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.
दयिता उग्रसेनस्य पतिव्रतपरायणा । आत्मबलेन तिष्ठंती दुष्प्राप्या पुरुषैरपि
She is the beloved of Ugrasena, devoted to her husband; standing firm by her own strength, she is difficult to attain even for men.
उग्रसेनो महामूर्खः प्रेषिता येन वै वरा । पितुर्गेहमियं बाला स तु भाग्येन वर्जितः
Ugrasena, greatly foolish, sent her, the noble one, to her father's house; but he is deprived of fortune.
अनया विना स जीवेच्च कथं कूटमतिः सदा । किं वा नपुंसको राजा एनां यो हि परित्यजेत्
How could that deceitful-minded one live without her? Or is the king impotent, who would abandon her?
तां दृष्ट्वा स तु कामात्मा संजातस्तत्क्षणादपि । इयं पतिव्रता बाला दुष्प्राप्या पुरुषैरपि
Seeing her, his mind filled with desire at that very moment; this maiden, devoted to her husband, is difficult to attain even for men.
कथं भोक्ष्याम्यहं गत्वा कामो मामति पीडयेत् । अभुक्त्वैनां यदा यास्ये तत्स्यान्मृत्युर्ममैव हि
How will I enjoy her, having gone there? Desire torments my mind; if I depart without possessing her, surely death will be mine.
अद्यैव हि न संदेहो यतः कामो महाबलः । इति चिंतापरो भूत्वा गोभिलो मनसैक्षत
Today, without doubt, for desire is very powerful; thus, absorbed in thought, Gobhila considered in his mind.
कृत्वा मायामयं रूपमुग्रसेनस्य भूपतेः । यादृशस्तूग्रसेनश्च सांगोपांगो महानृपः
He created a magical form of Ugrasena, the king; just as Ugrasena is, with all his limbs, the great ruler.
गोभिलस्तादृशो भूत्वा गत्या च स्वरभाषया । यथावस्त्रो यथावेशो वयसा च तथा पुनः
Gobhila became just like him, in gait and speech, in dress and appearance, and even in age.
दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरो दिव्यगंधानुलेपनः । सर्वाभरणशोभांगो यादृशो माथुरेश्वरः
Wearing divine garlands and garments, smeared with divine fragrance, adorned with all ornaments, just as the lord of Mathura.
भूत्वाथ तादृशो दैत्य उग्रसेनमयस्तदा । मायया परया युक्तो रूपलावण्यसंपदा
Then, the Daitya became just like Ugrasena, in every way; endowed with supreme illusion, with beauty and charm.