तावत्प्रणम्य नृपतेः पुत्रो वचनमब्रवीत्
Then, bowing, the king’s son spoke these words.
तव भर्तुः प्रसादेन वृद्धिं संप्राप्तवानहम्
By your husband’s favor, I have attained prosperity.
अस्याः पीतं पयो भूरि कुचयोः स्नेहसंप्लुतम्
I have drunk much milk from her breasts, overflowing with affection.
इयं मां जनयित्वैव जाता शिथिलबन्धना
Having given birth to me, she became loosened in her bonds.
मातुः पुत्रस्य चार्वङ्गि सत्यमेतन्मयेरितम्
O lovely one, this is true, what I have spoken about mother and son.
उत्संगे वर्तयिष्यामि मातृसंघस्य नित्यशः
I will always remain in the lap of the group of mothers.
मातृसौख्यं न जानाति कुमारी भर्तृजं यथा
A maiden does not know a mother’s happiness as one born from a husband does.
हारमुत्तमदेहस्थं हस्तेनाहर्तुमिच्छति
She wishes to take with her hand the necklace resting on the best of bodies.
समीहते जगद्धर्तुं सवीर्यं मातृजं पयः
She longs to drink the mother’s milk, full of strength, that sustains the world.
अस्याश्चैवापराणां च विशेषो यदि मे न चेत्
If I do not know the difference between her and others—
एवं ब्रुवाणे तनये मोहिनी विस्मयं गता
As her son spoke thus, Mohinī was filled with wonder.
विनीतस्य ह्यपापस्य औचित्यं पापिनो गृहे
Indeed, the conduct of the virtuous, even in the house of the wicked, is fitting.
एवं गुणाधिकस्याहं कर्तुं कर्म जुगुप्सिताम्
Thus, though he possesses virtues, I am compelled to perform a deed that is to be abhorred.
एवं विमृश्य बहुधा मोहिनी लोकसुंदरी
Having reflected in many ways, the enchanting Mohinī, beautiful among women,
न शक्नोमि विना तेन मुहूर्तमपि वर्तितुम्
I am unable to remain even for a moment without him.
कनिष्ठा जननी तात शीघ्रं त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति
Your youngest mother, dear one, wishes to see you at once.
पुत्रवाक्येन नृपतिरतत्क्षणाद्गन्तुमुद्यतः
At his son's words, the king immediately prepared to go.
संप्रविश्य गृहे राजा ददर्श शयनस्थिताम्
Entering the house, the king saw her lying on the bed.
उपास्य मानां प्रियया संध्यावल्या शनैः शनैः
Honoring his beloved Sandhyāvalī, he slowly approached her.
दृष्ट्वा रुक्माङ्गदं प्राप्तं शयने मोह्य सुंदरी
Seeing Rukmāṅgada arrive, the beautiful woman, overcome with emotion, lay on the bed.
इहोपविश्यतां कान्त पर्यङ्के मृदुतूलके
Come, beloved, sit here on this soft, downy couch.
अद्यापि नहि ते वाञ्छा राज्ये परिनिवर्तते
Even now, your desire for the kingdom has not subsided.
यः समर्थं सुतं ज्ञात्वा स्वयं पश्येन्नृपश्रियम्
He who, knowing his son to be capable, still covets royal splendor himself—
सुपुत्राणां पितॄणां हि सुखं याति क्षणं नृप
O king, the happiness of fathers with good sons lasts only a moment.
सर्वाश्च प्रकृती राजंस्तवेष्टाः पूर्णपुण्यजाः
All your subjects, O king, are devoted to you, born of abundant merit.
परित्यज्य प्रियासौख्यं कीनाश इव दुर्बलः
Forsaking the pleasures of his beloved, he has become weak, like a dying man.
निष्प्रयोजनमानीता क्षीरसागरमस्तकात्
Brought here without purpose, as if from the crest of the ocean of milk.
यो भार्यां यौवनोपेतां न सेवेदिह दुर्मतिः
He who, though possessing a youthful wife, does not enjoy her here is truly foolish.
असेविता व्रजेद्भार्या अदत्तं हि धनं व्रजेत्
A wife who is not enjoyed departs, just as wealth not given is lost.
नालसैः प्राप्यते विद्या न भार्या व्रतसंस्थितैः
Knowledge is not gained by the lazy, nor a wife by those devoted to vows.