यमुना तपती चैव पुनर्नद्यौ बभूवतुः विष्टिर्घोरात्मिका तद्वत् कालत्वेन व्यवस्थिता
Yamunā and Tapatī became rivers once again; Viṣṭi, of terrible nature, likewise remains established as Time.
मनोर् वैवस्वतस्यासन् दश पुत्रा महाबलाः इलस् तु प्रथमस्तेषां पुत्रेष्ट्यां समजायत
Manu, son of Vivasvat, had ten mighty sons; Ila was the first among them, born from a sacrifice for a son.
इक्ष्वाकुः कुशनाभश्च अरिष्टो धृष्ट एव च नरिष्यन्तः करूषश्च शर्यातिश्च महाबलाः पृषध्रश्चाथ नाभागः सर्वे ते दिव्यमानुषाः
Ikṣvāku, Kuśanābha, Ariṣṭa, Dhṛṣṭa, Nariṣyanta, Karūṣa, Śaryāti, Pṛṣadhra, and Nābhāga—all these, mighty and divine-human, were his sons.
अभिषिच्य मनुः पुत्रम् इलं ज्येष्ठं स धार्मिकः जगाम तपसे भूयः स महेन्द्रवनालयम्
Manu, righteous, installed his eldest son Ila as king, and then departed again for ascetic practice in the great forest of Indra.
अथ दिग्जयसिद्ध्यर्थम् इलः प्रायान्महीम् इमाम् भ्रमन्द्वीपानि सर्वाणि क्ष्माभृतः सम्प्रधर्षयन्
Then, for the conquest of the directions, Ila set out across this earth, traversing all the continents, subduing the lords of the land.
जगामोपवनं शम्भोर् अश्वाकृष्टः प्रतापवान् कल्पद्रुमलताकीर्णं नाम्ना शरवणं महत्
He went to the sacred grove of Śiva, drawn by horses, resplendent, filled with wish-fulfilling trees and vines, named the great Śaravaṇa.
रमते यत्र देवेशः शम्भुः सोमार्धशेखरः उमया समयस्तत्र पुरा शरवणे कृतः
There, the Lord of gods, Śambhu, adorned with the crescent moon, delights; there, formerly, an agreement was made with Umā in Śaravaṇa.
पुंनाम सत्त्वं यत्किंचिद् आगमिष्यति ते वने स्त्रीत्वमेष्यति तत्सर्वं दशयोजनमण्डले
Whatever male being enters that forest of yours will become female throughout the entire region of ten yojanas.
अज्ञातसमयो राजा इलः शरवणे पुरा स्त्रीत्वमाप विशन्न् एव वडबात्वं हयस्तदा
Unaware of this agreement, King Ila once entered Śaravaṇa and, upon entering, immediately became a woman, losing his masculinity.
पुरुषत्वं हृतं सर्वं स्त्रीरूपे विस्मितो नृपः इलेति साभवन्नारी पीनोन्नतघनस्तनी
All his manhood was taken; astonished, the king assumed a woman's form and thus became a woman, with full, high, rounded breasts.
उन्नतश्रोणिजघना पद्मपत्त्रायतेक्षणा पूर्णेन्दुवदना तन्वी विलासोल्लासितेक्षणा
With raised hips and thighs, eyes extended like lotus petals, a slender woman with a face like the full moon, her gaze lively and expressive.
मूलोन्नतायतभुजा नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजा तनुलोमा सुदशना मृदुगम्भीरभाषिणी
Her arms are long and elevated from the shoulders, her hair dark and curled, her body fine-haired, her teeth beautiful, her speech gentle yet deep.
श्यामगौरेण वर्णेन हंसवारणगामिनी कार्मुकभ्रूयुगोपेता तनुताम्रनखाङ्कुरा
With a complexion of dusky and fair hues, moving with the grace of a swan or elephant, adorned with arched brows like a bow, her slender fingers tipped with coppery nails.
भ्रमन्ती च वने तस्मिंश् चिन्तयामास भामिनी को मे पिताथवा भ्राता का मे माता भवेदिह
As she wandered in that forest, the radiant woman pondered: Who is my father or brother? Who here is my mother?
कस्य भर्तुरहं दत्ता कियद्वत्स्यामि भूतले चिन्तयन्तीति ददृशे सोमपुत्रेण साङ्गना
To whom am I given as wife? How long will I remain on earth? While she was reflecting thus, Soma's son saw her with her companions.
इला रूपसमाक्षिप्तमनसा वरवर्णिनी बुधस्तदाप्तये यत्नम् अकरोत्कामपीडितः
Ilā, her mind captivated by beauty, radiant in form, was desired by Budha, who made efforts to win her, afflicted by longing.
विशिष्टाकारवान्दण्डी सकमण्डलुपुस्तकः वेणुदण्डकृतानेकपवित्रकगणत्रिकः
Distinguished in appearance, bearing a staff, with water-pot and book, adorned with many sacred threads made from bamboo rods.
द्विजरूपः शिखी ब्रह्मा निगदन्कर्णकुण्डलः बटुभिश्चान्वितो युक्तैः समित्पुष्पकुशोदकैः
In the form of a twice-born, with a topknot, Brahmā, speaking, wearing earrings, accompanied by proper students carrying fuel, flowers, and sacred grass with water.
किलान्विषन् वने तस्मिन् नाजुहाव स तामिलाम् बहिर् वनस्यान्तरितः किल पादपमण्डले
Searching in that forest, he did not call out to Ilā, remaining outside the grove, concealed among the trees.
ससंभ्रममकस्मात्तां सोपालम्भमिवावदत् त्यक्त्वाग्निहोत्रशुश्रूषां क्व गता मन्दिरान्मम
Suddenly, with agitation, he spoke to her as if reproaching: Having abandoned the tending of the sacred fire, where have you gone from my dwelling?
इयं विहारवेला ते ह्य् अतिक्रामति साम्प्रतम् एह्येहि पृथुसुश्रोणि संभ्रान्ता केन हेतुना
This is your leisure time, which is now passing; come, come, woman of broad hips, why are you agitated, for what reason?
इयं सायन्तनी वेला विहारस्येह वर्तते कृत्वोपलेपनं पुष्पैर् अलंकुरु गृहं मम
This is the evening hour for recreation here; after applying ointment, decorate my house with flowers.
सा त्व् अब्रवीद् विरमृताहं सर्वमेतत्तपोधन आत्मानं त्वां च भर्तारं कुलं च वद मे ऽनघ
She replied: I do not know any of this, O ascetic. Tell me of myself, you as husband, and of my lineage, O sinless one.
बुधः प्रोवाच तां तन्वीम् इला त्वं वरवर्णिनी अहं च कामुको नाम बहुविद्यो बुधः स्मृतः
Budha spoke to the slender woman: Ilā, you are radiant in form; I am called Kāmuka, known as Budha, skilled in many arts.
तेजस्विनः कुले जातः पिता मे ब्राह्मणाधिपः इति सा तस्य वचनात् प्रविष्टा बुधमन्दिरम्
Born in a noble lineage, my father is chief among Brahmins. Hearing his words, she entered Budha's house.
रत्नस्तम्भसमायुक्तं दिव्यमायाविनिर्मितम् इला कृतार्थमात्मानं मेने तद्भवनस्थिता
Adorned with jewel pillars, wondrously crafted by divine illusion, Ilā, having achieved her purpose, considered herself fulfilled, dwelling in that mansion.
अहो वृत्तमहो रूपम् अहो धनमहो कुलम् मम चास्य च मे भर्तुर् अहो लावण्यम् उत्तमम्
Ah, what conduct, what beauty, what wealth, what lineage—mine and my husband's! Ah, what supreme charm!
रेमे च सा तेन समम् अतिकालमिला ततः सर्वभोगमये गेहे यथेन्द्रभवने तथा
Ilā enjoyed herself with him for a long time, in a house full of every pleasure, just as in Indra's palace.
अथान्विषन्तो राजानं भ्रातरस् तस्य मानवाः इक्ष्वाकुप्रमुखा जग्मुस् तदा शरवणान्तिकम्
Then, seeking the king, his brothers—descendants of Manu, led by Ikshvaku—went to the place called Sharavana.
ततस्ते ददृशुः सर्वे वडबाम् अग्रतः स्थिताम् रत्नपर्याणकिरणदीप्तकायाम् अनुत्तमाम्
There, all of them saw a mare standing at the front, her body shining with rays from a jeweled chariot, unmatched in beauty.