तत्र सा रमते बाला नान्यत्र सुखमाप्नुयात् । सुदूरे जाह्नवीतीरे भवन्ति कमलान्यपि
There the girl finds joy, and nowhere else does she find happiness; even far away, on the banks of the Jāhnavī, there are lotuses.
रममाणा तत्र याता मत्समेता सखीयुता । मया निवेदितं राजन् पुत्री ते कमलाकरान्
Delighting there, she would go with me and her other friends; I informed you, O King, that your daughter visits the lotus ponds.
प्रेक्षमाणातिदूरे सा प्रयाति निर्जने वने । निषेधिताथ पित्रासौ गृहे कृत्वा जलाशयान्
Seeing them at a great distance, she would go into the lonely forest; then, forbidden by her father, she created lotus ponds at home.
कमलान् वापयित्वाथ पुष्पितान् भ्रमरावृतान् । तथापि निर्ययौ बाला कमलासक्तचेतना
Having caused lotuses to bloom there, full of flowers and swarming with bees, still the girl, her mind attached to lotuses, went out.
तदा राज्ञा रक्षपालाः प्रेरिताः शस्त्रपाणयः । एवं रक्षायुता तन्वी मत्समेता सखीयुता । क्रीडार्थं जाह्नवीतोये नित्यमायाति याति च
Then, guards sent by the king, armed with weapons, would always accompany the slender maiden, together with her friends, for her protection, as she came and went to play in the waters of the Jahnavi.
; हैहयैकवीराय यशोवत्यैकावलीमोचनाय देवीस्वप्नवर्णनम् यशोवत्युवाच प्रातरुत्थाय तन्वङ्गी चलिता च सखीयुता । चामरैर्वीज्यमाना सा रक्षिता बहुरक्षिभिः
Yaśovatī said: Rising early in the morning, the slender-bodied maiden set out with her friends; she was fanned with chowries and protected by many guards.
सायुधैश्चातिसन्नद्धैः सहिता वरवर्णिनी । क्रीडार्थमत्र राजेन्द्र सम्प्राप्ता नलिनीं शुभाम्
Accompanied by well-armed and fully equipped attendants, the radiant maiden arrived here, O king, at the beautiful lotus-pond for play.
अहमप्यनया सार्धं गङ्गातीरे समागता । अप्सरोभिः समेता च कमलैः क्रीडमानया
I too came there with her to the bank of the Ganga, joined by apsarases, as she played with the lotuses.
एकावली तथा चाहं जाते क्रीडापरे यदा । सहसैव तदायातो दानवो बलसंयुतः
When Ekāvalī and I were absorbed in play, suddenly a powerful Dānava arrived.
कालकेतुरिति ख्यातो राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्युतः । परिघासिगदाचापबाणतोमरपाणिभिः
He was known as Kālaketu, surrounded by many rākṣasas, all armed with iron clubs, swords, maces, bows, arrows, and spears.
दृष्टा चैकावली तेन रूपयौवनशालिनी । द्वितीया कामपत्नीव क्रीडमाना सुपङ्कजैः
Seeing Ekāvalī, endowed with beauty and youth, playing with the lovely lotuses, he regarded her as a second wife of Kāma.
मयोक्तैकावली राजन् कोऽयं दैत्यः समागतः । गच्छावो रक्षपालानां मध्ये पङ्कजलोचने
I said to Ekāvalī, 'O lotus-eyed one, who is this Daitya who has come? Let us go among the guards.'
विमृश्यैव सखी चाहं त्वरयैव गते भयात् । मध्ये वै सैनिकानां तु सायुधानां नृपात्मज
Thinking thus, O friend, I quickly went away out of fear, and in the midst of the armed soldiers, O prince.
कालकेतुस्तु तां दृष्ट्वा मोहिनीं मदनातुरः । गदां गुर्वी गृहीत्वा तु धावमानः समागतः
But Kālaketu, seeing her, was maddened by desire; seizing a heavy mace, he rushed forward.
रक्षकान्दूरतः कृत्वा जग्राहाम्बुजलोचनाम् । त्रस्तां वेपथुसंयुक्तां क्रन्दमानां कृशोदरीम्
Driving the guards away, he seized the lotus-eyed maiden, who was trembling in fear, crying out, and slender-waisted.
त्यजैनां मां गृहाणेति मया चोक्तोऽपि दानवः । न मां जग्राह कामार्तस्तां गृहीत्वा विनिःसृतः
Though I cried out, 'Let her go, take me instead,' the lustful Dānava did not seize me, but carried her off.
तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भाषन्तो रक्षकास्तं महाबलम् । प्रतिषिध्य तु संग्रामं चक्रुर्विस्मयकारकम्
The guards shouted, 'Stop! Stop!' at that mighty one, and, blocking his way, engaged him in a wondrous battle.
तस्यापि राक्षसाः क्रूराः सर्वतः शस्त्रपाणयः । युयुधू रक्षकैः सार्धं स्वामिकार्ये कृतोद्यमाः
The fierce rākṣasas, all armed with weapons, fought with the guards on every side, striving to fulfill their master's command.
संग्रामस्तु तदा जातः कालकेतोस्तथा रणे । निहत्य रक्षकान्सर्वान्गृहीत्वैनां महाबलः
Then a battle took place between Kālaketu and the guards; having slain them all, the mighty one seized her.
युक्तो राक्षससैन्येन निर्जगाम पुरं प्रति । वीक्ष्य तां रुदतीं बालां गृहीता दानवेन तु
Joined by his rākṣasa army, he departed towards his city; seeing the girl, weeping and seized by the Dānava.
पृष्ठतोऽहं गता तत्र यत्र नीता सखी मम । विक्रोशन्ती यथा सा मां पश्येदिति पदानुगा
I followed behind to where my friend was taken, so that, as she cried out, she might see me following her steps.
सापि मामागतां वीक्ष्य किञ्चित्स्वस्थाभवत्तदा । गताहं तत्समीपे तु तामाभाष्य पुनः पुनः
When she saw me arrive, she became somewhat composed; I went near her and spoke to her again and again.
सा मां प्राप्यातिदुःखार्ता स्तम्भस्वेदसमाकुला । कण्ठे गृहीत्वा मां भूप रुरोद भृशदुःखिता
She, having reached me, overwhelmed by intense sorrow, paralyzed and drenched in sweat, seized me by the neck, O King, and wept bitterly, deeply afflicted.
स मामाह कालकेतुः प्रीतिपूर्वमिदं वचः । समाश्वासय भीतां त्वं सखीं चञ्चललोचनाम्
Then Kālaketu spoke to me these words with affection: 'Console your fearful friend, she of restless eyes.'
प्राप्तं ममाद्य नगरं देवलोकसमं प्रिये । दासोऽस्मि तव रत्या हि कस्मात्क्रन्दसि कातरा
'Today my city, equal to the realm of the gods, has been attained, dear one. I am your servant for pleasure—why do you cry out in fear?'
कथयैनां सखीं तेऽद्य स्वस्था भव सुलोचने । इत्युक्त्वा मां सखीपार्श्वे समारोप्य रथोत्तमे
'Tell your friend this today, O beautiful-eyed one, and be at ease.' Having said this, he seated me beside my friend on the splendid chariot.
जगाम तरसा दुष्टः पुरे स्वस्य मनोहरे । सैन्येन महता युक्तः प्रफुल्लवदनाम्बुजः
That wicked one, his face blooming with delight, swiftly entered his own enchanting city, accompanied by a great army.
एकावली तथा मां च संस्थाप्य धवले गृहे । राक्षसान् गृहरक्षार्थं कल्पयामास कोटिशः
He placed Ekāvalī and me in a white mansion, and appointed countless rākṣasas for the protection of the house.
द्वितीये दिवसे सोऽथ मामुवाच रहो नृप । प्रबोधय सखीं बालां शोचन्तीं विरहातुराम्
On the second day, he spoke to me privately, O King: 'Awaken your young friend, who is distressed and tormented by separation.'
पत्नी मे भव सुश्रोणि सुखं भुङ्क्षव यथेप्सितम् । राज्यं त्वदीयं चन्द्रास्ये सेवकोऽहं सदा तव
'Become my wife, O lovely-hipped one, enjoy happiness as you desire. This kingdom is yours, moon-faced one; I am always your servant.'