इत्यावां समयं कृत्वा स्वर्गाद्भूलोकमागतौ । एकचित्तौ मुनीभूतौ विचरन्तौ यथेच्छया
Thus, having made this agreement, we came from heaven to earth, united in mind, living as sages, wandering as we pleased.
एवं भ्रमन्तौ लोकेऽस्मिन्ग्रीष्मान्ते समुपागते । सञ्जयस्य पुरं रम्यं सम्प्राप्तौ नृपते पुनः
In this way, as we wandered the world and the end of summer approached, we arrived again at the delightful city of King Sañjaya.
तेन सम्पूजितौ भक्त्या राज्ञा सम्मानितौ भृशम् । स्थितौ तत्र गृहे तस्य चातुर्मास्यं महात्मनः
There, we were worshipped with devotion and greatly honored by the king, and we stayed in his house for the four months of the rainy season.
वार्षिकाश्चतुरो मासा दुर्गमाः पथि सर्वदा । तस्मादेकत्र विबुधैः स्थातव्यमिति निश्चयः
The four months of the rainy season are always difficult for travel, so the wise have determined that one should remain in one place during this time.
अष्टौ मासांस्तु प्रवसेत्सदा कार्यवशाद्द्विजः । वर्षाकाले न गन्तव्यं प्रवासे सुखमिच्छता
A twice-born should always reside away from home for eight months if duty requires; but one who desires comfort should not travel during the rainy season.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा सञ्जयस्य गृहे तदा । संस्थितौ मानितौ राज्ञा कृतातिथ्यौ महात्मना
Thinking thus in his mind, at that time, we stayed in the house of Sañjaya, honored and treated as guests by the noble king.
दमयन्तीति विख्याता तस्य पुत्री महीपतेः । आज्ञप्ता परिचर्यार्थं सुदती सुन्दरी भृशम्
Damayantī, the renowned daughter of that king, was instructed to serve us—she was exceedingly beautiful and charming.
विवेकज्ञा विशालाक्षी राजपुत्री कृतोद्यमा । सेवनं सर्वकाले च व्यदधादुभयोरपि
The wise, wide-eyed princess, eager in her duties, attended to both of us at all times.
स्नानार्थमुदकं काले भोजनं मृष्टमायतम् । मुखवासं तथा चान्यं यदिष्टं तद्ददाति सा
She would provide water for bathing at the proper time, delicious and well-prepared food, fragrant mouth fresheners, and anything else we desired.
मनोऽभिलषितान्कामानुभयोरपि कन्यका । व्यजनासनशय्यादीन्वाञ्छितानप्यकल्पयत्
The maiden fulfilled all the wishes of both of us, arranging fans, seats, beds, and whatever else we wanted.
एवं संसेव्यमानौ तु स्थितौ राज्ञो गृहे किल । वेदाध्ययनसंशीलावावां वेदव्रते रतौ
Thus, being served in this way, we stayed in the king's house, devoted to Vedic study and observance of Vedic vows.
अहं वीणां करे कृत्वा साधयित्वा स्वरोत्तमम् । गायत्रं साम सुस्वादमगां कर्णरसायनम्
I took up the vīṇā in my hand, tuned it to the finest notes, and sang the Sāma hymns, sweet and pleasing to the ear.
राजपुत्री तु तच्छ्रुत्वा सामगानं मनोहरम् । बभूव मयि रागाढ्या प्रीतियुक्ता विशारदा
Hearing that enchanting Sāma song, the princess became deeply attached to me, filled with affection and skill.
दिने दिनेऽनुरागोऽस्या मयि वृद्धिं गतः परः । ममापि प्रीतियुक्तायां मनो जातं स्पृहापरम्
Day by day, her love for me grew greatly; and seeing her affection, a deep longing arose in my own heart as well.
मम तस्य च सा कन्या भोजनादिषु कर्हिचित् । अकरोदन्तरं किञ्चित्सेवाभेदं रसान्विता
That maiden never made any distinction between me and Parvata in serving food and other needs, always attentive and full of feeling.
स्नानायोष्णजलं मह्यं पर्वताय च शीतलम् । दधि मह्यं तथा तक्रं पर्वतायाप्यकल्पयत्
She would prepare warm water for my bath and cool water for Parvata, and provide curds for me and buttermilk for Parvata.
शयनास्तरणं शुभ्रं मदर्थे पर्यकल्पयत् । प्रीत्या परमया यद्वत्पर्वताय न तादृशम्
She arranged a spotless bed for me out of great affection, but not one of the same quality for Parvata.
विलोकयति मां प्रेम्णा सुन्दरी न च पर्वतम् । ततोऽस्यास्तादृशं दृष्ट्वा पर्वतः प्रेमकारणम्
The beautiful maiden looked at me with love, but not at Parvata; seeing this, Parvata understood the reason for her affection.
मनसा चिन्तयामास किमेतदिति विस्मितः । पप्रच्छ मां रहः सम्यग्ब्रूहि नारद सर्वथा
Astonished, he thought in his mind, 'What is this?' and privately asked me, 'Tell me everything, Nārada, without reservation.'
राजपुत्री त्वयि प्रेम करोति मुदिता भृशम् । ददाति भक्ष्यभोज्यानि स्नेहयुक्ता समन्ततः
The princess is deeply in love with you, delighted, and gives you all kinds of food and drink with affection.
न तथा मयि भेदोऽत्र सन्देहं जनयत्यसौ । मन्यते त्वां पतिं कर्तुं सर्वथा सञ्जयात्मजा
She does not treat me the same way, which arouses my doubt; Sañjaya's daughter surely wishes to make you her husband.
तवापि तादृशं भावं जानामि लक्षणैरहम् । नेत्रवक्त्रविकारैश्च ज्ञायते प्रीतिकारणम्
I also know your feelings are the same, by the signs—your eyes, your face, and your expressions reveal the cause of your affection.
सत्यं वद न ते मिथ्या वक्तव्यं वचनं मुने । स्वर्गतः समयं कृत्वा चलितौ संस्मराधुना
Speak the truth; do not utter false words, O sage. Having made a promise in heaven, you have now broken it—recall this at once.
नारद उवाच पृष्टोऽहं पर्वतेनेदं कारणं तु हठाद्यदा । तदाहं ह्रीसमाक्रान्तः सञ्जातश्चाब्रुवं पुनः
Nārada said: When I was questioned by Parvata about this matter, compelled by insistence, I, overcome with shame, spoke again.
पर्वतैषा विशालाक्षी पतिं मां कर्तुमुद्यता । ममापि मानसो भावो वर्ततेऽस्यां विशेषतः
This wide-eyed woman, Parvati, is eager to make me her husband; and I too have a special affection for her in my heart.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं सत्यं पर्वतः कोपसंयुतः । मामुवाच मुनिर्वाक्यं धिग्धिगिति पुनः पुनः
Hearing these truthful words, Parvata, filled with anger, addressed me repeatedly with the words 'shame, shame!'
प्रथमं शपथान्कृत्वा वञ्चितोऽहं त्वया यतः । भव वानरवक्त्रस्त्वं शापाच्च मम मित्रधुक्
Since you deceived me after first making oaths, become one with the face of a monkey, as a result of my curse, O betrayer of a friend.
इति शप्तस्तु तेनाहं कुपितेन महात्मना । सहसा ह्यभवं क्रूरः शाखामृगमुखस्तदा
Thus cursed by that great soul, in his wrath, I suddenly became cruel, with the face of a branch-dwelling animal.
मयापि न कृता तस्मिन्क्षमा तु भगिनीसुते । सोऽपि शप्तोऽतिकोपाद्वै मा स्वर्गे ते गतिः किल
I did not forgive him for this regarding the daughter of his sister; out of intense anger, I too cursed him: 'May you have no passage to heaven.'
स्वल्पेऽपराधे यस्मान्मां शप्तवानसि पर्वत । तस्मात्तवापि मन्दात्मन् मृत्युलोके स्थितिः किल
Because you cursed me for such a minor offense, O Parvata, therefore you too, dull-minded one, shall remain in the world of mortals.