Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.3.16
तान् निरीक्ष्य वरारोहा सरूपान् सूर्यवर्चस: ।
अजानती पतिं साध्वी अश्विनौ शरणं ययौ ॥ १६ ॥
tān nirīkṣya varārohā
[taan nireekshya varaarohaa]
sarūpān sūrya-varcasaḥ
[saroopaan soorya-varchasah]
ajānatī patiṁ sādhvī
[ajaanatee patim saadhvee]
aśvinau śaraṇaṁ yayau
[ashvinau sharanam yayau]
Word-for-word
tān
—
unto them
nirīkṣya
—
after observing
vara-ārohā
—
that beautiful Sukanyā
sa-rūpān
—
all of them equally beautiful
sūrya-varcasaḥ
—
with a bodily effulgence like the effulgence of the sun
ajānatī
—
not knowing
patim
—
her husband
sādhvī
—
that chaste woman
aśvinau
—
unto the Aśvinī-kumāras
śaraṇam
—
shelter
yayau
—
took.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tān nirīkṣya varārohā
tān
unto them
nirīkṣya
after observing
vara-ārohā
that beautiful Sukanyā
sarūpān sūrya-varcasaḥ
sa-rūpān
all of them equally beautiful
sūrya-varcasaḥ
with a bodily effulgence like the effulgence of the sun
ajānatī patiṁ sādhvī
ajānatī
not knowing
patim
her husband
sādhvī
that chaste woman
aśvinau śaraṇaṁ yayau
aśvinau
unto the Aśvinī-kumāras
śaraṇam
shelter
yayau
took.
The chaste and very beautiful Sukanyā could not distinguish her husband from the two Aśvinī-kumāras, for they were equally beautiful. Not understanding who her real husband was, she took shelter of the Aśvinī-kumāras.
Purport
Sukanyā could have selected any one of them as her husband, for one could not distinguish among them, but because she was chaste, she took shelter of the Aśvinī-kumāras so that they could inform her who her actual husband was. A chaste woman will never accept any man other than her husband, even if there be someone equally as handsome and qualified.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Beautiful Sukanyā could not distinguish her husband from the two Aśvinī-kumāras, for they were equally beautiful. Not understanding who her real husband was, she took shelter of the Aśvinī-kumāras.
They said, “Please accept your husband, recognizing him among us three.” “Among you, you two Āśvini-kumāras should by merciful and show me my husband.” This is the meaning of “taking shelter of the Aśvimi-kumāras.”
Personal Guidance
Sukanyā refuses to guess and takes shelter of the Aśvins, asking them to point out her husband. When you cannot tell, ask — chastity is also intellectual honesty under confusion.
Reflection Questions
- Where am I trying to guess my way through ambiguity when the qualified would gladly tell me?
- What 'shelter' am I postponing taking out of pride in my own discernment?
My note
Source: vedabase.io