इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडेवेनोपाख्याने पंचत्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-fifth chapter in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa section of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
सुनीथोवाच- सत्यमुक्तं त्वया भद्रे एवमेतत्करोम्यहम् । अनया विद्यया विप्रं मोहयिष्यामि नान्यथा
Sunītha said: What you have spoken is true, dear one; so shall I do. By this knowledge alone will I delude the brāhmaṇa, and not otherwise.
साहाय्यं देहि मे पुण्यं येन गच्छामि सांप्रतम् । एवमुक्ता तया रंभा तामुवाच मनस्विनीम्
Grant me your virtuous assistance, by which I may now succeed. Thus addressed by her, Rambhā spoke to that noble-minded woman.
कीदृग्ददामि साहाय्यं तत्त्वं कथय भामिनि । दूतत्वं गच्छ मे भद्रे एतं प्रति सुसांप्रतम्
Tell me, beautiful one, what sort of help I should give. Go as my messenger, dear, to him at this very moment.
एवमुक्तं तया तां तु रंभां प्रति सुलोचनाम् । एवमेव प्रतिज्ञातं रंभया देवयोषिता
Thus addressed by her, the wide-eyed one replied to Rambhā: 'So be it,' was promised by Rambhā, the divine maiden.
करिष्ये तव साहाय्यमादेशो मम दीयताम् । सद्भावेन विशालाक्षी रूपयौवनशालिनी
I will assist you; give me your command. With sincerity, the large-eyed, beautiful and youthful woman said this.
मायया दिव्यरूपा सा संबभूव वरानना । रूपेणाप्रतिमालोके मोहयंती जगत्त्रयम्
By her magic, she became endowed with a divine form, her face radiant; with incomparable beauty, she enchanted the three worlds.
मेरोश्चैव महापुण्ये शिखरे चारुकंदरे । नानाधातुसमाकीर्णे नानारत्नोपशोभिते
On the sacred summit of Mount Meru, in a lovely cave adorned with various metals and shining with many jewels,
देववृक्षैः समाकीर्णे बहुपुष्पोपशोभिते । देववृंदसमाकीर्णे गंधर्वाप्सरसेविते
Surrounded by celestial trees, resplendent with many flowers, filled with hosts of gods, attended by Gandharvas and Apsarases,
मनोहरे सुरम्ये च शीतच्छायासमाकुले । चंदनानामशोकानां तरूणां चारुहासिनी
In that enchanting and delightful place, thick with cool shade, among sandalwood and aśoka trees, she sat with a lovely smile.
दोलायां सा समारूढा सर्वशृङ्गारशोभिता । कौशेयेन सुनीलेन राजमाना वरानना
She mounted a swing, adorned with every ornament of love, the radiant-faced one shining in fine blue silk.
बंधूकपुष्पवर्णेन कंचुकेन द्विजोत्तम । सर्वांगसुंदरी बाला वीणातालकराविला
With a bodice the color of bandhūka flowers, O best of twice-born, the beautiful young maiden, skilled in the rhythm of the vīṇā, shone in every limb.
गायमाना वरं गीतं सुस्वरं विश्वमोहनम् । ताभिः परिवृता बाला सखीभिः सुमनोहरा
Singing a splendid song, melodious and enchanting to the world, the lovely maiden was surrounded by her charming companions.
अंगस्तु कंदरे पुण्ये एकांते ध्यानमास्थितः । कामक्रोधविहीनस्तु ध्यायमानो जनार्दनम्
In that sacred cave, Aṅgiras sat alone in meditation, free from desire and anger, contemplating Janārdana.
स श्रुत्वा सुस्वरं गीतं मधुरं सुमनोहरम् । तालमानक्रियोपेतं सर्वसत्वविकर्षणम्
Hearing that melodious, sweet, and captivating song, marked by rhythm and measure, which drew all beings,
ध्यानाच्चचाल तेजस्वी मायागीतेन मोहितः । समुत्थायासनात्तूर्णं वीक्षमाणो मुहुर्मुहुः
The radiant sage, distracted from his meditation by the magical song, quickly rose from his seat, looking again and again.
जगाम तत्र वेगेन मायाचलितमानसः । दोलासंस्थां विलोक्यैव वीणादंडकराविलाम्
With his mind unsettled by illusion, he hurried there, and seeing her on the swing, holding the vīṇā's staff,
हसमानां सुगायंतीं पूर्णचंद्रनिभाननाम् । मोहितस्तेन गीतेन रूपेणापि महायशाः
He saw her laughing, singing sweetly, her face like the full moon; the illustrious sage was captivated by her song and her beauty.
तस्या लावण्यभावेन मन्मथस्य शराहतः । आकुलव्याकुलज्ञान ऋषिपुत्रो द्विजोत्तमः
Struck by the arrows of Kāma due to her beauty, the foremost twice-born, son of the sage, became confused and agitated in his understanding.
प्रलपत्यतिमोहेन जृंभते च पुनः पुनः । स्वेदः कंपोथ संतापस्तस्याजायत तत्क्षणात्
He babbled in excessive bewilderment and yawned again and again; sweat, trembling, and distress arose in him at that very moment.
मुह्यन्निव महामोहैर्ग्लानश्चलितमानसः । वेपमानस्ततस्त्वंगो दूयमानः समागतः
As if overcome by great delusion, weakened and his mind unsettled, his body trembled and he was tormented, coming together there.
तामालोक्य विशालाक्षीं मृत्युकन्यां यशस्विनीम् । अथोवाच महात्मा स सुनीथां चारुहासिनीम्
Beholding her, the wide-eyed, illustrious daughter of Death, the great-souled one then spoke to Sunīthā, the beautiful-smiling maiden.
का त्वं कस्य वरारोहे सखीभिः परिवारिता । केन कार्येण संप्राप्ता केन त्वं प्रेषिता वनम्
Who are you, O lovely one, surrounded by companions? For what purpose have you come, and by whom have you been sent to this forest?
तवांगं सुंदरं सर्वमत्र भाति महावने । समाचक्ष्व ममाद्यैव प्रसादसुमुखी भव
Your entire form shines beautifully here in this great forest; tell me today, O gracious-faced one, and be favorable to me.
मायामोहेन संमुग्धस्तस्याः कर्म न विंदति । मार्गणैर्मन्मथस्यापि परिविद्धो महामुनिः
Bewildered by the illusion of Māyā, he could not discern her actions; even the great sage was pierced by the arrows of Kāma.
एवंविधं महद्वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य महामतेः । नोवाच किंचित्सा विप्रं समालोक्य सखीमुखम्
Hearing such great words from the wise one, she said nothing to the brāhmaṇa, but looked at the face of her companion.
रंभां च प्रेरयामास सुनीथा संज्ञया सखीम् । समुवाच ततो रंभा सादरं तं द्विजं प्रति
Sunīthā, by a gesture, directed Rambhā, her companion; then Rambhā respectfully addressed the brāhmaṇa.
इयं कन्या महाभागा मृत्योश्चापि महात्मनः । सुनीथाख्या प्रसिद्धेयं सर्वलक्षणसंपदा
This maiden, most fortunate, is the renowned Sunīthā, daughter of the great-souled Death, endowed with all auspicious marks.
पतिमन्विच्छती बाला धर्मवंतं तपोनिधिम् । शांतं दांतं महाप्राज्ञं वेदविद्याविशारदम्
The young girl seeks a husband who is righteous, a treasury of austerity, peaceful, self-controlled, greatly wise, and skilled in Vedic knowledge.
एवंविधं महद्वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य महामुनिः । तामुवाच ततस्त्वंगो रंभामप्सरसां वराम्
Hearing such great words, the great sage then spoke to Rambhā, the foremost among apsarases.