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.'
पुनरुक्तं मया वाक्यं श्रुत्वा तद्भाषितं खरम् । नाहं क्षमाप्रियं वक्तुं त्वमेनां कथय प्रभो
Hearing those harsh repeated words from me, I was unable, dear one, to speak kindly; you tell her, Lord.
इत्युक्ते वचने दुष्टो मदनक्षतमानसः । उवाच विनयादेनां सखीं क्षामोदरीं प्रियाम्
When these words were spoken, that wicked one, his mind wounded by love, addressed her—his slender-waisted beloved friend—with humility.
कृशोदरि त्वया मन्त्रो निक्षिप्तोऽस्ति ममोपरि । तेन मे हृदयं कान्ते हृतं ते वशतां गतम्
'Slender-waisted one, you have placed a spell upon me; by that, my heart, dear one, has been taken and come under your control.'
तेनाहं तव दासोऽद्य कृतोऽस्मीति विनिश्चयः । भज मां कामबाणेन पीडितं विवशं भृशम्
'Therefore, I am now made your servant—this is certain. Accept me, tormented and helpless, struck by the arrows of love.'
यौवनं याति रम्भोरु चञ्चलं दुर्लभं तदा । सफलं कुरु कल्याणि पतिं मां परिरभ्य च
'Youth, O one with thighs like plantains, is fleeting and hard to obtain. Make it fruitful, blessed one, by embracing me, your husband.'
एकावल्युवाच पित्राहं कल्पिता पूर्वं दातुं राजसुताय वै । हैहयस्तु महाभाग स मया मनसा वृतः
Ekāvalī said: 'My father had previously arranged to give me to the prince; but I, O highly fortunate one, chose Haihaya in my heart.'
कथमन्यं भजे कान्तं त्यक्त्वा धर्मं सनातनम् । कन्याधर्मं विहायाद्य वेत्सि शास्त्रविनिश्चयम्
'How can I accept another beloved, abandoning the eternal law? Forsaking the duty of a maiden today—you know the conclusion of the scriptures.'
यस्मै दद्यात्पिता कामं कन्या तं पतिमाप्नुयात् । परतन्त्रा सदा कन्या न स्वातन्त्र्यं कदाचन
'To whom a father gives a maiden willingly, she obtains him as husband. A maiden is always dependent, never independent at any time.'
इत्युक्तोऽपि तया पापी विरराम न मोहितः । न मुमोच विशालाक्षीं मां च पार्श्वस्थितां तथा
Though addressed thus by her, that sinner did not desist, being deluded; nor did he release the large-eyed one, nor me, who stood by her side.
पातालविवरे तस्य पुरं परमसङ्कटे । राक्षसै रक्षितं दुर्गं मण्डितं परिखावृतम्
In a cavern of the underworld was his city, extremely difficult to reach, guarded by rākṣasas, a fortress adorned and surrounded by moats.