Adhyaya 48
The Story of Sukalā (Episode: Ugrasena and Padmāvatī’s Return to Vidarbha)
Set between Mathurā and Vidarbha, the chapter portrays Ugrasena as an ideal Yādava king, and briefly defines true kingship as mastery of dharma and worldly aims, Vedic learning, strength, generosity, and sound discernment. In Vidarbha, Satyaketu’s daughter Padmākṣī/Padmāvatī—praised for truthfulness and womanly virtues—is married to Ugrasena, and the narrative emphasizes the couple’s mutual affection and harmony. Later, Satyaketu and the queen yearn to see their daughter and send messengers requesting her return. Ugrasena rejoices and respectfully sends Padmāvatī back. In her father’s house she is honored with gifts and lives happily, roaming familiar places with friends; the text notes how rare such ease is in one’s parental home compared to the in-laws, and thus describes her carefree, unburdened conduct.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ब्राह्मण्युवाच । माथुरे विषये रम्ये मथुरायां नृपोत्तमः । उग्रसेनेति विख्यातो यादवः परवीरहा
The Brāhmaṇī said: In the delightful realm of Mathurā, in the city of Mathurā, there was an excellent king—a Yādava famed as Ugrasena, the slayer of enemy heroes.
Verse 2
सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञो वेदज्ञः श्रुतवान्बली । दाता भोक्ता गुणग्राही सद्गुणान्वेत्ति भूपतिः
A king is one who knows the true principles of all dharma and life’s aims, who knows the Vedas, is learned and strong—one who gives, who enjoys with propriety, who recognizes merit, and who discerns noble qualities.
Verse 3
राज्यं चकार मेधावी प्रजा धर्मेण पालयेत् । एवं स च महातेजा उग्रसेनः प्रतापवान्
That wise one assumed the kingship and protected the subjects in accordance with dharma. Thus was Ugrasena—mighty in radiance, valiant and powerful.
Verse 4
वैदर्भे विषये पुण्ये सत्यकेतुः प्रतापवान् । तस्य कन्या महाभागा पद्माक्षी कमलानना
In the sacred realm of Vidarbha lived Satyaketu, mighty and illustrious. He had a most fortunate daughter, Padmākṣī—lotus-eyed and lotus-faced.
Verse 5
नाम्ना पद्मावती नाम सत्यधर्मपरायणा । सा तु स्त्रीणां गुणैर्युक्ता द्वितीयेव समुद्रजा
By name she was Padmāvatī, devoted to truth and steadfast in dharma. Endowed with womanly virtues, she was like a second Samudrajā—Lakṣmī, born of the Ocean.
Verse 6
वैदर्भी शुशुभे राजन्स्वगुणैः सत्यकारणैः । माथुर उग्रसेनस्तु उपयेमे सुलोचनाम्
O King, the princess of Vidarbha shone with her own virtues, founded upon truth; and Ugrasena of Mathurā married the fair maiden of beautiful eyes.
Verse 7
तया सह महाभाग सुखं रेमे प्रतापवान् । अतिप्रीतो गुणैस्तस्यास्तया सह सुखीभवेत्
With her, O noble one, the valorous man delighted in happiness; greatly pleased by her virtues, he lived joyfully in her company.
Verse 8
तस्याः स्नेहेन प्रीत्या च संमुग्धो माथुरेश्वरः । पद्मावती महाभागा तस्य प्राणप्रियाभवत्
Enchanted by her affection and love, the Lord of Mathurā was captivated; the greatly fortunate Padmāvatī became dear to him as his very life-breath.
Verse 9
तया विना न बुभुजे तया सह प्रक्रीडयेत् । तया विना न सेवेत परमं सुखमेव सः
Without her he partook of no enjoyments; with her he would sport and play. Without her he turned to nothing—she alone was his highest happiness.
Verse 10
एवं प्रीतिकरौ जातौ परस्परमनुत्तमौ । स्नेहवंतौ द्विजश्रेष्ठ सुखसंप्रीतिदायकौ
Thus they became mutually incomparable in the joy they brought—affectionate toward one another, O best of the twice-born; bestowing happiness and deep contentment.
Verse 11
सत्यकेतुश्च राजेंद्रः सस्मार स पद्मावतीम् । स्वसुतां तां महाभागो माता तस्याः सुदुःखिता
King Satyaketu, O best of kings, remembered Padmāvatī—his own daughter. That noble one also recalled her, while her mother was plunged into deep sorrow.
Verse 12
स दूतान्प्रेषयामास वैदर्भो मथुरां प्रति । उग्रसेनं नृवीरेंद्रं सादरेण द्विजोत्तम
O best of brāhmaṇas, the king of Vidarbha then dispatched messengers toward Mathurā, respectfully summoning Ugrasena, the foremost among heroic kings.
Verse 13
उग्रसेनं महाराजं स दूतो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । विदर्भाधिपतिर्वीरो भक्त्या स्नेहेन नंदयन्
That messenger spoke these words to the great king Ugrasena: “The heroic lord of Vidarbha, delighting you with devotion and affection …”
Verse 14
आत्मनः कुशलं ब्रूते भवतां परिपृच्छति । सत्यकेतुर्महाराज त्वामेवं परिपृष्टवान्
He speaks of his own well-being and inquires after yours. O great king, Satyaketu has thus asked after you.
Verse 15
दर्शनाय प्रेषयस्व सुतां पद्मावतीं मम । यदि त्वं मन्यसे नाथ प्रीतिस्नेहं हितस्य च
Send my daughter Padmāvatī so that I may see her—if, O lord, you truly hold affection, love, and goodwill toward me.
Verse 16
प्रेषयस्व महाभागां प्रियां प्रीतिकरां तव । औत्कण्ठ्येन महाराज स सोत्कंठेन वर्तते
O great king, send forth your noble beloved—dear to you and a giver of joy. Through longing, he abides in eager yearning.
Verse 17
समाकर्ण्य ततो वाक्यमुग्रसेनो नृपोत्तमः । प्रीत्या स्नेहेन तस्यापि सत्यकेतोर्महात्मनः
Hearing those words, King Ugrasena—the best of rulers—was filled with joy and affectionate regard also for the great-souled Satyaketu.
Verse 18
दाक्षिण्येन च विप्रेंद्र प्रेषयामास भूपतिः । पद्मावतीं प्रियां भार्यामुग्रसेनः प्रतापवान्
O best of brāhmaṇas, with gracious courtesy King Ugrasena, mighty in valor, sent forth his beloved wife Padmāvatī.
Verse 19
प्रेषितानेन राजेंद्र गता पद्मावती स्वकम् । पूर्वं गृहं सती सा तु महाहर्षेण संकुला
O king, sent by him, the virtuous Padmāvatī went to her former home—her own house—filled with great joy.
Verse 20
पितृपूर्वं कुटुंबं तु ददृशे चारुमंगला । पितुः पादौ ननामाथ शिरसा सत्यतत्परा
Then Cārumaṅgalā beheld the family gathered with her father at its head; devoted to truth, she bowed her head and prostrated at her father’s feet.
Verse 21
आगतायां महाराजा पद्मावत्यां द्विजोत्तम । हर्षेण महताविष्टो विदर्भाधिपतिर्नृपः
O best of brāhmaṇas, when Padmāvatī arrived, the king—the lord of Vidarbha—was filled with great joy.
Verse 22
वर्द्धिता दानमानैश्च वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः । पद्मावती सुखेनापि पितुर्गेहे प्रवर्तते
Nurtured with gifts and honors, and provided with garments, ornaments, and jewelry, Padmāvatī lived comfortably, continuing to reside in her father’s house.
Verse 23
सखीभिः सहिता सा तु निःशंका परिवर्तते । रमते सा तदा तत्र यथापूर्वं तथैव च
Accompanied by her friends, she then moved about without fear; and there, just as before, she delighted herself in the same manner.
Verse 24
गृहे वने तडागेषु प्रासादे च तथैव सा । पुनर्बालेव भूता सा निर्लज्जा संप्रवर्तते
In the house, in the forest, by ponds, and likewise in palaces, she behaves again like a young girl—having become shameless, she goes about freely.
Verse 25
निःशंका वर्तते विप्र सखीभिः सह सर्वदा । पतिव्रता महाभागा हर्षेण महतान्विता
O brāhmaṇa, she lives always without fear, together with her friends—devoted to her husband, most fortunate, and filled with great joy.
Verse 26
सुखं तु पितृगेहस्य दुर्लभं श्वशुरे गृहे । एवं ज्ञात्वा तदा रेमे कदा ईदृग्भविष्यति
Happiness like that of one’s parental home is hard to find in the house of the father-in-law. Knowing this, she then resigned herself, thinking, “When will such a situation ever arise again?”
Verse 27
अनेन मोहभावेन क्रीडालुब्धा वरानना । सखीभिः सहिता नित्यं वनेषूपवने तदा
Swayed by that deluded state of mind, the beautiful-faced lady—eager for play—would then always roam, accompanied by her sakhī friends, through the forests and pleasure-groves.
Verse 48
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने सुकलाचरित्रेऽष्टचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-eighth chapter, “The Story of Sukalā,” within the Vena-episode in the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa of the revered Padma Purāṇa.