तथापि मे फलं न स्याद्बलाद्भोगसुखं कुतः । प्रब्रवीमि सुकेशि त्वां विनयावनतो यतः
Yet, even then, I would gain no true reward, and how could there be pleasure in forced enjoyment? I speak to you, O fair-haired one, with humility.
पुरुषस्य सुखं न स्यादृते कान्तामुखाम्बुजात् । तत्तथैव हि नारीणां न स्याच्च पुरुषं विना
A man finds happiness only through the lotus-face of his beloved; likewise, for women, there is no joy without a man.
संयोगे सुखसम्भूतिर्वियोगे दुःखसम्भवः । कान्तासि रूपसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता
Union brings the birth of happiness, separation brings the rise of sorrow; you are a lovely woman, adorned with all ornaments.
चातुर्यं त्वयि किं नास्ति यतो मां न भजस्यहो । तवोपदिष्टं केनेदं भोगानां परिवर्जनम्
Why is there no cleverness in you, that you do not accept me? Who has taught you this renunciation of pleasures?
वञ्चितासि प्रियालापे वैरिणा केनचित्त्विह । मुञ्चाग्रहमिमं कान्ते कुरु कार्यं सुशोभनम्
By whom have you been deceived here, O lovely one, with sweet words from an enemy? Abandon this stubbornness, O beautiful one, and do what is proper.
सुखं तव ममापि स्याद्विवाहे विहिते किल । विष्णुर्लक्ष्या सहाभाति सावित्र्या च सहात्मभूः
Happiness would be yours and mine as well, if marriage were arranged; Vishnu shines with Lakshmi, and Brahma with Savitri.
रुद्रो भाति च पार्वत्या शच्या शतमखस्तथा । का नारी पतिहीना च सुखं प्राप्नोति शाश्वतम्
Rudra shines with Parvati, and Indra with Shachi; what woman, without a husband, ever attains lasting happiness?
येन त्वमसितापाङ्गि न करोषि पतिं शुभम् । कामः क्वाद्य गतः कान्ते यस्त्वां बाणैः सुकोमलैः
O dark-eyed one, why do you not take a worthy husband? Where has the god of love gone today, whose gentle arrows
मादनैः पञ्चभिः कामं न ताडयति मन्दधीः । मन्येऽहमिव कामोऽपि दयावांस्त्वयि सुन्दरि
With his five flowery arrows, the dull-witted god of love does not strike you; I think, O beautiful one, that even Kāma is compassionate toward you, as I am.
अबलेति च मन्वानो न प्रेरयति मार्गणान् । मनोभवस्य वैरं वा किमप्यस्ति मया सह
Thinking you weak, he does not send his arrows; or perhaps the god of love bears some enmity toward me.
तेन च त्वय्यरालाक्षि न मुञ्चति शिलीमुखान् । अथवा मेऽहितैर्देवैर्वारितोऽसौ झषध्वजः
Therefore, O one with curling lashes, he does not release his arrows at you; or perhaps that fish-bannered god has been restrained by hostile gods.
सुखविध्वंसिभिस्तेन त्वयि न प्रहरत्यपि । त्यक्त्वा मां मृगशावाक्षि पश्चात्तापं करिष्यसि
Thus, he does not strike you with those happiness-destroying arrows; but if you abandon me, O fawn-eyed one, you will later feel regret.
मन्दोदरीव तन्वङ्गि परित्यज्य शुभं नृपम् । अनुकूलं पतिं पश्चात्सा चकार शठं पतिम् । कामार्ता च यदा जाता मोहेन व्याकुलान्तरा
O slender-waisted one, just as Mandodari abandoned her virtuous husband and later took a deceitful husband as her own, so too, when overcome by desire and bewildered within, she acted.
राजपुत्रीमन्दोदरीवृत्तवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच का सा मंदोदरी नारी कोऽसौ त्यक्तो नृपस्तया
Description of the conduct of the princess Mandodari. Vyasa said: Who is this woman Mandodari, and who is the king whom she abandoned?
शठः को वा नृपः पश्चात्तन्मे ब्रूहि कथानकम्
And who is this deceitful king she later accepted? Tell me this story.
महिष उवाच घनपादपसंयुक्तो धनधान्यसमृद्धिमान्
Mahisha said: There was a king, accompanied by mighty elephants, abundant in wealth and grain.
चंद्रसेनाऽभिधस्तत्र राजा धर्मपरायणः
His name was Candrasena, devoted to righteousness.
सत्यवादी मृदुः शूरस्तितिक्षुर्नीतिसागरः
He spoke the truth, was gentle, heroic, patient, and an ocean of good conduct.
तस्य भार्या वरारोहा सुन्दरी सुभगा शुभा
His wife was of excellent form, beautiful, fortunate, and auspicious.
नाम्ना गुणवती कांता सर्वलक्षणसंयुता
Her name was Gunavati, lovely and endowed with all auspicious marks.
पिता चातीव संतुष्टः पुत्रीं प्राप्य मनोरमाम्
Her father was exceedingly pleased to have obtained such a charming daughter.
इंदोः कलेव चात्यर्थं ववृधे सा दिनेदिने
She grew day by day, just like the waxing moon.
वरार्थं नृपतिश्चिन्तामवाप च दिनेदिने 5.17.
The king daily became anxious about finding a suitable husband for her.
तस्य पुत्रोऽतिमेधावी कंबुग्रीवोऽतिविश्रुतः
He had a son of great intelligence, renowned as Kambugriva.
सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नः सर्वविद्यार्थपारगः
He was endowed with all auspicious marks and accomplished in every branch of knowledge.
कंबुग्रीवाय कन्यां स्वां दास्यामि वरवर्णिनीम्
He thought, 'I will give my beautiful daughter to Kambugriva.'
विवाहं ते पिता कर्तुं कंबुग्रीवेण वांछति
Her father wished to arrange her marriage with Kambugriva.
नाहं पतिं करिष्यामि नेच्छा मेऽस्ति परिग्रहे
She said, 'I will not take a husband; I have no desire for marriage.'
स्वातंत्र्या न्मोक्षमित्याहुः पण्डिताः शास्त्रकोविदा
The learned, well-versed in the scriptures, say that independence is liberation.
विवाहे वर्तमाने तु पावकस्य च सन्निधौ
But when marriage is taking place, and in the presence of the sacred fire,