भ्रमन्ती क्षणमुद्वेगान्निवसन्ती क्षणं पुनः । क्षणमेव समुद्वेगात्सुष्वाप पुनरेव सा
For a moment she wandered in agitation, for a moment she settled again; and for a moment, overwhelmed by distress, she slept once more.
पुष्पचन्दनतल्पं च तद् बभूवातिकण्टकम् । विषहारि सुखं दिव्यं सुन्दरं च फलं जलम्
That flower-and-sandalwood bed became like thorns; the delightful, divine pleasures, beautiful fruits, and water became unbearable.
निलयं च बिलाकारं सूक्ष्मवस्त्रं हुताशनः । सिन्दूरपत्रकं चैव व्रणतुल्यं च दुःखदम्
Her dwelling became like a cave, her fine garments like fire; the vermilion leaf became like a wound, causing her pain.
क्षणं ददर्श तन्द्रायां सुवेषं पुरुषं सती । सुन्दरं च युवानं च सस्मितं रसिकेश्वरम्
In her drowsiness, for a moment she saw a well-dressed man—handsome, youthful, smiling, lord of delights.
चन्दनोक्षितसर्वाङ्गं रत्नभूषणभूषितम् । आगच्छन्तं माल्यवन्तं पिबन्तं तन्मुखाम्बुजम्
His whole body was anointed with sandalwood, adorned with jeweled ornaments; he approached, garlanded, drinking in her lotus-like face.
कथयन्तं रतिकथां ब्रुवन्तं मधुरं मुहुः । सम्भुक्तवन्तं तल्पे च समाश्लिष्यन्तमीप्सितम्
He spoke of love's pleasures, repeatedly uttering sweet words; he enjoyed her on the bed, embracing her as he wished.
पुनरेव तु गच्छन्तमागच्छन्तं च सन्निधौ । यान्तं क्व यासि प्राणेश तिष्ठत्येवमुवाच सा
Then again, as he departed and approached her presence, she said, 'Where are you going, lord of my life? Stay here.'
पुनश्च चेतनां प्राप्य विललाप पुनः पुनः । एवं सा यौवनं प्राप्य तस्थौ तत्रैव नारद
Regaining consciousness again, she lamented repeatedly; thus, having attained youth, she remained there, O Nārada.
शङ्खचूडो महायोगी जैगीषव्यान्मनोहरम् । कृष्णमन्त्रं च सम्प्राप्य कृत्वा सिद्धं तु पुष्करे
Shankhachuda, the great yogi, having obtained the enchanting Krishna-mantra from Jaigishavya, perfected it at Pushkara.
कवचं च गले बद्ध्वा सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गलम् । ब्रह्मणश्च वरं प्राप्य यत्ते मनसि वाञ्छितम्
Fastening the auspicious armor at his throat, and having received from Brahma the boon for whatever he desired in his heart—
आज्ञया ब्रह्मणः सोऽपि बदरीं च समाययौ । आगच्छन्तं शङ्खचूडं ददर्श तुलसी मुने
By Brahma's command, he too arrived at Badari; Tulasi, O sage, saw Shankhachuda approaching.
नवयौवनसम्पन्नं कामदेवसमप्रभम् । श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभं रत्नभूषणभूषितम्
He was endowed with fresh youth, radiant like Kamadeva, his complexion like white champaka flowers, adorned with jeweled ornaments.
शरत्पार्वणचन्द्रास्यं शरत्पङ्कजलोचनम् । रत्नसारविनिर्माणविमानस्थं मनोहरम्
His face shone like the full autumn moon, his eyes like autumn lotuses; he was seated in a splendid aerial chariot made of the finest jewels, captivating to behold.
रत्नकुण्डलयुग्मेन गण्डस्थलविराजितम् । पारिजातप्रसूनानां मालावन्तं च सुस्मितम्
His cheeks were graced by a pair of jeweled earrings; he wore garlands of parijata blossoms and smiled sweetly.
कस्तूरीकुङ्कुमायुक्तं सुगन्धिचन्दनान्वितम् । सा दृष्ट्वा सन्निधावेनं मुखमाच्छाद्य वाससा
He was adorned with musk and saffron, and fragrant sandalwood; seeing him approach, she modestly covered her face with her garment.
सस्मिता तं निरीक्षन्ती सकटाक्षं पुनः पुनः । बभूवातिनम्रमुखी नवसङ्गमलज्जिता
Smiling, she gazed at him again and again with sidelong glances, her face lowered in shyness, bashful at this new encounter.
शरदिन्दुविनिन्द्यैकस्वमुखेन्दुविराजिता । अमूल्यरत्ननिर्माणयावकावलिसंयुता
Her moon-like face outshone even the autumn moon, and she was adorned with a string of priceless jewel pearls.
मणीन्द्रसारनिर्माणक्वणन्मञ्जीररञ्जिता । दधती कबरीभारं मालतीमाल्यसंयुतम्
She was adorned with anklets made of the finest gems, their tinkling sound delightful, and her hair was decorated with a garland of jasmine flowers.
अमूल्यरत्ननिर्माणमकराकृतिकुण्डला । चित्रकुण्डलयुग्मेन गण्डस्थलविराजिता
She wore earrings shaped like makaras, crafted from priceless jewels, and her cheeks were graced by a pair of ornate earrings.
रत्नेन्द्रसारहारेण स्तनमध्यस्थलोज्ज्वला । रत्नकङ्कणकेयूरशङ्खभूषणभूषिता
Her chest shone with a necklace of the finest gems, and she was adorned with jeweled bracelets, armlets, and conch-shaped ornaments.
रत्नाङ्गुलीयकैर्दिव्यैरङ्गुल्यावलिराजिता । दृष्ट्वा तां ललितां रम्यां सुशीलां सुन्दरीं सतीम्
Her fingers were adorned with divine jeweled rings; seeing her, graceful, charming, virtuous, beautiful, and chaste—
उवास तत्समीपे तु मधुरं तामुवाच सः । शङ्खचूड उवाच का त्वं कस्य च कन्या च धन्या मान्या च योषिताम्
He sat down near her and sweetly spoke: Shankhachuda said: Who are you? Whose daughter are you, O blessed and honored among women?
का त्वं मानिनि कल्याणि सर्वकल्याणदायिनि । मौनीभूते किङ्करे मां सम्भाषां कुरु सुन्दरि
Who are you, proud and auspicious one, giver of all good fortune? While I stand here silent, speak to me, O beautiful one.
इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा सकामा वामलोचना । सस्मिता नम्रवदना सकामं तमुवाच सा
Hearing these words, she of lovely eyes, desiring him, smiled, lowered her face, and replied to him with longing.
तुलस्युवाच धर्मध्वजसुताहं च तपस्यायां तपोवने । तपस्विन्यहं तिष्ठामि कस्त्वं गच्छ यथासुखम्
Tulasi said: I am the daughter of Dharmadhvaja, engaged in austerity in this forest of penance; I am an ascetic—who are you? Go as you please.
कामिनीं कुलजातां च रहस्येकाकिनीं सतीम् । न पृच्छति कुले जात इत्येवं मे श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
In my family, it is heard in tradition that one does not question a noble-born, chaste woman who is alone and in private.
लम्पटोऽसत्कुले जातो धर्मशास्त्रार्थवर्जितः । येनाश्रुतः श्रुतेरर्थः स कामीच्छति कामिनीम्
A lustful man, born in a base family, devoid of understanding the meaning of the scriptures, who desires a woman, seeks the meaning of the Vedas without having heard them.
आपातमधुरां मत्तामन्तकां पुरुषस्य ताम् । विषकुम्भाकाररूपाममृतास्यां च सन्ततम्
He desires her who is intoxicating, sweet at first encounter, but brings death to a man, whose form is like a jar of poison, though her mouth is always like nectar.
हृदये क्षुरधाराभां शश्वन्मधुरभाषिणीम् । स्वकार्यपरिनिष्पत्त्यै तत्परा सततं च ताम्
In the heart, she is like the edge of a razor, always speaking sweetly, ever intent on accomplishing her own purpose, constantly devoted to that aim.
कार्यार्थे स्वामिवशगामन्यथैवावशां सदा । स्वान्तर्मलिनरूपां च प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणाम्
For her own ends, she is submissive like a servant, but otherwise always unyielding; inwardly impure in form, yet with a pleasant face and gaze.