तल्पस्था रक्षसा रात्रौ स्वपुरस्था हृता द्विज
While lying on my bed at night, I was taken from my own city by a demon, O twice-born one.
समाश्वसिहि शोकं त्वं मा कृथा मत्कृते क्वचित्
Take heart; do not grieve for my sake at any time.
तव कीर्तिकरी तद्वन्मातुः सौशील्यसूचिका
This act brings you fame, and likewise reveals the noble character of my mother.
अबाहुरिति विख्यातः प्राप्तः सुद्युम्रसन्निधौ
Known as Abāhu, he arrived in the presence of Sudyumna.
राजन्नुपागता नष्टा दिहिता तव मानद
O king, your lost daughter has returned, O bestower of honor.
पुरबाह्ये स्थिता दृष्टा मया ज्ञाता न चाभवत्
I saw her standing outside the city, but she did not recognize me.
अविप्लुताहं वदति मां जानातु समागताम्
She says, 'I am unharmed; let it be known that I have returned.'
तदद्भुतं वचः श्रुत्वा पुरपालस्य तत्क्षणात्
Hearing those wondrous words of the city-guard at that very moment,
स तु गत्वा पुराद्ब्राह्ये गङ्गातीरे व्यवस्थिताम्
He then went outside the city and found her standing on the bank of the Ganges.
सहजे नैव वेषेण भूषितां भूषणप्रियाम्
She was adorned as usual, fond of ornaments, and dressed in her customary attire.
दूराद्दृष्ट्वान्तिकं गत्वा पर्यष्वजत भूपतिः
Seeing her from afar, the king approached and embraced her.
ततश्च मात्रा संगम्य हृष्टया हर्षितान्तरा
Then, meeting her mother, who was delighted and filled with joy,
सुप्ताहं रत्नशालायां सखीभिः परिवारिता
I was asleep in the jeweled hall, surrounded by my companions.
चिन्तयत्नी भर्तृयोगं निशीथे रक्षसा हृता
Thinking of union with my husband, I was seized by a demon at midnight.
नानारत्नमये तत्र गुहायां स्थापिता ह्यहम्
There, in a cave adorned with various jewels, I was placed.
तस्य भार्या त्वियं सुभ्रूर्या तिष्ठति सुमध्यमा
This beautiful-browed, slender-waisted woman is his wife, standing here.
अनया बुद्धियोगेन शक्त्या शक्रस्य भूपते
By her intelligence and power, O king, she overcame even Indra.
पुरैव मम तं शैलं प्राप्तो देवेन भूसुरः
Long ago, O brahmin, the god himself reached that mountain of mine.
विप्रेण संविदं कृत्वा दांपत्ये निजकर्मणा
Having made an agreement with the Brahmin regarding marriage, according to her own duty,
एवं कृत्वा पतिं विप्रं हस्तिनीरूपधारिणी
Thus having done so, the one assuming the form of an elephant approached the Brahmin as her husband,
समायातात्र भूपाल मामत्तुं तव मन्दिरम्
She came here, O king, to your palace, to take me away.
तस्मादिमां पूजयस्व सत्कृत्याग्रजसंयुताम्
Therefore, honor me properly, together with my elder sister.
अनेनैकासनगता जाता भर्ता स मे भवत्
By this, having sat together on one seat, he has become my husband.
नान्य इत्थं पुराणेषु श्रूयते ह्यागमेष्वपि
No other such case is heard of in the ancient stories or even in the scriptures.
धर्मत स्तेन मद्भर्ता भवेदेषा मतिर्मम
Therefore, by righteousness, he is my husband—this is my conviction.
देहि विप्राय मां तात पितमन्यं वृणे न च
Give me to the Brahmin, father; I choose no other as husband.
सांत्वयामास तन्वङ्गीं राक्षसीं प्रश्रयानतः
He respectfully consoled the slender-bodied demoness.
यदर्थं निहतः कान्तस्त्वया पूर्वतरः सति
For the sake of whom your beloved was previously slain by you,
इममिच्छति भर्तारं यो ऽयं भर्ता कृतस्त्वया
She desires this man as her husband, whom you have now made her husband.
अनुमोदय साहाय्ये सुतां मम सुलोचने प्रतिपन्ने तु वचसि राज्ञा तुष्टा तु राक्षसी
Approve, O bright-eyed one, to assist my daughter; when the king's words were accepted, the demoness was pleased.