The Marriage of Brahmadatta

Shloka 1 (bala.33.1)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कुशनाभस्य धीमतः । शिरोभिश्चरणौ स्पृष्ट्वा कन्याशतमभाषत ।। ३३.१ ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā kuśanābhasya dhīmataḥ | śirobhiścaraṇau spṛṣṭvā kanyāśatamabhāṣata || 33.1 ||

Hearing that speech of the wise Kushanabha, the hundred maidens touched his feet with their heads and spoke.

Shloka 2 (bala.33.2)

वायुः सर्वात्मको राजन् प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति । अशुभं मार्गमास्थाय न धर्मं प्रत्यवेक्षते ।। ३३.२ ।।

vāyuḥ sarvātmako rājan pradharṣayitumicchati | aśubhaṃ mārgamāsthāya na dharmaṃ pratyavekṣate || 33.2 ||

"O king, the all-pervading Vayu wished to violate us, resorting to an improper course, without regard for righteousness."

Shloka 3 (bala.33.3)

पितृमत्यः स्म भद्रं ते स्वच्छन्दे न वयं स्थिताः । पितरं नो वृणीष्व त्वं यदि नो दास्यते तव ।। ३३.३ ।।

pitṛmatyaḥ sma bhadraṃ te svacchande na vayaṃ sthitāḥ | pitaraṃ no vṛṇīṣva tvaṃ yadi no dāsyate tava || 33.3 ||

"We told him: 'We have a father living; we are not free to act on our own. May you be blessed -- ask our father, whether or not he will give us to you.'"

Shloka 4 (bala.33.4)

तेन पापानुबन्धेन वचनं न प्रतीच्छता । एवं ब्रुवंत्यः सर्वाः स्म वायुनाभिहता भृषम् ।। ३३.४ ।।

tena pāpānubandhena vacanaṃ na pratīcchatā | evaṃ bruvaṃtyaḥ sarvāḥ sma vāyunābhihatā bhṛṣam || 33.4 ||

"But though we all spoke thus, that sinfully persistent Vayu, refusing to heed our words, struck us all violently."

Shloka 5 (bala.33.5)

तासां तु वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा परमधार्मिकः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः कन्याशतमनुत्तमम् ।। ३३.५ ।।

tāsāṃ tu vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā paramadhārmikaḥ | pratyuvāca mahātejāḥ kanyāśatamanuttamam || 33.5 ||

Hearing their words, the supremely righteous and greatly resplendent king replied to the hundred peerless maidens.

Shloka 6 (bala.33.6)

क्षान्तं क्षमावतां पुत्र्यः कर्तव्यं सुमहत्कृतम् । ऐकमत्यमुपागम्य कुलं चावेक्षितं मम ।। ३३.६ ।।

kṣāntaṃ kṣamāvatāṃ putryaḥ kartavyaṃ sumahatkṛtam | aikamatyamupāgamya kulaṃ cāvekṣitaṃ mama || 33.6 ||

"You have forgiven, as is the duty of the patient -- my daughters, you have done a truly great deed. By your unity of purpose, you have also preserved the honour of my lineage."

Shloka 7 (bala.33.7)

अलंकारो हि नारीणां क्षमा तु पुरुषस्य वा । दुष्करं तच्च वै क्षान्तं त्रिदशेषु विशेषतः ।। ३३.७ ।।

alaṃkāro hi nārīṇāṃ kṣamā tu puruṣasya vā | duṣkaraṃ tacca vai kṣāntaṃ tridaśeṣu viśeṣataḥ || 33.7 ||

"Forgiveness is indeed an ornament for women, and for men as well; yet such forbearance is difficult to achieve, especially among the gods."

Shloka 8 (bala.33.8)

यादृशी वः क्षमा पुत्र्यः सर्वासामविशेषतः । क्षमा दानं क्षमा सत्यं क्षमा यज्ञश्च पुत्रिकाः ।। ३३.८ ।।

yādṛśī vaḥ kṣamā putryaḥ sarvāsāmaviśeṣataḥ | kṣamā dānaṃ kṣamā satyaṃ kṣamā yajñaśca putrikāḥ || 33.8 ||

"The forbearance you all have shown equally, my daughters, is remarkable indeed. Forgiveness is charity, forgiveness is truth, and forgiveness, my daughters, is itself the sacrifice."

Shloka 9 (bala.33.9)

क्षमा यशः क्षमा धर्मः क्षमायां विष्ठितं जगत् । विसृज्य कन्याः काकुत्स्थ राजा त्रिदशविक्रमः ।। ३३.९ ।।

kṣamā yaśaḥ kṣamā dharmaḥ kṣamāyāṃ viṣṭhitaṃ jagat | visṛjya kanyāḥ kākutstha rājā tridaśavikramaḥ || 33.9 ||

"Forgiveness is glory, forgiveness is righteousness; the whole world rests upon forgiveness." Having said this, O Kakutstha, the king, valiant as the gods, dismissed his daughters.

Shloka 10 (bala.33.10)

मंत्रज्ञो मंत्रयामास प्रदानं सह मंत्रिभिः । देशे काले च कर्तव्यं सदृशे प्रतिपादनम् ।। ३३.१० ।।

maṃtrajño maṃtrayāmāsa pradānaṃ saha maṃtribhiḥ | deśe kāle ca kartavyaṃ sadṛśe pratipādanam || 33.10 ||

Skilled in counsel, he then deliberated with his ministers about giving his daughters in marriage -- as to the proper place, the proper time, and a suitably matched proposal.

Shloka 11 (bala.33.11)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु चूली नाम महाद्युतिः । ऊर्ध्वरेताः शुभाचारो ब्राह्मं तप उपागमत् ।। ३३.११ ।।

etasminneva kāle tu cūlī nāma mahādyutiḥ | ūrdhvaretāḥ śubhācāro brāhmaṃ tapa upāgamat || 33.11 ||

At that very time, there was a greatly resplendent sage named Chuli, of pure conduct and unbroken celibacy, who had attained the highest Vedic austerity.

Shloka 12 (bala.33.12)

तपस्यन्तमृषिं तत्र गंधर्वी पर्युपासते । सोमदा नाम भद्रं ते ऊर्मिलातनया तदा ।। ३३.१२ ।।

tapasyantamṛṣiṃ tatra gaṃdharvī paryupāsate | somadā nāma bhadraṃ te ūrmilātanayā tadā || 33.12 ||

While that sage practised austerity there, a gandharva maiden named Somada, the daughter of Urmila, waited upon him in devoted service.

Shloka 13 (bala.33.13)

सा च तं प्रणता भूत्वा शुश्रूषणपरायणा । उवास काले धर्मिष्ठा तस्यास्तुष्टोऽभवद् गुरुः ।। ३३.१३ ।।

sā ca taṃ praṇatā bhūtvā śuśrūṣaṇaparāyaṇā | uvāsa kāle dharmiṣṭhā tasyāstuṣṭo'bhavad guruḥ || 33.13 ||

Bowing before him and devoted to his service, she remained there righteously for a long time, until the sage became pleased with her.

Shloka 14 (bala.33.14)

स च तां कालयोगेन प्रोवाच रघुनंदन । परितुष्टोऽस्मि भद्रं ते किं करोमि तव प्रियम् ।। ३३.१४ ।।

sa ca tāṃ kālayogena provāca raghunaṃdana | parituṣṭo'smi bhadraṃ te kiṃ karomi tava priyam || 33.14 ||

In due course of time, O delight of the Raghus, he said to her: "I am well pleased with you; may you be blessed -- what may I do that would please you?"

Shloka 15 (bala.33.15)

परितुष्टं मुनिं ज्ञात्वा गन्धर्वी मधुरस्वरा । उवाच परमप्रीता वाक्यज्ञा वाक्यकोविदम् ।। ३३.१५ ।।

parituṣṭaṃ muniṃ jñātvā gandharvī madhurasvarā | uvāca paramaprītā vākyajñā vākyakovidam || 33.15 ||

Knowing the sage to be pleased, the sweet-voiced gandharva maiden, skilled in speech and greatly delighted, spoke to that master of eloquence.

Shloka 16 (bala.33.16)

लक्ष्म्या समुदितो ब्राह्म्या ब्रह्मभूतो महातपाः । ब्राह्मेण तपसा युक्तं पुत्रमिच्छामि धार्मिकम् ।। ३३.१६ ।।

lakṣmyā samudito brāhmyā brahmabhūto mahātapāḥ | brāhmeṇa tapasā yuktaṃ putramicchāmi dhārmikam || 33.16 ||

"O sage of great austerity, resplendent with Vedic glory and become one with Brahman itself, I desire a righteous son endowed with the spiritual power of your Vedic asceticism."

Shloka 17 (bala.33.17)

अपतिश्चास्मि भद्रं ते भार्या चास्मि न कस्यचित् । ब्राह्मेणोपगतायाश्च दातुमर्हसि मे सुतम् ।। ३३.१७ ।।

apatiścāsmi bhadraṃ te bhāryā cāsmi na kasyacit | brāhmeṇopagatāyāśca dātumarhasi me sutam || 33.17 ||

"I have no husband, may you be blessed, nor am I anyone's wife. Since I have come to you seeking refuge, it would be fitting for you to grant me a son through your spiritual power."

Shloka 18 (bala.33.18)

तस्याः प्रसन्नो ब्रह्मर्षिर्ददौ ब्राह्ममनुत्तमम् । ब्रह्मदत्त इति ख्यातं मानसं चूलिनः सुतम् ।। ३३.१८ ।।

tasyāḥ prasanno brahmarṣirdadau brāhmamanuttamam | brahmadatta iti khyātaṃ mānasaṃ cūlinaḥ sutam || 33.18 ||

Pleased with her, the brahmarshi granted her an unsurpassed, Brahma-like son, mind-born of Chuli, renowned by the name Brahmadatta.

Shloka 19 (bala.33.19)

स राजा ब्रह्मदत्तस्तु पुरीमध्यवसत्तदा । कांपिल्यां परया लक्ष्म्या देवराजो यथा दिवम् ।। ३३.१९ ।।

sa rājā brahmadattastu purīmadhyavasattadā | kāṃpilyāṃ parayā lakṣmyā devarājo yathā divam || 33.19 ||

That king Brahmadatta then dwelt in the city of Kampilya, ruling it with the highest splendour, as Indra, king of gods, rules over heaven.

Shloka 20 (bala.33.20)

स बुद्धिं कृतवान् राजा कुशनाभः सुधार्मिकः । ब्रह्मदत्ताय काकुत्स्थ दातुं कन्याशतं तदा ।। ३३.२० ।।

sa buddhiṃ kṛtavān rājā kuśanābhaḥ sudhārmikaḥ | brahmadattāya kākutstha dātuṃ kanyāśataṃ tadā || 33.20 ||

Then the highly righteous king Kushanabha, O Kakutstha, resolved to give his hundred daughters in marriage to Brahmadatta.

Shloka 21 (bala.33.21)

तमाहूय महातेजा ब्रह्मदत्तं महीपतिः । ददौ कन्याशतं राजा सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना ।। ३३.२१ ।।

tamāhūya mahātejā brahmadattaṃ mahīpatiḥ | dadau kanyāśataṃ rājā suprītenāntarātmanā || 33.21 ||

The greatly resplendent king, summoning Brahmadatta, gave him the hundred maidens with a heart full of joy.

Shloka 22 (bala.33.22)

यथाक्रमम् ततः पाणीन् जग्राह रघुनंदन । ब्रह्मदत्तो महीपालस्तासां देवपतिर्यथा ।। ३३.२२ ।।

yathākramam tataḥ pāṇīn jagrāha raghunaṃdana | brahmadatto mahīpālastāsāṃ devapatiryathā || 33.22 ||

Then, O delight of the Raghus, king Brahmadatta, like the lord of the gods, took each of their hands in due order, according to the marriage custom.

Shloka 23 (bala.33.23)

स्पृष्टमात्रे ततः पाणौ विकुब्जा विगतज्वराः । युक्ताः परमया लक्ष्म्या बभुः कन्याः शतं तदा ।। ३३.२३ ।।

spṛṣṭamātre tataḥ pāṇau vikubjā vigatajvarāḥ | yuktāḥ paramayā lakṣmyā babhuḥ kanyāḥ śataṃ tadā || 33.23 ||

As soon as their hands were touched, the hundred maidens were freed of their deformity and their anguish, and shone forth then, endowed with supreme beauty.

Shloka 24 (bala.33.24)

स दृष्ट्वा वायुना मुक्ताः कुशनाभो महीपतिः । बभूव परमप्रीतो हर्षं लेभे पुनः पुनः ।। ३३.२४ ।।

sa dṛṣṭvā vāyunā muktāḥ kuśanābho mahīpatiḥ | babhūva paramaprīto harṣaṃ lebhe punaḥ punaḥ || 33.24 ||

Seeing them freed from the affliction caused by Vayu, king Kushanabha became supremely delighted and felt joy again and again.

Shloka 25 (bala.33.25)

कृतोद्वाहं तु राजानं ब्रह्मदत्तं महीपतिः । सदारं प्रेषयामास सोपाध्यायगणं तदा ।। ३३.२५ ।।

kṛtodvāhaṃ tu rājānaṃ brahmadattaṃ mahīpatiḥ | sadāraṃ preṣayāmāsa sopādhyāyagaṇaṃ tadā || 33.25 ||

The king then sent off king Brahmadatta, whose marriage was now complete, together with his wives and the assembly of teachers and priests.

Shloka 26 (bala.33.26)

सोमदापि सुतं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रस्य सदृशीं क्रियाम् । यथान्यायं च गन्धर्वी स्नुषास्ताः प्रत्यनंदत । स्पृष्ट्वा स्पृष्ट्वा च ताः कन्याः कुशनाभं प्रशस्य च ।। ३३.२६ ।।

somadāpi sutaṃ dṛṣṭvā putrasya sadṛśīṃ kriyām | yathānyāyaṃ ca gandharvī snuṣāstāḥ pratyanaṃdata | spṛṣṭvā spṛṣṭvā ca tāḥ kanyāḥ kuśanābhaṃ praśasya ca || 33.26 ||

Somada too, seeing her son and the worthy deed he had done, duly welcomed those daughters-in-law, the gandharva maiden embracing each of those maidens again and again, and praising Kushanabha as well.