अदेयमपि दास्यामि तुष्टोऽस्मि तपसा किल । व्यास उवाच एवं पुनः पुनः शक्रस्तावुवाच पुरः स्थितः
Even what cannot be given, I will grant; I am pleased by your austerity. Vyasa said: Thus again and again Shakra addressed them, standing before them.
नोचतुस्तावृषी ध्यानसंस्थितौ दृढचेतसौ । ततो वै मोहिनीं मायां चकार भयदां वृषः
But the two sages, steadfast in meditation, did not speak; then, indeed, Indra created a bewildering and fearsome illusion.
वृकान्सिंहांश्च व्याघ्रांश्च समुत्पाद्याबिभीषयत् । वर्षं वातं तथा वह्निं समुत्पाद्य पुनः पुनः
He produced wolves, lions, and tigers to terrify them, and again and again brought forth rain, wind, and fire.
भीषयामास तौ शक्रो मायां कृत्वा विमोहिनीम् । भयतोऽपि वशं नीतौ न तौ धर्मसुतौ मुनी
Indra frightened the two by creating a delusive illusion, but even through fear, he could not bring the sons of Dharma under his control.
नरनारायणौ दृष्ट्वा शक्रः स्वभवनं गतः । वरदाने प्रलुब्धौ न न भीतौ वह्निवायुतः
Seeing Nara and Narayana unmoved, Shakra returned to his own abode; neither tempted by boons nor frightened by fire or wind.
व्याघ्रसिंहादिभिः कान्तौ चलितौ नाश्रमात्स्वकात् । न तयोर्ध्यानभङ्गं वै कर्तुं कोऽपि क्षमोऽभवत्
Though surrounded by tigers and lions, they did not leave their own hermitage; no one was able to break their meditation.
इन्द्रोऽपि सदनं गत्वा चिन्तयामास दुःखितः । चलितौ भयलोभाभ्यां नेमौ मुनिवरोत्तमौ
Even Indra, having returned to his palace, pondered in distress: These eminent sages are not shaken by fear or greed.
चिन्तयन्तौ महाविद्यामादिशक्तिं सनातनीम् । ईश्वरीं सर्वलोकानां परां प्रकृतिमद्भुताम्
They contemplated the great knowledge, the primordial, eternal power—the supreme, wondrous Prakriti, the sovereign of all worlds.
ध्यायतां कः क्षमो लोके बहुमायाविदप्युत । यन्मूलाः सकला माया देवासुरकृताः किल
Who in this world is able to comprehend those who meditate, even if they possess great powers of illusion? Indeed, all illusions created by gods and demons have their root in that meditation.
ते कथं बाधितुं शक्ता ध्यायन्ति गतकल्मषाः । वाग्बीजं कामबीजञ्च मायाबीजं तथैव च
How could those who are pure, free from all stain, and absorbed in meditation, ever be disturbed? The seed of speech, the seed of desire, and likewise the seed of illusion—
चित्ते यस्य भवेत्तं तु बाधितुं कोऽपि न क्षमः । मायया मोहितः शक्रो भूयस्तस्य प्रतिक्रियाम्
Whoever has these seeds established in his mind cannot be disturbed by anyone. Even Indra, deluded by illusion, repeatedly seeks a way to counteract them.
कर्तुं कामवसन्तौ तु समाहूयाब्रवीद्वचः । मनोभव वसन्तेन रत्या युक्तो व्रजाधुना
Then, summoning Kāma and Vasanta, he spoke these words: 'O Kāma, joined with Vasanta and Rati, go now—'
अप्सरोभिः समायुक्तस्तरसा गन्धमादनम् । नरनारायणौ तत्र पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ
'Accompanied by the Apsarases, swiftly proceed to Gandhamādana, where Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the ancient, supreme sages—'
कुरुतस्तप एकान्ते स्थितौ बदरिकाश्रमे । गत्वा तत्र समीपे तु तयोर्मन्मथ मार्गणैः
'Are performing austerities in solitude, residing in the hermitage at Badarikā. Go near them and, with your arrows of love—'
चित्तं कामातुरं कार्यं कुरु कार्यं ममाधुना । मोहयित्वोच्चाटयित्वा विशिखैस्ताडयाशु च
'Make their minds overwhelmed with desire; do my bidding at once. Bewilder them, drive them away, and swiftly strike them with your arrows.'
वशीकुरु महाभाग मुनी धर्मसुतावपि । को ह्यस्मिन् सर्वसंसारे देवो दैत्योऽथ मानवः
'O greatly fortunate one, subdue even those sages, the sons of Dharma. For in this entire world, who—god, demon, or human—'
यस्ते बाणवशं प्राप्तो न याति भृशताडितः । ब्रह्माहं गिरिजानाथश्चन्द्रो वह्निर्विमोहितः
'Having come under the sway of your arrows, does not become bewildered, even when struck intensely? Brahmā, I, Śiva, the Moon, and Agni have all been deluded.'
गणना कानयोः काम त्वद्बाणानां पराक्रमे । वाराङ्गनागणोऽयं ते सहायार्थं मयेरितः
'Who can count the power of your arrows, O Kāma? This host of celestial women has been sent by me to assist you.'
आगमिष्यति तत्रैव रम्भादीनां मनोरमः । एका तिलोत्तमा रम्भा कार्यं साधयितुं क्षमा
'There, the delightful Tilottamā and Rambhā among others will come. Rambhā alone is capable of accomplishing the task.'
त्वमेवैकः क्षमः कामं मिलितैः कस्तु संशयः । कुरु कार्यं महाभाग ददामि तव वाच्छितम्
'You alone, Kāma, are capable, especially when joined by these others—there is no doubt. O greatly fortunate one, accomplish this task; I will grant you whatever you desire.'
प्रलोभितौ मयात्यर्थं वरदानैस्तपस्विनौ । स्थानान्न चलितौ शान्तौ वृथायं मे गतः श्रमः
'I have tempted those ascetics greatly with boons, but they did not move from their place and remained calm. My effort has been in vain.'
तथा वै मायया कृत्वा भीषितौ तापसौ भृशम् । तथापि नोत्थितौ स्थानाद्देहरक्षापरौ न तौ
'Even after frightening those ascetics greatly with illusion, still they did not rise from their place, intent only on protecting their bodies.'
व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शक्रं प्राह मनोभवः । वासवाद्य करिष्यामि कार्यं ते मनसेप्सितम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, Manobhava (Kāma) replied to Śakra, 'O lord of the gods, I will accomplish the task you desire.'
यदि विष्णुं महेशं वा ब्रह्माणं वा दिवाकरम् । ध्यायन्तौ तौ तदास्माकं भवितारौ वशौ मुनी
'If those two sages are meditating on Viṣṇu, Maheśa, Brahmā, or the Sun, then they will come under our control.'
देवीभक्तं वशीकर्तुं नाहं शक्तः कथञ्चन । कामराज महाबीजं चिन्तयन्तं मनस्यलम्
'But I am never able to subdue a devotee of the Goddess, especially one who is constantly contemplating the great seed of Kāma in his mind.'
तां देवीं चेन्महाशक्तिं संश्रितौ भक्तिभावतः । न तदा मम बाणानां गोचरौ तापसौ किल
'If those ascetics have taken refuge in the Great Goddess with devotion, then they are not within the reach of my arrows.'
इन्द्र उवाच गच्छ त्वं च महाभाग सर्वैस्तत्र समुद्यतैः । कार्यं ममातिदुःसाध्यं कर्ता हितमनुत्तमम्
Indra said: Go, O greatly fortunate one, together with all those who are prepared; you must accomplish my task, which is exceedingly difficult, and bring about the highest good.
व्यास उवाच इति तेन समादिष्टा ययुः सर्वे समुद्यताः । यत्र तौ धर्मपुत्रौ द्वौ तेपाते दुष्करं तपः
Vyāsa said: Thus instructed by him, all those who were prepared went to the place where those two sons of Dharma were performing severe austerities.
अप्सरां नारायणसमीपे प्रार्थनाकरणम् व्यास उवाच प्रथमं तत्र सम्प्राप्तो वसन्तः पर्वतोत्तमे । पुष्पिताः पादपाः सर्वे द्विरेफालिविराजिताः
Vyāsa said: First, Spring arrived there on the lofty mountain; all the trees were in bloom, adorned with swarms of bees.
आम्राश्च बकुला रम्यास्तिलकाः किंशुकाः शुभा । सालास्तालास्तमालाश्च मधूकाः पुष्पिता बभुः
The mango trees, the lovely bakula, the tilaka, the auspicious kimshuka, the sāl, tāla, tamāla, and the blossoming madhūka—all were in flower.