सूतोऽपि रथमानीय तमुवाच त्वरान्वितः । राजन् रथोऽयमानीतो द्वारि तिष्ठति भूषितः
The charioteer, bringing the chariot, spoke swiftly: 'O king, the chariot has been brought and stands at the door, adorned.'
सर्वायुधसमायुक्तो वरास्तरणसंयुतः । आनीतं तं रथं ज्ञात्वा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः
It was equipped with all weapons and excellent armor; knowing that the chariot had been brought, the mighty lord of the Dānavas—
मानुषं देहमास्थाय संग्रामे गन्तुमुद्यतः । विचार्य मनसा चेति देवी मां प्रेक्ष्य दुर्मुखम्
Assuming a human form, he prepared to go to battle, thinking in his mind, 'Seeing me, the Goddess will be disheartened.'
शृङ्गिणं महिषं नूनं विमना सा भविष्यति । नारीणां च प्रियं रूपं तथा चातुर्यमित्यपि
'Surely, seeing me as a horned buffalo, she will be dispirited; and women delight in pleasing forms and cleverness.'
तस्माद्रूपं च चातुर्यं कृत्वा यास्यामि तां प्रति । यथा मां वीक्ष्य सा बाला प्रेमयुक्ता भविष्यति
'Therefore, adopting a pleasing form and cleverness, I will go to her, so that, seeing me, that young woman will become enamored.'
ममापि च तदैव स्यात्सुखं नान्यस्वरूपतः । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः
'And for me too, happiness will arise only in that form, not in any other.' Thus, reflecting in his mind, the mighty lord of the Dānavas—
त्यक्त्वा तन्माहिषं रूपं बभूव पुरुषः शुभः । सर्वायुधधरः श्रीमांश्चारुभूषणभूषितः
Abandoning that buffalo form, became a handsome man, bearing all weapons, splendid, adorned with beautiful ornaments.
दिव्याम्बरधरः कान्तः पुष्पबाण इवापरः । रथोपविष्टः केयूरस्रग्वी बाणधनुर्धरः
Wearing divine garments, charming, like another god of love with flower-arrows, seated on the chariot, adorned with armlets and garlands, bearing bow and arrows.
सेनापरिवृतो देवीं जगाम मदगर्वितः । मनोज्ञं रूपमास्थाय मानिनीनां मनोहरम्
Surrounded by his army, intoxicated with pride, he approached the Goddess, having assumed a form enchanting to the proud and captivating to the minds of the haughty.
तमागतं समालोक्य दैत्यानामधिपं तदा । बहुभिः संवृतं वीरैर्देवी शङ्खमवादयत्
Seeing him arrive—the lord of the Daityas, accompanied by many heroic warriors—the Goddess sounded her conch.
स शङ्खनिनदं श्रुत्वा जनविस्मयकारकम् । समीपमेत्य देव्यास्तु तामुवाच हसन्निव
Hearing that conch-blast, which caused wonder among the people, he came near the Goddess and spoke to her, as if smiling.
देवि संसारचक्रेऽस्मिन्वर्तमानो जनः किल । नरो वाथ तथा नारी सुखं वाञ्छति सर्वथा
O Goddess, it is said that in this cycle of worldly existence, every person—man or woman—always desires happiness.
सुखं संयोगजं नॄणां नासंयोगे भवेदिह । संयोगो बहुधा भिन्नस्तान्ब्रवीमि शृणुष्व ह
Happiness for people arises from union, not from separation; unions are of many kinds, and I will tell you about them—listen.
भेदान्सुप्रीतिहेतूत्थान्स्वभावोत्थाननेकशः । तत्र प्रीतिभवानादौ कथयामि यथामति
There are many distinctions, arising from causes of affection and from various natures; among these, I will first describe, as I understand it, the union that brings joy.
मातापित्रोस्तु पुत्रेण संयोगस्तूत्तमः स्मृतः । भ्रातुर्भ्रात्रा तथा योगः कारणान्मध्यमो मतः
The union of a son with his mother and father is considered the highest; the union of brother with brother is regarded as intermediate, for certain reasons.
उत्तमस्य सुखस्यैव दातृत्वादुत्तमः स्मृतः । तस्मादल्पसुखस्यैव प्रदातृत्वाच्च मध्यमः
Because the highest happiness is given by the first, it is called the highest; and because the second gives lesser happiness, it is called intermediate.
नाविकानां तु संयोगः स्मृतः स्वाभाविको बुधैः । विविधावृतचित्तानां प्रसङ्गपरिवर्तिनाम्
The union of strangers is considered by the wise to be natural, among those whose minds are distracted by various attachments and who are subject to changing associations.
अत्यल्पसुखदातृत्वात्कनिष्ठोऽयं स्मृतो बुधैः । अत्युत्तमस्तु संयोगः संसारे सुखदः सदा
Because it gives very little happiness, this is called the lowest by the wise; but the most excellent union always brings happiness in the world.
नारीपुरुषयोः कान्ते समानवयसो सदा । संयोगो यः समाख्यातः स एवात्युत्तमः स्मृतः
The union of a woman and a man, both youthful and of equal age, is declared to be the highest of all unions.
अत्युत्तमसुखस्यैव दातृत्वात्स तथाविधः । चातुर्यरूपवेषाद्यैः कुलशीलगुणैस्तथा
Because it gives the highest happiness, such a union is of that kind, adorned with beauty, form, attire, family, character, and virtues.
परस्परसमुत्कर्षः कथ्यते हि परस्परम् । तं चेत्करोषि संयोगं वीरेण च मया सह
Mutual excellence is indeed spoken of as mutual; if you make such a union with me, a hero, then—
अत्युत्तमसुखस्यैव प्राप्तिः स्यात्ते न संशयः । नानाविधानि रूपाणि करोमि स्वेच्छया प्रिये
You will attain the highest happiness—of this there is no doubt; I can assume various forms at will, O beloved.
इन्द्रादयः सुराः सर्वे संग्रामे विजिता मया । रत्नानि यानि दिव्यानि भवनेऽस्मिन्ममाधुना
All the gods, beginning with Indra, have been defeated by me in battle; the divine jewels that are now in my palace—
भुंक्ष्व त्वं तानि सर्वाणि यथेष्टं देहि वा यथा । पट्टराज्ञी भवाद्य त्वं दासोऽस्मि तव सुन्दरि
Enjoy all of them as you wish, or give them away as you please; today, become my chief queen—I am your servant, O beautiful one.
वैरं त्यजेऽहं देवैस्तु तव वाक्यान्न संशयः । यथा त्वं सुखमाप्नोषि तथाहं करवाणि वै
I will abandon enmity with the gods at your word—of this there is no doubt; I will act so that you may obtain happiness.
आज्ञापय विशालाक्षि तथाहं प्रकरोम्यथ । चित्तं मे तव रूपेण मोहितं चारुभाषिणि
Command me, O wide-eyed one, and I will do so; my mind is enchanted by your form, O sweet-spoken one.
आतुरोऽस्मि वरारोहे प्राप्तस्ते शरणं किल । प्रपन्नं पाहि रम्भोरु कामबाणैः प्रपीडितम्
O slender-waisted one, I am afflicted and have come to you for refuge; protect me, O lady with thighs like plantain stems, for I am tormented by the arrows of desire.
धर्माणामुत्तमो धर्मः शरणागतरक्षणम् । त्वदीयोऽस्म्यसितापाङ्गि सेवकोऽहं कृशोदरि
The highest of all duties is to protect one who seeks shelter; I am yours, O dark-eyed one, your servant, O slender-bellied lady.
मरणान्तं वचः सत्यं नान्यथा प्रकरोम्यहम् । पादौ नतोऽस्मि तन्वङ्गि त्यक्त्वा नानायुधानि ते
I speak the truth, and will not act otherwise, even until death; I bow at your feet, O slender-limbed one, having set aside all my weapons.
दयां कुरु विशालाक्षि तप्तोऽस्मि काममार्गणैः । जन्मप्रभृति चार्वङ्गि दैन्यं नाचरितं मया
Show mercy, O wide-eyed one, for I am scorched by the arrows of desire; from birth, O lovely-limbed one, I have never acted humbly.