गृहीतमुखवासं तं संवेश्य च शुभासने । गृहीत्वाऽऽज्ञां शरीरस्य चकार साधनं ततः
Having refreshed his mouth, she seated him on an auspicious seat, and, after receiving his permission, began her own bodily preparations.
फलाहारं स्वयं कृत्वा पुनर्गत्वा च सन्निधौ । प्रोवाच प्रणयोपेता किमाज्ञापयसे प्रभो
After taking her meal of fruits, she returned to his presence and, filled with affection, asked, 'What do you command, Lord?'
पादसंवाहनं तेऽद्य करोमि यदि मन्यसे । एवं सेवापरा नित्यं बभूव पतितत्परा
'Shall I massage your feet today, if you wish?' Thus, ever devoted to service, she became wholly dedicated to her husband.
सायं होमावसाने सा फलान्याहृत्य सुन्दरी । अर्पयामास मुनये स्वादूनि च मृदूनि च
In the evening, after the homa was completed, the beautiful one brought sweet and tender fruits and offered them to the sage.
ततः शेषाणि बुभुजे प्रेमयुक्ता तदाज्ञया । सुस्पर्शास्तरणं कृत्वा शाययामास तं मुदा
Then, with love and at his command, she ate the remaining food, and, spreading a soft bedding, joyfully laid him to rest.
सुप्ते सुखं प्रिये कान्ता पदसंवाहनं तदा । चकार पृच्छती धर्मं कुलस्त्रीणां कृशोदरी
While her beloved slept comfortably, the slender-waisted lady massaged his feet and inquired about the duties of noble women.
पादसंवाहनं कृत्वा निशि भक्तिपरायणा । निद्रितं च मुनिं ज्ञात्वा सुष्वाप चरणान्तिके
Having massaged his feet at night, devoted to service, she, seeing the sage asleep, rested herself at his feet.
शुचौ प्रतिष्ठितं वीक्ष्य तालवृन्तेन भामिनी । कुर्वाणा शीतलं वायुं सिषेवे स्वपतिं तदा
Seeing him seated in a pure place, the lovely one fanned her husband with a palm leaf, creating a cool breeze.
हेमन्ते काष्ठसम्भारं कृत्वाग्निज्वलनं पुरः । स्थापयित्वा तथापृच्छत्सुखं तेऽस्तीति चासकृत्
In winter, she gathered firewood, kindled a fire before him, and repeatedly asked, 'Are you comfortable?'
ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते चोत्थाय जलं पात्रं च मृत्तिकाम् । समर्पयित्वा शौचार्थं समुत्थाप्य पतिं प्रिया
At the Brahma-muhūrta, she rose, brought water, a vessel, and clay, and, for his purification, awakened her beloved husband.
स्थानाद्दूरे च संस्थाप्य दूरं गत्वा स्थिराभवत् । कृतशौचं पतिं ज्ञात्वा गत्वा जग्राह तं पुनः
Placing herself at a distance, she stood firm, and, when he had finished his ablutions, she approached and took him again.
आनीयाश्रममव्यग्रा चोपवेश्यासने शुभे । मृज्जलाभ्यां च प्रक्षाल्य पादावस्य यथाविधि
Without distraction, she brought him to the hermitage, seated him on a pure seat, and washed his feet with water as prescribed.
दत्त्वाऽऽचमनपात्रं तु दन्तधावनमाहरत् । समर्प्य दन्तकाष्ठं च यथोक्तं नृपनन्दिनी
She gave him a vessel for rinsing, brought him a tooth-cleaning stick, and, as instructed, presented it to him.
चकारोष्णं जलं शुद्धं समानीतं सुपावनम् । स्नानार्थं जलमाहृत्य पप्रच्छ प्रणयान्विता
She prepared pure, hot water, brought for bathing, and, with affection, asked him about his wishes.
किमाज्ञापयसे ब्रह्मन् कृतं वै दन्तधावनम् । उष्णोदकं सुसम्पन्नं कुरु स्नानं समन्त्रकम्
'What do you command, O Brahmin? Your teeth have been cleaned. Here is excellent hot water—bathe now, reciting the mantras.'
वर्तते होमकालोऽयं सन्ध्या पूर्वा प्रवर्तते । विधिवद्हवनं कृत्वा देवतापूजनं कुरु
'Now is the time for homa; the early twilight has begun. Having washed as prescribed, perform the worship of the deities.'
एवं कन्या पतिं लब्ध्वा तपस्विनमनिन्दिता । नित्यं पर्यचरत्प्रीत्या तपसा नियमेन च
Thus, having obtained a husband, a blameless ascetic, the maiden served him always with affection, through austerity and discipline.
अग्नीनामतिथीनां च शुश्रूषां कुर्वती सदा । आराधयामास मुदा च्यवनं सा शुभानना
Ever attentive to the sacred fires and to guests, she joyfully honored Cyavana, she of auspicious countenance.
कस्मिंश्चिदथ काले तु रविजावश्विनावुभौ । च्यवनस्याश्रमाभ्याशे क्रीडमानौ समगतौ
Then, at a certain time, the twin Ashvins, sons of the Sun, came playing near Cyavana’s hermitage.
जले स्नात्वा तु तां कन्यां निवृत्तां स्वाश्रमं प्रति । गच्छन्तीं चारुसर्वाङ्गीं रविपुत्रावपश्यताम्
Having bathed in the water, the maiden, adorned in every limb, was returning to her own hermitage; the sons of the Sun beheld her as she went.
तां दृष्ट्वा देवकन्याभां गत्वा चान्तिकमादरात् । ऊचतुः समभिद्रुत्य नासत्यावतिमोहितौ
Seeing her, radiant as a divine maiden, the Ashvins, filled with admiration, approached her respectfully and spoke, overcome with wonder.
क्षणं तिष्ठ वरारोहे प्रष्टुं त्वां गजगामिनि । आवां देवसुतौ प्राप्तौ ब्रूहि सत्यं शुचिस्मिते
O beautiful one, pause for a moment, elephant-gaited lady, so we may ask you; we are the sons of the gods who have come—speak truly, O pure-smiling one.
पुत्री कस्य पतिः कस्ते कथमुद्यानमागता । एकाकिनी तडागेऽस्मिन् स्नानार्थं चारुलोचने
Whose daughter are you? Who is your husband? How did you come to this garden, O lovely-eyed one, alone to bathe in this pond?
द्वितीया श्रीरिवाभासि कान्त्या कमललोचने । इच्छामस्तु वयं ज्ञातुं तत्त्वमाख्याहि शोभने
O lotus-eyed one, you shine with beauty like a second goddess Shri; we wish to know the truth—tell us, O splendid lady.
कोमलौ चरणौ कान्ते स्थितौ भूमावनावृतौ । हृदाये कुरुतः पीडां चलन्तौ चललोचने
O lovely one, your tender feet, unshod, rest upon the ground; as you walk, O restless-eyed, they cause pain in our hearts.
विमानार्हासि तन्वङ्गि कथं पद्भ्यां व्रजस्यदः । अनावृतात्र विपिने किमर्थं गमनं तव
O slender-limbed, you are worthy of riding in a celestial chariot—why do you travel here on foot, uncovered, in this forest? For what purpose is your journey?
दासीशतसमायुक्ता कथं च त्वं विनिर्गता । राजपुत्र्यप्सरा वासि वद सत्यं वरानने
Attended by hundreds of maidservants, how have you come out alone? Are you a princess or an apsara? Speak truly, O beautiful-faced one.
धन्या माता यतो जाता धन्योऽसौ जनकस्तव । वक्तुं त्वां नैव शक्तौ च भर्तुर्भाग्यं तवानघे
Blessed is the mother who bore you, blessed indeed is your father; truly, we are unable to describe the fortune of your husband, O faultless one.
देवलिकाधिका भूमिरियं चैव सुलोचने । प्रचलंश्चरणस्तेऽद्य सम्पावयति भूतलम्
O beautiful-eyed one, this earth surpasses even the celestial realms today, for your moving feet now sanctify the ground.
सौभाग्याश्च मृगाः कामं ये त्वां पश्यन्ति वै वने । ये चान्ये पक्षिणः सर्वे भूरियं चातिपावना
Fortunate indeed are the deer who see you in the forest, and all the other birds as well; this earth is greatly purified.