पुष्पेषु तुलनाप्यस्या नासीद्देवीषु वा मुने
O sage, among flowers or among goddesses, there was no equal to her.
शिरोधार्य्या च सर्वेषामीप्सितां विश्वपावनीम्
She was desired by all as an ornament for the head, purifying the whole world.
इति ध्यात्वा च संपूज्य स्तुत्वा च प्रणमेद्बुधः
Thus, having meditated, worshipped, and praised her, the wise should bow down.
नारद उवाच कथं संप्राप वै ज्ञानं मेधसो ज्ञानिनां वरात्
Nārada said: How did Medhā, foremost among the wise, attain knowledge?
कस्य वंशोद्भवो ब्रह्मन्मेधसो मुनिसत्तम
O Brāhman, best of sages, from whose lineage did Medhā arise?
सख्यं बभूव कुत्रास्य वा प्रभो नृपवैश्ययोः
Where and how did his friendship with the king and the merchant begin, O Lord?
नारायण उवाच स च कृत्वा राजसूयं द्विजराजो बभूव ह
Nārāyaṇa said: Having performed the Rājasūya sacrifice, he became the chief among twice-born.
गुरुपत्न्यां च तारायां तस्याभूच्च बुधः सुतः
And from his guru's wife, Tārā, a son named Budha was born to him.
नारद उवाच अहो व्यतिक्रमं ब्रूहि वेदस्य च महामुने
Nārada said: O great sage, tell me of this transgression and of the Veda.
नारायण उवाच तारां सुरगुरोः पत्नीं धर्मिष्ठां च पतिव्रताम्
Nārāyaṇa said: Tārā, the wife of the preceptor of the gods, was righteous and devoted to her husband.
सुस्नातां सुन्दरीं रम्यां पीनोन्नतपयोधराम्
She was freshly bathed, beautiful, charming, with full and high breasts.
सुदतीं कोमलांगीं च नवयौवनसंयुताम्
She had lovely teeth, delicate limbs, and was endowed with fresh youth.
कस्तूरीबिन्दुना सार्द्धमधश्चन्दनबिन्दुना 2.58.
With a spot of musk and a mark of sandalwood below.
वायुनाऽधोवस्त्रहीनां सकामां रक्तलोचनाम्
By the wind, her lower garment was removed; she was desirous, with reddened eyes.
सस्मितां नम्नवक्त्रां च लज्जया चन्द्रदर्शनाम्
She was smiling, her face lowered, resembling the moon out of shyness.
तां दृष्ट्वा मन्मथाक्रान्तश्चन्द्रो लज्जां जहौ मुने
Seeing her, O sage, the moon, overcome by love, abandoned his shame.
चन्द्र उवाच सुविदग्धे विदग्धानां मनो हरसि सन्ततम्
The Moon said: O most clever among the clever, you constantly steal the minds of all.
निषेव्य प्रकृतिं जन्मसहस्रे कामसागरे
Having enjoyed your nature for a thousand births in the ocean of desire—
अहो तपस्विना सार्द्धमविदग्धेन वेधसा
Alas, together with the ascetic, the creator has acted without wisdom.
किं वा सुखं च विज्ञातमविज्ञेषु समागमे
What happiness can there be in union with those who do not understand?
कामेन कामिनी त्वं च दग्धाऽसि व्यर्थमीश्वरि
O Lady, you have been burned by desire for a lover, and it is all in vain.
दिने दिने वृथा याति दुर्लभं नवयौवनम्
Day by day, precious youth passes away uselessly.
शश्वत्तपस्यायुक्तश्च कृष्णमात्मानमीप्सितम् 2.58.
Always engaged in austerity, he desires only Krishna as his very self.
सर्वकामरसज्ञा त्वं निष्कामं काममीप्सितम्
You, who know all the flavors of desire, wish for desire itself without desire.
अन्यश्च त्वन्मनःकामो भिन्नं त्वद्भर्तुरीप्सितम्
But another, whose mind longs for you, desires what is different from your husband’s wish.
वासन्तीपुष्पतल्पे च गन्धचन्दन चर्चिते
On a bed of spring flowers, adorned with fragrance and sandalwood,
सुगन्ध्युत्फुल्लकुसुमे निर्जने चन्दने वने
Among sweet-smelling, blossoming flowers, in a secluded sandalwood grove,
चन्दने चम्पकवने शीतचम्पकवायुना
In a sandalwood and champaka grove, with the cool breeze of champaka flowers,
तारोवाच अत्रेरभाग्यात्त्वं पुत्रो व्यर्थं ते जन्म जीवनम्
Tara said: Because of Atri’s misfortune, you are his son—your birth and life are wasted.
अरे कृत्वा राजसूयमात्मानं मन्यसे बली
Hey! Having performed the Rajasuya, you think yourself powerful.