तं प्रणम्य द्विजं श्यामा बभाषे मधुरं वचः । कुतो देशान्महाभाग कृतमागमनं त्वया
Having bowed to the twice-born one, Śyāmā spoke sweet words: 'From which land, O highly fortunate one, have you come?'
द्विज उवाच भारद्वाजाश्रमाद्बाले नूनमागमनं मम । जातं वै कार्ययोगेन किं पृच्छसि वदस्व मे
The Brahmin said: 'O girl, indeed my coming is from the āśrama of Bhāradvāja. It has happened due to some purpose; why do you ask? Tell me.'
शशिकलोवाच तत्राश्रमे महाभाग वर्णनीयं किमस्ति वै । लोकातिगं विशेषेण प्रेक्षणीयतमं किल
Śaśikalā said: 'O highly fortunate one, is there anything remarkable in that āśrama? Something especially extraordinary, most worthy of being seen?'
ब्राह्मण उवाच ध्रुवसन्धिसुतः श्रीमानास्ते सुदर्शनो नृपः । यथार्थनामा सुश्रोणि वर्तते पुरुषोत्तमः
The Brāhmaṇa said: 'There dwells Sudarśana, the illustrious son of Dhruvasandhi, O lovely-hipped one, a supreme man whose name truly matches his nature.'
तस्य लोचनमत्यन्तं निष्फलं प्रतिभाति मे । येन दृष्टो न वामोरु कुमारस्तु सुदर्शनः
His eyes, to me, seem utterly fruitless, O slender-thighed one, for with them the prince Sudarśana has not seen you.
एकत्र निहिता धात्रा गुणाः सर्वे सिसृक्षुणा । गुणानामाकरं द्रष्टुं मन्ये तेनैव कौतुकात्
All virtues have been placed together by the Creator, wishing to fashion him; I think, out of curiosity, to see the very mine of virtues.
तव योग्यः कुमारोऽसौ भर्ता भवितुमर्हति । योगोऽयं विहितोऽप्यासीन्मणिकाञ्चनयोरिव
That prince is worthy to be your husband; this union is fitting, like that of a jewel and gold.
शशिकलया मातरं प्रति संदेशप्रेषणम् व्यास उवाच श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं श्यामा प्रेमयुक्ता बभूव ह । प्रतस्थे ब्राह्मणस्तस्मात्स्थानादुक्त्वा समाहितः
Vyāsa said: Hearing those words, Śyāmā was filled with love; the Brāhmaṇa, having spoken thus, departed from that place with a focused mind.
सा तु पूर्वानुरागाद्वै मग्ना प्रेम्णाऽतिचञ्चला । कामबाणहतेवास गते तस्मिन्द्विजोत्तमे
But she, due to her previous affection, was deeply immersed in love, restless as if struck by the arrows of Kāma, when that best of Brāhmaṇas had gone.
अथ कामार्दिता प्राह सखीं छन्दोऽनुवर्तिनीम् । विकारश्च समुत्पन्नो देहे यच्छ्रवणादनु
Then, tormented by love, she spoke to her confidante who followed her wishes: 'A change has arisen in my body as a result of hearing about him.'
अज्ञातरसविज्ञानं कुमारं कुलसम्भवम् । दुनोति मदनः पापः किं करोमि क्व यामि च
'The prince, of noble birth, whose taste and knowledge are unknown to me—wicked Love torments me for him. What shall I do? Where shall I go?'
स्वप्नेषु वा मया दृष्टः पञ्चबाण इवापरः । तपते मे मनोऽत्यर्थं विरहाकुलितं मृदु
'Whether seen by me in dreams or not, he is like another god of love; my mind, soft and distressed by separation, burns intensely.'
चन्दनं देहलग्नं मे विषवद्भाति भामिनि । स्रगियं सर्पवच्चैव चन्द्रपादाश्च वह्निवत्
'O beautiful one, sandal smeared on my body feels like poison; garlands seem like snakes, and moonbeams like fire.'
न च हर्म्ये वने शं मे दीर्घिकायां न पर्वते । न दिवा न निशायां वा न सुखं सुखसाधनैः
'Neither in the palace nor in the forest, nor by the pool, nor on the mountain, neither by day nor by night, do I find peace, nor with any means of comfort.'
न शय्या न च ताम्बूलं न गीतं न च वादनम् । प्रीणयन्ति मनो मेऽद्य न तृप्ते मम लोचने
'Neither the bed, nor betel, nor song, nor music pleases my mind today; my eyes are not satisfied.'
प्रयाम्यद्य वने तत्र यत्रासौ वर्तते शठः । भीतास्मि कुललज्जायाः परतन्त्रा पितुस्तथा
'Today I will go to the forest where that deceitful one dwells; I am afraid of family shame and also subject to my father.'
स्वयंवरं पिता मेऽद्य न करोति करोमि किम् । दास्यामि राजपुत्राय कामं सुदर्शनाय वै
'If my father does not arrange a svayaṃvara today, what shall I do? I will give myself to the prince Sudarśana, as I desire.'
सन्त्यन्ये पृथिवीपालाः शतशः सम्भृतर्द्धयः । रमणीया न मे तेऽद्य राज्यहीनोऽप्यसौ मतः
'There are other kings on earth, hundreds, possessing great wealth; yet they do not please me today—he alone, though without a kingdom, is esteemed by me.'
व्यास उवाच एकाकी निर्धनश्चैव बलहीनः सुदर्शनः । वनवासी फलाहारस्तस्याश्चित्ते सुसंस्थिता
Vyasa said: Sudarshana, alone, poor, and weak, living in the forest and subsisting on fruits, held her firmly in his heart.
वाग्बीजस्य जपात्सिद्धिस्तस्या एषाप्युपस्थिता । सोपि ध्यानपरोऽत्यन्तं जजाप मन्त्रमुत्तमम्
By reciting the seed-mantra of speech, he attained success; this too came to him. He devoted himself completely to meditation and chanted the supreme mantra.
स्वप्ने पश्यत्यसौ देवीं विष्णुमायामखण्डिताम् । विश्वमातरमव्यक्तां सर्वसम्पत्कराम्बिकाम्
In a dream, he beheld the Goddess—Vishnumaya, undivided, the Mother of the Universe, unmanifest, Ambika who bestows all prosperity.
शृङ्गवेरपुराध्यक्षो निषादः समुपेत्य तम् । ददौ रथवरं तस्मै सर्वोपस्करसंयुतम्
Then, the chief of the Nishadas from the city of Sringavera approached him and gave him a splendid chariot equipped with all accessories.
चतुर्भिस्तुरगैर्युक्तं पताकावरमण्डितम् । जैत्रं राजसुतं ज्ञात्वा ददौ चोपायनं तदा
The chariot was yoked with four horses and adorned with excellent banners; recognizing him as the prince, he presented this as a gift of honor.
सोऽपि जग्राह तं प्रीत्या मित्रत्वेन सुसंस्थितम् । वन्यैर्मूलफलैः सम्यगर्चयामास शम्बरम्
He too accepted it gladly, regarding him as a true friend, and properly honored Shambara with wild roots and fruits.
कृतातिथ्ये गते तस्मिन्निषादाधिपतौ तदा । मुनयः प्रीतियुक्तास्ते तमूचुस्तापसा मिथः
When the Nishada chief, having been received as a guest, departed, the ascetics, filled with affection, spoke to him among themselves.
राजपुत्र ध्रुवं राज्यं प्राप्स्यसि त्वं च सर्वथा । स्वल्पैरहोभिरव्यग्रः प्रतापान्नात्र संशयः
"Prince, you will certainly obtain the kingdom very soon; be free from anxiety and confident in your prowess—there is no doubt about this."
प्रसन्ना तेऽम्बिका देवी वरदा विश्वमोहिनी । सहायस्तु सुसम्पन्नो न चिन्तां कुरु सुव्रत
"Ambika, the Goddess, is pleased with you, O steadfast one, and grants boons, enchanting the world. Your ally is well-endowed; do not worry."
मनोरमां तथोचुस्ते मुनयः संशितव्रताः । पुत्रस्तेऽद्य धराधीशो भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते
The ascetics, firm in their vows, also said to Manorama: "Today your son, O bright-smiling one, will become lord of the earth."
सा तानुवाच तन्वङ्गी वचनं वोऽस्तु सत्फलम् । दासोऽयं भवतां विप्राः किं चित्रं सदुपासनात्
The slender-limbed lady replied to them: "May your words bear good fruit. I am your servant, O Brahmins—what wonder comes from true devotion?"
न सैन्यं सचिवाः कोशो न सहायश्च कश्चन । केन योगेन पुत्रो मे राज्यं प्राप्तुमिहार्हति
"There is no army, no ministers, no treasury, nor any ally—by what means can my son be worthy to obtain the kingdom here?"