इत्युक्त्वा स तु वैतालो नृपतिं प्राह नम्रधीः
Having said this, the Vetāla humbly addressed the king.
नृपस्यैवोपकारं च स्वभावो विधिना कृतः
The king's nature to help others was established by destiny.
पतिव्रताप्रभावेन जीवदानेन भूपतेः
By the power of a devoted wife and by the gift of life from the king,
निर्भयः शंखचूडस्तु स्वशत्रुं प्रति चागमत्
Śaṃkhacūḍa, now fearless, approached his enemy.
चंद्रशेखरभूपस्य नगरी दक्षिणे स्थिता
To the south of the city of King Candraśekhara,
रत्नदत्तोवसद्वैश्यो धर्मज्ञो धनधान्यवान्
There lived a merchant named Ratnadatta, righteous and rich in wealth and grain.
तद्रूपमुत्तमं दृष्ट्वा स वैश्यो भूपतिं प्रति
Seeing that excellent form, the merchant approached the king.
तां गृहाण कृपासिंधो त्वद्योग्या विधिनिर्मिता
Take her, O ocean of compassion; she is suitable for you, created by fate.
मंत्रिणं विदुरं प्राह त्वं च गच्छ महामते
He spoke to the minister Vidura: 'You also go, O wise one.'
इत्युक्त्वा स ययौ गेहं भूपतिश्चंद्रशेखरः। श्यामला नाम तत्पत्नी ज्ञात्वा राजानमागतम्
Having said this, King Candraśekhara went home; his wife, named Śyāmalā, knowing the king had arrived,
धूपदीपादिभिः पुष्पैर्यथायोग्यैः समार्चयत्
Worshipped him with incense, lamps, flowers, and other appropriate offerings.
हंभाशब्देन महता विललाप भयातुरा
Out of great fear, she wailed with a loud cry of 'haṃbhā.'
शीघ्रं हत्वा तु शार्दूलं मुमोद नृपतिस्तदा
Having quickly slain the tiger, the king rejoiced at that time.
भूपतिं प्राह नम्रात्मा धर्मज्ञं चंद्रशेखरम् १
With a humble heart, he addressed King Candraśekhara, who knows righteousness.
प्रह्रादस्यैव शापेन व्याघ्रदेहत्वमागतः
By the curse of Prahlada, he obtained the body of a tiger.
नृपतिर्गृहमागत्य सुष्वाप परया मुदा
The king, having come home, slept soundly with great joy.
नृपोक्तः स ययौ तत्र यत्र कामावरूथिनी
As instructed by the king, he went there where the woman of desire was staying.
अस्या मूर्तिप्रभावेन राजासौ मोहमाप्स्यति
By the power of her form, that king will fall into delusion.
तथा मत्वा स नृपतिर्न विवाहमथाकरोत्
Thinking thus, the king did not perform the marriage.
बलभद्रस्य सा पत्नी बभूव वरवर्णिनी
She of excellent complexion became the wife of Balabhadra.
मोहितः कामबाणेन मूर्च्छितः पतितो भुवि
Struck by the arrow of desire, bewildered, he fainted and fell to the ground.
शिबिकां चैव संस्थाप्य सभायां च समैरयत्
He arranged for a palanquin and had it brought into the assembly.
कस्येयं सुन्दरी भार्या कुतो जाता महोत्तमा
Whose beautiful wife is this? From where has this most excellent woman come?
ममेयं सुन्दरी नारी रत्नदत्तस्य सा सुता
This beautiful woman is mine; she is the daughter of Ratnadatta.
मम दासस्य या पत्नी त्वद्योग्या भूपते सदा
The wife of my servant is always suitable for you, O king.
इत्युक्तः क्रोधताम्राक्षो भूपतिस्तमुवाच ह
Thus addressed, the king, his eyes red with anger, spoke to him.
गृह्णामि यदि तां देवीं नरके यमकिंकराः
If I take that lady, the servants of Yama will drag me to hell.
इत्युक्त्वा भूपतिस्तूर्णं विरहाग्निप्रपीडितः
Having said this, the king, tormented by the fire of separation, acted quickly.
इत्युक्त्वा स तु वैतालो नृपं प्राह शृणुष्व भोः
Having said this, the Vetala then spoke to the king: 'Listen, O king.'
सेनापतिस्तु तत्रैव भस्मसादभवत्क्षणात्
Right there, the commander of the army was reduced to ashes in an instant.