Adhyaya 108

Verse 1

कुंजल उवाच । ब्रह्मपुत्रो महातेजा वशिष्ठस्तपतां वरः । नहुषं तं समाहूय इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

Kuñjala said: Vasiṣṭha—Brahmā’s son, radiant with great splendor, foremost among ascetics—summoned Nahuṣa and spoke to him these words.

Verse 2

वनं गच्छ स्वशीघ्रेण वन्यमानय पुष्कलम् । समाकर्ण्य मुनेर्वाक्यं नहुषो वनमाययौ

“Go to the forest at once, without delay, and bring abundant forest-provisions.” Hearing the sage’s words, Nahuṣa went to the forest.

Verse 3

तत्र किंचित्सुवृत्तांतं शुश्राव नहुषो बलः । अयमेष स धर्मात्मा नहुषो नाम वीर्यवान्

There, Bala heard some account of noble events: “This is that righteous-souled one—Nahuṣa by name—endowed with great valor.”

Verse 4

आयोः पुत्रो महाप्राज्ञो बाल्यान्मात्रा वियोजितः । अस्यैवातिवियोगेन आयुभार्या प्ररोदिति

Āyu’s son, highly wise, was separated from his mother from early childhood; and because of this very intense separation, Āyu’s wife wept.

Verse 5

अशोकसुंदरी तेपे तपः परमदुष्करम् । कदा पश्यति सा देवी पुत्रमिंदुमती शुभा

Aśokasundarī performed austerities exceedingly difficult to endure. When will the auspicious goddess Indumatī behold her son?

Verse 6

नाहुषं नाम धर्मज्ञं हृतं पूर्वं तु दानवैः । तपस्तेपे निरालंबा शिवस्य तनया वरा

Once a righteous man named Nāhuṣa, well-versed in dharma, was carried off by the Dānavas. Then Nirālambā, the noble daughter of Śiva, undertook austerities (tapas).

Verse 7

अशोकसुंदरी बाला आयुपुत्रस्य कारणात् । अनेनापि कदा सा हि संगता तु भविष्यति

Aśokasundarī, the young maiden—because of Āyu’s son—when indeed will she, too, come to be united with him?

Verse 8

एवं सांसारिकं वाक्यं दिवि चारणभाषितम् । शुश्राव स हि धर्मात्मा नहुषो विभ्रमान्वितः

Thus, in heaven, the Cāraṇas spoke worldly words; and righteous Nahusha, though overtaken by delusion, heard them.

Verse 9

स गत्वा वन्यमादाय वशिष्ठस्याश्रमं प्रति । वन्यं निवेद्य धर्मात्मा वशिष्ठाय महात्मने

He went, gathered forest fare, and proceeded to Vasiṣṭha’s āśrama; and, righteous in mind, he offered those woodland gifts to the great-souled sage Vasiṣṭha.

Verse 10

बद्धांजलिपुटोभूत्वा भक्त्या नमितकंधरः । तमुवाच महाप्राज्ञं वशिष्ठं तपतां वरम्

With palms joined in reverence and his neck bowed in devotion, he addressed Vasiṣṭha—the supremely wise, the foremost among those who practice tapas.

Verse 11

भगवञ्छ्रूयतां वाक्यमपूर्वं चारणेरितम् । एष वै नहुषो नाम्ना आयुपुत्रो वियोजितः

O Blessed One, hear these unprecedented words spoken by a Cāraṇa: this is Nahuṣa by name, the son of Āyu, now severed from his former state.

Verse 12

मात्रा सह सुदुःखैस्तु इंदुमत्या हि दानवैः । शिवस्य तनया बाला तपस्तेपे सुदुश्चरम्

Along with her mother Indumatī—afflicted by the dānava and plunged into intense sorrow—Śiva’s young daughter performed a most arduous tapas, a severe austerity.

Verse 13

निमित्तमस्य धीरस्य नहुषस्येति वै गुरो । एवमाभाषितं तैस्तु तत्सर्वं हि मया श्रुतम्

“O revered teacher, this indeed is the cause concerning the steadfast king Nahuṣa,” they said. Thus spoken by them, I have heard it all in full.

Verse 14

कोसावायुः स धर्मात्मा कासा त्विंदुमती शुभा । अशोकसुंदरी कासा नहुषेति क उच्यते

“Who is Vāyu, that righteous-souled one? And who is the auspicious Indumatī? Who is Aśokasundarī? And who is spoken of as Nahuṣa?”

Verse 15

एतन्मे संशयं जातं तद्भवांश्छेत्तुमर्हति । अन्यः कोपि महाप्राज्ञः कुत्रासौ नहुषेति च

This doubt has arisen in my mind; you are indeed able to dispel it. And who is that other greatly wise one—and where is Nahuṣa now?

Verse 16

तत्सर्वं तात मे ब्रूहि कारणांतरमेव हि । वशिष्ठ उवाच । आयु राजा स धर्मात्मा सप्तद्वीपाधिपो बली

“Tell me all of that, dear child—indeed, the deeper underlying cause.” Vasiṣṭha said: “King Āyu was righteous and mighty, the lord of the seven dvīpas (continents).”

Verse 17

भार्या इंदुमती तस्य सत्यरूपा यशस्विनी । तस्यामुत्पादितः पुत्रो भवान्वै गुणमंदिरम्

His wife was Indumatī—truthful by nature and renowned. From her a son was born: you indeed, an abode of virtues.

Verse 18

आयुना राजराजेन सोमवंशस्य भूषणम् । हरस्य कन्या सुश्रोणी गुणरूपैरलंकृता

By King Āyu, king among kings—the ornament of the Lunar dynasty (Somavaṃśa)—was born a daughter of Hara (Śiva), fair-hipped, adorned with virtues and beauty.

Verse 19

अशोकसुंदरी नाम्ना सुभगा चारुहासिनी । तस्य हेतोस्तपस्तेपे निरालंबा तपोवने

Auspicious and lovely-smiling, she was named Aśokasundarī. For that purpose, without any support, she performed tapas (austerities) in the forest of penance.

Verse 20

तस्या भर्ता भवान्सृष्टो धात्रा योगेन निश्चितः । गंगायास्तीरमाश्रित्य ध्यानयोग समाश्रिता

The Creator (Dhātṛ) has fashioned you to be her husband, firmly determined by the power of divine ordinance. Taking refuge on the bank of the Gaṅgā, she has embraced the discipline of dhyāna-yoga, the path of meditation.

Verse 21

हुंडश्च दानवेंद्रो यो दृष्ट्वा चैकाकिनीं सतीम् । तपसा प्रज्वलंतीं च सुभगां कमलेक्षणाम्

And Huṇḍa, lord of the Dānavas, upon seeing that chaste woman all alone—radiant as though aflame with the fire of tapas, beautiful and lotus-eyed—

Verse 22

रूपौदार्यगुणोपेतां कामबाणैः प्रपीडितः । तां बभाषेऽन्तिकं गत्वा मम भार्या भवेति च

Tormented by Kāma’s arrows, he drew near to her—endowed with beauty, generosity, and virtue—and said: “Become my wife.”

Verse 23

एवं सा तद्वचः श्रुत्वा तमुवाच तपस्विनी । मा हुंड साहसं कार्षीर्मा जल्पस्व पुनः पुनः

Thus, hearing his words, the ascetic woman said to him: “O Huṇḍa, do not commit rash violence; do not keep speaking again and again.”

Verse 24

अप्राप्याहं त्वया वीर परभार्या विशेषतः । दैवेन मे पुरा सृष्ट आयुपुत्रो महाबलः

O hero, you shall not attain me—most of all because I am another man’s wife. By fate, long ago there was brought forth for me a mighty son, Āyuputra, of great strength.

Verse 25

नहुषो नाम मेधावी भविष्यति न संशयः । देवदत्तो महातेजा अन्यथा त्वं करिष्यसि

Without doubt, a wise man named Nahuṣa will be born. Devadatta will be of great splendor—otherwise, you will act differently.

Verse 26

ततः शाप्रं पदास्यामि येन भस्मी भविष्यसि । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं कामबाणैः प्रपीडितः

“Then I shall at once pronounce a curse by which you will be reduced to ashes.” Hearing those words, he—tormented by the arrows of Kāma—was grievously afflicted.

Verse 27

व्याजेनापि हृता तेन प्रणीता निजमंदिरे । ज्ञात्वा तया महाभाग शप्तोऽसौ दानवाधमः

Even under a pretext he carried her off and led her into his own house. When she came to know of it, O noble one, that vile demon was cursed by her.

Verse 28

नहुषस्यैव हस्तेन तव मृत्युर्भविष्यति । अजाते त्वयि संजाता वदसे त्वं यथैव तत्

By Nahusha’s very hand your death will come to pass. Though you were not yet born, you speak as if you had already arisen—just so you declare it.

Verse 29

स त्वमायुसुतो वीर हृतो हुंडेन पापिना । सूदेन रक्षितो दास्या प्रेषितो मम चाश्रमम्

You, O heroic son of Āyu, were carried off by the sinful Huṇḍa; but you were protected by a sūda (attendant/charioteer) and, through a maidservant, were sent to my hermitage.

Verse 30

भवंतं वनमध्ये च दृष्ट्वा चारणकिन्नरैः । यत्तु वै श्रावितं वत्स मया ते कथितं पुनः

Having seen you in the midst of the forest, the Cāraṇas and Kinnaras indeed reported it; and now, dear child, I have told you again what was thus conveyed to me.

Verse 31

जहि तं पापकर्तारं हुंडाख्यं दानवाधमम् । नेत्राभ्यां हि प्रमुंचंतीमश्रूणि परिमार्जय

Slay that doer of sin—Huṇḍa by name, the basest of the Dānavas—and with your eyes wipe away the tears that stream forth.

Verse 32

इतो गत्वा प्रपश्य त्वं गंगातीरं महाबलम् । निपात्य दानवेंद्रं तं कारागृहात्समानय

Go from here and behold the mighty bank of the Gaṅgā. Having struck down that lord of the Dānavas, bring him here from the prison-house.

Verse 33

अशोकसुंदरी याहि तस्या भर्ता भवस्व हि । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं प्रश्नस्यास्य हि कारणम्

Go to Aśokasundarī; indeed, become her husband. I have told you everything—this is the very reason for this question.

Verse 34

आभाष्य नहुषं विप्रो विरराम महामतिः

Having addressed Nahuṣa, the wise brāhmaṇa fell silent.

Verse 35

आकर्ण्य सर्वं मुनिना प्रयुक्तमाश्चर्यभूतं स हि चिंत्यमानः । तस्यांतमेकः परिकर्तुकाम आयोः सुतः कोपमथो चकार

Having heard all that the sage had spoken—marvelous indeed—he pondered it. Then, desiring to bring it to an end, one of the sons of Ayu became angry.

Verse 108

इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे नाहुषाख्यानेऽष्टोत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the one-hundred-and-eighth chapter in the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa of the revered Padma Purāṇa, within the narratives concerning Vena, the greatness of Guru-tīrtha, the story of Cyavana, and the account of Nahusha.