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.
तत्र तिष्ठति दुःखार्ता सखी मे प्राणवल्लभा । तेनाहं विरहेणात्र रारटीमि सुदुःखिता
There my dear friend, beloved as my own life, remains in distress; because of our separation, I cry out here, overwhelmed by sorrow.
एकवीर उवाच कथं त्वमत्र सम्प्राप्ता पुरात्तस्य दुरात्मनः । विस्मयो मे महानत्र तत्त्वं ब्रूहि वरानने
Ekavira said: How have you come here from the house of that wicked man? I am greatly astonished at this—tell me the truth, O beautiful one.
त्वया च कथितं वाक्यं सन्दिग्धं भाति भामिनि । हैहयार्थे कल्पिता सा पित्रेति मम साम्प्रतम्
And the words you have spoken, O lovely one, seem doubtful to me; now I think that the story about her being your father was invented for the sake of the Haihaya.
हैहयो नाम राजाहं नान्योऽस्ति पृथिवीपतिः । मदर्थे कथिता सा किं सखी तव सुलोचना
I am the king named Haihaya—there is no other lord of the earth; was that beautiful-eyed friend of yours mentioned for my sake?
एतन्मे संशयं सुभ्रु छेत्तुमर्हसि भामिनि । अहं तामानयिष्यामि तं हत्वा राक्षसाधमम्
You should resolve this doubt of mine, O fair-browed one; I will bring her back after slaying that wicked Rakshasa.
स्थानं दर्शय मे तस्य यदि जानासि सुव्रते । राज्ञे निवेदितं किं वा तत्पित्रे चातिदुःखिता
Show me the place where he is, if you know it, O virtuous one; has it been reported to the king, or to her father, who is greatly distressed?
यस्यैषा वल्लभा पुत्री न किं जानाति तां हृताम् । नोद्यमः किं कृतस्तेन ततो मोचनहेतवे
Whose beloved daughter she is—does he not know she has been abducted? Has he not made any effort, therefore, to rescue her?
बन्दीकृतां सुतां ज्ञात्वा कथं तिष्ठति सुस्थिरः । असमर्थो नृपः किं वा कारणं ब्रूहि सत्वरम्
Knowing his daughter has been taken captive, how does he remain calm? Is the king powerless, or what is the reason? Tell me quickly.
त्वया मेऽपहृतं चेतो गुणानुक्त्वा ह्यमानुषान् । सख्याः पङ्कजपत्राक्षि कृतः कामवशो भृशम्
You have stolen my heart by describing your friend's superhuman qualities, O lotus-eyed one, and I am now completely under the sway of desire.
कदा पश्यामि तां कान्तां मोचयित्वातिसङ्कटात् । इति मे हृदयं चाद्य करोत्यतिमनोरथम्
When will I see that beloved, having freed her from great danger? Thus, today, my heart is filled with intense longing.