स कदाचिदथो राजा श्रीमानमितविक्रमः। चचार मृगयां पार्थ पर्वतोपवने किल
Once, that illustrious and unconquerable king, O Partha, went hunting in a forest at the foot of the mountains.
चरतो मृगयां तस्य क्षुत्पिपासासमन्वितः। ममार राज्ञः कौन्तेय गिरावप्रतिमो हयः
While he was engaged in the hunt, afflicted by hunger and thirst, O son of Kunti, the king’s incomparable horse died on the mountain.
स मृताश्वश्चरन्पार्थ पद्भ्यामेव गिरौ नृपः। ददर्शासदृशीं लोके कन्यामायतलोचनाम्
Then, wandering on foot upon the mountain, the king, O Partha, saw a maiden with wide eyes, unmatched in the world.
स एव एकामासाद्य कन्यां परबलार्दनः। तस्थौ नृपतिशार्दूलः पश्यन्नविचलेक्षणः
Having come upon that one maiden alone, the subduer of enemy hosts, that tiger among kings, stood gazing at her, his eyes unmoving.
स हि तां तर्कयामास रूपतो नृपतिः श्रियम्। पुनः संतर्कयामास रवेर्भ्रष्टामिव प्रभाम्
The king considered her beauty to be fortune itself; again, he thought she was like the radiance fallen from the sun.
वपुषा वर्चसा चैव शिखामिव विभावसोः। प्रसन्नत्वेन कान्त्या च चन्द्ररेखामिवामलाम्
In form and in splendor she was like the flame of fire; in serenity and in luster, like a spotless crescent moon.
गिरिपृष्ठे तु सा यस्मिन्स्थिता स्वसितलोचना। विभ्राजमाना शुशुभे प्रतिमेव हिरण्मयी
Standing on the mountain slope, that large-eyed maiden shone resplendently, like a golden image.
तस्या रूपेण स गिरिर्वेषेण च विशेषतः। ससवृक्षक्षुपलतो हिरण्मय इवाभवत्
Because of her beauty, and especially her attire, the mountain, with its trees, creepers, and plants, appeared as if made of gold.
अवमेने च तां दृष्ट्वा सर्वलोकेषु योषितः। अवाप्तं चात्मनो मेने स राजा चक्षुषः फलं
Seeing her, he disregarded all other women in the world; and the king thought he had attained the very fruit of his eyes.
जन्मप्रभृति यत्किचिंद्दृष्टवान्स महीपतिः। रूपं न सदृशं तस्यास्तर्कयामास किंचन
From birth onward, whatever form the king had seen, he considered none equal to hers.
तया बद्धमनश्चक्षुः पाशैर्गुणमयैस्तदा। न चचाल ततो देशाद्बुबुधे न च किंचन
His mind and eyes were bound by her, caught in the cords of her qualities; he did not move from that place, nor was he aware of anything else.
अस्या नूनं विशालाक्ष्याः सदेवासुरमानुषम्। लोकं निर्मथ्य धात्रेदं रूपमाविष्कृतं कृतम्
Surely, after churning the world of gods, asuras, and humans, the Creator has manifested this form of the wide-eyed one.
एवं संतर्कयामास रूपद्रविणसंपदा। कन्यामसदृशीं लोके नृपः संवरणस्तदा
Thus, King Samvarana pondered: in beauty, wealth, and fortune, there is no maiden like her in the world.
तां च दृष्ट्वैव कल्याणीं कल्याणाभिजनो नृपः। जगाम मनसा चिन्तां कामबाणेन पीडितः
Seeing that auspicious maiden, the king of noble lineage was seized in his heart by longing, pierced by the arrow of desire.
दह्यमानः स तीव्रेण नृपतिर्मन्मथाग्निना। अप्रगल्भां प्रगल्भस्तां तदोवाच मनोहराम्
Burning with the fierce fire of love, the king, though usually bold, now spoke hesitantly to that captivating maiden.
काऽसि कस्यासि रम्भोरु किमर्थं चेह तिष्ठसि। कथं च निर्जनेऽरण्ये चरस्येका शुचिस्मिते
Who are you? Whose are you, O slender-thighed one? For what purpose do you stand here? And how do you wander alone in this lonely forest, O pure-smiling one?
त्वं हि सर्वानवद्याङ्गी सर्वाभरणभूषिता। विभूषणमिवैतेषां भूषणानामभीप्सितम्
You, flawless in every limb and adorned with all ornaments, are like the ornament desired by these very ornaments.
न देवीं नासुरीं चैव न यक्षीं न च राक्षसीम्। न च भोगवतीं मन्ये न गन्धवीं न मानुषीम्
I do not think you are a goddess, nor an asura, nor a yakshi, nor a rakshasi; nor do I think you are a naga maiden, a gandharvi, or a human woman.
या हि दृष्टा मया काश्चिच्छ्रुता वाऽपि वराङ्गनाः। न तासां सदृशीं मन्ये त्वामहं मत्तकाशिनि
O radiant one, among all the noble women I have seen or heard of, I do not consider any of them to be your equal.
दृष्ट्वैव चारुवदने चन्द्रात्कान्ततरं तव। वदनं पद्मपत्राक्षं मां मथ्नातीव मन्मथः
Just by seeing your lovely face, more lustrous than the moon, with eyes like lotus petals, love overwhelms me.
एवं तां स महीपालो बभाषे न तु सा तदा। कामार्तं निर्जनेऽरण्ये प्रत्यबाषथ किंचन
Thus the king spoke to her, but she, in that lonely forest, did not reply at all to the love-stricken man.
ततो लालप्यमानस्य पार्थिवस्यायतेक्षणा। सौदामिनीव चाभ्रेषु तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Then, as the king pleaded, she of wide eyes vanished there itself among the clouds, like a flash of lightning.
तामन्वेष्टुं स नृपतिः परिचक्राम सर्वतः। वनं वनजपत्राक्षीं भ्रमन्नुन्मत्तवत्तदा
The king wandered everywhere in the forest, searching for the lotus-eyed woman, roaming about like one mad.
अपश्यमानः स तु तां बहु तत्र विलप्य च। निश्चेष्टः पार्थिवश्रेष्ठो मुहूर्तं स व्यतिष्ठत
Not seeing her, and lamenting greatly, the best of kings stood motionless for a moment.
अथ तस्यामदृश्यायां नृपतिः काममोहितः। पातनः शत्रुसङ्घानां पपात धरणीतले
Then, as she became invisible, the king, bewildered by desire, fell to the ground.
तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमावथ सा चारुहासिनी। पुनः पीनायतश्रोणी दर्शयामास तं नृपम्
As he lay fallen on the earth, she of lovely smile and broad hips appeared again before the king.
अथाबभाषे कल्याणी वाचा मधुरया नृपम्। तं कुरूणां कुलकरं कामाभिहतचेतसम्
Then the auspicious one addressed the king, the glory of the Kurus, whose heart was struck by desire, with sweet words.
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं तपती हसतीव सा। उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भद्रं ते न त्वमर्हस्यरिन्दम
Tapatī, as if smiling, spoke sweetly: 'Rise, rise! Good fortune to you. You are not fit for delusion, O subduer of foes.'
मोहं नृपतिशार्दूल गन्तुमाविष्कृतः क्षितौ। एवमुक्तोऽथ नृपतिर्वाचा मधुरया तदा
O tiger among kings, you are not meant to fall into delusion on the earth. Thus addressed with sweet words, the king then—
ददर्श विपुलश्रोणीं तामेवाभिमुखे स्थिताम्। अथ तामसितापाङ्गीमाबभाषे स पार्थिवः
Saw her, with broad hips, standing before him; then the king spoke to her, she of dark eyes.