Lomasha said: -
1. O descendant of Bharata, the son of the great Rishi Bhrigu was Chyavana by name. That greatly effulgent one practised asceticism near the yonder lake.
2. O Pandava, O king, that greatly powerful one sat in the posture called Vira. He remained for a long period of time in this one posture.
3. O king, after the lapse of a long time he was covered with an ant-hill which was in its turn covered with creepers. Crowds of ants enveloped him.
4. Covered all over with ants and looking like a heap of earth, that greatly intelligent one performed severe austerities.
5. Then after the lapse of a long time the king named Sharyati came to sport in this charming and excellent lake.
6. O descendant of Bharata, with him were four thousand women, all wedded to him. There was also with him his daughter of beautiful brows, named Sukanya.
7. Surrounded by her companions and adorned with beautiful ornaments, she came to the ant-hill within which Bhrigu’s son was seated.
8. Accompanied by her maids, she began to sport there, seeing the beautiful scenery and looking at the large trees that stood in the forest.
9. She was handsome, she was young, she was amorous and she was frolic-some. She began to break the trees that were full of blossoms.
10. The intelligent son of Bhrigu saw her alone without her maids. Adorned with ornaments and clad in one cloth she was wandering about (in the forest) like a flash of lightning.
11. Seeing her sporting in the lonely forest, the greatly effulgent Brahmana Rishi, endued with the ascetic prowess, was filled with desire.
12. He addressed that blessed lady, but she did not hear him. Then Sukanya saw the eyes of Bhrigu's son within the ant-hill.
13. Out of curiosity she lost her sense; and saying “what is this,” she pierced the eyes with a thorn.
14. His eyes being thus pierced, he felt great pain and became very angry. He then stopped the calls of nature of the troops of Sharjati.
15. Their state thus becoming deplorable, they were greatly afflicted. Seeing this the king asked.
16. “Who has done injury to the illustrious son of Bhrigu, who is old, who is ever engaged in asceticism and who is of wrathful temper?
17. If you know it, tell me without the least delay.” Thereupon all the soldiers said, “We do not know who has done this harm (to the Rishi).
18. Do whatever you please and make a searching enquiry into this matter.” Thereupon that king, using both menace and conciliation.
19-20. Asked about the matter, his friends. But they could not tell him anything. Seeing the soldiers in great sorrow on account of their great distress and her father aggrieved, Sukanya thus spoke, “While roving in the forest, I saw something brilliant within the ant-hill.
21. Believing it to be a fire fly, I pierced it with the thorn.” Having heard this, Sharyati immediately went to the ant-hill.
22. There did he see Bhrigu’s son, old both in years and asceticism. That ruler of earth then with joined hands prayed thus for his favour.
23. “You should pardon me for what has been done by this girl out of ignorance.” The son of Bhrigu Chyavana then thus spoke to that ruler of earth.
24-25. “O king, this one, filled with pride, has insulted me by piercing (my eyes). Even her, endued as she is with beauty and devoid of all sense by ignorance and temptation, even this daughter of yours, I must have for my wife. I tell you truly, I can pardon you only on this condition.”
26. Having heard the words of the Rishi, Sharyati without pausing for consideration at once bestowed his daughter on the high-souled Chyavana.
27. Having received that maiden, the exalted one was pleased (with the king). Having obtained the Rishi's grace, the king with his soldiers then went to his own city.
28. The faultless Sukanya also, having obtained that ascetic for her husband, began to wait upon him by practising asceticism and observing the ordinances.
29. The beautiful-featured one, that guileless lady, worshipped Chyavana and waited upon his guests and ministers to the sacred fire.
Thus ends the hundred and twenty-second chapter, the history of Sukanya, in the Tirthayatra of the Vana Parva.
Lomasha said: -
1. O king, once on a time, the (two) celestials the Ashvins saw Sukanya, when she had bathed and when she had no clothes on her person.
2. Having seen that charming damsel who resembled a daughter of the celestials king, the horse-born Ashvins came to her and thus spoke to her.
3. “O lady of tapering thighs, whose daughter are you? What are you doing in this forest? O blessed one, O beautiful damsel, we desire to know this. Therefore, tell us.”
4. Thereupon Sukanya filled with bashfulness thus spoke to those foremost of celestials, “I am the daughter of Sharyati and I am the wife of Chyavana.”
5. Ashvins then again spoke to her with smiles, “O auspicious one, why has your father bestowed you on a man who is verging on death?
6. O timid one, you shine in this forest like the flashing lightning. O beautiful lady, we have never seen any one like you even in the celestial region.
7. O blessed one, unadorned with ornaments and unclad in beautiful robes as you are, you beautify the frost more by your unadorned beauty.
8. O lady of faultless limbs, you cannot (however) look so beautiful besmeared as you are with mud and dirt as you would if adorned with ornaments and clad in gorgeous costume.
9. O auspicious one, becoming such why do you serve a decrepit old husband, one that has become incapable of realising pleasure.
10. O lady of sweet smiles, one who in incapable of protecting and supporting you? Therefore, abandoning Chyavana, accept one of us as your husband.
11. Making up your mind, invite your husband (from among us two). Do not spend your youth uselessly.” Having been thus addressed, Sukanya thus spoke to the celestials.
12. “I am devoted to my husband Chyavana. Do not entertain any doubts about it.” To her again they spoke thus, “We two are the celestial physicians.
13. We shall make your husband young and handsome. Then from among us three, you shall select one of us as your husband.
14. O blessed one, promising this, bring your husband here.”O king, she went at their word to Bhrigu's son.
15. And told the son of Bhrigu what the two celestials had said. Having heard this, Chyavana said, “Do it.”
16. Having obtained her husband’s permission, she came (back to Aswinas) and said, “Do it”. Having heard her words, the Aswinas did it.
17. They then thus spoke to that princess, “Let your husband enter into water. Thereupon Chyavana with the desire of becoming handsome soon entered the water.
18. O king, the two Ashvins also entered into the lake. A few minutes after they all came out from the lake.
19. Becoming exceedingly beautiful, young and wearing brilliant ear-rings, all assuming the same appearance delightful to the heart.
20-21. They then all said to her “O blessed lady, O fortunate one, O beautiful damsel, chose one of us as your husband. O beautiful featured lady, select him for your husband who may be liked by you.” But seeing then all of the same appearance.
22. She paused and pondered. At last she ascertained who was her husband and selected him. Having obtained his wife and the beauty that he desired, Chyavana.
23. Of exceeding prowess, cheerfully spoke these words to the horse-born deities. “Since being an old man I have obtained from your youth and beauty and also my wife.
24. I shall make you two the drinkers of the Soma juice even in the presence of the king of the celestials.”
25. Having heard this, the two (Ashvins) cheerfully went to heaven. Chyavana and Sukanya also passed happily their days like (two) celestials.
Thus ends the hundred and twenty-third chapter, the history of Sukanya, in the Tirthayatra of the Vana Parva.