Daughters of Kushanaabha report about the Air-god's mischief. Pleased at their behaviour Kushanaabha thinks and arranges for their marriage with Brahmadatta, a saintly king. After the marriage, by the touch of hand of Brahmadatta the girls are rid of their misshapen bodies and they again become great beauties.
tasya tad vacanam śrutvā kuśanābhasya dhīmataḥ |
śirobhiḥ caraṇau spṛṣṭvā kanyā śatam abhāṣata || 1-33-1
1. dhiimataH = scholarly one; tasya kushanaabhasya= his, of Kushanaabha; tat vacanam shrutvaa = that, sentence, on hearing; kanyaa shatam = girls, hundred; shirobhiH caraNau spR^iSTvaa = with forehead, [father's] feet, on touching; abhaaSata= spoke.
On hearing that sentence of scholarly Kushanaabha those hundred girls touched his feet with their foreheads and spoke to him. [1-33-1]
vāyuḥ sarvātmako rājan pradharṣayitum icchati |
aśubham mārgam āsthāya na dharmam pratyavekṣate || 1-33-2
2. raajan = oh, king; sarva aatmakaH vaayuH = all-pervasive, Air-god; a shubham maargam aasthaaya = not, auspicious, path - improper approach, resorting to; pra dharSayitum icChati = to highly, maltreat [dishonour us,] he desired to; dharmam na prati avekSate = virtuous conduct of girls, not, towards, seeing - overlooking.
" 'The all-pervasive Air-god desired to dishonour us, oh, king, resorting to improper approach and overlooking virtuous conduct. [1-33-2]
pitṛmatyaḥ sma bhadram te svacchande na vayam sthitāḥ |
pitaram no vṛṇīṣva tvam yadi no dāsyate tava || 1-33-3
3. vayam pitR^imatyaH sma = we, those that have a father [father dependent,] we are there; te bhadram = you be safe; sva cChande na sthitaaH = our, own way, not [not independent,] we are; naH tava = us, to you; daasyate yadi = he gives, whether or not; tvam naH pitaram vR^iNiiSva = you, with our, father, may request.
" 'Our father is there and we are not independent, you be safe, hence oh, Air-god, you may request our father to know whether he gives us to you or not.' Thus we have told the Air-god, but... [1-33-3]
tena pāpa anubandhena vacanam na pratīcchatā |
evam bruvaṃtyaḥ sarvāḥ sma vāyunā abhihatā bhṛṣam || 1-33-4
4. evam bruvantyaH sarvaaH = thus, speaking, all of us; paapa anubandhena = venality, bound by; vacanam = [our] sentence; na = not; prati iicChataa = in reply, bearing in mind - one who refused to take notice; tena vaayunaa = by him, by Air-god; bhR^iSam = much; abhi hataa = smacked down - we are harmed.
" 'Though we all have spoken to him thus, that Air-god who is bound by venality refused to take notice of our words and he has harmed us a lot.' Thus those girls informed their father. [1-33-4]
Since then, because the Wind-God bent / The damsels' forms for punishment, / That royal town is known to fame / By Kanyakubja's borrowed name. That is, the City of the Bent Virgins, the modern Kanauj or Canouge - Griffith.
tāsām tu vacanam śrutvā rājā parama dhārmikaḥ |
pratyuvāca mahātejāḥ kanyā śatam anuttamam || 1-33-5
5. parama dhaarmikaH = highly, virtuous one; mahaatejaaH = highly resplendent one; raajaa = king; taasaam tat vacanam shrutvaa = their, that, sentence, on listening; an uttamam kanyaa shatam uvaaca = to un, surpassing, to girls, hundred, said.
On listening their words that highly virtuous and highly resplendent king spoke to the hundred girls with unsurpassed virtue. [1-33-5]
kṣāntam kṣamāvatām putryaḥ kartavyam sumahat kṛtam |
aikamatyam upāgaṃya kulam ca āvekṣitam mama || 1-33-6
6. putryaH = oh, daughters; kSamaavataam kartavyam kSaantam = those that have self-control - imperturbability, their duty, is forgiving; kR^itam = that is done - you have done it; su mahat = [this is] very, excellent [deed you have done]; aikamatyam upaagamya = unity, coursing through; mama kulam ca = my, family [prestige,] also; aavekSitam = looked after [kept up.]
" 'Forgiving is the duty of imperturbable and you have done it. Excellent. Oh, daughters, coursing through your unity my family's prestige is also kept up. [1-33-6]
alaṃkāro hi nārīṇām kṣamā tu puruṣasya vā |
duṣkaram tat ca vai kṣāntam tridaśeṣu viśeṣataḥ || 1-33-7
yādṛśīḥ vaḥ kṣamā putryaḥ sarvāsām aviśeṣataḥ |
7, 8a. naariiNaam = to women; puruSasya vaa = to men, either; kSamaa alankaaraH hi = forgiveness, adornment, as a matter of fact; kSaantam iti yat = forgiving, that which is there; tat duS karam ca vai = that is, not, practicable, also, verily; tridasheSu visheSataH = among divinities, especially [impracticable]; vaH sarvaasaam = to you, you all; a visheSataH = not, differentiated - uniformly; yaadR^ishiiH = which kind of; kSamaa = forgiving [is there; that is further; duSkaram = impossible - laudable.]
" 'Forgiveness is an adornment to women, as a matter of fact, even for men, and this matter called 'forgiving' that which is there, it is an impracticable affair. That too, in respect of divinities. And the kind of forgiveness you all possess uniformly, that is further laudable. [1-33-7, 8a]
This also means: 'though you possess excellent aspects and persona alike celestials, viz., apsara-s, for you are the children of celestial / apsara Ghritachi... you have forgiven Air-god, without submitting yourselves to bodily pleasures of humans.'
kṣamā dānam kṣamā satyam kṣamā yajñaḥ ca putrikāḥ || 1-33-8
kṣamā yaśaḥ kṣamā dharmaḥ kṣamāyām viṣṭhitam jagat |
8b, 9a. kSamaa daanam = grace [forgiveness] is, altruism; kSamaa yaj~naH = grace is, ritualism; putrikaaH = oh, daughters; kSamaa yashaH = grace is, glory; kSamaa dharmaH = grace is, virtue; kSamaa satyam [hi] = grace is, truth, [isn't it]; kSamaayaam jagat vi SThitam = in graciousness, universe is, verily, abiding.
" 'Grace is altruism, grace is ritualism, oh, my daughters, grace is glory, grace is virtue, and this universe is verily abiding in graciousness alone for grace itself is the truth, isn't it!' Thus king Kushanaabha said to his daughters and sent them away. [1-33-8b, 9a]
visṛjya kanyāḥ kākutstha rājā tridaśa vikramaḥ || 1-33-9
maṃtrajño maṃtrayāmāsa pradānam saha maṃtribhiḥ |
deśe kāle ca kartavyam sadṛśe pratipādanam || 1-33-10
9b, 10. kaakutstha = oh, Rama; tridasha vikramaH = matching god, whose valour is; mantra j~naH = in thinking, expert; raajaa = king Kushanaabha; kanyaaH visR^ijya = girls, leaving them; mantribhiH saha = ministers, along with; pradaanam = about endowing [giving daughters in marriage]; mantrayaamaasa = started to contemplate; pradaanasya = of that bride giving]; deshe kaale = in which country, at which time; sadR^ishe = matching one [bridegroom]; pratipaadanam kartavyam ca = [marriage] proposals, is to be done - on such topics he discussed with ministers.
"On leaving those girls, oh, Rama, that king whose valour matches that of gods and who is an expert in thinking strategies started to think with his ministers on the topics like, as to how his daughters are to be espoused to, to which country they are to be sent, at which time marriage shall happen, and to which matching bridegroom the marriage is to be proposed, and so on." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration. [1-33-9b, 10]
etasmin eva kāle tu cūlī nāma mahādyutiḥ |
ūrdhva retāḥ śubhācāro brāhmam tapa upāgamat || 1-33-11
11. etasmin kaale eva tu = during, time, alone, but; mahaa dhyutiH = great-resplendent one; uurdhva retaaH = with upward, semen - meaning whose semen is not lost; shubha aacaaraH = with propitious, demeanour; cuulii naama = Cuulii, named; braahmam tapa = Vedic, asceticism - one who has ascesis strict to Vedic canons; upaagamat = achieved such ascesis.
During that time a great-resplendent sage named Cuulii is there, who is propitious in his demeanour and who holds his semen upward, and who has achieved high ascetic practise strictly according to Vedic canons. [1-33-11]
The uurthva retaH is that the yogi-s of a very high practice of pure yoga called haTha yoga, will hold their semen un-ejaculated by use or misuse, and they make it course towards their heads through the six-plexuses of human body. This type of practice is to enrich their mental and physical glow and they will have a divine aura around them.
tapasyaṃtam ṛṣim tatra gaṃdharvī paryupāsate |
somadā nāma bhadram te ūrmilā tanayā tadā || 1-33-12
12. tadaa = then; tatra tapasyantam R^iSim = at the place of ascesis, while practising, sage is; uurmilaa tanayaa = Urmila's, daughter; somadaa naama gandharvii = Somada, named, a gandharva / celestial female; pari upaasate = in overall manner, serving him; te bhadram = to you, safety; Rama.
"While that sage is in the practise of asceticism a celestial female served him at the place of his ascesis, safety be with you oh, Rama, she is Somada by her name, the daughter of Urmila. [1-33-12]
sā ca tam praṇatā bhūtvā śuśrūṣaṇa parāyaṇā |
uvāsa kāle dharmiṣṭhā tasyāḥ tuṣṭo abhavat guruḥ || 1-33-13
13. saa ca = she, even; tam = in his respect; praNataa bhuutvaa = bowing down - obediently, on becoming; shushruuSaNa paraayaNaa = ministering to, dedicate one; dharmiSThaa = righteously; uvaasa = stayed there; kaale = after some time; guruH = mentor [the sage]; tasyaaH tuSTaH abhavat = of her [service,] satisfied, he became.
"Even she is obedient in his respect, and dedicating herself in ministering to him she stayed there righteously. After some time that sage Cuulii has become satisfied with her service. [1-33-13]
sa ca tām kāla yogena provāca raghu naṃdana |
parituṣṭo asmi bhadram te kim karomi tava priyam || 1-33-14
14. raghu nandana = oh, Raghu's, delight - Rama; saH ca = he that sage, also; kaala yogena = time, by chance of - when her service is fructified; taam pra uvaaca = to her, well [benevolently,] said; parituSToaH asmi = perfectly pleased, I am; te bhadram = to you, safety; tava kim priyam karomi = your, what, cherish, I can do - I have to fulfil.
"When her service is fructified, oh, Rama, that sage benevolently spoke to her saying, 'I am perfectly pleased with your service, let good betide you, what cherish of yours I have to fulfil.' [1-33-14]
parituṣṭam munim jñātvā gandharvī madhura svaram |
uvāca parama prītā vākyajñā vākya kovidam || 1-33-15
15. munim parituSTam j~naatvaa = sage, contented, on perceiving; madhura svaram = in melodious, voice; vaakya j~naa = sentence making, she who is aware of; gandharvii = gandharva female; parama priitaa = highly, delighted; vaakya kovidam = sentence making, to expert - pedantic sage; uvaaca = spoke.
"Perceiving that the sage is contented that female celestial Soamda who is aware of making good sentences is highly delighted and spoke with her melodious voice to that pedantic sage. [1-33-15]
lakṣṃyā samudito brāhṃyā brahma bhūto mahātapāḥ |
brāhmeṇa tapasā yuktam putram icchāmi dhārmikam || 1-33-16
16. mahaa tapaaH = oh, one with supreme, ascesis; braahmyaa lakSmyaa sam uditaH = pertaining to Brahma [Vedic practises,] splendour, is on the rise - flourishing; brahma bhuutaH = on with Brahma, you became; braahmeNa tapasaa yuktam = with Brahma's [spirituality of Veda-s,] ascetic [spirituality,] along with - embodied with; dhaarmikam putram icChaami = righteous, son, I wish to have - I may be endowed with.
" 'Vedic splendour is flourishing in you when you have become one with Brahma, oh, supreme ascetic, I may please be endowed with a righteous son whose ascetic spirituality may embody the spirituality enunciated in Veda-s. [1-33-16]
apatiḥ ca asmi bhadram te bhāryā ca asmi na kasyacit |
brāhmeṇa upagatāyāḥ ca dātum arhasi me sutam || 1-33-17
17. a patiH ca asmi = without, husband [unmarried,] also, I am; bhadram te = safe, you be; kasyacit bhaaryaa na asmi = to anyone, wife, not, I am; upa gataayaaH = nearby, arrived - took shelter under you; me = to me; braahmeNa = by your ascetic faculty; sutam daatum arhasi = a son, to endow, apt of you.
" 'I am unmarried and nobody's wife, safe you be, and as I took shelter under your kindness it will be apt of you to endow me a son with your faculty of asceticism.' So said Somada to sage Cuulii. [1-33-17]
tasyāḥ prasanno brahmarṣir dadau brāhmam anuttamam |
brahmadatta iti khyātam mānasam cūlinaḥ sutam || 1-33-18
18. tasyaaH prasannaH brahmarSiH = of her, one who became benignant, Brahma-sage; cuulinaH = of sage Cuulina; maanasam sutam = by instinct, [born] son - brainchild; braahmam = Brahma-like; brahmadatta iti khyaatam = Brahmadatta, thus, renowned; an uttamam = un, surpassed - unique one; dadau = bestowed.
"That Brahma-sage Cuulina benignantly bestowed her with a unique and Brahma-like son who is renowned as Brahmadatta, as well as his own brainchild. [1-33-18]
The word 'cuulinaH' also read as Cuulina, another name for this sage Cuuli.
sa rājā brahmadattaḥ tu purīm adhyavasat tadā |
kāṃpilyām parayā lakṣṃyā devarājo yathā divam || 1-33-19
19. brahmadattaH saH raajaa tu = Brahmadatta, he that, king, for his part; tadaa = then; deva nraajaH divam yathaa = god's, king, Indra, heaven, as with; kaampilyaam = Kampilya named; puriim = city; parayaa lakSmyaa adhyavasat = endued with superb, grandeur, presided - ruled.
"King Brahmadatta endued with superb grandeur ruled from a city called Kaampilya as with Indra ruling the heaven. [1-33-19]
sa buddhim kṛtavān rājā kuśanābhaḥ sudhārmikaḥ |
brahmadattāya kākutstha dātum kanyā śatam tadā || 1-33-20
20. kaakutstha = oh, Rama of Kakutstha; tadaa = then; su dhaarmikaH raajaa = most, righteous, king; saH kushanaabhaH = he that, Kushanaabha; kanyaa shatam = daughters, hundred; brahmadattaaya daatum = to Brahmadatta, to give - to espouse; buddhim kR^itavaan = mind, made up.
"The most righteous king Kushanaabha then made up his mind, oh, Rama of Kakutstha, to espouse his hundred daughters to Brahmadatta. [1-33-20]
tam āhūya mahātejā brahmadattam mahīpatiḥ |
dadau kanyā śatam rājā suprītena aṃtarātmanā || 1-33-21
21. mahaatejaa mahiipatiH raajaa = great-resplendent, lord of land, king - Kushanaabha; tam brahmadattam aahuuya = him that, Brahmadatta, on calling - inviting; su priitena antar aatmanaa = with highly, pleased, heart of hearts; kanyaa shatam dadau = daughters, hundred, gave - married.
"Inviting Brahmadatta that great-resplendent lord of the land, namely the king Kushanaabha, married his hundred daughters to him, pleasing highly in his heart of hearts. [1-33-21]
yathā kramam tataḥ pāṇim jagrāha raghunaṃdana |
brahmadatto mahīpālaḥ tāsām devapatir yathā || 1-33-22
22. raghu nandana = oh, Rama of Raghu's dynasty; deva patiH yathaa = gods, lord - Indra, who vies with; brahmadattaH mahiipaalaH = Brahmadatta, the king; tataH yathaa kramam = then, in succession; taasaam paaNim jagraaha = their, palm, caught - received each of their palm into his hand, as per the custom of marriage.
"As with the tradition of marriage king Brahmadatta who vies with lord of gods, namely Indra, in succession took the palm of each of the hundred girls into his palm. [1-33-22]
spṛṣṭa mātre tataḥ pāṇau vikubjā vigata jvarāḥ |
yuktāḥ paramayā lakṣṃyā babhau kanyā śatam tadā || 1-33-23
23. tataH = then; paaNau spR^iSTa maatre = palm, on touching, just by; tadaa = as a result of; kanyaa shatam = maidens, hundred; vi kubjaa = without, hunchback - without misshape; on becoming; vi gata = verily, gone - evanished; jvaraaH = fervidity - desperation; paramayaa lakSmyaa yuktaaH = with utmost, elegance, along with [retouched with]; babhau = they are beaming bright.
"By mere touch of hand of Brahmadatta alone, their misshape and desperation are evanished, and all of those hundred maidens beamed bright as they are retouched with utmost elegance. [1-33-23]
sa dṛṣṭvā vāyunā muktāḥ kuśanābho mahīpatiḥ |
babhūva parama prīto harṣam lebhe punaḥ punaḥ || 1-33-24
23. mahiipatiH = lord of land; saH kushanaabhaH = that, Kushanaabha; vaayunaa muktaaH = by [the effect of] Air-god, released; dR^iSTvaa = on seeing; parama priitaH babhuuva = highly, joyful, he became; punaH punaH harSam lebhe = again, again, delight, he took - in seeing his daughters restored to originality.
"On seeing his daughters getting release from the effect of Air-god Kushanaabha became highly joyful, and he took great delight time and again as and when he looked at them. [1-33-24]
kṛta udvāham tu rājānam brahmadattam mahīpatiḥ |
sadāram preṣayāmāsa sa upādhyāya gaṇam tadā || 1-33-25
25. tadaa = later; mahiipatiH = king Kushanaabha; kR^ita udvaaham tu = one who has finished, marriage - when marriage is over; sa daaram = with, wives; sa upaadhyaaya gaNam = with, religious teachers, assemblages of; raajaanam brahmadattam = of king, Brahmadatta; preSayaamaasa = started to send [off.]
"Later when the marriage is complete king Kushanaabha bade farewell to king Brahmadatta along with his wives, his own hundred daughters, and along with the groups of religious teachers. [1-33-25]
somadā api sutam dṛṣṭvā putrasya sadṛśīm kriyām |
yathā nyāyam ca gandharvī snuṣāḥ tāḥ pratyanaṃdata |
spṛṣṭvā spṛṣṭvā ca tāḥ kanyāḥ kuśanābham praśasya ca || 1-33-26
26. gandharvii somadaa api = gandharva female, Somada, even; sutam dR^iSTvaa = son, on seeing; [prati anandata = gladdened towards him]; taaH kanyaaH = those, girls; spR^iSTvaa spR^iSTvaa = on touching, touching - caressing repeatedly; [prati anandata = gladdened towards them]; kushanaabham prashasya ca = Kushanaabha, praised, also; putrasya sadR^ishiim kriyaam = for a son, worthwhile, deed; in getting such daughter-in-laws; yathaa nyaayam ca = as per, tradition, also; taaH snuSaaH prati anandata = those, daughter-in-laws, towards, gladdened - or - blessed them.
"Somada, the celestial female and the mother of Brahmadatta, is gladdened to see her son Brahmadatta, for the worthwhile deed done by him in removing the blemish caused by the Air-god to the girls, or in bringing those worthwhile girls as her daughter-in-laws. She is further gladdened while her feet are traditionally and repeatedly touched by a hundred daughter-in-laws in succession, coupled with her own raising of each of the daughter-in-law to embrace for a hundred times. Thus Somada has gone on caressing each of her hundred daughter-in-laws, and in doing so she is gladdened to do so over and over again, she is gladdened. She thus praised Kushanaabha for giving his gemlike daughters as her daughter-in-laws and blessed the daughter-in-laws. [1-33-26]
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe trayaḥ triṃśaḥ sargaḥ
© 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : July 04]