भविष्यद्दण्डपतनं शरीरे तस्य वीक्ष्य च। संपश्यमानस्तं दोषं घोरं पुत्रस्य राघव
Foreseeing the future downfall of Danda's body, and perceiving that terrible fault in his son, O descendant of Raghu,
स विंध्यनीलयोर्मध्ये राज्यमस्य ददौ प्रभुः। स दंडस्तत्र राजाभूद्रम्ये पर्वतमूर्द्धनि
The lord granted him a kingdom between the Vindhya and Nilaya mountains; there, Danda became king atop the beautiful mountain.
पुरं चाप्रतिमं तेन निवेशाय तथा कृतम्। नाम तस्य पुरस्याथ मधुमत्तमिति स्वयम्
He established an incomparable city there for his residence; and he himself named that city Madhumatta.
तथादेशेन संपन्नः शूरो वासमथाकरोत्। एवं राजा स तद्राज्यं चकार सपुरोहितः
Thus endowed by command, the hero made his dwelling there; and so the king ruled that kingdom with his chief priest.
प्रहृष्ट सुप्रजाकीर्णं देवराजो यथा दिवि। ततः स दंडः काकुत्स्थ बहुवर्षगणायुतम्
Filled with joy and surrounded by excellent offspring, like the king of the gods in heaven, Danda, O descendant of Kakutstha,
अकारयत्तु धर्मात्मा राज्यं निहतकंटकं। अथ काले तु कस्मिंश्चिद्राजा भार्गवमाश्रमम्
That righteous soul governed the kingdom, free from thorns; then, at some time, the king approached the hermitage of Bhargava.
रमणीयमुपाक्रामच्चैत्रमासे मनोरमे। तत्र भार्गवकन्यां तु रूपेणाप्रतिमां भुवि
He entered that delightful place in the charming month of Chaitra; there, he saw Bhargava's daughter, unmatched in beauty on earth.
विचरंतीं वनोद्देशे दंडोऽपश्यदनुत्तमाम्। उत्तुंगपीवरीं श्यामां चंद्राभवदनां शुभाम्
As she wandered in the forest region, Danda beheld her, supreme among women: tall, full-bodied, dark, auspicious, with a face like the moon.
सुनासां चारुसर्वांगीं पीनोन्नतपयोधराम्। मध्ये क्षामां च विस्तीर्णां दृष्ट्वा तां कुरुते मुदम्
With a beautiful nose, lovely limbs, and full, prominent breasts; slender in the middle and broad, seeing her, he felt delight.
एकवस्त्रां वने चैकां प्रथमे यौवने स्थिताम्। स तां दृष्ट्वात्वधर्मेण अनंगशरपीडितः
Alone in the forest, clad in a single garment, in the first bloom of youth; seeing her, he was struck by the arrows of love, acting unrighteously.
अभिगम्य सुविश्रांतां कन्यां वचनमब्रवीत्। कुतस्त्वमसि सुश्रोणि कस्य चासि सुशोभने
Approaching the well-rested maiden, he spoke: 'Whence are you, O lovely-hipped one? Whose daughter are you, O beautiful one?'
पीडतोहमनंगेन पृच्छामि त्वां सुशोभने। त्वया मेऽपहृतं चित्तं दर्शनादेव सुंदरि
'Afflicted by love, I ask you, O beautiful one; my heart has been stolen by you, simply by your appearance, O fair one.'
इदं ते वदनं रम्यं मुनीनां चित्तहारकम्। यद्यहं न लभे भोक्तुं मृतं मामवधारय
'This charming face of yours captivates the minds of sages; if I do not obtain you, consider me dead.'
त्वया हृता मम प्राणा मां जीवय सुलोचने। दासोस्मि ते वरारोहे भक्तं मां भज शोभने
'My life has been taken by you, O lovely-eyed one; give me life, O beautiful-waisted woman. I am your servant; accept me as your devoted one, O radiant lady.'
तस्यैवं तु ब्रुवाणस्य मदोन्मत्तस्य कामिनः। भार्गवी प्रत्युवाचेदं वचः सविनयं नृपम्
As he spoke in this way, intoxicated by desire and arrogance, Bhārgavī addressed the king with respectful words.
भार्गवस्य सुतां विद्धि शुक्रस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। अरजां नाम राजेंद्र ज्येष्ठामाश्रमवासिनः
Know me, O king, to be the daughter of Bhārgava Śukra, whose deeds are pure, named Arajā, the eldest among the dwellers in the hermitage.
शुक्रः पिता मे राजेंद्र त्वं च शिष्यो महात्मनः। धर्मतो भगिनी चाहं भवामि नृपनंदन
Śukra is my father, O king, and you are a disciple of that great soul; by righteousness, I am your sister, O delight of kings.
एवंविधं वचो वक्तुं न त्वमर्हसि पार्थिव। अन्येभ्योपि सुदुष्टेभ्यो रक्ष्या चाहं सदा त्वया
It is not fitting for you, O ruler, to speak such words; I must always be protected by you, even from others who are greatly wicked.
क्रोधनो मे पिता रौद्रो भस्मत्वं त्वां समानयेत्। अथवा राजधर्मेणासंबंधं कुरुषे बलात्
My father is wrathful and fierce; he could reduce you to ashes, or else, by royal law, you would force a forbidden union.
पितरं याचयस्व त्वं धर्मदृष्टेन कर्मणा। वरयस्व नृपश्रेष्ठ पितरं मे महाद्युतिम्
You should ask my father, by a deed seen as righteous; choose my father, O best of kings, who is of great splendor.
अन्यथा विपुलं दुःखं तव घोरं भवेद्ध्रुवम्। क्रुद्धो हि मे पिता सर्वं त्रैलोक्यमभिनिर्दहेत्
Otherwise, great and terrible suffering will surely befall you; for if my father is angered, he could burn up all the three worlds.
ततोऽशुभं महाघोरं श्रुत्वा दंडः सुदारुणम्। प्रत्युवाच मदोन्मत्तः शिरसाभिनतः पुनः
Hearing then of that terrible and dreadful punishment, the king, intoxicated by desire, bowed his head and replied again.
प्रसादं कुरु सुश्रोणि कामोन्मत्तस्य कामिनि। त्वया रुद्धा मम प्राणा विशीर्यंति शुभानने
Show me favor, O lovely-hipped one, for I am maddened by desire; my life is restrained by you, O auspicious-faced one, and is breaking apart.
त्वां प्राप्य वैरं मेऽत्रास्तु वधो वापि महत्तरः। भक्तं भजस्व मां भीरु त्वयि भक्तिर्हि मे परा
Having gained you, let there be enmity or even death for me; accept me as your devotee, O timid one, for my devotion to you is supreme.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तां कन्यां बलात्संगृह्य बाहुना। अन्येन राज्ञा हस्तेन विवस्त्रा सा तथा कृता
Having spoken thus to the maiden, he seized her by force with his arm; with his other hand, the king made her unclothed in that way.
अंगमंगे समाश्लेष्य मुखे चैव मुखं कृतम्। विस्फुरंतीं यथाकामं मैथुनायोपचक्रमे
Embracing her body with his, placing his mouth on hers, he began, as he wished, the act of intercourse, though she struggled.
तमनर्थं महाघोरं दंडः कृत्वा सुदारुणम्। नगरं स्वं जगामाशु मदोन्मत्त इव द्विपः
Having committed that terrible and grievous deed, the king, like an elephant maddened by rut, quickly returned to his own city.
भार्गवी रुदती दीना आश्रमस्याविदूरतः। प्रत्यपालयदुद्विग्ना पितरं देवसम्मितम्
Bhārgavī, weeping and distressed, not far from the hermitage, anxiously awaited her father, who was equal to the gods.
स मुहूर्तादुपस्पृश्य देवर्षिरमितद्युतिः। स्वमाश्रमं शिष्यवृतं क्षुधार्तः सन्यवर्तत
After a moment, the divine sage of boundless splendor, having bathed, returned to his hermitage, surrounded by his disciples and hungry.
सोपश्यदरजां दीनां रजसा समभिप्लुताम्। चंद्रस्य घनसंयुक्तां ज्योत्स्नामिव पराजिताम्
He saw Arajā, dejected and covered in dust, like moonlight overcome by clouds.