Sarga 33: Kushanabha's Hundred Daughters
Kushanabha Kanya Vivaha
The hundred daughters explain to Kushanabha how Vayu disfigured them for refusing him, and he praises their forbearance; he later gives them in marriage to King Brahmadatta, son of the sage Chuli and the gandharvi Somada, whose touch restores their beauty.
Jump to a shloka · 25 in this sarga
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कुशनाभस्य धीमत:। शिरोभिश्चरणौ स्पृष्ट्वा कन्याशतमभाषत।।1.33.1।।
Meaning
Hearing the wise Kushanabha's words, the hundred maidens touched his feet with their heads and spoke to him.
वायुस्सर्वात्मको राजन् प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति। अशुभं मार्गमास्थाय न धर्मं प्रत्यवेक्षते।।1.33.2।।
Meaning
O king, the all-pervading Vayu wished to violate us, resorting to an improper path, giving no regard to virtue.
पितृमत्यस्स्म भद्रं ते स्वच्छन्दे न वयं स्थिता:। पितरं नो वृणीष्व त्वं यदि नो दास्यते तव।।1.33.3।।
Meaning
We have a father and are not free to act on our own; choose our father's consent, we said, if he grants us to you.
तेन पापानुबन्धेन वचनं न प्रतीच्छता। एवं ब्रुवन्त्यस्सर्वास्स्म वायुना निहता भृशम्।।1.33.4।।
Meaning
But bound by his sinful intent, refusing to accept our words, thus speaking, we were all severely afflicted by Vayu.
तासां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा परमधार्मिक:। प्रत्युवाच महातेजा: कन्याशतमनुत्तमम्।।1.33.5।।
Meaning
Hearing their words, the greatly radiant, most righteous king replied to the excellent hundred maidens.
क्षान्तं क्षमावतां पुत्र्य: कर्तव्यं सुमहत्कृतम्। ऐकमत्यमुपागम्य कुलं चावेक्षितं मम।।1.33.6।।
Meaning
Forbearance is the duty of the patient, and you have done a very great deed, daughters — in your unity you have upheld my family's honor.
अलङ्कारो हि नारीणां क्षमा तु पुरुषस्य वा। दुष्करं तच्च यत् क्षान्तं त्रिदशेषु विशेषत:।।1.33.7।। यादृशी व: क्षमा पुत्र्यस्सर्वासामविशेषत:।
Meaning
Forbearance is an ornament for women as for men; it is a hard thing to achieve, especially toward the gods — and the forbearance you all share equally, daughters, is praiseworthy indeed.
क्षमा दानं क्षमा यज्ञः क्षमा सत्यं हि पुत्रिका:।।1.33.8।। क्षमा यश: क्षमा धर्म: क्षमया निष्ठितं जगत्।
Meaning
Forbearance is charity, forbearance is sacrifice, forbearance is truth, daughters; forbearance is glory, forbearance is dharma — the universe rests upon forbearance.
विसृज्य कन्या: काकुत्स्थ राजा त्रिदशविक्रम:।।1.33.9।। मन्त्रज्ञो मन्त्रयामास प्रदानं सह मन्त्रिभि:। देशकालौ प्रदानस्य सदृशे प्रतिपादनम्।।1.33.10।।
Meaning
Having thus dismissed his daughters, Kakutstha, the godlike king, skilled in counsel, deliberated with his ministers on the proper time, place, and manner for their marriage.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु चूली नाम महातपा:। ऊर्ध्वरेताश्शुभाचारो ब्राह्मं तप उपागमत्।।1.33.11।।
Meaning
At that very time, a greatly ascetic sage named Chuli, of upward-flowing seed and pure conduct, had attained the austerity of Brahman.