शरत्पार्वणचन्द्रास्यं प्रसन्नं च प्रदर्शय
'Show me your face, serene and lovely as the full autumn moon.'
दृष्ट्वाऽऽर्त कामबाणेन मानसंक्षयकामिनी पतिस्त्वत्सदृशो नाथ कामिनीनां मनीषितः
Seeing you, wounded by the arrow of desire, my mind longs for union; a husband like you, lord, is sought by women.
बलिपुत्रोऽसि धर्मिष्ठो रूपवान्गुणवान्युवा ।। शृङ्गारनिपुणः कान्तः कामशास्त्रविशारदः
You are the son of Bali, righteous, handsome, virtuous, and young; skilled in love, charming, and expert in the arts of passion.
सदा मनोज्ञः स्त्रीणां त्वं सुवेषश्च स्वभावतः
You are always delightful to women, naturally well-adorned.
शृङ्गारज्ञं गुणज्ञं त्वां युवानं रसिकं शुचिम् दातारमनुरक्तं च कान्तमिच्छति कामिनी।।4.23.
A woman who desires union seeks a lover who knows passion, virtues, is youthful, appreciative of pleasures, pure, generous, devoted, and charming.
एते सर्वे गुणाः कान्त सन्ति कान्ते त्वयि ध्रुवम्
All these qualities, O beloved, are certainly present in you.
संतोषं ते करिष्यामि समागम्य विधोर्गृहात् अन्याश्लेषणमात्रेण भविता धर्मलङ्घना
I will bring you satisfaction by coming together from the house of the Creator; merely embracing another would be a transgression of righteousness.
याश्च धर्मान्न रक्षन्ति तासां च जीवनं वृथा ता एव मातृगर्भस्था न प्राज्ञाः पौरुषै रसैः
Those women who do not uphold righteousness, their lives are in vain; even while in the mother's womb, they are not wise nor do they relish manly pleasures.
स्ववैद्यौमदनश्चन्द्रो मरुत्वान्नलकूबरः
Kubera, Madana, Chandra, Marut, and Nalakubara—
दिवानिशं मानसं मे तेषां क्रीडां च चिन्तयेत्
Day and night, my mind contemplates their play.
चन्द्रशृङ्गारमाश्लेषमालापममृताधिकम्
The embrace of the moon, the delight of love, sweet conversation surpassing nectar—
तिलोत्तमावचः श्रुत्वा जहास बलिनन्दनः
Hearing Tilottama's words, the son of Bali laughed.
साहसिक उवाच अतो वरा चाप्सरसां विदग्धरसिकेश्वरी
Sāhasika said: Thus, among the Apsarases, you are the most skillful and lordly in the enjoyment of pleasures.
सुन्दोपसुन्दयोर्नाशः निमित्तेन प्रयत्नतः
The destruction of Sunda and Upasunda was carefully arranged for this reason.
सर्वं जानासि सर्वज्ञे विज्ञा सुरतकर्मणि 4.23.
You know everything, O all-knowing one, and are wise in the acts of love.
अतिप्रियश्च को वा च कः स्वभावो वरानने
Who, O beautiful-faced one, is exceedingly dear, and what is their nature?
गन्धर्वाणां सुराणां च राज्ञां पुण्यवतामपि
Among Gandharvas, gods, kings, and even the virtuous—
असुरस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य सा तिलोत्तमा
Hearing the words of the Asura, Tilottama laughed.
सत्यं सारमन्तरस्थमव्यक्तमतिगोपनम्
Truth is the essence within, unmanifest and deeply concealed.
स्त्रीजातीनां च सर्वासामुपहासकरं परम्
And for all women, it is the highest cause of laughter.
सर्वेषामपि दुर्ज्ञेयं चरितं योषितामपि
The conduct of women is difficult for all to comprehend.
वेदवेदाङ्गशास्त्रान्तं सर्वं जानाति पंडितः
A learned person knows the entirety of the Vedas, the Vedāṅgas, and the end of the scriptures.
विषादप्यप्रियो वृद्धो रत्नादपि च योषिताम्
An old man is disagreeable even more than poison, while a woman values jewels above all.
युवानं सुन्दरं दृष्ट्वा ह्यार्ता भवति पुंश्चली
When a woman of loose morals sees a young and handsome man, she becomes distressed.
निमेषरहिता तस्य लोचनाभ्यां पिबेन्मुखम् 4.23.
Without blinking, she drinks in his face with her eyes.
मनोऽतिलोलमस्थैर्यं सर्वाङ्गानि चकम्पिरे
Her mind becomes exceedingly restless and unstable, and her whole body trembles.
संप्राप्य तं चेद्रहसि साऽऽलापं कुरुते स्फुटम्
If she meets him in private, she speaks to him openly.
तथा यदि वशं कर्तुं न शशाक जितेन्द्रियम्
If she cannot bring under her control one who has mastered his senses,
दुःसाध्ये नायके दुःखं भवेदाजन्मजन्मनि
Then, with such a difficult man, sorrow arises for her in every birth.
पुंश्चलीनामप्रियः कः कः प्रियो वा महीतले
Who is disliked by women of loose morals, and who is dear to them on earth?