Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 109
Sourceकुंजल उवाच- प्रणिपत्य प्रसाद्यैव वशिष्ठं तपतां वरम् । आमंत्र्य निर्जगामाथ बाणपाणिर्धनुर्धरः १। एणस्य मांसं सुविपाच्यभोजितं बालस्तया रक्षित एव बुद्ध्या । आयोः सुपुत्रः सगुणः सुरूपो देवोपमो देवगुणैश्च युक्तः २। तेनैव मांसेन सुसंस्कृतेन मृष्टेन पक्वेन रसानुगेन । तमेव दैत्यं परिभाष्य सूदो दुष्टं सुहर्षेण व्यभोजयत्तदा ३। बुभुजे दानवो मांसं रसस्वादुसमन्वितम् । हर्षेणापि समाविष्टो जगामाशोकसुंदरीम् ४। तामुवाच ततस्तूर्णं कामोपहतचेतनः । आयुपुत्रो मया भद्रे भक्षितः पतिरेव ते ५। मामेव भज चार्वंगि भुंक्ष्व भोगान्मनोनुगान् । किं करिष्यसि तेन त्वं मानुषेण गतायुषा ६। प्रत्युवाच समाकर्ण्य शिवकन्या तपस्विनी । भर्ता मे दैवतैर्दत्तो अजरो दोषवर्जितः ७। तस्य मृत्युर्न वै दृष्टो देवैरपि महात्मभिः । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं दानवो दुष्टचेष्टितः ८। तामुवाच विशालाक्षीं प्रहस्यैव पुनः पुनः । अद्यैव भक्षितं मांसमायुपुत्रस्य सुंदरि ९। जातमात्रस्य बालस्य नहुषस्य दुरात्मनः । एवमाकर्ण्य सा वाक्यं कोपं चक्रे सुदारुणम् १०। प्रोवाच सत्यसंस्था सा तपसा भाविता पुनः । तप एव मया तप्तं मनसा नियमेन वै । आयुसुतश्चिरायुश्च सत्येनैव भविष्यति ११। इतो गच्छ दुराचार यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि । अन्यथा त्वामहं शप्स्ये पुनरेव न संशयः १२। एवमाकर्णितं तस्याः सूदेन नृपतिं प्रति । परित्यज्य महाराज एतामन्यां समाश्रय १३। सूदेन प्रेषितो दैत्यः स हुंडः पापचेतनः । निर्जगाम त्वरायुक्तः स स्वां भार्यां प्रियां प्रति १४। चेष्टितं नैव जानाति दास्या सूदेन यत्कृतम् । तस्यै निवेदितं सर्वं प्रियायै वृत्तमेव च १५। सूत उवाच- अशोकसुंदरी सा च महता तपसा किल । दुःखशोकेन संतप्ता कृशीभूता तपस्विनी १६। चिंतयंती प्रियं कांतं तं ध्यायति पुनः पुनः । किं न कुर्वंति वै दैत्या उपायैर्विविधैरपि १७। उपायज्ञाः सदा बुद्ध्या उद्यमेनापि सर्वदा । वर्तंते दनुजश्रेष्ठा नानाभावैश्च सर्वदा १८। मायोपायेन योगेन हृताहं पापिना पुरा । तथा स घातितः पुत्र आयोश्चैव भविष्यति १९। यं दृष्ट्वा दैवयोगेन भवितारमनामयम् । उद्यमेनापि पश्येत किं वा नश्यति वा न वा २०। किं वा स उद्यमः श्रेष्ठः किं वा तत्कर्मजं फलम् । भाविभावः कथं नश्येत्ततो वेदः प्रतिष्ठति २१। विशेषो भावितो देवैः स कथं चान्यथा भवेत् । एवमेवं महाभागा चिंतयंती पुनः पुनः २२। किन्नरो विद्वरो नाम बृहद्वंशोमहातनुः । सनाभ्योर्धनरः कायः पक्षाभ्यां हि विवर्जितः २३। द्विभुजो वंशहस्तस्तु हारकंकणशोभितः । दिव्यगंधानुलिप्तांगो भार्यया सह चागतः २४। तामुवाच निरानंदां स सुतां शंकरस्यहि । किमर्थं चिंतसे देवि विद्वरं विद्धि चागतम् २५। किन्नरं विष्णुभक्तं मां प्रेषितं देवसत्तमैः । दुःखमेवं न कर्तव्यं भवत्या नहुषं प्रति २६। हुंडेन पापचारेण वधार्थं तस्य धीमतः । कृतमेवाखिलं कर्म हृतश्चायुसुतः शुभे २७। स तु वै रक्षितो देवैरुपायैर्विविधैरपि । हुंड एवं विजानाति आयुपुत्रो हृतो मया २८। भक्षितस्तु विशालाक्षि इति जानाति वै शुभे । भवतां श्रावयित्वा हि गतोसौ दानवोऽधमः २९। स्वेनकर्मविपाकेन पुण्यस्यापि महायशाः । पूर्वजन्मार्जितेनैव तव भर्त्ता स जीवति ३०। पुण्यस्यापि बलेनैव येषामायुर्विनिर्मितम् । स्वर्जितस्य महाभागे नाशमिच्छंति घातकाः ३१। दुष्टात्मानो महापापाः परतेजोविदूषकाः । तेषां यशोविनाशार्थं प्रपंचंति दिने दिने ३२। नानाविधैरुपायैस्ते विषशस्त्रादिभिस्ततः । हंतुमिच्छंति तं पुण्यं पुण्यकर्माभिरक्षितम् ३३। पापिनश्चैव हुंडाद्या मोहनस्तंभनादिभिः । पीडयंति महापापा नानाभेदैर्बलाविलैः ३४। सुकृतस्य प्रयोगेण पूर्वजन्मार्जितेन हि । पुण्यस्यापि महाभागे पुण्यवंतं सुरक्षितम् ३५। वैफल्यं यांति तेषां वै उपायाः पापिनां शुभे । यंत्रतंत्राणि मंत्राश्च शस्त्राग्निविषबंधनाः ३६। रक्षयंति महात्मानं देवपुण्यैः सुरक्षितम् । कर्तारो भस्मतां यांति स वै तिष्ठति पुण्यभाक् ३७। आयुपुत्रस्य वीरस्य रक्षका देवताः शुभे । पुण्यस्य संचयं सर्वे तपसां निधिमेव तु ३८। तस्माच्च रक्षितो वीरो नहुषो बलिनां वरः । सत्येन तपसा तेन पुण्यैश्च संयमैर्दमैः ३९। मा कृथा दारुणं दुःखं मुंच शोकमकारणम् । स हि जीवति धर्मात्मा मात्रा पित्रा विना वने ४०। तपोवनेव सत्येकस्तपस्वि परिपालितः । वेदवेदांगतत्त्वज्ञो धनुर्वेदस्य पारगः ४१। यथा शशी विराजेत स्वकलाभिः स्वतेजसा । तथा विराजते सोऽपि स्वकलाभिः सुमध्यमे ४२। विद्याभिस्तु महापुण्यैस्तपोभिर्यशसा तथा । राजते परवीरघ्नो रिपुहा सुरवल्लभः ४३। हुंडं निहत्य दैत्येंद्रं त्वामेवं हि प्रलप्स्यते । त्वया सार्द्धं स्त्रिया चैव पृथिव्यामेकभूपतिः ४४। भविष्यति महायोगी यथा स्वर्गे तु वासवः । त्वं तस्मात्प्राप्स्यसे भद्रे सुपुत्रं वासवोपमम् ४५। ययातिं नामधर्मज्ञं प्रजापालनतत्परम् । तथा कन्याशतं चापि रूपौदार्यगुणान्वितम् ४६। यासां पुण्यैर्महाराज इंद्रलोकं प्रयास्यति । इंद्रत्वं भोक्ष्यते देवि नहुषः पुण्यविक्रमः ४७। ययातिर्नाम धर्मात्मा आत्मजस्ते भविष्यति । प्रजापालो महाराजः सर्वजीवदयापरः ४८। तस्य पुत्रास्तु चत्वारो भविष्यंति महौजसः । बलवीर्यसमोपेता धनुर्वेदस्य पारगाः ४९। प्रथमश्च तुरुर्नाम पुरुर्नाम द्वितीयकः । उरुर्नाम तृतीयश्च चतुर्थो वीर्यवान्यदुः ५०। एवं पुत्रा महावीर्यास्तेजस्विनो महाबलाः । भविष्यंति महात्मानः सर्वतेजः समन्विताः ५१। यदोश्चैव सुता वीराः सिंहतुल्यपराक्रमाः । तेषां नामानि भद्रं ते गदतः शृणु सांप्रतम् ५२। भोजश्च भीमकश्चापि अंधकः कुञ्जरस्तथा । वृष्णिर्नाम सुधर्मात्मा सत्याधारो भविष्यति ५३। षष्ठस्तु श्रुतसेनश्च श्रुताधारस्तु सप्तमः । कालदंष्ट्रो महावीर्यः समरे कालजिद्बली ५४। यदोः पुत्रा महावीर्या यादवाख्या वरानने । तेषां तु पुत्राः पौत्रास्ते भविष्यंति सहस्रशः ५५। एवं नहुषवंशो वै तव देवि भविष्यति । दुःखमेवं परित्यज्य सुखेनानुप्रवर्तय ५६। समेष्यति महाप्राज्ञस्तव भर्ता शुभानने । निहत्य दानवं हुंडं त्वामेवं परिणेष्यति ५७। दुःखजातानि सोष्णानि नेत्राभ्यां हि पतंति च । अश्रूणि चेंदुमत्याश्च संमार्जयति मानदः ५८। आयोश्च दुःखमुद्धृत्य स्वकुलं तारयिष्यति । सुखिनं पितरं कृत्वा प्रजापालो भविष्यति ५९। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं देवानां कथनं शुभे । दुःखं शोकं परित्यज्य सुखेन परिवर्त्तय ६०। अशोकसुंदर्युवाच- कदा ह्येष्यति मे भर्त्ता विहितो दैवतैर्यदि । सत्यं वद स्वधर्मज्ञ मम सौख्यं विवर्द्धय ६१। विद्वर उवाच- अचिराद्द्रक्ष्यसि भर्तारं त्वमेवं शृणु सुंदरि । एवमुक्त्वा जगामाथ गंधर्वो विबुधालयम् ६२। अशोकसुंदरी सा च तपस्तेपे हि तत्र वै । कामं क्रोधं परित्यज्य लोभं चापि शिवात्मजा ६३। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे नाहुषाख्याने नवाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः १०९।
kuṃjala uvāca- praṇipatya prasādyaiva vaśiṣṭhaṃ tapatāṃ varam | āmaṃtrya nirjagāmātha bāṇapāṇirdhanurdharaḥ 1| eṇasya māṃsaṃ suvipācyabhojitaṃ bālastayā rakṣita eva buddhyā | āyoḥ suputraḥ saguṇaḥ surūpo devopamo devaguṇaiśca yuktaḥ 2| tenaiva māṃsena susaṃskṛtena mṛṣṭena pakvena rasānugena | tameva daityaṃ paribhāṣya sūdo duṣṭaṃ suharṣeṇa vyabhojayattadā 3| bubhuje dānavo māṃsaṃ rasasvādusamanvitam | harṣeṇāpi samāviṣṭo jagāmāśokasuṃdarīm 4| tāmuvāca tatastūrṇaṃ kāmopahatacetanaḥ | āyuputro mayā bhadre bhakṣitaḥ patireva te 5| māmeva bhaja cārvaṃgi bhuṃkṣva bhogānmanonugān | kiṃ kariṣyasi tena tvaṃ mānuṣeṇa gatāyuṣā 6| pratyuvāca samākarṇya śivakanyā tapasvinī | bhartā me daivatairdatto ajaro doṣavarjitaḥ 7| tasya mṛtyurna vai dṛṣṭo devairapi mahātmabhiḥ | evamākarṇya tadvākyaṃ dānavo duṣṭaceṣṭitaḥ 8| tāmuvāca viśālākṣīṃ prahasyaiva punaḥ punaḥ | adyaiva bhakṣitaṃ māṃsamāyuputrasya suṃdari 9| jātamātrasya bālasya nahuṣasya durātmanaḥ | evamākarṇya sā vākyaṃ kopaṃ cakre sudāruṇam 10| provāca satyasaṃsthā sā tapasā bhāvitā punaḥ | tapa eva mayā taptaṃ manasā niyamena vai | āyusutaścirāyuśca satyenaiva bhaviṣyati 11| ito gaccha durācāra yadi jīvitumicchasi | anyathā tvāmahaṃ śapsye punareva na saṃśayaḥ 12| evamākarṇitaṃ tasyāḥ sūdena nṛpatiṃ prati | parityajya mahārāja etāmanyāṃ samāśraya 13| sūdena preṣito daityaḥ sa huṃḍaḥ pāpacetanaḥ | nirjagāma tvarāyuktaḥ sa svāṃ bhāryāṃ priyāṃ prati 14| ceṣṭitaṃ naiva jānāti dāsyā sūdena yatkṛtam | tasyai niveditaṃ sarvaṃ priyāyai vṛttameva ca 15| sūta uvāca- aśokasuṃdarī sā ca mahatā tapasā kila | duḥkhaśokena saṃtaptā kṛśībhūtā tapasvinī 16| ciṃtayaṃtī priyaṃ kāṃtaṃ taṃ dhyāyati punaḥ punaḥ | kiṃ na kurvaṃti vai daityā upāyairvividhairapi 17| upāyajñāḥ sadā buddhyā udyamenāpi sarvadā | vartaṃte danujaśreṣṭhā nānābhāvaiśca sarvadā 18| māyopāyena yogena hṛtāhaṃ pāpinā purā | tathā sa ghātitaḥ putra āyoścaiva bhaviṣyati 19| yaṃ dṛṣṭvā daivayogena bhavitāramanāmayam | udyamenāpi paśyeta kiṃ vā naśyati vā na vā 20| kiṃ vā sa udyamaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ kiṃ vā tatkarmajaṃ phalam | bhāvibhāvaḥ kathaṃ naśyettato vedaḥ pratiṣṭhati 21| viśeṣo bhāvito devaiḥ sa kathaṃ cānyathā bhavet | evamevaṃ mahābhāgā ciṃtayaṃtī punaḥ punaḥ 22| kinnaro vidvaro nāma bṛhadvaṃśomahātanuḥ | sanābhyordhanaraḥ kāyaḥ pakṣābhyāṃ hi vivarjitaḥ 23| dvibhujo vaṃśahastastu hārakaṃkaṇaśobhitaḥ | divyagaṃdhānuliptāṃgo bhāryayā saha cāgataḥ 24| tāmuvāca nirānaṃdāṃ sa sutāṃ śaṃkarasyahi | kimarthaṃ ciṃtase devi vidvaraṃ viddhi cāgatam 25| kinnaraṃ viṣṇubhaktaṃ māṃ preṣitaṃ devasattamaiḥ | duḥkhamevaṃ na kartavyaṃ bhavatyā nahuṣaṃ prati 26| huṃḍena pāpacāreṇa vadhārthaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ | kṛtamevākhilaṃ karma hṛtaścāyusutaḥ śubhe 27| sa tu vai rakṣito devairupāyairvividhairapi | huṃḍa evaṃ vijānāti āyuputro hṛto mayā 28| bhakṣitastu viśālākṣi iti jānāti vai śubhe | bhavatāṃ śrāvayitvā hi gatosau dānavo'dhamaḥ 29| svenakarmavipākena puṇyasyāpi mahāyaśāḥ | pūrvajanmārjitenaiva tava bharttā sa jīvati 30| puṇyasyāpi balenaiva yeṣāmāyurvinirmitam | svarjitasya mahābhāge nāśamicchaṃti ghātakāḥ 31| duṣṭātmāno mahāpāpāḥ paratejovidūṣakāḥ | teṣāṃ yaśovināśārthaṃ prapaṃcaṃti dine dine 32| nānāvidhairupāyaiste viṣaśastrādibhistataḥ | haṃtumicchaṃti taṃ puṇyaṃ puṇyakarmābhirakṣitam 33| pāpinaścaiva huṃḍādyā mohanastaṃbhanādibhiḥ | pīḍayaṃti mahāpāpā nānābhedairbalāvilaiḥ 34| sukṛtasya prayogeṇa pūrvajanmārjitena hi | puṇyasyāpi mahābhāge puṇyavaṃtaṃ surakṣitam 35| vaiphalyaṃ yāṃti teṣāṃ vai upāyāḥ pāpināṃ śubhe | yaṃtrataṃtrāṇi maṃtrāśca śastrāgniviṣabaṃdhanāḥ 36| rakṣayaṃti mahātmānaṃ devapuṇyaiḥ surakṣitam | kartāro bhasmatāṃ yāṃti sa vai tiṣṭhati puṇyabhāk 37| āyuputrasya vīrasya rakṣakā devatāḥ śubhe | puṇyasya saṃcayaṃ sarve tapasāṃ nidhimeva tu 38| tasmācca rakṣito vīro nahuṣo balināṃ varaḥ | satyena tapasā tena puṇyaiśca saṃyamairdamaiḥ 39| mā kṛthā dāruṇaṃ duḥkhaṃ muṃca śokamakāraṇam | sa hi jīvati dharmātmā mātrā pitrā vinā vane 40| tapovaneva satyekastapasvi paripālitaḥ | vedavedāṃgatattvajño dhanurvedasya pāragaḥ 41| yathā śaśī virājeta svakalābhiḥ svatejasā | tathā virājate so'pi svakalābhiḥ sumadhyame 42| vidyābhistu mahāpuṇyaistapobhiryaśasā tathā | rājate paravīraghno ripuhā suravallabhaḥ 43| huṃḍaṃ nihatya daityeṃdraṃ tvāmevaṃ hi pralapsyate | tvayā sārddhaṃ striyā caiva pṛthivyāmekabhūpatiḥ 44| bhaviṣyati mahāyogī yathā svarge tu vāsavaḥ | tvaṃ tasmātprāpsyase bhadre suputraṃ vāsavopamam 45| yayātiṃ nāmadharmajñaṃ prajāpālanatatparam | tathā kanyāśataṃ cāpi rūpaudāryaguṇānvitam 46| yāsāṃ puṇyairmahārāja iṃdralokaṃ prayāsyati | iṃdratvaṃ bhokṣyate devi nahuṣaḥ puṇyavikramaḥ 47| yayātirnāma dharmātmā ātmajaste bhaviṣyati | prajāpālo mahārājaḥ sarvajīvadayāparaḥ 48| tasya putrāstu catvāro bhaviṣyaṃti mahaujasaḥ | balavīryasamopetā dhanurvedasya pāragāḥ 49| prathamaśca tururnāma pururnāma dvitīyakaḥ | ururnāma tṛtīyaśca caturtho vīryavānyaduḥ 50| evaṃ putrā mahāvīryāstejasvino mahābalāḥ | bhaviṣyaṃti mahātmānaḥ sarvatejaḥ samanvitāḥ 51| yadoścaiva sutā vīrāḥ siṃhatulyaparākramāḥ | teṣāṃ nāmāni bhadraṃ te gadataḥ śṛṇu sāṃpratam 52| bhojaśca bhīmakaścāpi aṃdhakaḥ kuñjarastathā | vṛṣṇirnāma sudharmātmā satyādhāro bhaviṣyati 53| ṣaṣṭhastu śrutasenaśca śrutādhārastu saptamaḥ | kāladaṃṣṭro mahāvīryaḥ samare kālajidbalī 54| yadoḥ putrā mahāvīryā yādavākhyā varānane | teṣāṃ tu putrāḥ pautrāste bhaviṣyaṃti sahasraśaḥ 55| evaṃ nahuṣavaṃśo vai tava devi bhaviṣyati | duḥkhamevaṃ parityajya sukhenānupravartaya 56| sameṣyati mahāprājñastava bhartā śubhānane | nihatya dānavaṃ huṃḍaṃ tvāmevaṃ pariṇeṣyati 57| duḥkhajātāni soṣṇāni netrābhyāṃ hi pataṃti ca | aśrūṇi ceṃdumatyāśca saṃmārjayati mānadaḥ 58| āyośca duḥkhamuddhṛtya svakulaṃ tārayiṣyati | sukhinaṃ pitaraṃ kṛtvā prajāpālo bhaviṣyati 59| etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ devānāṃ kathanaṃ śubhe | duḥkhaṃ śokaṃ parityajya sukhena parivarttaya 60| aśokasuṃdaryuvāca- kadā hyeṣyati me bharttā vihito daivatairyadi | satyaṃ vada svadharmajña mama saukhyaṃ vivarddhaya 61| vidvara uvāca- acirāddrakṣyasi bhartāraṃ tvamevaṃ śṛṇu suṃdari | evamuktvā jagāmātha gaṃdharvo vibudhālayam 62| aśokasuṃdarī sā ca tapastepe hi tatra vai | kāmaṃ krodhaṃ parityajya lobhaṃ cāpi śivātmajā 63| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe bhūmikhaṃḍe venopākhyāne gurutīrthamāhātmye cyavanacaritre nāhuṣākhyāne navādhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 109|
English translation
Kuñjala said :
1-4. Having saluted, having propitiated and having taken the leave of Vasiṣṭha he, an archer, with arrows in his hand, went out (to the forest). Having well cooked the flesh of a black antelope that child, the good, virtuous, handsome son of Āyu, resembling a god, and endowed with godly qualities, was cleverly protected by her (i.e. that female attendant). With that meat which was well cooked, well dressed, boiled and tasty, the cook very gladly fed that wicked (demon) after talking to him. The demon ate that tasty and sweet meat. He was full of joy also. He went to Aśokasundarī .
5-6. With his mind overcome with passion he quickly said to her: “O auspicious one, your husband, Āyu’s son, has been eaten up by me. O you of a charming body, resort to me only, and enjoy pleasures as desired by you. What will you do with that human being that is (already) dead?”
7-8a. Having heard (these words) the helpless daughter of Śiva replied: “The ageless and faultless husband is given to me by deities. Even the magnanimous gods have not perceived his death.”
8b-10a. Hearing these words of (i.e. spoken by) her, that demon of wicked deeds, repeatedly laughing, said to her: “O beautiful lady, today only I ate up the flesh of the wicked Nahuṣa , Āyu’s son, as soon as he was born.”
10b-12. She, having heard these words, became extremely and fearfully angry. She who (always) stood by truth, and was purified by penance said: “With my mind restrained, I have practised penance. Āyu’s son shall truly live long. O you of wicked deeds, if you desire to live, go from here. Otherwise, I will again curse you.”
13-15. These (words addressed) by her to the king were heard by the cook. (He said:) “O great king, leave her, and resort to someone else.” The wicked-hearted demon, Huṇḍa , directed by him quickly went out to his own wife. He did not at all know the thing which the female attendant and the cook had done. He told the whole account to his wife.
Sūta said :
16-22a. That helpless Aśokasundarī, thinking about her dear lover and tormented by grief and sorrow, became emaciated due to that great (i.e. severe) penance. Repeatedly she thought: ‘What would the demons, who know the means, not cleverly do by various means, and by exertion? The best demons always live in various states of being. By the application of illusory methods I was formerly kidnapped by the demon. Like that the son of Āyu might have been killed. Thinking that luckily he might have been unharmed, he would even observe with great effort whether he has or has not perished. Is the exertion superior? Or is the fruit of deeds superior? How would an object, that is to be, perish? Thence the Veda stands firmly. The speciality is conceived by gods. How will it be otherwise?’
22b-24. The noble one again and again thought like this. (At that time) a kinnara named Vidvara, belonging to a great family, having a large body, having half human body (but) without wings, having two hands, and a flute in one hand, adorned with necklaces and bracelets, with his body besmeared with divine sandal (-paste), came (there) with his wife.
25-37. He said to that unhappy daughter of Śiva: “O respectable lady, what are you thinking about? Know me, who have come here, to be Vidvara, a kinnara and Viṣṇu ’s devotee, sent by best gods. You need not at all be sorry about Nahuṣa. That sinful Huṇḍa has done every act to kill that intelligent (Nahuṣa); and O auspicious one, he has kidnapped Āyu’s son (i.e. Nahuṣa); but he has been protected by the gods by various means. O you auspicious one of large eyes, Huṇḍa thinks like this: ‘I have kidnapped Āyu’s son and have eaten him up.’ That mean demon left after having told you (like this). That your very glorious husband will live due to the ripening of his own deeds and merit earned in his former existence. O glorious one, the wicked, very sinful killers, contaminating others’ lustre, everyday show forth to destroy the glory of those to destroy whose life produced due to the strength of their merit earned by themselves (in the former existence), they desire. By many means like poison and weapons they then desire to kill the meritorious person protected by means of meritorious deeds. O glorious one, the great sinners like Huṇḍa harass, with many kinds of delusions and obstructions, full of power, the meritorious one, who is well-protected by the employment of (i.e. because of his having done) good deeds and religious merit. O auspicious one, means—like amulets, spells, charms, weapons, fire, poison, binding—become useless. (Deities) protect the magnanimous one who is (already) well protected by divine merit. The doers of (charms etc.) are reduced to ashes, (while), he, the meritorious one, remains (unharmed).
38-47. O auspicious one, all deities are the protectors of Āyu’s son. He is the store of religious merit and the treasure of penance. Therefore the brave Nahuṣa, the best among the mighty, is protected by means of that truthfulness, panance, merit, controls and restraints. Do not have agonizing pain; give up your groundless sorrow. The religious-minded one is living in a forest even without his mother and father. He lives alone in a forest, (is) looked after by ascetics. He knows the philosophy of the Vedas and the Vedāṅgas and has mastered archery. O you of a beautiful (i.e. slender) waist, as the moon shines with his digits and lustre, he is shining with his arts. He, the killer of his brave enemies, the killer of his foes and dear to gods, shines by means of his lores, great religious merit, penance and glory also. He will have you after killing Huṇḍa, the lord of demons. The great devotee will be the sole ruler of the earth along with you, as Indra is in heaven. O auspicious one, from him you will obtain a good son, resembling Indra, knowing Dharma , eagerly engaged in protecting his subjects, named Yayāti ; also a hundred daughters endowed with beauty, generosity and (other) virtues, due to whose merit you will go to Indra’s heaven. O you respectable lady, Nahuṣa of a virtuous valour will enjoy Indra’s position.
48-54. Your son will be religious-minded Yayāti, the great king, protector of the subjects and very kind to all beings. He will have four sons of great prowess, endowed with strength and valour and masters of archery: The first will be Turu, the second will be Puru , the third will be Uru, and the fourth will be brave Yadu . Like this, the sons will be very brave, lustrous, very powerful, noble, and endowed with full lustre. Yadu’s sons will be brave, valourous like lions. Well-being to you. Now listen to their names when I am telling them to you: Bhoja , Bhīmaka and Andhaka and Kuñjara also. (The fifth one) will be Vṛṣṇi by name, religious-minded and prop of truth. The sixth will be Śrutasena , and the seventh will be Śrutadhara . (The eighth will be) Kāladaṃṣṭra , very powerful, mighty and conqueror of (even) Death in a battle.
55-60. O you of an excellent face, Yadu’s sons called Yādavas will be very brave. They will have thousands of sons and grandsons. O respectable lady, such will be the dynasty of Nahuṣa. Thus giving up sorrow, proceed happily. O you of an auspicious face, having killed the demon Huṇḍa, your very wise husband will come (to you) and will marry you. Hot tears due to grief fall from the eyes of Indumatī . He, the remover of the pride (of the haughty), will wipe them. Having made his father happy he will protect his subjects. O auspicious one, I have told you all this that the gods had said. Giving up your grief and sorrow, carry on happily.”
Aśokasundarī said :
61. If he is ordained to be my husband by the deities when will he come? O you who know Dharma, tell me the truth; increase my happiness.
Vidvara said :
62. O beautiful lady, listen. You will soon see your husband.
Speaking like this, the gandharva (? kinnara) went to the abode of gods.
63. Aśokasundarī, the daughter of Śiva, giving up desires, anger and greed, practised penance there only.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43147, revision 335632 (2022-04-12T03:48:45Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365202.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.