शंकर उवाच पुत्रस्ते भविता सत्यं मदंशेन च मत्समः
Shankara said: Your son will truly be born, equal to me, with a portion of myself.
दास्यामि मन्त्रमतुलं सर्वेषां च सुदुर्लभम्
I will give you an unparalleled mantra, exceedingly rare for all.
स्तोत्रं पूजाविधानं च कवचं परमाद्भुतम्
Hymns of praise, the method of worship, and the most wondrous protective charm—
वरं दातुमिष्टदेवी प्रत्यक्षा भवितेति च
The cherished goddess herself will appear directly to grant a boon.
जजाप परमं मन्त्रं सोऽसितः शतवत्सरम्
That Asita recited the supreme mantra for a hundred years.
पुत्रस्ते भविता सत्यं महाज्ञानी सुतेति च
Your son will indeed be born—a great knower, a true son.
कालेन च सुतस्तस्य शिवांशेन बभूव ह 4.30.
In time, his son was born, endowed with a portion of Shiva.
सुयज्ञनृपतेः कन्यां रत्नमालावतीं मुदा
With joy, he married Ratnamalavati, the daughter of King Suyajña.
स्थाने स्थाने च रहसि शतवर्षं तया सह
In various secluded places, he spent a hundred years with her.
कालान्तरे स विरतो बभूव मुनिपुंगवः
After some time, that foremost sage withdrew from worldly life.
उत्थाय रात्रौ शयनाद्विरक्तश्च तपोधनः
Rising at night from his bed, the ascetic, now detached, departed.
निद्रां त्यक्त्वा च तत्कान्ता न दृष्ट्वा स्वामिनं सती
Awakening and not seeing her husband, the faithful wife abandoned sleep.
उत्तिष्ठन्ती निर्विशन्ती रुरोदोच्चैर्मुहुर्मुहुः
Rising and searching, she wept aloud again and again.
आहारं च परित्यज्य प्राणांस्तत्याज सुन्दरी
Forsaking food, the beautiful woman gave up her life-breath.
तपश्चकार स मुनिर्गन्धमादनगह्वरे
That sage performed austerities in the caves of Gandhamadana.
तं ददर्श ह दैवेन रम्भा शृंगारलोलुपा
By divine arrangement, Rambha, eager for passion, beheld him.
सा च तं कथयामास निर्जने समुपस्थिता 4.30.
She approached him in solitude and spoke these words.
रम्भोवाच त्यक्त्वा कठोरं रहसि भज मां सुखदायिकाम्
Rambha said: Abandon harsh austerity in solitude and enjoy me, the giver of delight.
त्वं वरेषु वरः पृथ्व्यां वरारोहा स्वयंवरा
Among all men on earth, you are the best; I am the most beautiful, free to choose my own husband.
यज्ञं कुर्वन्ति भूपाला भारते स्वर्गहेतुकम्
Kings in Bharata perform sacrifices for the sake of heaven.
स्तनयोर्युग्ममूर्वोर्मे सुन्दरं मुखपंकजम्
The pair of breasts, the thighs, and the beautiful lotus-like face.
स्त्रीरसः सुखसारश्च मुनीनामभिवाञ्छितः
The essence of womanly pleasure and the substance of happiness, desired by sages.
देवो वा मानवो वाऽपि गन्धर्वो वाऽथ राक्षसः
Whether god, human, gandharva, or even rakshasa,
रहस्युपस्थितां कान्तां न भजेद्यो जितेन्द्रियः
Whoever, having mastered his senses, does not enjoy a beloved woman in private,
सत्यं तस्याश्च वधभाक्तच्छापेन प्रणश्यति
Truly, by the curse of her disappointment, he perishes.
येन त्यक्तोपस्थिता तं यथा पश्यति पुंश्चली
Whom she has abandoned, that one the wanton woman regards as she wishes.
परं प्रियं च सर्वेषां जारं जानाति पुंश्चली 4.30.
The wanton woman knows her paramour to be the most dear of all.
पुंश्चली हिंस्रजन्तुभ्यो नवघातिभ्य एव च
The wanton woman is more dangerous than violent animals and even new killers.
त्यज ध्यानं मुनिश्रेष्ठ भुंक्ष्वेदं तपसः फलम्
Abandon meditation, O best of sages; enjoy the fruit of your austerity.
स रम्भावचनं श्रुत्वा तामुवाच भयाकुलः
Hearing Rambha's words, he spoke to her, overcome by fear.