रतिपुत्रं रतिरसं प्रमत्तं रसिकं प्रिये । युवानं व्याधिहीनं च कामुकं कामुकीच्छति
I am the son of Rati, the very essence of love, intoxicated, a connoisseur, dear one, young and free from disease; a passionate woman desires a passionate man.
विदग्धामु विदग्धं च कान्तमायाति कामतः । विदग्धाया विदग्धेन संगमो गुणवान्भवेत्
The clever woman seeks a clever man out of desire; the union of the clever with the clever is truly virtuous.
प्रच्छाद्य लोजनास्यं च नवसंगमलज्जिता । विलोकयन्ती वक्राक्षिकोणेन तमुवाच सा
Covering her face and eyes, bashful at the prospect of a new union, she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes and spoke.
कामिन्युवाच कामुकः कामपुत्रोऽसि कामेन व्याकुलोऽधुना । भवांश्चेत्कामुकीयोग्यो न कामश्चिन्तितः कथम्
The woman said: You are a passionate man, the son of Kāma, now agitated by desire; if you are truly fit for a passionate woman, why is desire not fulfilled?
पौत्रस्त्रैलोक्यनाथस्य स्वतः संभावितस्य च । स्वयं योग्यो योग्यपुत्रो विवाहं न कथं (व्यधाः) चन
You are the grandson of the Lord of the Three Worlds, honored by your own merit; being worthy yourself and the son of a worthy one, why have you not married?
विवाहीता यज्ञपत्नी सा च पुण्यव्रता सती । निश्चला सततं साध्या वर्धिनी सङ्गिनी सदा
A wedded wife is the partner in sacrifice, virtuous, devoted, ever steadfast, always to be cherished, increasing, and ever a companion.
भयप्रीतिदानसाध्या गुप्तपत्नी त्वनिश्चला । नैमित्तिका न नीत्या सा सा च वेदविवर्जिता
She is to be won by gifts of affection and fear, a secret wife, unwavering, taken for a purpose, not by rule, and outside the Vedas.
परं नरकसोपाना परत्रेहायशस्करा । साधुस्तत्र न हि रतो वंशजो वैष्णवो यदि
Such a union is a step toward hell, brings disgrace in this world and the next; the virtuous do not delight in it, especially if one is a descendant of the Vaiṣṇavas.
यदि पूर्व भवेद्भ्रान्तो निवृत्तः साधुसङ्गतः । प्रवृत्तिरेषा भूतानां निवृत्तिस्तु महाफला
If one has erred before but has turned away and joined the company of the good, such restraint is the highest fruit for beings.
प्रायश्चित्ती पुनर्लिप्तो निवृत्तः पातकी यदि । उवहास्यो भुवि भवेत्सर्वं कुञ्जरशौचवत्
Even if one who has sinned is purified by penance and restraint, he is still mocked in the world, just as an elephant's bath is in vain.
सुशीला सुन्दरी शान्ता धर्मपत्नी प्रशंसिता । पतिव्रता सुसाध्या सा शश्वत्सुप्रियवादिनी
She is virtuous, beautiful, peaceful, a praiseworthy wife, devoted to her husband, easily pleased, and always speaks kindly.
कोमलाङ्गी विदग्धा च श्यामा रतिसुखप्रदा । एवंभूतां परित्यज्य वैष्णवस्तपसे व्रजेत्
She has delicate limbs, is clever, dark-complexioned, and brings pleasure in love; abandoning such a woman, a Vaishnava should pursue asceticism.
सा जेत्परिणता साध्वी शान्ता पुत्रवती यदा । अन्यथा च वृथा सर्वं तपसः स्खलनं भवेत्
When she matures, is virtuous, peaceful, and has children, then it is proper; otherwise, all is in vain and asceticism is spoiled.
असाधुश्च कुवंशश्चेत्परनारीं प्रयाति चेत् । स याति नरकं घोरं पितुशिः सप्तभिःसह
If a wicked man from a bad lineage goes to another's wife, he falls into terrible hell along with his father and seven ancestors.
अहमूषा बाणकन्या बाणः शंकरकिंकरः । बाणस्त्रैलोक्यविजयी शंकरो जगतां पतिः
I am Usha, daughter of Bāṇa; Bāṇa is a servant of Shankara; Bāṇa is conqueror of the three worlds, and Shankara is lord of all beings.
न स्वतन्त्रा पराधीना त्रिषु कालेषु कामिनी । पुंश्चली या स्वतन्त्रा साऽप्यसद्वंशप्रसूतिका
A woman is not independent, she is dependent on others at all three times; one who is independent is born of a bad lineage.
पिता ददाति कन्यां तां सुयोग्याय वराय च । कन्या वरं न याचेत धर्म एष सनातनः
The father gives his daughter to a suitable groom; the daughter should not choose her husband—this is the eternal law.
त्वं च योग्योऽसि योग्याऽहं मामिच्छसि यदि प्रभो । बाणं प्रार्थय शंभुं वाऽऽप्यथवा पार्वतीं सतीम्
You are suitable, and I am suitable; if you desire me, lord, then request Bāṇa, Shambhu, or the virtuous Pārvatī.
इत्युक्त्वा सुन्दरी साध्वी सान्तर्धाना बभूव ह । निद्रां तत्याज सहसा कामी कामात्मजो मुने
Having spoken thus, the beautiful and virtuous woman vanished; the passionate son of Kama suddenly abandoned sleep, O sage.
बुद्धवा स्वप्नं स विज्ञाय कामेन व्यथितान्तरः । बभूव व्याकुलोऽशान्तो न दृष्ट्वा प्राणवल्लभाम्
Awakened, realizing it was a dream, his heart disturbed by desire, he became anxious and restless, not seeing his beloved.
त्यक्त्वाऽऽहारमनिद्रश्च प्रमत्तश्च कृशोदरः । क्षणं तिष्ठति शेते च क्षणं रहसि रोदिति
He abandoned food, became sleepless, distracted, with a thin belly; for a moment he stands, then lies down, then weeps in solitude.
पुत्रं दृष्ट्वा तु क्रन्दन्तं देवकी रुक्मिणी रतिः । अन्याश्च योषितः सर्वाः कथयामासुरीश्वरम्
Seeing their son crying, Devaki, Rukmini, Rati, and all the other women told the lord.
तासां च वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मवुसूदनः । उवाच सर्वतत्त्वज्ञः कृष्णश्च पूर्णमानसः
Hearing their words, Madhusudana laughed; Krishna, knower of all truths, spoke with a full heart.
श्रीभगवानुवाच कामातुरा बाणकन्या रतिं दृष्ट्वा शिवेशयोः । वरं संप्राप दुर्गाया व्याकुला मदनास्त्रतः
The Blessed Lord said: The daughter of Bāṇa, overcome by desire, saw the union of Shiva and Parvati; she obtained a boon from Durga, troubled by the arrows of love.
स्वप्नं च दर्शयामास साऽनिरुद्धं च पार्वती । मम पौत्रं प्रमत्तं च चकार कौतुकेन च
She showed the dream to Aniruddha, and Parvati, my grandson, who was distracted, did so out of curiosity.
तत्पुत्रीं च प्रमतां ता करोमि स्वप्नताऽधुना । स्वच्छन्दं तिष्ठ न चिरं नास्ति चिन्ता मनोव्यथा
Now I make that passionate daughter a dream; remain as you wish, not for long—there is no worry or mental distress.
इति कृष्णः समाश्वास्यसर्वातमासर्वसिद्धिवित् । स्वप्नं च दर्शयामास बाणपुत्रीं च कामुकीम्
Thus Krishna comforted everyone, granting all fulfillment; he showed the dream and the passionate daughter of Bāṇa.
सुप्ता सुतल्पे बाला सा पुष्पचन्दनचर्चिते । नवयौवनसंयुक्ता रत्नभूषणभूषिता
She slept on a soft bed, adorned with flowers and sandalwood, endowed with fresh youth, and decorated with jeweled ornaments.
शयाना रत्नपर्यङ्के ददर्श स्वप्नमीप्सितम् । अतीव निर्जने देशे रत्ननिर्माणमन्दिरे
While lying on a jeweled couch, she saw in her desired dream a palace made of jewels in a most solitary place.
नवीननीरदश्याममतीव नवयौवनम् । कोटिकन्दर्पलीलाभं सस्मितं सुमनोहरम्
There she saw a youth, dark as a fresh raincloud, radiant with the vigor of new youth, possessing the charm of a hundred million Cupids, smiling and supremely captivating.