आगतायां महाराजा पद्मावत्यां द्विजोत्तम । हर्षेण महताविष्टो विदर्भाधिपतिर्नृपः
When Padmavati arrived, O best of Brahmins, the king of Vidarbha was overcome with great joy.
वर्द्धिता दानमानैश्च वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः । पद्मावती सुखेनापि पितुर्गेहे प्रवर्तते
Padmavati flourished in her father's house, with gifts, respect, garments, and ornaments, enjoying happiness.
सखीभिः सहिता सा तु निःशंका परिवर्तते । रमते सा तदा तत्र यथापूर्वं तथैव च
Together with her friends, she moved about without worry; she delighted there just as before.
गृहे वने तडागेषु प्रासादे च तथैव सा । पुनर्बालेव भूता सा निर्लज्जा संप्रवर्तते
In the house, in the forest, in the ponds, and in the palace, she behaved again like a child, acting without shame.
निःशंका वर्तते विप्र सखीभिः सह सर्वदा । पतिव्रता महाभागा हर्षेण महतान्विता
O Brahmin, the highly fortunate and devoted wife always lives without fear, together with her friends, filled with great joy.
सुखं तु पितृगेहस्य दुर्लभं श्वशुरे गृहे । एवं ज्ञात्वा तदा रेमे कदा ईदृग्भविष्यति
But happiness in the house of one’s father is rare in the house of the father-in-law; knowing this, she then delighted, wondering when such a time would come again.
अनेन मोहभावेन क्रीडालुब्धा वरानना । सखीभिः सहिता नित्यं वनेषूपवने तदा
Because of this deluded state, the beautiful-faced woman, eager for play, always wandered in the groves and forests together with her friends.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने सुकलाचरित्रेऽष्टचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-eighth chapter, the story of Sukalā, in the narrative of Vena, in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
ब्राह्मण्युवाच- एकदा तु महाभाग गता सा पर्वतोत्तमे । रमणीयं वनं दृष्ट्वा कदलीखंडमंडितम्
The Brahmin said: Once, O highly fortunate one, she went to a lofty mountain; seeing a beautiful forest adorned with clusters of plantains—
शालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च नालिकेरैस्तथोत्कटैः । पूगीफलैर्मातुलिगैर्नारंगैश्चारुजंबुकैः
With śāla, tāla, tamāla, and tall coconut trees, with areca nuts, citron, oranges, and lovely rose-apples—
चंपकैः पाटलैः पुण्यैः पुष्पितैः कुटकैर्वटैः । अशोकबकुलोपेतं नानावृक्षैरलंकृतम्
With champaka and pāṭala trees, auspicious and blossoming, with kuṭaka and banyan trees, graced with aśoka and bakula, adorned with various trees—
पर्वतं पुण्यवंतं तं पुष्पितैश्च नगोत्तमैः । सर्वत्र दृश्यते रम्यो नानाधातुसमाकुलः
That blessed mountain, covered with the best flowering trees, appeared delightful everywhere, filled with various minerals.
तडागं सर्वतोभद्रं पुण्यतोयेन पूरितम् । कमलैः पुष्पितैश्चान्यैः सुगंधैः कनकोत्पलैः
There was a most auspicious lake, filled with holy water, with blooming lotuses and other fragrant golden water-lilies.
श्वेतोत्पलैर्विभासंतं रक्तोत्पलसुपुष्पितैः । नीलोत्पलैश्च कह्लारैर्हंसैश्च जलकुक्कुटैः
Shining with white lotuses, with splendid red lotuses in full bloom, with blue lotuses and water-lilies, with swans and waterfowl—
पक्षिभिर्जलजैश्चान्यैर्नानाधातुसमाकुलः । तडागं सर्वतः शुभ्रं नानापक्षिगणैर्युतम्
With birds and other aquatic creatures, filled with various minerals, the lake was pure on all sides, teeming with flocks of diverse birds.
कोकिलानां रुतैः पुण्यैः सुस्वरैः परिशोभितः । मधुराणां तथा शब्दैः सर्वत्र मधुरायते
Adorned by the auspicious, melodious calls of cuckoos, and by sweet sounds everywhere, it became delightful on all sides.
षट्पदानां सुनादेन सर्वत्र परिशोभते । एवंविधं गिरिं रम्यं तदेव वनमुत्तमम्
Resounding everywhere with the pleasant hum of bees, that charming mountain and excellent forest were just so.
तडागं सर्वतोभद्रं ददृशे नृपनंदिनी । वैदर्भी क्रीडमाना सा सखीभिः सहिता तदा
The king’s daughter from Vidarbha saw that most auspicious lake on all sides, as she played there with her friends.
समालोक्य वनं पुण्यं सर्वत्र कुसुमाकुलम् । चापल्येन प्रभावेण स्त्रीभावेन च लीलया
Beholding the blessed forest, everywhere filled with flowers, through her impulsiveness, her power, her womanhood, and playfulness—
पद्मावती सरस्तीरे सखीभिः सहिता तदा । जलक्रीडा समालीना हसते गायते पुनः
Padmāvatī, together with her friends, then entered into water-sports on the shore of the lake, laughing and singing again.
रममाणा च सा तस्मिंस्तस्मिन्सरसि भामिनी । एवं विप्र तदा सा तु सुखेन परिवर्तयेत्
And as she enjoyed herself in that lake, O Brahmin, the radiant one spent her time there happily.
विष्णुरुवाच- गोभिलो नाम वै दैत्यो भृत्यो वैश्रवणस्य च । दिव्येनापि विमानेन सर्वभोगपरिप्लुतः
Viṣṇu said: There was a demon named Gobhila, a servant of Vaiśravaṇa, who, even in a divine aerial chariot, was surrounded by every pleasure.
याति चाकाशमार्गेण गोभिलो दैत्यसत्तमः । तेन दृष्टा विशालाक्षी वैदर्भी निर्भया तदा
Gobhila, the foremost among Daityas, travels along the path of the sky; by him, the wide-eyed Vaidarbhi was seen at that moment, unafraid.
सर्वयोषिद्वरा सा हि उग्रसेनस्य वै प्रिया । रूपेणाप्रतिमा लोके सर्वांगेषु विराजते
She is the best among all women, the beloved of Ugrasena; unmatched in beauty in the world, she shines in every limb.
रतिर्वै मन्मथस्यापि किं वापीयं हरिप्रिया । किं वापि पार्वती देवी शची किं वा भविष्यति
Is she the delight of Manmatha, or perhaps the beloved of Hari? Or might she be the goddess Parvati, or even Shachi?
यादृशी दृश्यते चेयं नारीणां प्रवरोत्तमा । अन्यापि ईदृशी नास्ति द्वितीया क्षितिमंडले
Such as she appears, the highest among women, there is no other like her, not a second, upon the earth.
नक्षत्रेषु यथा चंद्रः संपूर्णो भाति शोभनः । गुणरूपकलाभिस्तु तथा भाति वरानना
Just as the full moon shines beautifully among the stars, so does her noble face shine with virtues, beauty, and skill.
पुष्करेषु यथा हंसस्तथेयं चारुहासिनी । अहो रूपमहोभाव अस्यास्तु परिदृश्यते
Just as a swan among lotuses, so is she, with charming smile; ah, her beauty and radiance are clearly visible.
का कस्य शोभना बाला चारुवृत्तपयोधरा । व्यमृशद्गोभिलो दैत्यः पद्मावतीं वराननाम्
Who is she, whose beauty is so striking, with lovely rounded breasts? Gobhila, the Daitya, pondered upon Padmavati, the noble-faced.
चिंतयित्वा क्षणं विप्र का कस्यापि भविष्यति । ज्ञानेन महता ज्ञात्वा वैदर्भीति न संशयः
After thinking for a moment, Gobhila reflected, 'Whose might she be?' By great knowledge he understood: she is Vaidarbhi, without doubt.