Paumacariya 24
English (machine translation) 24
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24.1
Hear what happened as he was wandering then, O lord of Magadha!
I shall relate all of it to you; listen attentively here.
24.2
In the northern direction, there was here a charming city named Kōüamaṅgala;
there lived an excellent bull of a man, rich in virtues, named Suhamaī.
24.3
His wife was Puhaïsirī, and his daughter was Kēgaī, an excellent maiden;
and his son was Dōṇamēha, filled with youth, beauty, and radiance.
24.4
Possessing the beauty of complete radiance, endowed with transcendent qualities of beauty and form,
skilled in various arts and treatises, that maiden was preeminent in intellect.
24.5
She knew dancing endowed with auspicious marks, music with all its divisions,
and especially the fourfold art of ornaments.
24.6
She knew science with all its varieties, the scriptural science of writing, all grammar,
the characteristics of elephants and horses, mathematics, metrics, and astrology;
24.7
painting, plaster modeling, leaf-cutting, culinary preparation,
the distinctions of various kinds of jewels, and the differences among flowers along with their varieties;
24.8
various perfume-mixtures, and worldly wisdom likewise in great detail;
in these and other arts, the maiden excelled.
24.9
Seeing the maiden in her fresh youth, the best of kings reflected:
"Who on the face of the earth will be a suitable groom for her?
24.10
Or let the maiden choose for herself in a svayaṁvara whoever is pleasing to her mind."
Having spoken thus, the king promptly assembled all the kings.
24.11
Dasaratha and Janaka, having met together all around there,
recognizing each other's intent, both arrived at that very place.
24.12
Seated on platforms were the best of kings, Harivāhaṇa and others,
accompanied by their entire retinues, their bodies adorned with ornaments.
24.13
That excellent maiden too, beautifully attired with all ornaments,
sung around with hundreds of auspicious songs, descended into the assembly of kings.
24.14
Flywhisks were at her sides, above was a parasol draped with pearls,
and in front, a great drum resounded with a noise like a thundercloud.
24.15
Moving with grace, the kings gazed upon her with unwinking eyes; / infatuated in an instant, many fell into complete distraction.
24.16
Looking at all those kings who were thus overwhelmed by love, / the maiden quickly placed the garland around the neck of Daśaratha.
24.17
Seeing the garland placed around Daśaratha's neck, the people said: / "In beauty he is peerless, but his lineage and family are unknown!"
24.18
Some kings among them said: "He is a suitable bridegroom, very handsome; / he has been chosen by the maiden through the influence of past karma."
24.19
Others, filled with anger, said: "Seize the maiden / from this provincial man of unknown family—quickly, do not delay!"
24.20
Then, seeing all those best of men instantly arm themselves, / King Subhamati spoke these words to his son-in-law:
24.21
"While I drive back these kings in battle with my arrows, / enter the city mounted on a chariot together with the maiden!"
24.22
Addressed thus, he then said: "Uncle, why are you dismayed? / In a short time you will see them routed at the battle-front!"
24.23
Having spoken thus, armed and mounted on an excellent chariot, / with Kaikeyī holding the reins in her hands at the seat in front,
24.24
"Where the umbrella resembling the lunar orb is seen amid the warriors, / drive the chariot swiftly toward him, O wide-eyed lady!"
24.25
Having been spoken to thus, she swiftly drove the excellent chariot with the pomp of lowered flagpole ornament / so forcefully that the entire enemy army was agitated.
24.26
As he fought in the front line of battle with arrows discharged with supreme skill of hand, / the broken warriors fled, trampling one another.
24.27
All his own warriors, rallied and urged on by Hemaprabha, / discharging a volley of arrows, fell upon Daśaratha in battle.
24.28
Surrounded in battle by elephants, excellent chariots, and horse-soldiers, / he fought without despondency of mind, discharging hundreds of weapons.
24.29
Daśaratha, mounted on his chariot, wheeled swiftly in all four directions, / striking down the excellent elephants, horses, and warriors with weapon-blows.
24.30
Seeing his army terrified and agitated, King Hemaprabha, / with his quiver fastened on, advanced before Daśaratha.
24.31
His armour and parasol pierced by arrows, Hemaprabha was rendered chariotless; / he swiftly retreated from the midst of battle along with his army.
24.32
When Hemaprabha was routed, his victory acclaimed and proclaimed by bards, / [Daśaratha] entered the city on his chariot with the maiden, confident.
24.33
Surrounded by the people, he then took her hand according to the ritual; / King Daśaratha was wedded in an abode of curiosity and auspiciousness.
24.34
Then with supreme magnificence, taking his wife and his entire retinue, / the son of Anaraṇya of widespread fame returned to Vinītā.
24.35
Daśaratha was reinstated in the great kingdom by ministers, warriors, and townsfolk; / he enjoyed an abundance of pleasures, joyful like Indra in heaven.
24.36
Janaka too, firm in courage, set out with excitement for Mithilā; / filled with delight, he again enjoyed royal bliss in superior measure.
24.37
Then once Kaikeyī was addressed by the son of King Anaraṇya: / "Gentle lady, whatever your heart desires that you ask for, I grant you.
24.38
Since this person was pleased at that time in battle by your skill as a charioteer, / ask for the reward of that service—do not delay us!"
24.39
Then Kaikeyī said: "Right now there is no purpose here for anything; / at whatever time, O king, I shall ask for it, then grant it to me!"
24.40
Accompanied by excellent young women, devoted to intense pleasures, the magnanimous king, / sung of with sweet-sounding melodies, his feet touched by the rays of warriors' crowns, / spent the rest of his time sporting, possessed of spotless fame.
24.41
Thus ends the twenty-fourth chapter, named 'The Granting of the Boon to Kaikeyī', in the Paümacariya.
Linked texts (1)
- Paümacariya — Vimalasūri, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit