सुयज्ञनृपतेः कन्यां रत्नमालावतीं मुदा
With joy, he married Ratnamālāvatī, the daughter of King Suyajña.
स्थाने स्थाने च रहसि शतवर्षं तया सह
In various places and in secret, he spent a hundred years with her.
कालान्तरे स विरतो बभूव मुनिपुंगवः
After some time, that foremost sage became detached.
उत्थाय रात्रौ शयनाद्विरक्तश्च तपोधनः
Rising at night from his bed, the ascetic, detached from desire, departed.
निद्रां त्यक्त्वा च तत्कान्ता न दृष्ट्वा स्वामिनं सती
Having abandoned sleep and not seeing her husband, the faithful wife—
उत्तिष्ठन्ती निर्विशन्ती रुरोदोच्चैर्मुहुर्मुहुः
Rising and searching, she wept aloud again and again.
आहारं च परित्यज्य प्राणांस्तत्याज सुन्दरी
Abandoning food, the beautiful woman gave up her life-breath.
तपश्चकार स मुनिर्गन्धमादनगह्वरे
That sage performed austerities in the cave of Gandhamādana.
तं ददर्श ह दैवेन रम्भा शृंगारलोलुपा
By the will of fate, Rambhā, eager for love, beheld him.
सा च तं कथयामास निर्जने समुपस्थिता 4.30.
And she, having come near him in solitude, began to speak.
रम्भोवाच त्यक्त्वा कठोरं रहसि भज मां सुखदायिकाम्
Rambhā said: Abandon harshness in secret and enjoy me, the giver of delight.
त्वं वरेषु वरः पृथ्व्यां वरारोहा स्वयंवरा
Among all men on earth, you are the best of the best, and I am the most beautiful, choosing my own husband.
यज्ञं कुर्वन्ति भूपाला भारते स्वर्गहेतुकम्
Kings in Bhārata perform sacrifices for the sake of heaven.
स्तनयोर्युग्ममूर्वोर्मे सुन्दरं मुखपंकजम्
My pair of breasts, my broad thighs, and my lovely lotus-face—
स्त्रीरसः सुखसारश्च मुनीनामभिवाञ्छितः
The essence of woman, the substance of pleasure, is desired even by sages.
देवो वा मानवो वाऽपि गन्धर्वो वाऽथ राक्षसः
Whether god, man, gandharva, or even rākṣasa—
रहस्युपस्थितां कान्तां न भजेद्यो जितेन्द्रियः
Whoever, having mastered his senses, does not enjoy a beloved woman who approaches in secret—
सत्यं तस्याश्च वधभाक्तच्छापेन प्रणश्यति
Truly, by her curse, he perishes, sharing the fate of her rejection.
येन त्यक्तोपस्थिता तं यथा पश्यति पुंश्चली
Just as a wanton woman looks upon the one who has rejected her when she approaches—
परं प्रियं च सर्वेषां जारं जानाति पुंश्चली 4.30.
A wanton woman always knows her lover as the dearest of all.
पुंश्चली हिंस्रजन्तुभ्यो नवघातिभ्य एव च
A wanton woman is more dangerous than violent beasts and even new murderers.
त्यज ध्यानं मुनिश्रेष्ठ भुंक्ष्वेदं तपसः फलम्
Abandon meditation, O best of sages, and enjoy this fruit of your austerity.
स रम्भावचनं श्रुत्वा तामुवाच भयाकुलः
Hearing Rambhā’s words, he replied to her, filled with fear.
देवल उवाच कुलधर्मोचितं सत्यं ब्राह्मणानां तपस्विनाम्
Devala said: The true conduct appropriate to the lineage of brahmins and ascetics—
धर्मोऽयं युक्तकाले च स्वयोषिति रतो द्विजः
This is the law: at the proper time, a twice-born man enjoys his own wife.
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यो यो रतः परयोषिति
A brāhmin, kṣatriya, or vaiśya who enjoys another man’s wife—
ग्राह्या चोपस्थिता स्त्री च गृहिणा न तपस्विना
A woman who approaches may be accepted by a householder, but not by an ascetic.
ब्रह्मा जगद्विधाताऽपि न विरक्तः कलत्रवान्
Even Brahma, the creator of the world, is not detached when he has a wife.
स्वभार्यां च परित्यज्य यो गृह्णाति परस्त्रियम् 4.30.
He who abandons his own wife and takes another man's wife—
भुवि नास्ति यशो यस्य जीवनं तस्य निष्फलम्
On earth, he has no reputation, and his life is fruitless.