁ devaṁ devādyāḥ sacarācarāḥ kṛṣṇo bhuṁkte mahāśāpaṁ bhārgaveṇa kṛtaṁ purā

'Behold that god revered by all the worlds, by the gods and by all moving and unmoving beings — even Krishna endures a great curse laid upon him long ago by a descendant of Bhrigu.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.34.25)

गुरुभार्यांगतश्चंद्रः क्षयी तेन प्रजायते । भविष्यति महातेजा राजराजः प्रतापवान्

gurubhāryāṁgataścaṁdraḥ kṣayī tena prajāyate bhaviṣyati mahātejā rājarājaḥ pratāpavān

'Chandra, who went to the wife of his guru, wanes because of that very deed; and yet a king of kings, greatly splendid and mighty, shall be born—'

Verse 26 (padma.2.34.26)

पांडुपुत्रो महाप्राज्ञो धर्मात्मा स युधिष्ठिरः । गुरोश्चैव वधार्थाय अनृतं स वदिष्यति

pāṁḍuputro mahāprājño dharmātmā sa yudhiṣṭhiraḥ guroścaiva vadhārthāya anṛtaṁ sa vadiṣyati

'—the son of Pandu, the greatly wise, righteous Yudhishthira; even he, for the sake of slaying his own guru, shall speak an untruth.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.34.27)

एतेष्वेव महत्पापं वर्तते च महत्सु च । वैगुण्यं कस्य वै नास्ति कस्य नास्ति च लांछनम्

eteṣveva mahatpāpaṁ vartate ca mahatsu ca vaiguṇyaṁ kasya vai nāsti kasya nāsti ca lāṁchanam

'Even in these great ones, great sin has dwelt. In whom is there no fault, and in whom no blemish?'

Verse 28 (padma.2.34.28)

भवती स्वल्पदोषेण विलिप्तासि वरानने । उपकारं करिष्यामस्तवैव वरवर्णिनि

bhavatī svalpadoṣeṇa viliptāsi varānane upakāraṁ kariṣyāmastavaiva varavarṇini

'You are tainted with but a small fault, O fair-faced one; we shall do good for you alone, O fair one.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.34.29)

तवांगे ये गुणाः संति सत्यस्त्रीणां यथा शुभे । अन्यत्रापि न पश्यामस्तान्गुणांश्चारुलोचने

tavāṁge ye guṇāḥ saṁti satyastrīṇāṁ yathā śubhe anyatrāpi na paśyāmastānguṇāṁścārulocane

'The virtues present in your person, such as belong to a truly virtuous woman, O auspicious one — such virtues we have not seen elsewhere, O lovely-eyed one.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.34.30)

रूपमेव गुणः स्त्रीणां प्रथमं भूषणं शुभे । शीलमेव द्वितीयं च तृतीयं सत्यमेव च

rūpameva guṇaḥ strīṇāṁ prathamaṁ bhūṣaṇaṁ śubhe śīlameva dvitīyaṁ ca tṛtīyaṁ satyameva ca

'For women, beauty alone is the first ornament and virtue, O auspicious one; conduct is the second, and truth indeed the third.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.34.31)

आर्जवत्वं चतुर्थं च पंचमं धर्ममेव हि । मधुरत्वं ततः प्रोक्तं षष्ठमेव वरानने

ārjavatvaṁ caturthaṁ ca paṁcamaṁ dharmameva hi madhuratvaṁ tataḥ proktaṁ ṣaṣṭhameva varānane

'The fourth is uprightness, and the fifth is dharma itself; the sixth virtue, it is said, is sweetness, O fair-faced one.'

Verse 32 (padma.2.34.32)

शुद्धत्वं सप्तमं बाले अंतर्बाह्येषु योषितम् । अष्टमं हि पितुर्भावः शुश्रूषा नवमं किल

śuddhatvaṁ saptamaṁ bāle aṁtarbāhyeṣu yoṣitam aṣṭamaṁ hi piturbhāvaḥ śuśrūṣā navamaṁ kila

'The seventh, child, is purity, within and without; the eighth is devotion to one's father, and the ninth, indeed, is the spirit of service.'

Verse 33 (padma.2.34.33)

सहिष्णुर्दशमं प्रोक्तं रतिश्चैकादशं तथा । पातिव्रत्यं ततः प्रोक्तं द्वादशं वरवर्णिनि

sahiṣṇurdaśamaṁ proktaṁ ratiścaikādaśaṁ tathā pātivratyaṁ tataḥ proktaṁ dvādaśaṁ varavarṇini

'The tenth virtue is said to be patience, and the eleventh, affection [for one's husband]; the twelfth, O fair one, is said to be devotion to one's husband.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.34.34)

तैस्त्वं संभूषिता बाले मा बिभेषि वरानने । येनोपायेन ते भर्ता भविष्यति सुधर्मधृक्

taistvaṁ saṁbhūṣitā bāle mā bibheṣi varānane yenopāyena te bhartā bhaviṣyati sudharmadhṛk

'Adorned with all of these, child, fear not, O fair-faced one; the means by which you shall obtain a husband devoted to true dharma—'

Verse 35 (padma.2.34.35)

तमुपायं प्रपश्यामस्तवार्थं वयमेव हि । तामूचुस्ता वराः सख्यो मा त्वं वै साहसं कुरु

tamupāyaṁ prapaśyāmastavārthaṁ vayameva hi tāmūcustā varāḥ sakhyo mā tvaṁ vai sāhasaṁ kuru

'—that means we shall ourselves find, for your sake.' Those excellent friends said to her: 'Do nothing rash.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.34.36)

सूत उवाच- एवमुक्ता सुनीथा सा पुनरूचे सखीस्तु ताः । कथयध्वं ममोपायं येन भर्ता भविष्यति

sūta uvāca- evamuktā sunīthā sā punarūce sakhīstu tāḥ kathayadhvaṁ mamopāyaṁ yena bhartā bhaviṣyati

Suta said: Thus addressed, Sunitha again said to those friends: 'Tell me that means by which I shall obtain a husband.'

Verse 37 (padma.2.34.37)

तामूचुस्ता वरा नार्यो रंभाद्याश्चारुलोचनाः । रूपमाधुर्यसंयुक्ता भवती भूतिवर्द्धनी

tāmūcustā varā nāryo raṁbhādyāścārulocanāḥ rūpamādhuryasaṁyuktā bhavatī bhūtivarddhanī

Those excellent women, Rambha and the others, lovely-eyed, said to her: 'You, endowed with beauty and sweetness, are one who increases good fortune—'

Verse 38 (padma.2.34.38)

ब्रह्मशापेन संभीता वयमत्र समागताः । तां प्रोचुश्च विशालाक्षीं मृत्योः कन्यां सुलोचनाम्

brahmaśāpena saṁbhītā vayamatra samāgatāḥ tāṁ procuśca viśālākṣīṁ mṛtyoḥ kanyāṁ sulocanām

'—we have gathered here out of fear of a curse of Brahma.' Thus they spoke to that wide-eyed, lovely-eyed daughter of Mrityu:

Verse 39 (padma.2.34.39)

विद्यामेकां प्रदास्यामः पुरुषाणां प्रमोहिनीम् । सर्वमायाविदां भद्रे सर्वभद्रप्रदायिनीम्

vidyāmekāṁ pradāsyāmaḥ puruṣāṇāṁ pramohinīm sarvamāyāvidāṁ bhadre sarvabhadrapradāyinīm

'We shall give you a certain spell, which bewitches men, O auspicious one — known even among all masters of illusion, and the bestower of every good fortune.'

Verse 40 (padma.2.34.40)

विद्याबलं ततो दद्युस्तस्यैताः सुखदायकम् । यं यं मोहयितुं भद्रे इच्छस्येवं सुरादिकम्

vidyābalaṁ tato dadyustasyaitāḥ sukhadāyakam yaṁ yaṁ mohayituṁ bhadre icchasyevaṁ surādikam

Then they granted her that happiness-bestowing power of the spell: 'O auspicious one, whomsoever you wish to bewitch — even a god or another—'

Verse 41 (padma.2.34.41)

तं तं सद्यो मोहय वा इत्युक्ता सा तथाऽकरोत् । विद्यायां हि सुसिद्धायां सा सुनीथा सुनंदिता

taṁ taṁ sadyo mohaya vā ityuktā sā tathā'karot vidyāyāṁ hi susiddhāyāṁ sā sunīthā sunaṁditā

'—you may instantly bewitch him.' So told, she did as they said; and once that spell was well accomplished, the delighted Sunitha—

Verse 42 (padma.2.34.42)

भ्रमत्येवं सखीभिस्तु पुरुषान्सा विपश्यति । अटमानागता पुण्यं नंदनं वनमुत्तमम्

bhramatyevaṁ sakhībhistu puruṣānsā vipaśyati aṭamānāgatā puṇyaṁ naṁdanaṁ vanamuttamam

—began to wander thus with her friends, observing men; roaming about, she arrived at that holy and excellent Nandana forest.

Verse 43 (padma.2.34.43)

गंगातीरे ततो दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणं रूपसंयुतम् । सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं सूर्यतेजः समप्रभम्

gaṁgātīre tato dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇaṁ rūpasaṁyutam sarvalakṣaṇasaṁpannaṁ sūryatejaḥ samaprabham

There, on the bank of the Ganga, she saw a brahmin of great beauty, endowed with every auspicious mark, radiant as the sun—

Verse 44 (padma.2.34.44)

रूपेणाप्रतिमं लोके द्वितीयमिव मन्मथम् । देवरूपं महाभागं भाग्यवंतं सुभाग्यदम्

rūpeṇāpratimaṁ loke dvitīyamiva manmatham devarūpaṁ mahābhāgaṁ bhāgyavaṁtaṁ subhāgyadam

—unmatched in beauty in all the world, as if a second god of love; of divine form, of great fortune, and himself a bestower of good fortune,

Verse 45 (padma.2.34.45)

अनौपम्यं महात्मानं विष्णुतेजः समप्रभम् । वैष्णवं सर्वपापघ्नं विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमम्

anaupamyaṁ mahātmānaṁ viṣṇutejaḥ samaprabham vaiṣṇavaṁ sarvapāpaghnaṁ viṣṇutulyaparākramam

incomparable, that great soul, splendid as the very radiance of Vishnu; devoted to Vishnu, destroyer of every sin, mighty as Vishnu himself,

Verse 46 (padma.2.34.46)

कामक्रोधविहीनं तमत्रिवंशविभूषणम्

kāmakrodhavihīnaṁ tamatrivaṁśavibhūṣaṇam

free from desire and anger, that very ornament of the lineage of Atri.

Verse 47 (padma.2.34.47)

दृष्ट्वा सुरूपं तपसां स्वरूपं दिव्यप्रभावं परितप्यमानम् । पप्रच्छ रंभां सुसखीं सरागा कोयं दिविष्ठः प्रवरो महात्मा

dṛṣṭvā surūpaṁ tapasāṁ svarūpaṁ divyaprabhāvaṁ paritapyamānam papraccha raṁbhāṁ susakhīṁ sarāgā koyaṁ diviṣṭhaḥ pravaro mahātmā

Beholding him, so beautiful, the very embodiment of austerity, of divine power, absorbed in ardent penance, Sunitha, filled with longing, asked her dear friend Rambha: 'Who is this excellent great soul, as if dwelling in heaven?'