सा तत्र गत्वा कुशला तपोनित्यस्य संनिधौ। आश्रमं तं समासाद्य ददर्श तमृषेः सुतम्
She, skilled and arriving at the presence of the ever-ascetic, reached the hermitage and saw the sage's son.
कच्चिन्मुने कुशलं तापसानां कच्चिच्च वो मूलफलं प्रभूतम्। कच्चिद्भवान्रमते चाश्रेऽस्मिं- स्त्वां वै द्रष्टुं सांप्रतमागतास्मि
O sage, is all well with the ascetics? Is there an abundance of roots and fruits for you? Do you find pleasure in this hermitage? I have come now to see you.
कच्चित्तपो वर्धते तापसानां पिता च ते कच्चिदहीनतेजाः। कच्चित्त्वया प्रीयतेचैव विप्र कच्चित्स्वाध्यायः क्रियते चर्श्यशृङ्गः
Is the ascetics' austerity increasing? Is your father still possessed of his vigor? Does he delight in you, O Brahmin? Is your study and practice maintained, O Rishyasringa?
ऋद्ध्या भवाञ्ज्योतिरिव प्रकाशते मन्ये चाहं त्वामभिवादनीयम्। पाद्यं वै ते संप्रदास्यामि कामा- द्यथाधर्मं फलमूलानि चैव
You shine with prosperity like a radiant light; I consider you worthy of reverence. I will offer you water for washing your feet, as well as roots and fruits according to proper conduct.
कौश्यां बृस्यामास्स्व यथोपजोषं कृष्णाजिनेनावृतायां सुखाय। क्व चाश्रमस्तव किं नाम चेदं व्रतंब्रह्मंश्चरसि हि देववत्त्वम्
Rest here on the grass mat as you wish, covered with this black antelope skin for comfort. Where is your hermitage, and what is its name? What vow, O Brahmin, do you observe here, for you seem to live like a god?
ममाश्रमः काश्यपपुत्र रम्य- स्त्रियोजनं शैलमिमं परेण। तत्रस्वधर्मोऽनभिवादनं नो न चोदकं पाद्यमुपस्पृशामः
My hermitage, O son of Kasyapa, is delightful and lies three yojanas beyond this mountain. There, our custom is not to offer greetings, nor do we provide water for washing the feet or for sipping.
भवता नाभिवाद्योऽहमभिवाद्यो भवान्मया। व्रतमेतादृशं ब्रह्मन्परिष्वज्यो भवान्मया
You are not to be greeted by me, nor am I to be greeted by you; such is our vow, O Brahmin. Instead, you are to be embraced by me.
फलानि पक्वानि ददानि तेऽहं भल्लातकान्यामलकानि चैव। करूषकानीङ्गुदधन्वनानि प्रियालानां काङ्क्षितं वै कुरुष्व
I shall give you ripe fruits—bhallataka, amalaki, karushaka, inguda, and dhanvana fruits. Please take whatever you desire among these priyala fruits.
सा तानि सर्वाणि विसर्जयित्वा भक्ष्याण्यनर्हाणि ददौ ततोऽस्मै। तान्यृश्यशृङ्गाय महारसानि भृशं सुरूपाणि च मोदकानि
She set aside all those unfit to be eaten and then gave him the best, most delicious, and beautiful sweets to Rishyasringa.
ददौ च माल्यानि सुगन्धवन्ति चित्राणि वासांसि च भानुमन्ति। पेयानि चाग्र्याणि ततो मुमोद चिक्रीड चैव प्रजहास चैव
She also gave him fragrant garlands, splendid and colorful garments, and excellent drinks. Then she rejoiced, played, and laughed with delight.
सा कन्दुकेनारमतास्य मूले विभज्यमाना फलिता लतेव। गात्रैश्च गात्राणि निषेवमाणा समाश्लिषच्चासकृदृश्यशृङ्गम्
She played with a ball at the foot of the tree, like a blossoming creeper divided by its branches, and, touching his limbs with hers, she embraced Rishyasringa again and again.
सर्जानशोकांस्तिलकांश्च वृक्षा- न्सुपुष्पितानवनाम्यावभज्य। विलज्जमानेव मदाभिभूता प्रोभयामास सुतं महर्षेः
She broke off well-blossomed trees—sarja, ashoka, and tilaka—bending them down, and, though overcome by passion, she feigned modesty as she enticed the sage's son.
अथर्श्यशृङ्गं विकृतंसमीक्ष्य पुनः पुनः पीञ्य च कायमस्य। अवेक्ष्यमाणा शनकैर्जगाम कृत्वाऽग्निहोत्रस्य तदाऽपदेशम्
Then, seeing Rishyasringa bewildered, she repeatedly pressed his body, and, glancing at him slowly, she departed after instructing him in the ritual of the fire-offering.
तस्यां गतायां मदनेन मत्तो विचेतनश्चाभवदृश्यशृङ्गः। तामेव भावेन गतेन शून्ये विनिःश्वसन्नार्तरूपो बभूव
When she had gone, Rishyasringa, overcome by desire, lost his senses. In her absence, he sighed deeply and appeared tormented.
ततो मुहूर्ताद्धरिपिङ्गलाक्षः प्रवेष्टितो रोमभिरानखाग्रात्। स्वाध्यायवान्वृत्तसमाधियुक्तो विभाण्डकः काश्यपः प्रादुरासीत्
After a short while, Vibhandaka, the Kasyapa, tawny-eyed and with hair bristling from head to toe, appeared, engaged in recitation and absorbed in discipline.
सोऽपश्यदासीनमुपेत्य पुत्रं ध्यायन्तमेकं विपरीतचित्तम्। विनिःश्वसन्तं मुहुरूर्ध्वदृष्टिं विभाण्कः पुत्रमुवाच दीनम्
He saw his son sitting alone, lost in thought, his mind disturbed, sighing repeatedly and gazing upward. Vibhandaka spoke to his dejected son.
न कल्पिताः समिधः किंनु तात कच्चिद्धुतं चाग्निहोऽत्रं त्वयाऽद्य। `न संसृष्टं क्रियते द्वारभागे सुवृक्षाणा खण्डने कः प्रवृत्तः
My son, why have you not prepared the sacred sticks? Have you performed the fire-offering today? Why is the entrance not swept, and who has been cutting the good trees?
सुनिर्णिक्तं स्रुक्स्रुवं होमधेनुः कच्चित्सवत्साद्यकृता त्वया च। `कोप्यागतः शुश्रूषणायेह पुत्र कुतश्चित्रं माल्यमिदं प्रवृद्धम्
Are the ladles and vessels well cleaned, and is the sacrificial cow with her calf cared for by you? Has someone come here seeking service, my son? And where did these splendid garlands come from?
न वै यथापूर्वमिवासि पुत्र चिन्तापरश्चासि विचेतनश्च। दीनोतिमात्रं किमिवाद्य खिन्नः पृच्छामि त्वां क इहाद्यागतोऽभूत्
You are not as you were before, my son; you are lost in thought and distracted. Why are you so dejected and distressed today? Tell me, who has come here today?
इहागतो जटिलो ब्रह्मचारी न वै ह्रस्वो नातिदीर्घो मनस्वी। सुवर्णवर्णः कमलायताक्षः सुतः सुराणामवि शोभमानः
A matted-haired celibate has come here—neither short nor too tall, strong-minded, golden-complexioned, with lotus-like eyes, radiant like a son of the gods.
समृद्धरूपः सवितेव दीप्तः सुश्लक्ष्णवाक्कृष्णतारश्चकोरात्। नीलाः प्रसन्नाश्च जटाः सुगन्धा हिरण्यरज्जुग्रथिताः सुदीर्घाः
He is handsome and resplendent like the sun, with smooth speech, dark pupils like a chakora bird. His matted locks are blue, fragrant, very long, and bound with golden cords.
आधारभूतः पुनरस्य कण्ठे विभ्राजते विद्युदिवान्तरिक्षे। द्वौ चास् पिण्डावधरेण कण्ठा- दजातरोमौ सुमनोहरौ च
Around his neck shines a support, like lightning in the daytime sky. Below his neck are two lumps, hairless and very attractive.
विलग्नमध्यश्च स नाभिदेशे कटिश्च तस्यातिकृतप्रमाणा। तथाऽस् चीरान्तरतः प्रभाति हिरण्मयी मेखला मे यथेयम्
His waist is slender at the navel, and his hips are exceedingly broad; likewise, beneath his garment shines a golden girdle, just like mine.
अन्यच्च तस्याद्भुतदर्शनीयं विकूजितं पादयोः संप्रभाति। पाण्योश्च तद्वत्स्वनवन्निबद्धौ कलापकावक्षमाला यथेयम्
Moreover, something wondrous is seen: a melodious sound arises from his feet; and, similarly, on his hands, newly bound garlands and bead-strings shine, just as mine do.
विचेष्टमानस्य च तस्य तानि कूजन्ति हंसाः सरसीव मत्ताः। चीराणि तस्याद्भुतदर्शनानि नेमानि तद्वन्मम रूपवन्ति
As he moves, those sounds resound like intoxicated swans in a lake; his garments are marvelously beautiful, and these here are likewise lovely, just as mine.
वक्रं च तस्याद्भुतदर्सनीयं प्रव्याहृतं ह्लादयतीव चेतः। पिंस्कोकिलस्येव च तस्य वाणि तां शृण्वतो मे व्यथितोऽन्तरात्मा
His speech, curved and wondrous to behold, is uttered with delight, and his voice is like that of a cuckoo; hearing it, my inner self is stirred.
यथा वनं माधवमासिमध्ये समीरीतं श्वसनेनेव भाति। तथा स भात्युत्तमपुण्यगन्धी निषेव्यमाणः पवनेन तात
Just as a Madhava forest in spring is stirred by the wind and shines, so he shines, fragrant with supreme virtue, as the breeze passes over him, dear one.
सुसंवताश्चापि जटा विभक्ता द्वैधीकृता भातिललाटदेशे। कर्णौ च चित्रैरिव चक्रवाकैः समावृतौ तस्य सुरूपवद्भिः
His matted locks are well arranged and divided, shining on his forehead; his ears are adorned as if with beautiful chakravaka birds.
तथा फलं वृत्तमथो विचित्रं समाहतं पाणिना दक्षिणेन। तद्भूमिमासाद्य पुनःपुनश्च समुत्पतत्यद्भुतरूपमुच्चैः
A round and wondrous fruit, struck by his right hand, falls to the ground and again leaps up, marvelously high.
तच्चाभिहत्वा परिवर्ततेऽसौ वातेरितो वृक्ष इवावघूर्णम्। तं प्रेक्षतः पुत्रमिवामराणां प्रीतिः परा तात रतिश्च जाता
Striking it, he turns it over, tossed by the wind like a tree swaying; watching him, as one would a son of the gods, I felt supreme joy and delight.