कमलैः शतपत्रैश्च पुष्पितैः समलंकृतम् । देवगंधर्वसंसिद्धैश्चारणैश्चैव किन्नरैः
Adorned with blooming lotuses of a hundred petals, and graced by gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, Charanas, and Kinnaras.
मुनिभिः शुशुभे दिव्यैर्दिव्योद्यानवरेण च । अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णं नानाकौतुकमंगलैः
It shone with divine sages and the best of celestial gardens, crowded with hosts of Apsarases and filled with various wonders and auspicious things.
हेमप्रासादसंबाधं दंडच्छत्रैश्च चामरैः । कलशैश्च पताकाभिः सर्वत्रसमलंकृतम्
Densely packed with golden palaces, adorned everywhere with staffs, parasols, fly-whisks, pitchers, and banners.
वेदध्वनिसमाकीर्णं गीतध्वनिसमाकुलम् । एवं नंदनमासाद्य सा रंभा चारुहासिनी
Filled with the sounds of Vedic recitation and the music of songs; thus, Rambha of the lovely smile arrived at Nandana.
अप्सरोभिः समं तत्र क्रीडत्येवं विलासिनी । सूत उवाच- एकदा तु स वृत्रो वै कालाकृष्टो गतो वनम्
There, that playful beauty sported together with the Apsarases; Sūta said: Once, Vṛtra, drawn by fate, went to the forest.
कतिभिर्दानवैः सार्द्धं मुदया परया युतः । अलक्ष्ये भ्रमते पार्श्वं तस्यैव च महात्मनः
Accompanied by a few Dānavas and filled with great joy, he wandered unseen near that great soul.
देवराजोपि विप्रेंद्रश्छिद्रान्वेषी द्विषां किल । स हि वृत्रो महाप्राज्ञो विश्वस्तः सर्वकर्मसु
Even the king of the gods, O best of Brāhmins, was seeking faults among his enemies; for Vṛtra, wise and skilled in all actions, was completely confident.
इंद्रं मित्रं परं जानन्भयं चक्रे न तस्य सः । भ्रममाणो वनं पश्येत्सर्वत्र परमं शुभम्
Knowing Indra as his supreme friend, he felt no fear of him; as he wandered, he saw the forest everywhere supremely auspicious.
सुरम्यं कौतुकवनं वनितागणसंकुलम् । चंदनस्यापि वृक्षस्य छायां शीतां सुपुण्यदाम्
A most delightful and wondrous grove, crowded with groups of women, and the cool, supremely holy shade of a sandalwood tree.
समाश्रित्य विशालाक्षी रंभा तत्र प्रदीव्यति । सखीभिस्तु महाभागा दोलारूढा यशस्विनी
There, Rambha of wide eyes rejoiced, taking shelter in that shade, mounted on a swing with her noble companions.
गायते सुस्वरं गीतं सर्वविश्वप्रमोहनम् । तत्र वृत्रः समायातः कामाकुलितमानसः
She sang a melodious song, enchanting the whole world; there Vṛtra arrived, his mind overcome with desire.
दोलारूढां समालोक्य रंभां चारुसुलोचनाम्
Seeing Rambha, beautiful of lovely eyes, seated on the swing.
सूत उवाच- इयं हि का गायति चारुलोचना विलासभावैः परिविश्वमेव । अतीव बाला शुशुभे मनोहरा संपूर्णभावैः परिमोहयेज्जनम्
Sūta said: Who is this charming-eyed one, singing with playful gestures, captivating all around? Extremely youthful, she shone enchantingly, her fullness of form enough to bewilder anyone.
दृष्ट्वा स रंभां कमलायताक्षीं पीनस्तनीं चर्चितकुंकुमांगीम् । पद्माननां कामगृहं ममैषा नो वा रतिश्चारुमनोहरेयम्
Seeing Rambha, lotus-eyed, full-breasted, her limbs adorned with saffron, lotus-faced, a house of desire—does she belong to me, or is she not? This lovely one is truly delightful.
संपूर्णभावां परिरूपयुक्तां कामांगशीलामतिशीलभावाम् । यास्याम्यहं वश्यमिहैव अस्या मनोभवेनाद्य इहैव प्रेषितः
Today, compelled by desire, I shall go to her, who is perfect in form, endowed with beauty, skilled in the arts of love, and of most excellent character, drawn here by the force of her mind.
इतीव दैत्यः सुविचिंतयान्वितः कामेन मुग्धो बहुकालनोदितः । समातुरस्तत्र जगाम सत्वरमुवाच तां दीनमनाः सुलोचनाम्
Thus, the demon, deeply pondering and overcome by passion long awakened, became restless and quickly approached her, speaking to the beautiful, wide-eyed maiden with a troubled heart.
कस्यासि वा सुंदरि केन प्रेषिता किं नाम ते पुण्यतमं वदस्व मे । तवैव रूपेण महातितेजसा मुग्धोस्मि बाले मम वश्यतां व्रज
Whose are you, O lovely one? By whom have you been sent? Tell me, what is your most virtuous name? I am enchanted by your beauty and great radiance, O maiden—come under my sway.
एवमुक्ता विशालाक्षी वृत्रं कामाकुलं प्रति । अहं रंभा महाभाग क्रीडार्थं वनमुत्तमम्
Thus addressed, the wide-eyed maiden replied to Vṛtra, who was overwhelmed by desire: 'I am Rambhā, O fortunate one, come to this excellent forest for sport.'
सखीसार्धं समायाता नंदनं वनमुत्तमम् । त्वं तु को वा किमर्थं हि मम पार्श्वं समागतः
'I have arrived at this splendid Nandana forest with my companions. But who are you, and for what reason have you come to my side?'
वृत्र उवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि योहं बाले समागतः । हुताशनात्समुत्पन्नः कश्यपस्य सुतः शुभे
Vṛtra said: 'Listen, O maiden, I shall tell you who I am and why I have come. I was born from the fire, O auspicious one, the son of Kaśyapa.'
सखाहं देवदेवस्य इंद्र स्यापि वरानने । ऐंद्रं पदं वरारोहे अर्धं मे भुक्तिमागतम्
'I am a friend of Indra, lord of the gods, O beautiful-faced one. I have enjoyed half of Indra’s position, O fair-hipped lady.'
अहं वृत्रः कथं देवि मामेवं न तु विंदसि । त्रैलोक्यं वशमायातं यस्यैव वरवर्णिनि
'I am Vṛtra—how is it, O goddess, that you do not recognize me? The three worlds have come under my control, O one of lovely complexion.'
अहं शरणमायातः कामाद्रक्ष वरानने । भजस्व मां विशालाक्षि कामेनाकुलितं प्रिये
'I have come to you, O beautiful-faced one, seeking refuge out of desire. Accept me, O wide-eyed one, for I am overwhelmed by passion, dear lady.'
रंभोवाच- वशगा हं तवैवाद्य भविष्यामि न संशयः । यं यं वदाम्यहं वीर तं तं कार्यं त्वयैव हि
Rambhā said: 'Today I shall indeed be under your power, without doubt. Whatever I command, O hero, that you must do.'
एवमस्तु महाभागे तं तं सर्वं करोम्यहम् । एवं संबंधकं कृत्वा तया सह महाबलः
'So be it, O fortunate one, I shall do all that you ask.' Thus, having made this agreement, the mighty one remained with her.
तस्मिन्वने महापुण्ये रेमे दानवसत्तमः । तस्या गीतेन नृत्येन हास्येन ललितेन च
In that most sacred forest, the best of the Dānavas delighted, enchanted by her singing, dancing, laughter, and graceful play.
अतिमुग्धो महादैत्यः स तस्याः सुरतेन च । तमुवाच महाभागं वृत्रं दानवसत्तमम्
The great demon, utterly captivated by her and by their lovemaking, was then addressed by the blessed Rambhā, the best among the Dānavas.
सुरापानं कुरुष्वेह पिबस्व मधुमाधवीम् । तामुवाच विशालाक्षीं रंभां शशिनिभाननाम्
'Drink wine here, enjoy the sweet honeyed liquor,' she said to wide-eyed Rambhā, whose face was like the moon.
पुत्रोहं ब्राह्मणस्यापि वेदवेदांगपारगः । सुरापानं कथं भद्रे करिष्यमि विनिंदितम्
'I am the son of a Brāhmaṇa and well-versed in the Vedas and their branches. How could I, O good lady, commit the condemned act of drinking wine?'
तया तु रंभया देव्या प्रीत्या दत्ता सुरा हठात् । तस्या दाक्षिण्यभावेन सुरापानं कृतं तदा
But Rambhā, the goddess, out of affection, forcibly gave him wine; and because of her kindness, he then drank the liquor.