Shloka 20

Devanagari script

यत्र वाप्यभिकामासि त॑ वृणीष्व सुशोभने । सा समीक्ष्य तु तान्‌ सर्वास्तुल्यरूपधरान्‌ स्थितान्‌,“अथवा शोभने! जिसको भी तुम मनसे चाहती होओ, उसीको पति बनाओ।' देवी सुकन्याने उन सबको एक-जैसा रूप धारण किये खड़े देख मन और बुद्धिसे निश्चय करके अपने पतिको ही स्वीकार किया। महातेजस्वी च्यवन मुनिने अनुकूल पत्नी, तरुण अवस्था और मनोवाञ्छित रूप पाकर बड़े हर्षका अनुभव किया और दोनों अश्विनीकुमारोंसे कहा --आप दोनोंने मुझ बूढ़ेको रूपवान्‌ और तरुण बना दिया, साथ ही मुझे अपनी यह भार्या भी मिल गयी; इसलिये मैं प्रसन्न होकर आप दोनोंको यज्ञमें देवराज इन्द्रके सामने ही सोमपानका अधिकारी बना दूँगा। यह मैं आपलोगोंसे सत्य कहता हूँ”

Transliteration

yatra vāpy abhikāmāsi taṁ vṛṇīṣva suśobhane | sā samīkṣya tu tān sarvās tulyarūpadharān sthitān |

Translation

‘Whomever you truly desire—choose him, O fair one.’ Having looked carefully at them all, standing there in identical forms, Sukanyā made her decision with clear mind and judgment and accepted only her own husband. The radiant sage Cyavana, gaining a devoted wife, renewed youth, and the form he had long wished for, felt great joy. He then addressed the two Aśvin twins: ‘You have made me, an old man, handsome and young, and I have also regained my wife; therefore, pleased with you both, I shall grant you the right to drink Soma in the sacrifice, even in the presence of Indra, king of the gods. This I tell you in truth.’

Word by Word

यत्रwhere

वाor

अपिeven/also

अभिकामासिyou desire/you wish for

तत्that (one/thing)

वृणीष्वchoose (for yourself)

सुशोभनेO very beautiful one

साshe

समीक्ष्यhaving looked at/observed

तुbut/indeed

तान्those (men)

सर्वान्all

तुल्यरूपधरान्bearing equal/similar forms

स्थितान्standing/placed

Speaker

लोगश उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sukanyā

Cyavana (Chyavana) Ṛṣi

Aśvinīkumāras (the Aśvins)

Indra

Soma

Yajña (sacrifice)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights dharma through Sukanyā’s steadfast marital fidelity and careful discernment: even when appearances are made identical and choice is offered, she chooses her rightful husband. It also underscores gratitude and truthful reciprocity—Cyavana, pleased by the Aśvins’ help, promises them a legitimate share in sacrificial Soma, speaking ‘in truth’ despite potential conflict with Indra.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sukanyā is invited to choose among men who appear identical; after examining them, she recognizes and accepts her husband Cyavana. Cyavana, rejuvenated by the Aśvins and reunited securely with his wife, promises to grant the Aśvins eligibility to drink Soma in a yajña even before Indra.