कुशाः प्रादेशमात्रा हि हरिताः शुकसन्निभाः । दधाराग्रेऽथ पुष्पाणि नित्यकर्मसमृद्धये
She gathered fresh green kusa grass, the length of a hand and bright as parrots, and placed flowers before him for the fulfillment of his daily rites.
निद्रार्थं कल्पयामास संस्तरं पल्लवान्वितम् । तस्मिन्मुनौ चादरस्था चकार व्यजनं शनैः
She prepared a bed strewn with leaves for his rest, and with respect, gently fanned the sage as he lay there.
हावभावादिकं किञ्चिद्विकारजननं च तत् । न चकार जयन्ती सा शापभीता मुनेस्तदा
Out of fear of the sage's curse, Jayanti did not display any gestures or expressions that might arouse desire.
स्तुतिं चकार तन्वङ्गी गीर्भिस्तस्य महात्मनः । सुभाषिण्यनुकूलाभिः प्रीतिकर्त्रीभिरप्युत
The slender Jayanti offered hymns of praise to that great-souled sage, using kind and pleasing words that brought him joy.
प्रबुद्धे जलमादाय दधाराचमनाय च । मनोऽनुकूलं सततं कुर्वन्ती व्यचरत्तदा
When he awoke, she brought water for him to rinse his mouth, always acting in ways that pleased his mind.
इन्द्रोऽपि सेवकांस्तत्र प्रेषयामास चातुरः । प्रवृत्तिं ज्ञातुकामो वै मुनेस्तस्य जितात्मनः
Indra, clever as he was, also sent his own attendants there, wishing to know the activities of that self-controlled sage.
एवं बहूनि वर्षाणि परिचर्यापराभवत् । निर्विकारा जितक्रोधा ब्रह्मचर्यपरा सती
Thus, for many years, she remained devoted to service, unwavering, having conquered anger, and dedicated to celibacy.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु परितुष्टो महेश्वरः । वरेण छन्दयामास काव्यं प्रीतमना हरः
When a thousand years were completed, the great Lord, pleased, offered a boon to Kāvya, his mind filled with affection.
ईश्वर उवाच यच्च किञ्चिदपि ब्रह्मन्विद्यते भृगुनन्दन । प्रतिपश्यसि यत्सर्वं यच्च वाच्यं न कस्यचित्
Īśvara said: O Brahman, whatever exists, O descendant of Bhṛgu, whatever you perceive, and whatever is not to be spoken to anyone—
सर्वाभिभावकत्वेन भविष्यसि न संशयः । अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां प्रजेशश्च द्विजोत्तमः
You shall possess supremacy over all, without doubt; you will be invincible among all beings and the lord of progeny, O best of twice-born.
व्यास उवाच एवं दत्त्वा वराञ्छम्भुस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । काव्यस्तामथ संवीक्ष्य जयन्तीं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Vyāsa said: Having granted these boons, Śambhu vanished from there; then Kāvya, seeing Jayantī, spoke these words.
कासि कस्यासि सुश्रोणि ब्रूहि किं ते चिकीर्षितम् । किमर्थमिह सम्प्राप्ता कार्यं वद वरोरु मे
Who are you, whose hips are beautiful? Whose daughter are you? Tell me what you desire. For what purpose have you come here? Speak, O lovely one, what is to be done for you.
किं वाञ्छसि करोम्यद्य दुष्करं चेत्सुलोचने । प्रीतोऽस्मि त्वत्कृतेनाद्य वरं वरय सुव्रते
What do you wish? I will do it today, even if it is difficult, O bright-eyed one. I am pleased by your actions today; choose a boon, O virtuous lady.
ततः सा तु मुनिं प्राह जयन्ती मुदितानना । चिकीर्षितं मे भगवंस्तपसा ज्ञातुमर्हसि
Then, Jayantī, her face radiant with joy, spoke to the sage: O Lord, you should know my intention through my austerity.
शुक्र उवाच ज्ञातं मया तथापि त्वं ब्रूहि यन्मनसेप्सितम् । करोमि सर्वथा भद्रं प्रीतोऽस्मि परिचर्यया
Śukra said: I have understood, yet you should speak what your mind desires. I will certainly do what is auspicious, for I am pleased by your service.
जयन्त्युवाच शक्रस्याहं सुता ब्रह्मन् पित्रा तुभ्यं समर्पिता । जयन्ती नामतश्चाहं जयन्तावरजा मुने
Jayantī said: O Brahman, I am the daughter of Śakra, given to you by my father. My name is Jayantī, and I am the younger sister of Jayanta, O sage.
सकामास्मि त्वयि विभो वाञ्छितं कुरु मेऽधुना । रंस्ये त्वया महाभाग धर्मतः प्रीतिपूर्वकम्
I am desirous of you, O Lord; fulfill my wish now. I wish to enjoy with you, O illustrious one, lawfully and with affection.
शुक्र उवाच मया सह त्वं सुश्रोणि दशवर्षाणि भामिनि । सर्वैर्भूतैरदृश्या च रमस्वेह यदृच्छया
Śukra said: O beautiful-hipped one, for ten years, remain here with me, unseen by all beings, and enjoy as you wish.
व्यास उवाच एवमुक्त्वा गृहं गत्वा जयन्त्याः पाणिमुद्वहन् । तया सहावसद्देव्या दशवर्षाणि भार्गवः
Vyāsa said: Having spoken thus, he went home, taking Jayantī's hand; Bhārgava dwelt with the goddess for ten years.
अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां मायया संवृतः प्रभुः । दैत्यास्तमागतं श्रुत्वा कृतार्थं मन्त्रसंयुतम्
Invisible to all beings, the Lord, concealed by his own power, when the demons heard he had arrived, accomplished and accompanied by mantras—
अभिजग्मुर्गृहे तस्य मुदितास्ते दिदृक्षवः । नापश्यन् रममाणं ते जयन्त्या सह संयुतम्
They joyfully came to his house, eager to see him; but they did not see him, united with Jayantī, enjoying her company.
तदा विमनसः सर्वे जाता भग्नोद्यमाश्च ते । चिन्तापरातिदीनाश्च वीक्षमाणाः पुनः पुनः
Then all of them became disheartened, their efforts frustrated; overwhelmed by anxiety and distress, they kept searching again and again.
अदृष्ट्वा तं तु संवृत्तं प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम् । स्वगृहान्दैत्यवर्यास्ते चिन्ताविष्टा भयातुराः
Not seeing him, concealed, they returned as they had come; those foremost among demons, filled with worry and fear, went back to their own homes.
रममाणं तथा ज्ञात्वा शक्रः प्रोवाच तं गुरुम् । बृहस्पतिं महाभाग किं कर्तव्यमितः परम्
Knowing that he was enjoying himself thus, Śakra spoke to his guru, the illustrious Bṛhaspati: 'What should be done next?'
गच्छाद्य दानवान्ब्रह्मन्मायया त्वं प्रलोभय । अस्माकं कुरु कार्यं त्वं बुद्ध्या सञ्चिन्त्य मानद
Go now, O Brahmin, and with your illusion entice the demons; consider with your intelligence how to accomplish our task, O bestower of honor.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं काव्यं रममाणं सुसंवृतम् । ज्ञात्वा तद्रूपमास्थाय दैत्यान्मति ययौ गुरुः
Hearing these well-concealed, delightful words, the teacher, understanding the intent, assumed that form and went to the demons.
गत्वा तत्रातिभक्त्यासौ दानवान्समुपाह्वयत् । आगतास्तेऽसुराः सर्वे ददृशुः काव्यमग्रतः
Arriving there with great devotion, he summoned the demons; all those asuras came and saw Kāvya standing before them.
प्रणम्य संस्थिताः सर्वे काव्यं मत्वातिमोहिताः । न विदुस्ते गुरोर्मायां काव्यरूपविभाविनीम्
All of them, greatly deluded, stood after bowing to Kāvya, not recognizing the illusion of their teacher, manifest in the form of Kāvya.
तानुवाच गुरुः काव्यरूपः प्रच्छन्नमायया । स्वागतं मम याज्यानां प्राप्तोऽहं वो हिताय वै
The teacher, taking the form of Kāvya and concealed by illusion, addressed them: 'Welcome to you, my disciples; I have come for your welfare.'
अहं वो बोधयिष्यामि विद्यां प्राप्ताममायया । तपसा तोषितः शम्भुर्युष्मत्कल्याणहेतवे
I will instruct you in the knowledge I have obtained without deceit; Śambhu, pleased by my austerity, has granted it for your well-being.