विमुक्तदुःखां कृत्वाऽऽशु प्रापयिष्यामि ते पुरम् । पित्रे चास्याः प्रदास्यामि कन्यामेकावलीमहम्
Having swiftly freed her from sorrow, I will bring her to your city and return the maiden Ekāvalī to her father.
पश्चाद्विवाहं कर्तासौ राजा पुत्र्याः परन्तपः । एवं ते मनसः कामो मम चापि प्रियंवदे
Afterwards, the king, destroyer of enemies, will perform the marriage of his daughter. Thus, O sweet-spoken one, your heart's desire and mine will be fulfilled.
भविष्यति स सम्पूर्णः साधनेन तवाधुना । दर्शयाशु पुरं तस्य पश्य मे त्वं पराक्रमम्
Now, by your effort, that wish will be completely accomplished. Quickly show me his city, and you shall witness my valor.
यथा हन्मि दुराचारं परदारापहारकम् । तथा कुरु प्रियं कर्तुं शक्तासि वरवर्णिनि
See how I will slay the wicked one who abducted another's wife. In the same way, O beautiful one, you are able to do what is dear to me.
मार्गं दर्शय तस्याद्य पुरस्य दुर्गमस्य च । व्यास उवाच तन्निशम्य प्रियं वाक्यं मुदिता च यशोवती
Show me today the path to that difficult and fortified city.
तमुवाच रमापुत्रं गमनोपायमादरात् । मन्त्रं गृहाण राजेन्द्र भगवत्यास्तु सिद्धिदम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing those pleasing words, Yaśovatī, delighted, spoke respectfully to the son of Lakṣmī about the means of going.
दर्शयिष्यामि तस्याद्य पुरं राक्षसपालितम् । सज्जो भव महाभाग गमनाय मया सह
O king, receive the mantra that grants success from the Goddess. Today I will show you the city ruled by the Rākṣasa. Be ready, O fortunate one, to go with me.
सैन्येन महता युक्तस्तत्र युद्धं भविष्यति । कालकेतुर्महावीरो राक्षसैर्बलिभिर्वृतः
There will be a great battle, equipped with a mighty army. Kālaketu, the great hero, is surrounded by powerful Rākṣasas.
तस्मान्मन्त्रं गृहीत्वा त्वं व्रज तत्र मया सह । दर्शयिष्यामि ते मार्गं पुरस्यास्य दुरात्मनः
Therefore, having received the mantra, go there with me. I will show you the path to the city of that wicked one.
हत्वा तं पापकर्माणं मोचयाशु च मे सखीम् । श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं वीरो मन्त्रं जग्राह सत्वरः
Slay that evil-doer and quickly free my friend. Hearing these words, the hero promptly received the mantra.
दत्तात्रेयाद्दैवयोगात्प्राप्ताज्ज्ञानिवराच्छुभात् । योगेश्वरीमहामन्त्रं त्रिलोकीतिलकाभिधम्
By divine arrangement, he obtained from Dattātreya the great mantra of the Yoginī, called the Ornament of the Three Worlds, which grants supreme knowledge.
तेन सर्वज्ञता जाता सर्वान्तश्चारिता तथा । तया सह जगामाशु पुरं तस्य सुदुर्गमम्
Through that, omniscience arose and all inner faculties were awakened. With her, he quickly went to that most inaccessible city.
रक्षितं राक्षसैघोरैः पातालमिव पन्नगैः । यशोवत्या च सैन्येन महता संयुतो नृपः
That city was guarded by fierce Rākṣasas, like the underworld by serpents. The king was accompanied by Yaśovatī and a great army.
तमायान्तं समालोक्य दूतास्तस्य भयातुराः । क्रोशन्तोऽभिययुः पार्श्वं कालकेतोस्तरस्विनः
Seeing him approaching, the messengers, terrified with fear, cried out and hurried to the side of the swift Kālaketu.
तमूचुः सहसा मत्वा राक्षसं काममोहितम् । एकावलीसमीपस्थं कुर्वन्तं विनयान्बहून्
They spoke suddenly, perceiving him as a demon overcome by desire, standing near Ekāvalī and displaying many gestures of humility.
दूता ऊचुः राजन् यशोवती नारी कामिन्याः सहचारिणी । आयाति सह सैन्येन राजपुत्रेण संयुता
The messengers said: O King, the renowned lady, companion of the passionate one, is approaching, accompanied by the prince and his army.
जयन्तो वा महाराज कार्तिकेयोऽथवा नु किम् । आगच्छति बलोन्मत्तो वाहिनीसहितः किल
Is it Jayanta, O great King, or Kārtikeya, or who else? Someone is coming, intoxicated with power, together with his forces.
संयत्तो भव राजेन्द्र संग्रामः समुपस्थितः । देवपुत्रेण युध्यस्व त्यज वा कमलेक्षणाम्
Prepare yourself, O king of kings; battle is at hand. Fight with the divine prince, or abandon the lotus-eyed maiden.
इतो दूरेऽस्ति सैन्यं तद्योजनत्रयमात्रतः । सज्जो भव महीपाल दुन्दुभिं घोषयाशु वै
There is an army not far from here, only three yojanas away. Be ready, O ruler of the earth, quickly sound the war drum.
व्यास उवाच तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । राक्षसान्प्रेरयामास सायुधान्सबलान्वहून्
Vyāsa said: Hearing their words, the demon, overwhelmed by anger, sent forth many armed and powerful demons.
गच्छध्वं राक्षसाः सर्वे सम्मुखाः शस्त्रपाणयः । तानाज्ञाप्य कालकेतुः पप्रच्छ प्रणयान्वितः
Go forth, all you demons, face the enemy with weapons in hand. After commanding them, Kālaketu asked with affection:
एकावलीं समीपस्थां विवशां भृशदुःखिताम् । कोऽयमायाति तन्वङ्गि पिता ते वापरः पुमान्
Who is this approaching, O slender one, near Ekāvalī, helpless and greatly distressed? Is it your father or another man?
त्वदर्थे सैन्यसंयुक्तो ब्रूहि सत्यं कृशोदरि । पिता ते यदि सम्प्राप्तो नेतुं त्वां विरहातुरः
Speak truthfully, O slender-waisted, for whose sake this army has come. If your father has arrived to take you, suffering from separation—
ज्ञात्वा ते पितरं सम्यक् संग्रामं न करोम्यहम् । आनयित्वा गृहे पूजां रत्नैर्वस्त्रैर्हयैः शुभैः
Knowing well that he is your father, I will not wage battle. I will bring him to my house and honor him with jewels, garments, and fine horses.
करोमि तस्य चातिथ्यं गृहे प्राप्तस्य सर्वथा । अन्यश्चेद्यदि सम्प्राप्तस्तं हन्मि निशितैः शरैः
I will offer him hospitality in every way when he arrives at my house. But if another has come, I will slay him with sharp arrows.
आनीतः किल कालेन मरणाय महात्मना । तस्माद्वद विशालाक्षि कोऽयमायाति मन्दधीः
He has surely been brought by fate for death, O great-souled one. Therefore, speak, O wide-eyed, who is this dull-minded person approaching?
अज्ञात्वा मां दुराधर्षं कालरूपं महाबलम् । एकावल्युवाच न जानेऽहं महाभाग कोऽयमायाति सत्वरः
Without knowing me, difficult to conquer, the embodiment of time, and possessing great strength— Ekāvalī said: I do not know, O illustrious one, who is coming so swiftly.
नमेऽस्ति विदितः कोऽपि स्थितायास्तव बन्धने । नायं पिता मे न भ्राता कोऽप्यन्योऽस्ति महाबलः
No one is known to me while I remain in your captivity. He is not my father, nor my brother; some other powerful person is approaching.
किमर्थमिह चायाति नाहं वेद विनिश्चयम् । दैत्य उवाच एवं वदन्त्यमी दूता वयस्या ते यशोवती
For what purpose is he coming here? I do not know for certain. The demon said: Thus speak these messengers, your friend Yaśovatī.
समानीय च तं वीरमागतेति कृतोद्यमा । क्व गता सा सखी कान्ते विदग्धा कार्यनिश्चये
Having brought that hero, she is ready, saying he has arrived. Where has that clever friend gone, so skilled in determining what must be done?