द्वावेतौ तु गतौ तत्र पितरं हृष्टमानसौ । द्वाभ्यां तत्र समास्थाय शिवशर्माणमुत्तमम्
The two went there, their minds joyful, to their father; together they approached Śivaśarmā, the excellent one.
धर्मशर्मा तदोवाच पितरं दीप्तिसंयुतम् । ममाद्यैव महाभाग तपसा जीवितेन च
Dharmaśarmā then spoke to his radiant father: 'Today, O most fortunate, by my austerity and my life—'
वेदशर्मा समानीतस्तं पुत्रं प्रगृहाण भोः । शिवशर्मा ततो हृष्टो भक्तिं विज्ञाय तस्य च
'Vedaśarmā has been brought; take your son, O sir.' Śivaśarmā, then, rejoicing and recognizing his devotion—
न किंचिदब्रवीत्तं तु पुनश्चिंतामुपेयिवान् । पुरतो विनयेनापि वर्तमानं महामतिम्
He said nothing, but again fell into thought, seeing his wise son standing before him with humility.
विष्णुशर्माणमाभाषीद्वत्स मे वचनं कुरु । इंद्रलोकं व्रजस्वाद्य तस्मादानय चामृतम्
Viṣṇuśarman was addressed: 'My child, do as I say. Go now to Indra's world and bring back the nectar from there.'
अनया कान्तया सार्द्धं स्थातुमिच्छामि सांप्रतम् । सागराद्यत्समुत्पन्नममृतं व्याधिनाशनम्
At this time, I wish to remain together with this beloved one. The nectar that arose from the ocean destroys disease.
साधुनेच्छति मामेषा यथैनां तु लभाम्यहम् । तथा कुरुष्व शीघ्रं त्वमन्यथान्यं प्रयास्यति
She earnestly desires me; so that I may obtain her, act quickly in this way—otherwise, she will go to another.'
वृद्धं ज्ञात्वावमन्येत इयं बाला सुरूपिणी । अद्य देव्यानया सार्द्धं प्रियया भुवनत्रये
Knowing me to be old, this beautiful young woman disregards me. Today, with this dear goddess, in all three worlds—
निर्दोषो व्याधिनिर्मुक्तो यथा तात भवाम्यहम् । तथा कुरुष्व मे वत्स मद्भक्तोसि यदा भुवि
Make it so, my son, that I become faultless and free from disease, as you are my devotee on earth.
एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं पितुस्तस्य महात्मनः । विष्णुशर्मा तदोवाच पितरं दीप्ततेजसम्
Hearing these words of his great-souled father, Viṣṇuśarman then spoke to his radiant father:
सर्वमेतत्करिष्यामि भवतः सुखमुत्तमम् । एवमाभाष्य धर्मात्मा विष्णुशर्मा महामतिः
'I will do all this, for your highest happiness.' Thus spoke Viṣṇuśarman, righteous and wise.
पितरं तं नमस्कृत्य पुनः कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् । बलेन महता सोपि तपसा नियमेन च
Having bowed to his father and circumambulated him, he set out with great strength, with austerity and discipline.
अंतरिक्षगतश्चासीद्गच्छमानस्य धीमतः । स महावायुवेगेन ऐंद्रं संप्रतिगच्छति
As the wise one traveled through the sky, he moved toward Indra's realm with the force of a great wind.
सूत उवाच- प्रस्थितस्तेन मार्गेण प्रविष्टो गगनांतरे । स दृष्टो देवदेवेन सहस्राक्षेण धीमता
Sūta said: Setting out on that path, entering the space between the heavens, he was seen by the wise lord of gods, the thousand-eyed one.
उद्यमं तस्य वै ज्ञात्वा चक्रे विघ्नं सुराधिराट् । मेनिकांतामुवाचेदं गच्छ त्वं मम शासनात्
Knowing his intention, the king of the gods created an obstacle. He addressed Menikā: 'Go at my command.'
समाचरस्वास्य शीघ्रं गत्वा विघ्नं सुमध्यमे । अस्यैव विप्रवर्यस्य पुत्रस्य शिवशर्मणः
'Go quickly, lovely-waisted one, and create an obstacle for this excellent brāhmaṇa, the son of Śivaśarman.'
तथा कुरुष्व भद्रं ते यथा नायाति मे गृहम् । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं मेनिका प्रस्थिता त्वरात्
'Do so, good lady, so that he does not come to my abode.' Hearing these words, Menikā set out swiftly.
सूत उवाच- रूपौदार्यगुणोपेता सर्वालंकारभूषिता । नंदनस्य वनस्यांते दोलायां समुपस्थिता
Sūta said: Endowed with beauty, nobility, and adorned with all ornaments, she arrived at the edge of Nandana's forest, on a swing.
सुस्वरेण प्रगायंती गीतं वीणास्वरोपमम् । तेन दृष्टा विशालाक्षी चतुरा चारुलोचना
Singing sweetly, her song rivaling the tones of the vīṇā, she was seen by him—broad-eyed, clever, and lovely-eyed.
व्यवसायं ततो ज्ञात्वा तस्या विघ्नमनुत्तमम् । इंद्रेण प्रेषिता चैषा न च भद्रकरा भवेत्
Realizing her purpose was to create a great obstacle, and that she had been sent by Indra, he knew she would not bring good.
एवं ज्ञात्वा जगामाथ सत्वरेण द्विजोत्तमः । तया दृष्टस्तथा पृष्टः क्व यास्यसि महामते
Knowing this, the best of brāhmaṇas went quickly. When she saw him, she asked: 'Where are you going, wise one?''
विष्णुशर्मा तदोवाच मेनिकां कामचारिणीम् । इंद्रलोकं प्रयास्यामि पितुरर्थे त्वरान्वितः
Viṣṇuśarman then spoke to Menikā, the free-roaming one: 'I am going to Indra's world, in haste, for my father's sake.'
मेनिका विष्णुशर्माणं प्रत्युवाच प्रियं पुनः । कामबाणैः प्रभिन्नाहं त्वामद्य शरणं गता
Menaka spoke again to Vishnu Sharma with affection: I am pierced by the arrows of desire and today I have come to you for refuge.
रक्षस्व द्विजशार्दूल यदि धर्ममिहेच्छसि । यावद्धि त्वं मया दृष्टः कामाकुलितचेतसा
Protect me, O foremost among twice-born, if you desire righteousness here; for ever since I saw you, my mind has been overwhelmed by passion.
कामानलेन संदग्धा तावदेव न संशयः । संभ्रांता कामसंतप्ता प्रसादसुमुखो भव
Burned by the fire of desire, there is no doubt about it; I am agitated and scorched by passion—be gracious and gentle-faced.
विष्णुशर्मोवाच- चरित्रं देवदेवस्य विदितं मे वरानने । भवत्याश्चप्रजानामिनाहंचैतादृशःशुभे
Vishnu Sharma said: The conduct of the Lord of gods is known to me, O beautiful-faced one; I am aware of your intentions, and I am such as you see, O auspicious lady.
भवत्यास्तेजसा रूपैरन्ये मुह्यंति शोभने । विश्वामित्रादयो देवि पुत्रोहं शिवशर्मणः
By your radiance and beauty, others are bewildered, O lovely one; O goddess, I am the son of Shiva Sharma, like Vishvamitra and others.
योगसिद्धिं गतस्यापि तपः सिद्धस्य चाबले । कामादयो महादोषा आदावेव विनिर्जिताः
Even after attaining yogic powers and perfection in austerity, O girl, great faults like desire and others were conquered right at the beginning.
अन्यं भज विशालाक्षि इंद्रलोकं व्रजाम्यहम् । एवमुक्त्वा जगामाथ त्वरितो द्विजसत्तमः
Seek another, O wide-eyed one; I am going to Indra's world. Having spoken thus, the excellent twice-born departed swiftly.
निष्फला मेनका जाता पृष्टा देवेन वज्रिणा । विभीषां दर्शयामास नानारूपां पुनः पुनः
Menaka became fruitless; questioned by the god with the thunderbolt, she repeatedly displayed various forms of terror.