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.
मया चाराधितो विष्णुः सर्वविश्वमयो हरिः । तेन दत्तो वरो मह्यं पुत्राख्यः सर्वसिद्धिदः
I have worshipped Viṣṇu, Hari who pervades the entire universe; by him, I have been granted a boon named 'son,' which bestows all accomplishments.
तन्निमित्तमहं भद्रे सुतार्थं नित्यमेव च । कस्यचित्पुण्यवीर्यस्य कन्यामेकां प्रचिंतये
For that purpose, O gentle one, I always contemplate a maiden for the sake of a son, one belonging to someone of virtuous merit.
सदैवाहं न पश्यामि सुभार्यां सत्यमीदृशीम् । इयं धर्मस्य वै कन्या धर्माचारा वरानना
I have never seen a truly virtuous wife like this; she is indeed the daughter of Dharma, with noble conduct and a beautiful face.
मामेवं हि भजत्वेषा यदि कान्तमिहेच्छति । यं यमिच्छेदियं बाला तं ददामि न संशयः
Let her choose me if she desires a beloved; whoever this young girl wishes, I will give her to him, without doubt.
अदेयं देयमित्याह अस्याः संगमकारणात् । एकमेवं त्वया देयं श्रूयतां द्विजसत्तम
It is said, 'What is not to be given, what is to be given,' for the sake of union with her; but only one thing must be given by you—listen, O best of twice-born.
रंभोवाच- विप्रेंद्र त्वं शृणुष्वेह प्रतिज्ञां वच्मि सांप्रतम् । एषा नैव त्वया त्याज्या धर्मपत्नी तवैव हि
Rambhā said: O chief of brāhmaṇas, listen here to my vow, which I now declare: she must never be abandoned by you; she is indeed your lawful wife.
अस्या दोषो गुणो नैव ग्राह्य एव त्वया कदा । इत्यर्थे प्रत्ययं विप्र प्रत्यक्षं परिदर्शय
You should never accept either a fault or a virtue in her; O Brahmin, to confirm this, show direct evidence.
स्वहस्तं देहि विप्रेंद्र सत्यप्रत्ययकारकम् । एवमस्तु मया दत्तो ह्यस्या हस्तो न संशयः
Give your own hand, O foremost of Brahmins, as a sign of truth and trust; thus, I have given her hand—there is no doubt.
सूत उवाच- एवं संबधिकं कृत्वा सत्यप्रत्ययकारकम् । गांधर्वेण विवाहेन सुनीथामुपयेमिवान्
Sūta said: In this way, after making the connection and establishing trust in the truth, he married Sunīthā by the Gāndharva rite.
तस्मै दत्वा सुनीथां तां रंभा हृष्टेन चेतसा । सा तां चामंत्रयित्वा वै गता गेहं स्वकं पुनः
Having given Sunīthā to him, Rambhā, with a joyful heart, after bidding her farewell, returned again to her own home.